Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Sean McHugh: “After my first week in Pittsburgh my wife arrived with my son and we were eating dinner in Cranberry when James Harrison was eating there as well and stopped by our table and introduced himself to my wife and told us that if we needed anything to let him know.”

Cortez Allen: “I also used to train at the same facility as James Harrison did in the offseason in Arizona. He was always the first in the building and I’d watch him in awe. He brought everything he had all the time. Well, this day was his upper body day. He finished and then Terrell Suggs came over and was struggling to finish his set. So James walked over and took it over from him and just started lifting like it was nothing, showing Suggs up! I always had a lot of respect for James.”

Bud Dupree: “James Harrison – not verbally, but just watching him working as hard as he did, I learned a lot from him. About how he worked out and took care of his body. That was a big part of things for me. Seeing him – it was a major help. Now I do those things still to this day, every week.”

Continue reading “Congratulations to Former Steelers OLB James Harrison NFL HOF Nomination”

First, I spoke with former Steeler CJ Goodwin a short while ago and he praised the Youth Home and how it helped him. How did you get started with the youth home – what inspired the idea – and how has the team and city helped the youth home succeed?

The Mel Blount Youth Home was inspired years ago – in 1979-1980. It was soon after our last Super Bowl. I grew up n a small town in Vidalia, Georgia. We were dirt farmers and lived in a small community I was the first athlete from there and the first to win something like a Super Bowl.

When I went back home, all the kids would call me Uncle Mel. The kids would come to the farm and get autographs, take pictures with me and throw the football around.  That’s when the Lord spoke to me. I knew I could do more than just sign autographs for the kids. it made me want to do more.

My brother and I started talking about how we we could do more and work with kids, and starting throwing ideas around. We talked about how it was on the farm with the kids – remember, this was before social media and cell phones. It was a big deal for the kids to see someone in person that they saw on TV.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Mel Blount, Steelers Cornerback, 1970-1983”

First, as a legendary coach for Bethune-Cookman, tell me a little about how you entered into coaching and how influenced how you coached?

I never did any coaching before I got the job in 1961. I got the offer after I hurt my knee in Pittsburgh – I told them I’d give it a try after the coach that was there for fifteen years had to quit. He got sick and had to give up coaching, so I called just at the right time.

The president of the university was my high school coach. He knew of me but didn’t know what kind of athlete I was, I didn’t know either!

They had no athletic director, no coaches… I told them I’d take all of that. They had no players returning. so it was a kind of rough. Continue reading “Exclusive with Jack “Cy” McClairen, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1955-1960″

First, let us know how is CFL going – is the goal to get back to the NFL?

Yeah, I’m trying to get back to the NFL. I’m hoping for one more time in the NFL. If not, I can make a career up here.  Heck, the crime rate is only 5% up here so I’d be safer at least!

How has the CFL helped your career?

Well it’s given me more film to show other teams. I only had one year of film to show from the NFL. So that definitely helps. They can see I’m still a playmaker, doing what I’ve done all my life. And it definitely should help people who claim I’m a troublemaker see that I’ve never had problems here and to prove that I’m not a problem for anyone.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Chris Rainey, Steelers Running Back, 2012-2013”

First, can you let readers know what you’re doing with yourself since the NFL?

Ultimately I got into real estate and have been for seventeen years now. Along the way I built homes and was a sports agent for a couple of years until I settled on real estate.

How hard was that transition from football to a post football career?

I have to say I thought it would be an easy transition.  I was a walk-on in college. No college recruited me. I was the last player drafted out of VMI and the only one since the 70’s.  My dream was to fly for the Navy at first but I had a desire to play in the NFL too. The decision to play football wasn’t easy. I had to give up my flying slot in the Navy to play in the NFL. By the time I retired I was thirty-one and couldn’t go do that after that.

I tried a couple of things. I saw my peers nine years into their careers and felt behind the eight-ball. When you’re thirty-one you feel old! Continue reading “Exclusive with Mark Stock, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1989”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Just now, for the last year or so, i started the John L. Williams Foundation. Just got it off the ground and working on it now.

Basically, I’m working to help those in nursing homes, and it’s hard. Most of them are elderly in their ending stages. It’s harder to go in and be there. I had older parents who passed away and were in a nursing home. So I see the need. And it’s not just helping elderly in homes. It’s also about helping them in the community and working with groups like Habitat for Humanity. Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Fullback John L. Williams, 1994-1995”

First, tell us a bit about your new job in Cleveland.

Well, I’m happy to be their new special teams coordinator. I’m looking forward to that. It’s a situation where there was mutual interest and an opportunity for me to get back to the AFC North.

Any odd feelings about playing for a team you once considered a big rival?

That’s the way it is in coaching. I’m an Alabama alum but when I coached against Alabama I coached to win the game and had mutual respect for everyone I played. You couldn’t find a more loyal Alabama alum but I always wanted to win.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Amos Jones, Steelers Assistant/Special Teams Coach, 2007-2012”

First – let us know what you’ve been ding with yourself since your time in the NFL?

I’m not doing much these days. I’m pretty much a family dude. Raising kids. I don’t know what else I’m doing besides picking up kids…taking care of my kids. My life is kind of boring right now. I’ve been away from the hustle of every day sports, taking it easy.

How hard was the adjustment for you?

It’s tough trying to find something to do with myself. I started a business but it was a major catastrophe! I really don’t have other skills. I didn’t finish my degree so I’m not sure what to be doing with myself now. I have a lot of issues from playing – I just thank God I still have my sense about me. Not like some players.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers DL Kendrick Clancy, 2000-2004”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time coaching in the NFL ?

Well, I’m retired, I’m seventy-nine years old and am back in my hometown of Canton, Ohio where I grew up and went to school. I have three children and ten grandchildren and lots of activities to go to. Birthday parties, seemingly every other weekend, games… It’s great watching them grow up and play. It’s a full time job and I love it.

Let’s start with your hire in Pittsburgh as the offensive line coach. How did that happen? What did Noll say to you?

I was very fortunate to be hired by the Steelers. Noll was looking for an offensive line coach and I was an offensive line coach for years. I talked with Chuck through Dick Haley at first. He quizzed me on offensive line play. I had great mentors at Bowling Green where I coached and played before – great coaches there. So I had great respect for offensive line play.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers OL Coach Ron Blackledge, 1982-1991”

First, can you let us know us know what you’re next steps are in your coaching/post-NFL career?

I left a really good job at the NFL Network as an analyst to give something back to young players as a coach. These milliennials players are a different kind of player and have a different kind of need. I’ve coached for five or more years now and I am trying to get deeper into giving back to others what was given to me.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Rod Woodson, 1987-1996”