NFL FanHouse

'All Day' Peterson Wants to Be Best Ever

Matt Snyder — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, NFC North, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

On the day of the release of his new DVD, "All Day with Adrian Peterson," FanHouse caught up with with the superstar running back for a few minutes of time during his busy schedule. The movie is available at Best Buy in conjunction with NFL Films and Warner Home Video. You can also purchase it online at Amazon.com.

Matt Snyder: So, what should the masses know about this video?

Adrian Peterson: It's a great behind-the-scenes look of things from practice and some good highlights. It also shows some footage of growing up and during the NFL draft. There are conversations and things you can't see anywhere else. I definitely recommend everyone get a copy. You need to get yourself a copy, man!

Snyder: I already have it. I received an advanced copy and watched it this morning.

Peterson: Did you like it?

Snyder: Yeah, I loved a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff.

Peterson: What about the start, where I'm driving ... with the highlights on the windshield? Wasn't that cool?

Snyder: Yeah, it really was a great touch for the intro. I agree that it was really cool. A bit after that, you said your first goal is to win the NFC North and everything trickles down from there. Considering you guys won the North last year and lost the first playoff game -- and considering you are 5-0 now -- aren't things a bit heightened? Meaning, if you win the division and lose in the first round, isn't that a disappointment?

Peterson: Well, you always have to take things one step at a time. It's a process. We can't get into the playoffs without winning some games and we want to win the division. From there, you work on playoff games. Of course, we want to be a championship-caliber team and the ultimate goal is always to win the Super Bowl, but I don't want to say things have changed. We still always start with one game at a time, building first toward the NFC North title.

Snyder: One part I enjoyed from the DVD was when you discussed playing tackle football on the street as a kid -- how you wanted so badly not to get tackled on the pavement. Is that where you developed that devastating stiff-arm?

Peterson: Yes. I definitely did not want to get all cut up on the pavement, so that's where it started.

Snyder: Speaking of which, you had a few of those signature stiff-arms against Cleveland in Week 1. They were one of the six teams who passed on drafting you back in 2007. Do you remember those teams? If so, when you play against them, is there some sort of revenge factor?

Peterson: Yeah, I remember. I mean, it's always in my mind to a certain extent. It's like 'hey, you could've had me and now I'm beating you ... here's what you are missing.' But it's not a revenge-type thing. I don't get into that. I can't let anything get me outside of my game.

Snyder: After watching some of the practices from your rookie year on film, it appears that blocking was a much bigger adjustment for you than anything else. Is that true?

Peterson: I always felt like I was a good blocker. It's just that there are adjustments to be made in terms of understanding all the different schemes and coverages in the NFL. 'EB' has been working with me on it and I feel like I'm a good blocker.

Snyder: You mention, 'EB,' who is Eric Bieniemy, your running backs coach. It looked like you guys have an interesting relationship. You even bickered a few times like family members. Would you say you consider him one, like an uncle, maybe?

Peterson: Oh, most definitely. He's just like a family member to me. We get along so well because we both come from the same type of background. We are both good, genuine people and never mean any disrespect to each other. We might get into arguments or this or that, but it never crosses the line and we never say anything personal about each other. It's just two guys trying to find the best way to do things for the good of the team.

Snyder: You already have the single-game NFL rushing record. What other records, whether it's career, single-season or single-game, do you have your eyes on?

Peterson: All of them. (pauses) I want them all. Every single record possible, I want it. That's how I approach the game and everything I do. I want to be the best there is and ever was. I don't just want to be the best running back that has ever played football, I want to be the best player to have ever played football.

Snyder: Do you have to talk more about your current starting quarterback or your prowess as a fantasy football beast?

Peterson: (Iong pause accompanied by laughter) Man ... I don't even think I can answer that. It seems like all I ever hear about is either Brett (Favre) or fantasy football. The questions about Brett ... hearing 'hey, I need this many yards from you today for my fantasy league' ... or 'hey, I need more touchdowns!" It's really amazing how many football fans play fantasy football. So many people play. So many.

Snyder: Is any of that annoying?

Peterson: No, I really think it's amusing. I enjoy the talk.

Snyder: Being a Bears fan, I clearly remember that game your rookie year in Soldier Field quite well. You ran all over the Bears (20 carries, 224 yards, 3 touchdowns), but the biggest play was your late kickoff return to set up the game-winning field goal. Do you miss returning?

Peterson: Oh, absolutely I do. But don't get ahead of yourself, you might see me back there again.

Snyder: Seriously?

Peterson: Yeah, I never count anything out. You never know what they'll let me do. I'm still begging coach (Brad) Childress to let me be a gunner on the punt team. Just put me on the outside to run down the punt returner. I'd love to do that.

"I want to be the best there is and ever was. ... I want to be the best player to have ever played football."
-- Adrian Peterson Snyder: Who is the best team in the NFL, other than you guys?

Peterson: What, you don't want me to say us?

Snyder: Say you're No. 1, who is No. 2?

Peterson: It's way early. Early. There are some teams playing really good football right now. The Colts are playing great. The Saints ... we knew about Drew Brees, but the defense has really stepped up. Darren Sharper is such a good player and always makes those picks into big plays. There are a lot of teams playing really well ... Denver ... but it's early and hard to tell. We'll see.

Snyder: You've won some tough games, but it appears the schedule leading up to your bye week is the toughest slate of games to date: vs. Baltimore, at Pittsburgh and at Green Bay. Can you guys win all three games playing the way you've been playing and head into the bye 8-0, or do you need to step up and do some things better?

Peterson: Well, you say three games and I say one. We don't look ahead. We are focused on the Ravens right now and they are a great team. There are always adjustments to make. We try to plan like a championship team would plan and play like a championship team would play. We have to make sure to never play down to an opponent if we are clearly better and keep playing that way the entire game. Honestly, we haven't played a complete game to the best of our ability yet. We really haven't.

Here's a promotional clip from the DVD:

'All Day' Peterson Wants to Be Best Ever originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frank Gore Solidifying His Spot as One Of NFL's Top Running Backs

Nancy Gay — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Vikings, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Two weeks into the 2009 NFL season, 49ers' running back Frank Gore already has experienced his nightmare and dream scenarios. And both keep him up at night.

There was the horror of rushing for only 30 yards in the season-opening victory against the Arizona Cardinals. And then there was the validation of dominating the Seahawks' defense and producing 207 yards, a career-high 246 scrimmage yards and two of the longest scoring runs of his career, 79 and 80 yards, in a Week 2 victory at Candlestick Park.

More Coverage: Niners-Vikings Preview | Full Week 3 Schedule

"He calls after the game, which is the only time I have to sleep. He calls and I have to talk to him. Win or lose, he calls,'' said a laughing 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, who is in his first year working with Gore, but already has experienced the intense passion with which the fifth-year power rusher approaches the game.

Gore will square off against the NFL's leading rusher Sunday, Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson, at the Metrodome, in a showdown between unbeaten teams and the conference's top-two running backs. Peterson, who is listed as probable despite a sore back, has 272 rushing yards. Gore, who is probable with a sore ankle, has 237.

For the 49ers, it's a chance to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 1998. And while 49ers' coach Mike Singletary is adamant he doesn't want this to be a Peterson vs. Gore showdown, it will be impossible to completely prevent his emotionally charged running back from focusing on the matchup.

"I'm not gonna make this me against Adrian Peterson -- I just want us to win," says Gore, who earned his fourth NFC Player of the Week award last week and his first since Week 12 of 2007. "But I'll be watching him, and hopefully I'll keep this going. I'm just a guy who cares so much about the game and cares about what he does on the field."

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San Francisco 49ers Photos

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson, right, is tackled on a punt-return in the third quarter during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. 49ers' Delanie Walker (46) pursues.

Ben Margot, AP

San Francisco 49ers Photos

In this Nov. 10, 2008, photo, San Francisco 49ers coach MIke Singletary shouts instructions to his players in an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. Twenty-eight years after Singletary and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier met as rookies teammates with the Chicago Bears, they remain the closest of friends. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Ben Margot, AP

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Jed York, team president and owner of the San Francisco 49ers waits to go out for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jed York

Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Former San Francisco 49ers Joe Montana, Roger Craig and Dwight Clark walk onto the field for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Montana;Roger Craig;Dwight Clark

Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former San Francisco 49er Dwight Clark walks onto the field for a presentation during half time during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Clark

Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former 49ers Steve Young (L), Roger Craig (C) and Joe Montana (R) wait to go onto the field for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Steve Young;Roger Craig;Joe Montana

Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former 49ers Roger Craig (L) and Joe Montana wait to go out onto the field for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Roger Craig;Joe Montana

Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Eddie DeBartolo Jr, (R) former owner of the San Francisco 49ers, looks up at the stands as fans greet him just before half time during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eddie DeBartolo Jr

Getty Images

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace (15) fumbles the ball under pressure by the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Ray Chavez/Contra Costa Times/MCT)

MCT

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill is pushed out of bounds by Seattle Seahawks' Aaron Curry in the third quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Ray Chavez/Contra Costa Times/MCT)

MCT

Last week was a Gore masterpiece. The touchdown bursts of 79 and 80 yards, both breakaway charges through the gap, followed by afterburner sprints away from the Seahawks' secondary, put him in rare company -- he and Barry Sanders are the only two players in NFL history to have a pair of touchdown runs of at least 75 yards in one game.

"Everything just went perfect," says Gore, who posted his 16th career 100-yard performance in the win over Seattle. "Great blocking from the line, my fullback, the receivers. That's how it all comes together.

"Then for me, I feel even better when I get those yards, but I'm also blocking for my quarterback or doing something positive in the passing game."

In a league filled with me-first running backs, Gore, 26, is a refreshing, delightful throwback. He has few interests outside his job. But that dedication and focus comes at a price, Raye concedes.

"He just loves football. And it's important to him to be successful and to have his team be successful, and that's been a plus," says Raye, who finds himself tending to a player so obsessed with perfection, he can hardly tolerate anything less.

This is a running back so singularly focused on football and hitting the hole, he'll break down if he doesn't fulfill his own high expectations. The pain is palpable. "You try to learn how to handle that emotion better, but it always will hurt you inside if you're not performing," Gore admits.

Rewind to 2007, Gore's third season, following a 37-16 loss at Pittsburgh. After struggling to pound out 39 yards on 14 carries, Gore was so disconsolate afterward, he put his head on a reporter's shoulder and fought off tears of despair as he poured out his soul, talking about every yard fought for but lost.

Says Raye, "My approach is to have him understand that his performance is dependent on the coordination of 10 other people. As long as he's doing his part, his reads are correct and he's playing aggressive, he'll have ups and downs. But they'll be more goods than bads.

"Don't let your lows be so low and your highs be so high, which is a problem for Frank emotionally. It's not so much of a problem, but it's a part of who he is."

Gore says he's learning to better manage his often-fragile mental state after games.

"When I was younger, everything in my mind was tied to me getting big yards," he says. "Now, when things aren't there, if the other team is playing great defense and playing the run really well -- nah, I can't do that anymore."

As a standout back at the University of Miami, Gore experienced plenty of raw elation and anguish. In 2001, he rushed for 575 yards and five touchdowns on 62 carries as a true freshman. Then he shredded the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during spring practice in 2002, which cost him a year devoted to rehabilitation.

"Those things made me who I am; I don't take anything for granted out there," Gore says of his rise, stumble and return to greatness at Miami.

Today, he's learned that even the NFL's elite backs have bad days.

"Just watching other guys who are great, when they don't have big [rushing] days, but they'll do other things like blocking or catching the ball, you know? I had to realize that a lot of people game plan to stop the run," Gore says.

The Vikings no doubt will do that -- Minnesota's defense has allowed only two 100-yard individual rushers in the past 50 games (Steven Jackson in 2006; Ryan Grant in '07).

This is where the 49ers' improved run blocking comes in.

"I just try to get him just a little crease, and he gets the rest on his own," says fullback Moran Norris, who does a lot of heavy lifting behind the scenes that Gore and the 49ers notice but casual fans may not. "When the line is blocking, I just get him that little crease."

Says Gore, "I just need something to work with. I see a crease, I hit it. Last week I looked back and I told myself, 'Just run straight ahead. They're just gonna have to catch me.' "

In 2006, Gore's breakout season as a full-time starter, he set a franchise record with 2,180 combined yards (1,695 rushing, 485 receiving), making him the NFC rushing champion and earning him All-Pro honors.

He's truly special, says Raye, who has worked with some of the league's most outstanding running backs in his 32 years as an NFL coach.

"Frank is deceptive. He's short, but he's not small. He has power and great initial quickness and change. And so you have to wrap him up, and he's quick in the hole. He has great second-level vision," Raye says. "He's very similar, competitive-wise, to Marcus Allen. He has a combination of Curtis Martin's shiftiness, but he has more speed than Curtis -- he has a second gear. He's like Eric Dickerson, but he's not that fast; when he breaks, he can go all the way like Eric could. He doesn't have Earl Campbell's brute strength, but he has vision like Earl did.

"So he's a combination of all of those guys that I've had. You take that and you couple it with his passion to be successful, and you've got a pretty good player."

Frank Gore Solidifying His Spot as One Of NFL's Top Running Backs originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dick Butkus Fighting Steroid Use Amongst High Schoolers

Matt Snyder — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Interviews

It's no secret the professional sports leagues have their hands full in terms of keeping the game clean from performance-enhancing drugs. You have testing, player suspensions, breaking scandals and staying ahead of the curve with technology.

NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, the legendary middle linebacker of the Bears who preceded Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher up the middle in the Windy City, is attacking the problem at its root: adolescents. Butkus and his son, Matt, are teaming with Old Spice and Sports Nutrition Brand EAS to continue promoting "I Play Clean." The goal is to spread the word to every single high school athlete and ensure each one of them knows the pitfalls of steroid use and abuse.

The idea came about a few years ago for Butkus. He was visiting with his cardiologist, Dr. Lawrence Santora, at the Dick Butkus Center for Cardiovascular Wellness in California. Dr. Santora had been researching steroid abuse in body builders and informed Butkus the hearts of steroid users appeared to have aged 30 years more than the average person.

Butkus further looked into the problem and discovered a staggering amount of use amongst teens.

"I learned that about a half million high school kids were using," Butkus told FanHouse. "What really got to me was meeting the parents of some teenagers who had committed suicide, due to the depression caused by a down cycle in the steroid abuse. They said they kind of knew something was going on, but not to the extent that it was."

Butkus' son, Matt, approached him about putting together a program to promote playing clean in high school. The initial goal was to make more than 5,000,000 impressions by the end of 2008, and Butkus believes they've more than done so. An impression is a kid they have reached through school visits, electronically (the website) or through educational mailings to coaches across the nation. This past weekend, they were at Kirk Herbstreit's Varsity Football Series at Dallas Cowboys Stadium with an educational booth. They are hoping word of mouth from coach to coach and speaking to the media helps to spread the word even further. As for future goals?

"We just want to continue educating the students as they come through high school athletics," he said. "I'd really like to see the NFL become involved, even if it's just putting an 'I Play Clean' logo in certain places during games or in stadiums."

"As an alum of the league," Butkus went on, "I hate seeing Senate hearings and things of the sort taking place in hopes to clean up the game. The players should be clean on their own without the government telling them to be. We want to take control of the problem before it starts."

It's definitely worth noting that Butkus doesn't want a dime from the NFL. His ultimate goal is to help educate the youth and keep them off things dangerous to their long-term well-being.

Sometimes, simply counting on facts and figures from parents and coaches isn't enough. Not only are kids going to use if they want to, but sometimes there are unexpected benefactors.

"I heard about a kid from Texas whose Dad was providing him with steroids and other drugs all through high school and college," Butkus said. "He ended up not getting drafted or signing on as an undrafted free agent, which caused his Dad to disown him."

It's hard to even put into words how despicable that is, but it illustrates the issue Butkus discusses on his website:

"There is a myth out there that somehow anabolic steroids can turn a cub into a bear. Steroids won't make you tough and competitive. What they will do is ruin your health. It's that simple."

The "I Play Clean" mantra is to train hard, eat well and play with an attitude. We all know Butkus played with an attitude during his era, too. His fierceness on the field was only rivaled by his clean play. He wanted to pulverize the opposition, as long as it was legally done. Hopefully the word of "I Play Clean" works itself around the country and into enough high schools to breed our next generation of football players in the same mold.

Click here to take The Play Clean Pledge and pass it on to everyone you know. It's a good cause and it's free. Once taking the pledge, follow it. We could use 100 percent cleanliness in professional sports.

Finally, I did stray slightly from the topic of Butkus' current work for just a few questions. His thoughts ...

On the Bears acquiring Jay Cutler and the possibility he'll be a distraction in the locker room:
"I don't think he'll be a distraction at all. The Bears obviously weren't sold on [Kyle] Orton or [Rex] Grossman, so they saw the opportunity and made a good move. With a player like that, just give him the ball and let him make plays. Hopefully we can now forget about Sid Luckman," he said with a laugh. "Now, the real test is for the defense to get back to how they were a few years ago and to get Devin (Hester) back on kicks (how he was a few years ago)."

On the UFL, channeling his involvement with the now-defunct XFL:
"They might find a small clientele. It's hard to fight against the NFL early on. Vince [McMahon, the XFL's founder] wanted to play a few years before we even went to TV, but NBC pushed us live the first year. It does seem a bit familiar, with San Francisco and Las Vegas having franchises. But it's good for some of the players who haven't been able to catch on in the NFL."

On what player in today's game most resembles the player he was:
"Ray Lewis," Butkus said without an ounce of hesitation. "Well, other than the pre-game antics. I don't even know what that is."

Dick Butkus Fighting Steroid Use Amongst High Schoolers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Talks With Giants Rookie Receiver Ramses Barden

Elie Seckbach — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Giants, NFL Draft, NFL Video, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive, NFL Training Camp

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Giants rookie wide receiver Ramses Barden is impressing many at Giants training camp. At 6-foot-6 he has incredible speed, running the 40 in 4.37 seconds. In this FanHouse exclusive, we talk to Ramses about many things. Among the topics are why he chose 13 as his number, what the title of a movie about his life would be, and more. We also talk to actor Samuel Jackson.

Check out the video after the jump.

FanHouse Talks With Giants Rookie Receiver Ramses Barden originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T.O. Sprains Toe, Misses Practice, Tweets; Bills Claim Not to Worry

Dan Graziano — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:22:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Interviews, NFL Training Camp

The NFL season is a little more than four weeks away, so FanHouse is at Bills training camp today for Stop 4 and Mile 768 of Dan Graziano's five-camp, 1,100-mile road trip.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- While the Bills were enjoying an evening practice under the lights at St. John Fisher College, star receiver Terrell Owens was back in the trainer's room, tweeting about the sprained toe that kept him from being on the field.

"Just finished treatment!! Done 4 the day!" Owens tweeted just before 8:30 p.m., in his first injury-related tweet of the day. "Every day is a good day. I'm definitely tahnkful." (Give him a break. It's hard to type on those things.)
Bills coach Dick Jauron said Owens sprained his toe in Sunday night's preseason opener against Tennessee in Canton. Jauron fielded questions about the toe but downplayed each one, including one that asked if he worried Owens might need surgery.

"He has a sprained toe," Jauron said in answer to that one.

He also said it was "too early to determine" whether Owens would be able to play Saturday, in Buffalo's next preseason game against the Bears.

Now, sprained toe doesn't sound like much, but it can be a tough, lingering injury for a wide receiver who relies on speed and explosiveness and plays his home games on turf. So this definitely bears watching as the Bills prepare for a season in which they're counting on their receiving corps to be a strength of their team.

But Owens? Well, if you believe his Twitter feed, he isn't too worried.

"I take my hat off 2 the Bills training staff, especially Shone Gibson, he's a cool guy!" Owens tweeted a few moments later. "I'm nt suckin up either, I'm jus keepin it real!!"

Anybody else thing T.O. could give us a lot more information if he cut down on the exclamation points? I mean, I'm not one to criticize a guy who has 120,433 followers. I'm jus sayin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T.O. Sprains Toe, Misses Practice, Tweets; Bills Claim Not to Worry originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matthew Stafford Is Proud to Be a Lion

Elie Seckbach — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Lions, NFL Video, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive, NFL Training Camp, NFL Predictions

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

The Detroit Lions are kicking off training camp this week, hoping to have a fresh start. After all, last season they became the first team in NFL history to lose all 16 regular season games. One of the new faces on the Lions is the number one overall draft pick, Matthew Stafford, who is excited to be in Detroit.

Check out the video after the jump.

Matthew Stafford Is Proud to Be a Lion originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rod Woodson Talks About Hall of Fame Career and Trusting Roger Goodell

Nancy Gay — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:14:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, Steelers, NFL Hall of Fame, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

When Rod Woodson takes his place among other revered Pro Football Hall of Fame members during the August 8 Enshrinement Ceremony in Canton, Ohio as part of the Class of 2009, the 11-time Pro Bowler says he won't be thinking about his special status: the 63rd player among 253 members to be elected in his first year of eligibility.

"Just think about how long pro football has been going on -- it's over a hundred years old!'' Woodson marveled during a lengthy one-on-one interview with FanHouse on Monday. "And to think I'm one of the 200-some-odd guys to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame ... I think it's just so surreal."

More Steelers: Q & A With Beat Writer Jim Wexell

Woodson, 44, is one of pro football's greatest defensive backs, and he earns distinction as being one of the easiest "no-brainer" votes this selector has ever made. Often, worthy players are debated and analyzed on Selection Saturday for hours, and must endure waiting periods that extend more than decade. Some never make it in football's most exclusive fraternity, despite stellar playing careers.

The debate for Woodson this past February was almost non-existent -- rather than argue his merits, the 44-person board of selectors merely discussed how deserving he was for this honor.

In a wide-ranging interview, Woodson -- now a popular analyst on the NFL Network and its flagship show NFL Total Access -- touched on who made him an elite NFL player (does the name Rod Rust ring a bell, Steelers fans?).

He also weighed in with his thoughts on the Hall of Fame selection process; the challenge of being an All-Pro player at three positions (cornerback, safety, kick returner); his roles as a student and mentor through 17 NFL seasons; what he thinks of his time with the Steelers, 49ers, Ravens and Raiders; and why he thinks NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is doing the right thing in administering his all-powerful Personal Conduct Policy.

This much is clear -- we can expect a spectacular acceptance speech from Woodson on August 8.

Nancy Gay: Aside from being a first-year eligible player, what does this Hall of Fame honor mean to you?

Woodson: "It's just so surreal. I talked to Mike Singletary a couple of months ago and asked, 'Did it ever sink in? When did you really realize that you're a Hall of Famer?' Mike told me he still doesn't see it. And I understand what he's saying because when I look in the mirror, I don't see Ray Nitschke, a Joe Montana, I don't see a Gale Sayers or a Jim Brown, or even a Mike Singletary, for that matter. I just see this nappy-headed kid from Fort Wayne, Ind. that played football. I see a dad, a friend, a coach, a husband. I don't see a pro football player. It's surreal. It's remarkable that it's happened to me. It's definitely a huge individual honor that has come upon me. I'm just so humbled and it's truly hard to express what it means deep, deep down inside."

Gay: "Did you ever think during your 17 NFL seasons, 'I might be on the path to the Hall of Fame?'''

Woodson: "C'mon now! You know that's not me. I played the game because I loved it. We all started playing the game as a little kid and we fall in love with it, and it becomes a part of us. Most guys in the National Football League have been playing the game since they were nine, 10 years old. So it's embedded in our DNA, basically. Me, I never thought about it.

"Even after retirement, (NFL Network co-host Rich) Eisen would bring it up all the time, and I was really uncomfortable. Because I think it's a dishonor to all of those who have made it, to talk about me being there (beforehand)."

Gay: "Why would you say that?"

Woodson: "Because the players that are there, that have been inducted, they're immortalized. Their bust is there (in Canton) forever. I shouldn't put myself in that category until I'm actually placed in that category. I don't think athletes should laud ourselves as Hall of Famers until you as voters put us in there."

Gay: "On that subject, Rodney Harrison spoke to FanHouse recently and was very critical of the Hall of Fame selection process being limited to a 44-person board of media selectors. What's your opinion of the current process?"

Woodson: "I heard a little bit about what Rodney said, and he sounds a little more concerned because of his image, rather than about the process. But I don't completely agree with the process. I would like a broader base. I agree with writers and media being there. But I would like to see, maybe, 12 Hall of Famers join in and have those guys rotate on a yearly basis. And they don't know who's going to vote until, maybe, two weeks prior to the votes being cast. I just think that would give it a better balance. Just like we do when we vote for the Pro Bowls."

Gay: "Steelers coach Chuck Noll drafted you (10th overall in 1987, out of Purdue) and recognized your extraordinary gifts as an all-purpose player, returning kicks and playing different positions in the secondary. Did he get the most out of you, or did your career blossom further under coach Bill Cowher's direction?"

Woodson: "Chuck gave me a foundation of the fundamentals of football. When I got there, Chuck Noll and (defensive coordinator) Tony Dungy were there, two tremendous, gifted individuals who knew how to coach football and how to play football. Tony taught me how to play corner; remember, I'd been a safety my whole career, from little league to college. It was a process for me to learn how to play corner. And it took quite a while.

"By that time, Tony Dungy left and a gentleman named Rod Rust came in after my third year. I went to my first Pro Bowl as a kick returner. But Rod was there (as coordinator) and he was the one coach who really challenged me as a player. He told me after a walk-though if I wanted to just go to a couple of Pro Bowls, just keep doing what I was doing. But he challenged me to think like a coach on the field.

"He pulled me aside after practice, we went into his office and he would break down film of how offenses would try to attack defensive players or systems. And how simple offenses are if you really look out of the box. That little green light clicked in when Rod Rust was there and it was amazing how easy it was. "Most players only get one coach that has the knowledge that he can really impart to a player, about the game, the position and how to win. Me? I was blessed with Chuck Noll, Tony Dungy, Rod Rust, Bill Cowher, Dom Capers and Dick LeBeau, all in Pittsburgh."
"

"In my fourth and fifth year I made the Pro Bowl as a corner and then Bill Cowher came in, with Dom Capers and Dick LeBeau. And that just added to what Chuck Noll, Tony Dungy and Rod Rust had already given me. Now we have this "Blitzburgh" going. I got to play nickel, blitz and still play kick returner and punt returner. It was a good balance for me in Pittsburgh.

"Most players only get one coach that has the knowledge that he can really impart to a player, about the game, the position and how to win. Me? I was blessed with Chuck Noll, Tony Dungy, Rod Rust, Bill Cowher, Dom Capers and Dick LeBeau, all in Pittsburgh. Then I had Johnny Fox in the defensive backfield. I had an enormous amount of knowledge at my disposal."

Gay: "What specifically did these 'teaching' coaches impart to you?"

Woodson: "They teach you how to be a professional, on the field, on the practice field, in the meeting rooms, how to study, break down film. That is so critical for young players.

"Chuck Noll told me my rookie year that this game is played 85 percent mental. Everyone is talented in the National Football League. Everybody's tall, fast, quick, strong. But it's the individuals who can take all that coaching knowledge and apply it back on the field, those are the elite players."

Gay: "Are they any coaches today whom you would describe as 'thinking' coaches?"

Woodson: "When you start looking at teams that have been successful as far as on a system basis, you've got to go to New England first and Bill Belichick. The guy just teaches. You may not like his social skills, but he's a teacher. His guys will know how to play. They aren't going to be surprised during the game and they're going to be composed throughout the game.

"I think Mike Smith from the Atlanta Falcons is going to be a wonderful coach because he's a teacher first and a motivator second. I think Mike Singletary is going to be an outstanding teacher because he's going to demand of his players what he demanded of himself when he played -- and that's a lot.

"I think Mike Tomlin from the Steelers, he's a teacher. There are more, but those guys come to the top of my head. Their teams will come out knowing how to play, they're not going to beat themselves and they're going understand game situations."

Gay: "You were an All-Pro at cornerback, safety and kick returner. Can players today excel at different positions like that, or are they more specialized?"

Woodson: "I don't know if they're going to be asked to do that. Honestly -- if you're a middle linebacker, where can you go? I went (back) to safety because I slowed down. They moved me to corner because I was that fast, and I had the natural gifts to be a kick and a punt returner. And then they moved me back to safety when I slowed down. I have to go back to giving credit to those coaches giving me the understanding on how to play football and be a professional. Without that, I don't know if I would have been a Hall of Famer."

Gay: "In 17 NFL seasons as a player, you evolved from a student to a coach. Your career ended with the Oakland Raiders as a mentor. How satisfying is that part of your journey?"

Woodson: "The teaching aspect really started in Baltimore. I went to the 49ers right after (10 seasons with) the Steelers, really, in search of a Super Bowl win and came up short losing to Green Bay in the NFC Championship game that year (1997). But when I went to Baltimore, I realized that I really had to teach. These guys were raw and talented, but didn't understand it all. That's the reason why (defensive coordinator) Marvin Lewis called me and Mr. (Art) Modell allowed me to be a Raven, because they wanted me to teach these guys how to win at that stage.

"They put me right between Ray Lewis and Jamie Sharper in the locker room. My seat was right there in between the young guys. They called me grandpa and all that, but I embraced that because I got that when I was younger from Donnie Shell, Mike Webster and John Stallworth, who were there in Pittsburgh when I arrived. So it was my turn to give back to those young guys."

"When I did get to Oakland, they had Charles Woodson and he was a veteran already. But I still felt the need to give back to the younger players, like Nnamdi Asomugha. Nnamdi came in hungry, wanting to learn, wanting to understand it all. It took him a couple of years to 'get it,' just like it did me. It's hard for someone to come in as a rookie and be a dominant player. I normally say it takes about three years, and then you start seeing the flashes of how good a player is.

"For me, it was fitting for me to go to Oakland to end my career because I started my career with the PAL (Police Athletic League) Raiders when I was nine years old. And really, I never had a favorite player but one of my favorite teams growing up was the Raiders. I don't know if it was the mystique of the Silver and Black or because of how good they were. But the one player who probably had the best nickname in pro football history is (HOF, Class of 2002) "The Ghost," Dave Casper.

"Stuff like that just intrigued me about the Raiders. And for Al (Davis) to allow me to be a Raider for two years was kind of a childhood dream come true. I started as a Raider, and I finished as a Raider."

Gay: "In 1995, you tore your ACL in Week 1 and returned to play in Super Bowl XXX, the first NFL player to sustain that knee injury and return in the same season. That must have been rewarding and bittersweet at the same time, watching your team succeed while you rehabbed the knee."

Woodson: "It was. But the light of the end of the tunnel, I could see. I give all the credit for Bill Cowher, because normally when a guy hurts his ACL, he goes in IR right away, and we all know they don't come back. Bill and I and the doctors all sat down that Monday morning (after the injury) and talked about it. The doctor (Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo.) said four to six months. Well, six months ... that would be the playoffs. I looked at Bill and said, 'Well, that would be the playoffs.'

Bill left that spot open for me. He had enough respect for me and obviously we didn't have a lot of injuries to the secondary and Carnell Lake did a great job, moved to corner, took my spot and held his own. But without Bill leaving that spot open for me, all the hard work would have been for naught."

Gay: "You played on three different Super Bowl teams and won a ring with one of them. There are Hall of Famers, such as Dan Marino, who never played in a Super Bowl. (Ed. Note: Marino played in Super Bowl XIX) Does that seems remarkable to you, or lucky, or both?"

Woodson: "You have to be in the right place in the right time. When I first got to Pittsburgh, we weren't that good. The heyday was over. My first year, we were 6-10. So we had to rebuild it, basically. I think in Chuck's last year we made the playoffs and won a wild-card game, lost to Denver. And then Bill Cowher came in and put the pieces together and we put some strings of playoff runs in there.

"I think it's skill, luck, being blessed. A little of all of the above. As a team, the ball has to bounce the right way throughout the whole year for you to win the Super Bowl or to even get there. But to get there three times with three different teams, I would like to think I chose the right teams and helped them get to that point. I knew with the 49ers, they had Jerry (Rice) and Steve (Young) there, and that was my opportunity to try to get a ring. In Baltimore, it was all about projecting greatness.

"With the Raiders, Bill Callahan stepped in and (quarterback) Rich Gannon had the best year of his career. So that's one of the main reasons we went to the Super Bowl, because of Rich."

Gay: "During your playing career, you did not run afoul of the law. Now, as an NFL analyst, when you hear players today complain about Commissioner Roger Goodell's strict Personal Conduct Policy and see how he administers it, what do you think about that?"

Woodson: "There was a conduct policy; it was written in every contract, and it prohibited conduct detrimental to the team and to the league. It's always been there. But Roger was the first one to pull it out and say, 'This is what it's going to be. We can't have this anymore.'

"The difference between when I played and today is the number of media outlets. You can't do anything wrong nowadays. You might have gotten pulled over for DUI in the 1970s and nobody would have heard about it. But if you get a DUI today, it's on the front page the next day. There are so many media outlets and avenues to get information out there, from the Internet to Tweeting, to cell phones to texting, there are so many strings for that. It's much more today than back in the day."I agree with Roger wholeheartedly that you have to put your foot down about being disciplined and protecting 'The Shield.' Because it's a privilege to play in the National Football League."

"I agree with Roger wholeheartedly that you have to put your foot down about being disciplined and protecting 'The Shield.' Because it's a privilege to play in the National Football League. What I did for 17 years and what these guys do now -- at the end of the day, it's just a game. It's called a football game. So to play in a game is a privilege and it's a privilege to don a uniform and to make that type of money and represent your individual franchises, and to represent the NFL shield as a whole.

"I think Roger has done a good job of not baselining anyone. He's bringing those guys in individually, talking to them. He's using a human heart. And I think that's OK. We're given a conscience for a reason. Roger is letting these guys know that if you mess up, you're going to sit down for awhile. It's a great message to send to collegiate players, high school players who are projecting as pro players. You guys are role models, and we are not going to accept guys who come in here and act criminal on a daily basis."

Gay: "You're active in a campaign with Depend.com and other athletes to promote prostate cancer awareness, including having a video of yourself posted on the Internet undergoing a simple PSA test. Why is this important to you?

Woodson: "The PSA test is so easy. All they do is draw blood. And when they called me, my wife (Nikki) and I did some research. My wife told me African-American men are 2 ½ times more likely to have traces of prostate cancer in their body upon their death. Once she said that to me, I called the company back and said, 'I'll be a spokesperson.'' At age 44, I'd never even thought about prostate cancer. My doctor told me African-American men should get tested earlier. This work has really opened my eyes. Now that I'm aware of this, I want men to understand that prostate cancer can kill you, but it's treatable if you can catch it early."

Gay: "Do you see yourself getting emotional during your Enshrinement Speech on Aug. 8?"

Woodson: "I'll probably get teary eyed. I think it's an emotional thing. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You go over your speech and think about what you'll say. That's key for me; I need to thank everyone who sacrificed from themselves to put me in the Hall of Fame. So that's what my speech is about. Thanking everyone who took from themselves, to give to me, to put me up there on that stage. And that will be emotional. People have given up a lot for me.

"I just hope I don't boo-hoo and break down so hard that I lose my breath. That's all I'm hoping."

Rod Woodson Talks About Hall of Fame Career and Trusting Roger Goodell originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to 'The T.O. Show'

Elie Seckbach — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Giants, NFL Awards, NFL Media Watch, NFL Video, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

NFL star Terrell Owens is always in the spotlight, so why not give him his own reality show? That's exactly what VH1 is doing. In advance of his show's premiere, T.O. tells us how fans will get to see a different side of him. We also hear from former NFL lineman and ESPN analyst Marcellus Wiley as well as Giants rookie receiver Ramses Barden.

Check out the video after the jump.

Welcome to 'The T.O. Show' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carson Palmer: My Elbow Is 100 Percent, No Ochocinco in My House

Nancy Gay — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Injuries, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive, NFL Quarterbacks

LOS ANGELES -- Carson Palmer is certain about two things: Electing not to have invasive "Tommy John" reconstructive surgery on his damaged throwing elbow was a wise decision.

And the Bengals quarterback will not allow Twitter-loving, attention-grabbing wide receiver and teammate Chad Ochocinco to move into his Southern California home so that the two can do some male-bonding and work out in the backyard before Cincinnati's rookies and veterans report to training camp on July 30.

No way. Forget it.

"That was just a 'Tweet,''' Palmer said with a huge laugh. "I'm not sure where that came from. But the doors are locked, the alarm is on. And he's not getting past my attack dogs. We're good."

What is it with Ochocinco and that Twitter account, anyway? Not a minute goes by without Chad weighing in on his workouts, his mama, what he's eating and -- as Palmer found out - the receiver's travel plans, which at one point included bunking with Cincinnati's quarterback, his wife Shaelyn and their six-month-old twins.

"You know what? I think Chad's mind works faster than his hands [on Twitter],'' Palmer said during his appearance this week on a celebrity studded panel that featured him, Warren Moon, Joe Theismann and Trent Dilfer discussing the 2009 season as part of the L.A. Sports & Entertainment Commission's seventh-annual NFL 101/201 charity event.

Back at his old college playground, the L.A. Memorial Coliseum -- where he starred as a Heisman Trophy winner for USC -- Palmer was relaxed, laughing and absolutely pumped for the start of the 2009 NFL season.

"I'm great. I feel great. I'm 100 percent healthy, throwing, lifting, running all that stuff,'' said Palmer, who played in just four games in 2008 after opting to forgo reconstructive surgery to repair a partially torn ligament and tendon in his right elbow. Instead, Palmer chose to let the tissue damage heal with rest and rehabilitation.

And while he admitted his arm strength wasn't where he wanted it to be during a late June minicamp, Palmer told FanHouse this week he's now 100 percent physically, and confident in his belief that the elbow shouldn't hamper him in 2009.

"It's just a big weight off of my shoulders. I didn't know if I was going to have the 'Tommy John' surgery - I still wouldn't be able to throw, to this day, if I had had that,'' Palmer said. "I'm just thankful I didn't have to go through that. The doctors who said that it would heal were right and it did heal. So I've been throwing, just doing everything to get geared up for the season."

Palmer also shared more on Ochocinco, and his thoughts in general on how he thinks the Bengals' offense will fare this season.

Nancy Gay: "Chad seems committed this offseason to training hard and having a better season than 2008, when he caught only 53 passes and was unsuccessful in forcing a trade. You must be expecting big things from him this season."

Carson Palmer: "Oh yeah. I think he's going to be back to that 'leading the AFC in receiving yards' form. Last year was a down year for our organization and our entire team (4-11-1 record), not just Chad. He's got a lot to prove. He's got a lot of doubters. And that's what really fuels Chad and makes him work, makes him excel. So I'm really excited for Chad and for us this season."

Gay: "In your absence, the offense got a real boost from the addition of running back Cedric Benson. How much of a surprise was it to see him take off in Cincinnati?"

Palmer: "It was a very pleasant surprise. Cedric Benson was the No. 4 overall pick in the draft [by the Chicago Bears in 2005] for a reason. He's fast, explosive, strong -- he's everything you want in a tailback. The longer he was there, the longer he was in Cincinnati, the longer he had to get to know the playbook and the team, the better off he did. And now that he's had an entire offseason under his belt, he'll have a full training camp and have that opportunity to really grow and mesh with the team, he's going to have a huge year."

Gay: "How much better will the Bengals' offensive line be with the addition of first-round draft pick Andre Smith, who is expected to replace Levi Jones at left tackle?"

Palmer: "I think it's great. He's got a ton of potential. He's got to have a great training camp -- I'm not sure when he'll be in camp. But I'm just excited. He's a very physical player. He's really good for our conference as far as the run game is concerned, because he really specializes in the run game. He's going to be taught by one of the better offensive line coaches in the league, as far as pass blocking . So it's going to be a good year for Andre."

Gay: "The loss of wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- that must be difficult for you and for everyone because of his production and his leadership. How do you replace a guy like that?"

Palmer: "It's impossible -- we're not looking to replace him. He caught 100 balls a year, he caught eight touchdowns a year. You can try to replace that, but as far as the chemistry standpoint, the leadership, the professionalism, we're not looking to replace that because we can't. We've got a bunch of guys who want to fill in for him and try to pick up where he left off. But (Houshmandzadeh) is a Pro Bowl player for a reason. You don't just all of a sudden just shuffle somebody in.

"We've got a lot of guys who have to pick up the slack from losing him."

Gay: "Have you had a chance to get in much work with free-agent addition Laveranues Coles in the offseason?"

Palmer: "Yeah, Laveranues was there all offseason. We had a chance to work together and get a lot of rhythm and timing going. And we have a lot of time to get that back throughout August."

Carson Palmer: My Elbow Is 100 Percent, No Ochocinco in My House originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chad Ochocinco Likely Faces Fine if He Tweets During Games

Stephanie Stradley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, AFC North, NFL Interviews

Through the social media site Twitter, the folks at Houston's 1560 The Game were able to arrange an on-air interview with Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (otherwise known as OGOchoCinco on Twitter because one man can never have enough names, I suppose).

In the interview, Ochocinco discusses many things: how he will have a new checklist in his locker; how he truly is going to live with Carson Palmer's family; and how he wants to be more of team guy than a "me" guy this year. At the 2:34 mark in the interview, he discusses his love of Twitter and the way he will be using it next year:

And when the season starts, it's going to get even worse. I'm going to really make it fun. I'm using Twitter during games. I'm using Twitter during half time. I'm using it after games. I'm taking it to the next level.

Here's the link to the entire Ochocinco interview. Unsurprisingly, the NFL is not amused. Cellular devises are not allowed in bench areas, so he might have to wait to get his tweet on unless he is interested in getting fined some more.

The interview in sum: Ochocinco intends to be more of a team guy while he uses social media to promote much more Ochocinco and get his words out to the masses.

Chad Ochocinco Likely Faces Fine if He Tweets During Games originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rodney Harrison Demands Your Respect

Nancy Gay — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Hall of Fame, NFL Media Watch, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Rodney Harrison has a perception problem. He knows how many in the NFL viewed him during his 15-year career: as the dirtiest player in the league. A player fined more than $200,000 for countless illegal hits. An admitted user of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to speed recovery from his many injuries -- a breach that led to a four-game suspension in 2007.

Cognizant of this, the recently retired Harrison -- who is embarking on a new career as a studio analyst for NBC's Football Night in America -- is convinced he won't get a fair shake from the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee five years from now, when he's eligible for induction.

"Probably not," the former Chargers and Patriots safety told FanHouse, "because just look how the NFL has looked at me all these years. Ignoring my stats and my impact as a player and a teammate. Focusing on the negative.

"Do I believe I'm a Hall of Fame player? Absolutely. Will I make it in there? That's up to you guys. But I know that I did all I could do."

As a member of the Hall's 44-person board of selectors, I understand Harrison's frustration. I also know how carefully the selectors weigh, debate and dissect the merits of each candidate. There is nothing knee-jerk about a process that takes months to complete each year.

Can you write the history of the NFL without mentioning this player or contributor? That's a question that's often posed by selectors.

Harrison put up excellent numbers in his era, as he points out. He played big in big games for the Patriots' Super Bowl teams. He started in 159 of 186 games and was fairly durable until injuries caught up to him at the end of his career -- he started just 31 games in his final four seasons.

"I know it's up to you guys. But I think [the selection board] should be made up of football archeologists, historians, personnel managers, people that know the game and have played the game,'' Harrison says. "No disrespect to you guys. Maybe, even a handful of reporters should be part of it.

"But can they do it without any biases? I don't know if they can, if that's fair."

What burns Harrison most about this discussion? The lofty NFL honors that he believes masquerade as popularity contests.

Harrison, despite his status as the only player in NFL history to record 30 sacks (30.5) and 30 interceptions (34) and being an integral part of two Super Bowl winning teams, was selected to the Pro Bowl only twice in 15 seasons.

"The Pro Bowl is an absolute joke,'' Harrison says. "When you look at the guys who can't even play safety and they're getting in. You've got guys going in with 70 tackles, one or two interceptions, no sacks, no passes defensed, no impact on the game. I mean, it's crazy how the Pro Bowl voting is.

"You mean to tell me a guy like John Lynch, who I respect to death, you tell me he's an eight, nine-time Pro Bowler, and I'm a two-time Pro Bowler?"

Harrison's got a strong point there.

In 15 seasons, Harrison averaged 6.5 tackles per game along with his 34 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles and 30.5 sacks.

Lynch, in 16 seasons, averaged 4.7 tackles per game and recorded 26 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and 13 sacks.

In 2003, when Harrison led the Patriots with 140 regular-season tackles and three interceptions, he was voted All-Pro by The Associated Press media panel. But he failed to make the Pro Bowl roster that season.

"Look at these stats!" Harrison says emphatically. "All you have to do is pull 'em up and look at 'em -- my interceptions, my tackles, my impact on the game. Everything! What does that tell you?

"But guess what: Because I'm Rodney Harrison, because everyone wanted to put this 'dirty player' stigma on me, no one would vote for me. But if you asked these guys, would they want me on their team, yes they would."

Throughout his career, Harrison earned a reputation as a heavy hitter.

What about the negatives?

o. The HGH suspension in 2007: Was it cheating? "I don't think so. Because if you look at the reports, it was done over a couple of months, not a couple of years,'' Harrison says. "If you look at my numbers before and my numbers after that, I don't think it had any impact as far as performance.

"Of course, people will use that as a way to keep me out, and that's fine, because I won't trade my Super Bowl rings for the Hall of Fame, any day."

o. His history of questionable hits and personal fouls: "It was always about the team and I did everything in my power to make sure my teammates were OK," Harrison says. "And that's why I got fined a lot of the time and got into fights, because I always wanted to protect my teammates, my coach, the city that I played for. That's the passion."

o. Being fined more than $200,000 by the NFL: "It didn't matter!" Harrison contends. "What did the fine or the money mean to me? I was out there playing football, OK? You've got [recently retired NFL director of football operations] Gene Washington, he [was] a wide receiver. Of course he didn't like me. Because if he had played against me, of course I would knock his freakin' head off, too. They didn't want me hitting Jerry Rice in the nose."

You have to appreciate the man's honesty. Harrison's not the first player to lash out at the Hall of Fame selection process and he won't be the last.

Giants linebacker Harry Carson was all class as a player, but he was so steamed after failing to garner the required 80-percent approval of the board as a five-time finalist, he demanded the Hall remove his name from consideration.

The keepers of the Hall in Canton, Ohio declined, and the board comprised of pro football writers and broadcasters voted Carson into the Class of 2006 after seven consecutive years as a finalist. He accepted graciously.

As longtime Hall of Fame selector Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reminds us, there are only five safeties among the 111 players selected for the Hall from the "Super Bowl era" -- Ken Houston, Paul Krause, Larry Wilson, Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson, who will go in a month from now with the Class of 2009.

"You mean to tell me a guy like John Lynch, who I respect to death, you tell me he's an eight, nine-time Pro Bowler, and I'm a two-time Pro Bowler?"Only the center position, with four inductees, is more overlooked.

"Safety has always been looked as a hybrid position -- 'Well, he can't run, he can't cover man-to-man, he's back 10 to 12 yards' -- they took it for granted,'' Harrison explains. But he says the great safeties of today, such as Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders, are finally being appreciated because of the foundation laid by hard-hitting players such as Lott, Woodson, Steve Atwater and, yes, himself.

When Harrison's turn at the Hall first comes up in 2014, he'll be a controversial candidate. A player of his caliber, however, will not be dismissed solely because of his on-field reputation.

Like Carson, it may take a few years before Harrison's complete contribution to the NFL and to his championship teams can be fairly assessed in comparison to other candidates.

"As I walk off that field, I have no regrets,'' Harrison says, "because I respected my peers, I respected the game and I played the game the right way. It wasn't about the money, a big check, it wasn't about the big cars, the houses, none of that. It was about respecting what everyone laid out before us.

"If you look at the numbers, my numbers don't lie. My impact is there."

Rodney Harrison Demands Your Respect originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leinart a Hero To Inner-City Footballers

Elie Seckbach — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona Cardinals, NFL Video, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

In the past few years, NFL quarterback Matt Leinart has been in the spotlight for all kinds of reasons, but not always for his on-field play. In this exclusive video we find out what Matt does when there are no cameras around and why he is considered a hero to some Los Angeles inner-city kids. As it turns out, Leinart -- USC's former Heisman Trophy winner -- owns and operates his own youth football league. In it, 150 kids, who otherwise could not afford to participate in such activities, are provided with equipment, lunch and transportation at no cost. Beyond football, though, Miguel Perez -- who coaches in the Leinart league -- says being part of a sports team can positively change a child's life.

Check out the video after the jump.

Leinart a Hero To Inner-City Footballers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Talks to Adrian Peterson

Will Brinson — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:08:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, NFL Media Watch, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Will Brinson kicked it at The OC for the Nike Global Training Summit.

Adrian Peterson is the reigning rushing leader in the NFL and widely regarded as the best running back in football (with all due respect to Mssr. Tomlinson). Peterson is also considered the best fantasy player in the nerdy sports world, so I asked him about whether there was anyone else worth the No. 1 pick, whether he played fantasy football and what his goals were for this year.

Oh yeah! Totally forgot -- he might be getting Brett Favre as a teammate soon. So we obviously talked about that too.

FanHouse: "What do you think about Brett Favre in Minnesota?"

Adrian Peterson: [Looks at a video camera in crowd of reporters.] "What's up, Brett, man? I'm a fan of yours. I've been watching you since I was maybe five or six. I love the passion you play with, so if you want to play, come back and play. If not, we're gonna miss you."

FH: "Alright, AP -- fantasy football question for you ... you play fantasy football right?"

Peterson: [Looks at me like a total loser] "No."

FH: [Laughs awkwardly.] "OK then -- is there any reason for someone to select any other player besides you with the first pick in their fantasy draft?"

Peterson: "I don't know. Maybe they have a reason to, maybe not. I go out and keep my body right and control things I can control."

FH: "Alright then. you got a number in mind?"

Peterson: "I say all the time -- 2,000 is a mark that's going to stay -- 2,000 or more -- it's always going to stay. This year, next year, it's always going to stay."

FanHouse Talks to Adrian Peterson originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 18 May 2009 15:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Talks to Troy Polamalu

Will Brinson — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, NFL Fans, NFL Media Watch, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Will Brinson kicked it at The OC for the Nike Global Training Summit.

Troy Polamalu is best known for his lengthy hair and ability to punish anyone who ventures into the Pittsburgh secondary. What people might not know is that he's a rather large MMA fan, incredibly soft-spoken and a very spiritual gentleman.

FanHouse caught up with him at the Nike Global Training Summit and discussed his MMA fanhood, the likelihood of a Steelers repeat, and whether he's had any changes to his training regimen this offseason.

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FanHouse: "Troy -- did you change your workout regimen at all this year, to put any emphasis on flexibility?"

Troy Polamalu: "No, I've had more time with my trainer than I've had previously. That's probably the only thing that's changed a little bit."

FH: "How do you feel about your repeat chances, knowing that it's obviously too early in the season?"

Polamalu: "It's obviously too early. (Awkward laughter) ... Honestly, man, we have a great situation in the sense that we never, ever thought about the Super Bowl. We were always playing the Cardinals. We never thought about that -- that's just the mentality of Pittsburgh. It's just the blue-collar mentality. And that mentality is "I get up for work every day. I do the very same thing every day. My mind-thought hasn't changed, nothing has changed. I'm doing the same thing every day." And it's a grind. It really is a grind. And that's what the people in Pittsburgh have learned by waking up and going to a steel mill and working for 10 hours every day. And these type of qualities are found in Pittsburgh like nowhere else in the country."

FH: "Talk about MMA for a little bit -- I know you mentioned it -- how big a fan are you and do you regularly attend events?"

Polamalu: "No, I've never attended ... actually, I have attended one event, I'm sorry. I don't know, it's almost ... above athleticism. THere are some guys that I'm more of a fan of where it's more than MMA, it's really a martial art. You know, a martial art is no different than say, a painter -- true martial arts are. It really is an art. And it's no different from Michaelangelo in a sense in the way that he draws or paints things. So I'm a fan of real martial arts guys -- guys that have something different than just a physical talent. Guys like Rickson Gracie and Fedor Emelianenko, I believe they have that."

FH: "Talk about how you got into MMA and the aspect of 'controlling your body' and the 'art form' aspect:

Polamalu: "Honestly, at first, when I was younger, it was just about the fight. Now that I'm becoming more of an authentic fan, it's not about the guts and glory, it's about the martial art. [...] I think it's about mastering your self, your own fears, your ego, whatever passions you may have. And when you master that -- they say the best gift from God is self-knowledge, to be able to know your self. For example, there's nothing more disappointing for me to see someone who's scared of heights and they get up on that high diveboard and you see [their] face just transform from that happy-go-lucky friend to the face of fear. And whenever you can overcome things like that, it's the most beautiful thing. And martial arts, I think that's what it's all about, and sports in general and training in general, it's all about overcoming that fear of failure, of pride, whatever it may be -- it's different from person to person."

FanHouse Talks to Troy Polamalu originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brian Johnson Keeps NFL Dream Alive

Tom Herrera — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Draft, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Update (4/28/09): Johnson was invited by the Green Bay Packers to participate in their rookie mini-camp. Best of luck to you, Brian.

NEW YORK -- The NFL draft isn't a whirlwind of celebration for everyone. Some players just feel blessed to be a part of the experience, and everything else is just gravy.

Enter Brian Johnson, the quarterback who led Utah to a perfect 13-0 regular-season record and threw for 27 touchdowns, but might not even hear his name called in the seventh round.

Johnson isn't expected to be anything more than a last-round flier, if that, but he carries himself with such modesty that you want him to succeed.

On the same night where I saw Michael Crabtree show off his diamond-encrusted watch and lock-shaped medallion, there was Johnson, sharply dressed in a suit and willing to answer our questions with enthusiasm in his eyes.

For every star that stepped out of the green room and flashed a million-dollar smile, there's plenty of fringe players like Johnson. All he wants is an NFL team to give him one shot at proving his worth.

"This business is about winning," Johnson told us Thursday night at the NCAA Football 10 premiere party. "Winning games is what the bottom line is based on."

No head coach will dispute that.

But there's no way for a team to measure projected wins like they scrutinize over statistics, 40 times and oddly-named tests -- the very things a player like Johnson won't dazzle you with. Instead, he can only hope a team watched him on tape and came away impressed enough to give him that chance.

And if it looks like the NFL isn't for him? Well, as Johnson tells us, there's always backup point guard for the Utah Jazz. Our full interview with the prospect is below.

How are you enjoying your first visit to New York?
It's a lot of fun. I can't get everything that I'd like to get done as far as touring the city. I went to see a Broadway show, walked around and did some shopping, but I want to come back and get a chance to see everything.

What's your opinion of New York food? Have you had a decent meal here?
We went to a sushi bar and had some very good sushi, but I gotta try everything else. We went out for pizza later at night and I got my chance to get some real New York-style pizza, so that was very exciting.

How does it feel to be an NCAA Football 10 cover star? It seemed like a bit of a surprise that you were chosen to be on the PS3 edition.
Yeah, it was a big surprise for me. Now I have to buy the system in order to play the game with my cover on it. It's a huge honor and the kind of stuff you dream about as a kid. Never in a million years do you think it would be you at the end of the day. Not only for myself, but for our community, for our program, for our state, it's an absolutely amazing experience and something that means a lot.

Which team are you gonna tear up when you pick up the game?
I love playin' them all. I'd play the Texas and the Florida teams. I go for the top dogs, you know, I try to go for their throne. So if they're the highest-rated teams in the game, I'd bring 'em up to Salt Lake City and see if they can handle the elevation, and usually I'll pull out the win.

Do you have any hopes for draft weekend overall?
Obviously I'm not the highest-rated guy, so it's a little bit of a different experience for me. But I've made a career out of having an underdog mentality. Coming out of high school I wasn't the most highly-recruited guy, and it's kind of repeating itself as I try to take the next step in my career. The thing that I try to focus on is what I do well, and that's putting in the time and the effort that it takes to be successful. It's just like any other athlete that has to find different ways to overcome their physical shortcomings. So for me, I pretty much just want an opportunity. I think all it takes for me is to get to the right situation to show what I'm capable of doing.

Pointing to your record, that's got to catch their eye, right?
Definitely. You know, at the end of the day, this business is about winning. In the NFL, winning games is what the bottom line is based on. So for me, a huge selling point is it's hard to win 13 games. You saw no one in the country beat us. So for us to win 13 games is something I definitely hang my hat on.

Do you hear from pro teams? Are they in contact with you?
Yeah, I've heard from a couple of teams. My agent has talked to teams about me. Mostly it's teams that are on the West Coast offensive system, I think that's more suited to my abilities as a quarterback. Whatever team drafts me or takes me as a free agent, I'm gonna work my tail off and make sure they're not disappointed.

Two "What If" questions we've been asking others ... If you weren't a quarterback, what position would you love to play? And if you couldn't be an NFL player, what would you like your career to be?
If I didn't play quarterback, I think I'd probably play safety, to be in the box and make some tackles. I played a little bit of safety and defensive back in high school.

And if I didn't play football, hands down, I'd try my luck in professional basketball. I'm a huge basketball fan, I watch every game I can. I've got the playoffs TiVo'd so I can go back and watch all the games.

You think you could score on Deron Williams?
Yeah, you know I think I'd be a good backup point guard for the Jazz. If the draft doesn't work out, I'm gonna talk to coach [Jerry] Sloan and see if I can come in and run some pick-and-rolls. At the end of the day, that position is very similar to what I do on the football field. You have to be sure you can get the ball into the right guy's hands. I grew up loving the game of basketball, so if this NFL thing don't work out, I'm gonna take a look at that.

NCAA Football 10 Photos

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree hauls in a long reception. Crabtree is the cover athlete for the Xbox 360 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports. Click through to see more photos from gameplay.

EA Sports

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree burns past the Longhorns' defense. Crabtree is the cover athlete for the Xbox 360 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

USC quarterback Brian Sanchez looks for an open receiver. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

USC quarterback Brian Sanchez scrambles out of the pocket. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo gets set to rush the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo pummels the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson lines up behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson makes a pass attempt against TCU. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Brian Johnson Keeps NFL Dream Alive originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cushing Thinks He's Best of Historic Trio

Tom Herrera — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Draft, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

NEW YORK -- It's not everyday you see three players from the same school taken in the first round of the NFL draft. Three linebackers? That's unprecedented territory.

The magnitude of the occasion isn't lost on Brian Cushing, who should be one of three rough-and-ready USC linebackers selected in the first round on Saturday. But that doesn't mean he's ready to concede a higher draft slot to former teammates Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews.

When we talked to Cushing at the NCAA Football 10 premiere party and asked him to give us a thumbnail scouting report of himself, Maualuga and Matthews, his opinion was terse and crystal clear: "[Maualuga] is real physical, real strong. [Matthews] is real fast, real athletic. And I'm a combination of both of them."

Cushing, projected in recent mocks to be the first of the three chosen, is soaking in the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "It's wild. Just the fact that it may actually happen is really special. All of us came in and developed underneath each other, which really helped our game. And here we are, right before the draft, and we all might go in the first round."

Sports Illustrated even gave the USC core a draft preview cover spot that oozes with machismo.

"Yeah, it's a little out there," Cushing said of the SI cover. "It's just a competitive thing, we all want each other to do the best as possible. I gotta go first in the draft before them, though. And I hope they're right after me."

When asked what current or former NFL star he idolized, Cushing said he was a very big Ken Norton fan growing up, adding that it was a "very special opportunity to play for him at USC."

No matter how the draft turns out, these days will be savored by Cushing, who's a New Jersey native returning to the tri-state area. "If I couldn't play as USC in NCAA Football 10, I'd probably go with some hometown pride in Rutgers. There's a lot of talent in Jersey and people are just starting to realize it."

NCAA Football 10 Photos

EA Sports

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree burns past the Longhorns' defense. Crabtree is the cover athlete for the Xbox 360 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

USC quarterback Brian Sanchez looks for an open receiver. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

USC quarterback Brian Sanchez scrambles out of the pocket. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo gets set to rush the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo pummels the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson lines up behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson makes a pass attempt against TCU. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Cushing Thinks He's Best of Historic Trio originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Charmed Life of Larry Fitzgerald

Randy Kim — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:54:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Draft, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

If you're Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the last year hasn't been so bad. Think about it: You had 96 catches for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season; you had three touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game, you had two more touchdowns in Super Bowl XLIII (so what if you wound up losing the game?), and you're named the MVP of the Pro Bowl. Not a bad year, right?

Well, things just got a little bit better for Larry on Friday, as it was announced that he was the cover guy for EA's Madden NFL 10 (along with Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu).

So what does Larry think about being on the cover? Why is he sure he's going to reverse the Madden Curse? What's the latest on Anquan Boldin's contract situation? And why does he think Matt Leinart is the next Steve Young? I asked Larry all of these questions and more during some time here in New York. Read the full interview after the jump.

Randy Kim: OK, so you had a great year. Three touchdowns in the NFC conference championship game, a great performance in the Super Bowl, then you won the Pro Bowl MVP Award, and now the cover of Madden NFL 10. How great of an honor is the Madden cover coming on the heels of all of that?

Larry Fitzgerald: Well, being on the cover of Madden is a dream that every player has, and is the opportunity of a lifetime. Sharing the cover with Troy Polamalu makes it even more special.

Kim: Are you a big video game guy?

Fitzgerald: I wouldn't consider myself a big video game guy. I hold my own when I'm playing, I play during the season in the locker room with the other guys. I'm not the best, but you're not really gonna beat me down.

Kim: Well, now being on the cover, this gives you trash-talking rights above everyone else, right?

Fitzgerald: Maybe so. I'm not much of a trash-talker, but if guys get me going, I'll open up a little bit.

Kim: Did you have any favorite video games growing up?

Fitzgerald: I actually was a big Madden fan, growing up in Minnesota and rooting for the Vikings, so I'd play as my team -- Daunte (Culpepper) throwing it deep to Randy Moss and Cris Carter, and running out of the backfield with Robert Smith, so, you know, I racked up a lot of points.

Kim: So now that you're on the cover, is this one of those moments where you're like, 'Whoa, I used to play this game as a kid, and now I'm on the cover?!?'

Fitzgerald: It's kind of come full-circle. I look at the cover and I'm like, 'Wow, I'm really on it.' In all of the years I've been playing this game, I've never had the opportunity to be on the cover, so it's truly, truly an honor.

Kim: Well, you knew this question was coming; are you worried at all about the dreaded Madden curse?

Fitzgerald: No, I was thinking about this on the plane coming over here, and there are three things that are different about this year. First, this is the first time there are two guys on the cover in the 21-year history of the game. Second, John Madden retired this year. And third, both of us have long hair, which has never happened before either. So there's three things right there that put it in favor of going in the right direction. How cool would it be if Troy and I wind up splitting the MVP honors this year? How crazy would that be? Then everyone would be chomping at the bit to get on the cover, right?

Kim: Yeah, maybe you guys both make it back to the Super Bowl again, but this time the Cardinals win, and Madden comes out of retirement and calls the game.

Fitzgerald: Yeah, like Michael Jordan dropping 55 in the Garden. That'd be nice.

Kim: So this is the year of 'Reverse the Curse'.

Fitzgerald: Reverse the curse.

Kim: Alright, good to hear. But speaking of Madden, he obviously retired recently; did you ever get the chance to meet him?

Fitzgerald: On several different occasions. He's a great man, his knowledge and insight of the game are amazing, and we're sorely going to miss him and his presence, but I actually got the chance to play in the last game he ever broadcasted, so that's something special for me. But it's going to give him an opportunity now to immerse himself even more so in the game, and make this an even better game in the future.

Kim: Where do you think he ranks all time in terms of NFL announcers?

Fitzgerald: Well, I haven't been alive long enough to see everybody. I've heard about some of the guys in the past that supposedly did a phenomenal job. I know he has to rank among the best that have ever done it with his knowledge and experience and the championships he won in Oakland. I think he's right up there.

Kim: The draft is Saturday here in New York. The Cardinals pick 31st. Who should you guys go after?

Fitzgerald: It's a good question. I don't really know what our biggest needs are. That's more for management upstairs and Rod Graves and his staff to just try to enhance our ball club the best that he can. He's done a good job over the years of finding prime talent, and I'm confident he's going to get it done again.

Kim: Who is the top wide receiver in this year's draft class?

Fitzgerald: Well, Michael Crabtree I think has kind of separated himself with everything that he's accomplished in such a short amount of time, he played for a winner, and his numbers have just been amazing, and he played in a really tough conference. He played great against the best competition. Unfortunately he hurt his foot and he wasn't able to do a lot of the things that he's capable of, but I know he's going to be a special player in this league for a long time to come.

Kim: The Cardinals came so close last season. What has to happen for you guys to push through and win it all next year?

Fitzgerald: Well, I think the most important thing is that we have Kurt (Warner) re-signed for another two years. I know we have some other offseason issues we need to address, but we have the main components coming back and we're going to be strong. I'm happy about that.

Kim: It's been reported that you offered to restructure your contract to make room for Anquan Boldin. Have there been any developments on that front?

Fitzgerald: Well, me and the team have been talking about it and we're going to continue to move towards that, and I think we can get something done for Anquan. He's a close personal friend of mine and I want to see him stay with us, because he brings such a tremendous work ethic and so much commitment to the community. I mean, he's a vital part not only of our football team but of the community in Arizona.

Kim: If you don't have Anquan next to you next season, do you think you can win the Super Bowl without him?

Fitzgerald: Well, it'd definitely be a different team, and we'd have to work towards those goals, but I wouldn't put anything past the guys in our locker room. We're all dedicated and committed to getting back to that place again, down in Miami, playing on the biggest stage, regardless of who's there. If I'm there, Kurt's there, Q's there, we're going to keep fighting and keep working.

Kim: And you mentioned Kurt Warner re-signing; what does that do for the team's mood heading into the season?

Fitzgerald: Whenever you get a Pro Bowl-type player like Kurt Warner back on your roster, that's great for your organization, because we all know what he's capable of doing, we all know his accomplishments and what he's done throughout his entire career.

Kim: Kurt re-signed, but Matt Leinart is still there. Despite all Leinart's gone through, is the mindset that he is still the quarterback of your future as well?

Fitzgerald: Oh, definitely, man. Every year he's progressing. He's getting better. Every time he came into a game last year he played strong for us, and we know Matt, when he gets his opportunity, is going to come out there and have success. I always talk to him about Steve Young. I tell him, Steve Young went to the USFL first, went to Tampa, then went to San Francisco for a few years and sat behind Joe Montana, then after six years or so he put together a phenomenal career. First-ballot Hall of Famer and I tell Matt, he's left-handed, you're left-handed, you're both great athletes. I don't see anything different.

Kim: So he's the guy?

Fitzgerald: He's the guy.

Kim: Alright, thank you very much for your time, Larry.

Fitzgerald: No problem.

The Charmed Life of Larry Fitzgerald originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matt Stafford Is Playing Coy

Dan Graziano — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:38:00 EST

Filed under: Lions, NFL Draft, NFL Interviews

NEW YORK -- The whispers are that the deal could be done tonight, or already is done, but for some i-dotting and t-crossing. Peter King tells us to take it to the bank: Matthew Stafford is "going to be a Detroit Lion."

It's been an open secret for days that Stafford, the former Georgia quarterback, is in serious negotiations with the Lions and is very likely to be the No. 1 pick in Saturday's NFL draft. Mark Sanchez is telling anybody who'll listen that Stafford-to-Detroit is a done deal. Aaron Curry, while still hoping it will be him, seems resigned to Stafford as the No. 1 pick.

The only one who's pretending not to know anything about all of this is Stafford, who told us with a straight face this afternoon that he hasn't been paying it any attention.

"I know they've all been working hard on it, but honestly, I'm out of the loop," Stafford said around noon as he and other prospective draftees hosted an NFL-sponsored clinic for kids in sun-splashed Central Park. "I've been trying to stay out of it."

This may take the cake. At this point, it's become clear that anything anybody says in the days before the draft is at best a smokescreen and more likely a lie. But for Stafford to stand there and tell us he hadn't talked to his agent since last night and wasn't concerned about whether he got his deal done with Detroit before the draft started might be the toughest bit of misinformation any of us has been asked to swallow. I guess you give the kid a break because what's he supposed to say, but jeez. These agents really have these guys trained, don't they?

"I don't even know what goes into all the contract stuff," Stafford said. "Apparently there's a whole lot more to it this year because of the new CBA situation, so anything can happen, really."

Okay, so, playing along, he's right. If the deal doesn't get done -- if the Lions instead go and sign Curry or Jason Smith, Stafford's got a chance to drop pretty far down the first round. The quarterback-needy teams that follow Detroit are thought to prefer Sanchez, and that's the Lions' leverage with Stafford. If he doesn't sign with them, who knows how far he might fall?

Of course, he said he hasn't paid attention to that either.

"It's not a big deal to me, really," he said. "I'd love to be the first pick. I'm sure everybody here would. But if it doesn't happen, I really don't mind where I go. I'll be playing football for somebody."

If it's not Detroit, it'll be the shock of the day tomorrow (or possibly late tonight). And if it is Detroit, Stafford faces an uphill battle to win over the town's fans. One thing he did admit to being aware of was the group of Lions fans who showed up at the team's new logo unveiling last week to voice their opinion that Curry should be the pick.

"I did hear about that, and it's cool," Stafford said. "Fans are going to have their opinions wherever you go, and that's fine."

He's not going in with any preconceived notions about Detroit anyway. In fact, he said, he doesn't know much about the city at all.

"I know the Pistons and the Tigers are there," Stafford said. "That's about it."

And the Red Wings, somebody reminded him.

"Oh yeah, of course, the Red Wings," Stafford said. "Can't forget the Red Wings. I'm from Texas, see. There's no hockey there."

Looks like Stafford has a lot to learn about the place he's likely to be calling home. First, though, he's got to finish hammering out that contract. You know. The one he doesn't know anything about.

Matt Stafford Is Playing Coy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brian Orakpo Dreams of Being a Receiver, Punishing Vince Young

Tom Herrera — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Draft, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

NEW YORK -- Brian Orakpo doesn't just have hands. They're more like slabs of granite disguised in layers of taut skin.

When I greeted the defensive end Thursday night at the premiere party for EA Sports' NCAA Football 10, the first thing I could manage to say to him was: "Wow, I feel really small right about now."

I'm sure he gets that all the time. At 6-foot-3 and over 260 pounds, the workout warrior out of Texas is intimidating in stature alone. Then he goes ahead and blows away onlookers in linebacker drills.

But there's another position that Orakpo always wanted to try -- wide receiver. Check out what he had to say to FanHouse about his positional change fantasy, the challenge of maintaining his physique, and the chance to get some payback on former teammate Vince Young.

What kind of emotions are you going through as the NFL draft approaches?
I'm just excited, ready to get the process going. It seems like an eternity since I last played and I went to the combine. I'm excited for everybody that's here, we're just ready to get our careers started in the NFL. It's a dream come true for all of us.

Looking around, there's a lot of Big 12 guys. What do you think about the ties in this year's draft?
Man, it was a great year for all of us, just really showcasing all kinds of talent. All you hear about is SEC and all those other conferences, but it was a big year for Big 12 and a lot of guys really stepped up to the plate. It gives us sort of an advantage because you went out there and competed against the best each and every week. It seemed like game day was at a Big 12 game each and every Saturday, so going into the league you know you're going to see top talent and it gives you a heads up.

What's the most challenging part of maintaining your physique and regimen?
It's been tough with the visitation of teams, lots of traveling, stuff like that. It's kind of hard to keep your complete regimen that you had before because you're in and out of airports, eating airport food, grabbing food at hotels, and that puts you out of your comfort zone.

You have any workout tips for a scrawny guy like me?
(laughing) The one tip I can give you is to make sure you eat, man. I see a lot of guys work out and they don't eat nothing. You're not really gaining anything from doing that. So you have to remember to eat before and after working out.

Who would you most like to beat up over a game of NCAA Football 10 or Madden?
Vince Young with the Titans. What I'll do is put Kerry Collins on the bench and put Vince as the starter, then I'd go right after Vince. (laughing) I love Vince to death but I gotta get some revenge on him for all the times he did us in practice and stuff.

What career would you choose if you couldn't be an NFL player?
Man, that's a good question. I'd probably go into voice-over acting or something, you know, I got a deep voice. So I'll make some money off of that, man.

Is there another position you always really wanted to play?
Receiver, man, even if it was just one year. I thought I'd be a great receiver, and I still do. I always tell my coach, 'Just let me do one hot route, let me go and catch it,' because I can jump and I got good hands for a big guy.

Are there any NFL pass-rushers you admire or look up to?
Osi Umenyiora for the Giants is a guy I follow, Jason Taylor has been doing his thing for many years. DeMarcus Ware, Shawne Merriman, guys like that. I look at pretty much everybody but those are the guys I focus on most.

Have you gotten any hints as to where you might be drafted?
I'm just being optimistic about the whole thing and we'll see. A bunch of teams are calling, but you never know.

Who do you think should be the first two players picked off the draft board?
Uhh (smiles) ... I'd take Brian Orakpo at number one. And I'm a defensive guy, so I gotta give the second spot to my boy Aaron Curry.

NCAA Football 10 Photos

EA Sports

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree burns past the Longhorns' defense. Crabtree is the cover athlete for the Xbox 360 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

USC quarterback Brian Sanchez looks for an open receiver. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

USC quarterback Brian Sanchez scrambles out of the pocket. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo gets set to rush the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo pummels the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson lines up behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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Utah quarterback Brian Johnson makes a pass attempt against TCU. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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Brian Orakpo Dreams of Being a Receiver, Punishing Vince Young originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Crabtree Will Miss Those Saturday Night Lights

Dan Graziano — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Draft, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

NEW YORK -- He doesn't want to talk about his foot, really. He's been asked about it so much that he can feel the question coming, and he heads it off with a tsk, a shake of the head and a practiced response.

"I've got a brand-new set of wheels, man," Michael Crabtree said Thursday night. "That's the way I look at it."

The Texas Tech receiver, a likely top-10 pick in this weekend's NFL draft, was making the interview rounds at the premiere party for EA Sports' NCAA Football 10 video game. (He's on the cover of the Xbox 360 version.) He's looking forward to finally finding out which team he's going to, and the stress fracture in his foot is healed, thank you very much, and he's not real keen on talking about it.

What he does like talking about is college football. Which is something he's going to miss.

"Oh, yeah, I'm going to miss it," Crabtree said. "There's nothing like college football. The crowds, the rivalries, the fans that love you whether you win or lose. There's nothing like it anywhere."

Yes, you're reading that right. A young man on the verge of a multi-million-dollar contract with some NFL team is wistful, thinking about the life he leaves behind.

"It was a real hard decision for me, whether to come out and enter the draft, and that's the reason why," Crabtree said. "It's hard to leave college."

Looking around the room, he saw no fewer than three other Big 12 players in town for the draft. Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, who told everybody he's still upset about "that catch" Crabtree made to beat the Longhorns last year. Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman, a giant with a cannon for an arm. Baylor tackle Jason Smith, who could be the first or second player taken Saturday.

The crowd was a reminder of the kind of season 2008 was in the Big 12, when ABC's Saturday night game seemed to feature a pivotal conference matchup every week. Crabtree thinks the intensity and importance of those games is going to help the players who played in them, himself included, make the transition to the pros.

"So much expectation every week," Crabtree said. "It's like a rivalry every game. Pressure. Packed houses, under the lights. We had fun."

They had success, too, he is reminded. Texas Tech had a brilliant season with Crabtree catching passes from Graham Harrell. But Crabtree winces when you say that. The season wasn't as good as he'd hoped it would be.

"My goal was not to lose a game," he said. "And we got pretty close. Unfortunately, we ran into OU."

Tech was 10-0 and ranked second in the country when they traveled to play No. 5 Oklahoma on Nov. 22, and the smokin-hot Sooners whipped the Red Raiders 65-21, ending Crabtree's dreams of an undefeated season and national title. Six weeks later, Crabtree lost his final college game to Mississippi in the Cotton Bowl.

But while it may not have ended the way he'd have liked, that college career remains a standout memory for Crabtree, especially as he embarks on a new life as a professional. From now on, if he plays poorly, his home fans will likely boo him. Unless he drops way, way down the first round, his 2009 team is likely not going to be a contender, playing for something every single week. Things are going to be different, and Crabtree already feels it.

"This is going to be a job," he said. "It's going to be different. When I was in college, my job was student-athlete. College student. You can't beat that. It's never going to be like that again."

No, it's not. He's right. It just feels a little weird, doesn't it? Everybody's so excited about the draft, you don't even think about what these kids are leaving behind. Rarely do you hear an athlete in Crabtree's situation talk like this. But it must be something they all feel, to some extent. Their lives are changing. Letting go of your youth can leave part of you melancholy even as the rest of you is excited.

It's a little bit sad, but it's also kind of nice to find out that a guy like Crabtree appreciates what he had, and what he's going to miss.

NCAA Football 10 Photos

EA Sports

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree burns past the Longhorns' defense. Crabtree is the cover athlete for the Xbox 360 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

USC quarterback Brian Sanchez looks for an open receiver. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

USC quarterback Brian Sanchez scrambles out of the pocket. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo gets set to rush the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo pummels the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson lines up behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson makes a pass attempt against TCU. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

EA Sports

Michael Crabtree Will Miss Those Saturday Night Lights originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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