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Minkah Fitzpatrick – September 12, 2018 Download PDF version

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

S Minkah Fitzpatrick

(Were you nervous before your first game or were you pretty chill?) – “No. I wouldn’t say I was chill, but I wouldn’t say I was nervous. I was just really excited. I was just running through all of the plays through my mind, trying to envision everything, trying to get myself into game mode but not get too hyped up or too low. I was just trying to have fun with it and not try to overthink it.”

(How did you feel after that goal-line stand tackle you made?) – “It was awesome. I made my first big play in the NFL. You dream about those moments. Just seeing my teammates and the whole crowd go crazy, it was awesome. It’s definitely something I won’t forget.”

(How did it feel on Monday? Did the guys go crazy when they showed it?) – “We watched it today. We didn’t have film on Monday. We watched it today. It was good. Everybody was just saying ‘good job rook’ and we kept it moving.”

(That was one play that you did watch though?) – “Yes, I watched that. (laughter)”

(How did you feel about Jets QB Sam Darnold on tape? What did you see about this rookie himself?) – “He’s a good player. I played against him back in college. I’ve watched him play other games. He’s a great quarterback. He was drafted high for a reason. The Jets picked him for a reason and they have him starting for a reason. It’s a big challenge for us, but we just have to do our job.”

(What are QB Sam Darnold’s strengths? Is it because he can roll out both sides, that he can roll out and throw on the run?) – “He has a lot of strengths. He puts the the ball into good windows. He is smart with the ball. He’s not going to try to force throws. He’s going to check it down. He’s going to be smart with it. He’s going to try to manage the game. He’s not going to just try to get chunk plays. He’s going to try to dink and dunk and move down the field.”

(What do you remember about the time you played against QB Sam Darnold in college?) – “It was quick. We played them I think my sophomore year. He wasn’t even starting at the time. He came in in like the third or fourth quarter. I only played against him like one or two series. He did a pretty good job. We were up high on them. Just watching him out there, you could tell that he was talented. Then the next season, you all saw what he did and it just kind of made him who is was.”

(Did you spend some time with QB Sam Darnold during the draft?) – “No, not really.”

(You guys were both there, right?) – “Yes.”

(They say he’s the next Joe Namath. Have you heard of Joe Namath?) – “Yes. (laugheer)”

(What can you tell us about QB Joe Namath?) – “He was a great quarterback. That’s all I can tell you. (laughter)”

(It’s the first Jets home game. They are going to be rabid. Can you draw going to Auburn as to what that must be like?) – “It’s going to be awesome for me because I kind of grew up in that environment – in the Jets, Giants, Philly, all of them just being … Just everybody loving the game up there and the passion that everybody plays with. Just going back there, I know what I’m walking into. I know how crazy and wild it’s going to be. You can’t compare it to an Auburn or Alabama type of intensity. They love the game up there, they’re crazy about it and they are really passionate about the sport.”

(What team did you grow up rooting for?) – “Philly. I was a Philly fan.”

(Did you go to a lot of games at the Meadowlands as a spectator?) – “No, I never … My first NFL game was the first one I played in. I played in MetLife (Stadium) though in high school. We had our state championships there.”

(What did you think of your first NFL game?) – “It was good. It was a whole lot of fun.”

(It was kind of long right?) – “Just a little bit, just a little bit. I’m definitely not going to forget it, whether the length of the game, or just being my first NFL game. It was a whole lot of fun.”

(Will the butterflies be different this week?) – “I wasn’t really nervous. I didn’t really have any butterflies. I was just excited, just thinking about doing my job. I was really soaking it all in and enjoying the entire moment.”  

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