PLAYER TO WATCH

Peter King

August 28, 2000

"I take the attitude that I have to work harder than anyone else to stay in the NFL," says second-year linebacker Dat Nguyen, the son of Vietnamese immigrants. Undersized since high school, the 5'11", 231-pound Nguyen (pronounced win) has relied on his quickness from sideline to sideline to forge a spot for himself as a playmaking middle linebacker. Coach Dave Campo has always liked fast linebackers who can slip through gaps. "Dat is mentally sharp for a young player," says Campo. "He never makes mistakes." Nguyen will continue to play on three special teams, a role some veterans try to shed when they become starters. Not Nguyen. "I'm living a dream," he says. "My whole life has been a dream. I try to never forget that."