Joe Greene knows firsthand how important teamwork is on the football field. The Hall of Fame defensive tackle helped turn the Pittsburgh Steelers into one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history, winning four Super Bowl titles during the 1970s.
In 13 seasons with the franchise, Greene received his fair share of accolades. He was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year back in 1969, received Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1972 and 1974, and won the prestigious Man of the Year award in 1979. But Greene believes that today's players are too focused on individual achievements and less interested in team success.
"When I started to play, it was important for me to represent myself and my name, represent my school. And to represent my race was very important at that time," Greene told The DA Show on Friday. "I just don't know if these guys today... it seems like it's more about the individual, more about their brand. I'm telling you, your brand is football. One thing I leaned on a great deal when I played was, play to win. Play to win, and that takes care of everything..."
Earlier this month, the NFLPA announced that former Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch will serve as the union's first-ever chief brand ambassador. According to a statement, Lynch will aid athletes and partners through events and social media, and also assist in creating potential business opportunities.
As for Greene's beloved Steelers -- which currently sit in last place in a tight AFC North race -- they'll visit the rival Cleveland Browns in a Week 8 matchup on Sunday afternoon. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the Steelers (3-3) currently have just a 21-percent chance to reach the playoffs.
The entire football conversation between Greene and DA can be accessed in the audio player above.
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