Junior Seau on Belichick's Call, Veteran Leadership and His New 'Sports Job'

Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 10 PM, Versus will begin airing "Sports Jobs With Junior Seau," a weekly program -- similar to the Discovery Channel's popular "Dirty Jobs" -- that will feature Seau, a 20-year NFL veteran, taking on some behind-the-scenes work at different sporting events. Versus will air a pair of episodes on Dec. 2. FanHouse secured a preview copy of one, where Seau played the role of batboy and equipment manager for the Dodgers.

This week, Seau spoke with FanHouse about his new show, as well as returning to the Patriots and, of course, Bill Belichick's fateful fourth-down call in Indianapolis.

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FanHouse: Let's start with how you wound up hosting this project on Versus.

Junior Seau: I was fortunate enough to be selected by Versus. The concept was unbelievable. It fits right in line with what I believe in, in terms of promoting the people that are unsung heroes behind sports. I love sports and the more I can do with sports, I want to be part of it.

FH: In the preview episode, you work for the Dodgers ... and they seemed like they worked you pretty hard. Was it a tough gig?

Seau: Every show has its own identity. With the Dodgers, it was a moving show, down to the laundry to Costco shopping to washing cars. It was fun to do. One of the most interesting things about that show was muddying the ball, I never knew you had to do that. That's something that's educational, obviously, to the viewers as well.

FH: You mentioned washing cars. (Dodgers outfielder) Matt Kemp got you to wash his during the episode. Is that the first time you've had to do that for another professional athlete?

Seau: It's probably the first time I've had to wash a car in 8-10 years. This show has done wonders for me in terms of the things in which we normally do ... it's humbling, more importantly, it's showing a great light on the people that have to do these things.

FH: Aside from the Dodgers episode, were there any other episodes that proved particularly emotional for you or stood out in some way?

Seau: Building the new Meadowlands stadium, staying 3 days there, building the bleachers, putting in urinals, we were doing it all. It was definitely a harder job than which I expected. Someone had to do it and I was fortunate enough to be around good people to try.

FH: Did you try to hide any Patriots' stuff in the stadium while you were working?

Seau: I tried to leave a signature down on the end zone, but they caught it, and made me erase it.

FH: When Versus approached you about this concept, did you anticipate that you'd be coming back to the NFL, or were you ready to move on to other endeavors?

Seau: I was going to allow [Patriots coach Bill] Belichick to have that choice, all I needed to do was be prepared. Working out for 8 months without any glimpse of light, any communication, it was basically just working out of faith. And when he approached me, I had a chance to choose because I was working out. I chose to come back and help the boys, and here we are.

FH: But getting into TV is something you want to do continue with you're retired for good?

Seau: I definitely want to pursue camera work, the show with Versus and continue on with the show. It has such a great concept. There's so many sports with groups behind the scenes that we can promote. This show isn't done with the first season, hopefully we can continue that through the 2nd.

FH: Jumping back to the Patriots ... is your role right now what you expected it would be? Do you see yourself getting more playing time as the season progresses?

Seau: What I'm doing is basically just living the dream and just waiting my time for Belichick to guide me in the role in which he brought me in for. Right now, I'm behind two young linebackers, backing up some of the defensive line, being in the locker room, being in the game, getting in footballs shape and still cutting my show with Veruss on Monday and Tuesday, it's a tough job. I'm gonna wait patiently and see what happens.

FH: You're in your 20th season now, have you ever been part of a finish like last Sunday's Patriots-Colts game?

Seau: I've seen it all, you never want to be complacent, anything can happen on any given day. What happened to us is something that was forced upon us by great plays by Manning and the Colts. It really doesn't matter what we did, they made the plays when they had to and won the game.

FH: Plenty of people were critical of Belichick's decision to go for it on fourth down late in the game, including your old teammate Tedy Bruschi, saying it was disrespectful of the defense. Did anyone on the sideline feel that way?

Seau: It doesn't matter how we feel, only Belichick can answer that. The fact is Belichick made a call, we failed at converting and we all lost. We'll work for our next opportunity.

FH: Did you have to do anything different this week to get the team past that game? You're playing behind young guys at linebacker, as you mentioned, so was your leadership role increased after that loss?

Seau: What we try to do is do what's consistent. We try to be consistent at whatever we do, we don't try to do more than we did in weeks prior. We prepare to go out there and put ourselves in position to win, and hope to go out and execute it.

FH: Do you feel like you made the right decision to come back again?

Seau: I'm on a team and my role is to make sure the linebacker crew is ready to go and if they need my help, they know they can call on me without any falloff. If that's my role throughout the whole year, then Belichick's going to make that call. But anyone that's part of the game knows anything can happen on any given Sunday and if they call on me, I'll strap up the helmet and do what I do best.

FH: Since you've been back, have you noticed the little things that go on behind the scenes, since you spent all that time working those jobs?

Seau: I've always respected the guys that have worked behind the scenes in the 20 years I've been with the National Football League. Some of my good friends now are my trainers, doctors, equip managers, some of the field crew – so when I was approached by the show, it was a way to give homage to those people that have helped me for 20 years. When you ask me if I do respect them more, I do, but it wasn't because I didn't respect them from the get-go.

FH: Because of a credit card snafu, you had to pick up a $500 tab for the Dodgers at Costco. Have they paid you back for that?

Seau: (laughs) You know, come to think of it, I haven't been reimbursed.