Frank "The Tank" Summers Interview

My first of hopefully many interviews came with Frank Summers. I had the chance to speak with Mr. Summers about his status with the Steelers and his future in the NFL.

Question 1 - What is your role with the Steelers?

Summers - I am not going to say that I am the guy or not the guy. I think part of the Steelers bringing me in was to help the organization as far as me being a complete football player.

That's fullback, running back, and special teams, so, all I know, I'm just trying to work my butt off, and do anything the coaching staff asks of me.

If they ask me to run down and cover kicks, I'm doing it; blocks, I'm doing it; if they ask me to carry the ball in certain situations, I'll do it.

Anything the coaching staff asks of me, I'm more than willing to do.

Question 2- How do you feel about being compared to Jerome Bettis?

Summers- We get a lot of comparisons, but Jerome Bettis is a great player, and in my mind, someday a Hall of Famer, so I can't compare to come close to that right now. I don't have a regular season game in the NFL.

So, as of right now, I'm just working hard and using this whole process as a learning experience to help me out for the future.

Question 3 - What was the atmosphere like for your first pre-season game in the NFL when the Arizona Cardinals came to Heinz Field?

Summers - Oh, it was very nice. I would say a blessing and a dream. Just to be able to take an NFL field. To come here, to the Super Bowl winners of last year, and such a great organization as the Steelers.

When I walked out of the tunnel, and saw the stadium with the fans, everybody had their Terrible Towels.

It was, I just need to take this in and realize, and really give thanks for me being in this position and being here. It was very much a dream come true, and I am really looking forward to taking the field there a lot more.

Question 4 - The Steelers had the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL last year, and return almost every starter. Who is the hardest hitter on the Steelers defense?

Summers- Oh man, it's crazy. This whole defense could be Pro Bowl. They should just put this defense in the Pro Bowl. But they're great guys.

Obviously, we have the Defensive MVP in James Harrison, we got Troy Polamalu, we got Lawrence Timmons, a first-round pick a couple years back—he's an athlete. We got Ryan Clark at safety. It's just crazy.

The talent they have here on this defense, I would, shoot man, practicing against this defense more than prepares you to go into a game.

The game kind of slows down when you've seen this defense flying at you from every which way in practice. It truly is a blessing going up against a defense such as good as this one, day in and day out.

Question 5 - You said in an interview on Steelers.com that you play with the intensity of a defensive player. If you were to play defense, what position would you play?

Summers - Probably defensive end. Defensive end or linebacker.

Question 6 - In the NFL, what do you think your niche is going to be?

Summers - I don't know. As of right now, I am trying to make it on special teams. Like I said before, wherever the coaches feel I could help the team out, I am going to accept it and embrace it with open arms and I am more than willing to go do it.

Question 7 - Because of your size, do most people doubt your speed?

Summers - Yeah, I think so. In this league, there are a lot of guys that are big, strong, and fast, but I am a blue-collar worker, I'm going to keep working and try to do what I do.

Question 8 - When you signed your rookie contract, your signing bonus was $115,000. What is the first thing you bought?

Summers - After taxes, it was about 70 grand. I had some bills that I needed to pay off. Really, the rest of it, I just put it up. I put it into CD accounts. I have a car already, I am not going to be buying a house or anything. I just put the rest up.

Question 9 - Have you checked out Madden 10 yet?

Summers - Actually, I am not really a big gamer. I've seen it, I've seen one game. I haven't checked it out myself personally.

Question 10 - Have you gone through any rookie hazing yet?

Summers - Just a little bit. I had to sing a couple of songs, but nothing over the top.

Question 11 - Who are some of the guys that you are closest with on the team?

Summers - This is a great group of guys, all of them. They help me a lot, so I hang with all of them. I hang with all the running backs, but the rookies are always together though.

Question 12 - Why didn't you play in the second pre-season game, against the Redskins?

Summers - My hamstring got a little tight on the last Thursday, right before the game. I thought it was pretty good, but they wanted to hold me out of this last game.