Raheem Mostert – January 10, 2024
Download PDF version
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
RB Raheem Mostert
(On winning the media’s Good Guy Award) – “First off, I appreciate you guys for giving me this. It means a lot just because in my life, I feel like through all the bad and negative things, there’s always positives in trying to do something, even the right thing. Whether it be football, off the field activities, talking to you guys, I feel like it’s important to get not only my story out there but many stories that are shared in the locker room and guys that are in position to share those stories. So I appreciate this, this definitely means a lot. I’m definitely going to cherish this moment with you guys, because like I said, you guys aren’t as bad as I thought. (laughter) I appreciate you. This is pretty cool though. This ‘Good Guy Award,’ I appreciate that. That’s awesome.”
(Does Head Coach Mike McDaniel sort of set a tone for transparency and honesty?) – “He tries everything in his power to make sure that all the guys are doing the necessary things. If you take a look at this year, I mean even last year when we came in, we just tried to do some things like team bonding and all that stuff, guys hosting events and guys actually popping up. I didn’t know how it was prior to the coaching staff or even me arriving, the second stint being here, but I will say that it’s very positive to know that guys are actually supporting each other, and even you guys supporting us too. I think that’s a big part of this thing.”
(So how are you doing?) – “I’m doing good. I’m doing good. Just got through a walkthrough. Feeling good. Still a decision that needs to be made, but the only thing that I can control is my mindset and how I approach this game, and I’m approaching it like it’s going to be my last one like everybody else. It’s a one game season. Just getting ready, getting prepared for that. We’ll see how it shakes out.”
(How difficult has it been for you as a competitor to not be available these past two games?) – “Yeah, it’s been very, very difficult. Just the mental restraint that you have to have in order to help your teammates, help my brothers out there on a different level, from a coaching aspect, it’s definitely a struggle. But all in all, you just live to fight another day. I guess that’s the mantra that you always hear. So for me, the playoffs, that’s where I feel like I thrive the most. It’s something that I try to exploit a lot of the defense and whatever they have going on. That’s something that I take pride in because December ball is different. January, February ball is completely different. I just try to take the approach of, ‘Hey, I’ve got to save myself for the playoffs.’ And that was the mentality that I had these past two weeks. Unfortunately, injuries happen. But all in all, that’s the mindset that I have.”
(I was watching Hard Knocks last night and it focused a lot on what LB Jerome Baker went through coming back from the knee and unfortunately having the wrist injury. It stood out to me because I think sometimes as media or fans, we kind of forget the toll the game takes on your guys’ bodies. Can you speak to that, especially knowing how much this team has dealt with injuries, guys missing games, being back in and back out?) – “This is a long season. It seems like every year there is a game that is added to the schedule. All and all, that’s a part of what we deal with on a consistent basis. There are some guys in this league that can stay healthy, and there are other guys that go through excruciating pain and have to deal with injuries that can linger on for a long time. For Jevon (Holland), he’s done an unbelievable job with his mindset. I was in there a few times with him getting treatment, and all he could talk about was getting back on the field. That’s something that he really harps on. For him to be able to do what he’s done, he’s one of the best safeties in the league, if not the best safety in the league. I definitely was shocked that he did not make the Pro Bowl. I feel like that was the wrong decision in trying to get him there because he’s playing lights out when he’s on the field. He’s doing uncharacteristic things of being a bandage on the defensive side of the ball. You see he’s flying around, he’s doing everything he possibly can to put his body on the line. You see why he was hurting and the pure tenacity he has, and him being a young guy, I really look up to him and his mindset because he’s approaching this game as if this is his last go around. And he’s only in year three. The guy is unbelievable. I have nothing but good things to say. I’m glad he is getting back right, and I’m hoping that he can join me out there on the field, and try to help win for the team and beat the Chiefs.”
(It might be -5 with -15 windchill, and 23 mph winds. How important is it to run the football in conditions like that?) – “You know me, I’m always advocating for running that ball. That’s something that I really believe in. But it’s good weather for running the ball. I’ve played in this type of weather at Purdue. I’m very familiar with it. I’m excited about the opportunity and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m assuming there is going to be snow, right?”
(25 percent.) – “Let’s keep it going up so we can get more. I’m excited about the opportunity. I can’t wait. It’s going to be a hostile environment. There are going to be a lot of good fans there. I’ve played in Arrowhead before and the fanbase is unbelievable there. With that being said, we still have to handle business at the end of the day.”
(You mentioned playoff football. Your best game was in the playoffs, four touchdowns to get the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Is there an extra mentality or oomph you have to bring into the postseason?) – “Yeah. For the postseason, I hate to say it, but it’s do or die. It’s a one-game season. If you have that mentality, it can carry you quite a bit a ways in the playoffs. You have to have some things that work out. The scheme has to be right. The play-calling has to be on point. Players have to make plays. Players have to do unconventional things to help with the success of the playoff run. There are a lot of different aspects that go into it, but you do have to have that dawg mentality when you’re going into the playoffs, because that’s the best of the best at that point.”
(How close do you think the locker room is to having that, especially coming off the two losses, and limping in here?) – “We have pure confidence in ourselves, and we believe in ourselves. We just got to go out there and play smashmouth football and do what we got to do. The added pressure converts into even more greatness when you get that win. It’s going to be good going into this game and getting that test. We got handled in Germany, and it wasn’t anything we just shunned away from. We took that full on. Now it’s time for us to go. We’re ready.”
(Is the ankle or the knee a little more challenging today?) – “No. We’re good.”
(Neither one is more of a challenge?) – “Nope, we’re good.”
