But Duce has to stay ready because, before the year's over, we're going to need Duce. Something's going to happen because that's a high-risk position, running back. You're either blocking or you're carrying the ball and you're a marked guy. Sooner or later we're going to need Duce. |
Dan is a lot like his dad was, and now Art II is a lot like his dad, Dan. They're close to the players, and they care about the players and the people who work for them. |
George would say every year, 'Well, we know 18 (NFL teams) don't have a chance,' and that's because their front offices were so messed up. When you have good ownership, it filters all the way down. But if all that up there is bad, you don't have a chance in this league. This thing is tough enough even when you have good leadership. |
He doesn't leave anything to chance. I think he's a good game-day coach, knowing when to do certain things in a game. He's very good on the sidelines. |
He's big and he's strong and he can take that pounding. A lot of guys wouldn't be able to do that. |
He's durable enough to carry 25-26-27 times per game. The problem is staying healthy, and I think a lot of that is luck. I don't care who you are, you have to have some luck. Look at Curtis Martin. He's about the same size as Willie, and he has played for years and years. He just doesn't get hurt. Maybe the same thing will happen for Willie. |
His first coaching staff was an excellent staff. The people he has hired have had experience in the league. He has surrounded himself with some good coaches. |
I don't know if I ever coached anyone with Willie's speed. |
I would go down by the kitchen to eat lunch with the other coaches every day hoping he'd be there, just to listen to some of the stories he would tell about the old days and what happened way back when. I'll always remember that. |
It wasn't viewed as anything special, it was viewed as an exhibition game. I don't know if any Pittsburgh fans went down to the game. |
People ask if I've set a date or a time when I want to retire, but I've never said, 'OK, at 67 I'll retire.' I'm just going to look at it year-to-year. |
Pro football wasn't as popular as it is now. When I came out of college, I had no idea of playing pro football. I think I saw two or three pro football games on television when I was in college. Nobody watched it, it wasn't on TV. It wasn't anywhere near what it is today. |
That would be great, but I wouldn't call it one for the thumb. It's one for these guys. |
We won them, what do you want me to do, keep them in a drawer? |
You even drove your own car down if you wanted to. I drove down. I was single and I had a car down there. I drove back and saved the money they gave you for the flight. |