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When It Comes To Backups, McCown Is On Top

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2008

TAMPA - Quarterbacks Brian Griese of Tampa Bay and Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay have one glaring thing in common as their teams meet today Raymond James Stadium.

Both have served as backups in the NFL.

Tampa Bay quarterback Luke McCown has served primarily as a backup during his five NFL seasons. That made him our local expert about everything backup-related for this week's Wide Right column, which some might say would be better if I inserted a backup writer.

Anwar: Who would you rather have as a backup - Gary Coleman or Emmanuel Lewis?

Luke: You got to go with Gary Coleman. Got to go with him. Just to hear the line. Just to hear 'What you talking about Willis?'

Anwar: What would you do if you went to traffic court and Judge Judy was filling in as a backup that day?

Luke: Oh man. Look for a camera.

Anwar: Would you try to get out of there?

Luke: No question.

Anwar: Who would you rather have as a backup if you had a fight - Jeremy Trueblood or Jet Li?

Luke: Jeremy Trueblood, by far.

Anwar: By far? Why?

Luke: Jet Li is like 5-foot-3.

Anwar: Yeah, but he has a lot of great moves.

Luke: Moves can only get you so far when you have a 6-foot-8 guy on your side.

Anwar: When was the last time you used a pay phone as a backup to your cell phone?

Luke: Golly, it's been so long ago. I can't remember the last time I used a pay phone. Probably sometime in high school. Maybe eight or 10 years ago. I might have paid 25 cents or a dime.

Anwar: You're getting old. OK, who would you rather back up - Joe Montana or Dan Marino?

Luke: That's a tough one. Joe had a bad back. Dan had bad knees and ankles. I'd probably say Dan.

Anwar: Who would you rather be a backup dancer for - the Jackson 5 or Backstreet Boys?

Luke: Jackson 5. They are so much cooler than the Backstreet Boys ever were.

Anwar: Yeah, but Lance Bass almost went into space.

Luke: But you're talking about the King of Pop even before he was. We're talking about the Jackson 5. They're they tops.

Anwar: Would you rather be the vice president of Microsoft or vice president of the United States?

Luke: Probably the vice president of Microsoft because I don't discount how hard being the vice president of the United States might be, even though he seems like he doesn't do a whole lot. Not that I know what he does.

Anwar: Who would you rather be associate pastor for - Billy Graham or Joel Osteen?

Luke: Billy Graham. We're talking about the greatest evangelist of the last hundred years. The experiences the guy's had and the depth of his relationship with the Lord is inspiring to say the least. I'd have to say Billy Graham.

Anwar: Do you have a backup plan to soothe your sons when they're crying?

Luke: Right now it's cookies and juice because they are older, but when they were younger, it was Elmo. They loved Elmo. I would bring out the Elmo doll or DVD, find him on TV, but whatever had to do with Elmo, they were good to go when they were cranky.

Anwar: If you could have co-starred in any movie, which would it be?

Luke: That's a good one. Got to say "Braveheart" was one of the greatest movies of my time. Just the leadership Mel Gibson had. I'm also a big "Lord of the Rings" fan.

Anwar: You want to be a hobbit?

Luke: I don't know about a hobbit, but they might find something that is more lifelike where I don't have to be so short and have hairy feet. I think that would have been a pretty cool deal.

Anwar: What was your backup plan if football didn't work out?

Luke: Initially it would have been to go into the family business, which is a sawmill and lumber company. Who knows where it would have gone, but that would have been the initial backup plan.

Anwar: So you would have let Gary Coleman hold wood with fear of you slicing his finger (Luke actually did that to his older brother, Josh, during the summer)?

Luke: Well, you know, you live and learn.

Anwar: If you cut him, your new favorite line would be, "What you talking about Luke?"

Luke: Now that's funny.

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com.

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