First, can you let me know what led you to retire from football?
Yeah, I am just going through a lot right now after all that stuff with all of the lawsuits and stuff going on with what happened with my ex-girlfriend. There was a lot of things the police and people got wrong that caused a big blemish on my life. I just needed to regroup and get over the depression I’m experiencing now. I’m taking medication and just trying to get over the depression I’m in now and get past all of that stuff.
What have you been doing since your time in Pittsburgh?
I played some after Pittsburgh but never got the chance to develop like guys like Bud were given. So now I’m just hanging out with my family…helping my dad plant trees and staying in shape. Trying to work through things. Maybe I come back and make an impact with a team next year, I don’t know.
Looking back, were you aware of the Steelers’ interest in you before they drafted you?
Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert came to my pro day so I knew they were interested. I think they could see my athleticism. That I could work well in open space. I think that led to me getting drafted by them. Tomlin told me then he thought they would draft me but didn’t know what round.
Were you excited that they took you?
It was an emotional day. My family and I were excited, but I was down at the same time. I thought I’d get drafted higher than the 212th pick, to be honest. I thought maybe in the third round.
Did anyone help mentor you when you got there – and if so, how?
First and foremost was Joey Porter. He was a mentor on and off the field. He changed my outlook and the way I played. He taught me how to be a dog – he made me a more vicious player. It wasn’t just what he said, but how he acted too. He got me fired up and ready to play. He also taught me how to run – to open up my hips.
Arthur Moats too. He was like family to me. He showed me you can have play in the NFL and still have a solid family and be a positive person every single day. How to kill them with kindness.
Was it frustrating not getting playing time at first?
I had a good motor – I thought I could play more. It was frustrating. But I became quite the playboy while I was there. I got lost in the sauce – caught up in the moment. I shouldn’t have let getting paid big money go to my head, but I did. I think a lot of young guys that get money all of the sudden let that happen to them like I did.
Now I’m learning the art of humbleness. That’s where I am now. I’m trying to find my way. Joey tried to show me the way then – to show me the importance of good family values.
Did Coach Tomlin speak to you?
He did – but those talks didn’t go well that last two times. He told me I needed to man up. That I needed to stop with the excuses and that it was all in my head. That I needed to overcome my excuses – like my dad always being disappointed in me, stuff like that. I felt like he didn’t care about what I was going through then though. He didn’t care what was going on in my head.
What memories stand out to you know about your time in Pittsburgh?
Some of the greatest moments of my life were when I was in Pittsburgh. I was there for five years. Winning the Swag Award in 2017 – that was a fun time. We’d mess around and have fun. Me, Bud, Tyler Matekevich were all close. And I was close with Ryan Shazier and speak to him sometimes too.
Scoring a touchdown was cool too – I remember running as fast as I could after Tyler blocked the kick and jumping on the ball in the endzone.
And all the sacks stand out. Especially the one I had on Zak Prescott. I think I was a good pass rusher and was on an upward track before I retired.
A lot of guys there were impacted by free agency – as were you. How did you deal with that?
It’s stressful being in that business of seeing guys come and go. I think I handled it the wrong way sometimes. I think the stress – I handled it poorly at times and took advantage of some people – instead of just going out and being a simple man.
You had experienced free agency in a sense twice in Pittsburgh…
Yeah – the first time I wanted to stay and wanted to be loyal to the Steel City. New England wanted me to play the same role as a backup that the Steelers had me playing.
The second time was the decision of Mike Tomlin, Colbert and Rooney. In my exit meeting they told me they’d keep me then they cut me a month later. They never said why – I had no idea what was going on. I felt blindsided.
Did you ask Coach Tomlin what happened?
I was going through a lot. I think he could see the pain in my eyes but he didn’t care. All of my life I tried to make everyone else happy but I was going through hell. Now I’m just trying to regroup and get past it all.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
