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Charles Mann on how his passion for learning paid off on the football field ~\n\n". . .that [play] book was thick and I memorized, I mean, I took in all that information and had it down and those last few years of my football career were effortless "\n\nCharles Mann, Business Man and Washington Redskins 70 Greatest Honoree and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview\n\nAndy Ockershausen:\tThis is Our Town, this is Andy Ockershausen and delightful guest today is, one of our favorites from the glory days of the Washington Redskins, but we're not here to talk about the Redskins. We're talking about a man names Charles Mann, number 71, who'll always be remembered as a co-End with Dexter Manley. \nCharles Mann:\tThat's true. That's a good way to be remembered. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tThose were the glory years. \nCharles Mann:\tTwo extremes. One extreme to the other extreme. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tBut Charles, you've had such a wonderful career beyond football, I mean, all the things that you've done and your accomplishments are, I think, great lessons for the young players, that there's life after football. You proved it. \nCharles Mann - Passion for Learning Paid Off on Football Field\nCharles Mann:\tYou know, Joe Gibbs told me this, and I never knew this and now I'm starting to brag 'cause you know, as more time ... and this is my 22nd year out of the league so, the longer you're out of the league, the more embellishments come. \n\tAnyway, but this is the truth, Joe Gibbs told me that I scored the highest on the test that they give players to see their football aptitude and it's called the, I can't even think of the name of the test. But, it's very well known. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tA league wide test, correct? \nCharles Mann:\tA league wide test that they give ... they'd give it at the Combine I believe. But, they tested me and it's not an aptitude, it's a football aptitude test. It's how many concepts, how much information can they take in and deal with-\nAndy Ockershausen:\tWhat can you absorb, correct? \nCharles Mann:\tYeah so, I never knew though, that I had a passion for learning. And I had a passion for learning and it transferred from the football field. We had this thick binder that Torgy Torgeson and Larry Peccatiello and-\nAndy Ockershausen:\tAll the assistant coaches. \nCharles Mann:\tYeah, that, I mean ... and Petitbon, the main guy, but that book was thick and I memorized, I mean, I took in all that information and had it down and those last few years of my football career were effortless. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tYou were way ahead. \nWork Smarter, Not Harder - Career Related Surgery\nCharles Mann:\tWell, what you wanna do in life is, you wanna work smarter, not harder, you know? And so I began to apply my skills and my brain over those physical skills that are starting to slow down and wear down ... I just two years ago, December 21, 2015, I had back surgery, L3-L4. I had it 0n December 21 and I remembered very well-\nAndy Ockershausen:\tDid the league pay for that surgery? \nCharles Mann:\tNo. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tThat was you? \nCharles Mann:\tYeah. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tYou were out of it long enough so couldn't blame it on them. \nCharles Mann:\tNo, they should ... No, it definitely was from my career. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tFootball related.\nCharles Mann:\tEverything I have is from my career, but you have to go through a whole bunch of trials and tribulations and prove a bunch of stuff and by the time you have the surgery, you should have had it two years prior. So I always have insurance-\nAndy Ockershausen:\tSo you just got it done. \nCharles Mann:\tSo I just go have the insurance and pay for it, but I had it done-\nAndy Ockershausen:\tLet's talk about the old Charles Mann. \nCharles Mann:\tNo, but let me tell you this though, I had it done as a gift to myself. That's why I had it on December 21. This was my Christmas gift, I was not gonna have anymore doggone back pain. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tGood for you.