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Jaylen Waddle – November 1, 2023 Download PDF version

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

WR Jaylen Waddle

(What has the early part of the Germany trip been like for you? Did you catch up on sleep or enjoy the city a little bit?) – “Hit the city a little bit, that was about it. Got some sleep – tried to get some sleep at least. Schedule is getting kind of normal coming into today.”

(You seem to shine your brightest on the international stage. Coming back from your experience back in the London game, what are some things that you took from that game leading up to preparation that you bring with you here to Germany as well?) – “Honestly, about nothing. It’s two different games, two different years against two different opponents, so really didn’t bring anything. These international games are a little different as far as schedule wise and the way we got to go about the game. I feel like it’s going to help that we played in it two years ago, but ultimately, it’s going to be about going out there and handling business.”

(What did you get WR River Cracraft for his birthday? Did you get him anything for his birthday today?) – “Huh?” (laughter)

(It’s WR River Cracraft’s birthday.) – “I know it’s ‘Riv’s’ (River Cracraft) birthday. Happy Birthday ‘Riv’. (laughter) He was with us a little bit in the town, got to spend some time together – nothing like time. (laughter)”

(I don’t know if Taylor Swift is coming. Are there any reports on Taylor? According to Twitter, Taylor Swift is coming. Your thoughts?) – “It’s going to be fun, I guess. I’m a Swiftie. (laughter)”

(When you’re QB Tua Tagovailoa, it probably feels like the whole world is watching you. On Sunday, literally the world will be watching. We’re in a different part of the world. How do you think he’s built for this moment?) – “I think he’s built for it. He’s played on big stages before, been playing on big stages his entire career. I feel like the highlights and spotlight’s always been on him going back to college and going into the NFL so I think he’s built for it.”

(How did the team prepare you for the Frankfurt experience? Did they tell you something in advance something Frankfurt-specific or things to know?) – “Yeah, they gave us a little history and background of Frankfurt, how historic it is, and they kind of gave us a rundown of where we’re going to be staying, where to go, how things are, what to do out here, the historic museums and stuff like that. They gave us a little rundown of that. That’s about it.”

(I wanted to ask about WR Tyreek Hill again. It seems like in the year-plus since he’s been here, you two specifically, really created a strong friendship, relationship. I was curious what WR Tyreek Hill has kind of meant to you as an older receiver in the room and just being his teammate over the last year?) – “Tyreek (Hill) really just made me really up my game. You think you’re a baller and a good player, then you meet someone like Tyreek who comes in. He’s legendary, historic – y’all see that throughout the week. He just brings the team along, got high energy, brings it each and every week, and that’s what we expect from him. He just makes everybody up their game.”

(I know everyone talks about how competitive he is, but is there like a story or kind of a memory that comes to mind of him just being crazy competitive?) – “It’s a lot. It’s really weekly. He goes out there, he’s got a dog mentality. I just go into the way he practiced in the offseason back to OTAs and you think a guy of that caliber wouldn’t go out there and give it all he’s got on a weekly (basis), he comes in weekly and just be a dog.”

(You have some uber fast guys in the offense obviously being very productive this year, is that the secret? Adding speed and dominating the NFL?) – “No, it’s not. I think every team has a lot of fast guys and throughout the league, it’s a lot of speed. I think we get a lot of praise for our speed, but we do a lot more than just run fast. The splash and highlights are always going to be someone running 22 or 23 miles per hour, but we do a lot more than just run fast.”

(What do you do more? What’s the secret of the offense this year?) – “Well, I can tell you one thing. If you’re going to be in this offense, you’re going to block. Mike (McDaniel) praised that and how you get a lot of your passes by going in and digging out safeties, occasionally linebackers sometimes (defensive) ends, we’re an extension of the run game.”

(One more question about Head Coach Mike McDaniel. He has a special history as a coach, also in his personal life. He talked very openly about his former alcohol addiction. Does he talk to you guys about that specific topic?) – “Yeah, he kind of, when he first came in, gave us the history of how he came up in the coaching ranks and what he had to overcome when he first came in. But going into it, it’s not something that we really ask about or comes out and just openly say, but he definitely gave us a history of everything he’s been through.”

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