|
| | | | | | | |  Tuesday, November 14, 2000
Getting crazy with ... Montae Reagor
By Marc Connolly
ABC Sports Online
Every week throughout the 2000 NFL season, ABC's senior writer Marc Connolly will go head-to-head with one player from that week's upcoming Monday Night Football game. In Week 1, Connolly caught up with Denver DT Montae Reagor, a former Texas Tech All-American now in his second year with the Broncos. Here's what transpired:
Connolly: So you're playing defensive tackle this year -- no more moving from defensive end to the inside and back again?
Reagor: Yep, I'm on the inside now.
|  | | Montae Reagor looks to crack the Broncos starting lineup as a defensive tackle this season. |
Connolly: Is that because of where you fit in as far as the team's framework or because of where the coaches think you are best fit to play in the NFL?
Reagor: They think it'll be the best position for me because the quicker I am to the ball, the quicker I am to the quarterback. With my speed and quickness, I feel like I can play end, but they think I'm a better 3-technique. So far, everything has been going so well and the move has been great for me.
Connolly: Coming up the ranks as a D-end, who was the guy you watched on Sundays?
Reagor: I studied a lot. I've always loved Lawrence Taylor on D. As I got older, I learned more about guys like Reggie White and the guy I played behind last year -- Neil Smith. Those guys really showed me a lot. Neil especially, he showed me an awful lot of things. I'm lucky he was here last year because I learned a lot from him.
Connolly: You mentioned a few of the game's biggest personalities there. Those guys talked a lot of smack over the years. What's the best line you've ever used on someone across from you -- whether it was before the snap, or after a tackle or sack?
Reagor: I got two for you. After a tackle or sack: "Don't worry, I'll be back again." To the offensive lineman across from me after I got his QB: "Get ready for a loooong day."
Connolly: How about the best line used against you?
Reagor: Offensive tackles try to intimidate, so you get a lot of things like, "Get ready big fella, we're comin' after you." They do all they can to get inside you so that on the next play they can blow you up.
Connolly: C'mon, give us a name or two of the guys that talk the most.
Reagor: You know, no one in particular. I can say the guy I garnered the most respect for was Tony Boselli (Jacksonville Jaguars). He is a great offensive tackle. I don't fear anyone, but I respect them all.
Connolly: Now, that altitude thing in Denver. Is that really all that big of a deal to get used to, or is it something that's more urban legend to get in the minds of opposing players coming into Mile High?
Reagor: I'm gonna let you know the truth: You really have to get used to it. You try to find your second wind and you can't get it. You have to learn to control your breathing up here and stay in really good shape.
Connolly: Coming in as a rookie last year after the Broncos had won two rings in a row and John Elway had retired, was it almost as if you showed up at the party after all the girls were gone and the food trays were empty?
Reagor: (laughing) Not really. Everyone was still focused last year. I just tried to fit in and be an intricate part of the team around here.
Connolly: OK, then let me put it this way -- what do you wear on your right hand when you go out with some of the vets?
Reagor: I know what you're sayin', man. I wear my college rings. Most of those guys don't wear their rings out, but I've seen them and said to myself that I got to get me one. As far as jewelry though, I've kind of hooked myself up over the year and a half. No Rolex yet, but hopefully if things work out and I make some plays I can get a few nice items.
Connolly: You're gonna get the now-cliched "Survivor" question now. Who would be kicked off the island first if the Broncos were in the South Pacific?
Reagor: They pick on me a lot. It'd probably be me. For some reason, they love to get on me.
Connolly: I bet you haven't rushed out to see The Replacements yet, have you?
Reagor: No, you know, I haven't even seen a lot of football movies. I saw Rudy. That was a very touching movie and just went to show that the guy who works hard can make it.
Connolly: Who would you like to see cast to play you if the Broncos surprise everyone and win it all in 2000?
Reagor: Good question. I'd have to say Jamie Foxx.
Connolly: Uh, I think you got a few pounds on that dude.
Reagor: Yeah, but I know they could hook him up so he could look like me.
Connolly: You're No. 99. Is that a Sapp Daddy thing? A Gretzky thing? A "Wild Thing" Vaughn thing?
Reagor: I wanted 95, but that was already taken last year. I'm just gonna work on making No. 99 a presence, and making it known around the league.
Connolly: I guess you take what you can get as a rook.
Reagor: You said it. You have to. You don't have the upper hand then.
Connolly: Now you're from Waxahachie, Texas (suburb of Dallas). Is that one of those "Friday Night Lights" towns?
Reagor: Oh my goodness, that's (high school football) all they live and die for down there.
Connolly: You must have read "Friday Night Lights," and it sounds as if you're saying it was accurate. You must explain to all of us not from Texas why it's so crazy and stadiums get 20-30,000 people for high school ball.
Reagor: Yeah, it was pretty accurate. It's like that down there because of the competition level and the overall drive to be the best. You want to outdo the next town and be the best in the entire state. From pee wee on, that's the main goal.
Connolly: You graduated from college in 3 1/2 years. Didn't anyone tell you that a football player wasn't supposed to do those sort of things?
Reagor: I went in there (Texas Tech) with the mindset that I'd work as hard as possible to get my degree because it's something that no one can ever take from you. Plus, football is not going to last forever. I wanted to have something to fall back on if I got injured or if my career ends early.
Connolly: Being so far ahead, what was your senior year like?
Reagor: I made it so that all I had was one class. It was very comfortable. I'd go on Mondays and that was it. I was in, what I like to call, "Cadillac mode." On cruise-control.
Connolly: What'd you do all day?
Reagor: Just lift, watch film and stay ahead of my opponents.
Connolly: No wonder you were an All-American that year.
Reagor: (laughing) Yeah, it did help quite a bit.
Connolly: You've seen Terrell Davis every day the past few months. Help us fantasy football owners out. Where should he have gone in most of the drafts?
Reagor: He should have been the No. 1 pick. No doubt.
Connolly: Who would be some guys you'd draft for a defensive fantasy squad?
Reagor: Trevor Pryce (Denver) is gonna have a good year. Warren Sapp. Johnny Randle, who I look up to very much. And Deion Sanders.
Connolly: C'mon, Montae, how about Jevon Kearse?
Reagor: Oh yeah, I forget about Jevon (laughing).
Connolly: Last question, if you get in there and make a big play on MNF, in the back of your mind are you going to wonder what joke Dennis Miller is saying about you?
Reagor: Oh yeah. Nothin' wrong with a little nub on the tube.
| | |
| | | | |
ESPN.com:
HELP |
ADVERTISER INFO |
CONTACT US |
TOOLS |
SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.
| |
| 
 |
Dennis Miller sat down with Dan Patrick for the Sunday Conversation.