Tracking proCanes - Robert Bailey

proCanes.com is continuing our “Tracking proCanes” feature with former University of Miami, and NFL defensive back Robert Bailey. Bailey played eleven seasons for six teams, the Los Angeles Rams, the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Redskins, the Detroit Lions, and the Baltimore Ravens from 1991 to 2001 in the NFL Bailey was drafted in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Rams. He was nicknamed "Beetle" after comic strip character.

On October 23, 1994 as a member with the Rams, Bailey made the longest punt return in NFL history when he ran 103 yards for a touchdown in a game against the New Orleans Saints.What makes this return stand out is that every single player on the field assumed the ball was going to bounce through the end zone after the punt. Everyone, that is, except Bailey, who was the only person to see that the ball never bounced out of the end zone and was lying in the end zone still in play. He ran up, scooped the ball up, and returned it for a touchdown before anyone realized what had happened. A broken neck against the Green Bay Packers ended Bailey's NFL career in 2001. Bailey currently works in the sports marketing business with Rosenhaus Sports' agency.

proCanes.com: You're down here in Miami working with Drew Rosenhaus, talk about what you do for his firm and how you ended up working with him?
Robert Bailey: I started with Drew as a player, he was my agent. I was one of his first clients and finished my career with him which is unusual these days with more than 50% of players changing agents. When I retired after 11 years I had a good understanding of the business so he decided to bring me on board. Ten years later, I am the President of RSR.

pC: At what age did you start playing football, and did you play any other sports?
RB: I started playing football when I was ten years old. I played all sports but football I mastered.

pC: Were you a Hurricane fan growing up? If not, who did you like? If you were which former Hurricane player did you really like?
RB: I really did not watch college ball growing up but I did watch the NFL a little. My favorite player as a young kid was Tony Dorsett.

pC: Who recruited you out of High School?
RB: Coach Soldinger and Jimmy Johnson [recruited me]. Jimmy came to my house and said" You should want to be with us, not we want to be with you" I was sold right then.

pC: You're a Cane but you almost went to....
RB: U of Minnesota

pC: What was the toughest thing about playing at the U?
RB: There was nothing tough about playing at “The U,” that was all I knew.

pC: What's your favorite memory of your time at Miami?
RB: Running out of the tunnel with the smoke.

pC: You covered some great wide receivers during your days at Miami who was the toughest to go up against in practice?
RB: They were all tough and that made me a better player in the NFL.

pC: You won 2 National Championships talk about those experiences.
RB: They were great but truthfully it was common place back then. It was expected every year.

pC: Talk about Dennis Erickson and Jimmy Johnson as coaches. Jimmy. What was the difference between the two coaches?
RB: I loved Jimmy. He was the Principle to us and Erickson was a substitute teacher.

pC: Talk about the whole U is Family and the tight bonds players make and keep. Has that helped you in your job with your Hurricane clients?
RB: All Hurricanes stick together. That’s why when Jimmy was at Miami we weren’t allowed to be in fraternities. We were all we had. That lasts forever.

pC: Talk about your NFL days and the transition from the U. You were a 4th round pick by the Rams. What was the biggest adjustment when you first entered the NFL?
RB: The politics. I always competed on the field but there is a business off the field behind closed doors and salary and politics played a big part. In college, the best played and you had 4 yrs to prove you were one of the best.

pC: What was the key to your success and longevity as an NFL player?
RB: Physically, I was an above average player but mentally I was a Pro Bowler. I felt like I was the smartest player on the field and I knew everything that was happening.

pC: You won two Super Bowl rings, one with the Cowboys and one with the Ravens. Would you say one was more memorable than the other?
RB: They were both great memories. Many Hurricanes played with me on both those teams so I have to give them equal value.

pC: How was it playing on such a great defense like the Ravens' defense of 2000 which included fellow Canes Duane Starks and Ray Lewis?
RB: It felt great to play with guys who were very talented and knew how to play together. Our defense was the reason we won the Super Bowl.

pC: You hold the record for the longest punt return in NFL History. Talk about that play, and do you every think the record will be broken?
RB: As I said before, I was the smartest person on the field and I knew every rule. I took advantage of 11 other players that did not know that particular rule. Now every coach is showing that play so it won't happen again.

pC: Who was the toughest NFL receiver you had to go up against and why?
RB: Joey Galloway in his prime. That guy had speed, speed and more speed.

pC: What do you think about the last couple of years and the current state of Hurricane football and why do you think Miami hasn't been able to develop top defensive backs like yourself more consistently?
RB: I believe in college football the four year plan helps every school to eventually be good. When a school becomes good, high school athletes eventually start to go to other schools so they won't have to wait a long time to finally play. Eventually, the bad school becomes good and the good school becomes bad.

pC: What is a misconception people have about the University of Miami?
RB: That we were thugs all the time. We were thugs on the field but pretty smart guys off of it.

Word Asssociations: give me the first thing that pops in your head when you read the following:
Randy Shannon: Positive Larry Coker: Nice Orange Bowl: Legendary Dolphins Stadium: Business Sebastian the Ibis: huh? Jimmy Johnson: Leader Art Kehoe: Friend Ray Lewis: Boss Warren Sapp: Stud Coral Gables: Safe The Fiesta Bowl: Incredible Ohio State: Bitter

pC: Favorite NFL Team?
RB: I like all the NFL teams.

pC: Favorite NBA Team?
RB: The Heat.

pC: Favorite Baseball Team?
RB: The Marlins.

pC: Favorite Food?
RB: Fruit.

pC: What Band/Group I would find most of on your iPod?
RB: All old school/R&B.

pC: One movie you could watch over and over?
RB: The Book of Eli.

pC: One TV show you cannot miss?
RB: Spartacus.

pC: You didn't say Young and the Restless soap opera. You appeared once on the Young and the Restless, talk about how that came about. Do people still tease you about that one?
RB: I knew the executive producer, so that’s how I got on. Sometimes they still tease me.

pC: What do you do in your spare time?
RB: I spend time with the family.

We at proCanes.com would like to thank Robert Bailey for being so gracious with his time to do this very insightful interview for our new feature "Tracking proCanes." Click here to check out our past interviews with Leon Searcy, Steve Walsh, Frank Costa, John Routh, Chad Wilson, Mike Rumph and more!