To play in the National Football League for over a decade is a huge accomplishment for any player in the National Football League. Vonnie Holliday the newly acquired defensive lineman for the Washington Redskins has done just that. Being drafted from the University of North Carolina, Vonnie’s thirteen year NFL career has included stints with the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chief’s, Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos. Hoping to provide to his veteran leadership to a rebuilding Washington Redskins team, Vonnie expertise is something very valuable as they say you can’t teach experience. While the Skins made much news in regards to revamping their organization with the acquisition of Donovan McNabb and Coach Mike Shanahan, Vonnie admits those two are a great reason he’s a Redskin this season.

Outside of football, the humble and well spoken Vonnie Holliday is very involved with charity. Not too long ago he lost a beloved sister in law to brain cancer and doing whatever it takes nowadays to cure the deadly disease. Hosting a recent event at Saks Fifth Avenue Phipps Plaza last week in support of raising money for brain cancer shows that Vonnie has always been bred to support those who are less fortunate. In this interview Vonnie has a lot to say and even offers some words on a possible NFL Lockout. Do the players really get paid too much or are the owners the greedy ones? At the end of the day the fans do pay their hard-earned money to see who? We’ll Vonnie Holliday has all the answers for QtheQuestion.com

QtheQuestion: Vonnie Holliday how’s the day going so far? I heard some recent news where you were taking part in a fundraising event for brain cancer.

VH: Yes, brain cancer is something I experienced in my family first hand.  Over the last seven or eight years we’ve been dealing with it closely with my sister in law. She was diagnosed at the age of thirty-one with brain cancer. It was a major battle and by the time we figured things out, the tumor was too large to be operable. Once you start the treatment with medication everybody’s life changes. Unfortunately three years ago she lost the battle to it. It’s something we’re very passionate about to raise the awareness of brain cancer. We are doing as much as we can in aiding the research program to find cures for this disease. 

QtheQuestion: As a professional football player of course it’s right to do things off the field. The NFL schedule is very busy for all the players so how manageable it is to have charity events for different causes?

VH: You know what it can be very difficult at times. When you factor in time management, playing in different cities and trying to coordinate everybody that’s the hard part.  My publicist Brandi Williams of B Studios has been unbelievable. She’s really the one who coordinated this thing and brought everybody together making it very easy for me. Getting fellow peers around the league and having locals in the city to support your cause takes a lot of work.  Generally guys like to do stuff like this and when it’s a good cause people like to come out for support. This event means a lot to my family and we love to keep the memory of my sister in law going. To my family she'll forever be remembered for her battle and her fight. 

QtheQuestion: You are also getting involved with fellow philanthropist Russell Simmons with his “Athletes for Africa” program. Can you speak on that situation as well?

VH:  Russell Simmons this man does so much and he’s certainly built an incredible reputation for himself. He deserves so much credit for what he does for the community.  I didn’t even know about his program until my publicist Brandi brought it up about “Athletes for Africa”.  It’s a tremendous program and I’m ready to get started. It’s a very positive thing to give something to a community that needs a lot of help.  To all the players around the league my hat goes off to them when they use their celebrity for a good cause.

QtheQuestion: Last year I did a story with Israel Odinije of the Chicago Bears. I know he does something where he goes to Nigeria to set up football camps of some sort. Maybe ya’ll need to link up.

VH:  I would love to hook up with him one day. I just have to look further into what he has going on and see if I can add my assistance to provide some great help.  We need to stay in touch for further opportunities like this that we can get together on.  

QtheQuestion: We’ll even though you’re a Redskin we can still handle business.

VH:  (Laughs), I know you’re a big Philly fan but I really appreciate you guys for sending Donovan McNabb over to the Redskins.  He is a big part as to why I’m a Redskin along with Coach Shanahan and the staff coming in. Those guys had a terrible season last year but now were close. A lot of the Redskin fans were mad with Jason Campbell, Chris Cooley was out as well so the team had a lot of things going wrong last year.  We now have a very established quarterback with Donovan McNabb who has a lot left in the tank. It’s unfortunate for you as a Philly fan that he’s now with Washington in the division. A guy like Donovan playing with new motivation and a big chip on his shoulder, I really think we have a shot at that Superbowl ring.

QtheQuestion:  What do you think you’ll be bringing to the Redskins to make sure the defense is much more solid this year?

VH:  Well the thing with this Redskins defense is last year it was pretty good. It was one of the top defenses in the league and this year coach Jim Haslett comes in with the 3-4 scheme.  I have a lot of experience playing the 3-4 scheme and enjoyed it the last five years.  It’s going to create turnovers which were a problem last year.  My role is to come in as a defensive player who played for a number of years and help educate the young guys on playing the scheme. I bring the veteran experience also even at age thirty-four where I’m very productive. The NFC East is a very tough division, one that gets plenty of attention. Dallas, Philly, Washington and New York it doesn’t get much bigger than that (Laughs).  When you talk about the NFL when it comes to historical rivalries and competition the NFC East is where it’s at.

QtheQuestion: That’s funny because you grew up a Cowboys fan and now you’re a Redskin.

VH: That’s what’s really crazy, because for the most part I’ve probably only played Dallas four times through the course of my career. Growing up I was a Cowboys fan and while my family and friends were Washington or New York fans, I always had the silver and big star (Laughs).  I wanted to be Tony Dorsett growing up when I was a running back. Things happen, now I’m a Redskin so I look forward to going out and beating up on my Cowboys.

QtheQuestion:  So hail to the Redskins huh?

VH: (Laughs), Exactly!

QtheQuestion:  Do you look forward to getting a couple sacks on Tony Romo this year?

VH: I do, everything is big in Texas. What Jerry Jones has done with that stadium and the way he marketed them is phenomenal. Anytime you can get after a guy like Tony Romo who is the leader of that team, it’s nothing I like more than sacking quarterbacks. I look forward to getting after Tony, I got him last year when I was a Bronco. I beat Flozell Adams and got right to him, I look forward to doing it again (Laughs).

QtheQuestion: This season how does it feel to play under Coach Shanahan and what you think he’ll bring to the Redskins organization as a whole?

VH: Well Coach Shanahan that guy is a great coach. It’s not like your coming in playing under a young first year hotshot rookie. This guy has the formula for success and arguably one of the best coaches in the league for the past twenty years. He’s won Superbowls and what he was able to do with the Denver Broncos organization is pretty impressive. When I was with Denver last year when I meet Shanahan he told me that if he gets the opportunity to coach again and get me on his team he would. He brings a lot of energy and to play in his system will be a good thing. Being in this league for so many years and for my body to still hold up to play is a blessing.

Qthequestion: Being a thirteen year veteran, do you feel the game as changed from the late 90’s when you were drafted to now?

VH: The game has changed a lot in terms of rules put in place, protecting the quarterback, and much more. At the end of the day the owners want to see touchdowns scored as they feel that’s why fans come to the games. It’s amazing to me nowadays from when I came in back in ’98 how players are able to get bigger, faster and stronger. The overall speed of the game every year seems to just go up. To watch on television is one thing but to see in person is something else. To see how big these guys are, how fast they move and the speed of the game is really impressive. The way salaries have escalated is surprising as well but people like this game, its modern day gladiator. I’m glad you asked me this question because we are at a very critical time in the NFL right now. We are now longer on the Collective Bargaining Agreement. After this season it’s a strong possibility that the 2011 season won’t be played because of a lockout. The owners are not going to let us go to work unless we agree to different terms. They want more money while their saying we are being greedy. At the end of the day the people are paying to come see us play. We are the ones risking injuries. Necks, knees, ankles, concussions, brain trauma all of that. I don’t want to sound like a greedy player because that’s not what it’s about but the NFL has become a brand. Every team makes plenty of money when you include the TV contracts and all are crazy. I can go on and on about this its unreal.

QtheQuestion: If a lockout does happen will it burn you up?

VH: It will definitely burn a guy like myself up. I’m thirty-four years old and it took a lot to still be in this league. I want to educate the young guys get through this ordeal. That free agent player who is living the life like a first round pick going out buying Bentley’s and staying in a 3500 a month condo, their(owners) betting that we can’t outlast them.  The NFLPA has been really going around helping us players get prepared for this battle that’s about to take place.

QtheQuestion: Wrapping things up how will the Skins do this year?

VH: You know what I’m not really into predictions but I really feel like we are going be a prepared squad. Our goal is just like the other 30 teams out there to hold the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the air. We are doing everything we can to get there too.

QtheQuestion: Recently I listened to a song from Lloyd Bank’s who is a part of 50 Cent’s crew G-Unit. He has a song called “No Escape” where he goes “Shotgun to him, get your Donovan McNabb on”.  Will we see a lot of those this year?

VH: Hey, I’m telling you Donovan still has it. This guy has had a lot of success as a quarterback and we are ready for him to show it.