and odd Steelers journey Auto bio redo of one

The speaker reflects on their long-standing friendship with someone named Andy. They initially became friends as teammates in football, but their friendship has grown beyond the sport. The speaker recalls being uncertain about joining the Pittsburgh Steelers but felt comforted by the presence of their linebacker coach, Dan Badrad Ratajkiewicz. The speaker sought advice from Badrad about what it takes to be a professional linebacker in the NFL. In the world of business, sports, and life, I'm not known to be a sentimentalist or one who walks down the memory lane of the Steeler dynasty. So when Andy asked me to script the foreword of his new book, it forced, or rather encouraged me, to reflect on the history of a friendship that has spanned some 30 years. A relationship that has developed from teammates, to friends, to businessmen. Actually, the years that we have known one another outside of football are five-fold of those that took place within the football arena. Our friendship goes back to my earliest days as a 1971 second-round Steelers draft choice. Thinking that I would be a first-round choice of the San Diego Chargers, I was not sure how I felt about being a Pittsburgh Steeler. I was scared, confused rookie, about to play for one of the worst teams in football. Being a Penn State graduate, however, I was excited by the fact that my linebacker coach, Dan Badrad Ratajkiewicz, was now an assistant coach with the Steelers. Badrad was fundamentally the best technique coach in the league, and had helped me and players like Ted Qualik to develop into All-Americans. To say that I respected his opinion would be an understatement. So, it was natural for a rookie to seek the sage advice of someone so trusted and familiar. On my first trip to Three Rivers Stadium and the Allegheny Club, I was about to sign my contract and conduct the obligatory press conference. Badrad was there to give me some much-needed support. I took the opportunity to ask him, What does it take to be a professional linebacker in the NFL?