LOL, Shahab! Good one! I just found it strange that I didn't see anyone
post about it.
Streetr
On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 5:51 AM Steve Bernholtz <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
That, was funny.
steve
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On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 7:06, Shahab Hasan
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yeah, thanks for the breaking news, Joe... err... Streetr. :-)
Shahab
On Tuesday, June 29, 2021, 3:10:24 AM EDT, Streetr <stlrmn1@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Holy smokes, I've been busy as heck and just read about this tonight and
Wexell got a phone interview with Dave:
DAVID DECASTRO <https://247sports.com/Player/David-DeCastro-24369>,
former All-Pro guard, Pittsburgh Steelers
Q: What can you tell me, Dave? What happened?
DD: I had some painful ankle issues. I'll need it cleaned up for a third
time in my career. I had trouble with it last year and was hoping it would
get better. I was holding out hope it would get better, but it never really
recovered. Got an MRI on it and I need to get it cleaned out again. The
body doesn't want to cooperate sometimes.
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Q: Are you going to retire?
DD: I'm not sure. I'm going to talk to the doctor, see how the surgery
goes and take it from there. I'm not entirely sure. I just want to take it
one step at a time.
Q: The need for a third operation came up just recently?
DD: Yeah, just recently. I gave it some time. I didn't start working out
on it until the month before. I let it rest, but I got the MRI at minicamp
and was waiting on the doctor's opinion on what to do at minicamp. He came
back and said I needed surgery.
Q: It's a shock to Steelers fans who were looking at you as the rallying
point of leadership for a line that's so young. Is it a shock to the
Steelers? Is it a shock to you?
DD: No, not really, man. It's a business and they're in good hands.
They've got a good coach. I like (Adrian) Klemm
<https://247sports.com/coach/Adrian-Klemm696>. I like this assistant, Chris
Morgan <https://247sports.com/Player/Chris-Morgan-12821>, too. They've
got some good young guys, too, to build off of. I like what (Matt) Canada
<https://247sports.com/coach/Matt-Canada-464>'s doing as well. I was
looking forward to it. I really was. Thought it was a good group. They'll
be just fine. They're in good hands. It's the nature of the business, man.
Things end quick.
Q: Yeah. Wow. Isn't cohesion, though, one of the most important elements
of offensive line play? Or is that media hyperbole?
DD: No, it is. It definitely is. You guys are right about that one. But
like I said, it's hard in this business to have cohesion. There's a lot of
turnover. We were lucky with what we had, the many years we did. But
they'll be fine. They'll get it right. They'll have a good training camp.
It's a good group. They have some experience.
Q: What in particular do you like about the new coaches and the young
offensive linemen?
DD: I like both coaches. Klemm, obviously, played in the league. He knows
what he's doing, a no-nonsense kind of guy. He'll get the guys right, on
paper and mentally. I like Chris Morgan a lot, just getting to talk to him
briefly from the experience I had. He knows his stuff. He's been in this
league a long time and coaching football a long time. As far as the guys
go, I hope (Zach) Banner <https://247sports.com/Player/Zach-Banner-7234> gets
that knee right. Obviously he has a tremendous amount of physical talent.
Chuks
(Okorafor) <https://247sports.com/Player/Chukwuma-Okorafor-30753>, I'm
looking forward to watching him, looking forward to watching all these guys
- (Kevin) Dotson <https://247sports.com/Player/Kevin-Dotson-56972>, all
these young guys I've played with and watched. I think they'll do well.
It's going to be weird watching from a distance but they'll do well.
Q: What about leadership? People in the national media who didn't know
never appreciated the linemen who were the real leaders of the Steelers. It
wasn't chaos. But now that you're all gone, what about that leadership?
DD: Ah, they'll be good. The locker room's good. You guys want to
exaggerate things, like the locker room. With social media, things get
blown out of proportion. But the Steelers do it the right way. They really
do. They're a great organization. They know how to handle their players.
They let the players have some responsibility. Other teams seem to overhold
peoples' hands and whatnot, but (Mike) Tomlin
<https://247sports.com/coach/Mike-Tomlin-3362> always says he doesn't
like too many rules. He treats you like an adult and expects you to perform
like one, so I think those guys get it. There are enough leaders in there.
I think they'll be fine.
Q: So, what would you consider the high points of your career here?
DD: I think those offensive years when we were really rolling, when we
were tops in the league. That was a lot of fun. Probably my best memories.
We were on a nice roll there.
Q: You had some big days with Le'Veon. Watching you pull was fun.
DD: (Laughs)
Q: Did all of that mobility play a part in your ankle?
DD: Who knows, man. I think it happened early on when I first got hurt my
rookie year. That's what the doctors said at least. You know how injuries
go. They kind of snowball and you never catch up. Tough when you get older,
too. We'll see how the surgery goes.
Q: If you do play again, do you have a preference? Are you still a West
Coast guy?
DD: I don't know what I am anymore. I've got to figure it out. It's kind
of weird having all these choices. But I don't know. We're going to hang
out here for some time. I need to get this ankle right and see if I want to
play. That's the other question. I can't tell you how the ankle's going to
feel. I mean, three times on an ankle, and ankles don't really heal that
well, not like knees. It just doesn't seem like there's enough blood flow
or whatnot down there. We've got to figure it out. I've got a lot of
decisions to make. I've got three kids to keep me busy and sane.
Q: You do have a home around Pittsburgh?
DD: I do. We live here year around.
Q: All right, Dave. We'll all miss you.
DD: Yeah, it was fun Jim.
Q: You'll be back for ceremonies. And when you make the 100-year team,
hopefully I'll still be around.
24COMMENTS
<https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/Article/All-Pro-offensive-lineman-discusses-the-ankle-injury-that-caused-his-release-and-what-he-believes-is-a-bright-future-for-the-Steelers-166979578/#>
DD: It'll be good, man. We'll have a beer. Take care.
