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Mike Gesicki – April 27, 2018 Download PDF version

Friday, April 27, 2018

TE Mike Gesicki

(Were you surprised to be taken by the Dolphins or did you have any hint that they were very interested in you?) – “I visited with them last week, so … This is honestly one of the most exciting moments of my life. I’m so excited to play down in Miami, get to work and know that I’m exactly where I belong.”

(What makes you feel that you’re exactly where you belong?) – “The people in that program, the people in that organization – Coach (Shane) Day, the tight ends coach, (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase. Everybody involved, they made it seem like home when I was down a couple of weeks ago. I’m so excited to get down there.”

(You’re regarded as a very good athlete and I know that you played volleyball. Can you talk about your athletic background and what makes you such an athletic tight end?) – “My history of playing sports – whether it be football, basketball, volleyball, running track in middle school – it’s all given me an opportunity to be where I am today and helped me to be the athlete I am today and the player on the field that I am. I’m just excited to get to work in this offense, because I know that with the weapons they have, with the quarterback they have in Ryan Tannehill, it could be something very exciting in Miami.”

(What do you feel is an area that you need to continue to work on to improve?) – “I definitely need to continue to improve my run blocking and all that kind of stuff. Obviously, my best attributes are in the pass game and I need to continue to develop on the other side; but it is something that I’m so excited about. I have great coaching there and I’m really excited just to get to work and do what I know I can do.”

(You have an opportunity to come in and start right away with this organization. Is that exciting for you? How does it feel?) – “Obviously, there’s going to be talented tight ends in that room and people that I’m excited to learn from, older guys to lean on and all of that kind of stuff. I’m just excited to get in there and surround myself with talented players, mature players, with guys that have been in my shoes and just get to work. It’s an unbelievable opportunity and I’m so excited.”

(What is it about Head Coach Adam Gase that appeals to you so much?) – “Just meeting with him a couple of weeks ago and just talking with him, he’s a young coach in this league and an up-and-coming coach in this league. Obviously, he was in Denver with Peyton Manning and had success with the tight end (Julius) Thomas back then. I’m just excited to be able to learn from him and be coached up by him and get to work.”

(How does your athleticism help you out on the field, whether it is running routes, high-pointing the ball or in the red zone? What does your athleticism do for you?) – “I think my athleticism is who I am on the field. It allows me to stretch the defense, it allows me to get up the field quickly, it allows me to high-point the ball. Playing tight end, playing receiver, playing the slot, playing on the line, it doesn’t matter where. (I) just (want to) get to work.”

(Can you paint a picture of where you are right now, who you’re with and what this moment is like?) – “I’ve been waiting for this moment, honestly, my entire life. To be here with the people that mean the most to me, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

(So the dream was always to be a tight end in the NFL?) – “The dream has always been to be a professional athlete. When I was growing up, I thought it was basketball. Then I got to high school and had the opportunity to really start playing football at a serious level and since then, (the goal has been) to get to where I am now; but this is only the beginning. This is honestly just another stepping stone moving forward.”

(I think that you and S Minkah Fitzpatrick are both New Jersey kids. Do you know each other at all? Do you ever cross paths?) – “Minkah is obviously a phenomenal talent and a guy that is going to be extremely successful for this organization and is also a Jersey guy, like myself. I’m excited to get down there with him. I was training at EXOS with him leading up to the combine. I’m just so excited.”

(You said you trained with S Minkah Fitzpatrick?) – “Yes, he was at EXOS in Pensacola, Florida.”

(What were your observations of S Minkah Fitzpatrick?) – “Obviously a great athlete, a great kid. He’s all business and is a great player.”

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