Neville Gallimore – March 15, 2024
Download PDF version
Friday, March 15, 2024
DT Neville Gallimore
(Why were the Dolphins the right choice for you now?) – “They just bring a lot to the table. I saw the DTs that had a lot of success here and I was just looking for an opportunity to follow that train.”
(What do you know about the Ravens scheme? Because obviously Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver is going to kind of install a Ravens-like scheme. How does that align with your strengths?) – “As you can see, the amount of success that they had last year, those guys are very effective. They were just playing at a high level. So I feel like bringing that here is going to bring a lot. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to learn and just see that success that he’s had over there translate over here with the group of guys that we have here.”
(What can you tell us about Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark?) – “I know all in all, he’s a great guy. High intensity coach. Just through guys that he’s coached, he competes at a high level. Whenever you have a d-line coach like that, those are usually the guys who demand the most out of their players. So just looking forward to that opportunity. Obviously you can see what he’s done with the group of guys he’s had. And I’m just looking forward to that opportunity to grow and develop with him as well.”
(I wanted to follow up on that question about Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark. When it came out that you were signing with the Dolphins, it was reported that you trained with Austin Clark. Can you tell us a little more about your relationship with him?) – “Yeah, absolutely. In the d-line world, Coach Pete Jenkins, all those guys, they’re fantastic. And again, just seeing what he’s done and the caliber of guys, the amount of players that spoke so highly of him, and just getting an opportunity to be in the same presence at this point of time was great. Obviously we spoke very little, but just to see the amount of guys that were raving on and on about him, I knew if the opportunity presented himself, he was going to do his best to get whoever he had in his room right. We’re here and thankfully getting the opportunity to do so.”
(Obviously there’s been a lot of turnover on the defensive line with the Dolphins. I was curious for you personally, where do you feel most comfortable playing? Is it three technique? Zero? Shade?) – “The beauty of it is Coach Clark and as well as the rest of the staff, obviously that’s what makes them great, right? I know they are going to find a fit that’s perfect for me. And really, I’m just coming with the mindset ready to work, ready to learn, ready to grow and ready to be where they see best fit. I couldn’t tell you right there, couldn’t tell you off rip, but we’ll see as the season progresses.”
(Recovering from injury, you had the elbow injury. I want to know about the mental side of recovering from the injury and the isolation part of it. You’re not really around the team. How do you deal with that? What keeps you going? What gets you through what I think is probably a fairly dark time?) – “The beauty of it is it’s been two years since that. As a competitor, if you love this game, you never want to be away from it. But even thankfully going through that experience, I had a great group of guys that even though I’m here, you have such a strong relationship. I feel like it’s kind of what comes with it. You devote your life to this game, it’s going to come with some bruises, it’s going to come with some pain, but I feel like if anything, that’s what’s driven me to take it another step further. It’s helped me to understand the value of taking care of your body and not taking things for granted. I feel like with that, it’s allowed me to be tougher and really just made me approach the game with another level of respect. So yes, it was tough, but I feel like when tough times like that happen, the benefit of having a great team – I got to give a major shoutout to my wife because she played a major role in helping me overcome, and just understand even with that happening, there’s so much more work to be done. I still knew I had a lot to give. It was just a major but minor stepping stone. We give God thanks because we’re in this position now and are still able to keep pushing forward. That happened two years ago and I’m about to enter year five, so it’s a blessing. It was a minor setback, but we were still able to build.”
(What attracted you to the Dolphins? I know opportunity and money are usually a big thing in the NFL. Did Head Coach Mike McDaniel play a role? Did Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark play a role? You’re on another team with no state income tax like in Dallas. Did the weather play a role? What were the factors aside from opportunity and money?) – “It goes back to the fact that I love this game and I know that there is a level that I aspire to get to. When you sit back, there is no fluke. It doesn’t matter what team you play for. You saw the impact that this team has had when it comes to developing d-linemen. You saw the success they had. You’ve seen guys really be able to take care of their family and you just see that every d-lineman that has played here under this staff played with a chip on their shoulder. They’ve brought a lot to the table. I was just looking forward to the opportunity to grow my game and take it to another level. That’s why when the opportunity presented itself, it felt right. It felt like what I needed and I felt like with this team, there will be a lot of work that will be able to get done.”
(I know you grew up in Ottawa, so I’m wondering if you played any hockey growing up, and at which point did it become strictly football?) – “I wish I would’ve gotten the chance to play hockey. I just wasn’t the best skater. Ice skating and me, we just didn’t match. But I was always a fan of football. And really I was just a fan of you get to put your hands on somebody and not get in trouble for it. It really just helped with the mental as a kid. When I started playing football, when I saw it as an opportunity to get school taken care of, that was kind of the first and major mission. Obviously you have aspirations to go to the NFL. It was kind of unheard of being from where I’m from, but God has a way of working things out. It’s just exciting that we’re in the position we’re in now.”
(Are you tight with S Jevon Holland?) – “Jevon, I got the chance to shake hand, and he beat me in air hockey in Vegas. (laughter) I don’t really know him personally. But I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be around him. I want to say he’s from the (Vancouver) area. It goes to show the level of football, the level of guys that are in Canada. I got the chance to hang with Chase Claypool at the Senior Bowl. Both great guys. Both are guys that are hungry. It’s always exciting to see guys come from similar backgrounds, just all of us being Canadian and having our dreams come true. Seeing all of those guys compete, and seeing the success they’ve had, I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to add to that.“
Aaron Brewer – March 15, 2024
Download PDF version
Friday, March 15, 2024
OL Aaron Brewer
(I know you’re pretty agile for your position. Do you think this Dolphins offense can highlight that and how well do you feel you fit in this scheme?) – “I believe it’s pretty solid. They’ve got a fast team and that’s one of my strong suits. I’m one of the fast offensive linemen, being able to get to the first level, second level. In open space, I can move pretty well. I feel like it’ll be a nice fit for me.”
(Some center last year, you also have experience at guard. You’re very versatile. Have you been told definitively you’re the starting center next year for this team? Or is that still to be determined based on who else the team can bring in?) – “I believe that’s still to be determined. Right now, I’m just here trying to figure out the best way I can help the team.”
(You spent this past season at center and you kind of transitioned from guard to center when you were in Tennessee. Can you kind of give us the backstory into you transitioning to center? I know in college and even high school, it seemed like you played everywhere on the offensive line, but a lot really at guard.) – “I’d say that transition to center, I feel like that was always my destined position, just for me being more of an undersized offensive lineman. I’m not one of the big 320, 310, 300-pound offensive lineman. You don’t really see too many of the undersized offensive linemen being at guard. I just feel like me being undersized, it was basically predetermined for me to be at center.”
(How would you describe your strengths?) – “My strengths, I would say, are my speed, my aggressiveness, my will, my work ethic and leverage. I would say those are my strengths. I would say those are my strengths. My speed, strength and just that will I’ve got. I’m not going to stop so I’m going to keep going. I’ve got that chip on my shoulder and I feel like that’s my edge above the people I’m playing against.”
(The dude who played center last year, OL Connor Williams, he’s hurt. But he was also a converted guard. And it blew our mind sometimes to see this man run blocking 10, 15, 20 yards down the field. How do you approach that when that opportunity comes to be doing that second-level run blocking from the middle?) – “Me personally, I’m going until I hear the whistle. I’m just trying to be aggressive. I’m headhunting out there, so if I can get my hands on you, I’m on you until I hear the whistle. If we’re running downfield, the ball the hasn’t stopped yet, so I’m on you until then, until the ball passed me. Even when it passed me, I’m still trying to find some more work.”
(You have run blocked for a pretty good, powerful, downhill running back for a good while in Tennessee. What does it take to be a good downhill power running football team?) – “You’ve got to be aggressive. You’ve got to be in shape. You’ve just got to be relentless. You’ve just got to be able to go. You’ve got speed. You know Derrick Henry, he’s a big back. He’s fast for his size. If your back’s fast, you’ve got to be fast as well in what you’re doing. I’ll say just being in shape, having that effort and finish mentality about you and not giving up, and being able to go four quarters.”
(I would assume that you want to bring that kind of mentality to the Miami Dolphins?) – “Absolutely. It’s been the mentality I’ve had with me since I can remember. That was that edge that I had, just being in condition. Because if you’re conditioned, you can have your technique and you can give the effort you need. If you’re tired, you’re not going to be able to give the effort you want to give or your technique might start lacking as well.”
(I’m working on a couple of things, one is on Head Coach Mike McDaniel and his personality and what it does for him as a recruiter. How did his personality play a role, if it did, in you coming to the Dolphins?) – “His personality from what I’ve seen – I haven’t had much of a personal conversation with him yet – but personally from what I’ve seen and heard and just read about the dude, he’s got that juice about him. He’s just very knowledgeable. He’s passionate about what he’s doing. I just love that you can feel it without even knowing him. You feel that passion about him, so I like that and that definitely played a role in me coming here.”
(Winning at the line of scrimmage, that’s something that this team needs to improve on. How do you win at the line of scrimmage? Is it being mean? Is it being aggressive? Good fundamentals? How do you win at the line of scrimmage?) – “I’d say it’s good fundamentals. Everything you said, it takes all of that all together and just trying to be as fast as you can at the line of scrimmage. You’re trying to win the line of scrimmage, so whoever is coming off the ball fastest, whoever initiates that contact, that’s who most of the time is going to win the line of scrimmage. It takes those fundamentals, that aggressiveness, being intentional with everything you’re doing, your first steps and all that. It all plays together.”
(I’ve got to ask you, we can’t let this introductory news conference go without asking you about backflips. Not every offensive lineman can pull that off, so tell me about your backflips and when there’s a touchdown, are we going to see you doing one in the end zone or what?) – “I feel like it’s going to have to be the right situation for me to pull that out during a celebration. You can’t just pull out just anytime, because as you said, that’s special. You don’t see too many offensive linemen that can do a backflip, and then definitely in pads in that. So I’m for sure going to try to pull it out sometime, but when? I can’t tell you.”
(I wanted to ask you, you talked about you felt like center was your natural position, so why did it take so long for you to make that move? Like why didn’t you do it earlier?) – “Because I felt like that was a part of my plan, the process when I was coming out. I was undrafted. I had a great vet ahead of me, Ben Jones, who is a hell of a player, but just coming in, that was the role I was put into to try to be like the XL tight end, guard/center. Taking on, learning, getting little gems from Ben and the older vets ahead of me, because I had Ben Jones, Rodger Saffold, Taylor Lewan. Just a lot of great players ahead of me. I was always working both of them in practice, but in the game, you’re seeing Ben Jones or whoever it was, and whenever one of them had a hiccup or got an injury, I had to come in and step into that spot. So that’s just what it was and I just had to trust the process.”
(When did the snapping part of it become easier or second nature?) – “I’d say it was like when I got into the season, to be honest. Because you’ve got to think I didn’t play a full season at center since probably I was in middle school. Even when I was in high school, I was always switching center, guard, tackle, going to every one. Just having that full season of being a center and just getting that repetition and the reps, I got more comfortable in just learning my style of play with being at center.”
Jody Fortson – March 15, 2024
Download PDF version
Friday, March 15, 2024
TE Jody Fortson
(I’m doing something on injury recoveries and as you know, LB Jaelan Phillips has an Achilles injury that he’s recovering from. You had an Achilles. I’m not asking specifically about Jaelan’s recovery, but with you, what were the keys to recovering and how long did it take you to get back to 100 percent?) – “The main key is just to listen to who is your respective athletic trainer, trust in the information that they’re presenting to you, believing that they’re putting you in the best position to win. I think the best thing I did was – I guess I really was off my foot for the most part. I didn’t try to put my foot into a shoe, try to walk on it, put too much weight on it too early. I think the best thing for that is you’ve just got to let time and just kind of let that heal on its own and just make sure you’re doing your strengthening and your mobility to get the strength back. There’s not really too many other things you can do to get that to heal correctly. It’s just a time thing. But just diligence. I’m praying for him in his recovery. I hope it works for him. It didn’t take that long. I was back running in four-and-a-half months. It didn’t really take that long.”
(And how long before you felt that you were at 100 percent?) – “I would say I felt pretty good going into OTAs at 100 percent. Like I tore my Achilles on October 17 of 2021 and I was back on the field that February so I kind of felt 100 percent by OTAs.”
(I know you played receiver in college and have made the transition to tight end. How has that transition gone and from your perspective what’s the difference of playing college receiver vs. pro tight end?) – “The transition has been – I guess like everything else, you have to be willing to want change and to want growth. At first obviously I was like, ‘I don’t really want to be a tight end,’ but it’s been in my mind since (I was a) kid. So many people that have come before me with a great mental aspect of the game have been like, ‘no, you’ll feel great in the NFL as a tight end so you should try to go to that route earlier.’ If I could go back, I wish I would’ve did it earlier, but we are where we are. As far as the difference between being a receiver on the amateur level and being a tight end on the pro level, I guess it’s more so of a ‘want to’ and a discipline. It’s like what are you willing to put into your craft to be the best that you can be? Nothing is going to be easy. Everything is change. Everything is going to be some type of obstacle within it. It’s just about how do you plan on attacking it? What type of mindset are you going to have when it presents itself? And as for me, I just attack everything with my head up and my chest out and I’m ready to rock. Like let’s do it.”
(I read a story that indicated that when you were a rookie in Kansas City, you made some impressive plays during the preseason. What do you remember about that preseason and how did that impact your confidence and your ability to play at this level?) – “I know my rookie year, my preseason – I know if I had to just grab anything, I would probably think about the last preseason game that we had against the Packers. I had a hitch route, but I was being pressed. It might have been Cover 1 or something like that and press, so we verted it. So I had just a little fly ball and my quarterback at the time, he gave me a chance to make a play and I made a play on the sideline and it kind of boosted my confidence to see the people on the sideline. At the time, all the starters were out so Patrick (Mahomes) and ‘Trav’ (Travis Kelce) and Tyreek (Hill) were there at the time. They’re all on the sideline hyped about me making a play. And I guess my confidence grew from right there that I could play in this league at some point. I made a play. And then later on in the game, I actually ended up making a forced fumble on kickoff, so that gave me a little special teams nuance right there. It’s just about getting reps in this game and getting warm in it. It’ll all take care of itself.”
(I wanted to ask you, you’ve been a young developmental player on a championship team for three years. What’s that transition going from that developmental guy that everybody sees upside in to actually having to produce now?) – “It’s about getting a chance, an opportunity to go out there and show what you can do. Everything looks good on paper. Everybody looks good on paper, but when you get out there, it’s about letting the training wheels off and let’s see what he can do. And that’s where we are right now. It’s about, all right, well let’s see what he can do.”
(Do you feel – not many people can say they have three championship rings – what do you think that brings to your resume?) – “I just think it brings a winner’s attitude, a winner’s mindset. Everybody here knows I’ve been with the Chiefs my entire career. We’ve won there. I might not have the role that I like, but I know what it takes to win. I’ve been around winners. I have been around what it takes, the consistency, the discipline, the sacrifices, what it takes to separate from this and when you have to put more into that. I feel like that’s what I inherited within my time from being with Kansas City, is the discipline to win, the seriousness behind it, what it takes. You’re just not going to wake up one day and just be a winner. You’ve got to do it. You’ve got to constantly chip at it every single day.”
(You’re going from one offensive coach to another. I was curious if you can kind of take us into the mind of Andy Reid as an offensive game planner? I’m sure you weren’t in the meetings with the coaching staff when they put in the game plan together, but things he emphasized, the creativity that they showed, what were some of the things that really impressed you from your time with Coach Reid?) – “First of all, everything about Coach Reid is impressive. That’s just a football genius, especially on the offensive side of the ball. That’s a guy that can literally – I remember him telling the story about him taking plays from people just around the building, the janitor – he uses plays from everything, from everybody. So anybody that has that perspective that you know what, just because you’re sitting back there and you’re picking up trash doesn’t mean that you don’t know what’s going on up here. Let me see what you got to say. Anybody that has that intellect to tap into that, they know what’s going on in this game. So as far as Coach Reid, he’s a great coach, first of all, but Coach Reid had a different way of dissecting the game. Like the motions and all that, giving different tells and just how he attacked each different week. Like you said, I wasn’t in there and coming up with the game plan, but just seeing how it just kind of flowed from one week to the next. Last week, it looked like this and this week, it might look like that. It was a great time being up there and seeing how he was able to maneuver that for some years.”
(A quick follow-up if I may, what has WR Tyreek Hill told you about Head Coach Mike McDaniel?) – “Let me double back on something like this. Coach Reid always said ‘let your personality show.’ That’s one thing Coach Reid always said and the first conversation that I had with Tyreek was similar to that. He was like, ‘you’re coming into a situation where you need to be you. Let your personality, let you ooze out. Just let that happen and everything will be fine.’ So that’s my biggest takeaway from the similarities between the two.”
(I wanted to get your thoughts on getting the chance to play with WR Tyreek Hill again and maybe this being different perhaps with you being more of a factor in the offense than you were with the Chiefs?) – “Any time you get to be on the field with Tyreek, it’s a blessing. Somebody that just blows the top off of defenses and creates separation to allow other people to get open and show what they can do, it’s always going to be a great environment to be in. I’m excited to get back being around him, and also pick his brain for the game. Tyreek is a goofball all the time, but that’s also another intelligent player. So it’s great to be around guys like that where you can just constantly grow.”
(I wanted to ask you about Head Coach Mike McDaniel and you touched on his personality, but I wanted to know how much of his personality influenced you coming here because I know usually with a player, it’s opportunity and then maybe money but did Mike McDaniel’s personality have much with you coming here?) – “Of course. Everybody wants to go play for someone they feel like they can relate to in a sense. Like everybody wants to be able to laugh but then take serious when it’s time to take serious, but not be too serious to the point where it’s like ‘we’re like this all day.’ Everybody wants to be in a comfortable environment where not only you can learn, but you can excel and I feel like this does just that.”
(I wanted to ask a little bit about you spending the past few years as a teammate of one of the all-time greats at tight end in Travis Kelce. What was it like sharing the meeting room with him? How much did you use him to just learn the position and get advice? And was there a time where you kind of saw maybe you had to move on in order to show what you can do?) – “Let me just tell you, Travis Kelce is my favorite teammate of all-time. On any level – Pop Warner, high school, college – Travis Kelce is my favorite teammate. It’s not only because he took his time trying to teach me the role of being a tight end, but just because of how great of a person he is. He didn’t have to. Anybody could be like ‘Nah, this kid is good. He might got what it takes.’ But he didn’t give me that attention, not to me but to anybody in the tight end room or the receiver room. He just showed unconditional love and knowledge for the game. Being in the room with Kelce, it definitely set me forward, lightyears of where I would have been had I not had him. Arguably having the greatest of all-time in that room, being able to learn and see how he’s attacking different routes and why he views coverage like this and how he’s able to find the holes in different stuff. You’re not able to get that unless you’re with somebody that knows that. So being in the room with Kelce these last few years have been an extraordinary blessing to my game. As far as even taking patience from the game, like I used to be rushing my routes and stuff, but going to Kelce’s house, he’d be like, ‘You can slow it down. Every route doesn’t have to be 100 miles an hour. You can kind of play with a tempo. You can kind of maneuver it a little bit.’ There’s a lot of different nuances of the game that I learned from Kelce in my time in Kansas City, that I’m forever grateful for.”
(Was there one piece of advice that especially stood out or maybe something Travis Kelce said as you were leaving Kansas City, that kind of stuck with you?) – “There’s so much information. So much stuff that Kelce said that sticks with you. I would just say the biggest thing is just be you. Be who you are. Then everything that’s for you will come to you. Just be you.”
Siran Neal – March 14, 2024
Download PDF version
Thursday, March 14, 2024
CB Siran Neal
(How would you describe your approach to special teams?) – “I’m very passionate about it. And me, logistically, a lot of guys on special teams don’t really get praise for what they do. One thing I know is special teams is really huge when it comes to the NFL games. Special teams play can either win a game or lose a game. That’s one thing I know about it. And that’s on every phase. Like pinning the ball where it needs to be for the offense or defense to get set up to be successful.”
(What do you know about Special Teams Coach Danny Crossman?) – “Danny is my boy. I had Danny my rookie year when I came in with Buffalo. Danny is really a passionate coach too as well. He really loves the game. He really loves being that coach and really loves his players. That’s one thing that me and Danny over the years, we kept in contact and kept a close relationship through this whole process. Every time we played him, like I told him yesterday, I always wanted to make him smile and see what he’s going to say at the end of the game. That’s one thing that I took under my sleeve. I knew every time I played him, he was going to give me his best and I was going to give him my best.”
(You’re from Alabama. What was life growing up in Alabama and when did you realize you wanted to play in the NFL?) – “Most people don’t see it, but I went to high school in Alabama but I’m mostly from Fort Gaines, Georgia, so I really have to claim both sides because half of my life I was in Georgia through seventh grade and the other half I was in Alabama. It’s pretty much the same because it’s right across the water, right across the bridge. Growing up in Alabama, it’s really country. But it’s tough. It’s tough love. One thing people don’t know about the country is it’s really a lot of competition. It’s tough growing up in the country. It taught me about life and it taught me how to attack life and not let life attack me. It made me who I am today.”
(As far as the experience, what went into your decision to sign with the Dolphins?) – “The decision to sign with the Dolphins – basically with the NFL, it can be a little tricky. It’s all built off relationships. Coming from Buffalo, I love Buffalo, shoutout to Buffalo for everything they gave me throughout the past six years. It furthered our relationship. Just getting the opportunity to come down and talk to Danny (Crossman) about everything, he was more excited to have me than I’ve ever seen before. When I came through the door, his face lit up. That’s one thing he did as soon as I walked into the door. I just knew he saw me that he was happy to see me. He did everything in his will power to have me. That’s one thing I loved about it. Once I saw that, I knew if he would go to war for me, when it’s time for the kickoff or it is time for the season to start or even during OTAs when we have to report back, I’m going to do whatever I have to do to fight for him.”
(Wanted to get your thoughts on going from the team that’s dominated the AFC East for the past several seasons to the team that’s trying to end that run.) – “I’m very excited. I’ve definitely been on the other side for the past six years, and winning that title up there. On the other side now, it’s time to work to try to get that division down in South Florida. And that’s one thing that I’m up for. I’m up for the challenge. With Buffalo, they’re a really good team. They have a really good staff, great players, great coaching. When that time comes in the season, I’m pretty sure me and the guys will be prepared. It’ll be a tough game and all, but it will be a really good game and I’m looking forward to it.”
(Your thoughts on being reunited with S Jordan Poyer?) – “My dog ‘Po.’ ‘Po dog!’ Man, I’m really excited. He’s fired up too. He called me probably like three minutes before I had to get on the Zoom call and I couldn’t pick it up. But we’ve been on the phone the last two, three days or whatever with the whole thing. When it happened, when we got released, we both texted each other, checked on each other. That’s my brother, man. We’ve been really close since I got there in Buffalo and he took me under his wing as a rookie. I came in and didn’t really know much of the game. But Poyer, I remember he pulled me to the side in the room – I got a little frustrated two to three weeks in, in OTAs when I first was a rookie – and he was like, ‘Dude, calm down man. Look around, you’re one of the most athletic guys on this team. Things that I can’t do, you can. You’re big, you’re fast, you’re strong, you’re coachable. Just take it and start loving the game. Just love it for the moment and watch what happens. You just don’t know how long you’re going to be in the league.’ And that moment there, look at me now. Seven years later, we’re still on the same team from Buffalo to here. One thing about me and ‘Po,’ and I’m not even going to make this about me, I’m going to say this about ‘Po’ man, he’s really competitive. He’s competitive as hell. He’s just like me. He hates to lose. I hate to lose. We work for everything we got. Nothing comes easy. Staying in Buffalo, you have to have really tough skin. People hated to play in Buffalo. We loved to play in Buffalo. It was cold, and that was one thing we endured. Every time we stepped on that field, we stepped out there to win. That’s one thing that we’re going to bring to South Beach. Every time we step on that field, no matter the conditions – I’m pretty sure the conditions are going to be pretty good, nice weather – we’re going to step out there to win. We’re going to be out there together throughout this whole process, from OTAs to the time we kick off, we’re going to be behind each other and hopefully we get the guys behind us to keep this ball going. They have a great program down there. And adding me and Poyer is going to make it pretty good, pretty interesting.”
(Have you been in touch with CB Tre’Davious White at all? How’s he doing? The Dolphins need a cornerback too.) – “Tre, right now during this whole process – I think he didn’t go about (free agency) like me and ‘Po. Tre has been doing a lot of rehab lately with his Achilles tear. Tre got thick skin. When he comes back wherever he goes, I’m telling you watch out. Tre is really – you guys know, you guys have playing us for years man. Tre’s really a dawg too. That’s one thing that we all got. We’re dawgs. Throughout this whole process, I haven’t contacted him yet. He’s still dealing with the Achilles and training and all that. I’m sure every day he is waking up, he’s attacking his training. I haven’t talked to him yet but I’m pretty sure he’s excited to get going to wherever he’s going to be.”
(With regard to physicality, it seemed to me Buffalo is a very physical team. It seemed like that physicality was always a factor against the Dolphins. How much of a factor was physicality in Buffalo’s game? And how do you apply physicality toward a victory in the NFL?) – “I would say the physicality went a long way. It was all about punching somebody in the mouth before they punch us in the mouth. And if they did punch us in the mouth first, it was about how we got up and attacked it. That’s one thing that me and Poyer instilled into ourselves. No matter the situation, it’s going to be a long game. From the beginning to the end, you have to continue to attack it. Being physical is one thing that I bring to the game. I don’t mind the physicality. I just know on my side, I had a lot of guys on the other teams and even for Danny (Crossman), I had a lot of double teams. I had a lot of guys attacking me. I had a lot of guys walling me off. I never knew what I was going to get, but I just knew as long as I kept my ability to keep my speed and be physical throughout the whole process that we were going to come out successful. Sometimes when people get hit in the mouth, they don’t know how to get up. They get confused. But one thing about us up in Buffalo is there was no confusion. It was ok, cool, you want to fight? We’re going to give you a fight. From finish to the end, that’s one thing that we put upon people. We’re going to see how you act when we punch you in your mouth. Once we did that, a lot of guys and a lot of teams backed off after a while. That’s one thing that South Florida has now with me and Poyer. We’re really physical. When the time comes, we’re really going to show it. We’re excited just to be here.”
(You’re going to learn in about seven or eight months that weather is a big thing for the media and for the Dolphins fans. So you’re from the south, how long did it take you to get used to the weather up in Buffalo? And once again, how is weather going to factor in an NFL game?) – “Weather is a huge factor. Getting adjusted to Buffalo, it took a little second. But you have to have love for the game and not care about the weather conditions. Understand that there are going to be conditions and weather wherever you go – there are going to be ups and downs. But it’s all about your mindset and how you battled to get through those times like that. Just going from Buffalo to South Florida, yesterday when I was down there to sign, it was warm. I had a hoodie on when I came down there. (laughter) People were like, take that hoodie off, you’re in South Florida now. Welcome to South Florida. But the thing is for me, I’m from Georgia. Sometimes even when it’s a little warm outside, I have a hoodie on. I love hoodies. But the weather conditions, it’s not a factor to me. It’s a non-factor. I don’t really care what the weather is like. I just understand throughout the game that it’s going to be ups and downs. If the weather plays a factor, you have to get through it. With me, I’m a gunner. I’m on kickoff. The wind and the weather is always affecting me. Always. Where’s the ball going to go? How far is the ball going to go? How short will it fall? I was always alert when it comes to weather. I was always alert of the weather before I got to the game. I was always aware of all that. With all that being said, I was prepared for it. Being in South Florida, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be hot, which is cool with me. It can’t be worse than Buffalo, because Buffalo was really, really cold. The wind was a factor. You’d have 20 mile per hour winds sometimes and just knowing the whole situation before you approach the game will help you out big time.”
(You mentioned the mentality that you guys took in Buffalo about playing in the cold. In Miami, it’s mostly nice weather like you said, but also early in the season it’s really hot. Like brutally hot. Can you bring that same mentality to that atmosphere early in the year and what do you remember about playing the Dolphins in really hot and humid weather coming from up north?) – “I remember two years ago when we played them down there, it was really, really hot the whole time. I feel like it was certain situations in that game where we lost. I feel like, yeah, it was hot, but we battled through pretty well. But we also battled through a lot of injuries that game too as well, if you guys can remember. Honestly, it’s really a non-factor to be honest. I’m going to be down there from April through the whole time. But the thing is, I stay in Georgia. It gets really hot here too. It doesn’t get as hot as there but it gets really hot. The thing is staying hydrated, staying up on your electrolytes and staying up on things that you need to eat throughout the whole week and approaching the game to stay on top of the effects of the sun. It’s really not going to be a factor. The approach to it is like, it’s the sun. Just enjoy the weather. It could be a lot worse. You could be in Buffalo where it’s cold and stuff. (laughter) I’m pretty sure I’m going to enjoy playing in the sun.”
(I read that you have a 40.5-inch vertical. What’s it like up there?) – “It’s enjoyable. (laughter) It’s very enjoyable. That’s one thing that I have done over the years is being very explosive. Explosive off the ball, explosive when I’m coming off the ball like at gunner, explosive when I’m on kickoffs. That’s one thing that I bring to the game is you will see and you guys can see very soon that I’m very explosive. With that being said, on special teams, that’s really, really affective. You can get a really good jump on guys being like that and that’s one thing I use, my explosiveness, to attack other people. I feel like if you can take one or two steps and you pass guys, you’ve won the battle already.”
(You are coming to a team that’s looking to break a playoff win drought. I’m curious what your experience in Buffalo in the postseason has taught you about what it takes to succeed in the playoffs?) – “Being in Buffalo, the thing is like you can’t wait until it gets here. You can’t wait until it gets here. The time is now. It starts now. It starts in the offseason. It starts when the team gets back in OTAs. It starts with the competitive nature throughout the OTAs. It starts where the team’s bonding. It starts there. It starts right there. I feel like with me and ‘Po’ (Jordan Poyer) joining the crowd, they already had a really good team. You got Tyreek Hill, you got (Jaylen) Waddle, you got Tua (Tagovailoa). We had Xavien Howard but he’s gone now. You got Jalen Ramsey. You got a lot of guys down there that are going to help win. Just adding me and ‘Po,’ adding me on the special teams side and adding ‘Po’ on the defensive side is really going to bring a tremendous spark to the team. One thing that me and ‘Po’ know how to do is we know how to bring it to somebody. One thing about us is we’re going to do it early. We’re going to do it really early. We’re not going to wait until the preseason. We’re not going to wait until the season kicks off. The time is now and the time is to go in with the team and get close with the team, team bond, get the guys on the same page. It’s definitely a team process throughout this whole thing to get this thing started. Now being in South Florida, we have the team to do that. We just know that, like I talked to the head coach (Mike McDaniel) yesterday, the coolest man on the planet. One of the coolest. Man, he’s so funny. He’s a great dude and to have a great dude in the head office can go a long way. It’s just like the spark and having fun throughout the whole process before you get there. And once you approach to the game and once you get to the game, you know that you can come out successful because it’s what you prepared for. Once you prepare for a lot of things and you work at a lot of things, a lot of things come to life. That’s one thing about me. I don’t want nothing given to me. I don’t want anything given to me. I like to take it. I just know it’s going to be a huge challenge to go from up there to down there. They’re a really good team. It’s going to be a challenge. It’s going to be a good game when it comes. But it starts now. It starts now. It’s time to work. It’s time to go to work. I’m excited to go to work. I’m excited for the opportunity. I thank the Dolphins and Fins nation for welcoming me in. The time is now. Once it starts off and when it kicks off in a couple weeks, from that to the time the season ends, we’re going to really work for it. No matter the ups and downs, there’s always going to be ups and downs, we’re going to pick up each other. We’re going to pick up all our brothers. Nobody is better than nobody and we understand that we’re all in this thing together. Once we do all that and we team bond and we come together, I’m pretty sure we’re going to get a lot done.”
Jordyn Brooks – March 14, 2024
Download PDF version
Thursday, March 14, 2024
LB Jordyn Brooks
(I have to start off by asking you, 184 tackles in one season. How does a guy compile that many tackles in one season and how many times do you wake up on a Monday morning feeling like you were in a car wreck?) – “Yeah, that’s every Monday morning after the game. I don’t know. I think it just comes from having instincts, being able to see the ball, willing to make certain tackles and just hustling. I think that’s one of the parts of my game that has been with me since I started playing, just always being around the ball and hustling, playing hard.”
(Can you walk us through your free agency? It was obviously brief, but how many teams were involved? Why the Dolphins? Was this a team that was always on your radar? How did it come about?) – “There were a few other teams. I think it was just the best situation as far as being on a winning team, a team that I thought was trending upwards and a team that I felt like could use my services, playing middle linebacker. So I think all those things played a role in it. Obviously, the coaching staff that they have here and what they’re trying to get done. All those things were attractive to me so I think that’s pretty much why I chose here.”
(I don’t know how much you talk to Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald earlier on, but did he tell you anything about Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver?) – “Yeah, I actually talked with Anthony Weaver. Knowing that he came from Baltimore and they had a lot of success last year in the things that they were doing, it was obviously another reason why I came. Knowing his track record and him having the opportunity to be defensive coordinator here, I think it was just why not, honestly.”
(I got a couple of things to ask you and they pertain to your rapid return from the ACL injury. No. 1, what was the key to your rapid return? Was it good biological, was it just good genetics or was it more of a mental mindset? How did you return so quickly? Eight months, I believe it was.) – “It was just praying, honestly. It wasn’t nothing I did. I did the normal rehab protocol all week, but I think it was just God honestly healing in me in the manner that he did. I didn’t think I’d come back that fast, but God’s timing is the perfect timing, so I tell everybody the same thing. I just prayed about it and put my head down and God, he blessed it. I think that’s the only answer I can give you as far as how I made the comeback.”
(And you may or may not know that LB Bradley Chubb is recovering from an ACL injury. I’m not asking you to comment on his recovery. Do you think it’s possible that players can come back as quickly as you did and be as effective as you did or do you consider yourself an exception?) – “No, I don’t consider myself an exception. I just think it’s whatever God’s plan is for that person in particular. Honestly, I just think it is whatever God has planned out for that person. I don’t think it’s just me that can come back in the manner of time that I came back. It’s anybody.”
(I see you had like six games last year where you had double digits in tackles. Can you just touch on the physicality aspect mentally that you plan to bring to this team?) – “I just think that’s my game. It’s the way that I play. Physical. I play fast. I think what I do can be impactful for this team and also still grow. I’ve really only been in the league for three years. I’ve been in the league four years, but really just been a starter for three years, so I just feel like I’m going upwards, and so I’m excited for this opportunity here and the ability and the attributes that I bring to the game.”
(Going back to your rookie season, you played alongside Bobby Wagner. Just can you just touch on the relationship that you had with him and some things that you learned from him early on?) – “He was like a big brother to me and I think I got in the perfect situation to be able to learn under him and learn some routine things and how to prepare throughout the week to get myself ready to play an NFL game. And then all the off the field type of things. It was great learning under him and playing beside him.”
(What have you already learned about the responsibilities that the specific role that you’ll be playing in this scheme, like how do they align? What are some of the things you’ve learned about that?) – “To be honest, we haven’t went over that as much. I think there’s still some things they’re trying to figure out scheme-wise and personnel-wise, so I don’t have much information to give you on that right now.”
(And everybody likes a big hit. Sometimes they say they’re taking big hits out of the game, but I know you’ve had some big hits. What is that like for you where you’re able to execute a big hit?) – “I think it brings excitement to the game. You don’t always get that opportunity in a game because a lot of guys are not going to just let you flat out hit them like that, so you’ve got to catch guys when you can. But whenever those opportunities come, I think it’s exciting. It brings excitement to the game and I think it brings the juice up on the sidelines and the players that are on the field with you, and so it definitely brings a lot of excitement to the game and I think it’s why fans love football, honestly.”
(I saw a video showing you fired up on the Seahawks sideline one game last year, really giving it to your teammates. Can you just explain the kind of intensity you bring to the game for those unfamiliar with you?) – “I’m a passionate football player. I love the game. That’s all I’ve done my whole life, so when I go out and play, I’m trying to win. I think the clip that you’re talking about, I wasn’t yelling at anybody, I was just trying to pick our spirits up on the sideline. I think we were down by a couple touchdowns in that game, and I just felt it was necessary to gather everybody up and try to pick guys up. There are highs and lows in the game, so I think what y’all saw was just my passion and love for the game and how bad I want to win.”
(Also you were in the NFC West for a while with CB Jalen Ramsey. What are your thoughts on his game, getting to watch him in those matchups and now the opportunity to be in the same defense as him?) – “I think everybody knows about him. (He is) a great football player, also a man of faith from what I can see. I think he’s a tremendous football player that I’ve watched, played against and now get to play with, so I’m excited for this opportunity.”
(I wanted to get your thoughts on being reunited with a former Texas Tech teammate WR Erik Ezukanma and your recollections of playing with him at Tech? And also I don’t know if you ever had any interactions during your time there with Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker at times, I guess, maybe when he went back on campus?) – “Yeah, it’ll be fun reuniting with him. It’s always good to have ex-teammates that you get to reunite with and also a fellow Texas Tech Red Raider with Wes Welker. So that’s pretty cool to be able to be in the same organization with these guys, knowing that we came from the same school.”
(How much are you enjoying the idea of going into a conference now where the guy to beat is yet another former college teammate? Of course, I’m talking about Patrick Mahomes.) – “Oh yeah, I’m excited for that opportunity as well. I played with him my first year there. It really was a big reason why I even went to Texas Tech. It’ll be fun to get to play against him and compete against him.”
(Tell me about how you became a Christian and what it means to you? How does it help you in football and in life?) – “I don’t know when I became (a Christian). I think it was just kind of how I was brought up, brought up in church. There’s a bible verse that says, ‘You bring up a child in the way he should go, and when he’s older, he won’t depart from it.’ I think I’m a living testimony of that, just being brought up in the church, so I think it’s always just been a part of me. I think it just goes hand in hand with everything I’m trying to do. I’m trying to be successful in my career, and that starts with God first, so I think everything flows through that.”
(You are a first-round pick. Obviously that’s a goal of any college player. You fought your way back from a serious ACL injury and still had a productive career and productive seasons as a starter. What is next for you in your career in terms of things that you want to accomplish?) – “I want to win a Super Bowl, and I want to help this team do that. Everything personally, I have my individual goals, but those things come secondary, and they will come as the team success comes. So I think my biggest goal is to win a Super Bowl.”
(What do you feel is the attribute that you bring most to a defense?) – “Explosiveness. I think I said in another interview that I personally think I’m one of the fastest guys in the NFL, not linebackers, but players period. I think my explosiveness is just a God-given ability that I feel is probably my best attribute.”
(There are a lot of fast people on this team. They might want to race you with that statement, though.) – “I’m ready, man.”
Jonnu Smith – March 13, 2024
Download PDF version
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
TE Jonnu Smith
(You’ve been in offenses that had RB Derrick Henry, a sledgehammer running back. Last year your Atlanta team had four 50-reception receivers. What do those options do for a passing game?) – “Obviously, you’ve got versatility, like you explained just now. Ultimately, you’ve got different guys with the ability to make plays with the ball in their hands and to make plays when the ball comes their way. Obviously what that does is put stress on the defense. So any time you have an opportunity to add guys who are dynamic in the passing game and to be able to create a group, you can do a lot of damage in this league, man. That’s part of the reason why I’m here.”
(I know your receiving game is pretty diverse. Are there one or two situations where you think you’re best, whether it’s goal line, short yardage, red zone?) – “During my career – I’ve been playing this game a long time. You can pull up film of me making plays from anywhere on the field. I think that as a pass catcher in this league, in order for you to be one of the top guys in whatever your respective position is, you’ve got to be able to make plays from anywhere on the field. That’s just something that I pride myself on and making sure that I’m an every-down player. You can use me in any situation.”
(What were some of the factors that made the Dolphins the right choice now?) – “That list is endless. I guess I’ll start with the opportunity to go and win a world championship. I think that adding me to this offense and to this system and to this team ultimately, I can be a solution to helping us now get to where we want to go. There’s obviously still a lot of work that needs to be put in. There’s obviously still a lot in front of us, but I just saw that vision and I thought it was a great opportunity.”
(How much did you know about Head Coach Mike McDaniel and QB Tua Tagovailoa before this process and how important were they in your decision making?) – “I guess I’ve got to give it to Hard Knocks, man. Hard Knocks told me a lot. Hard Knocks was a big help in helping me make my decision.”
(What in particular?) – “(laughter) In all seriousness, man, I actually watched it this offseason. I was late watching it. But it was the offseason, so I was like, you know what, I’m going to kick back and see what these guys are about. So I cut it on and kind of just caught myself binge-watching. I’m like, man, that would be a special group to be a part of. All of these guys from Mike McDaniel, Chris Grier, everybody in this building and the front office collectively made it happen. Obviously, everything happened on our end as well. This is home for me. At the end of the day, that also was a huge factor in me being here. And I’m just excited to be able to play for a city in which I live, which my family lives and be able to represent the city of Miami once again.”
(I wanted to ask you a little bit more about your new quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. Have you met him? What have you seen in his game that is appealing to you?) – “I haven’t had the opportunity to meet him face to face yet. But I’m sure, trust me, we’ve got a lot of time that we’re going to be spending together. But just looking at Tua on paper, he’s got it. In my eyes, I think he’s one of the top quarterbacks in this league. I think he’s one of, if not the most, accurate quarterback in this league. And that’s just from me watching from the outside in. Now that I’m actually here, I’m sure I’ll get to see that firsthand. He’s a great player, a great leader. I’ve had a lot of respect for his game since he played at Alabama. Just seeing him play, he was always a fun guy to watch play and I’m excited to catch some passes from him now.”
(What are your thoughts on being a tight end in an offense that has the kind of wide receiver speed the Dolphins have with WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle?) – “Yeah, you smile from ear to ear. That’s going to create a lot space. Those two speed guys, some of the fastest guys in the NFL, if not the fastest. That’s just going to cause so much havoc to the defense. To be able to use those guys to my advantage, those guys are going to be able to open up space. And likewise, me as well, just adding another pass-catching element to this offense and being able to get those guys open more. We’re all going to make each other better, all going to play off each other. And ultimately, I’m sure those guys are team guys. I’m a team guy. I think it’ll just be a great fit. I’m excited and looking forward to it.”
(How does it feel to be back in the city where you played your college ball? What memories do you have from FIU?) – “Oh man, yeah it’s literally right up the road. I remember stepping on campus at 17 years old not knowing nothing, kind of growing into my own, growing into a man during my four years at FIU. Obviously it holds a special place in my heart always because just the friendships that were built, the relationships from my teammates, coaches, staff. Some of those guys are still around. That’s college man. Those four years are arguably the most memorable four years of anyone’s life who get to experience that. For me, to have the opportunity to come back and literally you go a little farther south and that’s where I used to lay my head at night before practice in the morning, before class in the morning. There’s definitely some emotional ties there always. I’ll be super supportive of those guys throughout this season while I’m here, and I’m sure they’ll be super supportive of me. I’m looking forward to it. There’s a lot of great things that can come from this. I’m just soaking it all up.”
(I want to ask you about two aspects of your game that you can contribute to this team, both your YAC, yards after catch, and also abilities in the red zone, and how you feel those two things can add to this offense?) – “Yeah, just adding a physical element to that passing attack. Everybody when you look at the game, you kind of see pass catchers as flashy and highlights, but you have to be able to bring a physical presence as well to inflict your will on opponents and be able to, when it’s the fourth quarter and guys are tired and it’s late in the year, Week 13, 14, teams don’t want to tackle. That’s where we feast. I’m excited about my fit in this offense, my role in this offense, and the sky is the limit on what we’re going to be able to do. And obviously off the field as well, going into year eight now, obviously I’ve been around a long time. I’ve seen a lot of football, learned a lot, know a lot. Obviously there’s still a lot to learn. I’m never oblivious to the fact that we always have to continue to learn and get better ourselves no matter how much wisdom we’ve acquired over the years. But to be able to bring the leadership aspect to this team as well, it’s something that I’m holding myself accountable to as well.”
(What advice would you give to younger players in the league, especially those navigating free agency or changing teams?) – “It’s the NFL, anything can happen. It’s a business at the end of the day. To us, we just want to look at it as a game, but unfortunately, you’ve got the front offices of these different organizations that you have to deal with ultimately, so it becomes not so much of a game. You’ve got to kind of set your emotions aside. Man, listen, these decisions can get tough. Some guys may have to change situations or roles or whatever it may be, but ultimately you have to do what’s best for you and do what’s best for your family. Obviously, it’s not an easy process, but this is the NFL, man. Anybody would give so much up to be in our position, and it may not be easy going from team to team, that’s tough on some guys – you always want stability in any situation that you’re in, but soak it all in and wear it as a badge of honor. Not a lot of people get to play this game for a long time. I’m very grateful to be a part of this amazing league and organization, going on eight years now. It seems like yesterday when I came in here my rookie year and was trying to learn from these older guys and trying to just gain some knowledge any way that I can. So just for me to be that guy now that’s giving out wisdom, giving out knowledge to these younger guys, it’s a testament to how fast time can fly.”
(Can you touch on the Nu Family Foundation? How excited are you to contribute in the community with your foundation?) – “The Nu Family Foundation, this is a humungous organization that I get to actually be able to touch the city in which I’m playing in a little bit more, and be a little bit more hands-on because I’m here all year round now. We have a lot of great ideas with my Nu Family Foundation team, with my wife leading the charge. We want to continue to impact the community and impact the youth in the best way possible. I’m looking forward to that opportunity in the city of Miami tremendously.”
Page 1 of 11
