CBS SportsLine
Chat Transcript
March 19, 1998

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Antonio Langham stopped by to chat with CBS SportsLine fans on March 19, 1998.

Find out what Antonio had to say in the full transcript of his chat below.

CBSSportsLine: Audience, please welcome one of the NFL's elite defensive backs and one of the newest members of the San Francisco 49ers -- Antonio Langham!

CBSSportsLine: Antonio, thanks for joining us!

AntonioLangham: Glad to join you!

CBSSportsLine: We've got a lot of questions for ya... Here's your first one:

Question: Antonio, how do you feel about being on one of the most successful teams in the NFL?

AntonioLangham: Definitely! It's really an honor. You're with a team, an organization that's committed to winning - an organization that's committed to its players. I just hope they can continue winning while I'm here!

Question: Antonio, are you still keeping up with Alabama football, and if so what do you think about next season, and QB position?

AntonioLangham: I do keep up with Bama football.That's where it all started for me. I feel we had a good recruiting class this year, I hear they went out and signed a real good QB so the QB position is really going to be looking up for Alabama this year.

Question: Antonio, one of the Niners biggest problems has been the secondary. Are you the answer to there secondary problems?

AntonioLangham: I really don't know much about the secondary before I came here. When you got guys like Tim MacDonald, I don't feel like I'm an asset to their secondary when you've got such a strong group of guys already. Also with strong players like Merton Hanks, Marquez Pope, I just feel like I can bring some added help to the strong group already here, and maybe we can be the best secondary there is!

Question: Antonio, will going up against Rice at practice, make you a better defender?

AntonioLangham: Oh definitely. That's one of the best if not the best receiving end in the business and if you can go up against a guy like that, the only thing you can do is make yourself better. It's an honor for me to be able to go up against him, which I feel will make me one of the best corners in the business going up against him every day.

Question: Antonio, what do you think the Niners chances are to beat the Packers and win the Super Bowl?

AntonioLangham: I think our chances are real strong. It's not up to the fans or other teams we play. It's up to us! The atmosphere I gather from being around here is not so much about the playoffs or other games to win, it's about the Super Bowl. So when you're faced with a situation like that, with the Super Bowl being stressed so much, the only thing you can do is put your best foot forward, and try to beat every team we face. I think our chances of beating the Packers are very strong.

CBSSportsLine: In case you've just joined us, we're chatting live with San Francisco 49ers' cornerback Antonio Langham. He's taking your questions now!

Question: Antonio, how much more different is this team different from your former teams?

AntonioLangham: Talent-wise, there's not a whole lot of difference, but the atmosphere here - the guys are laid back, but when its time to go on the field it's time to get the job done, the guys really concentrate on getting to the SuperBowl. Where I was at, it was more focused on how many games we can win. The thinking process here is totally different from where I was at.

Question: From a defender's view, what are the differences in our receivers; Rice, Stokes, Owens, Uwaezuoke, etc. (even Chuck Levy)

AntonioLangham: We'll automatically exclude Jerry from that, we all know what he can do. The good thing about the other players is that they're all learning form Jerry. They've learned so much from Jerry they know how to run routes & how to adjust them if they're covered so they're also physical receivers, they're really strong & use their hands more, which is good for me because it helps me learn how to play with guys who are big & physical like they are.

Question: Why did you choose the Niners when the other teams offered you more money?

AntonioLangham: It wasn't hard to choose the 49ers because their contract was better than other offers that I had.

Question: Many say you will you be better than Woodson? What do you think?

AntonioLangham: I hope that's true, I'm going to go out every day & work hard & make myself a better player. I'm not going to go out and try to make myself better than Woodson, I'll just go out and work hard, I may turn out to be one of the best defensive backs in teh league

Question: Did you always want to become an NFL player?

AntonioLangham: I've alwasy had a dream as a kid of playing in the NFL. Anyone growing up playing football as a kid would probably have that dream Thanks to the man up above. He made it possible for that dream to come true.

Question: With a five year contract, will you live in the Bay Area?

AntonioLangham: I live here during the season, coming from Alabama I've never hung out on the West Coast a lot. This type of living I could turn out to like it out here - I may turn into a West Coast guy after all. It's not every day in Alabama I can take out the drop top and open it up.

Question: Did you practice today? How was it? Are you getting along with the others?

AntonioLangham: Sure I practiced today & it went well. The guys have accepted me real well, even told me to relax & not be so tight. Later I'm going to go hang out with Merton Hanks so that probably says something! ;)

CBSSportsLine: Is there anyone from the Ravens that you will miss?

AntonioLangham: I got a lot of partners over there I'll miss, as far as teammates, I left a lot of good friends over there.

Question: Does practicing on the west coast, with moderate weather, hurt the 49ers in December, if they have to go to Green Bay, or some other cold climate? Or is it still just a game?

AntonioLangham: I don't thnk it hurts the 49ers in anyway, look at all the championships they've won, and how many SuperBowls they've won. It's still a game we have to play no matter what the conditions are.

Question: What things do you want to accomplish before your NFL career is over? And, do you hope to finish your career in San Francisco?

AntonioLangham: The first and most important thing I want to accomplish is to be on a Super Bowl championship team. If that happens, then all the other accolades will come like ProBowl, etc. But if none of those things happen I'd just like to be on a Super Bowl championship team & finish healthy. I would love to be able to finish up in SF if that's how it turns about.

Question: What do you think about Steve Young?

AntonioLangham: He's a smart, hard-nosed competitive QB who's paid his dues in this league. So whatever Steve Young gets he deserves. I have a lot of respect for him & I admire what he does.

Question: Antonio, what will you bring to the playing field?

AntonioLangham: I'll bring competitiveness, a hard-nosed aggressive style but the most important thing will be my ability to play smart and play aggressive man-to-man skills.

Question: Antonio, can you cover the Irvins, Moores and Carters out there one-on-one?

AntonioLangham: Sure, I don't think there's any receiver out there if they're put in front of me. It's not being boastful, I'm just comfortable with my ablities.

CBSSportsLine: Antonio, here's your last question...

Question: A lot of 49ers fans are talking Super Bowl already. What are your thoughts?

AntonioLangham: I think it's kind of early but I think it's a strong possibility, having a good many camps. I don't think there's anything that can't stop us from being there at teh end of the season.

CBSSportsLine: Antonio, thank you for joining us today. It was our pleasure. Join us anytime and good luck this season!

AntonioLangham: Thank you!

CBSSportsLine: Audience, thank you all for your patience and especially for your great questions.