| | If Ryan Leaf is going to have a career in the NFL, it shouldn't be in San Diego, says ESPN NFL reporter Andrea Kremer.
In a chat session with ESPN.com users shortly before Week 1, Kremer talked about why the second-year player may be better off in a new location. She also touched on the recent moves the 49ers have made, especially the trade of quarterback Jim Druckenmiller and offered her opinion on the foot injury of Deion Sanders.
If you missed Kremer's Sept. 8 chat, an edited transcript follows.
Vincent Hagen: How do you feel the Vikings will do this year after last year's record?
Andrea Kremer: I am working that game this weekend, so I am going to get a head start to see first hand. The
best thing they can do to start is forget about last season, especially the record-setting
performance on offense. Even though they return all 11 starters on offense, you can't assume they will have that kind of
success.
On defense there are some gapping holes. They still have the mental hurdle to overcome about
being upset in a game everyone thought they would win. This could be Denny Green's most
challenging coaching job yet. Playing Atlanta in Week 1, with less on the line, and if they can win,
it will do wonders for their confidence after an average preseason.
With that said, they are still, in my mind, one of the favorites to go to the Super Bowl.
Wing-nut: A lot of people are calling the AFC East the "toughest" division, but is it true?
Andrea Kremer:
Absolutely. I thought the AFC East and NFC Central would be the toughest, but once Barry
Sanders left, the NFC Central dropped off the toughness screen in my book.
You have four playoff-caliber teams and I think the Colts will be among the most
improved teams in the league. It should remind you off the days when the AFC East was
dominant in the late 80s and early 90s. The reason they were in the Super Bowl so many times
was they were battle hardened by beating up on each other during the season. I think that division
will be tremendous -- great quarterbacks, good defenses, etc. We get a good taste of it in Week 1
-- Jets-Pats.
G-Men Fan: Over the years, what is the biggest change you have seen in the NFL and the way the
players handle themselves on and off the field?
Andrea Kremer:
We have a constant discussion going among players, coaches and football staff about what
really drives players today. It is tied into what it takes to be a professional and what that always
comes down to is money. When you give huge amounts of money to unproven players in the
pros, you run huge risks -- ie. Ryan Leaf. With these huge signing bonuses, you are giving these kids huge sums of money and you are relying on the player to train in the offseason
and get ready for the season on his own now.
Because of this money issue, most young players have to give contributions on the field before
they are ready. Even though Ricky Williams may have signed the worst contract ever, in most agent's opinion, for a
player of his caliber, if you think he understood what he was signing you have to give him credit
for thinking he would get his money down the road.
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KREMER'S FILE
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Kremer, ESPN's Los Angeles-based correspondent, provides reports for SportsCenter, NFL Countdown (formerly NFL GameDay), NFL Prime Monday, NBA Today and other studio shows. She also contributes to ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and ESPNEWS. She joined ESPN in April 1989 as a Chicago-based correspondent, serving in that role until shifting to Los Angeles in June 1994. Kremer's primary beat is the NFL, and she has covered every Super Bowl since 1985. A versatile reporter, Kremer has also covered the NBA Finals and All-Star Game, Major League Baseball's All-Star Game and League Championship Series, NCAA bowl games, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Olympic basketball trials and the PGA Championship. Additionally, Kremer has reported several breaking news stories, and has provided investigative pieces on social issues as they relate to sports, such as sexual assault and domestic violence.
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Hawkster: Do you feel the chargers have given Ryan Leaf enough of a chance to become a important part of their
team, or have they forgotten that he is still a kid and they have to become a parent and take
him under their wing and guide him and show him the way?
Andrea Kremer:
At some point the player himself has to take some responsibility for his actions and the
ramifications of his actions. Leaf was thrown into play, but so was Peyton Manning, Dan Marino
and Drew Bledsoe. But that is not the issue. Kevin Gilbride was probably not the best first pro
coach for Leaf. I think it is safe to say that Leaf made his own bed with his boorish acts. Also,
he never came across as a team player. He never endeared himself to the other players. At
some point he has to realize this isn't college. Coaches are more father figures in college -- this is
the pros. He doesn't want to listen to his coaches, father, agent, or anyone. I think players can
overlook a bad rookie season, but they won't overlook a jerk. I think it has to do more with the personality of the player and not the fact of being coddled as a
player.
His future shouldn't be with the Chargers. But if it is, it will be because they are unwilling to
admit their mistake. It reminds me a lot of Jeff George playing in his hometown. But once you
alienate your teammates, especially veterans, you have no shot there.
If he does anything this year, it should be to showcase him for a trade. It is funny to see the
Drew Bledsoe-Rick Mirer sage repeat itself (although Mirer had a great rookie season).
On thing to remember is that being a jerk doesn't prevent you from being a great player, but you
have to be a great player to start with.
JagBoy: Do you feel that if Mark Brunell and Fred Taylor stay healthy the Jags will make it into the Super Bowl?
Andrea Kremer:
Yes, and that is a short answer for those of you complaining about my long answers. Next question.
Chris: What are your thoughts on Jim Druckenmiller being traded to the Dolphins?
Andrea Kremer: Miami wanted him to begin with. He is already in a better position because he is somewhere he
is wanted. Bill Walsh was clear he didn't want him now or to begin with. That is a reflection on the fact that
Walsh really liked Jake Plummer and saw the makings of a Joe Montana. It also was a way for
Walsh to tweak his predecessors for taking Jim in the first place.
But it will be good for Jim going to a new team. Miami's offense is better suited for Jim and his
lack of mobility as opposed to the west-coast offense.
Mike: You seem to cover the Vikings a lot. Was this by choice or assignment?
Andrea Kremer:
A little of both. I have particularly good contacts with that team and the team has been good for a
long time -- lots of interesting stories. But I don't have a preference of the Vikings over any
other team. We reporters at ESPN must be objective over all teams.
Sundevils: How good do you think Jake Plummer will become, and will he be able to reach that stardom
with a mediocre team like the Cards?
Andrea Kremer:
I hope the Cards surprise me more than they have.
A sprained finger on your throwing hand is not a good way to start when the offense needs to
ride your arm to the Super Bowl.
With all their injuries and holdouts, it doesn't show me they are ready to pick up where they left
off last year.
James Wardlow: Do you feel Deion Sanders will be the same corner he was a year ago?
Andrea Kremer:
That is a very tough question because that is a very ugly injury. Remember, turf toe ended the
career of Jack Lambert. It is especially brutal for a cornerback like Sanders who needs to plant and cut a
lot. Also, he is getting older.
You can only compare Deion to himself because when he is healthy he stands head and
shoulders above other corners. He takes away a half of the field and makes offenses adjust to him when he is on the field
He has just started running and you don't really have to worry about him getting into "hitting"
shape. But is Sanders better at 70 percent than other corners at 100 percent? Probably. But will Sanders
want to play at less than 100 percent? You won't know until he plays and goes all out and how
he feels the next day. Will it be something that lingers all season?
But the Cowboys are a different team when he is not playing. But I think it is safe to say we
have seen the last of the three-way threat Deion Sanders.
Clevelander: Do you think Cleveland fans will be upset if the Browns have a losing season?
Andrea Kremer:
No.
You have the most knowledgeable "expansion" fans ever. They have seen their team go to the
conference championship games. That knowledge makes me believe they are savvy enough to
know that taking a group of veterans and rookies and molding them into a team will take time. But they
won't adhere to a five-year plan. If they see some bumbling football this year, they will understand.
Michael: Most people are picking the Redskins to still finish near the bottom of NFC East. But, with
newcomers Brad Johnson and Champ Bailey, where do you think the 'Skins fit in?
Andrea Kremer:
I love Champ Bailey and with the tutelage of Darrell Green, he can be tremendous. With
Johnson the question is how long can he stay healthy. Norv Turner's future rests on making the playoffs and
it is risky to put that in the hands of an injury-prone QB. There are no questions about Johnson's
arm, his ability to read defenses or his smarts in general, it's all about his ability to stay on the
field.
Greg: Give me your opinion on how you think the Niners will do this season.
Andrea Kremer: I feel better about their chances this morning because they now have a cornerback taller that
5-foot-9. I think they have another run left in them. This year's goal is to field a team under the
cap and next year's goal will be to get younger. That was evident in the release of Merton Hanks (who they are still hoping to re-sign).
But I think their offense keys on what they can get out of Charlie Garner because Lawrence
Phillips hasn't proven to be anything at all yet. If they don't get something from the running game,
Steve Young is a concussion waiting to happen. They also have to be patient with Bryant
Young because he is the cornerstone of their defense. I think their defense will be improved and
their linebackers will be put in position to have an impact, especially Winfred Tubbs.
That is all the time I have for now. I am sorry we couldn't get to everyone's questions. I will be
trying to chat every week during the season and I will hopefully talk to everyone then.
Take care everyone. | |
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