Chosen Anderson – May 9, 2023
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Tuesday, May 9, 2023
WR Chosen Anderson
(I know you’re from the area. I just wanted to ask you about your first Dolphins childhood memory, if you have a specific game that you went to or just how you remember the Dolphins as a fan growing up?) – “I remember back to the Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, Ricky Williams days and then I remember when they won games, the Miami Dolphins’ song playing across the radio. Even back when it was like Joe Robbie Stadium, back in those days, I grew up in that era. I really remember too also when they came out with the Wildcat offense with Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown and struck everybody by surprise. I remember like back in those days and Chris Chambers and all that.”
(General Manager Chris Grier mentioned, I think it was last week or a couple weeks ago, that the process of bringing you down here, he mentioned that you spoke with Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker for quite a while. I was curious about how that conversation went and just your first impression of Coach Welker?) – “I’m thankful to be coached by somebody that played at such a high level. Just all ears and just listening to everything. I’m just very thankful for that.”
(I wanted to ask you about the name change, how it came about, why you did it and what it took to do?) – “I don’t really want to touch on that right now. I want to keep it intimate. But it was a positive, positive thing. I’ll touch on it at a different time. It was a little process, legal things from such of that aspect. But it’s a positive meaning behind it. It’s something I’m very grateful for and it’s something I feel strongly about.”
(Do you think that this is your name for the rest of your life, that this is what you’re going to roll with?) – “Yeah, this is my new era and direction and just kind of like a foundational thing for moving forward for my generation.”
(I wanted to touch on last season for you. How difficult was it and what did you learn and take from that experience?) – “The difficult part of last year was just honestly seeing things before it kind of happened in Carolina but trying to stay positive in the situation. The trade, I feel like it was difficult, but I feel like that’s what brings out the best in you is hard times and I grew a lot from the situation. I was surrounded with a great coach in Shawn Jefferson, an OG, who coached me in New York. So I was being coached by a good coach. But I feel like it brought out the best in me. Being in Arizona was a very peaceful time for me. I found a lot of peace being out there. I wouldn’t really say – more so the word difficult and maybe more so a little disappointed in a sense. But it is what it is and I grew from it, and that’s what’s molded me to be where I am today.”
(I had a few questions for you. First is more so about your philanthropic efforts within the community. Knowing that you are typically down here during the summer months and do a lot of community give-backs, what does it mean to you finally be on the Dolphins and being able to have a more intimate give-back with the community?) – “It’s definitely a dream come true to be a Dolphin. Growing up watching the Dolphins, even like always being here driving past the stadium, being fascinated by the stadium. So it’s truly like really a dream come true opportunity I truly cherish. That’s like the cherry on top of that. I feel like my purpose is giving back to the community and trying to pay it forward and things like that. I just feel like being a Dolphin and being able to come home and being able to stay intact with that year-round is just truly a blessing.”
(You join a highly talented wide receiver room. What is it like being with WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Braxton Berrios and the other guys too as well?) – “I love it. I’m a firm believer in you are the company you keep. Last year they were the two best receivers in the NFL. So I’m only learning and you are a product of your environment.”
(Chris Grier, the general manager, when we asked him about bringing you in he said, ‘we told him what the role would be and he was excited and all in on it.’ So what is your understanding of the role?) – “I don’t want to disclose that or give out no scouting reports. But like I told Chris and Coach (McDaniel), I want to contribute to winning and that’s it. Just pour into the guys around me and what I’ve learned and the leader I’ve grown into and just contribute towards winning and what the ultimate goal is.”
(Obviously, you have a lot of speed. So tell me about the role that you feel speed still plays in your game, and your confidence level in the ability to get deep and track the deep ball and make deep ball plays?) – “That’s one of my gifts. All players have their strong point and strongest attribute, and speed is one of mine. It’s an advantage of mine and like me and Coach (McDaniel) discussed, he coaches, I’m the player. I do what they say, and we keep it simple like that.”
(So on the night you agreed to terms, we saw this scene on Instagram where you pulled out the QB Tua Tagovailoa jersey to reveal that you were agreeing to terms with the Dolphins. I wonder if you can set the scene for us. Was the party specifically for you to announce to your family and friends who you were joining? Was there another occasion that became part of that? I wonder if you can share some details there.) – “Me and my family we were already going to the movies and then going to go bowling after. We had plans set for the weekend. My agent let me know that they had came to terms with everything like that Friday. I wanted to announce it to my family before it was announced to the world because past times, I’ve let it come out publicly first instead of sharing that moment with them. So I just kind of reached out to some other friends and invited them, let them know I was making my announcement for my decision and that was it. I knew what time they were going to announce it or were planning on announcing it publicly, so I went ahead and did it a little bit prior too so we could share that before it came out to the world.”
(Can you tell us why it was a QB Tua Tagovailoa jersey that you pulled on and not say WR Tyreek Hill or CB Jalen Ramsey or CB Xavien Howard or somebody else like that?) – “I just figured because he’s the head in charge. “The only other one I considered was Dan Marino but when I went to the store, I didn’t see it in there.”
(You’ve followed QB Tua Tagovailoa for a while. What’s it like to finally be working with them? Also, can you talk about the caliber and quality of quarterbacks that you’ve had to work with over the years?) – “I have a lot of respect for Tua. He’s a very, very cool dude, very down-to-earth. I’m familiar with his culture and they’re very loving, caring family-oriented individuals. You feel that presence and you feel that being around him. I have a lot of respect for him and seeing what he’s gone through in his career, where he is now and where he’s working towards. I wish the best for him and I’m here to offer my best to make him be his best.”
(I’m sure you’ve heard about how much of a player’s coach he has but I’m just curious to hear about that first impression when you met Coach McDaniel?) – “Honestly, it was a conversation that was very, honestly, fulfilling for me because I felt that over the years, a lot of things that he’s noticed about my game, what I’ve gone through, what I’ve been working towards, he’s noticed that and made that very evident. It felt good to finally hear that from a coach, a great coach too, a coach that’s had a lot of success and knows what it takes to be successful. Our conversation, we really connected. We had instant chemistry and pretty much was on the same page about everything. I pretty much told them before I left that my decision was made. They told me to still assess things but my heart led me to being here. I took my time with making this decision and made sure it was aligned with my purpose in life and what truly matters and my ultimate goals of what I’m here to accomplish and playing football.”
