Former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler. Alan Marler/AP

Last week SI writer Richard Deitsch interviewed Heath Shuler for the magazine's Q&A. The 35-year-old former Redskins QB -- and North Carolina Democrat -- was sworn in as a U.S. congressman last week. Here are additional excerpts from their interview:

SI: Are the egos larger in the political or sports world?

Shuler: Ask me that question in a year.

SI: How recognizable are you in D.C. today?

Shuler: It's been overwhelming. I was drafted in 1994 and left here after the 1996 season so take the Capitol Hill police, for example. They see me and say, 'Hey, Heath. Great to see you. Welcome back.' It's been an overwhelming positive response in the District and very humbling that people still recognize you from your days of the NFL, and now as a member of Congress.

SI: Will this go-round in Washington end better for you?

Shuler: Absolutely [laughs]. Who knows, if I had not gotten injured, I may have been able to bounce back in the NFL. I was with a great team with the Raiders at the end of my career [in 1999]. But everything happens for a reason, and I'm real excited about this opportunity.

SI: You did an interview with a Web site called stopshuler.com, which a Redskins fan started to try to keep you from returning to the nation's capital.You took an interesting tact by interviewing with the site?

Shuler: We were driving down the road one day and I said to my press secretary, 'Let's call them up for an interview.' There's nobody in life that would have been more successful than I was. I wanted to be successful in the NFL more than Jason [Woodmansee, a Redskin fan living in San Diego who created the site] or any Redskin fan, and I worked as hard as I possibly could. It didn't happen. But as long as I know I gave 110 percent, I can live with myself. And I can laugh about it. I knew I gave it 110 percent.

SI: Did you check out the site after you won?

Shuler: I would like to tell you that I saw the Web site, but my staff only told me about it. I can handle those things. If you can't laugh at yourself, then you don't have a very good sense of humor.

SI: How involved should Congress be when it comes to steroids and drug testing in sports?

Shuler: I think most importantly is making sure the Commissioners of each one of these sports organizations know that the most important thing that they can look is know that a lot of the youth and our children are looking up to their athletes. Even if the athletes do not want take responsibilities for their actions. I think the NFL has done a terrific job with their drug policy. If these guys can't abide by the rules, get them out.