First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself this season?

Well, I’m a free agent still – have been for eleven months now. I’m staying ready and focused.  I know how the game works and I’m staying in shape and ready.

What has your agent told you?

That I need to stay patient. The same thing I’m telling myself really. There are a lot of free agents that can play that haven’t been signed this year. I don’t know what it is but there’s a lot of talent on the street. A lot of players I expect will be back in the league next year.

What have you been doing with yourself in the meantime?

I started doing some internships – working with the NFLPA to line up some opportunities – like at SB Nation. The NFLPA gives players some great information and opportunities in their recently-released program. They even offer a free meal and free training every day – depending on what city you’re in. It gives us the chance to keep training and taking care of our bodies.

Getting to your college days and NFL – you were a highly-touted tight end in college but went undrafted. What happened and how frustrated were you?

I had no doubt I was going to go undrafted. After the NCAA investigation and suspension, I knew I squandered my opportunity away. After the season, I decided not to apply for reinstatement – many felt I was the number one tight end and I thought I could prove that at the combine. I had to show teams I wasn’t a character issue. But I broke my foot and couldn’t showcase my athletic ability. So no one was going to take  chance on an injured player who may also be a character issue.  So I knew I was not going to be drafted.

So, you signed on as a free agent with the Steelers. Why Pittsburgh?

I had lots of interest from other teams – Pittsburgh actually called me in to visit. Their tight end coach – Hayes – was hard-nosed, but he liked me in a father-figure kind of way. For me it was a series of unfortunate events and he believed in me. The team just went to the Super Bowl that year and I met Arians and Tomlin after – it was a no-brainer.

And you made the team…

Yeah – I had to make the team in sixteen days – I was the only undrafted guy to make the team. That was due to the lockout – we only had sixteen days to practice. Everything was condensed. The chances were slim – I was a longshot. Arians liked guys who could make plays. He knew I has talent.

Who helped mentor you – helped you adjust to the team and NFL?

I couldn’t have gone to a better organization. There were so many veterans. Heath Miller was the guy – there was no better guy. He knew what would happen before it happened. He knew I’d hit the rookie wall and knew how I’d handle the complex offense under Arians. He showed me how to handle the anger and rage and keep it on the football field – in-between the lines. He showed me how to focus on every play – no brain farts that get you in trouble.

Tell us a bit about the humor on the team?

We had a great time. Ward and Foote and Farrior – he was the life of the party. It was unusual to have the young guys so close to them – Sanders, Brown, Wallace – we had a lot of young guys too. It didn’t end the way we envisioned it. We lost to Denver in the championship and really thought we’d beat them. But it was the best team I ever played on.

Any funny experiences that stand out?

Oh yeah…in San Francisco. I remember when the power went out and all the lights went out. It was a Monday Night game – all the world was watching. We just sat on the field joking. It was a great experience. The lights came on twenty minutes later and we lost, but it was fun handling that situation together.

After that season you were suspended. What happened and what did the team tell you?

I should have known better than to take something without the proper therapeutic exemptions that  were required. I tested positive for Adderall – we just came off the lockout and they didn’t have the minicamp and symposiums for rookies that tell you what’s banned and what’s approved. I was ignorant and tested positive in 2011. I was notified and served the suspension the beginning of the next season. There’s more leeway now than there was then for these types of cases, but there was zero tolerance then.

Were you surprised to be released afterwards?

Afterwards I went to Indianapolis. During the four-game suspension the team asked for a roster exemption for me. In week five it was just a matter of who was going to be released when I came back. It was unusual to be cu like that. But I can’t blame anyone. No, the team didn’t tell me why, but they are the employer and don’t have to. They didn’t owe me anything.

How did Indianapolis compare with the Steelers in terms of atmosphere?

Pittsburgh was a veteran team – one of the oldest in the NFL, and Indianapolis was the youngest in the NFL. I got there mid-season and they just lost big to the Jets two days before. It was very somber then. They were still trying to find their identity. Arians brought me in – he was the interim head coach. He started me that Sunday – I knew that offense well already because I played for Arians. We were hungry and made the playoffs despite no one expecting anything from us. It was a magical experience.

What would you tell young players entering the game today?

I’d tell them that they should be accountable and truthful. Face the past and learn from their mistakes – tell the truth and work hard and it will all sort itself out. If I didn’t do what I did I’d still be in the league.

Any chance we see you back in Pittsburgh?

Antonio is still a good friend of mine. I worked with Todd Haley – I have a rapport with him. I wouldn’t mind being back in the ‘Burgh. My agent reached out earlier this season….I would love to be back!

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