Then: A running back/kick returner drafted by the Cardinals in the sixth round in 2002. Played with Cardinals from 2002-04. Also played in Seattle, Buffalo and Seattle again from 2005-07. Spent 2009 season with Las Vegas of the UFL.
Now: Pro scouting intern with the Cardinals.
College: Kansas State.
Age: 30.
Personal: Single. Hometown is Oklahoma City.
Question: How did you become interesting in pro scouting?
Answer: I've always had an interest in evaluation and critiquing talent. Since I played in the UFL last year, I felt that I was wasting my time and I wanted to come into the personnel aspect of it. The Cardinals gave me an opportunity and I said, "I can't pass this up."
They gave me an opportunity to play in the National Football League and it was kind of like it was fate they gave me an opportunity to further my second career.
Q: Did you not see a lot of future in football last year in the UFL?
A: I was coming off the broken leg (suffered in a playoff game in January 2008). I sat out that whole 2008 season and no one was really giving me the opportunity to really come in, and I said I'll play in the UFL and hopefully somebody will see me and at least invite me to camp. After the season was over, I wasn't getting a lot of calls, and I just decided, "Hey, it is what it is."
One thing I learned about this game and playing the years that I did: As much as you love the game, the game doesn't love you back as much. It's something you have to come to terms with and a lot of guys struggle with that.
Q: Is it strange not playing?
A: At training camp, I wondered how I would feel. But I went to the first practice and thought, "I don't miss (playing) at all."
Q: As a player, did you enjoy the film study part of the game?
A: I'm not going to lie. There are times now I could sit in a room and watch film for six or seven hours and there is no way under the sun I would have watched six or seven hours of film when I was playing. No way.
Q: What are your short-term and long-term goals?
A: I want to be a (personnel) director or maybe a GM one day. I'd by lying to myself if I said I wanted to be a scout for the next 20 years. We all want to get to levels and get to the plateau. But I love the scouting part now.
Q: Anything about the job surprise you?
A: A few things. But I knew it was a lot of long hours and had to watch a lot of film. You have to be very detailed about what you're doing. You are giving these scouting reports to the coaches and players, and you have to be very detailed. That was a big thing for me. Anything else was pretty much what I expected. It's not rocket science. It's football.
Q: You were a kick returner and special-teams guy. You have to appreciate what LaRod Stephens-Howling is doing.
A: I love it. I get excited when I see that guy out there. He reminds me of me a lot. For a guy of his stature and size and how big he plays, it's quite impressive. He does it week-in and week-out. I salute him every Sunday.
