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In an effort to squash rumors that he will come back for another season, 14-year NFL veteran wide receiver Irving Fryar returned to the ESPN.com Super Bowl chat room. He told users that talk of him returning next season to play for the Patriots was erroneous. He also added a few opinions on the big game and said the Denver secondary is a little suspect. If you missed Fryar's Jan. 29 chat session, and edited transcript follows:
Dave Kent: How much of an impact do you feel the warm weather will play on the Denver Broncos and their stamina, if any at all? Irving Fryar: I think any time a team comes from cold weather to warm weather, they love it. It won't be a factor in a negative way, guys would much rather play in a warmer climate. AtlantaBandwagon: What must the Falcons do to win the Super Bowl? Irving Fryar: The Falcons have to stop the run. Whoever does the better job of that and plays the closest to mistake-free football, will be the winners. Atlanta can definitely do that. Mike E. McAllen: From a receiver versus defensive back matchup, who has the advantage? Irving Fryar: I think Atlanta does. Admittedly so, the Denver safeties don't move as well as they used to. Atwater doesn't get around as well he used to. Denver plays an inverted two-deep where the corners go back and play where the safeties do and the safeties come up and play where the corners normally play. Atlanta can take advantage of that. Jason Kroening: What are you going to be doing after football? Irving Fryar: I'm definitely going to be looking into broadcasting. I have an opportunity to be in an Oliver Stone movie, too. We'll weigh our options and make a decision soon. SkinsFan: You have played for teams where the home field was turf (Eagles) and grass (Dolphins). Will the grass of Pro Player Stadium make a difference to the Falcons? Irving Fryar: Yes, they would love it I would think. For the most part, guys would rather play on grass than turf. SkinsFan: Who's the best wide receiver in the game today?
Irving Fryar: The best receiver obviously is Jerry Rice. He has all the stats and he has been doing it the longest. Even coming back after that devastating injury to make the Pro Bowl says it all. Roaddog What team did you enjoy playing with the most? Irving Fryar: I would have to say the Eagles for a lot of different reasons. It's home for me. My mom could come and watch and my friends that I grew up with could come and watch. It was a comfortable situation for me. Mike E. McAllen: From your analysis of each team's playbook, which team has the most surprises and trick plays they would be willing to use in this game? Irving Fryar: I saw Atlanta run some of the same plays -- a fake reverse that was used before by Minnesota. So Atlanta took some of Minnesota's playbook and incorporated it into theirs. I think the team that should use the trick plays is the team that is moving the ball -- the team with the momentum. That allows you to use them and make them work. SkinsFan: Of all the corner backs you've played against in your career, who gave you a run for your money? Irving Fryar: It was somebody that I played with year in and year out up in New England -- Raymond Clayborn. Another guy that I played with in Philly -- Troy Vincent. He's a great cornerback and I had to come to practice every day ready to play. He's a challenge and one of the guys that kept me going, kept me sharp year in and year out. Roaddog: What head coach did you enjoy playing for the most? Irving Fryar: That's a tossup. With guys like Tom Osborne, Raymond Berry, Don Shula and then Ray Rhodes, it's hard to just pick one. They have all meant so much to my career. It would be an injustice to the others to say one was my favorite. Ken: Is there any truth to the reports on Comcast Sports last night that you would think about coming out of retirement to play for New England next year? Irving Fryar: No, there is no truth to it. It was a hypothetical question that was asked to me and somehow it was misinterpreted that I said that I might want to come back. I'm retired and I plan on staying retired. Thanks for all the questions. I have to go now.
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