Just My Type

DS: Usually when I'm horsing around, greeting a team owner. When Red Auerbach would come in, I used to put on a Celtics jersey.

• Lion Is Loose

Detroit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh seems particularly eager to get back to playing football. Suh told me he was walking in New York City when he saw a man wearing a Peyton Manning jersey and thought, "What if I just tackle that dude because I saw number 18?" Maybe public safety concerns will trump the NFL's labor impasse.

• Leaf's Lesson

The four quarterbacks drafted in the first round last Thursday don't have to look far for cautionary tales: Several recent high picks at that position flamed out. But Ryan Leaf remains the most notorious QB bust in recent NFL history. Looking back, Leaf wishes he hadn't gone No. 2 in 1998. "I was a very entitled and very spoiled athlete at that time," Leaf told me. "You don't want to say the money changes you, but it definitely does. I think getting drafted later would have been a benefit."

• Line of the week

New Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder on whether his last name implies that he can't make quick decisions on the field: "As crazy as it sounds, my mom's maiden name is actually Superbowlwinner. All one word."

Now Hear This

Listen to the podcasts at danpatrick.com/interviews

1. Warren Sapp questions critics of No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton.