CANADIAN COWBOY OFFERS PLAYOFF FOOTBALL INSIGHTS
Defensive lineman Crawford talks about threat of injury and preparing for Rams
Tyrone Crawford off the football field is more quiet, humble and big-hearted than you’d probably expect from a player whose position on the defensive line requires such unrelenting ferocity. Yet the 29-year-old’s football coaches — from his high school in Windsor, Ont., to community college in California, to Boise State University in Idaho, to the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL — all will swear that that is the case with Crawford. Dallas (11-6) plays Saturday night at the Los Angeles Rams (13-3) in the first of two weekend NFC divisional playoff games. Here’s an edited transcript of a phone interview with Crawford this week: Q You’ve talked a lot already about your scary neck incident of a few weeks ago. What went through your mind during that small window of uncertainty, like, do you suddenly question why you play such a dangerous contact sport? A I guess maybe I didn’t think about why I’m playing this sport, but more along the lines of, like, I hope I’m not done with football, or injured to the point where I can never again play with my daughter, or do the normal things in life. Those are some things I don’t even want to say or think about. But it’s a dangerous sport. I knew that coming in. I’ve been playing it my whole life. I was just hoping it was nothing too crazy, a life-changing injury. Q Did you know that you were being rushed to hospital strictly for precautionary reasons, that everything medically on the field checked out positively? A Oh yeah, I knew that. I told them my neck had cracked, and immediately I found out that’s the wrong thing to say to your trainers. Because right away they said, ‘We’re bringing the board out and you’re going to Baylor Hospital.’ But I’m really close to a couple of our trainers, and I said to them, ‘Before you put me on the board at least text my wife and tell her that I’m just going for precautionary reasons.’ So they got hold of Kelsey and told her that, and then they put me on the board. Q So after just the one game off, you came back and played last week against Seattle, and you guys totally shut down the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack. Did you think you guys were capable of doing it, to that degree? A I think we’re capable of anything this season under this coaching staff. I honestly believe my confidence, our confidence, may be too high at times. Just when I’m walking around in person I think these things are possible. We enjoy it out there together. As long as we’re enjoying ourselves out there, playing football, hopefully things can just keep on going right for us. Q Seattle tight end Nick Vannett told me that you guys outgame planned them, out-physicalled them. How do you account for how much better your defence is this year? A Honestly? I feel it’s continuity. We’ve learned this defence through the years to become better and better. Obviously we’ve added new guys. But most are the same old guys that we’ve had. Coach (Kris) Richard was a big help, with his presence here and what he has going with the secondary. We’ve all felt pretty good. Things are going our way. Q Did you think about your neck much against Seattle? A No, I was just pumped to get back on the field. I came out OK, definitely. Obviously, it’s a football game so you’re going to come out with your usual bumps and bruises, but I’m good. Q The way playoff football is, with each win you’re gonna then play somebody even better. In your case this week you’re going from the No. 1 rushing attack and No. 27 passing attack of the Seahawks, to the No. 3 rushing attack and No. 5 passing attack of the Rams. A Yeah, they’ve got a nice little balance there, but they like to run that ball. They’ve got a great back there, Todd Gurley, so we’ve just got to play our style of ball. Make sure we’re on our alignments, assignments and (technique) and just ball, man. Do what we do, and keep rockin’. Q You guys hold training camp in California, in Oxnard. And with tickets still available at the Coliseum this week, don’t you think you’re going to see a lot of blue and silver up in the crowd? A Definitely. That, and just because the Cowboy Nation is big right across the whole United States. It’s eye-opening to see at our away games almost as many Cowboys fans as home-team fans. They show up, they show out and we look forward to them being there. Q You mentioned coach Richard and his impact. Can you elaborate? He’s had some head-coach interviews. A The guy is an animal, man. In a good way. He’s definitely one of the best coaches I’ve been around in my NFL experience. The fact he’s got the experience, and this year under (defensive co-ordinator) Rod Marinelli was definitely good for him, too. Whatever he has a chance to do, he’s going to be good at it. He’s a powerhouse coach. Knows what he’s doing, knows what he’s talking about and he knows how to get guys ready. We’re extremely blessed to have him. If he moves on to a better opportunity for his life, his career and his family, then all blessings to him. Q For the second straight year you’re a captain, with a definite leadership role on this team. Do you ever pinch yourself? A It’s definitely something to be proud about. I mean, it’s the Dallas Cowboys. You know about the star, you know about the logo. To put that ‘C’ on your chest, it definitely makes you proud of yourself. It’s a role that you have to take seriously, because young guys do look up to you to see how you’re doing things on a daily basis. You’re an example to a lot of people. Hopefully I’m playing that role well.