Fred Smoot ended last year in a self-imposed media swoon, having turned on the press corps based on the treatment of Sean Taylor in the initial days by some national media figures. Granted, it's only Day 1 of training camp, but I'd say the Smoot tide has turned back.

On the first day of camp: I think with Coach Zorn, the tempo is different, because we're playing in that West Coast offense. The tempo is very fast, they come out running at you, they just believe in no mistakes. Any West Coast coach, they believe in perfection, and point blank, they gonna seek perfection. And that's what he's trying to get.

On whether the first practice was shorter than normal: I didn't notice. All I noticed was work.

On the sentiment expressed by the Dead Tree Crew that life is incomplete without football: I feel like that. Like, my family has really got on me the last month. This last month is what they call The Dead Season. There's no basketball, it's basically, like, soccer and just baseball. America can't live off soccer and baseball, I'm sorry. So that's when ESPN's scrambling around trying to find any drama they can, so Brett Favre having to be the drama during The Dead Period. But, you know, Dead Period over now. We're in training camp.

On football's dominance in America: I think because everybody played it, at some point in your life, even if it's a pick-up game. You know, it's a part of you, point blank. Your son love it, your daughter might even love it--she want to be a cheerleader--so it's just a fabric of life you can't take away. It's a part of the American way.

But what about baseball: It's just a pastime.

By Dan Steinberg  |  July 20, 2008; 11:41 AM ET
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