DeVante Parker – June 6, 2018
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Wednesday, June 6, 2018
WR DeVante Parker
(I know you had a little thing with former Dolphins WR Chris Chambers. What did you think about his offering to help you and what do you think about outside voices chiming in on your performance?) – “About that, I come up here and … The coaches, I do everything the coaches tell me to do. I just listen to what they’re saying. They tell me what I need to do and I just do as they say. I come up here and just work hard every day. They tell me what I need to work on and I just do that.”
(Is it irritating to you? I know this appeared on Twitter. Is it irritating that your name is in other people’s mouth in that fashion?) – “No, it’s not irritating at all. I guess they had to say what they needed to say and it’s the way it goes.”
(What do the coaches tell you to do? How has your offseason been?) – “My offseason has been real good. I’ve been here I would say just about every day working (and) running. The trainers are just getting my body right and I’ve been working hard and grinding.”
(I could see then when you’re putting in these man hours, when you hear somebody who doesn’t know the situation, that could rub you wrong.) – “You’ve just got to ignore what anyone says outside of the building. They don’t know what’s really going on in the inside, so you’ve just got to ignore the situation.”
(What’s this year hold for you? What’s this going to be for 2018 for WR DeVante Parker?) – “Like it always means, just stay healthy. But if you’re not, you’ve just got to fight through it and play through it.”
(We just talked to WR Jakeem Grant and he said that there’s no question in his mind that you’re going to be one of the great receivers in the league. Do you think it’s just a matter of health? That’s the only thing that’s stopped you from doing that?) – “Yes, that’s the only thing. Just stay healthy and if I’m not healthy, fight through it and play through it.”
(I’m doing something on first-round picks and how tough that is on you or what it does to you. Can you tell me, coming in, did you feel “Yes, I’m a first-round pick. I have to impress.” Did you feel that teammates knew that you were a first-round pick and were aware of it?) – “I’m pretty sure they knew when I was first coming in. I think I was having a great camp and everything. Well, I didn’t go through camp, but OTAs and the rookie camp. I was doing great. Before my injury, Jelani (Jenkins) even told me I didn’t look like a rookie coming in. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I was just doing me.”
(How much added pressure is there on a first-round pick? Does that come from you or do you feel it from the media and fans and your people back at Louisville? How often … Everybody knows you are a first-round pick. How is it dealing with that?) – “I would say there really is no pressure unless you make it pressure. If you come in saying that you’re the greatest and something like that, coming in and just talking smack, that’s the only time where there can be pressure.”
(I take it that you would say WR Jakeem Grant is a more astute judge of talent than former Dolphins WR Chris Chambers?) – “I’m with Jakeem every day. He sees me working and knows what I’m doing. He’s with me inside the building so he knows what’s going on.”
(Do you feel that you’re the best receiver on the team? Is that important as a receiver to have that kind of confidence?) – “It is good to have that kind of confidence; but I just come in and go hard every day and try to be the best.”
(When you heard the Dolphins were picking up your fifth-year option, what was your reaction?) – “That they had a lot of confidence in me and they knew what I could do and the ability that I have. They just knew that I had a lot of talent there.”
(Obviously it’s guaranteed in case of injury, but you still have to go out and earn that, right?) – “Oh, yes. I still have to go out and play and just get better every day.”
(What have you seen from WR Jakeem Grant? He’s been getting some pretty good reviews from CB Cordrea Tankersley and Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains. What have you seen from Jakeem Grant?) – “I’ve seen a lot from Jakeem. He’s been very aggressive this offseason and just attacking the ball and everything. (He’s) high-pointing everything. He learned all these different positions and he’s doing a great job.”
(Aside from trying to make sure that you’re healthy, what is it that you’re working on the most to try and improve?) – “Finishing my routes. Sometimes I come out and I ease up and then if I see the ball, I speed up. At that point, it’s too late.”
(They’ve got this “who’s the fastest guy” conversation going on and I don’t hear your name involved. What’s up with that?) – “The GPS says I was second. With the GPS I was at 20.9 miles per hour and somebody else (had one time) faster than that.”
(Do you think you’re getting ripped off on this conversation?) – “Yes, I think I am getting ripped off. (laughter) But it’s fine. It’s alright.”
(Where would you finish in a race?) – “In a race? Among receivers? Top 2.”
(Who would be with you?) – “Probably me and Jakeem (Grant).”
(What about WR Kenny Stills?) – “Kenny? He’d be third. (laughter)”
(How much will having QB Ryan Tannehill help? I would think that would be a huge thing for your development, no?) – “It’s a huge development with Ryan back. We have a great connection. Timing, everything is good. Coach did a lot of things with him last year and we weren’t able to use that because it was a different scheme with him and everything. It just wasn’t there.”
(When you think about the first three years of your career, what were some words you would use to describe it?) – “Not where I want it to be. That’s just it. It’s as simple as that.”
(Have you done anything to change in terms of flexibility or anything else that would help keep you healthy? Anything different?) – “No. Right now I’m doing the same thing I’ve been doing that’s been working. I go to the trainers. I do extra mobility stuff with them. You’ve just got to keep at it and keep doing it.”
(What would be a successful year for you personally?) – “You’re talking about yardage-wise or something?”
(Whatever goals you might have.) – “At least hit 1,000 yards or something, and a few touchdowns.”
