Kenny Stills – September 13, 2018
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Thursday, September 13, 2018
WR Kenny Stills
(So when you come out for that 75-yard touchdown, what do you see and what are you thinking, because they’ve talked about the coverage being pretty nice for what you wanted to do there.) – “Yes. If you look at the play, they have a safety down. Albert (Wilson) did a good job of getting the safety out of there for me. The line protected and Ryan (Tannehill) threw a good ball right where it was supposed to be and I just went and made a play.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase said he wants to get you in that seven to eight catch range instead of the four catch range. What do you think when you hear that?) – “Whatever we have to do to win. Last week, I had what I had and we won. Whatever we have to do to win, that’s all I really care about and that’s all I’m worried about.”
(What was it like on Tuesday to spend time with the South Florida veterans who had health issues?) – “It was a really special day on Tuesday, just to get down there – Albert (Wilson) and I, the cheerleaders, T.D. (the mascot) – and spend time really just to see some of the smiles on their faces. There were a couple of people – doctors and nurses – that kind of gave some of the people in there a hard time, like ‘Hey, I’ve been working with you for two weeks and I’ve never seen you smile.’ This was the first time they’ve seen some of these men and women smile. That was just really heartwarming, and then the fact that it was September 11th. It was really important for us to be there. It meant a lot to us to be there too.”
(An obvious follow up, there are some people that think the protest of social injustice is in some way anti-military. Did that come up?) – “There were a couple of instances of people being very thankful and encouraging me to continue to protest. Then there were also people who I think were a little bit more afraid to say it in front of some of the cameras and people that were around. But yes, I can say there were a handful of people that were very thankful and encouraging with the protest and understand what we’re doing. That meant a lot to me, as well. But yes, there was no negativity or anything like that felt in there.”
(Is seeing that side of it, that veterans are supportive of you and what your stance is, something that’s important to you?) – “It is. It is important to see and know that veterans understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, and know that we’re not against them and it’s never been about them. I think that’s really important and it means a lot to us. Like I’ve said before, this has never been against the military or the flag or the police. Just for them to have the opportunity for us to have the conversation and them approach me and say that, it meant a bunch to me.”
(The President retweeted a photo of you on Sunday. I know you’re not taking a stand to be the face of anything, but are you comfortable now with so many people considering you one of the faces of this movement?) – “I don’t think that’s something I really worry about. I just do what I do and you guys make it what you guys want to make it. We started the protest two years ago now – three years ago now – and we’re not going anywhere. It’s not going to change. Activism isn’t something you just kind of get involved in and then turn your back on it. Once your eyes are open to some of the things that are happening, you continue to work and try and grow and create change for the rest of your life, so this is something I’m committed to forever. It’s not about being the face or who gets the notoriety for it. It’s just what I care about outside of work and what I spend my time doing when I’m not here working for the Dolphins.”
(It seems like the numbers of those that are kneeling are dwindling. You guys were the only two on Sunday and then there was Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch, I think, on Monday. What’s that like to have not a lot of company at this point?) – “It’s not something that I really think about or worry about. Obviously I would be encouraged to see more guys participating in the protest but I understand that everybody makes their own decisions. I’ll continue doing what I’m doing and I hope that at some point in time … It’s not really … It’s never been about that. It’s been about what other guys are doing. I understand my position and what I’m standing for what I’m standing up for, and I’ll continue to do that.”
(Did you see Senator Marco Rubio’s tweet?) – “I did.”
(Your thoughts?) – “Senator Rubio and I have had a couple of conversations and I think that’s kind of where that comes from. He understands and sees the work that I’m doing – that we’re doing here as an organization – and I think he supports that.”
(Was there a time when … You always get backlash. A lot of people understand and a lot of people don’t, obviously. Was there a time when that backlash bothered you?) – “The first year … I wouldn’t say that the backlash got under my skin but the first year, after the season was over and I had a chance to reflect, I realized that a lot of the negativity was getting to me. While it’s happening, it’s hard to notice; but I think when you look back and reflect on a year or on that year, you see how it was affecting a lot.”
(How do you block that out? How do you get past that because the backlash … ) – “There’s been a lot more positivity and encouragement this time around. It’s not something that is anything I’m worried about.”
(Did anyone ask you about being named a captain?) – “No.”
(It’s your second year being named a captain. How special is that and what comes with that responsibility now that you’ve actually done it?) – “I think being a captain, it’s obviously an accomplishment and something that I take pride in. For us, those are the leaders on our team and that’s coming in and working and leading by example and that’s something that I hope to do every day.”
(Do you have to do anything different or special or attend any meetings or sit on Head Coach Adam Gase’s council?) – “I think Coach Gase has a captains meeting that he plans on doing once a week; but other than that, no. It’s just leading by example and being somebody I feel like the team feels like they can always count on.”
(What was last year’s council meetings like?) – “Just discussing details, whatever Coach (Gase) had questions on and kind of get a feel for where the team’s at. Anything and everything could come up in that meeting, but it depends on what he’s talking about for that week.”
(Do you feel like it’s easy to talk to Head Coach Adam Gase about? Like if you want lunch earlier?) – “Yes. I mean those little details aren’t things (we discuss). It’s more like, ‘We’re doing this on a trip. What do you guys think about this?’ It’s not like your everyday stuff. It’s ‘we need to do this, this week. These are our keys to victory for the week.’ Things like that more than anything. That way, the captains can relay the message the same way the coaches are relaying the message and he doesn’t have to speak to every individual player on an individual basis.”
(In previous years, players voted on that. This year, Head Coach Adam Gase selected the captains. Does it make any difference for you guys?) – “No. We roll with whatever Coach Gase puts in place for us.”
(Head coach Adam Gase talked about you becoming more vocal in the receiver room, that you feel like that’s your room to take care of at this point. Did you feel like you grew in that role naturally or when did that click?) – “I felt like over the past two years, I’ve pretty much been the oldest guy in the room. Danny (Amendola) is in there now; but I think naturally, I’ve just been a leader. It’s something that I like. I know the offense well. Guys kind of look to me for the answer sometimes, but we’re all in it together. We’re all around the same age besides Danny. It’s not that I do anything different. It’s just we all hold each other to such a high standard and we all want to be the best. I think that’s what it is. None of us are afraid to speak up in that room. We’ve made it a room where everyone can talk, everyone kind of coaches, we all coach each other and it’s not just a coach in the front of the room telling us what to do. All of us are grading each other, coaching each other and trying to get better every day.”
(When WR Jarvis Landry left, I guess you became the last receiver that was there throughout the whole Head Coach Adam Gase era. Did that change sort of how you went about things?) – “Well, DeVante (Parker) has been a part of that too. Nothing has really changed. We just lost a guy in the room. That’s really it.”
(On WR DeVante Parker, obviously, he’s eager to get back out there. Things you’re looking for from him this year?) – “DeVante is an exciting player to watch. When he’s healthy and he’s out there, he’s making plays. Once we have him back, that’s what I look for seeing him do, make plays.”
