The NFL has fully entered into the Spanish market. To the announcement of the celebration of a North American regular league match at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium for 2025, we must add the promotional actions that have been carried out Chicago Bears y Miami Dolphins in Spain. Robert Garzaa Latino NFL icon who defended the Bears jersey for ten seasons, has visited our country to participate in the Mini Monsters Clinican event that offers the possibility of carrying out training flag football for kids and adults.
-What is the Mini Monster initiative?
-Well, it is the second year that we bring these camps for children to Spain. It’s about teaching them a little bit of flag football, the techniques and, most of all, having them have fun and see the importance of exercising, practicing for about sixty minutes a day. That is the message of Mini Monster, that children have fun and learn a little more about how to live a healthy life through sports.
-How do you see the expansion of the NFL in Spain?
-We are witnessing an expansion of the league throughout the world. For example, this year a match will be played for the first time in Brazil and next year a regular league match will be played in Spain. The fans are here, the love of the sport is here. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s message has always been to grow our league and its fans around the world. And, of course, Spain is among his plans.
-Is it feasible that in the future the Super Bowl, a purely American phenomenon, could be celebrated in a country other than the United States?
-I couldn’t tell you, it is a highly anticipated match for the United States… Honestly, I don’t see it. Keep in mind that all year round they fight to be champions… Each city with a stadium and team has the illusion of being the headquarters of the Super Bowl, with its fans present. It is impossible for it to be disputed outside of the United States.
-Before I was talking about flag football. What do you think of its inclusion in the Olympic Games? Figures like Mahomes or Tyrek Hill have shown their willingness to participate in Los Angeles 2028… do you see it as feasible?
-Everything is possible, right? Athletes want to compete and represent their countries. It is a great opportunity for those who want to represent their countries in the Olympics. And that is a dream for any athlete.
-With which player do you see yourself most represented currently?
There are several very interesting centers, although the one I have noticed the most in recent years is Jason Kelce. I like many of them, but when I look at the way Kelce plays… It’s impressive and, if he has played in the NFL for more than ten years, we are undoubtedly looking at a great athlete. I had the opportunity to play for fourteen years and that is something that you really don’t see much. When you see players who have had a career as long as him, you respect them.
-How does an athlete manage to stay in the elite of American football for so long?
-It all starts with preparation, year after year, of physical condition, focusing on your technique. Each player has his weaknesses, so you have to work on what you do well, but always face your shortcomings and, very importantly, eat healthy… I trained all year, I didn’t rest, I felt better, strong, agile, and that It helped me play year after year, week after week, and not miss games. I hated being injured and didn’t want to be on the bench.
And mentally did it require anything special?
If you know what work is really like… playing a sport is not work. When you love it, it’s not work. In my case, I knew that if I trained every day I would give myself the opportunity to live a dream I had since I was a child. They gave me the opportunity to join the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 draft and that’s when I said to myself: “I want to play as much as I can.” Every day, year after year, month after month, week after week. I didn’t care, I wanted to be on the court and I was going to do everything I could to play.
-The 2006/2007 season played in the Super Bowl. What happened? How do you experience a game like this?
-If I ever found out what happened, I would be champion right now, brother, haha. Seriously, it was a very difficult match. We arrived with an advantage into the second quarter. They scored, we struggled a little… and after that, we couldn’t keep the ball and score points. It was an opportunity that we couldn’t take advantage of. Let’s see, they had Peyton Manning and that team was one of the greats. That’s why I suffer every year during Super Bowl week, because I have to relive that loss.
-What does it mean to participate in an event like this?
-It is the best. Since you were a child, you always dream of one day having that opportunity. For us, that campaign was spectacular, we won thirteen games, we lost three. It was my fifth or sixth year in the NFL, it was already the third time I went to the playoffs and you appreciate everything you have done to get to that moment. We must not forget that there are players who in their entire career do not get to compete for it. There are unforgettable moments, like the one before entering the field, when they said “these are the 2006 NFL Champions Chicago Bears”, the stadium lights up. It is something that you never forget because you know that it will mark your career, your history.
-The predictions gave the 49ers as favorites for the Super Bowl, but in the end the Chiefs revalidated the title. What do you think was the key?
-Mahomes, without a doubt. Let’s see, the 49ers’ running game is impressive. Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy… But of course, in front of him was the best player in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes. And he was accompanied by Travis Kelce, Pacheco… Now they have a very complete team, although without the same receivers they had previously. Andy Reed (head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs) always finds a way to be creative with the plays and put a lot of pressure on a defense that is also one of the best. And, I repeat, they have the best quarterback, the best athlete in the NFL, which is Mahomes.
-Who was the MVP of the regular season? Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, McCaffrey…
-Ugh, I think Mahomes is still the best, right? What he’s done, with so many changes to the Chiefs’ offense…and he’s still the best, he’s still the reason they win games week in and week out. They have come again and won the Super Bowl because of the talent that Mahomes is, the way he trains, the way he prepares… for me, he is still the best player currently in the NFL.
What differences are there between the NFL of your time and today? Do you agree with those who predict that flag football will move in the future?
No no no. Yes there is a change, but until we get to flag football… no. It must be taken into account that in American football there are hits, players who are six feet four inches (1.95 cm), who weigh 350 pounds (160 kilos), linebakers…It’s a very rough and very physical game. It is true that there are changes to protect the players, it all starts with the ways of training. Now they only have certain days that they can train with the entire team, there can be no contact more than fourteen days a year during the season. With these changes it is a little more difficult to hurt the players and it takes away the most physical aspect of the sport a little, but it is still a very difficult game, very rough, very contact-oriented. They will never be able to change that because the game is based on men with a lot of athletic ability, strong, fast, explosive, who at some point can take your head off. They won’t be able to change that, although it is true that it has changed a little since the time I played.
How do you see your Chicago?
You have many very important decisions to make right now.
Do you think they will use the number one in the next draft to choose Caleb Williams or on the contrary will they use it to form a team around Fields?
Look, the truth is, no one knows, not even them until draft day because it’s pure speculation. To me, Justin Fields has shown enough growth in his game to say that he deserves to be the franchise quarterback. I want them to keep Fields, tradeen he pick and manage to attract more talent. They are missing more quality players on the offensive and defensive line and another receiver on the other side of the one DJ Moore occupies. This would build a team that can go further and improve what they have done in recent years. That’s what they need: several pieces to protect Justin Fields and another receiver to help DJ Moore.
2024-02-16 07:45:24
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