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Former Steeler RB Batch: 'Absurd' To Call Professional Athletes Slaves

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Baron Batch takes a look at life inside and outside of the football fishbowl with Troy Clardy on Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan.

Batch was released during the preseason this year, but he has no regrets about his time in Pittsburgh.

"I loved it. I loved every second I got to play," he says. "But that being said, too many guys fall in love with what football brings, and not the competition that it brought. I never fell in love with the game of football itself. I fell in love with the competition. When you really love competing, and you're selective about the things you choose to compete at, you'll be successful at whatever that is."

"The lifestyle that the NFL brings, it goes away," he added. "At some point, football ends. For me, I understand that. Because of that, I began to build these multiple structures of things I wanted to do when I was done. So when football fell down, there was no down time. There was no sitting around and figuring out what I was going to do. I'm fulfilled, and it's a good feeling."

One thing that irks Batch though, is when he hears athletes compare themselves to slaves.

"Every time I see an athlete say 'We are like slaves and the league is our master,' it (ticks) me off," he admits. "If you want to know what the life of a slave was like, go read your history books and it'll put that in perspective really fast. You're not a slave. It's absurd. It's ignorant, it's ridiculous and it's stupid. You're not a slave, you're just somebody who didn't fully take advantage of every opportunity, and when your sport ended, you were bitter about it."

Batch also shares his thoughts on whether it was difficult to balance his outside interests with football, how his artwork and blogging are keeping him busy, his approach to life and why he chose to remain in Pittsburgh. For those thoughts, listen to the entire interview below:

Baron Batch

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