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Shaun King Talks About Tony Dungy

Posted Jan 12, 2009 by Anwar S. Richardson

Updated Jan 12, 2009 at 06:41 PM

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Shaun King held back his emotions when asked to talk about Tony Dungy and today’s retirement.

“It’s unbelievable,” King said. “The way he allowed me to have my opportunity to realize my dream and when you look at me, and this speaks louder than anything I can say, here’s a guy who cut me in Indianapolis for a team I deserved to be on and a tear just welled up [thinking about him].”

King spoke a lot about Dungy’s character, but also pointed out a quality characteristic that often is overlooked by experts and fans.

“He was able to get the underdog and turn him into a success story, I think that is one of the overlooked things,” King said. “When you think about the greatest players he’s had in either location, well, Warrick Dunn couldn’t play pro football. Derrick Brooks was too small to play linebacker. John Lynch was a baseball player. Dwight Freeny and Robert Mathis were too small to be impact players on the defensive line. Bob Sanders wasn’t big enough to play free safety.

“He’s always taken that guy who the establishment said couldn’t and given them a chance and then helped them develop into an elite player in what he does.”

Here were King’s closing thoughts:

“When you think of his impact in the coaching fraternity, Mike Tomlin has a chance to make it to a Super Bowl,” King said. “Lovie Smith has been to a Super Bowl. Herm Edwards was successful. Rod Marinelli, not so much. Raheem Morris and Leslie Frazier in the near future will be head coaches. Jim Caldwell. I think he had a tremendous impact.

“Mike Shula left Tampa to coach at the University of Alabama. When people around the guy are that successful, I think that speaks to his ability not only to get them to focus, but motivate them day in and day out. I think that’s rare at that level where coaches show so little patience and lack of ability to develop players and coaches. That kind of sets him apart from everybody else.”

Here are some quotes about Dungy provided by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

LB DERRICK BROOKS
“I’d first like to congratulate Coach Dungy on a great career and wish him well moving forward. I certainly look forward to partnering with him on various community projects in Tampa. He certainly meant a lot to me as a role model; displaying high character, great integrity and consistency as a man. We cannot ask for a better ambassador for the game of football than Coach Dungy as he has always lived his life by faith, family and football, in that order.”

RB WARRICK DUNN
“The good news is that Coach Dungy may leave football but what he’s really doing is moving his extraordinary influence to other places. Just like he did for me and for countless other players - he will always be able to help teach young men how to be grown and able men. And we need this - not just in football but in the bigger game of life.”