Tony Richardson: A Sit Down Interview

What makes you keep reading when you pick up a magazine or when you're browsing the Internet? How does the writer keep you entertained and glued to the pages?

Or better yet, how much do you want to know about the subject? There aren't many topics untouched in the realm of sports. You can find out just about anything with the click of a button.

The New York Jets have a lot of pieces to their 2009 puzzle, but you knew that. We already know who Mark Sanchez is. We know about Thomas Jones. There are stories about Jerricho Cotchery. Bart Scott has been profiled a handful of times.

The one guy that is intriguing to myself is the 15-year veteran who wakes up every day and plays one of the most physical positions in the sport. There is a lot to know about fullback Tony Richardson.

Just ask him and find out...

- So let's go all the way back. You grew up in Germany as a young kid. What was that whole experience like for you?

- Did you have an understanding of why you were there?

- Considering you grew up in an Army household, how were rules set? I'd imagine they would be pretty strict.

- What would you say are some of the things that your father taught you? [note: His father is Sergeant Major Ben Richardson of the U.S. Army].

- You moved to the U.S. and wound up in Alabama. Was there any thing of a culture shock for you going from Germany to Alabama?

- What was it like being away from your Dad while he was still overseas and you were here?

- You played three sports in high school -- football, basketball and track & field. What events did you compete in on your track team?

- At what point did your focus shift to strictly football? And was there a point in high school where you suddenly realized you were a lot better than the average player?

- What positions did you play in high school?

- You wound up at Auburn, but what was the recruiting process like for you?

- Your sister is also in the Army. Was there ever a thought that you might enlist as well?

- You wound up spending four years at Auburn playing one of the most grueling positions in the sport. Then you go undrafted in the '94 NFL Draft. The Cowboys pick you up in early May and eventually you make their practice squad. Looking back on what was I'm sure a stressful first year, did you ever think that you'd be sitting here, 15 years later still in the league?

- What makes you keep getting up in the morning to play, probably, the least respected position by the average fan?

- What's the recovery process like for you after a game?

- What type of preparations go into getting ready for a team or a certain player?

- The fullback position has definitely changed over the years now with things like the Wildcat and the position shifting towards more of an H-back. Is there a sense of pride that you're still one of the 'old school' fullbacks?

- You've blocked for a handful of great backs in your years in the league. Who would you say was the easiest to block for and why? Hardest to block for?

- Do you have any blocks that stand out in your mind that you can talk a little trash if you see the guy these days?

- You were a free agent prior to the year, how close were you to leaving the Jets?

- How tough is it, at your point in your career, to now have a lot of new faces on the offensive side of the ball. New quarterback, some new receivers, a rookie running back and new head coach. Does that just mean more hours to prepare or is it somewhat seamless?

- _______ has to happen in order for the Jets to be successful.

Quick hitters/Misc.

- You're involved in a lot of charity work. Why is that so important to you?

- With your charity work comes a lot of recognition and awards. Which one of those has a little more meaning than the others?

- You also wound up getting your degree in Education in 2000 and your M.B.A in 2004. Why was that so important to you?

- What are you doing when you're not running full speed into linebackers?