Durval Queiroz Neto – August 6, 2021
Download PDF version
Friday, August 6, 2021
G Durval Queiroz Neto
(What has gotten better since you first got here – your English or your football skills?) – “For sure my football skills.”
(How much better would you say they are than when you first got here?) – “Coming from Brazil was already hard because of the level of football. Then they changed my position, and then for sure that transition, learning everything from o-line standpoint, that is the part I’ve most improved. I learned how to be patient. It’s really different than being aggressive playing d-line. I think being patient is the biggest improvement I’ve made.”
(Do you have any family here or are you by yourself?) – “No. I live by myself. My family, they are here right now for (training) camp, but they live in Brazil.”
(What’s that like being apart from them?) – “Life is hard. I’m doing this because it’s my dream to be here. This part of life I need support for that. That’s one thing life has asked from me before I realized this dream. I can’t complain. We talk every day on the phone and Facetime. They try to be present in my life every day somehow.”
(What would it be like for you if you to get into a game, if you’re able to contribute in a regular-season game?) – “This is everything I want since I came here. Every day I practice, practice and practice. For the last two years, I’ve been watching all of my teammates on the weekends go for the game and I have to stay. Every week has made me more hungry for that. I want that. I want to be in a game. Nothing is more important for me than being in a game to help my team.”
(How close do you think that dream is coming to be true?) – “In a lot of parts, I need to get better a lot. I think they are going to give me a chance when I’m ready. I don’t know when it’s going to be, if it’s in the next games. I don’t know. The coaches are going to decide that.”
(When you first got here, did you have an idea like maybe three years, four years? Did you plan like that?) – “The things in life don’t happen like the way we want. I came in on the d-line, I said, ‘it’s close. It’s going to happen in one or two years.’ Then they changed my position and then I said I don’t know. I’m just getting better. I don’t know.”
(Has there been a moment when they switched you to offensive line where you said ‘ok, I can do this?’ Has there been a moment, a play or practice where you really felt you were getting more comfortable?) – “In Brazil when I was playing d-line, I said this is my thing. The only way I’ll be happy is if I play d-line. I like to run and hit people, make tackles, tackles for loss. When they moved me, I said I can play guard for sure. But I don’t know if I’ll be happy. But after months playing and training, I’m happy. I love what I do. When I do pass protection and block people, I love that. I enjoy (it).”
(What was it like when you got the notice that you were going to be called up to the second team?) – “They move people around. There is no ‘you are with the second team right now.’ They are moving people around. They want to give me more reps. They move people around. There is no ‘Q you are with the second team. You will be there.’ I don’t think it works like that. They are going to see when they need to move me up, when they move me down. It’s up to them. But yeah, it’s great.”
(Do you know whose idea it was for you to move from defense to offense?) – “Oh, yeah. (laughter) When I first came here, they had a coach, Dave DeGuglielmo, the o-line coach. He was watching my practice every day and saying, ‘hey ‘Q,’ we have a white jersey ready for you. You need to make that move.’ I’d say ‘coach, I was born to play d-line.’ When they signed him to be the main o-line coach, he asked for me and ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores) talked with me and I decided to make the move. From there, they spent a lot of time and patience teaching me everything I know right now as an o-lineman.”
(What were the discussions like with your family when you said ‘hey, I’m going to America to play in the NFL?) – “My family – coming from Judo, I’m a black belt in judo, they always supported me in any sport. When I was graduating with my Agriculture and Engineering (degree), I was ready to come back and help my dad with the farm. Then I said I needed to try and they supported me. They give me everything I need and I have my friend, my agent. We came together and we started, training and then the NFL, they discovered my story. But they always support me. Like you said in the beginning, it’s far. You support your son being far from home, but that is how family is.”
(What about the teammates? How long did it take for them to accept you as one of the guys as opposed to that guy from Brazil?) – “Everybody who made it to the NFL, they already did something in college and high school. They didn’t know nothing about me. When we introduced ourselves and they say where did you play? I say, ‘I’ve never played. I came from Brazil. I never played college.’ In the beginning, it was hard for them to understand; but after (that), they were like ‘Q,’ he didn’t know nothing about football. But he’s here and he’s trying to work.’ Then they started to recognize that and then from there it was easier, the relationships.”
