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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Q & A with Jay Gruden

April 23, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Orlando Predators QB JAY GRUDEN, now in his eighth AFL season, has proven to be an asset to his team – as a coach and as a player. Gruden has missed seven games in 2003, after suffering an ankle injury in Week 4 against Carolina. Since his return in Week 11, the Predators are 2-0 with Gruden completing 25-of-40 passes for 313 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions – putting Orlando back in the hunt for a first-round bye. Gruden is 101-of-161 passes for 1,287 yards, 30 touchdowns and two interceptions on the season.

In 1991, Gruden began his AFL career as the starting quarterback for Tampa Bay – leading the team to a 67-17 overall record and four ArenaBowl championships in just six seasons. He was named League MVP in 1992 and MVP of ArenaBowl VII.

In 1998, at the age of 30, Jay became head coach of the Orlando Predators– the youngest head coach in AFL history. He led them to three ArenaBowl championship games – winning titles in 1998 and 2000. Gruden was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2002, Gruden returned to the field as the Predators quarterback. He passed for 3,621 yards and 68 touchdowns leading Orlando to a 7-7 record and the semifinal round of the playoffs.

Q: What elements are necessary for the Predators heading toward the playoffs?

A: We have to finish strong as a group, not so much one side of the ball. I think everyone needs to continue to play the way we've played the last two weeks so that we can finish on a strong note heading into the playoffs and hopefully get a bye. It will be very beneficial for us. The last two weeks we played extremely well on both sides of the ball. Hopefully that trend continues in our last four games.

Q: It has been two weeks since your return, how have you had to adapt with your injury and the ankle brace?

A: It felt good. This is the first week it really got tested. I only got hit twice against Buffalo and never really got tested. This week I got hit directly on it and felt a pop in there, but its just scar tissue. I think it's proven to be stable. If it can handle the hits that I took this week, I think it will hold for the season. I feel good. When I go back to pass, I feel confident that I'm protected and my ankle is stable enough where I don't have to bail out of situations. It's more of a mental thing for me. The ankle brace doesn't slow me down at all; it gives that feeling of security when I have it on. It probably doesn't make me any more or less mobile, but I know it's there. It allows me to feel more comfortable in the pocket.

Q: Having coached some of the Georgia players, how do you approach this weekend's game against the Force?

A: They came down here and beat us in Week 8 so we know they're a very good football team. They are very similar to us – they're physical up front. They've got some weapons offensively, but they hang their hat on controlling the clock and playing good defense. We know it's going to be a very physical game. DARRYL HAMMOND and guys like that are veterans of the League. TYRONNE JONES – those guys come to play. It should be a good game for both teams. They're battling for a home and a bye in the first round – they're definitely in the mix and so are we.

Q: How does your past ArenaBowl experience help you as your heading toward the playoffs and the ArenaBowl?

A: Every year is different – we just try to get our team towards getting better as the season goes on. We played good early and then we lost four games in a row – we didn't play very well. Now is the most important stretch of the season for every team. You want to finish strong; you want to go into the playoffs on a positive note, thinking that you're good enough to win this thing. If you go with your head between your legs, then you don 't have a chance. Mentally, going into the playoffs is just as important as how you are physically as a team. If we continue the way we've been playing the last two weeks, we're going in with a great frame of mind. To me, that is as important as anything. We have a favorable schedule. If we can get by Georgia, we have Colorado and Carolina – two teams that are playing well but haven't racked up a lot of wins – and Detroit. They're teams that we can beat if we play well, so we have a chance to go in with our heads held high and ready to make a run. Hopefully that will be the case.

Q: Which do you prefer coaching or playing?

A: I prefer playing. I have had the coaching duties, and I enjoy coaching. It's fun to put together a team and coach and watch your product on the field and see what you've got, but its most fun to be actively involved and have a direct impact on the game. I've always been a competitor since I was able to walk, and loved to play and I've had the ability to play. I always thought that I should play – the timing was never right for me to come back to play in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2000, but the timing was right last year. I took advantage of it and had a great time doing it.

Q: In what way was the timing better for you to come back to play in comparison to previous years?

A: We were coming off of ArenaBowls and I didn't think it was appropriate for the Head Coach to say ‘I'm going to retire and come back as a starting quarterback.' We won two of the three ArenaBowls. We had a good team and we had CONNELL MAYNOR and PAT O‘HARA – quarterbacks that were capable of winning. In 2001, CRAIG WHELIHAN blew his knee out. We had no quarterback at all, so I felt the timing was perfect then.

Q: Do you see yourself playing for a long time?

A: I don't know. I'm pretty beat up right now but I'll wait to see how the season goes. After the season, when I go back to Tampa with my brother and help coach the Bucs, I'll take a step back from the AFL. I love Arena Football, I've been in it since 1991 and I would love to stay in it.

Q: Would you continue coaching once you do decide to stop playing football?

A: Definitely. I want to coach somewhere, I don't know where yet. If I retire after this year or I become a coach, it will be hard because I have to go coach with my brother for five or six months. Most head coaching jobs will probably be filled by then, but I'll have to wait and see what happens. I plan on playing – if my body is up to it – I plan on playing about a year after this, maybe two. There are a lot of older quarterbacks playing in the NFL right now and they're doing pretty well. RICH GANNON is almost 40 and I 'm only 37, so I think I have a couple of years left in me – if my body holds up.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 23, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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