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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Dorsey Levens

Aired February 01, 2004 - 09:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Six months ago, 32 teams began the season with dreams of making it all the way to the Super Bowl. Now, after 522 games, we're finally down to the last and the most important one.
Joining me here in our makeshift living room, that's for sure, is New York Giants running back Dorsey Levens. Thanks so much for being with us. We love having you on to talk about the big game. What's your take? What are people going to be looking for to happen today? Are we going to see a big upset? Are we going to see some good football? A close game? What do you think?

DORSEY LEVENS, NEW YORK GIANTS: I think people are hoping for an upset, because that makes for a more exciting game. But I think it is going to be a low-scoring game, because both defenses are really tough. And I don't think there's going to be a lot of scoring. I think it's going to be kind of boring from an offensive aspect.

COLLINS: Really? How so?

LEVENS: Because both defenses don't allow a lot of points. And they don't have a lot of big offensive players on either side. So you might see a big play here or there, but for the most part, it's going to be a grind them out, beat them up game.

COLLINS: This is quite a story, though. I mean, dependent upon who you're rooting for here, I mean, the Panthers, we've been talking about all morning, first time showing, I mean, they have got to be incredibly excited. How do nerves play into a huge, huge game like this?

LEVENS: It's tough. You know, I've played in the Super Bowl twice. And their whole week is just nerve wracking. You've got family and friends trying to get tickets that really aren't available.

COLLINS: Really?

LEVENS: Yeah, they're really hard to come by.

COLLINS: I had no idea.

LEVENS: Oh, yeah. A lot of sleepless nights in that week leading up to the game. I'm sure a lot of guys didn't sleep well at all last night.

COLLINS: What are you thinking about? I mean, I would imagine it's something to do with your exact job, your exact contribution to the team and the plays. What is it mostly that just keeps you awake at night?

LEVENS: You want to play well, you know. You want to win. This is the biggest game of your life for a lot of guys. For the Patriots, this is their third time. But for like guys on Carolina, guys -- this is their first time going, you want to play well. The whole world is watching. It's like 800 million people are watching. If that can't rattle your nerves, then your nerves are made of steel.

COLLINS: Eight hundred million, ah, that's nothing. Kidding, kidding. All right. Let's talk a little bit about both of these teams.

LEVENS: OK.

COLLINS: Who are the stars that we're going to be watching for today?

LEVENS: For New England, of course, Tom Brady, their leader. Defensively, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison. New England's whole defensive unit is tough. For Carolina, their quarterback, their running back, Stephen Davis. He's coming off an injury, so his role will be very important as to how well they play offensively. And defensively, I think Mike Minter, the strong safety, two big guys up front, Julius Peppers and defensive tackle, I'm drawing a blank now, but those guys up front.

COLLINS: I think everybody will have their eyes very closely on the jerseys in the back with their names, looking for some serious action from everybody, I would imagine.

Let's talk specifics now. You have given us sort of a little chart, if you will, that talks about the strengths and the weaknesses of both of these teams. Go ahead and put that up. First thing we want to talk about is the quarterbacks you just mentioned. Brady. Who's got the better quarterback? I mean, is it obvious?

LEVENS: I think so. I mean, Brady's not a guy who comes out and kills you in a game, but he's very effective, doesn't make a lot of mistakes. And it sounds crazy, it's only his third year starting, he's the most experienced quarterback out there. And it's his second year starting in a Super Bowl in all three years. So edge goes to the Patriots.

COLLINS: OK, let's quickly go down the list here. Running backs? You got Panthers here.

LEVENS: Definitely. Stephen Davis is a workhorse. He's been doing it all year. And if he's healthy and can carry that team, that will go a long way for the Panthers.

COLLINS: OK, how about receivers? Patriots?

LEVENS: I'm going to go with the Patriots, with Troy Brown leading that corps. He's very explosive. He could break loose anytime.

COLLINS: Fast.

LEVENS: Fast. If they're going to get a big play, I think it's going to come from him.

COLLINS: OK, what about big plays from special teams, though? You've got Panthers here.

LEVENS: Panthers. He Hate Me, Rod Smart, the return guy...

COLLINS: Really?

LEVENS: Yeah, I think he's bound to break one. I mean, if there's a time to do it, today is the day. And there are other return guys, Steve Smith is also very explosive.

COLLINS: OK, all right. And finally, the offense. I think that's probably -- yes, to the Panthers.

LEVENS: Panthers, because they're more well-balanced, I believe, as far as the running game and their passing game. So edge goes to the Panthers.

COLLINS: OK. But the problem is that the defense goes to the Patriots. So...

LEVENS: Defense wins championships.

COLLINS: Yeah.

LEVENS: They're not giving up a lot of points. Their defense is strong. And I'll be surprised if Carolina scores more than two touchdowns.

COLLINS: Well, you've got three to three there on that chart, but you're still picking the Patriots as the winners.

LEVENS: Defense wins championships. Definitely.

COLLINS: All right. Dorsey, it's so nice to have you.

LEVENS: Thanks for having me.

COLLINS: I appreciate your time very much. Have fun watching the game today.

LEVENS: Thank you. You, too.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 1, 2004 - 09:24   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Six months ago, 32 teams began the season with dreams of making it all the way to the Super Bowl. Now, after 522 games, we're finally down to the last and the most important one.
Joining me here in our makeshift living room, that's for sure, is New York Giants running back Dorsey Levens. Thanks so much for being with us. We love having you on to talk about the big game. What's your take? What are people going to be looking for to happen today? Are we going to see a big upset? Are we going to see some good football? A close game? What do you think?

DORSEY LEVENS, NEW YORK GIANTS: I think people are hoping for an upset, because that makes for a more exciting game. But I think it is going to be a low-scoring game, because both defenses are really tough. And I don't think there's going to be a lot of scoring. I think it's going to be kind of boring from an offensive aspect.

COLLINS: Really? How so?

LEVENS: Because both defenses don't allow a lot of points. And they don't have a lot of big offensive players on either side. So you might see a big play here or there, but for the most part, it's going to be a grind them out, beat them up game.

COLLINS: This is quite a story, though. I mean, dependent upon who you're rooting for here, I mean, the Panthers, we've been talking about all morning, first time showing, I mean, they have got to be incredibly excited. How do nerves play into a huge, huge game like this?

LEVENS: It's tough. You know, I've played in the Super Bowl twice. And their whole week is just nerve wracking. You've got family and friends trying to get tickets that really aren't available.

COLLINS: Really?

LEVENS: Yeah, they're really hard to come by.

COLLINS: I had no idea.

LEVENS: Oh, yeah. A lot of sleepless nights in that week leading up to the game. I'm sure a lot of guys didn't sleep well at all last night.

COLLINS: What are you thinking about? I mean, I would imagine it's something to do with your exact job, your exact contribution to the team and the plays. What is it mostly that just keeps you awake at night?

LEVENS: You want to play well, you know. You want to win. This is the biggest game of your life for a lot of guys. For the Patriots, this is their third time. But for like guys on Carolina, guys -- this is their first time going, you want to play well. The whole world is watching. It's like 800 million people are watching. If that can't rattle your nerves, then your nerves are made of steel.

COLLINS: Eight hundred million, ah, that's nothing. Kidding, kidding. All right. Let's talk a little bit about both of these teams.

LEVENS: OK.

COLLINS: Who are the stars that we're going to be watching for today?

LEVENS: For New England, of course, Tom Brady, their leader. Defensively, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison. New England's whole defensive unit is tough. For Carolina, their quarterback, their running back, Stephen Davis. He's coming off an injury, so his role will be very important as to how well they play offensively. And defensively, I think Mike Minter, the strong safety, two big guys up front, Julius Peppers and defensive tackle, I'm drawing a blank now, but those guys up front.

COLLINS: I think everybody will have their eyes very closely on the jerseys in the back with their names, looking for some serious action from everybody, I would imagine.

Let's talk specifics now. You have given us sort of a little chart, if you will, that talks about the strengths and the weaknesses of both of these teams. Go ahead and put that up. First thing we want to talk about is the quarterbacks you just mentioned. Brady. Who's got the better quarterback? I mean, is it obvious?

LEVENS: I think so. I mean, Brady's not a guy who comes out and kills you in a game, but he's very effective, doesn't make a lot of mistakes. And it sounds crazy, it's only his third year starting, he's the most experienced quarterback out there. And it's his second year starting in a Super Bowl in all three years. So edge goes to the Patriots.

COLLINS: OK, let's quickly go down the list here. Running backs? You got Panthers here.

LEVENS: Definitely. Stephen Davis is a workhorse. He's been doing it all year. And if he's healthy and can carry that team, that will go a long way for the Panthers.

COLLINS: OK, how about receivers? Patriots?

LEVENS: I'm going to go with the Patriots, with Troy Brown leading that corps. He's very explosive. He could break loose anytime.

COLLINS: Fast.

LEVENS: Fast. If they're going to get a big play, I think it's going to come from him.

COLLINS: OK, what about big plays from special teams, though? You've got Panthers here.

LEVENS: Panthers. He Hate Me, Rod Smart, the return guy...

COLLINS: Really?

LEVENS: Yeah, I think he's bound to break one. I mean, if there's a time to do it, today is the day. And there are other return guys, Steve Smith is also very explosive.

COLLINS: OK, all right. And finally, the offense. I think that's probably -- yes, to the Panthers.

LEVENS: Panthers, because they're more well-balanced, I believe, as far as the running game and their passing game. So edge goes to the Panthers.

COLLINS: OK. But the problem is that the defense goes to the Patriots. So...

LEVENS: Defense wins championships.

COLLINS: Yeah.

LEVENS: They're not giving up a lot of points. Their defense is strong. And I'll be surprised if Carolina scores more than two touchdowns.

COLLINS: Well, you've got three to three there on that chart, but you're still picking the Patriots as the winners.

LEVENS: Defense wins championships. Definitely.

COLLINS: All right. Dorsey, it's so nice to have you.

LEVENS: Thanks for having me.

COLLINS: I appreciate your time very much. Have fun watching the game today.

LEVENS: Thank you. You, too.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com