Craig: Vikings players face pressure of the interview

A moving wall of media fed on Harrison Smith's brain for the usual five to seven minutes before scrambling to set up for the next available player.

Two cameramen executed the media version of Cordarrelle Patterson's Jet Sweep as Smith exited the scrum looking like a man who's more comfortable tackling "Megatron" than mini tape recorders trying to capture the NFL's hot topic du jour.

"I've always struggled with knowing what to say and have tried to get better at it," Smith said. "Ever since I started doing interviews, I've been trying to figure out how to do them better."

The locker room interview is part of an NFL player's job that probably seems easier than it actually is. Particularly on days like Monday at Winter Park, when random players were chosen to be instantaneous experts and completely forthcoming on:

A. The controversial decision to reinstate Adrian Peterson by the men who pay them millions of dollars.

B. The controversial actions of a teammate who was indicted on child abuse charges related to the disciplining of a 4-year-old son with a tree branch.

C. The general controversy surrounding corporal punishment in America, parental rights, cultural differences between blacks and whites, north and south, and when those parental rights cross a line and should result in imprisonment.

And, oh yeah, if you don't mind, can you sum up your thoughts in a 15-second sound bite that gives us the general mood of the 53 players on the current roster? Thanks. We owe you one.

Try that one on for size when your face is inches away from a sea of cameras, microphones and tape recorders. Oh, and did we mention that one juicy misspoken sentence will doom you within seconds to a seemingly endless loop on ESPN and national criticism on Pro Football Talk?

"It's not that hard for me," fullback Jerome Felton said. "I try to stay true to who I am, answer questions honestly and get back to work."

But not every player feels that confident once the interviews end.

"Even when I leave here [Monday], I'll be thinking, 'OK, what did I really say?' You know what I mean?" Smith said. "We're all human. I'm sure I'll slip up at some point and maybe misspeak, say something I really don't mean. It's going to happen."

Every NFL player contract has a media clause in it that says the player must cooperate with the media. Based on a Sunday game, teams must have open locker room after a game and for 45 minutes on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Players aren't allowed to boycott the media and a limited number of star players are permitted to speak to the media after games and once during the week.

Obviously, players find loopholes. Some simply don't visit the locker room during the 45-minute window. Some are polite but render themselves useless with uninteresting clichés. Some aren't so polite and make it clear that they're not to be bothered.

Randy Moss was good at the latter. During his second stint in Minnesota, reporters called him on it. After the league fined Moss $25,000, he found another loophole. He made himself available, but only answered questions from himself. The SuperFreak was no dummy.

Then there are guys like Smith, Felton, Chad Greenway, Brian Robison and Charlie Johnson. That's not the complete list of good-guy go-to players at Winter Park, but it could be the top five if a good-guy go-to draft were held.

"I don't know," Smith said when asked what makes him take that part of his job seriously. "I think we have a pretty good relationship with most of you guys, and we respect what you guys do. I think it's good to have a few guys speak."

Monday, the players in the locker room were asked to comment on Peterson's reinstatement even before General Manager Rick Spielman or coach Mike Zimmer fielded questions about it.

The players who spoke took it in stride because, as they said, little if anything concerning the league surprises them anymore.

"Stuff is going to happen; life is going to happen," Smith said. "This isn't like a job where people can say, 'Oh, just check it at the door.' There so much media and coverage now."

Is there a point where it gets to be too much to handle?

"Yeah," Smith said. "When I'm home, I try to get away from it. Watch just TV shows or movies. Personally, I really don't like to watch ESPN. Sorry, ESPN."

Mark Craig • mark.craig@startribune.com