By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY
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He's one of the key weapons in one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, but Pro Bowl-credentialed tight end Dallas Clark has some other skills, too. Clark makes his TV acting debut on CBS with a cameo appearance in Wednesday's episode of Criminal Minds (9 p.m. ET/PT).
Dallas Clark
CAPTION
Still, Clark, who says he's on track with rehab from a broken wrist, is eager to get back on the football field -- which of course includes seeing a resolution to the labor battle that has resulted in a lockout for more than a month. Clark discussed his extra-curricular activities and his view of the labor unrest during a recent chat with USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell (see behind-the-scenes video of Clark's cameo on Criminal Minds below):
Q: OK, so how did this acting deal come about?
DC: "When I met Rick Dunkle (writer, Criminal Minds), I kind of joked with him, 'Hey, Rick, I took basic acting at the University of Iowa. So if there's ever a shortage of actors, just give me a call.' And he kind of ran with it."
Q: So is this some kind of fantasy gig for you?
DC: "I loved acting class. It would be fun doing that, or to be a singer. I'd really love to be on stage, playing a guitar and singing."
Q: We always hear about athletes wishing they were entertainers and entertainers wishing they were athletes. Guess there's some truth to that?
DC: "When I meet them, I tell 'em, 'I am so jealous of what you get to do with your God-given talent.' And it's usually, 'Are you kidding me? Look at what you get to do.' "
Q: Considering your day job and the rehab, any risk with this acting role?
DC: "I'm not going to be doing any stunts. I won't be dodging bullets on the set. I'm a detective. Two lines. I'll be pretty safe."
Q: Thinking football, this is the time of year when you'd be gearing up in your offseason program. With the lockout, have you felt any effect yet in getting ready for the season?
DC: "They don't pay us to train in the offseason. This time of year, this is just us, doing what we need to do to get our bodies in shape to play the game. All this, whenever we sign (a new labor deal), we've got to be ready to hit the field right away."
Q: You don't sound too worried about that…
DC: "It's not until April, May, when we really need to be starting up, getting together and stuff like that. So we need to adjust accordingly."
Q: If the lockout goes on for a while, though, do you think some of the veterans -- like yourself and Peyton Manning -- will be pressed to get everybody together for some organized workouts?
DC: "Nothing is planned yet. But we definitely will need to get our work in somehow. A lot of our stuff (with the precise Colts offense), you have to do it together, get the timing and all that stuff, just to get the feel. We'll adjust accordingly. But it's a new adventure for us."
Q: Are you surprised that Peyton Manning is one of plaintiffs named on the players' lawsuit against the NFL?
DC: "I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't pay attention to it. I'm waiting for them to say, 'OK, we're back.' I pay zero attention to it. It's a waste of time. When it's done, it's done. I don't want to be, 'Oh, we had a good day today (with labor negotiations).' Why would I listen to that? That's a waste of time for me. Other people are different. To me, it's a waste of time. I'm not going to sit there and just waste time and effort and energy, and look it up online to try to find the latest gossip and news. It means nothing to me. So when it's done, it's done. We'll be ready to go."
Q: Let me see if I've got this straight. You're saying that you didn't even know that Peyton put his name on the lawsuit?
DC: "I have no idea what you're talking about. Whenever the people that make the decisions agree on something, we're good to go. I'm a passenger, going along for the ride."
Q: I'm sure that Jeff Saturday (Colts center, active in labor talks as a member of the NFLPA's executive committee) can fill you in…
DC: "I don't even want to. Why would I waste his time? I don't need to know. Sure, I could do that. I'm not losing any sleep. I'm not worried. Look, I'm not being judgmental. I know who I could talk to. It's pointless to me."
Q: Did you sign up for the Cobra medical insurance?
DC: "That's a little personal. Why do we need to talk about that?"
Q:Just curious. You said that you don't care about the labor talks, and players are accountable for paying their own insurance premiums during the lockout.
DC: "I'm not dumb. When I say I don't care doesn't mean I don't know what's going on. I care. But I don't care about wasting time and energy to find out information that really is pointless. I don't care that they had a good day today (in negotiations). I don't care that they (NFL Players Association) backed out. Why would I care about that? I'm not involved in that. I don't know what's going on. Of course I care. I want it to get done. But I don't care about the day-to-day. 'Ooooh, Day 2 of The Lockout. Oh, no, what's going to happen?' That's pointless to me. At the end of the day, it's going to get done. Right now, I'm just getting ready to get my rehab in and getting ready for the season. That's all I have to worry about. Everything else is out of my pay grade. The insurance, I don't think that's reporter-worthy. I think that's crossing the line."
Q: The NFLPA has sure talked about the insurance, among the many issues that have come up during these labor talks. That's why I'll ask about any of these details.
DC: "I know what's involved and what it means. But I'm not going to waste any extra effort. I'm taking care of what I need to do, but I'm not going to waste any effort, trying to figure out what's going on with the whole day-to-day process."
 
Comment
Recommend
He's one of the key weapons in one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, but Pro Bowl-credentialed tight end Dallas Clark has some other skills, too. Clark makes his TV acting debut on CBS with a cameo appearance in Wednesday's episode of Criminal Minds (9 p.m. ET/PT).
Dallas ClarkCAPTION
By Darron Cummings, AP
Still, Clark, who says he's on track with rehab from a broken wrist, is eager to get back on the football field -- which of course includes seeing a resolution to the labor battle that has resulted in a lockout for more than a month. Clark discussed his extra-curricular activities and his view of the labor unrest during a recent chat with USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell (see behind-the-scenes video of Clark's cameo on Criminal Minds below):
Q: OK, so how did this acting deal come about?
DC: "When I met Rick Dunkle (writer, Criminal Minds), I kind of joked with him, 'Hey, Rick, I took basic acting at the University of Iowa. So if there's ever a shortage of actors, just give me a call.' And he kind of ran with it."
Q: So is this some kind of fantasy gig for you?
DC: "I loved acting class. It would be fun doing that, or to be a singer. I'd really love to be on stage, playing a guitar and singing."
Q: We always hear about athletes wishing they were entertainers and entertainers wishing they were athletes. Guess there's some truth to that?
DC: "When I meet them, I tell 'em, 'I am so jealous of what you get to do with your God-given talent.' And it's usually, 'Are you kidding me? Look at what you get to do.' "
Q: Considering your day job and the rehab, any risk with this acting role?
DC: "I'm not going to be doing any stunts. I won't be dodging bullets on the set. I'm a detective. Two lines. I'll be pretty safe."
Q: Thinking football, this is the time of year when you'd be gearing up in your offseason program. With the lockout, have you felt any effect yet in getting ready for the season?
DC: "They don't pay us to train in the offseason. This time of year, this is just us, doing what we need to do to get our bodies in shape to play the game. All this, whenever we sign (a new labor deal), we've got to be ready to hit the field right away."
Q: You don't sound too worried about that…
DC: "It's not until April, May, when we really need to be starting up, getting together and stuff like that. So we need to adjust accordingly."
Q: If the lockout goes on for a while, though, do you think some of the veterans -- like yourself and Peyton Manning -- will be pressed to get everybody together for some organized workouts?
DC: "Nothing is planned yet. But we definitely will need to get our work in somehow. A lot of our stuff (with the precise Colts offense), you have to do it together, get the timing and all that stuff, just to get the feel. We'll adjust accordingly. But it's a new adventure for us."
Q: Are you surprised that Peyton Manning is one of plaintiffs named on the players' lawsuit against the NFL?
DC: "I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't pay attention to it. I'm waiting for them to say, 'OK, we're back.' I pay zero attention to it. It's a waste of time. When it's done, it's done. I don't want to be, 'Oh, we had a good day today (with labor negotiations).' Why would I listen to that? That's a waste of time for me. Other people are different. To me, it's a waste of time. I'm not going to sit there and just waste time and effort and energy, and look it up online to try to find the latest gossip and news. It means nothing to me. So when it's done, it's done. We'll be ready to go."
Q: Let me see if I've got this straight. You're saying that you didn't even know that Peyton put his name on the lawsuit?
DC: "I have no idea what you're talking about. Whenever the people that make the decisions agree on something, we're good to go. I'm a passenger, going along for the ride."
Q: I'm sure that Jeff Saturday (Colts center, active in labor talks as a member of the NFLPA's executive committee) can fill you in…
DC: "I don't even want to. Why would I waste his time? I don't need to know. Sure, I could do that. I'm not losing any sleep. I'm not worried. Look, I'm not being judgmental. I know who I could talk to. It's pointless to me."
Q: Did you sign up for the Cobra medical insurance?
DC: "That's a little personal. Why do we need to talk about that?"
Q:Just curious. You said that you don't care about the labor talks, and players are accountable for paying their own insurance premiums during the lockout.
DC: "I'm not dumb. When I say I don't care doesn't mean I don't know what's going on. I care. But I don't care about wasting time and energy to find out information that really is pointless. I don't care that they had a good day today (in negotiations). I don't care that they (NFL Players Association) backed out. Why would I care about that? I'm not involved in that. I don't know what's going on. Of course I care. I want it to get done. But I don't care about the day-to-day. 'Ooooh, Day 2 of The Lockout. Oh, no, what's going to happen?' That's pointless to me. At the end of the day, it's going to get done. Right now, I'm just getting ready to get my rehab in and getting ready for the season. That's all I have to worry about. Everything else is out of my pay grade. The insurance, I don't think that's reporter-worthy. I think that's crossing the line."
Q: The NFLPA has sure talked about the insurance, among the many issues that have come up during these labor talks. That's why I'll ask about any of these details.
DC: "I know what's involved and what it means. But I'm not going to waste any extra effort. I'm taking care of what I need to do, but I'm not going to waste any effort, trying to figure out what's going on with the whole day-to-day process."
 
