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| | | | | | | |  Tuesday, November 14, 2000
Chat wrap: Eric Dickerson
ABC Sports Online report
You finally saw the new Monday Night Football team's debut during the Hall of Fame game. Now it's time to get to know them a little better, one at a time.
MNF sideline reporter Eric Dickerson answered your questions regarding the upcoming NFL season and his colleague Dennis Miller in a recent chat.
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Eric Dickerson poses with his bust during the 1999 Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies. |
Dickerson also told an ABC Sports Online chat audience who he believes is the greatest running back of all-time and offered up an early Super Bowl pick.
If you missed Dickerson's Aug. 10 chat, an edited transcript follows:
Eric Dickerson: Hello everyone. Just got off the phone with Kurt Warner. So fire away with your questions.
Brian Wiese: Are there any running backs in the NFL that remind you of yourself?
Dickerson: Eddie George. George is about 6-3, 240 pounds. He's a little bit bigger than I am but not as fast. But he reminds me a lot of when I was playing with those high knees.
Devlun Whiteing: Who do you think was the best running back of all time?
Dickerson: Well, that is a hard question. It depends on who you like. Jim Brown, Gale Sayers, myself, Tony Dorsett, Barry Sanders. It really depends on what you like. What era? If you asked right now, in 2000, Every 19-35 year old guy never saw Brown play. They saw Barry Sanders. If you are 30-39, then you saw my era and might say me. I always say, who do you like? I liked to watch O.J. Simpson, but that was my era.
Marc Butterfield: In watching rookie running backs in training camp and preseason games, what types of physical skills helps to "tip off" if they will become a great, potential All-Pro in the NFL?
Dickerson: A lot of it comes through with desire, which you can't see unless you meet them. I met with Edgerrin James and Ricky Williams. I thought James would be better. To be a running back, you have to be confident. I believe Edgerrin wanted it more and prove he is as good as Ricky Williams, if not better. When I came into the league with Hershel Walker, I wanted to prove I was better than he was. Those were the things you want to prove to the whole world.
Geoff Folsom: Which MNF game do you look forward to most?
Dickerson: I'm looking forward to seeing the St. Louis Rams play the Washington Redskins on Nov. 20. And any game the Titans play in is also exciting.
Greg: How has your time spent as a player in the NFL prepared you for your current position as a sideline commentator with MNF?
Dickerson: Well, it doesn't really prepare you, they are two different jobs. I do know the ins and outs of football. I can talk about a zone defense, where someone else may not know. They may call plays that I have heard that I can report over the air. It may sound like a run, but it is a pass.
John Ackels: What was your gut reaction when Dennis Miller was announced as a MNF co-host?
Dickerson: I had to meet him first. When I met him and talked to him about the NFL, I realized he knows football. He doesn't know about the NFL like a player does, but he knows it like a guy that sits on the sofa and just loves the game. I think he really fits here. I think he did a good job coming out of the blocks during the Hall of Fame game.
Franklin DaCosta: Who do you feel will be the next great RB in the last draft? Shaun Alexander? Ron Dayne?
Dickerson: It's kind of hard to say. You can say Ron Dayne because he won the Heisman. Trung Canidate is also good. What a running back needs is an offense that will feature him. Look at Edgerrin in the Indy offense. They threw the ball, and he has great hands. They also have a great offensive line. Ricky Williams had to shoulder the whole load last year. Back in 1983 when I played, I was lucky to have that great offensive line.
Juan: How would you like playing for the current Rams which have that great passing game? By the way, I think you and Walter Payton were the best ever.
Dickerson: I would love to play for that offense, especially if I was 25 years old! And thanks for the compliment, Walter was a great one.
Mike: Who do you think will go to the Super Bowl and who will win it all?
Dickerson: If I knew the exact answer, I would go to Vegas (laughs). I think it may be the St. Louis Rams though. They have nearly the same team as last year. The thing that makes them dangerous is continuity. Everyone is talking about the Redskins, but they didn't look dominating last year. Yes, they added some great players, but those guys are not 24 or 25. They are a lot older, some at the end of their careers. Tampa Bay is interesting because of that defense. They win games 10-7 by keeping it close and beating them at the end. Keyshawn Johnson going there is a great addition, but they still have that young QB in Shaun King. They still have a long way to go with King. So the Rams are the best team I think right now.
Mike from Montana: What did K. Warner have to say?
Dickerson: No real highlights (laughs). He believes the Rams are the team to beat. And he does have all those weapons. He's not ready to concede anything.
Matt Baxter: Who do you believe has the best chance to become a dynasty in the first decade of the 21st Century?
Dickerson: I don't think any team really. You won't see the old Niners dynasty that dominated through the 1980's. It's because of the salary cap. Teams will give up good players because some others are willing to pay extra. Backups are going for high prices these days. The Rams may be broken up by next year, for example.
Pesci: With all the parity in the NFL last year, do you see a team that might surprise everyone like the Rams did last year?
Dickerson: It's early. But a team that I do like is the Ravens. That defense has been strong for years. And quarterback Tony Banks has matured as a player. I am not saying they will win the Super Bowl, but they look playoff-bound to me. That's the one I like the best of the bunch. But again, it's still early and I haven't seen everybody.
Dickerson: Thanks everybody! Sorry I couldn't answer everyone's questions. Make sure you watch
Monday Night Football this week.
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