Jakeem Grant – July 26, 2019
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Friday, July 26, 2019
WR Jakeem Grant
(QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is running around with your little ones, what is that like to see and experience?) – “It’s amazing just to see him running around playing with my kids and that just shows how our relationship is. It’s bigger than football. We like to have fun with each other and get out there and enjoy it. Besides football, just the fact that he has kids and I have kids. His kids are probably a lot older than mine are. It just really meant something to me when he came over to play with my kids. It meant a lot.”
(What are you most proud of in your career because we saw you go from punt returner who didn’t always have success with the hands and now you’ve accomplished that. Slot receiver, we saw you on the outside last year and you accomplished that. You’ve got a lot to be proud of. What makes you most proud?) – “I would just say getting better and being able to be more consistent. I feel that in this game, you definitely need that. I feel like each and every year I have gotten better and better at something or just better in my game all around, and that’s what I’m trying to do. Even if I feel like I’m doing great at punt returns and catching punts, I am still out there working on it like I’m not even good at it and the same goes for receiver. I always try to work to perfect anything. I know nobody’s perfect but I am a perfectionist and I like to go out there and try to perfect my craft and separate myself from the other guys. ”
(Where do you get work ethic that from?) – “I don’t know. Honestly, I just don’t want to be average. I look at all the greats like Deion Sanders and all of those guys and think what did they do to separate themselves? I just don’t want to be a regular guy. When they look back after I’m done, (I don’t want them to say) ‘Oh, Jakeem he had a good career.’ I want to go back when they’re playing my clips and (have them say), ‘Oh, Jakeem had a great career.’ A wise man told me there are only two thing that are sure in life is that you live and you die. Therefore, I am trying to maximize my opportunity so that little space between when you are born and when you die, I just want to leave a legacy.”
(Your teammates, what do they bring to the mix?) – “He brings a lot. Everybody brings in different special talents and that’s what is great about this team: everybody is special in a unique way. Everybody can do mostly everything. Whether it is catching the deep ball or taking the short route the distance, I am trying to teach every guy – all the receivers – how to make people miss and take it the distance. Basically, we pick off each other’s plate and ask help me with this, how do you do this and how do you do that? We just come together and work as a unit.”
(Is there a common ground there with WR Albert Wilson where you both had some pretty bad injuries last season?) – “Definitely. We both were injured together, working together. We both got in the training room and worked hard together we even competed against each other with bounce drills and everything, making sure we both got back and we were healthy. We also wanted to take our time and not rush into things and have that setback. With that being said, that shows that the bond is there and we truly love each other and want to see each other do great.”
(What’s no speed limit?) – “I was trying to push that message, no speed limit. I remember when ‘Rizz’ (former Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi) was here, I used to ask him is there a speed limit on the field and he used to say no. That is where I got the phrase ‘no speed limit’ from. I feel like there is no speed limit on the field, as you can see, and I am going to continue to push that message. There is no speed limit. You’re not clocking me at no speed and so I am going to continue to go out there and be the fastest man on the field each and every game.”
(Is it tough for you to be patient because you started off to a great season last year, you got your injury and now you are rehabbing, I’m sure you want to be out here at 100 percent. Is patience tough in this situation?) – “It’s definitely tough. Just going out there, I tell Coach (Flores) even when I feel like I am ready, and Coach (Flores) is still like ‘Jakeem, you’ve got to be smart. We are thinking about the long term,’ and so I am like Coach (Flores), ‘let’s go, let’s go.’ He keeps telling me, ‘Jakeem, you have to chill.’ I know he is looking out for me and he wants me to be patient and not have any setbacks and I am cool with that. But as a competitor, I want to be out there more and I want to compete.”
(This is your first time being in this situation?) – “Yeah, (the) first time. So at the beginning, it really sucked; but right now, being back there with them is a joy.”
(S Minkah Fitzpatrick was talking up your speed. What’s it like for him to be out there challenging you?) – “It’s great. He is a smart player. He can play any role and he can run. I can’t just use my speed and run past him because he is a smart player. I actually have to give him some moves. I can make him get off balance and run past him, but he’s a hell of a player and he’s going to go out there and make plays. He’s not going to bite off of just one move. You’ve got to give him two or three moves just to get him off balance. He can read very well and he can play anything.”
(Does S Minkah Fitzpatrick have a speed limit?) – “No, actually he doesn’t. To be honest, he really doesn’t.”
(What has made you a complete receiver? Because we know you have the speed, the quickness and again you added the outside to your game. What makes you a complete receiver and why do you think you are a complete receiver?) – “I would say I focus on my route-running and I play outside and inside, so I got a dose of everything. Playing against corners, playing against nickels, going against safeties, everything. I just feel like – I am not perfect, I am not completely there yet but I will continue to work each and every day. I feel like I have proven and shown that I can go out there and be a receiver and make a big impact in the offensive game and I am going to continue to come out here and work on my hands, my routes, just like if I didn’t have a chance at receiving. So I am going to continue to go out each practice and work on that.”
(When will you be at 100 percent?) – “I am just working to get better each and every day.”
(Like in the preseason or do you think it is more Week 1?) – “I am just being smart, taking it day-by-day and just trying to get stronger and better each and every day.”
