We've seen you make some sweet moves with cleats and a football through the years, but how would you do with skates, a stick, and a puck?TT:(laughs) I wouldn't be the same, that's for sure. I've never skated in my life. Maybe one day I'll give it a shot.
You had an exceptional career; you're currently ranked 15th on the NFL's all-time rushing leaders list and you're in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Do you sometimes have to pinch yourself?TT:I've never been the type of person to pat myself on the back. I tell a lot of my friends that I hate when they talk about me or what I did in my career. It's just something I don't speak about. I know I had a lot of help to get where I am today. My parents, my teammates, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, and all those guys. It wasn't only me. Without them, I wouldn't be here.
Just how demanding physically is the running back position?TT: It's very demanding. I'd play a game on Sunday and often, my body wasn't back feeling well before Thursday. There's a reason they only play 16 games and not 82 like in hockey. It's very demanding on your body, week in and week out. Football is just a very physical sport and you need the time off.
Do you think we'll see someone break Emmitt Smith's rushing record one day?TT: You know what? Adrian Peterson is probably the closest guy with a chance of doing it. Probably for a long period of time, no one will beat that record because it's a passing league now. Everybody throws the ball 40 to 50 times per game. Peterson's the closest thing to anybody has as far as getting to that record. But if you look at the way the NFL has been going, it will probably never be broken.
You were an important part of the Bills' teams that ended up reaching the Super Bowl four years in a row. Even though it happened more than 20 years ago, does it still hurt that you never got to hoist the Lombardi trophy? TT: It still stings, no doubt. You play this game for one reason and it's not to make Pro Bowls, be the MVP or make it to the Hall of Fame. You play to win the Lombardi trophy. We had four opportunities to try to accomplish that and bring the trophy to Buffalo, and it's part of the reason I'm still living in the Buffalo area. I want to see this team get to the playoffs and get an opportunity to win a championship. It hurts. I'd be lying if I'd say it didn't. We were very fortunate to go to the Super Bowl four times, but we didn't win. People don't realize how difficult it is just to get to one. Myself, Jim Kelly and all those great players are still praying that we'll get a chance to see that while we're still living.
How anxious are you for Tom Brady to retire so the Bills have a shot at the AFC East?TT:(laughs) Very! I'm so ready for him to retire. He's dominated this division and the AFC for a number of years. The two guys you want to get rid of are Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. [Ed. Note: Peyton Manning retired in May 2016, one year after this article was originally published] They've been dominating for the past decade. Brady is a great football player and a great individual. With him being in New England, I think he can play for another four or five years.
You played for numerous years under Pro Football Hall of Famer and legendary Montreal Alouettes head coach Marv Levy. Did he ever reference his CFL days to pump you guys up in Buffalo?TT:All the time. The one thing that he kept telling us and that I've seen with my own eyes is that there are some great people here. Very friendly people. He was always telling us that Montreal is such a great city. That's the thing I remember him talking to us about. He just loved the atmosphere up here.
