Post by shootmenow on Jan 26, 2015 10:39:31 GMT -5
nypost.com/2015/01/24/serby-qa-new-jets-coach-talks-football-philosophy-and-family/
New Jets coach Todd Bowles took a timeout to chat with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: You were on Bill Parcells’ staffs in Dallas and Miami. What is an anecdote you think sums him up?
A: Don’t show me the pain, just deliver the baby (laugh).
Q: He would say that all the time?
A: Yeah. It’s all about results, it’s not about how you get there, just get there. Just get there.
Q: Best motivational ploy you observed from him?
A: He was very different in those ways. He knew how to prick and pry. He could needle players till the bitter end, not just a ploy, but he could handle every player individually differently, and he could do that with the entire roster. It wasn’t just offense or defense. He knew, if you were on the team, he knew why you were on the team, he knew what your purpose was, and he knew how to use you. I don’t know if it was motivational or not, that was the biggest thing I learned from him.
Q: Describe your motivational style.
A: I have different styles as well. Some you yell at, some you talk to, some you get very sarcastic with. You get to know the player and see what makes him tick and you use that against him. Some people don’t need motivation. There are different ways to do different guys, you just have to understand your team.
Q: Nobody is as sarcastic as Parcells.
A: I’m not even claiming to be close to that — nor do I want to be. He was the king of sarcasm (smile), but he was very smart, and if you looked past that, he understood everything he was doing.
Q: Any inspirational sayings from anybody in history that you like?
A: [I’m] not a big inspirational guy. Most of my sayings are from comedies or things like that. I say what I feel and I’ll say what’s on my mind. I’m very straightforward. I’m gonna get my point across — one way or the other, ’cause I like to sleep at night. I don’t hold anything in, and there are ways of saying that, and then there are not-so-nice ways of saying that. So, however I feel at the time, I’m gonna say it.
Q: What won’t you tolerate?
A: I hate tardiness. I hate tardiness, and I hate people that don’t understand and study, and know their job. You gotta know your job, or you don’t need to be out there.
Q: What is your definition of a Todd Bowles football player?
A: Instinctive … obviously tough and heady … and knowing the plays before it happens.
Q: You spend eight seasons in the NFL as a defensive back. Describe your on-field mentality as a player.
A: could make adjustments, understood where everybody lined up when people were out of position, tried to get every tendency I could in order to help me make a play.
Q: Did you flip a switch once you put the uniform on?
A: Yes, you have to. It’s a violent sport. You kill or be killed, you hit or get hit. At that time, no matter how smart you are, if you can’t tackle anybody or you get run over by anybody, you’re not worth playing in the league.
Q: What do you or would you want your players to say about you?
A: You don’t want to be anything else first other than a good football coach — a guy that can teach something, and teach them about the game, and understand them as well. … I want to make guys better. Hopefully they’ll say I made them better in some way, shape or form — on and off the field. I’m not just a football coach, I’ve been through what they’ve been through, so I can see things through their eyes a lot better.
Q: What drives you?
A: Winning … just winning. I love coaching — the Xs and Os part drives me, the thrill of the game. When you can’t play anymore, you transfer it over to coaching, so you get your excitement that way, as a coach. So that drives me more than anything. I don’t ever coach just to coach and say, “Oh, great game.” I’m trying to win all the time. I don’t like losing, nobody does, but I only coach to win.
Q: Who are leaders you admire?
A: Martin Luther King. … I thought Parcells was a great leader. … I have a lot of respect for [Cardinals coach] Bruce Arians as a great leader. I’ve watched him lead from a collegiate level [at Temple] when he had hair to now.
Q: What is your definition of leadership?
A: My definition of leadership first of all is listening. You can’t lead without listening, ’cause sooner or later, you’re gonna crash and burn. Leadership is standing out front, being “the guy,” saying, “We’re doing it this way.” Putting your personality on the people behind you, and getting people to follow, and do what you’re preaching — without forcing it upon them. Making sure you’re genuine in the process, understanding, being sure of what you’re doing, and making sure the people behind you understand what you’re doing and always having their back, but at the same time making them better.
Q: Who are coaches in other sports you admire?
A: I admire [Clipper coach] Doc Rivers. He coaches till the bitter end. Just watching him get along with his players and understanding their game entirely. I admire [former NFL coaches] Tony Dungy and Bill Cowher, those were great guys as far as leadership. [Grambling State coach and former Redskins QB] Doug Williams, probably, from a leadership standpoint as a player, and as a coach, he actually got me into coaching. Basketball-wise, (Big) John Thompson I thought was a great leader of men. and I loved [former St. John’s basketball coach] Lou Carnesecca and [Syracuse basketball coach] Jimmy Boeheim. I watched those guys lead their respective teams all the time. I was a big Big East basketball watcher. And [basketball coach] John Chaney at Temple, I thought he was outstanding.
Q: What are adjectives you would use to describe Todd Bowles?
A: Sarcastic … funny, quiet … detailed … serious, laid back … instinctive … happy.
Q: Are you a good judge of character?
A: Great judge of character.
Q: Why do you think you are?
A: I just have a feel. … I can kinda get a feel within about five minutes or less whether I like a person or don’t like a person.
Q: Where do I stand on that?
A: (Laugh) You’re very likeable because you ask real questions and you don’t pull any punches. And that’s a good thing.
Q: How do you handle stress?
A: I get everything off my chest. I listen to music. I don’t stress about too much. I’m a pretty simple guy. My life is cut and dry, Football’s cut and dry. There is no stress, it’s just worrying about how to fix the problems.
Q: Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome?
A: Having wrist surgery at Temple, and saying I wasn’t supposed to play again but still playing eight years in the league.
Q: Describe the 1986 NFC Championship game.
A: It was my rookie year [with the Redskins], and I came out of the tunnel … it was 17 degrees. And, we came running out the tunnel and we were all excited and everything, championship game, I knew everybody back at Temple in the dorms were watching. They introduced their guys, and [the Giants] came walking out of the tunnel. You could see [Lawrence Taylor], and [Harry] Carson, and [Gary] Reasons, and they were sleeveless. … I shook it off, I said, “The snow swirling, that’s OK, I don’t play offense, I ain’t gotta worry about it.” And, it was about the third quarter, I think they were beating us 17-0, which was the final score, and we had the wind and you really couldn’t throw the ball, and there was a timeout … they were playing Queen, “We Will Rock You,” and you can kinda see the stadium moving a little bit. … “Wow, we’re not winning this game!” (laugh).
Q: Preparing for Lawrence Taylor, what do you recall about that?
A: You don’t prepare for him. He could beat a double[-team], he could beat a triple. Arguably one of the best three defensive players of all time. In my opinion, in my book he is.That guy, he was a monster.
Q: Recollections of playing against Phil Simms.
A: Smart, tough, very accurate. He was a winner. We had our battles. I think I got my first touchdown pass caught on me by him, I think it was Mark Bavaro. Phil was an outstanding competitor. That whole team, both sides of the ball, had some great players.
Q: Did you cover Bavaro a lot?
A: Didn’t cover him a lot, but I remember covering him. We had different coverages and I was the free [safety], but I remember his favorite route was he looked like he’s going outside and bend it hard all the way back in, and they threw it to him every time. That was one of his specialties.
Q: What was it like crushing the Broncos, 42-10, in Super Bowl XXII?
A: The first thing was, as a defensive player, you wanted to run out of the tunnel, and they introduced the offense, so you were [ticked] off about that (smile). The second thing, the first time they threw a deep ball and caught a touchdown, I think it was Ricky Nattiel, and we went down 7-0, and we were like, “Barry [Wilburn], what the heck are you doing?” But he came back and picked off two passes, and the second quarter was unreal watching Doug [Williams] throw those [four second-quarter] touchdown passes. Walking into halftime, you could see they were defeated, and we just coasted from there, but that was a great experience.
Q: Describe former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs.
A: Extremely intelligent. Very smart from a gameplan standpoint. He would work things over and over and over again. He knew how to attack you where you were weak. He taught me a lot of discipline. Although he wasn’t on the other side of the ball, he did teach me a lot of discipline, and he would stand over there and get in the way of 7-on-7 passes, and always ask questions, and he wanted to know how to get himself better, which was always good. You would think a coach of that stature, just knows everything, he always tried to get himself better, which was something I learned, and I’ll carry that with me.
Q: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians.
A: There were two Bruces. My early days Bruce [at Temple] who helped change me, and motivate me, and get me to be the man I am today. His whole philosophy is “coach ’em hard, hug ’em later.” And he taught me how to be a man, he taught me to go through perseverance and keep fighting. To the Bruce now, who respected me as a coach, and thought enough to hire me as a defensive coordinator and believed in me, to understanding what he helped raise become the person that he helped raise. It’s flattering, I can’t say enough about the man, and he’s outstanding in every way.
Q: Former Eagles coach Andy Reid.
A: I learned more from him that one year in Philadelphia, in terms of adversity, than any part of football I’ve been around, with the things he went through as far as losing the son, the turmoil surrounding the season being his last year, and every day he came into work the same guy. He made sure the team was fine, he made sure the coaches were fine, and he showed leadership beyond leadership, and I’ll never forget that.
Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire?
A: When I played, my No. 1 guy in the league was Patrick Ewing, by far. Loved him at Georgetown, loved him in New York, followed him till the bitter end. Ewing is like my guy.
Q: Why him?
A: His work ethic, in college the way he played defense, transitioned to offense. He always fought, he was a warrior, on and off the field, he was a very classy guy. He was the epitome to me, even back then. I thought he was outstanding. From a baseball standpoint … I was a big pitching guy. Nolan Ryan was unbelievable. I liked the old Yankees, the Goose and the Gander, with [Ron] Davis and Gossage. I liked J.R. Richards when he was in his prime. Dr. J. [Julius Erving], obviously, and Moses Malone.
Q: How about football-wise?
A: It was Bert Jones, Chuck Foreman, Jack Tatum. Locally, the Sack Exchange was very good. I was a big Freeman McNeil fan, I was a big Wesley Walker-Al Toon guy. Giants, obviously, other than playing against them, Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Mark Collins I knew very well.
Q: How did you know Collins?
A: We came out, played the Blue-Gray [college All-Star game] together actually, we were in the same secondary.
Q: What did you like about the Sack Exchange?
A: First thing was [Joe] Klecko, ’cause he went to Temple. These guys got after it. They really played football the right way, and you could see it constantly, and people feared ’em, and I loved that about those guys.
Q: Do you want to build a defense that people fear?
A: You would love to build a defense that people fear. … I don’t know if they’re gonna fear is the right word, but you want to build a defense that’s scary, and they gotta account for all your guys. Eventually, that’s what you want up do.
Q: Why Bert Jones?
A: He could throw the ball. I just liked the way he played. Back then when they had Lydell Mitchell and Roosevelt Leaks and Raymond Chester, they had a good team. [The Colts] were fun to watch. That Raider game in the playoffs when they lost 38-31, that was one of the best games I ever seen.
Q: Why Chuck Foreman?
A: Chuck had the spin move (laugh). I had a 44 [Vikings] jersey when I was little.
Q: Why did you like Don Mattingly?
A: He was left-handed, I was left-handed. I was just a big Yankee fan. I just liked the way he played. He did everything fundamentally right, he had a short, compact swing, he could get his wrists around, he could hit the ball, he could field. … He was unbelievable. I thought he was great.
Q: What’s a fun night out for you?
A: I’m a basketball-baseball fan, so a good night out is either going to a game, sitting down eating some popcorn, or going to a movie.
Q: Any favorite movies lately?
A: I haven’t seen many lately. I gotta see “Taken 3” just to make it the trilogy. I know what the plot is, and I get that. But I’m a big “Godfather” guy and a big “Soldier Story” guy, and then I watch a lot of comedies.
Q: Favorite comedian?
A: It was Redd Foxx. But Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor hold a big place, too. As well as Bill Cosby.
Q: Describe growing up in Elizabeth, N.J.
A: Pioneer Homes.
Q: Describe what that was like.
A: For me, you have some streetball legends that live there. You have friends all over the neighborhood, and because it’s the projects, you have about 25 mothers, so you can’t do anything wrong ’cause everybody’s watching you and somebody’s gonna always tell. And you get real close to the neighborhood and the people around there, and they help cultivate and motivate you, and it’s competition all the time — whether it was playing cards, or whether it was pitching pennies or nickels, or whether it was playing baseball or football. So you learn how to play in the streets, as opposed to going away for camps. If you got any kind of skill set, it’s gonna test you every day so it gets better, but there were a lot of people down there that did a lot of things to help me get to where I am. My mother took care of us, and she made sure I stayed out of trouble all the time.
Q: Describe your mother.
A: She was my best friend. She was hard-working. She always looked out for me, never let nobody get close enough to do any damage to me harmful-wise. She made sure I did all my work, house chores as well. Everything I’ve done till this point, I owe to her. Every last thing. She’s first and foremost. If I had an idol, it would have been her. She’s the main person where I’m at today.
Q: Were you more like her or your father?
A: I was more like her, in terms of being sarcastic and hard-headed, and we looked alike, she just had hair, I didn’t.
Q: You have three boys.
A: Toddy’s very intelligent, he’s very smart, he can figure Xboxes and [PlayStation] 4s with his eyes closed. Troy is determined, he’s very athletic, he’s very good at football and basketball, he wants to be good, and he’s a fighter. And Tyson runs the household, period. Toddy is Speedy, and Troy is Mr. Tibbs, and Tyson is Iron Mike. That’s their nicknames. Troy plays linebacker and running back, and Todd plays tight end and defensive end. Toddy’s a big Ohio State fan and Troy’s a big Auburn fan. And they both say they’re going to those respective places. Which is fine with me. If they could pull that off, that will be great (smile).
Q: Describe your stepdaughter Sydni.
A: Sydni’s a cheerleader for the Suns.
Q: Favorite New York City things?
A: I love Ray’s pizza. Juniors Cheesecake. Other than the Yankees and the Knicks … I used to go to Delancey Street to shop and get some coats back in the day. Back when Spike Lee had his store in Brooklyn when he made all the movies, I used to wear a bunch of Spike Lee clothing when I was a player. From the movies and everything else, I was a big Spike guy. I love the city — if you love to go eat and you love to go shopping. You hate the parking, and you hate the traffic, but everything else, I think New York is great.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Martin Luther King, Michael Jordan, Hank Aaron.
Q: You seem very comfortable in your own skin, am I right about that?
A: Yeah, you have to be. I can’t be anybody else. You grow up trying to be other people, and that’s not who you really are, and then people see you as a fake — I can’t be a fake, I have to be who I am, and you’re gonna either like me or hate me for who I am. And I’m comfortable with that. I can laugh at myself, and trip and fall, and get up and laugh.
Q: You’re inheriting a fan base that hasn’t won a championship in 46 years. What do you want to say to it?
A: They’re a smart fan base. They’re a passionate fan base. They understand realness. If I go up there preaching, “I want to do this, I want to do that,” they’re gonna look at me like I’m crazy. I can only be me, and I’m gonna work my ass off to get them a championship. They’re deserving of it, they’re very smart, they’re very knowledgeable football fans, and when you win, they get behind you like no other. So, we’re gonna try to get ’em behind us, and we’re gonna try to march on and try to get this thing turned around.
Q: You hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
A: I would love to hold one as a coach, that is my goal, to get a Super Bowl ring, and hold the trophy as a coach.
New Jets coach Todd Bowles took a timeout to chat with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: You were on Bill Parcells’ staffs in Dallas and Miami. What is an anecdote you think sums him up?
A: Don’t show me the pain, just deliver the baby (laugh).
Q: He would say that all the time?
A: Yeah. It’s all about results, it’s not about how you get there, just get there. Just get there.
Q: Best motivational ploy you observed from him?
A: He was very different in those ways. He knew how to prick and pry. He could needle players till the bitter end, not just a ploy, but he could handle every player individually differently, and he could do that with the entire roster. It wasn’t just offense or defense. He knew, if you were on the team, he knew why you were on the team, he knew what your purpose was, and he knew how to use you. I don’t know if it was motivational or not, that was the biggest thing I learned from him.
Q: Describe your motivational style.
A: I have different styles as well. Some you yell at, some you talk to, some you get very sarcastic with. You get to know the player and see what makes him tick and you use that against him. Some people don’t need motivation. There are different ways to do different guys, you just have to understand your team.
Q: Nobody is as sarcastic as Parcells.
A: I’m not even claiming to be close to that — nor do I want to be. He was the king of sarcasm (smile), but he was very smart, and if you looked past that, he understood everything he was doing.
Q: Any inspirational sayings from anybody in history that you like?
A: [I’m] not a big inspirational guy. Most of my sayings are from comedies or things like that. I say what I feel and I’ll say what’s on my mind. I’m very straightforward. I’m gonna get my point across — one way or the other, ’cause I like to sleep at night. I don’t hold anything in, and there are ways of saying that, and then there are not-so-nice ways of saying that. So, however I feel at the time, I’m gonna say it.
Q: What won’t you tolerate?
A: I hate tardiness. I hate tardiness, and I hate people that don’t understand and study, and know their job. You gotta know your job, or you don’t need to be out there.
Q: What is your definition of a Todd Bowles football player?
A: Instinctive … obviously tough and heady … and knowing the plays before it happens.
Q: You spend eight seasons in the NFL as a defensive back. Describe your on-field mentality as a player.
A: could make adjustments, understood where everybody lined up when people were out of position, tried to get every tendency I could in order to help me make a play.
Q: Did you flip a switch once you put the uniform on?
A: Yes, you have to. It’s a violent sport. You kill or be killed, you hit or get hit. At that time, no matter how smart you are, if you can’t tackle anybody or you get run over by anybody, you’re not worth playing in the league.
Q: What do you or would you want your players to say about you?
A: You don’t want to be anything else first other than a good football coach — a guy that can teach something, and teach them about the game, and understand them as well. … I want to make guys better. Hopefully they’ll say I made them better in some way, shape or form — on and off the field. I’m not just a football coach, I’ve been through what they’ve been through, so I can see things through their eyes a lot better.
Q: What drives you?
A: Winning … just winning. I love coaching — the Xs and Os part drives me, the thrill of the game. When you can’t play anymore, you transfer it over to coaching, so you get your excitement that way, as a coach. So that drives me more than anything. I don’t ever coach just to coach and say, “Oh, great game.” I’m trying to win all the time. I don’t like losing, nobody does, but I only coach to win.
Q: Who are leaders you admire?
A: Martin Luther King. … I thought Parcells was a great leader. … I have a lot of respect for [Cardinals coach] Bruce Arians as a great leader. I’ve watched him lead from a collegiate level [at Temple] when he had hair to now.
Q: What is your definition of leadership?
A: My definition of leadership first of all is listening. You can’t lead without listening, ’cause sooner or later, you’re gonna crash and burn. Leadership is standing out front, being “the guy,” saying, “We’re doing it this way.” Putting your personality on the people behind you, and getting people to follow, and do what you’re preaching — without forcing it upon them. Making sure you’re genuine in the process, understanding, being sure of what you’re doing, and making sure the people behind you understand what you’re doing and always having their back, but at the same time making them better.
Q: Who are coaches in other sports you admire?
A: I admire [Clipper coach] Doc Rivers. He coaches till the bitter end. Just watching him get along with his players and understanding their game entirely. I admire [former NFL coaches] Tony Dungy and Bill Cowher, those were great guys as far as leadership. [Grambling State coach and former Redskins QB] Doug Williams, probably, from a leadership standpoint as a player, and as a coach, he actually got me into coaching. Basketball-wise, (Big) John Thompson I thought was a great leader of men. and I loved [former St. John’s basketball coach] Lou Carnesecca and [Syracuse basketball coach] Jimmy Boeheim. I watched those guys lead their respective teams all the time. I was a big Big East basketball watcher. And [basketball coach] John Chaney at Temple, I thought he was outstanding.
Q: What are adjectives you would use to describe Todd Bowles?
A: Sarcastic … funny, quiet … detailed … serious, laid back … instinctive … happy.
Q: Are you a good judge of character?
A: Great judge of character.
Q: Why do you think you are?
A: I just have a feel. … I can kinda get a feel within about five minutes or less whether I like a person or don’t like a person.
Q: Where do I stand on that?
A: (Laugh) You’re very likeable because you ask real questions and you don’t pull any punches. And that’s a good thing.
Q: How do you handle stress?
A: I get everything off my chest. I listen to music. I don’t stress about too much. I’m a pretty simple guy. My life is cut and dry, Football’s cut and dry. There is no stress, it’s just worrying about how to fix the problems.
Q: Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome?
A: Having wrist surgery at Temple, and saying I wasn’t supposed to play again but still playing eight years in the league.
Q: Describe the 1986 NFC Championship game.
A: It was my rookie year [with the Redskins], and I came out of the tunnel … it was 17 degrees. And, we came running out the tunnel and we were all excited and everything, championship game, I knew everybody back at Temple in the dorms were watching. They introduced their guys, and [the Giants] came walking out of the tunnel. You could see [Lawrence Taylor], and [Harry] Carson, and [Gary] Reasons, and they were sleeveless. … I shook it off, I said, “The snow swirling, that’s OK, I don’t play offense, I ain’t gotta worry about it.” And, it was about the third quarter, I think they were beating us 17-0, which was the final score, and we had the wind and you really couldn’t throw the ball, and there was a timeout … they were playing Queen, “We Will Rock You,” and you can kinda see the stadium moving a little bit. … “Wow, we’re not winning this game!” (laugh).
Q: Preparing for Lawrence Taylor, what do you recall about that?
A: You don’t prepare for him. He could beat a double[-team], he could beat a triple. Arguably one of the best three defensive players of all time. In my opinion, in my book he is.That guy, he was a monster.
Q: Recollections of playing against Phil Simms.
A: Smart, tough, very accurate. He was a winner. We had our battles. I think I got my first touchdown pass caught on me by him, I think it was Mark Bavaro. Phil was an outstanding competitor. That whole team, both sides of the ball, had some great players.
Q: Did you cover Bavaro a lot?
A: Didn’t cover him a lot, but I remember covering him. We had different coverages and I was the free [safety], but I remember his favorite route was he looked like he’s going outside and bend it hard all the way back in, and they threw it to him every time. That was one of his specialties.
Q: What was it like crushing the Broncos, 42-10, in Super Bowl XXII?
A: The first thing was, as a defensive player, you wanted to run out of the tunnel, and they introduced the offense, so you were [ticked] off about that (smile). The second thing, the first time they threw a deep ball and caught a touchdown, I think it was Ricky Nattiel, and we went down 7-0, and we were like, “Barry [Wilburn], what the heck are you doing?” But he came back and picked off two passes, and the second quarter was unreal watching Doug [Williams] throw those [four second-quarter] touchdown passes. Walking into halftime, you could see they were defeated, and we just coasted from there, but that was a great experience.
Q: Describe former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs.
A: Extremely intelligent. Very smart from a gameplan standpoint. He would work things over and over and over again. He knew how to attack you where you were weak. He taught me a lot of discipline. Although he wasn’t on the other side of the ball, he did teach me a lot of discipline, and he would stand over there and get in the way of 7-on-7 passes, and always ask questions, and he wanted to know how to get himself better, which was always good. You would think a coach of that stature, just knows everything, he always tried to get himself better, which was something I learned, and I’ll carry that with me.
Q: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians.
A: There were two Bruces. My early days Bruce [at Temple] who helped change me, and motivate me, and get me to be the man I am today. His whole philosophy is “coach ’em hard, hug ’em later.” And he taught me how to be a man, he taught me to go through perseverance and keep fighting. To the Bruce now, who respected me as a coach, and thought enough to hire me as a defensive coordinator and believed in me, to understanding what he helped raise become the person that he helped raise. It’s flattering, I can’t say enough about the man, and he’s outstanding in every way.
Q: Former Eagles coach Andy Reid.
A: I learned more from him that one year in Philadelphia, in terms of adversity, than any part of football I’ve been around, with the things he went through as far as losing the son, the turmoil surrounding the season being his last year, and every day he came into work the same guy. He made sure the team was fine, he made sure the coaches were fine, and he showed leadership beyond leadership, and I’ll never forget that.
Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire?
A: When I played, my No. 1 guy in the league was Patrick Ewing, by far. Loved him at Georgetown, loved him in New York, followed him till the bitter end. Ewing is like my guy.
Q: Why him?
A: His work ethic, in college the way he played defense, transitioned to offense. He always fought, he was a warrior, on and off the field, he was a very classy guy. He was the epitome to me, even back then. I thought he was outstanding. From a baseball standpoint … I was a big pitching guy. Nolan Ryan was unbelievable. I liked the old Yankees, the Goose and the Gander, with [Ron] Davis and Gossage. I liked J.R. Richards when he was in his prime. Dr. J. [Julius Erving], obviously, and Moses Malone.
Q: How about football-wise?
A: It was Bert Jones, Chuck Foreman, Jack Tatum. Locally, the Sack Exchange was very good. I was a big Freeman McNeil fan, I was a big Wesley Walker-Al Toon guy. Giants, obviously, other than playing against them, Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Mark Collins I knew very well.
Q: How did you know Collins?
A: We came out, played the Blue-Gray [college All-Star game] together actually, we were in the same secondary.
Q: What did you like about the Sack Exchange?
A: First thing was [Joe] Klecko, ’cause he went to Temple. These guys got after it. They really played football the right way, and you could see it constantly, and people feared ’em, and I loved that about those guys.
Q: Do you want to build a defense that people fear?
A: You would love to build a defense that people fear. … I don’t know if they’re gonna fear is the right word, but you want to build a defense that’s scary, and they gotta account for all your guys. Eventually, that’s what you want up do.
Q: Why Bert Jones?
A: He could throw the ball. I just liked the way he played. Back then when they had Lydell Mitchell and Roosevelt Leaks and Raymond Chester, they had a good team. [The Colts] were fun to watch. That Raider game in the playoffs when they lost 38-31, that was one of the best games I ever seen.
Q: Why Chuck Foreman?
A: Chuck had the spin move (laugh). I had a 44 [Vikings] jersey when I was little.
Q: Why did you like Don Mattingly?
A: He was left-handed, I was left-handed. I was just a big Yankee fan. I just liked the way he played. He did everything fundamentally right, he had a short, compact swing, he could get his wrists around, he could hit the ball, he could field. … He was unbelievable. I thought he was great.
Q: What’s a fun night out for you?
A: I’m a basketball-baseball fan, so a good night out is either going to a game, sitting down eating some popcorn, or going to a movie.
Q: Any favorite movies lately?
A: I haven’t seen many lately. I gotta see “Taken 3” just to make it the trilogy. I know what the plot is, and I get that. But I’m a big “Godfather” guy and a big “Soldier Story” guy, and then I watch a lot of comedies.
Q: Favorite comedian?
A: It was Redd Foxx. But Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor hold a big place, too. As well as Bill Cosby.
Q: Describe growing up in Elizabeth, N.J.
A: Pioneer Homes.
Q: Describe what that was like.
A: For me, you have some streetball legends that live there. You have friends all over the neighborhood, and because it’s the projects, you have about 25 mothers, so you can’t do anything wrong ’cause everybody’s watching you and somebody’s gonna always tell. And you get real close to the neighborhood and the people around there, and they help cultivate and motivate you, and it’s competition all the time — whether it was playing cards, or whether it was pitching pennies or nickels, or whether it was playing baseball or football. So you learn how to play in the streets, as opposed to going away for camps. If you got any kind of skill set, it’s gonna test you every day so it gets better, but there were a lot of people down there that did a lot of things to help me get to where I am. My mother took care of us, and she made sure I stayed out of trouble all the time.
Q: Describe your mother.
A: She was my best friend. She was hard-working. She always looked out for me, never let nobody get close enough to do any damage to me harmful-wise. She made sure I did all my work, house chores as well. Everything I’ve done till this point, I owe to her. Every last thing. She’s first and foremost. If I had an idol, it would have been her. She’s the main person where I’m at today.
Q: Were you more like her or your father?
A: I was more like her, in terms of being sarcastic and hard-headed, and we looked alike, she just had hair, I didn’t.
Q: You have three boys.
A: Toddy’s very intelligent, he’s very smart, he can figure Xboxes and [PlayStation] 4s with his eyes closed. Troy is determined, he’s very athletic, he’s very good at football and basketball, he wants to be good, and he’s a fighter. And Tyson runs the household, period. Toddy is Speedy, and Troy is Mr. Tibbs, and Tyson is Iron Mike. That’s their nicknames. Troy plays linebacker and running back, and Todd plays tight end and defensive end. Toddy’s a big Ohio State fan and Troy’s a big Auburn fan. And they both say they’re going to those respective places. Which is fine with me. If they could pull that off, that will be great (smile).
Q: Describe your stepdaughter Sydni.
A: Sydni’s a cheerleader for the Suns.
Q: Favorite New York City things?
A: I love Ray’s pizza. Juniors Cheesecake. Other than the Yankees and the Knicks … I used to go to Delancey Street to shop and get some coats back in the day. Back when Spike Lee had his store in Brooklyn when he made all the movies, I used to wear a bunch of Spike Lee clothing when I was a player. From the movies and everything else, I was a big Spike guy. I love the city — if you love to go eat and you love to go shopping. You hate the parking, and you hate the traffic, but everything else, I think New York is great.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Martin Luther King, Michael Jordan, Hank Aaron.
Q: You seem very comfortable in your own skin, am I right about that?
A: Yeah, you have to be. I can’t be anybody else. You grow up trying to be other people, and that’s not who you really are, and then people see you as a fake — I can’t be a fake, I have to be who I am, and you’re gonna either like me or hate me for who I am. And I’m comfortable with that. I can laugh at myself, and trip and fall, and get up and laugh.
Q: You’re inheriting a fan base that hasn’t won a championship in 46 years. What do you want to say to it?
A: They’re a smart fan base. They’re a passionate fan base. They understand realness. If I go up there preaching, “I want to do this, I want to do that,” they’re gonna look at me like I’m crazy. I can only be me, and I’m gonna work my ass off to get them a championship. They’re deserving of it, they’re very smart, they’re very knowledgeable football fans, and when you win, they get behind you like no other. So, we’re gonna try to get ’em behind us, and we’re gonna try to march on and try to get this thing turned around.
Q: You hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
A: I would love to hold one as a coach, that is my goal, to get a Super Bowl ring, and hold the trophy as a coach.
