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Benardrick McKinney – March 18, 2021 Download PDF version

Thursday, March 18, 2021

LB Benardrick McKinney

(I just wanted to ask your reaction when you heard about the trade. Were you happy? And I guess there is a report that they’re trying to restructure your contract. Is that accurate and have you agreed to that?) – “I haven’t heard anything about restructuring my contract, but I am happy that the Dolphins organization has given me an opportunity to be here; and yes, I was shocked when that happened but that’s the nature of the game.”

(I don’t know how much you’ve watched the Dolphins, but where do you see your fit in this defense? How different is it from Houston and how do you think you can fit here?) – “I haven’t really watched the Dolphins defense, but I do trust that the coaches will put me in the best spot to be able to make plays. Wherever they put me at on the field, I’m just going to be Benardrick McKinney and be physical.”

(How would you describe the approach that you try to take to the game?) – “Just film study. I love to install the game, I love to learn defenses. I just love playing defense and my style of the game, everybody knows that I’m just a big (line)backer. I’m a downhill (line)backer. I love to play physical.”

(Do you have experience – I haven’t watched all of your film, I apologize – playing on the edge if they were to ask you to do that? Or are you solely an interior guy?) – “Like I was just saying, wherever the coach wants to put me – even if it’s inside linebacker, on the outside, edge – wherever the coaches put me, I have faith that they will put me there because it’s in the best interest of the Dolphins and they have faith in whatever position they put me in. I can do it at the best of my ability.”

(How much more comfortable are you in a 3-4 scheme then you would be in a 4-3?) – “I’m a linebacker. I’ve been playing football all of my life. I’ve played 4-3 before, played 3-4 before. Like I said, the coaches and the d-coordinator is going to do what’s best for the defense. If we play 3-4, 4-3, diamond, whatever front, and he puts me in a position, I’m just going to play my style of the game and do my job.”

(I don’t have to tell you that there is an awful lot of talk these days about your former quarterback Deshaun Watson. I’m not necessarily going to ask you to predict how that plays out; but if you could just describe what you see in him as a football player and what was it like going against him in practice every day?) – “Deshaun is definitely a great leader of the team and the organization. (He’s) very athletic, takes it one day at a time, pushes guys to the best of their ability. Just a great guy all around. He’s a great friend. I loved playing against him. It’s hard playing against him at practice because of the things he can do. Just watching him play on Sundays or whenever we play, it’s unbelievable how he competes and how he takes every day.”

(Coming off the shoulder injury last year, I wanted to ask where your health is and when you got to a position where you felt you could play again?) – “It took a while. I did my rehab. I’m feeling great now. I’m back to the old myself, feeling comfortable with my shoulder and comfortable playing. I’m just ready to get back to it.”

(I wanted to ask you a follow up about QB Deshaun Watson. Do you have any thoughts on how that might play out for him and would you encourage him to join you here in Miami if he asked?) – “I can’t really speak on D4 (Deshaun Watson). He is a grown man. He’s going to make his own decisions. To be honest, I haven’t heard anything about him getting traded really. I’ve been focused on myself and my family and the trade that just happened with me.”

(One of your teammates here, LB Jerome Baker, I was wondering if you know much about him. I know you mentioned that you guys are going to be playing alongside each other. Have you been able to hit him up yet? You all where the same jersey so who is going to have to switch it up?) – “No, I haven’t talked to him. I’ve heard a lot of great things about him. I haven’t been able to watch him play; but I’ve heard a lot of great things about him. Some of my best friends were telling me about him and his style of play and they were able to watch him.”

(You played for a coach from the New England coaching tree in the past and now you’re going to a new one here. What do you know about Head Coach Brian Flores and why do you think you’ll be a good fit for this team?) – “I do know one thing, I know that if you came from New England, we’re not settling for anything less. He’s going to push his players and I’m ready to get out there with him and play for him and he’ll help me be one of the better linebackers.”      

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