Championship MVP John Dutton Signs with the Crush: ArenaFan Interview
Tim Ball
Thursday November 21, 2002
Before John Dutton’s ring size could be determined, where he would be playing in 2003 was a forgone conclusion.
“We knew we wanted John Dutton on this team” stated Colorado Crush head coach Bob Beers. “I knew how good he was in college and why he was drafted in the NFL. He is an outstanding player and an outstanding person. He is a proven winner and as the starter, gives us a good foundation going into our first season. John being a free agent in 2003 was great timing for us.”
 Dutton led the SaberCats to an incredible victory in 2002. Image courtesy of Kevin Sheller |
Tim Ball: Congratulations John on a great ArenaBowl, on being named MVP and on signing with the Crush. Now I know what else was behind that smile in the locker room. When did you know the Crush were interested in you?
John Dutton: I was a free agent after the 2002 season and San Jose has a great quarterback in Mark Grieb (2002 Offensive Player of the Year). I had heard that they were interested in me and I was also eager to talk with them. I had heard that they were putting together a quality program with experienced AFL players right from the start and that was a good sign.
TB: Why is it important to have a majority of arena players?
JD: This game is very fast and it’s hard to adjust to the speed at which things happen on this field. Getting experienced players will help. There won’t be a lot of players needing a learning curve to understanding Arena Football. Coach Beers has the mindset that is going to be very successful in this league.
TB: It seems odd that San Jose would release you.
JD: Not really. I have so much respect for San Jose and they knew I wanted to play. Mark Grieb earned the right to be the starter and has shown why as the 2002 Offensive Player of the Year. Nothing beats playing and the opportunity to do so with Colorado was something I am eager to do.
TB: How does it feel to play for John Elway and in Colorado?
JD: His interest and admiration for Arena Football is genuine. He truly likes the game. He has a good idea of what he wants. As in San Jose, the management is willing to do what it takes to grow a winner. It is clear that the Crush and John Elway have success as the main goal.
TB: Is there more pressure on you to play for a legendary quarterback and in a city as football frenzied as Denver?
JD: The willingness of the organization to bring in experienced Arena Football players says a lot for what John Elway and the management feel about the athletes in the league. I feel that we are valued and that brings a certain comfort level to playing in Denver. No matter whom you play for, you have to produce and I feel I’m going to another team that values its players.
TB: In San Jose you obviously didn’t get too many opportunities to put up numbers. Was it frustrating playing behind a player the caliber of Mark Grieb?
JD: Mark Grieb and I are good friends. No one wants to be on the bench and now we both have the opportunity to play. I kept myself mentally and physically prepared to go in and it was tough to see Mark not get the opportunity he deserved. I’m glad we won as much for his effort as the teams. He and I were given the same amount of time during practice. Most starting quarterbacks don’t see the importance of this, Mark did and it paid off big for the franchise.
TB: Why do you think the score of the ArenaBowl was so lopsided?
JD: San Jose put together so many talented players. Our defense played outstanding and everything went our way. Look at how many players contributed and came up with big play after big play and you see that Arizona was in for a bad day. It was just one of those days. The SaberCats should still be the team to beat in 2003.
TB: It was odd that a game that highlights scoring saw a team like Arizona shut out for three quarters. Was this payback for denying a perfect season to the SaberCats?
JD: No. It was savage in the trenches and they were just denied from turnovers. I think we got every turnover. It also doesn’t hurt to be able to have a team of receivers to throw to like the SaberCats have. We just played our game and the talent level on the SaberCats was the key. There is no weakness anywhere.
TB: Any comments to the fans of San Jose. The buzz about you leaving started days after the ArenaBowl. The fans on the chat boards were pretty upset. Having two great quarterbacks is a dream come true.
 Dutton in action after waiting patiently. Image courtesy of San Jose Sabercats |
TB: John, good luck at Colorado and thank you for always being available to ArenaFan for comments. I’m calling head coach Bob Beers, what do you think he’ll say about you?
JD: Thank you. ArenaFan has always been there for us. You do a great job. Head coach Beers, he’ll say Dutton better win.
The following interview with Beers should be of interest to the “old guard” fans of this sport. Coach Beers has an excitement and respect for Arena Football that is truly contagious. What was supposed to be a few minutes about John Dutton turned into a half hour talking about the players and the sport from A to Z.
As an NFL scout and former collegiate head coach, Bob Beers knows talent. His faith and commitment to Arena Football carries the excitement so many players and fans of this sport will appreciate.
Any AFL fan who is cautious about the direction of their beloved sport should feel confident that the new influx of teams, owners and, of course NBC, is not going to ruin the sport but add new avenues to a bright future.
Tim Ball: Coach Beers, when did the Crush decide on John Dutton?
Bob Beers: Well as soon as we were aware he was a free agent it didn’t take long. We feel he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
TB: John Dutton mentioned that you are bringing in experienced arena players and that was a good sign. Is it really that hard for a player to adjust to Arena Football?
BB: The speed with which things happen leave very little room for mistakes. The lanes are compressed and the level of knowledge of the game is key. By bringing in experienced players we are giving ourselves the best chance to be competitive from the start.
TB: What was it in Dutton that you recognized?
BB: He is a quality player and is a quality person. I’ve known about him from his college days. A lot was on his shoulders in San Jose and it was clear that he could handle pressure; he not only did the job, John set records while doing it.
TB: How hard is it to be a quarterback in Arena Football?
BB: Hard. If you can’t read the play instantly there is little chance for success. The ball needs to be placed in such a small area so quickly. The pocket collapses very fast. The frustration level at the speed of this game is intense. There is no room for let down. That is where character comes in.
TB: Is that what you look for in a player: talent and quality of character?
BB: All the talent in the world cannot replace good character. A professional athlete has to be more than just a player. When adversity comes along that is when you see what an athlete is made of. We feel confident in John Dutton for those reasons. After the regular season loss in Arizona, John Dutton led the team with no let down in any respect. That says a lot about him.
TB: John Dutton was only called on a few times during the season yet dominated in the championship game. How important is the attitude of players who do not start?
BB: The Championship. John waited and he kept himself ready to go. Not all professional athletes have that kind of attitude. Players on the bench are always one play from starting the next game. John Dutton showed why he was so important for us to sign. He was the Most Valuable Player by effort as well as performance.
TB: That’s a great thing to say about anyone. I never once referred to John Dutton as a backup quarterback at any time during the season and now readers no why. How do you feel about the sport of Arena Football overall?
BB: It’s a great sport from any perspective. Once a football fan watches a game in person it’s clear that they like the game. It is a legitimate brand of football no doubt about it. The success of the league is well deserved.
TB: What about the talent of arena players compared to NFL, CFL, or NFL Europe?
BB: There are many talented football players. To make a spot on any team is a matter of timing and economics as well as talent. NFL teams go with draft picks overall as a matter of the investment they have in that player. But, players that have gone from the AFL to the NFL, CFL or other leagues have established how good this league is. There are a lot of NFL players playing in the arena league as well. The connection between the leagues is only going to get stronger as time goes on.
TB: Denver has already had an arena team: The Dynamite. The first ArenaBowl champions in fact. Will the fans in Denver give it a second chance?
BB: We’ve had great response in season ticket sales. It is clear that the team has been embraced. Denver is a football town. Now it’s up to us to produce a winner.
TB: Coach Beers, thank you and good luck with the Crush. With John Dutton at the helm it will be exciting to see how your first season turns out.
BB: Thank you. We’re happy to have John Dutton and are putting together a team we feel very confident in. It’s going to be fun!
By now NBC ads for the Arena Football League featuring John Elway and Kurt Warner are nationwide. The year 2003 will bring the sport into the living rooms of millions of viewers. The league is expanding to many more cities in the upcoming years and seems well on the way to a comfortable existence if one can judge from the “positive” comments being made by the major sports channels and editorials nationwide.
San Jose SaberCats fans, Colorado Crush fans and arena fans league-wide, need only to lead the way for a sport that has stood the test of time and has already beaten the odds.
Arena Football stands as a testimony to all that is good with America. Winners are embraced when adversity is overcome. Arena football is just such a story.
Like John Dutton who waited his turn to shine, the Arena Football League heads to the spotlight.
Tim Ball is a writer in the Chicagoland area. Married and father of three, his opinions on Arena Football reflects the positive aspect of the game as a family event second to none in pro sports.
