Time for talk is now

It's very big news when Washington speaks

January 28, 2004|Globe Staff

HOUSTON -- If you get through an interview with Ted Washington without being yelled at, it means you've avoided all of the issues that really irritate him. It means you have not asked him about his weight, his age, his personal life. It means you have not asked him to elaborate. When he says the interview is over, it's over. Do not make any attempt to revive the conversation. Ask and he will not listen.

Washington despises interviews. Yet he knew that at Super Bowl media day you have no choice -- unless you want to pay the league for violating the rules. Washington was actually gracious. OK, there were a few slipups by veteran reporters. One of them asked him about his father, a former linebacker for the Houston Oilers, and Washington snapped, "Leave my father out of this! Next!" Another asked him what other positions he dreamed of playing as a kid. He said he always wanted to be a linebacker because of the complexity of the position, and calling the defensive signals was a cool concept. "Not quarterback?' one scribe dared ask. "No!" said Washington loudly.

Washington wasn't even one of the 18 Patriots personnel to warrant an individual booth or placard. Whether that was his choosing or the Patriots' choosing, no one knows. But he was big enough, (oops! there's that reference to size again), so you couldn't miss him. He did reiterate at the beginning of the session that he could step away from this distasteful process at any moment.

Washington also did what he usually does in the Patriots locker room -- he showed his playful side, where he tries to disrupt or poke fun of teammates doing interviews.

Certainly, Washington is an enormous part of this potential Super Bowl team. He's the centerpiece of this solid 3-4 defense, a guy who demands two blockers and forces teams to run as far away from him as possible.

You could tell part of him was enjoying the give-and-take. In an honest moment he would admit it. He spoke about his idol, Richard Dent, and how much he liked watching O.J. Simpson.

One could tell he thoroughly enjoys playing in New England. "I've played a lot of years, seen it all and done it all," said Washington, who originated the Homeland Defense T-shirt and caps, and has sold more than 40,000 items. "My goal now is to get a Super Bowl ring here and then hopefully re-sign with this team. It's always tough when you get traded and you don't know about it. At the time I was upset about it because [the Bears] didn't come directly to me and let me know. They waited until after practice and I found out through my wife and all that kind of stuff.