NFL Experience Quotes

I would welcome sitting for a year. Being able to experience what the NFL is like, settling into a new city. You get a house situated, there's marketing, there's stuff going on you're not used to. Being able to have a year to learn the offense, learn the speed of the game, and coming out in Year 2, you could focus all on football.

I've worn a lot of hats in the NFL.

I enjoyed the NFL. I respected the players. It was a great opportunity to learn a lot of things, but the challenges were a little different, and it didn't seem that you could control your own destiny, especially in terms of how you could bring players to the team.

I think I bring a good perspective because I did a lot of things in the NFL - player, head coach, assistant and scout.

I'd never worked for anyone else until I got to the NFL, and this will be my last time working for someone else.

I think when you're not in the NFL or when you're early in your career, you don't understand how hard guys work, especially the guys that play a long time and are successful.

To be taught to coach by Marty Schottenheimer, to be able to go to an organization like the Steelers. I came there at 34, probably brash, ready to set my niche.

When I go back to NFL functions today, I feel a bit on the outside looking in. I played 13 years in the NFL, and I loved it - made a Pro Bowl and went to the playoffs - but I always felt like I was having to knock the door down to get in.

It was a wonderful experience to play in the NFL, and I have no regrets. I truly will miss playing for the Lions. I consider the Lions' players, coaches, staff, management and fans my family. I leave on good terms with everyone in the organization.

What shocked me, and what I wasn't prepared for, was just how brutal and how unethical some people can be in the NFL. I mean, there were some great people, but there were some real snakes, too. I was like, 'Holy cow!' But it made me a better person, and it got me ready for other things.

I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back.

I've really gained an appreciation for what coaches do since I returned to the NFL.

When I first came into the league, I was with Tim Dwight in San Diego, and a guy named Eric Parker, who really showed me the work ethic it takes to be an NFL receiver, and I've really tried to keep that with me.

I love preseason games. They are fun to me because you get to go out there with guys that are on the NFL field for the first time and playing against guys who are going to be on the field for the first time.

I don't deal in the world of fair. The NFL is the no fair league and I experienced that as much as anybody.

I had a great time in the NFL. To make it in the amount of time that I did was awesome; it's a dream come true, and hell, it gave me the opportunity to go wrestle.

A lot of times, I got confused for a kicker. And I've been compared to every white player in the NFL.

I've been in three offenses in the NFL. I think I'm pretty good now.

Being a part of the NFL for 30 years was a blessing.

As far as the NFL experience, it's difficult. It's a ton of fun, but it's difficult.

I first learned about kicking under pressure in 1996, my rookie year with the Patriots. I was signed as a free agent by a team that already had Matt Bahr, one of the best kickers around. To win the job, I had to show coach Bill Parcells that I could make kicks when they counted. That process started in training camp.

When I came to the NFL, I was just trying to make the team.

I mean, I don't really take a lot of blows. Since I've been 20 years old in the NFL, that's never going to change in my playing style.

We had a great staff in college, so after I got to the league, I'd already seen stuff I knew. Then it was enhanced, playing the game with great guys like Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Chris McAlister.

I think it's great just to be around great quarterbacks who have played in this league for a long time because everybody wants to.