With Mike Rucker, Panthers Defensive End

	Mike Rucker, Panthers defensive end, with a child in Ruckus House. Al Tielemans/SI

What was your welcome-to-the NFL moment?

My rookie year [1999], when I got my first sack. It was on Jeff Blake of the Bengals. The day was sunny, and I just came inside and got him. There's nothing like it.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

It was Michael Vick's first year, and they left me free. And I was screaming; I thought I had a kill shot. He ducked. I went right over the top of him, and he just stood right back up.

Your favorite off-day activity?

Getting outdoors with the kids [Alexis, 4, and Mason, 2]. Sometimes we go in the woods, find bugs.

If I weren't in the NFL, I'd be ...

a park ranger. You're just out there with nature. It's peaceful to me.

If I were commissioner for a day, I'd ...

give everybody a pay raise. Coaches, staff, equipment people -- everybody would get a raise, just for a day.

LAST WEEK

The 6'5", 275-pound Rucker, 31, had two sacks, one for a safety, in a 15-0 shutout of St. Louis.

THIS WEEK

Rucker, 31, goes against the Redskins, whose backup QB Mark Brunell, he sacked three times in a 2003 game.

Issue date: November 27, 2006