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

Let’s see – after the Steelers, I played in Kansas City and Green Bay. I started a business with Reggie White in Green Bay –  a jersey store. I had that fir fifteen years. But I got sick and had a lot of medical bills. I had to sell the business.

What was the issue?

I had heart and other issues related to the NFL. So I floated around – coached Arena Football for a while and had the top rated defense there. I wanted to get into the NFL again but it’s hard to do that  when you’re part of the NFL concussion lawsuit. Back then, you really had to choose – either try to be a coach or scout – or be a part of the lawsuit. Who knew the lawsuit would take so long.

How are you dealing with the medical bills now?

I didn’t want to be that guy that made good money but was broke after the NFL. The medical bills are over $680,000 – for the hospital and heart issues and medication. Obamacare happened way too late for me!

In 30-60 days they should rule on the last five or so issues then start the payouts. I’m not expecting much. Most of us have our pride – we don’t want handouts. But with the concussions – they’d throw us out on the field like we were  apiece of meat. They act like the Ray Rice thing was an aberration. But it’s just a bottom line issue with the NFL. They are a juggernaut and they do what they want. And they don’t have to pay for it.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great game. I still watch it now. But these guys are bigger, faster and stronger. People don’t realize how strong these guys are. How hard they hit and how easy it is to get a concussion. There aren’t glancing blows just like there’s no such thing as a tap from a car – or when a 280 pound guy who runs a 4.5 hits you. There is not tap from Mike Tyson. Most of us didn’t want a lawsuit but it affects us in regular life. It runs deeper than the game. People don’t feel sorry for rich people, like when Katy Perry has dating problems. Who cares? Regular people just don’t know the real deal…the depression and those things.

I have to say people in Pittsburgh don’t care what you do anyway. Even if they know you’re a Steeler – they don’t care what your job is. They appreciate hard work. It’s a blue collar town.

You were blinded in one eye as a kid – how did that happen and how did that affect you as a player?

I was working for my grandma and was hit in the eye. It was worse than being blinded in the eye – I had 20/2,600 vision.  All I could see was colors – like when you have too much chlorine in your eyes, It was hard to judge catching the ball. When I was with the Steelers, LeBeau said I couldn’t catch AIDS if I had sex with the virus! He asked if I would go have eye surgery and I said sure. They gave me a lens implant and corrected it.

How did you adjust to life in the NFL?

I didn’t have a good adjustment – I messed up in two ways. First, I held out for three days. Coach Noll said no one does that. Second, when I was walking on to the field with Noll, he cut someone right in front of me. Someone was tackling someone the wrong way, and he yelled at Donohoe to make sure they cut him or both of them would be fired if the saw the guy tomorrow. He then want on to start talking to me again!

Who helped you most as a rookie?

Greg Lloyd helped me in different ways. He told me to tell Joe Green “Thanks Mean Joe!” This was right after the Coke commercial and Joe was mad it was so popular and he got paid so little. So Joe grabbed me and picked me up and pushed me against the wall. Lloyd had to rush in and tell Joe he told me to say it. Greg saved me – he told Joe he told me to do it!

Greg also told me he “had me” when we were in the cafeteria. I had my tray of food and then he just walked away. I had no money – I didn’t even have pockets! I told them I’d write a check – but they made me sing for my food!

What did you sing?

My school fight song! I sang so bad they never asked me to do it again. When Cowher came in he got rid of all of that. He didn’t want that kind of pressure on the rookies.

I also remember when Noll did the hamburger drill my rookie year. On offense it was Hoge and Dawson. On defense it was Lloyd and he picked me for some reason! I asked why and he said it was because I was supposed to be one of the best tacklers. I remember putting a good hit on Hoge!

How did the team handle the change in coaches in 1992 – from Noll to Cowher?

Cowher took a long time to be the coach he is today, let me just say it that way. When he was young he especially loved special teams. He loved to pick his people.  I used to call him Coach Rah Rah. When the media was around he’d get in your face. I’m not sure if it was for show or something. But normally he was always in deep thought. He was more cerebral – like Billichick.

Did you get along well with him?

We didn’t get along well.  I didn’t need a drill sergeant. Noll didn’t yell – he just wanted it done. He didn’t care how you did it. If we had a goal line drill, he’d say the only way to do it is to do it. To get a real feel for the goal line you had to do it. With Cowher, he wanted you to think about it more. Cowher trusted his coaches to do it for the players, and Noll trusted the reactions of his players more. Noll trusted you if he drafted you. He never lied to you.

Did you feel Coach Cowher did?

It was like the Deon Figures thing. He told Deon he was the starter then drafted a guy to replace him. I remember Rod Woodson and I had a horrible game against Buffalo. He said after the game he wouldn’t hold it against any of us. The next week he started Richard Shelton over me anyway, but kept Rod in. I didn’t care if he told me straight that he wouldn’t start me – but don’t lie to me.

How did humor help in your time there?

When we were watching film – especially after we won – we could say anything about anyone.  Then the defense was closer than the offense. We joked around a lot – pulled people’s pants down in the locker room – that kind of thing.

When we went to Carlisle to practice with the Redskins, Lloyd knew I was fast and had me go race Darrell Green, who was known to be one of the fastest guys in the NFL. I qualified for the Olympics so I was fast. I beat him the first time, and Darrell beat me the second time. When we were getting ready the third time Noll jumped in and stopped it yelled at us. “Yeah – go pull a hamstring and I will cut you!”

What advice would you give young players today?

I have the best advice ever. There are 50,000 guys across all of college, guys who are trying to get back into the game again…all fighting for 3,000 jobs that are already taken. Always have a plan B! I try to teach guys that all of the time.

Now, I’m moving up the ranks here at Home Depot. I get paid fairly well. The same things people admire in football are the things they appreciate in real life. Especially in Pittsburgh.

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