Conrad Dobler’s Super Bowl Blitz
After a crazy 2009 (like the rest of us), Conrad Dobler has still managed to hit the media trail and come out swinging before Super Bowl. After 32 surgeries, Conrad nearly lost his leg late last year to a massive MRSA infection. (You can read that earlier post – click HERE.) But Conrad’s back and he’s been lighting into the NFL and the NFLPA in a couple of recent interviews. Conrad comes from old school football when characters were actually welcome. And he played the part well. Ask any older fan and most of them will still speak of Conrad fondly, regardless of whether they loved or hated him on the field. In today’s world of football, The Commissioner is now all too happy to act like the nasty teacher with the ruler trying to keep the students in line for his headmaster owners. All you have to do is look at Chad Ochocinco’s escalating fines to match his on-field antics to bring some levity to the game. Those owners don’t really want the fans to identify with any players on the field (other than those multimillionaire quarterback stars that they completely control) because it would give them faces off the field and into retirement. Consider this a salute to Conrad Dobler for still being who he is!
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Conrad’s still got his wry sense of humor and even manages to get his licks in on Saints’ quarterback, Drew Brees, in his interview with CBS Sports’ Mike Freeman:
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Dobler’s dilemma: Loves New Orleans, can’t stand its QB
By Mike Freeman
CBSSports.com National Columnist
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Conrad Dobler played in New Orleans for two years in the 1970s. He blocked for Archie Manning on the first .500 team in Saints franchise history. He adores the Saints. He mostly wants them to win. There’s just one problem the legendary tough guy has with his old squad: He dislikes the team’s most popular player.
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Let’s just say quarterback Drew Brees and Dobler won’t be going out for beignets any time soon. His comments to CBSSports.com about Brees, particularly since Dobler is a former Saints player, are sure to cause a bit of a stir with the Super Bowl just days away.
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“The people in New Orleans are fabulous people,” Dobler, the former Cardinals, Saints and Bills lineman, said in a telephone interview. “It’s great they have a team in the Super Bowl. Those fans and that city deserve this.”
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Then Dobler, who has been heavily involved in attempting to gain better benefits for older retired players, unleashed on Brees, who was once critical of the Gridiron Greats, an organization dedicated to improving the financial and physical well-being of older NFL retirees.
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Read the rest of that article by clicking HERE.
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And Conrad was featured in another interview with the Tampa Tribune that also included comments from former Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ President Gay Culverhouse (Dave played for the Bucs before getting traded off to the Raiders in ’79).
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Former NFL star Dobler faces dilemma with pain
By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune
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The man once called the dirtiest player in professional football asked for a moment. Conrad Dobler had just answered the phone and needed to hobble to a chair by his desk across the room before he could talk.
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“I’m on crutches, so I don’t move very fast,” he said. “Bear with me.”
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He needed the crutches after the latest of 32 operations on his knees. The cure has been as bad as the problem. He mentions that casually, like one might shrug off a headache or a hangnail. He believes he has had nine knee replacements, but it could be 10.
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Read the rest of that article by clicking HERE.
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And be sure to order an autographed copy of Conrad’s new book, Pride and Perserverance – click HERE.
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Dave Pear
January 31st, 2010 at 11:50 AM #
I agree! The NFL is doing their best to keep most of their employees as anonymous as possible so fans won’t identify with them.
And how about that letter superagent Tom Condon had recently ghost written for his client, Drew Brees, about the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) and the antitrust exemption (you don’t really think Brees is actually that smart, do you? Click HERE to read that letter on the Washington Post). Why would it be in Condon’s interests to “help” the active players appear to fight that antitrust exemption? The more money active players make (especially Condon’s clients), the more Condon gets paid!
This has always been about Greed and Control.
After all, who were the guys who crossed the picket lines first during the strike years? Remember – it was always the highly paid quarterbacks following their bosses’ orders. You know who you are!
Regards,
Dave Pear
Super Bowl XV
Conrad Dobler's Super Bowl Blitz – Dave Pear's Official Blog < Read what Young Americans Read
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:14 PM #
[...] See the original post: Conrad Dobler's Super Bowl Blitz – Dave Pear's Official Blog [...]
Conrad Dobler
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:30 AM #
[...] Conrad Dobler's Super Bowl Blitz – Dave Pear's Official BlogConrad Dobler – New York Daily News After a crazy 2009 (like the rest of us), Conrad Dobler has still managed to hit the media trail and come out swinging before Super Bowl. After 32 surgeries, Conrad nearly lost his leg late last year … Read more [...]
Larry Kaminski
February 4th, 2010 at 7:54 PM #
Conrad:
Once a warrior, always a warrior! I’m thankful that you can secure an audience for your remarks. Your comments on Drew Brees are perfect. This kid has always been on top so his remarks represent his immaturity. I’m amazed at his actions since he supposedly had a great education to fall back on, being from Purdue.
Keep up your efforts. You are a not a quitter and that’s what we need now… perseverance.
Larry Kaminski
Denver Broncos
1966 – 1973
What Is Conrad Dobler | Worldwide News
February 7th, 2010 at 8:39 PM #
[...] Conrad Dobler's Super Bowl Blitz – Dave Pear's Official BlogConrad Dobler played in New Orleans for two years in the 1970s. He blocked for Archie Manning on the first .500 team in Saints franchise history. He adores the Saints. He mostly wants them to win. There’s just one problem the legendary … Read more [...]