Michael Thomas – June 1, 2017
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Thursday, June 1, 2017
S Michael Thomas
(We asked you a lot last year about demonstration and your community activism. Do you plan to continue to kneel this year and what’s the biggest lesson you learned over the last year?) – “I’m definitely moving towards doing more community involvement – work in the community. Demonstrations and stuff like that, I can’t really say if I’m going to do something like that. But I’m definitely doing more good works in the community. I’ll definitely continue to do my part – whatever that might look like – to keep the conversation going. But at the same time, I felt like I was involved. I’ll continue to find ways to be involved; but this year is more so focused on this team and trying to help this team win.”
(When you started doing the kneeling, it was to make a social statement. It’s a year later. Are we moving in the right direction? Is there progress? Is there no progress?) – “Definitely where we were at, especially during the summer last year with everything that was going on, (there) were a lot of young African Americans – males to be exact – felt the need to do something. (They) felt the need to speak up. Some did it through social media, through posts and stuff like that. Some felt ‘I need to do more.’ At this point, I’d like to say a lot more conversations have started – probably more at this point this year than there were last year. A lot of people are more receptive to these conversations. A lot of people are putting those messages out. I could say we’re kind of moving towards the right direction but obviously there is still a lot of work left to be done.”
(Are you surprised that QB Colin Kaepernick is unsigned and do you think his activism plays a factor in that?) – “Obviously there are issues with that. Some people feel a certain type of. You see a lot of people commenting about it. At this point, it is what it is; but I wish Colin nothing but the best. He stood for something he believed in. A lot of people felt the same way. Quite frankly, a lot of people were against it, especially with how he chose to protest it. I believe that yes, it’s something like that; but at the same time, I wish him nothing but the best moving forward. I hope he gets his opportunity.”
(What did you learn from the stance that you took and the public’s reaction from it?) – “That there are a lot of people right now who aren’t ready to have those types of conversations. They can – for whatever reason – look past the actual issues that are going on in America and they’ll find fault in any type of thing you do, regardless if it’s a silent protest, regardless if it’s a protest that’s in your face, regardless if it’s just through social media. If people don’t want to have those types of conversations, they’ll find a way not to partake in it. They’ll find a way to ignore it. Obviously, as a young African American, I felt in my heart that it was the right thing to do and I stand up for people who don’t have a voice, who don’t feel like there is justice for them. I learned that throughout all of last year.”
(When you look at what just recently took place with LeBron James and his mansion, what are your thoughts and what goes through your mind when you see someone as famous as LeBron that could still go through something like that?) – “It’s crazy we’re having these conversations right now. It doesn’t matter. He said it best yesterday. ‘It doesn’t matter who you are, it is what it is.’ As an African American, that’s something you grow up dealing with. You could walk around all day with a smile on your face; you could do all of the right things but unfortunately you’re going to have to deal with some of these things. I think still a lot of people aren’t ready to accept that that’s an actual fact, that that’s an actual reality that some people in America still deal with. I’m not surprised. I hope that doesn’t surprise anybody when I say that I’m not surprised that happened to him. It could happen to anyone. He’s dealing with it the best way that he can. I think one of the things that he talked about yesterday was it’s tough for him not being able to be there with his kids and his boys. I’ve got a daughter. At some point I’m going to have these conversations with her. It’s just a reality of where we’re at right now in America.”
(How close did you come to leaving as a restricted free agent?) – “I love it here. Obviously I have to do what’s best for my family. I love being here. It was the best thing for me to do to stay here. The Dolphins wanted me back so I’m here to compete. I’m glad they brought me back. I’m glad it worked out.”
(Is your focus right now more on the safety position or the nickel corner position?) – “For me, nothing has changed. As a restricted free agent, with everybody they brought in this year, with everybody they brought back, nothing has changed for ‘Mike T.’ I’ve got to go out there and compete. The coaches are mixing us up right now – safeties, nickels – throughout the whole scheme. So for me, nothing has changed. You have to be ready to play any position.”
(So they have been playing you some nickel?) – “I’ve been mixed around different spots. Nothing has changed. You have to compete everywhere.”
(Where do you feel you are in your career and what do you think is the next step?) – “Right now, I feel like I’m in my prime. I feel like I’ve learned a lot. No longer am I that young guy who just came off the practice squad. I still feel like that young guy. I still remember it like it was yesterday, but I’m not there anymore. Coach looks at me as a guy who needs to step up and not make the same mistakes a rookie would make, not make the same mistakes a young guy would make; but be there no matter what the situation is, what the down and distance is, what the situation is. (You have) to be able to go out there and make a play. That’s it.”
(What are the challenges of playing that nickel spot? Can you describe how different that is as opposed to say cornerback?) – “Obviously you’re guarding probably one of the quickest guys on the field. You think about a guy like Jarvis (Landry). He’s probably the best slot receiver in the NFL. You’ve got to be able to be quick. You’ve got to be able to play with leverage. When teams see that, they see a safety – a smaller, quicker guy – they try to put big guys on him. They try to scheme you up and get you out-leveraged. They might run the ball right at you, so you’ve got to be physical. You’ve got to be able to play with leverage. You’ve got to be able to get in and out of breaks and when you’re going against guys like Jarvis, it only makes you better. I love the challenge. You’ve got that linebacker mentality that you’ve got to be tough and physical; but at the same time, you’ve got to be able to run all day. That’s why I love the nickel position.”
(Do you prefer the football questions or the non-football questions?) – “I’m comfortable with both.”
(You spent part of your offseason going to Haiti? How did that affect you or change you?) – “(It was an) eye-opening experience. I talked to a couple of people in this room about it. To see, 1: It was a beautiful country. I didn’t know what to expect when I went out there. (It’s a) very beautiful country. There are some things that need to be done, obviously, if they want to progress as a nation. Actually going out there and seeing it first hand and seeing what their actual needs are, I was able to come back and write a little piece and continue to do work with the community and try to raise funds for it. Actually going out there and seeing it, it was life-changing for me. My family, they were able to go out. We know exactly what we want to try to do out there.”
(So you intend to go back to Haiti?) – “Oh, definitely. I intend to continue to do work to raise funds and then to go back out there and to see those actual projects that we want to get done for us, like bringing water to those remote villages – bringing a water system out there, so people don’t have to walk two-plus miles to retrieve water daily. We’re trying to see one of those water projects get built out there.”
(You wanted to raise like $200,000? Is that what I heard?) – “Closer to $100,000. One actual project to actually get a water system built would probably take closer to like $40,000 to $50,000. Then to actually get that water purified to where we as Americans are used to drinking, it’ll probably take another $40,000 to $50,000. So $100,000 would probably be the goal. But it only takes like $40,000 to keep them from walking two-plus miles every single day.”
(How far along are you in that fundraising effort?) – “We’re good. Me, personally, I don’t want to talk about the exact amount I’ve raised; but I’ve raised a decent amount. The actual organization I’m helping, obviously they’re bigger and they can spend more time daily doing that. They’ve raised a lot of money too. It’s moving along.”
(You said that you love playing nickel. Do you think you’re better at it than safety? Because it seemed like last year you were thrusted into that safety spot and you had your moments where even you admitted ‘I wasn’t where I was supposed to be.’ That didn’t happen at nickel when you get a chance to play nickel.) – “I appreciate the kind words. Since moving to defense in college, that was the only position I … Well, not the only position; but that was the main position I played. I feel most comfortable there; but again, since I’ve gotten here, it’s wherever the coaches need me, I’m going to play. I’m going to go out there and compete and right now, that’s where it’s at. But I love the nickel position. I’ll say that.”
(When you look at this secondary man for man, what do you see as a collective group?) – “Right now, I can’t lie, we brought in two vets. I love the energy they bring. I love the way we communicate and they’re going out there and making play after play. It’s just great competition for us. Seeing the new ‘20’ (Reshad Jones) out there, it’s good to see the attitude that he’s bringing this year, that energy that he’s bringing. If I’m talking about young guys, our young corners – you look at ‘Lipp’ (Tony Lippett) and ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) – what they’re doing out there competing right now is crazy. Obviously it’s June 1, we don’t have pads on right now; but this time this year, compared to this time last year, I love it. I love where we’re at. I’m just excited to go out there and continue to compete with these guys.”
(How would you describe Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke’s personality and leadership style?) – “He’s definitely calculated. I guess that’s probably the best way. He loves to make sure guys understand the why, in even more detail than what we did last year. You know exactly why he’s calling certain calls and why we’re practicing it. I think it’s helping guys understand the defense a little bit better. It’s helping guys play a little bit faster.”
(Based on what you were saying about S Reshad Jones, does he have a little different this season?) – “Somewhat. I love it though. ‘20’ (Reshad Jones) has always been ’20,’ as far as on the field – just an athletic dude, gifted athletically, no flaws. You see that leadership in him this year is a little different. I’ve been here for a little time now. His leadership is a little different, I would probably say that. That’s probably the biggest thing that jumps out, and it’s great for our room.”
(Is S Reshad Jones a little more vocal this year?) – “Somewhat, yes. Somewhat.”
(A special teams question. You guys seem to be a veteran unit coming back with LB Mike Hull, CB Bobby McCain, RB Kenyan Drake and yourself. How many spots are there for rookies? Are there as many as previous years or maybe a few more? Can you say right now?) – “I’ll say this, I love the group we had. I feel like we were one of the best units out there. Obviously every single year, there’s somebody trying to come take your spot. We have some nice rookies out there that move around, are pretty fast and pretty big; but there is a reason why we had a lot of success out there, like some of the names you just named. You could throw in Walt Aikens, Lafayette Pitts. These are guys that came along strong last year and we’ve just got a bunch of dogs out there. Obviously, these guys don’t want their spots taken; but there are some rookies trying to climb their way in here and trying to claw their way in. That was my ticket. You’ve always got to be prepared. If any of them can make us better, even better than we were last year, then they’re going to be here.”
(When we get through OTAs and minicamp and everything and there’s a little bit of a break, what do you have on tap? Is there any more community projects? Traveling?) – “Always. Mostly though, obviously spending time with the family, since we’re about to go come back and start the season. I’ve got to train and get my mind right. But I always have my annual camp in Houston and that’s dealing with those kids, trying to give them access to a bunch of things I didn’t have growing up – computer science, SAT/ACT college prep stuff. So that’s what I do at my youth camp. But other than that, spend time with the family and get ready for the season. That’s it.”
(This offseason, the team emphasized both free agency and the draft. The emphasis on defense, were you surprised by that? Did you feel that was a necessary thing for this team to take the next step?) – “Shoot, I’m not in the front office. If that’s what they felt we needed, then that’s cool; but I definitely see a difference out there. The young guys we brought in, they’re competing right away. It did something to the defensive players that were already here. It made us better. I like what they did in free agency. Like I said, the vets – especially in our room with T.J. (McDonald) and Nate (Allen) – just having more vets in the secondary … It’s crazy how the communication is right now. It’s crazy how everybody is just flying around making plays, but that’s what happens when you get a whole bunch of vets and a whole bunch of guys with game experience together, playing like that.”
