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<\/p>\nI\u2019ve been thinking of John Madden a lot recently. Having had the extremely privileged opportunity to work for the iconic coach and broadcaster and the CBS Electronics team during the summer of 1993, it was the ultimate learning experience for me in terms of understanding three things:<\/p>\n
The game of football.
\nNFL quality Xs and Os.
\nRecognizing the traits that make certain players a cut above most of the others. <\/p>\n
Let me take you back to the afternoon in August where I sat in utter awe at John Madden\u2019s kitchen table on one of the upper stories of the Dakota building in New York City overlooking the upper reaches of Central Park.<\/p>\n
Topics of discussion:<\/p>\n
Coach\u2019s two rings: his Super Bowl ring on one hand and the 100 in diamonds rings that his lovely wife had custom made for him after he became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win 100 games. John Madden was married to three entities: (a) his wife; (b) the game of football; (c) winning.
\nCoach\u2019s philosophy of always installing the most sophisticated new plays during the first couple of days of training camp \u2014- \u201cbecause I figured those were the days when the players\u2019 minds were the freshest.\u201d
\nCoach\u2019s offensive philosophy of attacking the weak side of defenses.
\nCoach\u2019s favorite player while coaching the Raiders \u2014- to hear him rave about this player for nearly 20 minutes was one of the most compelling inside look as to the mental and physical fortitude that makes certain players so spectacularly special. <\/p>\n
ROTB Challenge Part I: if you can identify John Madden\u2019s most favorite player while he was coaching the Raiders, then you will receive this reward:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ROTB Challenge Part II: put on your John Madden coaching outfit and headphones and vote for the player at each position that you believe he would name to his 2025 NFC West All-Madden Team:<\/p>\n
Poll
\n HC<\/p>\n
\n 0%\n <\/p>\n
Jonathan Gannon<\/p>\n
(0 votes)<\/p>\n
0 votes total<\/p>\n
Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Matthew Stafford<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Christian McCaffrey<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Kenneth Walker III<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Marvin Harrison Jr.<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Paris Johnson Jr.<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Hjalte Froholdt<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Shelton Coleman<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Dalvin Tomlinson<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Byron Murphy II<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Calais Campbell<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Leonard Williams<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Demarcus Lawrence<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Mack Wilson Sr.<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Ernest Jones IV<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n Vote Now<\/a><\/p>\n Poll \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Garrett Williams<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Darious Williams<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Deommodore Lenoir<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n \n 0%\n <\/p>\n Devon Witherspoon<\/p>\n (0 votes)<\/p>\n 0 votes total<\/p>\n
\n QB<\/p>\n
\n RB<\/p>\n
\n WR<\/p>\n
\n T<\/p>\n
\n C<\/p>\n
\n NT \u2014- 0-2 technique<\/p>\n
\n DT \u2014- 3\/5 technique<\/p>\n
\n DE<\/p>\n
\n ILB<\/p>\n
\n CB<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n