Robert Quinn – April 4, 2018
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Wednesday, April 4, 2018
DE Robert Quinn
(What was your first reaction when you had heard the news?) – “Well, actually I was worried about finding my phone. I got the news from my brother’s phone, so I’m like ‘Well, let me go finish finding my phone and I’ll figure the rest of lights out from there.’ (laughter). So I was a little shocked but … I mean I was pretty much shocked, honestly.”
(Has that shock worn off and, if so, what are your thoughts about being a Miami Dolphin?) – “Honestly, you know you don’t realize you’re suffocating until you can’t breathe no more, so honestly I’m glad I can have a new breath of fresh air down here in Miami. It’s allowing me to clear my mind and have a fresh start. It’s a new beginning and new possibilities. I’m excited for this new start. Honestly, I think it was best for me and my family, and sometimes things work out funny but they always work out for the best.”
(What did you mean by that when you said you were suffocating? What do you mean?) – “Well, how about this: I’m not a West Coast guy. I’ll just put it that way.”
(You had a few really fantastic seasons a few years ago. What have you been through since then as you try to work your way back?) – “Well, trying to make sure all my injuries hold up. Honestly, like I said, being here is more of just a fresh start. All of the old, old history … I don’t know. It kind of just, for whatever reason, seems to have gone away since I got here. There’s just something about when you walk into a place and you get this feeling that it seems like you’re supposed to be there. Like I said, I got one of those feelings being here. It’s still early, but I’m excited for the start.”
(When you talk about the feeling, I guess of optimism and a new start, is that because you’re with the Dolphins or because you’re away from the Rams?) – “Both. I mean it’s like this … This is the first time I’ve been traded. When you commit yourself to someone and basically have a family member turn your back on you, you realize who appreciates you around here, and you commit yourself to them. All it takes is one time for someone to rub you the wrong way and you have to just keep moving. I’ve got a new family now here in Miami and that’s all I’m concerned about.”
(Do you have a side that you prefer to play or do you play right and left side, both?) – “Long snapper (laughter).”
(You can stay in the league that way, right?) – “I can get 20 years right there, right? (laughter) No, but to answer your question, honestly it’s just pretty much playing defensive end. I’ve always been pretty much the majority right side and I guess I’m lucky Cam (Wake) loves the left side. Hopefully it works out for the best for the both of us.”
(What impresses you about DE Cam Wake since you just mentioned him?) – “Every time I hear about him – since I’ve been here I’ve bumped into him one time – I always hear about his work ethic, the way he eats, the way he takes care of himself and all of that. Like I said, I’ve only met him one time since I’ve been here. I never like to judge a book by its cover. I always want to get to know someone for who they are and not by word of mouth. He’s been here pretty much his whole career, if I’m not mistaken, so he’s earned his stripes. He’s committed himself and he’s been a heck of a Hall of Fame player whenever he decides (to retire). It makes you realize when you’ve got that type of caliber player, with that new breath of fresh air, it makes you want to get back to that level and expectation of being great. It’s exciting to be with a player and a teammate and I’m sure we’ll turn into friends. We’re going to do that in due time.”
(You and DE Cam Wake are two of the best in NFL history in the strip-sack. You guys are like No. 1 and No. 2. What’s the key to doing that successfully, getting that ball out?) – “Well, being on the right side, usually it is the blind side of the quarterback, where they can’t see you. Honestly, I forget what coach told me, (but it was) about a stat. Any time the defense gets a turnover, it’s like a 65-70 percent chance of winning and any time you score on defense, you are pretty much at 100 percent. That’s where my mind set is. Just off of those percentages, if I can get a strip, forced fumble and a touchdown on defense, that pretty much guarantees a team win. That’s what I’m about. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win.”
(How much do you enjoy being reunited with DE William Hayes?) – “I’m excited. I was talking with him yesterday. I don’t consider a lot of people friends, but only my best friends. He’s one of my best friends. I’m definitely excited to be here and be reunited with him.”
(I’ve read a lot of stories about how you’ve had great success despite having issues with the tumor. I’m wondering how often do you have to have it checked and what’s the latest, if anything, that you know about thing?) – “Long story short, I’ve had this tumor since high school. I guess this would probably put it in a better (perspective). They told me that week that I wasn’t going to make it out of the hospital. That kind of changed my whole perspective of looking at life. That’s kind of just how why I am the way I am, just because … I don’t know if you were ever 17 and told you won’t make it out of the hospital in a week. It kind of messes with you a little bit. I think it did it for the better, just to make me realize there are more important things. Football’s fine. Everything’s fine, but the important thing is life. As long as you are happy with life and everything, at the end of the day, tomorrow’s not promised. As long as I can wake up with a smile, it’s a blessing.”
(Do they just basically give you a clear bill of health each year? Is that what they do? Is it like a once a year thing?) – “Yes. I get a checkup on it once a year and make sure it stays … not doing anything crazy. It’s been I guess about 10 years now – almost 10 years, 11 years now – I’m going on 11 years. Yes, so I get a checkup just to make sure it’s stable and nothing crazy is going on up there. It is your brain, so if that shuts down, everything pretty much shuts down. So it’s more of just checking on it and making sure it’s fine. Again, it’s going on 11 years so hopefully it’s found its resting place and will leave me alone.”
(If I’m not mistaken, you were a 3-4 outside linebacker last year. Is that right?) – “Yes.”
(What happens when you get to putting your hand back in the dirt? What kind of a difference does that make for a pass rusher?) – “I don’t know if you’ve ever watched the Olympics but I’ve never seen one of the sprinters run from a two-point stance. I think some people are gifted to push off that one foot – I’m thinking of Von Miller and stuff like that – but I honestly think if you want to get the best get-off, you’re supposed to get in a three-point stance. Again, to each his own. Some people are better doing one versus the other. Like I said, you can’t tell a person how to produce and make plays.”
(What kind of damage do you think you and DE Cameron Wake can do rushing the passer from opposite sides?) – “I don’t want to talk about ourselves too much but like you guys said, we’re the – I don’t know – No. 1, No. 2 at strip-sacks, forced fumbles? If we can do that once a game or twice a game, I think that gives our team a great chance of winning week in and week out. Again, I keep saying, it’s about the team winning. I’m just trying to do my part and hopefully … I keep saying these statistics because I had a defensive coordinator that made them stick in my mind. At the end of the day, I just want to get back to winning and some positive vibes because it seems like Miami is a great place to be.”
(What can you tell us about why you’ve raised your fist in protest at times during the national anthem and if you plan to continue that this season?) – “Well, let me tell you this. The way America was built and the way people talk … The President said we should build a wall to keep Mexicans out. This country was built off of … They killed Indians built off the backs of the blacks and yet they tell us to keep quiet. At the end of the day, let’s confront the situation and let’s bring humanity and friendship. Let’s get rid of all the ignorance. Let’s face it head on, look at each other as humans and I always live by this one law: treat each other like you want to be treated. You don’t ever want to smack someone in the face and don’t expect to get smacked back. It’s just that simple fact. Don’t treat someone bad and then expect not to get treated the same way. That’s just how it is.”
