Rio Hondo's Garza discusses Bears, NFL labor

McALLEN — Chicago Bears veteran offensive guard Roberto Garza on Tuesday spoke at McAllen Memorial High School as part of the school’s PE Showcase. The showcase was connected with the NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program, of which Garza is a prominent part and spokesman.

Garza graduated from Rio Hondo High School in 1997 and Texas A&M-Kingsville in 2001. He will be entering his 10th NFL season and has played for both the Bears and Atlanta Falcons. Garza was a member of the Bears’ 2006 NFC Championship team that lost to the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI.

The Monitor got a chance to speak with Garza about the Bears’ offseason, the future of the NFL and how recognized he is in the Valley.

Q: What did you think of the Bears getting Julius Peppers?

A: We’re very excited about getting Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor and Brandon Malemaleuna. Those guys are going to be key additions. When you add a player like Julius Peppers to a defense like ours, it definitely will be a big impact and help us win a lot of football games. Chester Taylor’s a proven guy who started for the Vikings for many years, or was the backup to Adrian Peterson and we’re excited to have him and Brandon as well. All three guys are going to help our team immediately.

Q: Did you expect the free-agent spending splurge?

A: It’s rare that the Bears ever go out and do any big moves like that, so I didn’t think it was going to happen. But if you get the head coach (Lovie Smith) to pick you up at your house at 11:01, something good is going to happen. I think in the past year with getting Jay Cutler and some of the moves, we have to go out there and win now.

Q: What about playing for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz?

A: It’s exciting. He brings a lot of knowledge of the west coast, spread offense and a lot of experience in the NFL. We’re excited to have him and the new offensive line coach in Mike Tice, an ex-NFL head coach who played in the NFL. We have a lot of NFL experience and we’re excited to put some points up.

Q: Are you worried about the labor situation?

A: Absolutely. We’re just not sure what’s going to happen and we’re pointed in the direction of an un-capped year. Hopefully we can get it done in the last minute.

Q: Are you expecting there to be NFL football next year?

A: I think so. I think it would be tough not to give the fans that thrill. There are a lot of committed fans with a lot of loyalty and it would definitely be tough to take football away from them.

Q: Kind of hard to picture the fall without the NFL.

A: Absolutely. Football’s been around for a very long time and I don’t think it helps anybody to go into a strike.

Q: What do you think about the Ben Roethlisberger story and hearing about a big-time player being in that situation?

A: It’s tough. Hopefully all that stuff works itself out and he’s not at fault for anything. We have to wait and see what happens. It’s definitely tough for a player of his status to go out and do things like a normal person so hopefully he’s going to have to learn from his previous mistakes.

Q: Are you more recognized in the Valley or in Chicago?

A: I would think it’s the same. I think in order to recognize me you’d have to be a football fan. I can walk in certain places and nobody’s going to know who I am, which happens and it’s no big deal. Here in the Valley maybe, and obviously Rio Hondo, it’s a small town. But when I come to McAllen, a lot of people stare like, ‘Is that him? Is that him?’ I always get that. People come up to me like, ‘Do I know you?’ ‘That’s the guy from Rio Hondo.’ ‘Oh, you’re the guy who plays football,’ which is cool and they’re excited to tell me their story of watching me play football or when they used to play football. It’s exciting.    

Brian Sandalow covers sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.