Did Kiefer Sutherland get him the BIG (Prison) BREAK?

[Robert Knepper Bio on IMDB]

"(2009 - On quitting acting) Ten or fifteen years ago, Kiefer Sutherland used to go to the same gym as me. I remember telling him that I wanted to quit (acting). It was before Prison Break (2005) and I couldn't find any work and I wanted to quit. He *beep* punched me! He punched me so hard. He told me, 'Don't you ever give up!' and I thank Kiefer every day for that advice."

Kiefer Sutherland was at the height of his influence in 2005 with a series called '24'. The year before when they started filming the first season of Prison Break Kiefer Sutherland was still at the height of his powers as a producer of the top show on Fox Producers are friends with other producers, they are like a club.

Do you think he suggested Robert Knepper for the cast of Prison Break?

The way Robert says this, it suggests he is acknowledging his help.