First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since being with the Steelers and how your career has been in the CFL?
First. I love the city of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.
Since being with the Steelers my career has taken me to Cleveland with the Browns for two years, the second year injuring my knee then settling with the Browns (injured settlement). As I trained hard and fully recovered hoping to get another chance in the NFL the phone went silent. The Montreal Alouettes reached out and I packed my bags to see what the CFL was all about!
What are the biggest differences between the CFL and NFL for you as. defensive lineman?
The CFL has some different rules. First, a certain percentage of the team must be Canadian and a certain number of Canadians have to be starters. This always has me in jeopardy of 1- not starting 2- not playing and 3- not making a team. A couple of differences I face as a defensive lineman are; 1- the defense must be one yard off the ball (line of scrimmage) 2- there are only three downs. Therefore the league is over 75 percent passing. And like any defensive lineman will tell you, they don’t call holding.
Other differences are that the field is longer, wider, and end zones are 20 yards deep with the goalpost in the front of end zone.
What made you decide to sign with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2006- did you have offers from other teams?
In 2006 I signed with the Steelers as an un drafted free agent. I had a couple of offers from teams ( if I remembering correct), the Ravens, Jets, and Saints. There was no pressure in my choosing, even though I’m from Pennsylvania and went to Penn State. I picked Pittsburgh because I thought maybe I could come in learn from the best and win out a back up spot on the defensive line.
What do you think of the way the PSU program is progressing under coach Franklin? Any opportunity to help the recruitment process for PSU – is there even a strong football program in high schools in Canada?
I’m truly proud being Penn State alumni. I loved my time there. I’m very pleased with Coach Franklin’s progress with PSU. It’s great that in our first year becoming bowl eligible and coach’s first year with the program they were able to make a bowl game and win! I like what I’m reading about PSU’s recruitment and hope continued success. I have not met Coach Franklin yet, but hope to do so this spring! Anything I can do to help him or the PSU program I will!
What Steeler veterans helped mentor you as a young player – both on and off the field – and how did they do so? Any examples?
My time in Pittsburgh I was very lucky to have great veteran leadership to mentor me. Guys like Aaron Smith, Chris Hoke, Brett Kiesel, and Travis Kirschke. Hoke was my on-the-field mentor. He helped me learn the defense, know things to look for (pre-snap reads) from opponents, and how to better my craft after practice. We competed for the back up position and that might divide people, however he never didn’t answer a question I had. He was always a friend and my personal coach.
My locker was close to Aaron Smith’s. With Aaron I learned more about life. I was a single bachelor while with the Steelers and he kept me grounded. Made sure I didn’t over indulge with the social life outside football. He helped me see what is must important in life, family and faith. He doesn’t know it, but I watched hours of practice film and game film on him, on hopes to play more like him. He may be the reason I become a Republican too! Truly someone I looked up to on and off the field.
Then there was a guy out of the locker room. A guy that didn’t care if you were the first round pick or an undrafted free agent. A guy that was always there to make you laugh, invite you to a Penguins game, invite you out to eat, invite you over to the house to eat and play video games. A guy that made sure other people enjoyed themselves more then himself. And that guy is Jeff Reed!
How hard was the 3-4 for you to adjust too? What was the biggest adjustment you had to make?
The 3-4 was an adjustment and it took some time learning it. As a defensive lineman, it’s a whole different stance and way of taking off the ball. I did have the best coach. I learned under Coach John Mitchell. That man I owe so much too. He ripped me apart and built me up. He is a straight shooter and looked me In the eyes and told me what it would take to make the team or practice team. I took his advice and during all camps I would sit up front of the special teams meeting room because if you’re and an undrafted free agent you better be playing special teams!
How did you as a young player “on the bubble” deal with the pressure of making the squad?
My whole career has been on the bubble. I mean its been a roller coaster ride. One I would not trade for anything. I have been in seven NFL camps (five with the Steelers, two with Browns). I am credited with four credit years in the NFL. I am a Super Bowl Champ!! I’ve been cut more times then I can remember. There were seasons I was not on any team – just training, running along the river by the Steelers complex … running hills in the streets of South Side. All in hopes for another shot. People were telling me it might be time to hang it up, but my mind was focus on that chance.
As Cleveland was one that gave it to me, I did succeed and make it count! When you’re a guy on the bubble you just use the fear to keep you on your toes. You don’t let it swallow you. I used it to keep me a step better and faster then guys that may have been more athletic then me. “Do something good everyday that makes the coaches talk about you or recognize you”, Brett Kiesel told me that when I was a young guy on the Steelers. I now tell the young guys this that I see that worry about the bubble. It’s something I still keep in my mind everyday in camp and during season.
How much did humor play a part in that and on the team in general – can you offer some examples of the hijinks or funny occurrences?
Well my nickname is T-Rex … Honestly there are players and coaches during my time in Pittsburgh that didn’t know my real name. It never bothered me because if you said T-Rex they knew exactly who you’re talking about!
My team this year lost in the semi-finals. My personal highlight was earlier in the year I intercepted a pass only to return it about four yards, seeing I was going to be tackled I pitched the ball to our defensive back and he returned it for a touchdown. This play made the Sportscenter top 10 in Canada and in the states!
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