Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! – Page 119 – 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.

Lou Cordileone, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1962-1964

First, can you let readers know what you did career-wise post your NFL playing days?

I’m just retired now. I play golf and handball a couple times a week and my wife and I like to travel when we can.

After the NFL, I came back out here and went into the silver recovery business. I’d buy x-ray film and litho film from printing companies with my cousin. I rented a cargo van and we’d go from place to place and sell it back to the silver refineries. I did that from eight or nine years – it was fun. Then I went to work behind the bar at a friend’s restaurant – Frankie’s on Melrose. I did that for seventeen years and then I got tired and retired. It was just too much. I got involved in a couple other restaurants but that is about it.

How hard was the adjustment to life after football for you – how did you do it?

It wasn’t that hard to adjust. I didn’t have any problems. Everyone says it’s a problem but I don’t know. You miss having beers with the guys after practice, that sort of thing. But I had a lot of friends out here…

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Mike Vukovcan on Pitt Football, Recruiting, and New Site

First, can you tell readers about your new //pittsburghsportsnow.com/ site and what your focus is?

The focus of @pghsportsnow is twofold. 1) to update all the passionate Pitt Panther fans around the country and especially here in Pennsylvania on how Pitt is doing in the recruiting trail. With the hiring of Pat Narduzzi, I knew Pitt’s level of recruiting especially with elite players would improve. I also knew that Narduzzi and his assistants would be able to recruit the elite talent in Western Pennsylvania, which is exactly what they’re doing. 2) Since HS football is so popular in Western Pennsylvania, I wanted to become an outlet for fans to read about and find where the players are going to after they’re done playing hs football. So our focus is on Pitt and WPIAL hs football and basketball recruiting.

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Exclusive with Author, Agent Ralph Cindrich on New Book and Life as an NFL Agent

First, on your new book. What possessed you to write NFL Brawler: A Player-Turned-Agent’s Forty Years In the National Football League – what were you trying to relay to readers that they didn’t know before?

I had some entertaining stories from my years of working in the NFL – using a pro wrestler in a negotiation, nearly fighting Jimmy Johnson, getting into a drinking contest with an NFL owner, etc. The book arose simply from a desire to collect all those stories and share them. I thought other people might enjoy my stories.

Most importantly though, I wanted it to be a book of thanks-to let people to know that I was grateful for all that I experienced. I was blessed with people who helped me from day one, from close family members to little league coaches, clients, and family members. I wasn’t one of those people looking to sling mud at the NFL or football in general. The game has greatly enriched my life.

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Former Steelers #1 Pick Mike Taylor passes away

1968 first round draft pick Mike Taylor passed away last week from a heart attack.
Memorial service is next Tuesday, December 1st @ 11:00am, and will be held at:

Rolling Hills Church 800 White Rock Road El Dorado Hills CA 95762
Church phone is: 916-939-3527

Here is an older interview if Mike we did a few years ago…

https://steelerstakeaways.com/2012/03/08/mike-taylor-steelers-offensive-lineman-1968-1969/

Exclusive: Steelers’ DB Willie Williams on the 2015 Super Bowl reunion

First, congratulations on your 10 year anniversary! What were your first thoughts when the team contacted you to be a part of the celebration? Any reluctance? And how did they do so?

My first thought, this will be a great opportunity to see my old teammates that made this dream come true as a player to win a Super Bowl. No reluctance at all, I was excited about it. They contacted me through email.

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Exclusive: Verron Haynes on the 2015 Super Bowl reunion

First, congratulations on your 10 year anniversary! What were your first thoughts when the team contacted you to be a part of the celebration? Any reluctance? And how did they do so?

First off I would just like to say thank you for having me back – it’s always a pleasure and an honor. A letter and email was sent to me but I have been busy traveling and taking care of some family issues concerning my dad, so I had put it off until knowing the status of recovery. Willie Parker and I spoke a week prior to the events/ceremony and reminded me so I quickly contacted Lynne Molyneaux who works extremely hard and diligently for the Pittsburgh Steelers and putting these events together and she facilitated my travel and hotel arrangements. So needless to say there was no reluctance or hesitation once I knew I had the time.

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Exclusive with Dale Lolley

The Steelers have been overwhelmed with injuries this year, yet are still in playoff contention. How much credit goes to Mike Tomlin – and what has this team done to help find success despite the injuries?

Tomlin and his staff have done an outstanding job this season working through what could have been some devastating injuries. People get tired of hearing, “the standard is the standard,” and “next man up,” but the players really believe it. Look at how Dallas fell apart this season without Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. The Steelers could easily have taken a similar nose dive. They didn’t because the coaching staff made them believe and put together game plans to make the most of what they had.

The Steelers seem more willing to take risks this season – both on the field and off. With the Boykin trade, more rookies playing, free agent pickups, etc., do you feel there’s and even greater sense of urgency from the coaches and front office this season?

Absolutely. They know they only have a handful of seasons remaining with Ben Roethlisberger in his prime with which to make another Super Bowl run. The Steelers don’t worry so much about next season as they do the current one. That has always been the case. But they have put more into it this year than any I can remember.

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Wentford Gaines, Steelers Cornerback, 1978-1979

First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL life. What have you been doing since the NFL and how you got started?

Well the first job I had after playing in the NFL was in the construction field. One of my
college teammates had his own company so I worked with him for several years. My next job was working as a counselor in a residential treatment center. This took place in
Houston, Texas. I moved to Jersey City, NJ in 1997 and worked for the Urban League of
Hudson County. In 2005 I started teaching and coaching football. I have coached football at Lincoln High for eleven years and have enjoyed it tremendously. It took me a while to find my niche but I found it.

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Roger Pillath, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1966-1967

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

Well, it’s not really all that exciting, I started teaching high school and coaching wresting, along with some football, track & field, and even some golf – which I didn’t know a thing about! I knew enough not to screw them up I guess – they won a couple state championships. I coached wrestling at Cedar Grove. We were the conference champions all three years and won the state championship my final year. Then I left Port washington and moved back to Coleman – I was waylaid on my way to Alaska. I coached the wrestling team there – where I used to wrestle.

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Dezmond Sherrod, Steelers Tight End, 2008

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since you’ve retired from the NFL and how you got started in these new ventures?

I’m currently an Executive Team Leader for a Target store in Alabama. I played pro football for four years on three different teams; the Steelers, Texans, and two seasons in the United Football League with the Las Vegas Locomotives. After my second season in the UFL, I had a decision to make; either continue playing another year in hopes to get back to the NFL with a slim chance considering being the 2nd or 3rd string tight end most of my professional career or start looking for employment to start building my professional resume’, live in a city more than a few months at a time, and most importantly, leave the game in one piece.

I went to my Alma Mater’s campus at Mississippi State and was recruited by several companies. Having “Super Bowl Champion” and “UFL Champion” definitely stands out on a resume’! I have been in retail for about three years now and I enjoy it!

Besides work, I like to do races such 5K races, mud runs, and triathlons. Having that competitive drive keeps me active and wanting to do and try new things.

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