Jay Ajayi – September 29, 2017
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Friday, September 29, 2017
RB Jay Ajayi
(Welcome back. How does it feel to be back in London?) – “It’s a great feeling. I got a phone call from my parents and family. They’re here today. It’s exciting to be on this side (of the ocean) with my whole family and the team. I’m really excited.”
(Are your boys going to come watch you on Sunday?) – “Yes. All of my family, friends, everyone that even knew me is probably hitting me up. They’re trying to get to the game. It’s been a really cool process so far.”
(How many ticket requests would you say you’ve had?) – “Over 30 to 40 right now.”
(How do you feel about your emoji?) – “The emoji, that was really cool to see that. I learned it from my little marketing team and everything that it was going to be happening. It was really cool and I’m pretty thankful for that.”
(Do you have a celebration planned for Sunday?) – “I have a few celebrations but I’ve got to get into the end zone first. (laughter)”
(Does being the poster boy for being this international game, does that put any more pressure on you? Or have you embraced it?) – “I think I’ve embraced it because at the end of the day, I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself to be successful. I think it’s just been a really cool thing to embrace and be that face for the NFL UK. It’s just about going on the field and doing what I always do and showcase it on Sunday.”
(How do you make sure that last week’s performance is not repeated? What’s different about what you saw this week in practice?) – “I think it just comes down to our offense starting off and setting the tone physically and then at the end of the day, execute; because when we went back through the week and looked at the stuff on tape, we didn’t execute and do the little details that will help us stay on the field longer and put points on the board. I think this week has been a premium to really focus on those little details, execute and come out with a better tone at the start.”
(On Arsenal F.C.) – “Yes, I’m hoping I can get some Arsenal mojo going.”
(You were here in 2015 as a rookie, right? How much different is it this time around with a much bigger profile than you had then?) – “Yes, coming in as a rookie, I still didn’t really know what my career was going to be in the NFL because I was on short-term ‘IR’ (injured reserve), so I wasn’t playing. I wasn’t really in the game but I was able to enjoy the whole experience of being here and being around my family. This time around, it’s a lot more serious because I’m in the game of course, playing. So it’s exciting for that, and just getting the opportunity to come back here and play at Wembley (Stadium). Not many people get that opportunity to come to Wembley and play and it’s such a special place, so I definitely don’t want to take that for granted, as well. So (I) just (want to) enjoy the whole experience.”
(How far do you think UK/London is from importing players to college football?) – “I think that you’re starting to see it grow a lot more. I think the Ravens have a kid (Jermaine Eluemunor) on their team that left England and went with his family and ended up at Texas A&M and started playing. I think that as you see more stories like that and you see more guys from Europe all around that are getting drafted, like a guy from Germany – Moritz Böhringer got drafted (by the Minnesota Vikings) as well – so I think as you see more stories like that, it’s inspiring people. I don’t think it’s very far away. I think they’re cultivating a lot of talent over here.”
(Do you think if you grew up in England that you’d be playing soccer?) – “I don’t know because at the end of the day, I was introduced to American football … You asked if I would be playing soccer? I don’t know. Probably. I’d definitely probably play soccer but I was introduced to American football in Texas and that was my whole showcase to the love of the game. Up until that point, all I really knew was soccer football. I don’t know. I probably would have been chasing that Arsenal shirt, trying to get on their (team) and hitting up (Arsenal Manager Arsène) Wenger. (laughter)”
(Obviously we all saw on this side of the Atlantic the league-wide reaction to President Trump’s remarks last weekend. Can I ask you what your take is on that? Is it something that you have discussed ahead of this week?) – “Yes, I mean the remarks were what they were. It definitely created waves all around the NFL and especially on our team. We discussed those things and our main focus was that whatever we decided, we showcased unity with each other and I think that we were able to do that last week.”
(We saw you wear the #ImWithKap shirt with the rest of your teammates. What was that about?) – “The shirt pretty much says it.”
(As a Brit going to America, can you tell us what America means to you having moved there when you were so young?) – “Yes, I mean it’s like my second home. I’ve been there longer of course; but I definitely attribute a lot of my life as well to being in the States. Just the experiences I had over there and also over here, just everything I went through over here, I think they’ve all kind of helped create who I am today.”
(Have you do decided what happens this week and going forward or was that a one week thing?) – “I think I’m going to decide that tonight.”
(How close do think London and the NFL are to having a franchise in London, and do you think it could be successful?) – “I think that London is not far away from it. I think that of course the fans are here for it. The games have been selling out, so that’s been huge. I think that if anything, the NFL is excited with what London’s appeal is, and I think that if there’s a place to go, I think London would definitely show up and accept a football team over here.”
(The team has traveled 15-16,000 miles roughly the first few weeks. How is your body taking that?) – “Yes, we’ve been taking a lot of trips. Frequent flyer miles are up, but we take it in stride. I feel like we’re a team that it is what it is. Wherever you want us to play, however the circumstances are, we’ll show up; and that kind of starts with my head coach’s mentality, Coach (Adam) Gase. That’s how we are. It is what it is. That’s what our schedule has been and the Saints, they don’t care that we’ve flown all the way, did all the other stuff, a hurricane. They’re just going to come out and play against us and so we can’t care either. We’ve got to go play.”
(Can you talk about going against that defense that’s coming off their best performance of the season and what kind of challenges they present to you guys this week?) – “Yes, it’s a good Saints team. They have a good defense. They played well last week and it is what it is. This is our matchup now and we have to really focus on ourselves at the end of the day, because we kind of shot ourselves in the foot last week. Really, we just need to work on making sure we execute how we know we can.”
(You guys have a Fan Fest tomorrow, is that right?) – “Yes, I think (on Regent Street).”
(Are you going to be there?) – “Yes, I’ll be there.”
(Do you have any other appearances this weekend or is that it?) – “I’ve got my YURP event today that’s going on, and that’s about it.”
(What is that?) – “For my lifestyle brand that I’ve been working on for quite some time. I’m starting it over here because just this is basically where the roots are from, and so it’s going to be pretty cool.”
(And where will that be?) – “That will be in Soho.”
(Players often say this is just another game, I’m going to look at this one like I look at all the other ones. Is that how you’re looking at this or is this kind of special?) – “I won’t lie, it’s a special game for me. This is the first time my three youngest siblings have ever been to London. They were all born in the States. My parents are in the same place watching me play for the first time in a little bit, before my family. And it’s in London. Last time I didn’t get to play and I get to come home. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to certain people, and so I definitely appreciate what’s going on and what the situation is. At the same time, I’m not going to let that distract me from my goal, which is to win the game and play well for my team; but I definitely am going to enjoy the experience and enjoy what is going on here because to be honest, it doesn’t … This is rare for me in a sense to have gotten this far and being here, it’s crazy. So this is pretty cool and I’m going to enjoy it.”
(On if he hopes fellow Brit and Saints DE Alex Jenkins will get a chance to get on the field.) – “Hopefully. Funny enough, I actually met Alex in Florida because he was training where I train, so I actually got to chat with him for a bit. It’s good to see that he’s still with the team. Hopefully they put him out there. We’ll see.”
