The New Deon in Big D

Deon "Cricket" Anderson is entering his third season as the fullback and special teams extraordinaire for Dallas Cowboys. Selected in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, Anderson has never been a blue-chip athlete and even had to pay his way through his junior year at the University of Connecticut.

If given the chance to write a feature article on Anderson this is what I was ask the guy that flies under the radar on one of the most famous team sports.

The majority of rookies have to make a name for themselves on special teams in order to get a spot on the roster, especially those drafted in the later rounds, but you came in with the reputation of being superb guy. Did that ease some of the rookie tension or did it put a target on your back?

Why do you think so few NFL teams put an importance on the fullback?

Having gotten your first chance to start due to the injury of Oliver Hoyte, how worried were you that the same thing would happen to you when you went down in 2007 and did it motivate you during rehab?

You pride yourself on the mastery of two unheralded positions: fullback and special teams. If not the glory, what is it that sparks your fire?

You came out of UConn leading the team in special teams tackles (40) and play a large role with the special teams unit in the Dallas. Is this something that you want to do your whole career or do you plan on carving out your niche in the fullback spot like Mack Strong and Lorenzo Neal?

It’s safe to say that not much in your football career has been handed to you. Are you playing with a chip on your shoulder or is there something else that pushes you to work as hard as you do?

The new rule states that no blocking wedge can consist of more than two players. How does that change the way you approach kickoff coverage? Does that take the fun out of breaking the wedge? Does the opportunity to make more tackles excite you?

You were a part of the UConn Huskies’ emergence to big time college football. How does that compare to the spotlight of playing football with a star on your helmet?

You chose the nickname “Cricket” because you did not want to be known as a pit bull. Did the public image of Michael Vick have anything to do with that decision?

Dallas is a long way from New England, where you grew up and went to school. What has been the biggest change for you?

Having blocked and run the ball your whole life, how did it feel for your first touchdown in the NFL to be from a reception?

Playing fullback and special teams puts a continuous pounding on your body. How do you relax yourself when you are not at the facilities?

When the time comes to hang up the cleats, what image do you want the words, “Deon Anderson” to conjure