CBS SportsLine
Chat Transcript
November 5, 1999

Townsend stands at No. 11 all-time on the NFL's sack list.

Former Los Angeles Raiders defensive end Greg Townsend stopped by and shared his thoughts about his former team and the rest of the NFL in a live chat on Friday, November 5.

Townsend spent 12 years in the NFL between 1983-94, with all but one year with the Raiders. He played his final season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles before making a brief comeback with the Raiders in '97. He stands at No. 11 on the all-time sack list with 109.5. His two finest years were 1991 and 1992 when he was named to the Pro Bowl and was also named All-Pro.

Known for his defensive ferocity at Texas Christian, Townsend was drafted in the fourth round by the Raiders in the '83 NFL Draft. Greg is also joining in this weekend's Deacon Jones Hall of Fame Golf Classic at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, CA.

Find out what Greg had to say in the full transcript of his chat below.

Greg Townsend: Hello everyone, thanks for having me. I'm excited to do this tonight, first time on an internet chat room. But I'm here and ready for your questions.

Question: Hello Greg, what was your favorite year with the Raiders?

Greg Townsend: I actually had two years that I like to look on -- 1982, my rookie year when we went to the Super Bowl, and also the 1988 season. Howie Long went down and I got a chance to be a starter for the first time so it was a good year too. I had proven myself as a caliber player too because I led the NFL in sacks that season.

Question: Greg, I gotta ask about Al Davis. What is it like to work for that man?

Greg Townsend: I tell you, it's a two-headed coin. You can be one of his good boys who goes out and wins for him and it's great because he's a winner and loves players like that. All in all, I would say he's a great person and he's great to work for.

Question: Greg, what was it like during the 1990 season with the Raiders?

Greg Townsend: That year was pretty good with Bo Jackson and Marcus Allen. We thought we had one of the best combinations for offense and defense but we dropped that game in Buffalo after Bo got hurt. It was a good team in 1990 though.

Question: Was there ever a quarterback you couldn't wait to get your shoulder into?

Greg Townsend: Mr. John Elway. :-) John was always an overachiever in my mind, he would do desperate things to win so you had to do extra to get him down and stop him. It made it that much nicer when you did stop him too.

Question: Greg, who was the toughest offensive lineman you went against?

Greg Townsend: Probably no one knows him, but it's Larry Brown, who played with the Steelers. I played against him in the playoffs my rookie year and he had his way with me that day. I won't forget that. Ha ha.

Question: Greg, if you could change one thing about the game what would that be?

Greg Townsend: That's tough, I think it would be that guys who play and retire from playing and want to get into the business end of it, they should have that option.

Question: Who was the coach you liked playing for the best?

Greg Townsend: Tom Flores. He was my first coach and he tapped into my talent and saw me for what I was and let it be. He saw that I had quickness and he didn't change what talents I had, just perfected them.

Question: Greg, besides yourself, who is the toughest Raider you ever played with?

Greg Townsend: There are a lot of guys. Ha ha. Do you want all the names? We had a tough safety with Mike Davis for example, we Matt Millen and Howie Long and Lyle Alzado on the line so the list goes on and on. To pick one guy would be tough.

Question: Have you enjoyed the season so far, and are you surprised with the success of Tyrone Wheatley?

Greg Townsend: Yeah, I have enjoyed the success and have seen a young team come together. Against Seattle they showed how they could win those fourth quarter games and I am surprised at the success Wheatley has had. He has helped the team a lot and opened up a lot of eyes.

Question: Which Raider QB did you admire the most, and do you think that Gannon is falling into the quintessential role of a Raider QB?

Greg Townsend: The one quarterback I can say I would admire is Jim Plunkett. With the two Super Bowls and what he came from and what he accomplished in his career. As far as Rich Gannon, he is a scrambler, and that gives defensive players problems. I don't think that's a typical Raider quarterback though. The typical Raider QB just sits back and passes, so maybe he is a new wave of Raiders quarterbacks.

Question: Greg, how much did the raiders tough guy image factor into how well the defense played?

Greg Townsend: All the way. That attitude and "tough guy" image, once you put on that silver and black, it did something to you. Those veterans got to you and handed down that tough guy image and taught you that if you put on that Raiders jersey, you had to be tough.

Question: Greg, why do you think the Raiders have had such success with reclamation projects like Tyrone Wheatley, Jim Plunkett and Lyle Alzado?

Greg Townsend: Yes, because when you take guys like the three you named, guys whose confidence is lost, and you bring that confidence back, I think those guys will come back and work harder for you. They're thankful for that second chance and work hard not to let you down.

Question: What is your most outstanding memory of the Super Bowl?

Greg Townsend: There are a lot of Super Bowl memories, the win being the biggest. The atmosphere in the locker room before the game was different too. It just got real quiet in there and sitting there, you just got this go out and kick butt feeling. That was something I won't forget.

Question: Greg, was it a weird feeling walking onto a field and seeing other players looking at your team knowing that they were going to get hit and hit hard?

Greg Townsend: Yeah, when you're the Raiders, a team on top, you know the opposition is coming out with everything at you. We would just try to get the edge before the game with intimidation.

Question: Greg, did you ever look forward to playing the Chiefs at Arrowhead?

Greg Townsend: Never did. Ha ha. It's like going to someone's house to start a fight, that's a tough place to play.

Question: Greg, you played a number of seasons before Howie Long's injury allowed you to become a starter. .Did you ever wish for easier free agency and a chance to prove yourself sooner?

Greg Townsend: That I can look back on and say yes, but at the time, I knew I was with the best team in football and didn't want to go elsewhere. I just knew my time would come, it was unfortunate Howie got hurt, but I knew my starting chance would come sometime.

Question: What was your favorite stadium to play in?

Greg Townsend: The Coliseum. It was our home field, natural grass and a nice climate to play in.

Question: When you went to L.A., did you ever want to be in Oakland where the history of the team was?

Greg Townsend: Yes, I grew up watching it as Oakland and it just looked like a football town. When I had a comeback in '97, I got a little bit of that chance.

Question: How did the rule changes affect the way you played the game?

Greg Townsend: The one thing that the game is built on is selling tickets, and they say offense sells tickets. Rules have changed to allow better offensive freedom and to protect the quarterbacks, with those changes we have seen higher scoring games.

Question: What do the players think of the reinstatement of the instant replay?

Greg Townsend: It's working out it's kinks and bugs so I'm liking it in some aspects, but part of me says just let the players play.

Question: Greg, the Oakland fans seem really intense, did it seem like home in L.A.?

Greg Townsend: That's like day and night, L.A. fans and Oakland fans. L.A. fans only like winning and would only get excited when you won. Oakland fans are fired up all the time.

Question: Greg, despite the offensive freedom you suggested, don't you think you would have flourished in today's game also because of the emphasis on speed and quickness?

Greg Townsend: Yeah, I think I would have. I think speed and quickness has always been important on defense and I tried to use that to my advantage. If I were playing with the changes today, I still think I would do well because there aren't a lot of changes on technique.

Question: Greg, when you first walked into the Coliseum and saw what 110,000 seats, were you in awe or was it more an "I belong here" feeling?

Greg Townsend: I was born and raised in L.A. so I was used to seeing games there and I dreamed of playing in that stadium. I was in awe because I was living out my dreams but I also expected to be there.

Question: Who do you think is the best DE in the game today? Anyone really impress you?

Greg Townsend: Today's game just looks like a business man's game. I like guys like Charles Haley, the tough guys you know are still out there somewhere, and that's what the young players need to be looking at to succeed.

Question: With all the problems in Cincinnati, do any quality free agents even consider going to the Bengals?

Greg Townsend: That one I don't know what to say because I don't know a whole lot about Cincinnati.

Question: Who did you look up to when you were little?

Greg Townsend: There were a few people I worked with. Right now I work with the Deacon Jones Foundation and he was a guy that I looked up to as a tough defensive lineman. So to look up to him when I was younger and now to be working for him, a guy who mentored me, and still to be with him is great.

Question: Greg, do you ever sit around on Sunday and think you could still play today?

Greg Townsend: I used to, until I returned in 1997 after a short layoff and got that out of my system, so I don't so much do that now. But I did at one time which is why I came out of retirement.

Question: Greg, I know this week end you're part of the Deacon Jones Golf Classic. Can you tell us what organization the tournament benefits and more about Deacon's foundation?

Greg Townsend: Sure. The Deacon Jones Foundation is set up to instill in young, inner-city kids to learn about respecting their surroundings. We put kids in programs to expose them to the American dream and corporate America and the political information about America. We want to teach them about the top level people in the United States and give them the tools and education they need to go back to their inner city areas and bring the living standards there up to a higher level. This Foundation will help get people in the inner city on track with the American dream.

Question: Greg, so you grew up rooting for those Rams teams in L.A. or were you a Raiders fan?

Greg Townsend: I was both. I first was introduced to the Rams in the 1960's. But then I also got a taste of the Oakland Raiders and cheered for them too.

Question: Do you feel that some of the love of the game has disappeared in favor of the money factor?

Greg Townsend: I know what your saying and if you take the money out I think you will see some real football players. I get the feeling they're out there playing for the money and not the blood and sweat others put in to get the NFL to where it is today. It's more about entertainment now.

Question: What's the one thing you would like to see change in pro ball?

Greg Townsend: The one thing I would change? That's a tough one. I guess the one thing is I wish the head slap would be brought back, so lineman can go upside someone's head to get around a block.

Question: Do you think the Raiders this year are a better team then the Raiders last year?

Greg Townsend: Yeah, I think the Raiders this year are better. But the 1990's are closing in and there are no Raiders teams that have won the Super Bowl in the 1990's and this team really wants to get that. To keep that pride and history of the franchise alive so to speak.