Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! – Page 117 – More than 1,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff, media and more with those that played in the 50’s through today’s current roster.

Matt Bahr, Steelers Kicker, 1979-1980

First, can you let readers know how you got into your “second career” after the NFL?

Well, I don’t know if it was my second career. I enjoyed what I was doing – I was going to school at night in the offseason and worked during the day. All the jobs I had I enjoyed. I was en electrical engineer and developed products for radio stations. I owned and operated radio stations and used the products to make them sound better for stations around the world.

I’m out of that now. When I was fired for the last time from the NFL things didn’t change much. Except now I had my Falls free. I continued working..

I’m now involved in the Football Players Health Study at Harvard University. We are independent, though funded by the NFLP. It’s a study like no other.

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Exclusive with Sportscaster Bill Hillgrove

First, can you give us a quick rundown on how you got to be a sportscaster after a career as a DJ?

It started as a student at Duquesne. Any student could have a radio program on their station – now WEFA – so I had one on opera, as a disc jockey, and one on Duquesne basketball. And some high school football too. Later on when the station I was at bought the rights for Pitt basketball and football, my boss came up to me and asked if I had any play-by-play experience. He had me do the basketball games and help with the football games.

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Barron Miles, Steelers Cornerback, 1995

First, can you let readers know about your coaching career – how you got started and why you enjoy most about it so far?

I have been coaching now for six years and I love every minute of it. It is time-consuming but worth it. I began coaching right after my last year of playing which was 2009 and I haven’t looked back since.

Ever since high school I knew I wanted to coach. I viewed all the sports as a chess game. I looked for weakness and strengths and it all came natural to me. I enjoyed dissecting a game of any sport. I played for as long as I could and in he process I did scouting and player evaluations. I wanted the coaching world to see I was serious. I have four Grey Cup Rings. Two as a player and two as a coach. I’m currently coaching for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as defensive Backs coach and looking for my fifth ring.

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Greg Hawthorne, Steelers Running Back/Receiver, 1979-1983

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

Well, when I retired I went back to school to get my teaching certificate. I probably will go into coaching. I started a couple of other businesses too – just trying to stay busy. I’m still in Texas – I went back to Baylor and, thirty years later, I’ll get my degree one week before my son does!

How hard was the post-NFL adjustment for you?

I think being in the league for nine years – playing as long as I played ….. it was hard to find a way to stay busy. My wife is still in Pittsburgh and my son will graduate from Duquesne. I drove a semi for eight years. It helped me to be able to see my kids – I could take the truck and leave any time. One went to school in Michigan too so it helped keep me going. It would have been hard to keep traveling to see them otherwise.

I also had some drug issues. I regrouped – got myself back together. I try to stay busy still. I don’t need to work but I want to. I think I’m qualified to coach. I’ll stay here in Texas – I have a cousin who is a head coach. I’d like to do something that got me here in the first place.

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The Steelers Passive Aggressive offense

The Steelers were fourth in the NFL in points scored per game in 2015, averaging 26.4 points per game. To look at that number, you’d think the offense needs only continue with that performance moving into the 20166 season, and with defensive tweaks to the secondary and pass rush, this team is Super Bowl bound.

Possibly.

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Long Shots…

Takeaways from tonight’s game:

Give the team credit for contending despite numerous injuries to key personnel. Playing with a backup left tackle, backup center, third string running back, and second string receiver – that they were able to contend as they had spoke well to the team leadership that held the team together, the front office that built the team for depth, and to the players who kept their faith in their ability to win.

Having said that, they could have won. I won’t say should, But could.

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Tyler Palko, Pitt/Steelers Quarterback, 2009

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

Well, I got to spend five years in the NFL fulfilling a childhood dream. I had good parents – it all started there, My dad was my high school coach and he told me I had a chance to go to college for free – that I should take advantage of that. Which I did.. I have s dual degree from Pitt and got a chance to play in the NFL. My dad said that at some point my NFL career will end – I needed a fallback plan. I took advantage of some internships though the NFL. I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I felt I could have the most impact working on leadership development and was introduced to the CEO of the company I work for now, Buddy Hobart at Solutions21. My thoughts on leadership were pretty much aligned with the business. .

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On Implosions and Freeing Ben

I’ll start off by saying, the Bengals paid the price for employing low-character players. Guys they knew were bad characters – yet they kept them out there, and by doing so, lost a game they should have won.

Feel sorry for Marvin Lewis? No. He employs those guys. Keeps them on the field. And he paid the price as his team imploded in seemingly impossible fashion.

The positive – the world got to see who Vontez Burfict is.

As Boomer Esiason – a former Bengal – said, this game was an embarrassment for the Bengals. “Disgraceful” he said. From the fans throwing bottles at a hurt Roethlisberger as he’s carted off the field, to the thuggery of Burfict and Jones. And to the radio station that broadcasted rape stories about Roethliberger leading up to the game.

The Bengals have some serious soul-searching to do. And some serious damage-control to do to their fans and NFL.

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Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, Steelers Safety, 2010-2014

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself now?

I’m working out and staying healthy. I’m still a free agent. Right now I’m working with high school kids – I’ve been hosting a kids skills camp for about two weeks now. It’s for local area kids and semi-pro guys looing to live the football dream. The main focus is on the high school kids, working on seven-on-sevens, which is big now. I’m trying to help keep them active in the offseason. Giving back to the community – and I can taking this experience with me when I’m done with football.

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There’s a quiet frustration brewing in the Pittsburgh sports media world

There’s a quiet frustration brewing in the Pittsburgh sports media world. It’s a reflection of a larger issue across all media as it relates to online journalism and publishing.

It’s a hushed conversation because it involves a number of legal issues and ambiguity; ethics and job security; victimization and finger-pointing.

It’s about theft.

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