First, you’re still with Atlanta right?
Yeah- I’ve been here for about eight weeks now after being released by the Steelers. I had a tryout with Oakland. I stayed ready and the Falcons called me in for a workout. I made the practice squad off of that workout – I had to stay there.
How hard is that process – going from tryout to tryout?
It’s stressful, but the outcome is better than the process. You have to enjoy the process – be in the moment. It is stressful being at home, working out and not knowing.
Well, tell us how you got started in the first place. You didn’t even start playing football until you were a senior in high school right?
Yeah – I played as a senior in high school. I only played then because I never really thought I’d play again. I didn’t play after that again until I was a junior in college at Fairmont State. That only happened because I was playing intramural basketball with my roommate at the time “Dewey” McDonald who’s now with the Raiders. We played the football team coaches and I dunked on the head coach! I considered myself more of a basketball player then but the coach told me I should try and play football – my roommate said he had been telling me that for a long time.
So I played and did ok. I wasn’t great – I was more athletic but didn’t know much about football. At the end of the season they started featuring me more and in my second year I started creating a buzz. After that first year the coach was fired so I went with him when he got a new job at California University of Pennsylvania and my roommate and played there, I didn’t get much playing time – it was competitive and there were three senior wide receivers I was behind.
And after that season, you looked to the draft…
I knew my 40 was good and some were saying I may get picked in the late rounds, but I told them whatever – I knew better. I just wanted a chance. Before the draft I got calls from about twenty-six of the thirty-two teams. But after the draft the calls stopped.
I talked to Mr. Mel (former Steeler Mel Blount) after that and he said he’d make a call to the Steelers to see if they’d have me in for a workout. Nothing more than that. They did and I did ok. The next week they signed me and I made the practice squad.
Who was present at the workout?
Coach T. – they were all there really. They could see I was a raw athlete – I had ability and could be molded. I didn’t know much but could learn.
Stepping back – tell us about your connection with Mel Blount.
I was working for Mr. Mel at his youth home since I was 17. I knew him since I was fourteen or fifteen – I went to school with his sons. He gave me a job as a farmhand when I was seventeen. I cut the grass for him – he had over three-hundred acres. There was so much grass to be cut!
When I got to college I couldn’t work during the week so I worked weekends there. His wife had me take training and gave me the opportunity to work with the kids as a counselor. I enjoyed that – it was really rewarding. I worked there for over seven years.
So you make the practice squad…who helps mentor you and shows you the ropes in the NFL?
Pittsburgh was a great place – everybody was approachable – from Antonio Brown to the practice squad guys, Even Coach T. would just come over and talk to you. The main one was Markus Wheaton. We connected – he was about the same age as me – he came in a year before me. Information flowed from him to me.
Coach Mann was a great help. He was a blessing. He didn’t care if you were a first round pick or not – he sat you down and went over things with you like you were the number one guy.
What do you think helped you most to make the team?
My work ethic….You can’t take days off – there’s someone vying for your job every second. Especially at this position. Even in the classroom – off the field. But it was fun more than anything.
Prior to my second season with the Steelers I was told by Coach T that if I didn’t make the team but just made the practice squad I should view it as a failure, meaning that he believed in my ability
Speaking of fun…who were some of the characters on the team then and hat made them so?
Antonio Brown was one of the funniest people I have ever met. Every day it was something new with his crazy outfits. He was a real genuine dude – nice. He would joke with you if you came in with flashy outfits – “You can’t afford that!” he’d say!
It was a bunch of clowns … there was always an opportunity to have fun.
How was Martavis Bryant to play alongside with? As an “insider”, is he a bit misunderstood by fans?
Bryant’s a good dude. Some things didn’t go his way. He is a great player and Coach Mann really has his back. He worked with him a lot when I was there. He learned a lot also from Antonio Brown – he saw what Antonio could do and working with him helped him see what he could do too. He was still a kid when I was there. He took some steps back but he’s made some great leaps forward.
How was Ben Roethlisberger to work with?
Ben is another great dude. My father passed away last year – at the end of March – two weeks before the offseason. But when I came back he was he first person to offer his condolences – he, then Coach T. It was humbling. Ben didn’t have to say anything – I was surprised he knew my dad passed and that he would be the first person to send his kindness.
Your second year you were released and went to Atlanta. What did they tell you heading into the season?
I’m not sure who the dude was I spoke with, but before the season they told me it would be the same situation as the last season where I’d be placed on the practice squad. But it didn’t happen. So I thought it was kind of fishy when it didn’t happen but I have no hard feelings. It’s a business.
When they called me into the office after the first day of cuts I figured it would be the same thing, but it worked out. It was hard waiting for a call but now I have a better opportunity here.
Any advice for young players going through the same thing?
Anything is possible. Take the opportunities and run with them. I know it’s a cliché but those clichés really work. I was thinking of all of them while I was trying to make it, and they helped me.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
