Lurking in the Shadows: the flamboyant cornerback is one of the league's best at his position—but try as he might, the spotlight eludes him - Interview: Ray Buchanan - Cover Story

Football Digest, Dec, 2001 by Charles Odum

WHEN RAY BUCHANAN HALF-seriously guaranteed an Atlanta Falcons victory about one week before Super Bowl 33 and then showed up to media day a few days later wearing a studded dog collar, he was guaranteed of at least one thing: his fair share of media attention. It was no accident. Buchanan plays defense on the field and offense everywhere else--and he's a first-class talker either way.

Although he relishes the spotlight, there is relatively little media attention given to a cornerback on 5-11 and 4-12 teams, and since that magical 1998 Super Bowl season, Buchanan has returned to the shadows of the NFL. He has not made the Pro Bowl since 1998, but the Falcons recognize the fact that in his first four years with the team (1997-2000) Buchanan led the league with 22 interceptions. After the 2000 season, he signed a six-year, 836 million contract--sweetened by an 88 million signing bonus--to remain in Atlanta, where he hopes to finish his career.

At 30, Buchanan is at the top of his game. In his interview with FOOTBALL DIGEST, Buchanan was as frank as ever as he discussed his career, his taste of Super Bowl attention, and his desire to be recognized as one of the league's top defensive backs.

FOOTBALL DIGEST: If NFL players or writers were polled and asked which cornerback led the NFL in interceptions the past four seasons, do you think many would respond with the fight answer: you?

RAY BUCHANAN: Hopefully, everybody. You wouldn't think so, though, coming from the way we've played the last couple of years. I've always been sort of the best-kept secret that nobody really wanted to talk about. If I was on a winning organization, I'd probably be talked about all the time.

I love adversity situations, like that. It doesn't really matter to me. I'm going to go out there and play my game. I feel pretty good about it. I guess at the end, when I leave the game, it will probably be noted. I'm just going to continue whenever I step out on that field to try to be a ball hog.

FD: I'm sure your agent was prepared to make that stat known to teams as you were approaching free agency after last season. Do you ever wonder how free agency might have played out for you?

RB: I think it played out as it came to free agency. A lot of teams were licking their chops with the opportunity to have a player like myself. The decision was up to me and the organization if I really wanted to stay here.

That's what mattered to me more than anything, the group of guys that I'm around and me and my family. I didn't feel like picking my family up and moving. There are so many pros and cons about picking up and moving to a different football team, and going for self-stardom could easily happen, but I chose not to.

FD: Would you like to retire with the Falcons?

RB: Yeah, I would love to end my career here. No doubt, it's kind of hard to go anywhere just to get a Super Bowl ring. Everybody tries to buy one, and you see that doesn't necessarily happen. It can happen to any football team.

The object is to go out there and play the game you love and be around a great group of guys. Of course, winning is a lot better. It makes your household a lot more fun and the organization a lot more fun, but just being here in Atlanta is great.

FD: With you and safety Marty Carter, particularly, there were too many tackles in the secondary last season.

RB: There were definitely a lot. Of course, we had a lot of injuries. I'd rather not have to make that many tackles. I'd rather sit back and hit when I have to. That's the way it's supposed to be. I never shy away from hitting--I never did. But if you're gonna have me tackling, you can add another $500,000 to my contract. [Laughs]

FD: After 5-11 and 4-12 records the last two years, expectations were low for the Falcons this season. Did that bother you?

RB: We would rather be sneaking up on people. We want to be the brother man sneaking in through people's back window.

FD: What's your take on Michael Vick, your rookie quarterback?

RB: You have to give the kid a chance. You can't just expect him to light the NFL up at that position. Maybe a defensive end or maybe even a linebacker can come in and do some great things as a rookie, but his position, besides being a defensive back, is one of the toughest positions out there on the football field.

You're working with 10 other guys, and they're only going to let you be as good as they are. If nobody is blocking, Vick will get creamed. He can make some great plays, but eventually they're going to get to you if nobody is blocking.

FD: Is there one interception that stands out for you during your time with the Falcons?

RB: Yeah, getting the fire started when San Francisco came here right before the playoffs in 1998. I intercepted a pass from Steve Young and took it back to the one-yard line. It was an acrobatic catch and an acrobatic run, and it got the fire started.

It was more interesting to me, not only that I made that play but how contagious it was after that. Everything else San Francisco did to us was like kryptonite--it just kind of bounced off our should pads, and the ball just started bouncing our way.