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NFL Preview Interview SI's Peter King: 2000 a breakout season for McNair
Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King chatted with CNNSI's Bob Lorenz as the pro football season was about to kick off on CNN's NFL Preview: Bob Lorenz: Peter, you had a chance to speak with Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. How is he handling all of the pressure? Peter King: I think he is handling it great. He told me he was going to have a few butterflies Sunday morning since his adopted mother from Florida is coming to watch the game. The most interesting thing I found in meeting this guy is his sheer size. He reminds me of Mark Bavaro. His legs are tree trunks, he's got a big rear end and huge shoulders, his wrists look like a defensive's tackle wrists. I asked Daunte how much he currently weighs and he told me 256 pounds. I said to him, "I think you are going to give as good as you get." He said, "I plan to." BL: How much better do you think Titans quarterback Steve McNair will be this year? PK: When I picked my preseason MVP for the year, I bypassed Peyton Manning, I bypassed Terrell Davis, I bypassed a lot of guys. I am going with Steve McNair for one reason; he will finally be unleashed this year under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, coming over from Denver. This season you will see all of Steve McNair's tools. BL: Both Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson are gone in Miami, but you think another big change will be coming down with the Dolphins.... PK: It seems the fun has gone out of the game for Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga. He's said publicly that he is looking for a new partner but he's looking for a lot more than that. He is looking to sell the whole kit-and-caboodle. He already has received at least one offer for $800 million. I think by the end of the season Wayne Huizenga no longer owns the Miami Dolphins. BL: Managing the salary cap is always a headache for teams. Franchises had to get under the cap the last few days. Are they any surprising teams out there with room to maneuver? PK: The one surprising team to me is the Denver Broncos. Denver has always been snug up against the cap and had cap trouble because of all their veterans. They have $2.9 million to plug whatever leaks come this year. I think they're going to end up using some of that money maybe on a veteran linebacker like Terry Wooden. Meanwhile, the Eagles have the most room to play with; they're $5.1 million under the cap. BL: There are a lot of eyes on the Redskins this season, but you've got your sights on something to watch for in Sunday's matchup against the Carolina Panthers that most people wouldn't see.... PK: Redskins rookie left tackle Chris Samuels will be facing off against Panthers right defensive end Chuck Smith. The two had never met before until the agent they share took them to the Bahamas in June. There Smith told Samuels, "I am gong to eat your lunch on opening day." Samuels, a nice polite kid, a good guy, claimed this doesn't bother him. But deep down this is eating at him. I think Samuels shuts Smith out Sunday. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and appears each Sunday on CNN's NFL Preview. Chat with Peter at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7.
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