Quotes from Howie Long

I hate to admit it, but my family was on the back burner for a good part of my career. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I took my VCR home, ate dinner, went to my room and watched five games. Four days after the Pro Bowl, I'd be at the gym. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Football was my way out.

There are always guys that give you a glimpse of the future. Maybe Gene Upshaw. Ted Hendricks. Lawrence Taylor was a glimpse of the future. Kellen Winslow was a glimpse of the future. Mike Haynes.

Sports ideally teach discipline and commitment. They challenge you and build character for everything you do in life.

I played 13 years. I did quite well in professional football. Therefore, I do not need.

Lack of enthusiasm in the stands tends to be less inspirational on the field. It doesn't send the chills down your spine. It's not that magic moment that you dream about growing up.

I won't have the sacks of a Mark Gastineau and I won't get all those pursuit tackles. Our responsibilities are different. He's allowed to freelance all over the field. I have back-side responsibility. I have to play the reverses and cutbacks. Let me know when Gastineau decides to play the run.

For me, coaching in the NFL doesn't fit. I coach high-school football, so I get my fix.

I got a concussion on the final play of a game, and I don't remember leaving the field. No one helped me off the field. Apparently I was on my feet and I just followed the crowd of players into the locker room. I don't know where I was or what I did for 10 minutes.

You don't have to sell the fact that a football player has toughness.

I was an average football player in college.

I don't think I had one personal foul in my career. Now, that being said, no one can ever say I never brought it.

I was lucky to make a lot of money in football, and broadcasting is succeeding beyond my wildest dreams, so I'm in the position to say no to a lot of things.

When I talk to kids, I have a theme: If you work hard, life is easy.

The head coach is the director, the quarterback is the lead actor and the offensive linemen are the grips.

The Raiders hit straight up. And thats the way we expect to get hit.

With the Raiders, you walk a little bit of a fine line. It's hard to be objective, and it's hard to be critical.

The beauty of having played pro football for so long is that people haven't seen me angry, overly happy or despondent - the range of emotions a human being shows.

Run into other people for 20 years, you're gonna have pain. But I'd do it all again... It's like I say to my kids: 'Good things that happen are often a byproduct of a sacrifice you've made.'

If wives or girlfriends are knowledgeable about sports, it only benefits their relationships. It's all about give-and-take negotiations, like saying, 'I'll see 'Unforgiven' if you'll see 'The Bridges of Madison County.'

In Montana, they renamed a town after an all-time great, Joe Montana. Well, a town in Massachusetts changed their name to honor my guy Terry Bradshaw--Marblehead.

There is no easy way to greatness in any venue. But if you work hard, good things will inevitably happen to you.

I don't believe in beating people up just for the sake of grabbing a headline.

I'm happiest when I'm in a helmet.

Teams are often times a reflection of their coach both on the field and in the media.