Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! – Page 99 – More than 2,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff PLUS interviews with Pittsburgh actors, musicians, authors and more

Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Line Coach Jack Bicknell Jr, 2013

First, tell me a bit about where you are right now in your coaching career and what your next steps are?

Well I’m at Ole Miss right now and am really enjoying it. It’s a beautiful town and great people. I’d be happy to finish my career here – 10 years more and call it a day.

You prefer college over NFL coaching? Why if so?

The big thing with college, and it may sound corny, but I got into this business to have an impact on young men and their development. In the NFL you have grown men more set in their ways, so to speak. In college, you have 17 or 18 year old kids. You can have more of an impact on their life. That’s the biggest difference.

Guys mess up at all levels in football – at all levels our job is to correct them. But in the NFL when you close your office doors you don’t have to think about the game. In college it’s 24 hours a day. You have to recruit and watch our for your players more. That’s what makes it difficult. Guys have classes, tutors, you have to deal with alumni and eight million other things recruiting-wise.

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Congratulations to Donnie Shell for being Voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Here are some select quotes from interviews with players who have praised Donnie Shell for his on-field play and locker room leadership and mentoring:

Tony Dungy: “Noll put me in a room with Donnie Shell and told me Donnie would teach me how to play the position. He told me to do what he does. Donnie taught me how to be a Christian – a good man and husband as well as a competitor.”

Larry Griffin: “Donnie Shell was there too. He mentored me at safety – to see the scheme – what the offense was trying to do to us. I played a bit of cornerback and safety so Shell and Woodruff both helped me the most.”

Joe Greene: “I’d argue L.C., Donnie Shell, and Andy Russell all should be in the Hall of Fame. “

Rod Woodson: “My roommate as a rookie was Donnie Shell. That was great for me. We’d go to the hotel before games and go over the gameplan. His biggest advice was about being a pro both on and off the field.”

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Dante Brown, 2003-2004

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

Well, actually, I’ve been working for a railroad company now – Norfolk Southern. Friends of mine got me interested and into the work. I’m fixing stuff for them – tracks and stuff like that. It’s not too bad. I’m used to the physical stuff from playing football, so it hasn’t been that bad.

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Exclusive with Steelers Running Back/Kick Returner Kerrith Whyte, Jr.

First, let me know what the plans fore the offseason are for you?

Honestly, I’m just taking a bit of time off to let my body recover. You get a few nagging injuries and I don’t want to train with a hurt body, so I’m just giving it a little time first. But I’m still exercising, stretching – staying in shape.

It was a crazy season for you – what made you decide to accept the Steelers offer to sign you off of Chicago’s practice squad?

They just told me they really wanted me, For me, it was a great opportunity to showcase my skills and put some things on film. I’m thankful that they chose to sign me and believed in me.

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Congratulations Bill Cowher on Being Selected to the NFL Hall of Fame

The players, Steelers and rival coaches who have praised Bill Cowher in our interviews is endless – here are some select quotes and memories they have of Bill:

Brian Billick: “Bill was very gracious and respectful towards me. He didn’t try to demean me as a new coach. After we won the Super Bowl. he saw that rivalry grow and we all bought into it. But compared to other coaches, while I was known for saying some stupid shit at times about other guys, that never happened with Bill. I never went back and forth like that with him.”

Marvin Lewis: “I learned a great about coaching and how to deal with players at a professional level from Dick LeBeau, Dom Capers, and Bill Cowher.”

Dave Shula: “I remember at an owners meeting, Leslie and I challenged Bill and Kaye to a tennis match, Bill just got new shoes and he was bleeding – you could see his socks. But he wouldn’t quit…”

Ron Zook: “Working with Coach Cowher, and meeting with and getting to know the Rooneys – that was a great experience for me.”

Dave Hoffman: “I remember when Cowher finally had to let me go. Here was this great big, strong guy in front of me, his eyes watering up. It wasn’t easy for him. I was almost comforting him during the talk, He was a unique man. He had a good Christian heart.”

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In His Own Words: Dick Conn

First I want to thank Ron Lippock for keeping up with us old guys and letting us share some memories. Next I want to thank the Rooney family for always treating me and my family as a part of the Steelers family. They were and still are the class of the league!!

I was truly blessed to have played for the Steelers and Coach Noll. I was only there for one great year but it was a life changer for me and my family. I was a member of the greatest rookie class of all time in any sport and won the Super Bowl in my first year as a pro. Those things stay with you your whole life. No matter where you go or who you meet, you are always introduced as a Super Bowl Champion. Your children and grandchildren are always known as the children and grandchildren of someone who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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George Perles Passes Away

George Perles: “Chuck Noll saw me as a teacher and that was important to him. I saw him as a determined man and an outstanding leader.”

Fred Anderson: “George Perles, my first NFL coach, I remember how he would tailor our gameplan to take away what the opponent did best offensively. We would eliminate their best plays which forced them into their junk plays. Amazing how that works if everyone executes.”

Jim MIller: “George Perles modeled Michigan State after Chuck Noll and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Our practices were just what the Steelers did back during their four Super Bowl run when George was defensive coordinator. Our uniforms were even modeled after the Steelers down to the stickered emblem only on one side of the helmet.”

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Exclusive with Former Browns Head Coach Sam Rutigliano

First, what have you been involved with lately -family, work, etc.

Well, I moved 19 times and my kids have gone to 28 schools. So I’m making up time with my family after all of that time I spent in the NFL. And I also help out some of the coaches here in Cleveland at Notre Dame College. So I’ve had fun helping them too.

Your work on the Inner Circle is well-known and lauded – how did that start and what you think about the legacy and impact its having on players today?

Well, it started when a player came to me who was on drugs. We helped save many players’ lives because Art Modell paid for all of their treatments. It all started with Art because his son had the same type of problems so he helped the players who had issues. He helped eight-to-10 players on those Cleveland teams.

The Inner Circle Foundation is now a nonprofit that serves at risk kids in the Cleveland Metropolitan District. Dr. Greg Collins worked with me to create the first substance prevention program in the NFL and created Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation 10 years ago. You can learn more about it at coachsams.org

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Exclusive with Steelers Safety Tray Matthews

First, what are you looking to improve on most this offseason – I know you just got on the phone after working out?

I always try to find something to be better at. One day it’s trying to get my hands on the ball more and get more turnovers in practice, one day it’s working out more in the slot, another more on man defense. You can choose what you want to work on in practice and I try to work on everything.

The coaches say anything to you about what they want you to focus on?

Well I came in late, so I think they’re still learning me too.

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Exclusive with Former Bengals Head Coach Sam Wyche

First, let us know what you’e been doing lately?

Well, first of all everyone seems to be worried about my health. I had a heart transplant three years ago and it went without a problem. I was very fortunate though – I was in my last hours – maybe minutes of life – when the heart showed up. It had to be the right fit and blood type and I got it just in time. I’m blessed beyond words.

It’s funny – the doctor made a mistake when he was talking to me about the heart. He said it’d take two hours to get the heart and two hours to get back, and I needed it in me by four hours latest. I did the calculation and actually figured that two hours from me was very likely Pittsburgh – so I could have the heart of a Terrible Towel waving Pittsburgh Steelers fan in me right now!

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