Terron Armstead – January 11, 2023
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Wednesday, January 11, 2023
T Terron Armstead
(Before we start the questions, there’s a reason that they asked you to come in here. At the end of each season, the media covering the Dolphins give out something we call the Good Guy Award. It goes to the player who has best exhibited professionalism and courtesy toward the media, which is the most important part of your job. [laughter] This year, I have to say, as you know, it’s a good locker room and there’s a lot of competition for that coveted prize, more coveted than MVP. But anyway, you not only explain in detail the intricacies of playing offensive line and what this line has gone through, but you’ve fielded very patiently about 500 questions on injuries this year and dealt with it all. So we took a vote, and yes, indeed, congratulations. [hands him the Good Guy Award] So we thank you and congratulate you.) – “I appreciate it.”
(It really helps us share what we need to with the fans, and that’s obviously the most important thing.) – “I appreciate it. I appreciate you guys, for sure – 100 percent. So I’m done? (laughter)”
(Does that go in your display case? That’s the question.) – “Yes, it is. This thing is nice. I appreciate it.”
(I’m writing something on the offensive line, so what I would like to know is can you tell me about the personalities in that room? They tell me you’re like the coach on the field. OL Robert Jones and OL Robert Hunt are probably the funniest guys. OL Liam Eichenberg might be the most serious. OL Connor Williams can get off a funny line every now and then. But identify the characters in that room – who’s the most intense? Who’s the funniest?) – “It’s a mixed bag, for sure. Rob Hunt is probably the funniest guy on the team. A huge personality. Rob Jones, he might be runner up in that category. Connor (Williams) is pretty serious. Connor is pretty serious. Liam (Eichenberg) is unique in a lot of ways. He’s like older than his age. But we’ve got a lot of mixed personalities but all really good guys, great guys in that room.”
(When you consider everything that you guys have been through, the injuries and the switching and all of that kind of stuff, what does it tell you about the toughness, the dedication, the professionalism of maybe overcoming obstacles that are in that room?) – “That we’ve got the right guys. We’ve got the right guys. This league is tough, man. It’s a 100 percent injury rate, so more than likely there will be changes to the lineup in the course of a season. The importance is having that depth, staying ready, dual training, which is extremely difficult to do. We have guys that have done an exceptional job at many different spots. Even Rob Hunt having a Pro Bowl season at right guard switching out to right tackle last week. Those things should not be taken for granted. That’s really difficult to do.”
(Do you expect to be able to play Sunday?) – “I’m working. I’m working around the clock, man, to try to do everything I can. I’ve been dealing with quite a bit this season as you guys know. It’s been a battle. It’s been challenging, but I’m not wavering at all. I want nothing more than to be out there with my guys in Buffalo on Sunday. It is not anything I wouldn’t check off to do that, so if I’m able to be functional – for me, it’s not a pain thing. I can deal with any type of pain. It’s the function of the muscle and things around it. If it’ll hold up and I can go, I’m going.”
(What specific – I know you’re on the injury report with a lot of things. What’s specifically?) – “Right, I have a grocery list on the injury report, right? (laughter) It’s crazy.”
(This is why you’re a good guy.) – “A lot of it came from the foot injury Week 1. The body being such a machine and too smart at times, you get into compensation with muscles starting to shut down and start to affect other things. So like I’ve been dealing with my right leg really. So just trying to get everything to a point of strength and function, and then if I can push and I can drive, I’m going.”
(How do you view this season from a personal standpoint? On the one hand, you’ve got all the injuries. On the other hand, you helped the Dolphins make the playoffs in your first year after they signed you as a free agent. How do you balance those two kind of?) – “It’s been great, man. It’s been great. It’s been a blessing. The wins, the losses – you love the wins, you learn from losses, any experience, and I can’t complain about anything. I play this game for a living. I try to play at a high level. I put together a Pro Bowl, All-Pro campaign even dealing with injuries. I could have gotten surgery Week 1 and been done. Against advisement, we locked in and suited up. It’s been great, man, just being around these guys, this new environment, new team, new city. I wouldn’t – I can’t see it as anything less than great. It’s a blessing.”
(Would you have been done for the season had you opted for surgery Week 1?) – “Yeah.”
(You’ve been through it this time of year with teams of the past that you’ve been on. Outside of a few of the other new veterans, not a lot of playoff experience on this team. How can you kind of impart your wisdom to younger guys at this time of year?) – “I mean, those details just become even more prevalent right now. Those details are everything in a playoff game. You’ve played 17 or 18 games, running your system, the style of play you want to play. Now it’s all the small intangibles that can advance you or send you home. Things that we were winning in spite of, we start losing because of. So we’ve got to start – I think we’ve done a really good job these last couple of weeks locking in on a lot of those things from penalties, alignment issues, misassignments in identification, communication, all those things that we still found a way to win, and we started to lose because of those things, we’ve got to lock in on them and get them corrected. The beauty of this is we’re all at the same slate. We all are 0-0 in this tournament. Anything can be happen.”
(What was your assessment of how QB Skylar Thompson played on Sunday?) – “I think Skylar (Thompson) played extremely well. He played smart, didn’t turn the ball over. That’s kind of biggest thing, especially going into the playoffs. Turnovers will send you home, for sure. I think he was getting into more and more of a groove as the game went on. The run game helped out a lot too, and I think it will be better for him moving forward.”
(As a veteran receiving this particular award, what might you tell some of the younger guys, if it ever came up in the locker room or the cafeteria, about what potential benefits there actually might be having an open communicative relationship with us folks?) – “I think – for me, it boils down to respect. I respect every single person I walk by and come in contact with. I respect their job. I respect them as a person, whatever walk of life they’ve been through. They might have kids. Their parents might – you never know when you could cross paths with somebody at one point and meet again 10 years later in a different area or juncture in your life. So to me, it just comes down to respect, and it’s simple. Treat people with how you want to be treated, and that’s with the utmost respect.”
(This is Pro Bowl No. 4 for you. Does this possibly mean a little bit more because it comes in your first year with a new team that went out and gave you a big contract in the offseason and you’ve obviously rewarded their faith in you?) – “I think it’s really cool getting the accolade, getting recognition from your peers, the fans, the coaches. Being a Pro Bowl starter in both conferences is nice. I definitely am proud of it and feel rewarded from it. But ultimately, the goal is always team driven, never personal.”
(Do you have any sense yet from talking to doctors if the toe, the knee, the hip or the pectoral will need surgery this offseason?) – “You could’ve just summed that all up. (laughter) No, I’m in the moment really. I’m in the moment. I’m not doing any season-ending evaluations or physicals, anything like that. We’re getting ready to play Sunday.”
(Based upon one-fourth of the team receiving votes for the Good Guy Award, what does it say about this team that there are so many guys that were a part of this voting?) – “Yeah, we’re getting the right people in the building. We’re getting the right people in the building. People that respect the game, respect how it’s played and all the nuances of it on and off the field. It’s important. It’s extremely important to have that in the locker room – guys that can articulate, communicate, show that respect through the ups and downs because we went through a five-game win streak, five-game losing streak. So to have so many guys up for an award like this speaks volumes to the team.”
(How much has missing the last two weeks helped you as far as progress and where you stand this week? Is there a measure that you can provide?) – “Not really. Not really. I’m focusing on winning today, really. Just trying to get better and see if I can go out and do my job and execute.”
(You’ve dealt with injuries in the past. Has this been maybe the most frustrating season having to deal with that?) – “I’ve dealt with a lot and have played and compensated, changed things in my game midseason. This one has been challenging because of the new system. So we’re all rookies. The whole offense, we’re rookies in a sense. So having an injury Week 1 that takes away some strengths for me – being able to use my speed, explosiveness, having to make some changes from the jump – it was challenging.”
(What kind of mindset goes into a guy who has to come back from injury after injury and you keep plugging away? What goes on inside your head?) – “Nobody cares, really. Like the film won’t be labeled ‘In this game, No. 72 had a toe, knee, pec, back, head, shoulders, knees and toes.’ (laughter) It won’t say that. So when we finish playing this game, that’s what we’ve got left – the film. The film won’t be labeled a certain way. I play out of respect for myself, my teammates. If I can do my job helping my teammates, I’m going.”
(So assuming you’re coming into next year fully healthy – don’t want to get too far ahead – but because you had to make so many changes to your game in even Week 1, you were a Pro Bowler this year. Could we be seeing a totally different Terron next year?) – “I’m locked in on today – Wednesday – trying to win this day and be out there Sunday.”
(What all have you been able to accomplish and get done off the field since coming to Miami, particularly with your community center?) – “My center just opened – we’re fielding some students right now. Not many, like eight students after school a couple days a week. That’s pretty much all the activity going on there. I’ve had a couple conversations with some organizations out here to partner with in the future. I’m still trying to find my lay of the land and figure out exactly the area that we want to focus in and be heavily involved in.”
(I’m curious if there’s anyone in your life that you kind of lean on during times of going through what you’re going through physically, but it’s obviously an emotional challenge, too? Is there anyone in particular that you have had a special relationship during this time with?) – “Maybe healthy or unhealthy, I internalize a lot. I keep a lot to myself and deal with whatever I’m dealing with. I have a physical therapist that stays with me and we work a few days a week, so we’re always trying to keep everything pliable. But my kids – if I had to lean on anyone, my kids. My twins, they take care of their dad.”
(Your physical therapist lives in your house?) – “Yeah, he comes in from Dallas.”
(During the season?) – “Yeah. Yeah. We’re not THAT close. (laughter) He isn’t just living with me year-round.”
(One other question since we have you. With everything going on with Damar Hamlin and in Buffalo and the way that community’s kind of rallied around Damar, what are you guys kind of expecting that environment to be like on Sunday especially now with him back in Buffalo discharged?) – “I think it’ll be special. I think it’ll be special. It was a great environment when we went up about a month ago. I’d say it was one of my most fun, most exciting games I’ve ever been a part of in my career. I’m so happy for Damar and his recovery. Watching that live, it was a wave of emotions really, playing the game for so long. I’m 31. I started when I was 5, so I’ve been playing for 26 years straight. So to see something like that, it definitely was breathtaking and sent prayers up for him. I’m still praying for him and happy to see his recovery. Those fans up there are intense and for real, so I expect nothing less.”
