stillers4me
12-24-2011, 08:22 AM
One of his fondest Christmas memories is getting a Barry Foster jersey, something Ryan Mundy had "begged" his mother to buy him.
More than a decade later, coach Mike Tomlin made it clear to Mundy that the second No. 29 Steelers jersey he received was anything but a gift.
It came shortly after the Steelers had taken Mundy in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The rookies were in an orientation class on handling the media, and Tomlin popped into the room and started interviewing them. That is when Mundy received his first welcome-to-the-NFL moment.
"I don't remember exactly how he phrased it. I just remember the concept of being from Pittsburgh is not going to help me make this team," said Mundy, a Woodland Hills graduate. "I kind of had to get my head out of the clouds and come to work just to make the team."
Mundy, who will try to help the Steelers beat the St. Louis Rams today at Heinz Field, hasn't just made it with his hometown team. He has quietly carved out a key role on it..............
Read more: Long way home: Steelers' Mundy shines in backup role - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_773570.html#ixzz1hShaoJfb) http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_773570.html#ixzz1hShaoJfb
More than a decade later, coach Mike Tomlin made it clear to Mundy that the second No. 29 Steelers jersey he received was anything but a gift.
It came shortly after the Steelers had taken Mundy in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The rookies were in an orientation class on handling the media, and Tomlin popped into the room and started interviewing them. That is when Mundy received his first welcome-to-the-NFL moment.
"I don't remember exactly how he phrased it. I just remember the concept of being from Pittsburgh is not going to help me make this team," said Mundy, a Woodland Hills graduate. "I kind of had to get my head out of the clouds and come to work just to make the team."
Mundy, who will try to help the Steelers beat the St. Louis Rams today at Heinz Field, hasn't just made it with his hometown team. He has quietly carved out a key role on it..............
Read more: Long way home: Steelers' Mundy shines in backup role - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_773570.html#ixzz1hShaoJfb) http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_773570.html#ixzz1hShaoJfb