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Chat Reel: Eric Dickerson

NFL Hall of Famer looks back on career highlights

Posted: Tuesday August 03, 1999 06:46 PM

Of all the teams for which he played, Dickerson enjoyed his time with "the Rams the most". Vincent Laforet/Allsport

Four days before his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame, record-holding rusher Eric Dickerson participated in a chat with CNNSI.com users. A transcript of the conversation follows:

CNNSI Host I'd like to welcome our guest today, Eric Dickerson, and congratulate him on his induction to the NFL Hall of Fame. Welcome, Eric!
Eric Dickerson: Thank you.

Don: Now that the moment has arrived for you, what would you say to a young child who have dreams of playing in the NFL one day?
Eric Dickerson: I would say if you decide to play, play hard, give it 150%. Just play hard and see what happens.

sean: Are you planning on coaching a NFL team later on in the years?
Eric Dickerson: No. I could never be a coach. I don't have the patience for it.

Guest: Which running backs did you follow growing up and who did he pattern his style of running and way of playing the game after?
Eric Dickerson: Coming up I watched O.J., Earl Campbell. Those are the two guys I watched the most.

Guest75750: Eric, which team did you enjoy your time with the most and why?
Eric Dickerson: I enjoyed playing for the Rams the most. That was my first football team. I just enjoyed being in L.A. and playing there.

Guest01776: What was your reaction when you heard you had been elected to the NFL Hall of Fame?
Eric Dickerson: I was happy. Really happy. It was just a proud moment really.

Guest: Do you have a favorite team today?
Eric Dickerson: No. I had a favorite team when I was a kid -- the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Guest21978: What do you feel is your greatest achievement outside of football?
Eric Dickerson: The way that I've raised my daughter, who is 11. I've really proud of that.

Guest: How did you know when it was time to retire?
Eric Dickerson: I had a neck injury. A ruptured disk in my neck. That kind of gives you an indication that it's time to go.

Guest: How nervous are you about the big day?
Eric Dickerson: No. I'm anxiously waiting for it to get here and be over to be honest.

Guest78416: Eric, What was in your opinion your greatest game that you ever played?
Eric Dickerson: We played the Dallas Cowboys in the 1985 playoff game, and I had 248 yards, which is still a playoff record.

Guest29659: Is there one player that you thought of as your nemesis, someone that elevated your game, a toughest opponent?
Eric Dickerson: No. Not really. Every time I went out to play, I played hard. That was enough for me, basically.

Guest44820: Who do you think has the best chance to be the next to run 2000 yards in a season?
Eric Dickerson: I don't there is anybody out there who can do it, unless Barry Sanders did it again. Perhaps Terrell Davis.

Guest94077: What was your favorite season in the NFL?
Eric Dickerson: My rookie season was probably my favorite. I was having so much fun as a player.

Guest: What's your opinion on Jamal Anderson's holdout from Falcons training camp?
Eric Dickerson: I always feel like a man has to do what's best for him in his situation.

mead: Eric, Congratulations on a great career! As a high school football coach I was wondering what your thoughts are concerning the resonsibilities of professional players who are role models for young athletes?
Eric Dickerson: Professional football players, everyone thinks they are role models. But just because you play sports, it doesn't qualify you as a role model. It's tough being a role model. You just can't do everything right.

Guest: Who was your favorite coach to play for?
Eric Dickerson: I liked playing for Ron Myer and John Robinson too.

Guest: Do you think NFL players today are overpaid?
Eric Dickerson: I don't any player who plays in the NFL is overpaid. Any moment could be your last play -- or even your last breath.

Guest28403: Do you think a guy like Lawrence Phillips should be given chance after chance to get his life together in the NFL?
Eric Dickerson: Well, I feel like that's the choice of the team. If they need him, and if he's cleaned up his act, why not. But there's a point were enough is enough.

Brent: What was your reaction to the early retirement of Barry Sanders?
Eric Dickerson: I feel like Barry is doing what he feels like is best for him. Nobody knows what he is going through except that player. Football is not an easy sport. It asks a lot of you, physically and mentally.

Followup: Do you think that Sanders might return?
Eric Dickerson: I can't say whether he's going to return or not, that's his decision. Fans are more into the records than the actual players are. We play sports because we love it and it's a God-given talent. I don't think Barry plays for records.

eric: Who do you feel is the most deserving player not yet inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Eric Dickerson: I think Jack Youngblood, who I played with on the Rams, should be in the Hall.

Peter: Of all the defensive players you faced in your career, who did you fear, if anyone? Who hit the hardest?
Eric Dickerson: Three guys got really good hits on me. Mike Singletary, Ronnie Lott and Kenny Easley. I didn't fear them. I just had great respect for them.

Spencer: When all has been said about your NFL career, what would you have changed or done differently?
Eric Dickerson: Right now I would have changed nothing. Every thing that happened, happened for a reason.

Larry: Was there one team in particular that you truly wished you had enjoyed the opportunity playing with?
Eric Dickerson: Yes, the Washington Redskins. I always wanted to play behind the hogs.

Guest: At what age did you know you wanted to become an NFL player?
Eric Dickerson: I never really knew what age. When I was in knowledge, some guys playing the NFL came back and told me I probably would be a No. 1 draft pick. I was a junior at the time. About 20 years old.

Guest20449: Eric, grass or turf? Why??
Eric Dickerson: It really didn't make a difference to me. Turf makes you feel faster. But it didn't make much difference one way or the other. Grass is softer, but you can cut better on turf.

Guest10069: Eric-Who do you feel will be the surprise teams in the NFL this year?
Eric Dickerson: Out of the AFC, I feel the Jets are a team to watch. In the NFC, most definitely the Minnesota Vikings.

David: What qualities do you beleive set you apart from other RBs of your time and all-time?
Eric Dickerson: As a player, my size and speed. I ran track, I had track speed. I was also pretty shifty, light on my feet for a big man.

Guest: Why did you pick Jackie Slater to induct you into the Hall?
Eric Dickerson: Well, I played with Jackie. I have a lot of respect for him. I just felt he was right for me.

MikeJordan: What is your favorite piece of football memorabilia? *** Guest29599 is now known as lobo
Eric Dickerson: My 2105 ball, the one I got when I reached that season rushing mark against the Houston Oilers.

Guest01776: Do you think the media and fans place too much pressure on rookies to come into the NFL and have immediate success?
Eric Dickerson: Most definitely. Not just rookies but players in general.

Guest20449: Eric -- who's the one QB you'd want leading you to the Superbowl (past or present)?
Eric Dickerson: I would like to have played with Joe Montana.

Guest: Which team did you feel was the toughest team to run against year after year?
Eric Dickerson: For me, the New England Patriots. We always had a hard time running against them.

Zuberi: Congratulations Eric. What have you been doing since you retired?
Eric Dickerson: Playing a lot of bad golf. Kind of like I played today.

Blue Rams Fan: Eric, Congratulations on your soon to be induction in the hall of fame. I enjoyed watching you play for the Rams. What person or person(s) had the most significant influence in your career? Thanks!
Eric Dickerson: Probably my mom and dad, as a combination of both. They raised me to do everything 150%.

Guest50641: Any chance of you returning to the NFL?
Eric Dickerson: No. No way. There is no chance for me to come back. I'm too old to be doing anything in football, on the field at least.

Guest: What do you think of the current state of the game? Are things better or worse for players than they were when you played?
Eric Dickerson: For salaries, it's a lot better. It has almost become too Hollywood in a sense. These days, they try to take an average player and make him into a superstar.

Brent: Who do you think is the greatest running back of all-time? (Next to you of course)
Eric Dickerson: I don't really have the greatest. For me, it was O.J. For others, it was Jim Brown. My guy was O.J.

CNNSI Host Lots of folks have written in to wish you congratulations, Eric. Thanks so much for your time today. Best of luck and the future and congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame this weekend.
Eric Dickerson: Thank you very much!