Super Bowl chat

Tim McDonald, Keyshawn Johnson chat on CNNSI.com

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Posted: Saturday January 30, 1999 01:57 AM

Change is good: To make another run at the Super Bowl, Tim McDonald thinks the 49ers need to revamp their defensive backfield TNT

Tim McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers and Keyshawn Johnson of the New York Jets joined CNN/SI for a live chat Friday evening. Below is a transcript of the chat session.

Moderator: First Question: Tim, what do you think of the Super Bowl, and who do you think will win?
Players: Tim: My thought on the Super Bowl? I think the 49ers should be in it. But I think Denver will win. Atlanta is an NFC West team, so I've got to pull for them. I just think Denver scores too many points. If Denver doesn't win, it's probably it for Elway, but if he wins, he may come back and go for three in a row. Ever since the Bulls had a three-peat, football guys have been talking about it.

Moderator: From Sean: Tim, how do you feel about Bill Walsh coming back to the organization? And will that effect the control Mariucci has over the team?
Players: Tim: I think Walsh will be good. He's direct. He won't pull any punches. He'll make changes. I think those changes will be for the good of the team.

Moderator: From Ryan: Tim- Would Dave McGinnis have been a good head coach for the Bears?
Players: Tim: I hadn't heard his name until I read about it in the paper. The Bears have been struggling for a while. Carolina had a great move in getting George Seifert, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a 49er. I think of all the new coaches, that was the top one.

Moderator: From Napoleon: How you feel about your fellow USC grad Rob Johnson's chances of being a dominant NFL quarterback?
Players: Tim: I'm not sure about Rob Johnson. He's shown potential, but I don't think he'll unseat Doug Flutie. I think Doug has a few years left in him. They're paying Rob a lot of money, but I hope they keep him around. You need a great quarterback -- that's a big reason why we've done so well.

Moderator: From Toneman: Tim, will the Packers be able to continue as an elite team without Mike Holmgren as coach?
Players: Tim: As long as the Packers have Brett Favre, they'll be an elite team. Even without Mike Holmgren, I think they'll be strong. Mike always had something in store for us, something that surprised us. He'll sorely be missed, but as long as they have Brett, they'll be good. Everybody talks about defense winning championships, but I don't believe that. I think defense gives you a chance, but you've got to score points ...

Moderator: From Sean: Tim, do you think Bryant Young can be all the player he was? Also did that affect team morale so much that that was a factor in you guys not making the big game?
Players: Tim: I hope Bryant can come back. He takes two people completely out of the offense. Aside from the quarterback, that leaves eight guys for 10 of us to defend. He's always double-teamed, but he's a key for our defense ... he wreaks havoc. It's a pretty serious injury, but his spirits are high ... will he be the same, nobody knows? I see him all the time. He has such a great spirit ... He wanted to make sure that we didn't think about him -- he believes that everything happens for a reason. It was a chance for us to rally around him -- he was not the least bit disturbed -- he said, hey, I'll be back, go win a championship

Moderator: Tim, What chages to the 49ers need to be made to get back to the Super Bowl?
Players: Tim: We need to make a lot of changes. First, we've got to shore up the cornerback position. We can't do much on defense if we can't play man outside. Bill Walsh is going to clean house ... first is cornerback ... get Charles Haley back -- he was a force. I think Charles is hungry, he's back. We've got to get him signed. We also need to have Garrison Hearst healthy. It was a big loss for us when Garrison went down. We only scored 18 points. You need more points to win in the playoffs. We became one-dimensional after he went down ... It put extra pressure on Steve Young, on our offensive line, on everybody ... we need him in there. It hurt us because we couldn't open our whole playbook offensively

Moderator: Is there a cornerback you would like to see out there?
Players: Tim: There aren't many cornerbacks out there unless you're willing to open the bankroll ... Some of the big-money guys didn't do all that well. You have to be careful when you go out and look for a cornerback -- you want a Rod Woodson-type guy, a guy you won't be worried about. You want a guy that will make some plays -- I don't know if that guy's out there.

Moderator: From Beegmon: Tim, do you think that Lawrence Taylor deserves to be in the Hall of Fame?
Players: Tim: Tough question ... I think it depends on the criteria. From everything I've heard, it's based on what you do on the football field. If that's the case, it's a cake walk for him. He's had some other issues ... if you don't allow him in the Hall of Fame, you're not giving him a chance to represent what an outside linebacker is supposed to be. If we can overcome his problems, then what do you do? It's a real tough decision. I think LT has some character issues, a lot like Pete Rose, and he's not in the Hall yet either

Moderator: From Jet_Phreak: Do either of you have any comment on the officiating of this past season?
Players: Tim: I heard Paul Tagliabue on TV today about the officiating ... BRING BACK INSTANT REPLAY ... I can't get fined for that, can I?

Moderator: What do you think about the verbal war between Ray Buchanan and Shannon Sharpe?
Players: Tim: I think Ray's a little caught up in the hype. The game is going to be won or lost on the field ... Ray's in the limelight and he's guaranteeing things ... He's not Joe Namath. He should guarantee that all of his teammates are going to be play their best.

Moderator: From Charles: Tim, how many more seasons will you play?
Players: Tim: I hope to play a couple more years, then get into coaching. I used to say I'd take it year by year -- now it's month by month ,.... pretty soon day by day

Moderator: From eazy-e: Tim, as a defensive back, how does your defense change when you have to defend a receiver like Randy Moss?
Players: Tim: You don't sit back on your heels -- you don't react, you attack. You attack him, you pound him, you go after him. You make them give him a perfect throw -- you've got to attack him. You can't wait for help -- you throw everything at him. You'll win some and he'll win some battles. He's worth the hype AND SOME ... Minnesota won 16 games this year and he and Randall were the big difference.

Moderator: From Roger_A: Tim, considering the day to day grind and the extreme pressure and focus needed to remain competetive, how to you avoid burn out?
Players: Tim: The off-season is the only way -- it does wear on you ... Getting to a game like the SUper Bowl lets you know it's all worth it ... Team chemistry is important, too -- have fun, be around guys that are fun -- they're your family ...That's why you hear a lot about coaches saying a guy is good in the locker room -- that's so important. We have a lot of guys like that -- Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Ken Norton ... I spent six years with the Cardinals and I had to sue the league to get out of there ...

Moderator: From Jonathan: Who has been your toughest opponent on the other side of the ball?
Players: Tim: Barry Sanders, without a doubt. We always play him on a Monday night ... every year, when the schedule comes out. we all look to see if Detroit is on there. Sunday has two great tailbacks -- you've got to get them before they make eye contact with you. You want to get them before they get moving ... Terrell can run through you, around you -- you've got to team-tackle him ... lots of body blows .. .wear him down ... You have respect for Jamal, but you try to keep him penned up in the backfield. Terrell, you need eight guys ready for him

Players: Keyshawn: I'm here, Tim's done. Questions?

Moderator: Keyshawn: What do you think about Sunday's game?
Players: KJ: Sunday ... I think it's a wonderful matchup ... I think Denver has an edge. I think Atlanta can put some points on the board ...

Moderator: How do you rate the Jets' chances next season of bring the title to the NY/NJ area?
Players: KJ: I think in due time, the Jets will keep growing ... you never know ...

Moderator: What's it like playing for Bill Parcells?
Players: KJ: Playing for Parcells is a million questions in one. I'm asked that a lot ... he's a wonderful coach ... he's a great leader. You have to give him all sorts of kudos -- he believes in you ... gives you a chance.

Keyshawn Johnson thinks the Jets proved something this season, but he's not sure if they're ready to make the big game TNT

Moderator: From Chu: Was Foley really a better QB than Vinny headed into the season?
Players: KJ: I think the opportunity came for Glenn but Parcells said O'Donnell wasn't a part of the Jets future ... We moved the ball well for us... unfortunately, he didn't get the job done as Parcells wanted it done. That's a big reason why Vinny came in ... when that happened, Vinny became the starter -- he was so hot, why bench him?

Moderator: From Number19: As a long time and suffering Jet-fan I thank you. What key pickup do you need to make for next year?
Players: KJ: I don't know -- I think there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed ...

Moderator: From Spidey: What do you think about the guys entering the draft?
Players: KJ: I haven't watched too much college football -- most of the guys I played with are leaving the game now, guys like Daylon McCutcheon. I think Daylon can make it in the pros if he works hard ... I think the opportunity is there for him, and his dad can help him ... he's a Trojan so he has a lot of heart

Moderator: What do you think of the "Trash Talk War" between Buchanan and Sharpe this week?
Players: KJ: I think it's a hype thing. Shannon speaks his mind and backs it up. You don't have a problem with that. If they want to talk, let them. I don't normally talk much on the field ... I'm friends with 99 percent of the defensive backs in the NFL ...

Moderator: What DBs' are the biggest challenge for you?
Players: KJ: You've got Aaron Glenn, Ty Law -- a lot of ... Shawn Springs and Charles Woodson .. .they're my big four ...

Moderator: From Landsberg: Would you ever consider playing on an NFL team if it ever came to Toronto?
Players: KJ: I'll play anywhere -- I don't have a problem where the games are. I'm not playing for the city ...

Moderator: From Spidey: Do you plan to stay with the Jets?
Players: KJ: That's too far down the line to even think about ... I'm happy -- I don't have any problems. ...

Moderator: Were you surprised at how well Doug Flutie played this year?
Players: KJ: Doug has a lot of talent around him -- it puts him in a position to succeed -- he can roll out, hit a guy like Eric Moulds ...

Moderator: Are you looking forward to football coming back to Cleveland?
Players: KJ: I think it's a good thing for the NFL ... That definitely helps if they can get a team back in Los Angeles. .. it's a shame that there isn't one there ...

Moderator: Keyshawn, With Brady, Chrebet, and Martin, do you still feel you are the go-to man?
Players: KJ: I think when opportunities create themselves, you just put your team in position to win ... when they call your number, you want to deliver ...

Moderator: Do you want to comment on officiating and Instant Replay?
Players: KJ: I like replay. I doesn't affect me. If they get replay, that's great. If not, I'm fine.

Moderator: From JustBiggum: What could you have done differently to beat the Broncos?
Players: KJ: I wish we didn't have those turnovers. We put a loaded gun to our head and committed suicide ... That many turnoevers, you're not going to win ...

Moderator: Could you cover Randy Moss if you were on the other side of the ball?
Players: KJ: I'm not as fast as Randy Moss. But I'm a wide receiver. I let everybody else do their job at defensive back.

Moderator: From Gwendolyn Haith: In your opinion, what position on the football field is the most demanding mentally and physically and why?
Players: KJ: Quarterback is identified as a leader .. floor general, like point guards ... There are different types of receivers -- you try to do a lot ... some are just pure speed guys, one-dimensional ...

Moderator: From Wes Ricks: What do you do in the offseason and do you think the Jets could be in for the running for a Super Bowl ring next year?
Players: KJ: Relaxing. Trying to rest my body ... get ready for '99 ... I would hope we're playing for a ring next year. We showed a lot this year, but it's a giant step ... we'll see ...

Moderator: Mr. Johnson: The playoff game against the Jags where your stats were unbelieveable, was this your best game ever?
Players: KJ: No, I don't think so. Those statistics ... I've done the same things, except the interception, in other games ... It was the magnitude of the game more than anything ...

Moderator: From Hawkeye: Do you have a strict workout regimine during the off season?
Players: KJ: I work out pretty hard for what I do. I can't do what a Cris Carter or Jerry Rice does, but I work out ... I'm in good shape .. I played this year at about 212 ... my rookie year I was 220 ... obviously it shows in my play that if I keep my weight down, I can be a force ...

Moderator: From Number7: Do you think a superlative player's career can be complete without a Super Bowl ring?
Players: KJ: Me, personally, it depends on what that player wants ... So many guys go on for years and years and never reach a championship game ... First thing they ask is "How do you feel about never getting to the finals?" I don't want to fall into that position ... If I never win a Super Bowl, I won't be happy. I'd like to get that out of the way early ...

Moderator: Thank you Keyshawn and Tim for taking time this evening. We'll be watching this evening live on TNT.

 

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