You Asked...Ken Harvey Answered

[SmootSmack]

Your Time With the Redskins

1. Can you compare the atmosphere of playing for the Cardinals vs. the Redskins

It was like night and day in some ways. We had just moved to Arizona and Mr Bidwell charged the second highest ticket price for his games and we did not even have a stadium. We had some fans, in fact some really, really great people but there weren't a lot of them. I think about 25 to 30 thousands fans and because we never sold out, all our games were blacked out and so it was hard getting new fans. Plus the fact that we were losing did not help either. Coming to the Redskins, it was like our biggest games with the Cardinals every week. Fans loved you and loved the Redskins. It was great, plus I met some really great players, who helped improve my game.



2. You were with the Redskins during a significant transition in their history from Jack Kent Cooke to John Kent Cooke to Dan Snyder. Talk about the challenges for players during that transition, if there was one. And what were the Cookes like?

It was hard to say. Old Cooke was a legend and you could tell that he wanted to win and would do everything in his power to win, John Cooke was like a person who had been around the power all his life but never got a chance to taste it, when he did it was short lived so it was hard for him to make a name for himself. Mr Snyder was a young rich owner who was a die hard fan and I think he did what any of us would do if we got the team. We would get all the players that we ever wanted to meet to be on our team and believe that just because we had all the business skills that would transfer over to the football world. It was a hard process with all the transition because, football is a game of leaders, it all flows from the top and with the top changing, it was hard to focus on the game.


3. What was your "welcome to the NFL" moment

My welcome moment was with the Cardinals. I saw a guy, an offensive lineman whom I thought was just fat and not very good. Mind you, I had not played against him but I thought I could tell by looking at him. It worked that way in college and I thought the pros were no different. What I forgot was there was a reason he was in the pros and that even though he was fat, he was low to the ground and had a lot of muscle underneath. I ran into him full speed thinking I was going to knock him on his butt but instead I walked away with a hurt back and my tail between my legs.


4. What was your single best moment in football?

I am from Texas, and so my biggest moment was playing against Dallas in front of my parents.



5. Who was the most influential teammate you had in your career?

Tim Johnson, he is a friend in life as well as a teammate.



Current NFL Landscape

1. Do you feel the Redskins are moving in the right direction? If you were the GM, what would you do in this year's draft?


I think that they are moving in the right direction. It is a nice combo of GM and head coach... I would go for QB

2. What are your thoughts on McNabb, Grossman, and Beck? What direction should the Redskins go in at the QB position?

I think they should keep McNabb if he is willing to play( Although I don't know if I would be willing to play) He is a good QB and got some bad breaks. The o-line did not block well for him. They should get a new QB to build on but it would not be fair to have him step in and expect to win. The problem is the foundation. They need to fix the foundation first.

3. Which current player do you think most resembles you in terms of playing style/technique?

Brian Orakpo

4. Concussions have become a major point of discussion these days. Have you had any lingering effects physically from your playing days? Do you feel the league and teams did enough and are doing enough now to look after its players' safety?

Like everything, I played at a different time. Do I have any lingering effects, I have a bad knee and shoulder but I get along. I played at a different time and so what was consider being tough and dealing with the pain was standard. I think players are now more alert to what their bodies are telling them and the coaches are forced to listen. Back when I played, you were called soft and replaced shortly thereafter.

5. Who is the best linebacker in the game today, and what is your impression of Orakpo?

See above

6. What are your feelings on the current labor dispute? How would you resolve it?

I don't know enough to make an educated comment at the time.

Personal

1. Tell us about your role as Director of Responsibility, what are your responsibilities? How did this job come about, is it something every team has?

My job is to outreach to the public about drinking responsibilities, I also do outreach to the public about other issues. Not every team has this title but a lot of former athletes do great things for their communities.


2. You've been very involved in many fields since retiring including philanthropy, TV analysis, new businesses (sports in space!), but it seems that often times former athletes are lost once they stop playing. Do you feel that today's athletes are properly preparing themselves for life after football?

I think today's athletes have a better chance to succeed then the ones of the past. There is so much information out there, so there is help. It comes down to the personality and how much you want to grow. I am also working on some things now to help players.

3. When people talk about Ken Harvey what do you want them to say about Ken Harvey the player and Ken Harvey the man?

That he was a good person. They don't have to say any magical words. I just want to have made a difference in their lives.


4. Do you still get the urge to suit up and get out on the field on Sundays?


Heck yes, but the mind is willing but the body is weak

5. What has been your most rewarding work off the field?


Working with kids. They are the future.

6. And the most important question-what's your favorite type of pie?


Any type my wife cooks.

[SmootSmack]

Sorry the format got kind of screwy...and I'm too lazy to fix it

I'm hoping to talk again soon with Ken, there are a lot more questions/issues to discuss with him as well as expanding on some of the ones above. We kept it short and simple for this round

[freddyg12]

Nice job SS. Ken Harvey is a classy dude, was a great player.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Got my KH jersey signed for my son down here in Hampton Roads. He took the time to speak to my son, class act, very good guy, great team player. I wish him all the best.

Great job as always SS.

[53Fan]

Thanks SS! Ken Harvey will always be one of the players I have great respect for.

[Lotus]

Thank you so much, Mr. Harvey. I loved you as a player and it is interesting to hear about your current work and your views on various issues.

Excellent job SS. Thank you.

[NYCskinfan82]

Thanks SS & KH.

[Hog1]

Many thanx to Mr. Harvey for taking the time and Mr. SS persuading him. It's great to get the real story from such a Great Redskin!

[skinsfaninok]

thanks fellers

[htownskinfan]

good interview

[sportscurmudgeon]

Excellent!!

Thanks to all who made this possible.

[Gmanc711]

Great stuff, I remember him being one of my favorites growing up when I was a kid...

[skinsguy]

Holy Cow, I was in my twenties when Ken was part of the Redskins!

[NC_Skins]

Thanks Smoot for the coverage!