STEVE LARGENT

I've always had this nightmare of going back to the Kingdome and seeing myself waddle in bald, overweight, with a big belly hanging over my belt, and I just imagine people going, 'That's Steve Largent?'

I can't tell you how important it is for people on the public stage to utilize that stage in a constructive, positive way. When you're in the public eye, you have a decision to make - whether you are going to be an influence or not.

Any kid who grew up with an alcoholic parent will tell you how nauseating it feels never to know what it will be like when you come home.

I am pro-death penalty, but not an enthusiastic death-penalty person. I think there's a place for it, that it should serve as a deterrent.

The more studies that come out that talk about concussions and so forth, it makes me wonder. I wonder, more importantly than the stroke, the impact that concussions have had on my life, particularly as I get older.

There's nothing like playing. You can coach and you can be around the game, but there is nothing like playing. It's just so much fun.

I never dreamed I'd be in Congress, or even in the NFL, for that matter. Well, I guess I dreamed about being in the NFL, but I didn't believe it would happen. I'm not the biggest guy. But I guess that's the story of my life.

It would have been a lot of fun as a receiver to play.

People say, 'I'm for job training. We can train people to increase the likelihood that they can be self-sufficient.' Okay, that's great, you're for job training - I like job training - but do you think the federal government should have 163 different job-training programs?

Sometimes Congress likes to milk an issue.

Life is very good. I'm the president and Chief Executive Officer of the Wireless trade association, the CTIA.

Where is the harm in the wireless industry?

I don't think I was a year too late or a year too early in retiring. If the Seahawks had been in the playoffs a year later, I might have had some regrets.

When I look back over my career, having an opportunity to compete against really good players like Lester Hayes are some of the highlights.

People are very interested in having access to wireless data while they are on a plane.

It's hard, or you wouldn't like it. A lot of coaches really don't like what they're doing.

They say politics is a contact sport, and I have to agree with that.

I always thought of myself is a private-sector person. I was a reluctant candidate. I put in my time. Now it's somebody else's turn to take charge. But I am still very interested in politics.

I think leadership is more than just being able to cross the t's and dot the i's. It's about character and integrity and work ethic.

I'm not bragging, but just going Sunday to Sunday, it will be a real rare game when I don't catch a pass.

The tag that I was too small and too slow just made me work that much harder. Besides, quickness is more important than flat-out speed. How often does a receiver run 40 yards straight down the field? Not very often. Lateral speed is what counts. How quickly can you get in and out of a cut? I can do that as well as anyone.

Football players should always remember there's a whole lot more to life.

It brings a smile to my face every time I look in the record book and see my name with the likes of Hutson and Lance Alworth and Raymond Berry, some of the fabled receivers of the NFL. It's all like a dream to me. I can't believe it's true.

No culture that has ever embraced homosexuality has survived.

When you are playing, it is so hard to think about what life will be like after football. I understand. When you are playing, and you are young, you think you can play your whole life. You think it will never change. But it will change. You can't play forever. No one can.