Interview With ESPN's Adam Schefter

  Posted 7/22 by Joe Bryant, Exclusive for Footballguys.com

Adam Schefter of ESPN has been a friend of Footballguys for a long time. But friendships aside, it's my sincere opinion there isn't a better source for NFL information out there than Adam. And he's a great guy as well. He was kind enough to take some time recently and answer a boat load of questions I, along with our Footballguys message board readers, threw at him.

Enjoy.

Joe Bryant

Joe Bryant: Who are the skill position player(s) that are likely to over perform expectations this year?

Adam Schefter: As a fantasy player myself, I'm trying to figure that one out too. Some semi sleepers: I like quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Matt Schaub, running backs Jonathan Stewart and Fred Taylor, wide receivers Kevin Walter and Chaz Schilens Not as real high picks, but later in the draft. Also, I'm a big Knowshon Moreno guy. Big. But aren't you the fantasy expert, Joe, not me?!?!

Bryant: Who are the skill position players getting tons of hype and love that you just don't agree with?

Schefter: As much as I love Adrian Peterson -- and I would take him if I had the first pick -- I'd worry about injuries, I really would. And I'm leery of Buffalo's offensive players only because I have concerns about its offensive line.

Bryant: What teams are most likely over rated this year?

Schefter: It's such a cyclical league that the overrated teams are the teams that headed into last season under the radar, finished better than expected and now are being counted on to duplicate those results: Miami, Arizona, Carolina.

Bryant: What teams are most likely underrated this year?

Schefter: Teams that fell short last year that were favorites heading into the season: Green Bay, Dallas, New Orleans, Houston. I like these teams this season.

Bryant: What's Al Davis really like? How much of his persona is shtick and how much is really him? How much of a concern is he to the league?

Schefter: I'm a big Al Davis fan, truly. He called me out one time publicly, but I truly have the highest respect for the man. He's a pioneer, a living legend. His teams have struggled recently and so he gets the blame, which is fair. But he is so incredibly sharp, his mind is so strong, and again, someone that accomplished should only be respected.

Bryant: Thoughts on this years crop of rookie QBs? More specific: Who will win more games as a starting QB in 2009: Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez?

Schefter: That's a tough one. I didn't like Sanchez's body language at minicamps. He looked like he was getting down on himself. Tough for a rookie, and I don't know which of these guys wins more this season. But I don't think we're seeing a redux of Ryan and Flacco.

Bryant: Who is more likely to play in 2009: Plaxico Burress or Michael Vick?

Schefter: I think Plaxico plays in the second half of the season, at least, and I think Vick will be signed to a roster, though I don't know how much he'll play.

Bryant: Who is more likely to play in 2009: Edgerrin James or Marvin Harrison?

Schefter: Edgerrin -- he wants to play more than Marvin does, I sense.

Bryant: Which coaching seats are the hottest right now?

Schefter: The NFC East is so competitive that it starts there: Washington and Dallas. And in this league, it doesn't matter whose seat is hot heading into a season. If a team struggles, the coach is going to be on the hot seat and his job will be at risk.

Bryant: What's your take for 2009 on Jay Cutler?

Schefter: I'm a Cutler fan, big time. But he will not have the wide receivers, offensive line or coaching advice in Chicago that he had in Denver. Cutler is better than anything the Bears have had since McMahon, but I don't know that he's a savior.

Bryant: What's your take for 2009 on Brandon Marshall? Does he finish the season as a Bronco?

Schefter: I don't think these two are destined to live happily ever after, but I don't see how Marshall plays this season any place else but Denver. He's got few options. Any team that trades for him knows it is getting an off-field risk and, because of that, it is unwilling to give up what it would take to get a trade done.

Bryant: Will Knowshon Moreno get enough carries to be the primary back or will he be splitting time with Buckhalter and Jordan? Who gets the goal line carries?

Schefter: Don't know who will get the goalline carries, but know I do like Moreno.

Bryant: Do you expect Eddie Royal to take another step in his development?

Schefter: Eddie Royal is going to be the consistent type receiver Reggie Wayne is, where his numbers go up every year and he keeps improving. Royal is such a quality person that it is hard to see this going any other way.

Bryant: Who was the biggest offseason acquisition in your opinion? And how will that acquisition help said team more than any other acquisition?

Schefter: Cutler has to be considered the biggest offseason acquisition. The Bears had been desperate at that position. It makes them competitive in the NFC North for the next 10 years. Doesn't mean they win it every year. But they should be competitive every year.

Bryant: What's the news story this offseason that will have a bigger impact than people are thinking?

Schefter: The talks surrounding a new collective bargaining agreement are heavy duty. Teams already being debriefed by the league. Real sticky -- and pressing -- issue. We don't hear about it because it's boring. But it will impact whether we see a salary cap next season and football in any form the following season.

Bryant: What's the news story this offseason that people are making too much of (aside from Brett Favre)?

Schefter: Mike Shanahan wants to coach again. Yeah, and Gore lost the election.

Bryant: What QB do you see most ready to jump into the upper tier and surprising us?

Schefter: I think Tony Romo is going to bounce back strong. And as stated, I'm an Aaron Rodgers fan.

Bryant: How serious is the potential for a work stoppage or uncapped year in the near future?

Schefter: Very. I know Jon Jansen said the two sides will get it worked out, and I hope he's right. I have full confidence in Roger Goodell. He is so smart, so caring, so reliable. But he's dealing with a wild-card on the other side of the bargaining table. And most important, the NFL owners are not happy with the way the system now is.

Bryant: If a resolution is not reached and we have an uncapped year, will the NFL ever be able to go back to a salary cap system?

Schefter: Not sure. But I do know that having an uncapped year next year would not be nearly as good for the players as some think. Free agency would go from four years to six years (a HUGE difference). Teams wouldn't have to spend to a certain amount. And teams would have more tags to slap on players (which they hate). It will not be what players thought, promise.

Bryant: How much do the coaching changes hurt the Colts?

Schefter: Some, but if a team still has Peyton Manning -- a coach on the field himself at quarterback -- how much would you worry?

Bryant: Where do Gruden and Shanahan land next year?

Schefter: Tough to say. NFC East always is so competitive and there's so much pressure, so those are logical spots.

Bryant: Does anyone outside of the Raider organization have faith in JaMarcus Russell to be a viable NFL QB? What's the inside buzz going into this season?

Schefter: There are some people that believe in him, that's for sure. But he's going to have to work harder and turn into more of a leader. So far what we've seen is not No. 1 pick worthy. He has those talents; but other players did too. He needs to maximize them.

Bryant: Follow up on Russell - how much faith do folks INSIDE the Oakland organization have in him?

Schefter: More than the people outside the organization.

Bryant: Right to the chase Oakland QB Question - Garcia or Russell for 2009?

Schefter: Anytime you bring in Garcia, you invite this type of speculation. Russell will wind up starting, no doubt. But if he struggles, his leash might not be very long.

Bryant: What are you expecting from LaDainian Tomlinson for 2009?

Schefter: Better results than 2008. I think his injuries bothered him last year more than he let on. And I think he'll be healthier -- and more productive -- this year.

Bryant: Is it your opinion that Anquan Boldin will be an Arizona Cardinal come the start of the season? Has his position changed with the firing of Rosenhaus?

Schefter: Where's he going? If a team hasn't traded for him by now, hard to see one trading for him during summer or season. Arizona needs him. I believe they will have him one more season before that situation is addressed. But it's going to be interesting.

Bryant: What's your take on Ronnie Brown and the rest of the Dolphins offense this year? Is Parcells still holding out hope that some WR becomes available in training camp?

Schefter: For some reason, the Dolphins never have fallen for Brown the way some fans have. They explored the idea of trading him in the offseason. It didn't happen, but the Dolphins did debate it.

Bryant: Is Mike Vick reinstated to the NFL this season? If so, where does he land and in what role?

Schefter: I think Vick will be reinstated. I think it will be easier to be reinstated than it will be to find work. Teams are leery. But I think some team will want to bring him in and begin developing him. Why not? It's not like he's going to command millions anymore. He's worth the gamble.

Bryant: Have there been any major changes in how people deal with you after leaving the NFL Network and going to ESPN?

Schefter: Not that I've sensed. I start for ESPN Aug. 17, so I guess we'll have a better idea then. But all the people I talk to still talk to me -- at least as far as I can tell.

Bryant: Another tangent: Do you have the same, less, or more freedom to pursue stories and how they are expressed now with ESPN as you previously had with the NFL Network?

Schefter: NFLN really didn't hold me back very much, and I know ESPN won't either. I've never considered that to be a significant issue in either place of employment.

Bryant: Which new coach will have the most success out of the gate?

Schefter: The one that took over the best team -- I'd say Jim Mora in Seattle.

Bryant: Has Josh McDaniels already lost the respect of his locker room, and if so, how does he get it back?

Schefter: No, not even close. I don't buy into the He's-lost-the-respect-of-the-locker-room stories. He hasn't coached a game. If his team wins, few will remember what happened this offseason. If he doesn't win, he'll be under the same pressure everyone else. Fans are going to be quicker to jump on him because he helped trade Cutler. But as long as he wins, he's fine.

Bryant: Roger Goodell has come down hard on players behaving poorly. How has this changed how the NFL front offices evaluate players?

Schefter: I think teams are more careful than ever about who they sign and who they don't. Want proof? Plaxico Burress. He's still looking for work.

Bryant: What personnel moves do you think will happen between now and the start of the season?

Schefter: Brett Favre. Again. :)

Bryant: Which personal trait or traits of a successful sports reporter are most important? Intelligence, tenacity, sense of humor, ability to network/maintain contacts etc. In order to do what you do, and succeed as you have, what has helped you get over the top both in professional terms and also in terms of relating to the players, agents, and coaches in the NFL?

Schefter: I appreciate you saying I've gotten over the top. I don't view it that way. To me, every day is a battle. I feel like I grind away on the job every day, and maybe that has made a difference. I don't think I have any more talent than anybody else -- I don't have more intelligence, humor, networking skills. But I don't mind getting my fingernails dirty.

Bryant: Who are the analysts / reporters in the game that you go out of your way to listen to?

Schefter: Good question. There are so many good ones. But I love anyone who says something I don't know and makes me think. Cris Collinsworth does it. Peter King does it, Chris Mortensen is superb. Also big fans of Steve Young, Trent Dilfer, Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders -- people I know and have worked with.

Bryant: How is fantasy football perceived by the majority of the "traditional" non fantasy football media?

Schefter: It's become a significant part of the sport. To me, it used to be something to joke about. Not anymore. Too many people are too involved with it. It's huge business, as you know, Joe.

Bryant: How does the increasing immediacy of media, like Twitter and Facebook, make your job harder? Or does it make your job easier?

Schefter: Definitely not easier. I'm blown away at how quickly information now moves. When Calvin Pace is suspended, the football world knows about it in minutes. Matt Cassel's new deal -- minutes. Any big story spreads like wildfire. It's crazy. And I will say, I love Twitter! Please follow me at: Adam_Schefter. Need all the followers I can muster :)

Bryant: Thoughts on balancing the "accuracy vs getting the story first" issue.

Schefter: Both are huge. Both are critical. The people who do a great job don't compromise on either.

Bryant: Tangent - how has the internet where the barriers to being an "information provider" have been lowered changed that?

Schefter: People have to know who is credible and who is not. There are plenty from both sides.

Bryant: Tell us the best story that comes to your mind from your college days with Rich Eisen, football related or not, as long it doesn't get you in hot water with Rich, of course.

Schefter: The best story is in Rich's book, Total Access. It's in the last chapter, and it's too long to write out. But it's worth reading. It truly was hysterical (if there weren't so many questions here I could tell you, but my fingers are getting tired).

Bryant: Cecil Lammey's hair: hot or not?

Schefter: Smokin'.

Bryant: Favorite NFL team growing up? Favorite player?

Schefter: Big Jets fan growing up. But when you get into the business, you don't root for teams anymore. You root for people. People who treat you well.

Bryant: We know you have one of the coolest jobs on the planet. That being said, what is the one thing that keeps you up at night?

Schefter: The job in and of itself. I'm always thinking about another angle, another take, another story, and thinking on all the things I should be checking on. Messes with my sleep, too.

Bryant: If we could do your job for a day, what things would most surprise us? Which things are not as cool as we think they would be? Which things are better?

Schefter: It's a lot of waiting around for calls to be returned. It's a lot of grinding with phone calls and typing and researching. It's not nearly as glamorous as anyone thinks -- but what is?

Bryant: What's the best part of your job?

Schefter: The fact that I love it so much. I never wake up and say, Damn, I have to go to work today. That is a blessing. I'm very fortunate.

Bryant: What's part of your job do you like the least?

Schefter: The fact that it has no regards for weekends, holidays, family, anything. When there's a story, you have to be on it. The people you love suffer for it, but it's part of the job.

Bryant: If you weren't in involved with NFL, what would you be doing?

Schefter: I'd be a lost puppy, hopeless, probably.

Bryant: Who was your favorite interview and why?

Schefter: Condoleezza Rice in the State Department was memorable, special. That I never will forget. And I really appreciate all interviews. Any time someone is giving me a piece of their time, I'm grateful, and I mean that.

Bryant: What's in your iPod right now?

Schefter: I don't have an iPod, believe it or not.

Bryant: Who was your role model or hero as a child?

Schefter: Mitch Albom, the outstanding author and columnist from the Detroit Free Press.

Bryant: Let's have some fun.. Tell us three truths and one lie: Go.

Schefter:

• I appreciate you giving me a forum to do this, though man, you ask a lot of questions.
• I hope any football fan, or sports lover, gets the chance to read my book, Class of Football.
• This feels a whole lot longer than one of those questionnaires that Playboy centerfolds have to fill out.
• I could answer these questions forever!