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Interviews

Channing Crowder

Channing Crowder is a starting linebacker for the Miami Dolphins. Channing played college football for the University of Florida and
was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2005 (A 3rd round steal). This interview was conducted on July 14th, 2007.

Phinatics.com gives Channing Crowder a special "THANK YOU" for his participation.

phinatics.com: I believe you and Matt Roth both love UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Who would win a cage match between the two of you?
Channing Crowder: Me and Roth? I would put hands on Roth. He's not the smartest man in the world, so I'd trick him. I'd point up and he'd look up and I'd hit him (laughs).

phinatics.com: What type of differences have you seen with former Head Coach Nick Saban gone and new Head Coach Cam Cameron in?
Channing Crowder: Same thing everybody says. Saban wasn't ready to coach in the league. You have to gain respect through your coaching talent and not fear. He is more of a guy that likes to scare the players and have them worry, but, you know, you can't scare 40 year old NFL men. It's more professional with Cam. He coached under Marty Schottenheimer. Cam's a good coach.

phinatics.com: What are your thoughts on the Miami Dolphins London game?
Channing Crowder: I don't like to travel. I don't have a problem playing over there, but I think it's a 12 hour flight or something like that, and I don't like being on a plane that long. I think it's good for the NFL to get all the support. As big as soccer is worldwide --- the NFL is not like that. If we can get the worldwide support like soccer has, I think that's good for the NFL.

phinatics.com: The Miami Dolphins now have you, Zach Thomas, and Joey Porter on the roster --- do you believe that you guys will be the best linebacker group in the NFL this season?
Channing Crowder: The thing about it -- I am the weakest link -- two Pro Bowlers and me (laughs). I guess I prayed enough when I was little because I've had the opportunity to play with great guys. Here I am three years in the league, and I will have played next to Joey Porter, Zach Thomas, and Junior Seau already. You can't really ask for better guys to play with, so I think I have been blessed and somebody upstairs wants me to be successful in this league.

phinatics.com: How much grief did you give fellow SEC players Ronnie Brown and Randy McMichael after the Gators won the NCAA National Championship last season?
Channing Crowder: I didn't have to talk to them because everybody knows Florida is the best in sports right now, so all I can do is wish they had gone to Florida, but they made a mistake and went to Auburn and Georgia (laughs). Everybody doesn't make their decisions like me.

phinatics.com: What's the situation with a contract extension for you?
Channing Crowder: My contract will end next year and we will try to see if we can do it. My agent has said something to them, but we aren't pushing anything --- I am just going to go out there and try to play ball.

phinatics.com: Any special reason you wear number 52?
Channing Crowder: Junior Seau had my number 55 when I came out of college, and he had earned that number. I would wear double zero because I don't give a damn --- numbers don't make players.

phinatics.com: Is the Lorenzo Booker camp hype legit?
Channing Crowder: Honestly, not to bad mouth anyone else, I think the way we got him in the 3rd round probably made him one of our best draft picks this year. The funny thing is he is going to be a lot like Leon Washington with the Jets. He's too little to carry the ball 30 times a game. He's going to get out there and they are going to have to put in a package for him because a linebacker can't cover him all game --- you can't do it. Every time he gets into a game at practice we laugh because every time we look back there, everybody feels like they are at a track meet, because that's all it's going to be. As soon as he comes out of the backfield it's ridiculous --- fast, quick, he was a great acquisition. Nothing against the lineman or Teddy Ginn, but the way they got him in the 3rd round, I think that was one of our best draft picks.

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