Danny Crossman – November 3, 2022
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Thursday, November 3, 2022
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman
(What qualifies a player to be a punt returner, and why does WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. get that job?) – “There’s so many things. Cedrick’s got a little bit of a history. Not a lot, but he’s been constantly out there working and just trying to find and have somebody who’s always ready to go, which is sort of where it led us to Cedrick. He had some opportunities in this last game and took advantage of them. Hopefully we can keep building on that in the future.”
(As far as the skillset, what are you – obviously good hands?) – “Yeah, but good hands has nothing to do with catching punts. It’s completely different. Tracking it, reading the nose, reading the spin, then you throw the elements into it. So it’s really a different skillset than just catching the football. Punts, kickoffs, passes – they’re all different. But he’s done a solid job and hopefully we can keep building on that the more opportunities we get.”
(Week after week, WR Trent Sherfield leads offensive players in special teams snaps. What makes him a good special teams player?) – “Well, when you look at his history, he’s been a very good special teams player. It’s the offensive snaps that have sort of transitioned for him this season. It’s a tough load. We experienced that a little bit with Mack Hollins where he’s a special teams guy whose offensive load builds, and that’s sort of where we’re at with Trent right now. He’s doing a good job on both phases.”
(We have to ask you about the one special teams play – the fake punt this time. What happened there?) – “That’s a good play by them. We sort of played the percentages. Under two minutes, were they willing to give us the ball in scoring range? And that’s how they played the game. They played the game all out to win the football game. But we did some things where we’ve got to hold our look a little bit longer, and then they made a good play.”
(That part of the field, are you not considering a fake punt?) – “You go the track record of the coach of the head coach, the special teams coach, the personnel. There’s a lot of things that go into it. Once you’re ready to play, in that particular case, we’re looking to try and get a score before the end of the half and maybe not thinking the percentages are as high with where the ball was, especially under two minutes where they had played well and not wanting to maybe give us the lead there at the end of the half. But they made a good play.”
(They had a kick return in the game correct, the Lions did? What goes into the decision making to kick it short of the goal line?) – “There’s a lot of things. It’s the kicker, our coverage people, where we’re at with how much certain guys are playing on offense, defense, how fresh we are, who the returner is, what have they shown. So there’s a lot of things that go into it. We think we may have an opportunity to make a play. And then sometimes, the kick doesn’t end up exactly where you want it and that ties into people getting a return, which I think is what happened to us. So, there’s a lot of things that go into it.”
(I talked to a couple of players yesterday in the locker room who were rookies in 2019. And they said it was a really tough year, super tough coaching that happened that year. And they compared it to this year and said it’s a complete 180. QB Tua Tagovailoa has said as well that he’s had to learn to be less hard on himself, because Head Coach Mike McDaniel’s style is to be really encouraging and positive and supporting. So I’m wondering, since you have the history here and you’ve been here for a while, have you as a coach had to change the way that you interact with players or sort of do what Tua is doing and try to be less hard on himself and less hard on others?) – “No, I think, number one, you’ve got to be yourself. Especially to your point, I’ve been here. If I change who I am and how I approach the players, they’re going to be like, ‘Oh, this is not normal.’ So I think there’s a myriad of ways to do things. Everybody’s going to be themselves. And I think that’s the beautiful thing of – I’ve been in this league for over 20 years and every coach has got to be true to who he is because the players, you’re around then too much and they’re too sharp. If you try and be somebody that you’re truly not, they’re going to read right through that. So the fact of how guys are responding, that’s part of taking coaching of who’s coaching. And some guys respond to different people. And that’s part of the nuances of being a coach is you need to approach each player as an individual, not as an entire group, because certain things work with some guys that don’t work with others.”
(QB Tua Tagovailoa said to I think, Maria Taylor, on his NBC interview a couple of weeks ago; he said that Head Coach Mike McDaniel was the same guy throughout the losses that you guys had this year. And that was something that kind of surprised him because I think he might have been expecting some change or something because of the losses. So can you describe how McDaniel led the team through those?) – “Again, I think he was true to himself, he was true to his beliefs, understanding what was going on, was it the work, was it the performance, was it a combination and just being true to himself and belief in what he’s teaching, what we’re asking the players to do and then eventually performance you’re hoping is going to take care of itself and you get the ship righted.”
Tua Tagovailoa – November 2, 2022
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Tuesday, November 2, 2022
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(Just wanted to ask first, what were your thoughts on the two trades? Specifically LB Bradley Chubb? Where were you and what was going through your mind?) – “I know Mike (McDaniel) does whatever is best for the organization and I know him and Chris (Grier) had multiple conversations about deals that were going around. I think at the end of the day, those are the decisions that they came up with. And for us as a team, it’s sad to see one of our former teammates leave, but he knows and we know that it’s part of the business.”
(How does it make you feel? Because they sent a first-rounder to Denver which when it comes to drafting quarterbacks and the upcoming draft, it means they’re probably out of that. So does it make you feel supported like when you see your organization making big decisions like that to build around the team as it is right now?) – “I would say I felt supported from the time Mike (McDaniel) came in. Getting guys like Tyreek (Hill) – obviously we had Jaylen (Waddle), we had Mike Gesicki – bringing in guys like Raheem Mostert, guys that kind of understood the offense that have been with him, with Trent (Sherfield) and River (Cracraft). So I would say I felt supported before all of that.”
(I know you said it was part of the business, but Head Coach Mike McDaniel was talking about how the juice that that type of deal, those types of deals can add to a team. I mean, the locker room, your teammates – do you feel maybe today was a little more excitement even with adding a Pro Bowler like LB Bradley Chubb?) – “I think it’s always exciting when you add someone like that and someone of that caliber to our team. He’ll definitely help out our defense and with Jeff (Wilson Jr.) – I know Jeff will do as much as he can with helping us out on offense.”
(I guess we got to ask about the Bears since we won’t talk to you before then.) – “Yeah, I was just about to say the Bears are a good team as well, guys. (laughter)”
(What’s the biggest challenge in running the offense on the road versus here?) – “A lot of challenges depending on the crowd noise and for guys who haven’t played in Chicago or who haven’t set foot there, the field I would say isn’t as good as other places. So we’ll have to figure that out with the cleats that we wear and whatnot, but the weather can change as well there. It could be sunny at one point and then it could just be a downpour. It could be hot; it could be cold. Who knows? It could be windy; it could be a slight breeze. Who knows? So we’ll have to be ready for any circumstance that we’re given. But these guys are a good team and we’re looking forward to the challenge they bring to us.”
(You’ve done a good job this year of kind of taking narratives and smashing them about you and your performance and all that and I guess one of the few that’s remaining is winning in cold weather, winning in windy, bad weather. Is this kind of a focus for you this stretch? “Hey, I’ve got to prove I can play no matter the surface?”) – “I think for myself, it’s proving that I can be consistent with my play in every game. I’m not necessarily focused on whatever the weather is or whatever the climate is there. I’m just focusing on what I can do to make positive plays or help our team positively by handing the ball off 80 times or throwing it 80 times, whatever that entails.”
(What do you remember from your experiences going over there for the joint practices the start of last year and the preseason game? I know their roster has changed a lot but were there any takeaways from those experiences?) – “Yeah. The first thing that came to mind was obviously the field, the condition of the field. But being able to play against their guys, like you said, there’s a lot of guys who aren’t on the roster when we went over there for joint practices, but they still got a couple guys that are there in the back end. And like I said, we’re just looking forward to whatever challenge they bring.”
(How much does the Bears defense change without LB Roquan Smith? I’m sure – I think he was traded probably after you guys started your film study?) – “Yeah, I think it changes a lot. If you look at the film, I mean, him and Robert Quinn, they were basically the heart of the defense there. But that’s not to (discount) that the guys that are stepping in for them aren’t going to do all they can to help their team stop us or help their team make plays to get their offense the ball back. So no, I think it’s big for them, but at the same time, it’s the NFL. It’s the next man up mentality, so we know that they’ll have a good plan, regardless of who’s in.”
(Back to the trades for a second. Do you think these acquisitions make you guys Super Bowl contenders? And do you think you were Super Bowl contenders prior to the trades?) – “I think throughout OTAs and throughout training camp, we could see the potential that we had as a team offensively and defensively, and we’re not afraid to talk about Super Bowls here. We’re not afraid to talk about going to a playoff game, having an opportunity to go to one and then hopefully winning one. But yeah, if you were to ask me that, I would say I have full belief that we are capable, even with the trades that we we’ve had.”
(What did you feel for RB Chase Edmonds?) – “I mean that’s my guy. I got to spend a lot of time with him throughout the offseason and obviously through the season. It’s sad. It’s tough. But like I said, it’s part of the business. He knows that and we all understand and we all know that.”
(Your third-down passer rating is the highest since they began tracking that stat back in 1991. What do you think it is about this offense that makes your third down so able to execute on third down?) – “I think we do a really good job in practice with the scout team. The scout team gives us great looks on what their team plays on third-and-long and we’re also talking about things that could potentially come up. So if they did come up, where could we go if this doesn’t show up? So I would say we have a lot of answers for our third-down plays, whether it’s third-and-long, third-and-short, of potential coverages we could be getting.”
(You said in June that you are usually hard on yourself and Head Coach Mike McDaniel was helping you to kind of get out of that mindset. Now that we’re here in November, how would you kind of evaluate how you’ve been able to be nicer to yourself, if you have been at all? How much progress have you made there?) – “Yeah, I would say it’s mostly internally now. I don’t show it as much when I’m around (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel), but I do show it when I’m around guys that I know won’t tell me what I feel like I want to hear at times, because of how overly positive Mike is. So, I don’t know – it’s like a give or take kind of deal. Mike is overly positive, and sometimes it gets to the point where I’ve got to kind of step away from overly positive. Or if that’s the case, then I just listen to what he says, nod my head yes and then I go away and then kind of… (laughter)”
(Do you ever have to ask Head Coach Mike McDaniel to like say something real? Or not real, but tough? “Be tough with me.” Do you ever have to ask him that?) – “Yeah, but that’s not who he is. And for him, he’s not going to do something that’s not him, and he’s not going to do something just sporadical. If something really makes him mad, then you’ll see him burst out, but other than that, he’s just how he always is.”
(Who do you go to when you want someone who’s not going to be as overly positive? Who are those people?) – “Shoot, myself. (laughter) Myself, but I would also say probably (Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Darrell Bevell) ‘Bev,’ our quarterbacks coach. Yeah, ‘Bev.’ He’s not like too hard, but he’s just like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get this. There’s no other way around it.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, you’re right.’”
(So kind of on the same note, we’re at the halfway point, realistically, of the season. Where do you think you’ve grown the most and where do you want to see yourself grow more in the second half to make a stretch run?) – “Well, I think I’ve grown a lot with the deep balls, huh? Don’t we think? (laughter) That was probably a subtle jab, but it was a jab. (laughter) So I would say the deep ball, and then I can continue to get better on the deep ball.”
Jerome Baker – November 2, 2022
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Tuesday, November 2, 2022
LB Jerome Baker
(On adding LB Bradley Chubb and RB Jeff Wilson Jr.) – “Man, I’m excited. We’ve got some new guys coming in to help us win. I know everybody’s excited. I’m excited, too.”
(What does a move like that – what message does it send to the locker room?) – “That we’re ready to win. We’re getting guys to come in and help us win and you can’t be nothing but happy. It’s going to be exciting.”
(What’s it like when your team is the big flyer on trade deadline day?) – “It’s exciting, man. It’s cool to wake up and see your team on SportsCenter and all that, and it’s for a good reason. I’m excited. We’re all excited. I know the fans are excited and it’s going to be good one.”
(What does a guy like LB Bradley Chubb do for a guy like you?) – “Man, he’ll help me so many ways, I can’t even explain to you. He gets after the quarterback. He’s a smart guy. I know he’s cool with Dre’Mont (Jones) back in Denver, so I knew him a little bit personally, so it’s going to be exciting, man. Hopefully he just helps us win games.”
(What do you know about LB Bradley Chubb personally?) – “Well, I know a friend that knows him, so it’s going to be good and I’m looking forward to getting to know him some more.”
(Did you make that phone call right away?) – “I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t say that, but I’m going to definitely take the time to get to know him and it’s going to be all good.”
(How much can LB Bradley Chubb help this week going up against Bears QB Justin Fields, another mobile guy?) – “I mean, he can help us right now, today. So it’s going to be exciting. He can get after the pass rush. (He is a) smart guy and hope he makes some big plays for us.”
Tyreek Hill – November 2, 2022
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Wednesday, November 2, 2022
WR Tyreek Hill
(On the trades for LB Bradley Chubb and RB Jeff Wilson Jr.) – “I was chilling when it all happened. I’m excited for it. I’m happy to see that the GM and the head coach are very invested in this team. They really understand that every team has a window, and they see that the window is now for this team. I’m looking forward to going out and practicing with those guys. I know those guys are going to bring out a lot of energy and bring a lot of experience, especially Jeff (Wilson), being in this offense, being in a similar system in San Fran. I’m looking forward to it.”
(I know you always bring juice. Do you take that news and bring a little more juice?) – “Yeah. But I feel like I’ve been playing ball my whole life. I’m looking forward to this week.”
(We did see what you were doing yesterday when it happened and we saw your reaction. Now that you’ve had time to digest it, what do you feel like LB Bradley Chubb and RB Jeff Wilson Jr. can bring to this team, and to this locker room?) – “I’m not a defensive guy, so really can’t speak much on the defensive side of the ball. But as far as Jeff Wilson, I’ve watched a few of his games and just the explosive mindset of him being able to catch the ball out of the backfield, just the different aspects of the game when I watch him play. He’s a very special player.”
(You were in the same division as LB Bradley Chubb, so you faced him a lot. Are there any impressions that you have from going up against him?) – “Like I said, he’s a d-linemen and I’m a receiver so they are definitely two different things. He’s definitely a Pro Bowl player. I saw him at the Pro Bowl once. (He’s a) high energy guy who is going to bring a lot of experience to this team. I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
(The head coach and general manager both came out earlier today and said in so many words that we are all in on QB Tua Tagovailoa. Do you sense that the organization has fully supported him, and that there is a belief factor here?) – “You asked the two top dogs – the head coach and the GM. What are you asking me for? (laughter) I don’t sign the checks here. If they said it, obviously they’re bought into what Tua got going on right now. I feel like he’s playing at a tremendous level. He’s making me look right about everything I said about him in the offseason. There you go. The head coach and GM have said it, so everybody else needs to jump on board too with it.”
(Is there anybody that can overthrow you?) – “I don’t know. I don’t even get into that.”
(With the start that you’ve had, there are some whispers of you being in the MVP conversation. I’m not going to ask you if you think you deserve to be in the conversation, but do you think it’s possible for a wide receiver in this age to win the MVP?) – “Yeah. I think that it’s possible. For me to be in such conversations like that is just a blessing within itself. I just want to say thank God for my people, my peers and people just acknowledging me to even be in that conversation. I came from a small town, didn’t grow up with a lot. I grew up in a crazy situation. Just to be playing in the NFL every day, for me, I’ve already accomplished my dream. For me to be in the MVP conversation, that’s legacy right there for me.”
Raheem Mostert – November 2, 2022
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Wednesday, November 2, 2022
RB Raheem Mostert
(On RB Chase Edmonds and RB Jeff Wilson Jr.) – “First and foremost, I have to give a shoutout to Chase (Edmonds). I built a strong bond with him, and it’s always difficult when you see a teammate, a brother of yours be traded to a different team. I hope the best for him. I actually called him when I found out and we talked for a little bit. He was like, ‘Man, you’ve got to do your thing out there,’ and I said the same thing. It’s always good to know that somebody wanted him, too. So there’s a lot of positives. But with Jeff (Wilson Jr.), y’all going to get to know him. He’s a pretty cool dude. I’ve been with him for a couple years now, ever since he was a rookie. I remember when he came in undrafted and didn’t know if he was going to make the team. Me and him sat in my car and talked a little bit, because I’m an undrafted guy as well, and now look at us. We’re both still playing in the league. I gave him some words of encouragement at the time and told him, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it, bro. You’re going to be good.’ And now, it’s paying off, the hard work that he’s done thus far and have continued to do, even this year. I think he’s in the Top 20 in rushing right now, too, so right along with me. It’s always good to know that you have a brother with you that you’ve played with for some time now.”
(What is it about the mindset of undrafted guys?) – “It’s different, honestly. We’ve got a little more hunger, and we want to thrive as best as we possibly can when the opportunity presents itself, and that’s what I see in Jeff (Wilson Jr.). Every time he touches the rock, he’s always hungry and ready to go.”
(I think you were on the 2019 San Francisco 49ers team when you guys added WR Emmanuel Sanders not at the trade deadline but a little before. Can you talk about the boost it gives a locker room to know that the guys in the front office are adding and trying to go all out?) – “Yes, I mean that 2019 year, you saw what happened. You see what we did – we made it to the Super Bowl and we added Emmanuel Sanders to the roster. So it’s always good to have guys come, whether it’s on the trade deadline or a little bit before, being traded and coming to a team and just boosting our morale up even more. It’s always a good feeling knowing that we’re sitting in a good spot right now, especially at 5-3. We just have to put the pieces together, get those guys going with us and let’s see where it takes us.”
(General Manager Chris Grier called it a kumbaya moment that you and Head Coach Mike McDaniel had over the reuniting with RB Jeff Wilson Jr. What does that mean to you?) – “It was the team meeting this morning, and (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) was like, ‘Hey, we got ‘Jefe. (Jeff Wilson Jr.)’ And I was like, ‘I know we did!’ (laughter) But I’m just locked in right now on the Bears and trying to get it going with the offense and the run game. I’m excited to have Jeff be a part of the room as well, because like I said, I know what he brings to the table.”
(How would you describe RB Jeff Wilson Jr. as a runner?) – “He’s very aggressive, very physical, but he also has a little bit of wiggle to him, too. I specifically remember when we were down against the Cardinals in the fourth quarter, and he made the walk-off touchdown to win us the game. He had a choice route, and you could just see the knowledge and the skillset that he possesses in that aspect in the pass game. So it’s going to be great to have him back in, and I’m excited for him.”
Jaelan Phillips – November 2, 2022
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Tuesday, November 2, 2022
LB Jaelan Phillips
(On adding LB Bradley Chubb) – “Yeah, I think it’s awesome. I think the more pieces we have on the defense, the more successful we can be. So it’s great to have a guy like that. I’ll definitely lean into him and try to get some advice with pass rushing and stuff like that. but yeah, happy to have him here, for sure.”
(Have you met LB Bradley Chubb yet?) – “Yeah, I actually met him at Brandon Jones’ wedding this last offseason.”
(When you picture maybe yourself on one side, him on the other side – can you describe the difficulties offenses are going to have facing the two of you guys?) – “Yeah, just with any packages that we have, like I said, I think the more pieces you have, the more guys that can get loose in the pass rush, obviously it helps. I don’t necessarily know what the packages are going to look like – me inside, him outside, (Emmanuel) Ogbah, stuff like that – so I guess we’ll see.”
(What was your first reaction when you heard about it?) – “I was kind of surprised. I was like, ‘Oh, wow. That’s like a big-time trade.’ So it’s kind of like the first kind of ‘marquee trade’ other than Tyreek (Hill), obviously, that I’ve been a part of since we’ve been here, so it’s cool.”
(Were you doing anything in particular when the news first came down and was it something – like as a player, do you kind of pay attention to the reports and rumors that are coming out about potential news?) – “I think I just got done with a massage or something like that, so I’m like, groggy already and I see it. I’m like, ‘is this real?’ (laughter) But yeah, it’s cool, man. I’m excited.”
(Does it send a message to the team, to the locker room like, “Hey, we’re all in?”) – “Yeah, I mean it just goes to show they’re trying to get as many pieces here so we can have as successful of a team as possible. So having these big trades like that, it definitely is a cool look.”
(From watching LB Bradley Chubb from afar, what do you like about his game?) – “I honestly haven’t seen too, too much. I obviously know he’s a key pass rusher in this league, but I don’t really watch the Broncos that much. I kind of just do game prep and see who I’m going against. But I know he’s super talented, so I’m excited to have him here.”
(How have you felt about this team’s pass rush up to date?) – “I think that maybe the numbers might not be there, but I think we’ve been getting pressure. I think we have things to build on and things to work on as always, but we’re just continually trying to get pressure on the quarterback and trying to come together as a team and as a unit.”
(How important is it going to be to get pressure on this guy you face this week?) – “It’s going to be super important, just like any other week. But when you have a guy like Justin Fields who is as dynamic of a runner as he is a passer, you’ve definitely got to get in his face. He’s a young guy so getting the most pressure on him, I think that’s kind of the key to success that we have.”
(What about not just pressure, but containment as well when Justin Field does try to step out of the pocket?) – “Yeah, I mean it’s all in the same bucket, right? It’s just being able to contain him as a quarterback like a dual-threat, so it’s going to be a fun challenge.”
Mike McDaniel – November 2, 2022
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Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(What was your reaction when you hear you’re bringing in a player like LB Bradley Chubb?) – “It was restrained excitement because I was – it was a multitasking day. You’re trying to get prepared for an opponent and then you’re also having – it’s hard to get quality players like that. It comes at a cost, and you have to say bye to a guy that you’ve invested in and invested with. But overall, this is something that I’ve been hoping might happen for a while, just in my own brain and hoping that my wishes would come into existence. It was exciting but tempered, because we’re preparing for an opponent and there’s stuff to worry about. But we got a lot of hugs from people, so that was cool.”
(If I could follow up, will these two guys, LB Bradley Chubb and RB Jeff Wilson Jr., be ready for this weekend?) – “(Those) would be aggressive, aggressive moves for some more sideline get-back coaches. So they’ll play. Now how much? That’s to be determined. I was considering playing Jeff (Wilson Jr.) on offense and Bradley (Chubb) on defense, but outside of that, we’ll be working through it for this week, and it’ll be fun. (laughter) I’m excited for the team because both of those individuals are excited to be a part of this team. We’re very happy with the direction we’re going and hopefully that will help push forward and continue in that direction.”
(General Manager Chris Grier wouldn’t do it, but he deserves a lot of credit, obviously, for the team he’s put together.) – “Yeah, let’s knock it out for Chris (Grier). (knocks on the podium) That’s what I do in team meetings, we’re knocking it up.”
(Just the impact he’s had on the roster over the last…) – “I mean, it directly impacts coaches. From the minute I got here, what I was so impressed with, you see on paper – I just know from firsthand experience what losing streaks are like and I know how tough it is to start an NFL season on the heavy side of the loss column. So coming in here on paper, I was intrigued because to start 1-7 and then to win football games is a tough task for a locker room. You see a lot of locker rooms divide and then implode, but it started to make sense when I got here. There’s very talented players across the roster. But more than anything, you have these good human beings that have the right intent and that are focused on, above all things else, winning. And that is unique. I think a ton of credit should go to Chris (Grier) and his staff, because there are a lot of quality players and people. It gets lost in all the mix, but that’s what ends up winning in this league, are people coming together as a team. It’s been awesome, and that was just more of the same from my experience with him yesterday.”
(A couple weeks ago, you had said that the edge position was your favorite position. Now that you have LB Bradley Chubb in the fold, can you kind of give a scouting report on what sticks out to you?) – “What sticks out to me is you know where to find me during individual – just hanging out, watching edges. (laughter) I think it’s an important piece to the team. When you talk about a team defense and when you really look at really good defenses, the common denominator is there’s 11 guys going to the ball and if one guy is off an assignment, everybody ends up being impacted by that. So team defense and what another edge rusher, especially of his quality, can add to the defense, it can make our team that much better. It can make people at the position group he plays, the defensive front, it can help corners and safeties – it’s all collective. So that’s what I’m most excited for. It’s not anything individually with him. It’s more of how it will help our defense do what it’s trying to do.”
(Can you talk about the energy that it can give you as a team? I know you were in San Francisco in 2019 when they added WR Emmanuel Sanders, you guys ended up going to the Super Bowl that year. Kind of the boost that you can get, knowing that you’re all in and just feeling like you’ve got the front office’s, not that you didn’t know that, but adding now to make that big push?) – “I think what it is because – people say all in. People in the NFL are also very aware of the not for long. So I would generally say that for the most part, people are generally all in, because you know you don’t have time and it’s people’s careers at stake. But what you’re referring to, I totally agree with and I do see – I think some symmetry in that there’s a common denominator where you have a team that is having a season that they’re very much in the mix of everything, that’s winning football games more than they’re losing, and then you add a quality NFL player or players, and if they’re the right type of people, if they’re the right type of personality, it can really breathe some added life, not new life, but really added life into the monotony of the season, because you are going about your Mondays very much the same, your Tuesdays very much the same, your Wednesdays – Sundays are always fun, that’s why we do it. But bringing that juice in, also, players have different experiences themselves. I think it rejuvenates them in the middle of the season when you’re getting through all that and when you’re building your callus, that happens every single season. So there is an energy that’s positive because you get a sense of team and people are thinking about what we – it’s a new individual to them, all these players in the locker room. It’s new individuals to them, so it forces you to think about team, because you’re excited about it, because of team. We’re moving forward, trying to win one game at a time, fully focused on Chicago. Hopefully, these new additions will be able to contribute, just like all the other players are hoping they will as well.”
(When did you and Chris Grier start talking about trading for LB Bradley Chubb? He said it was a couple of weeks ago, he started talking to the Broncos, when did you and him start talking about that?) – “In my interview. (laughter) No. To be honest, I know it’s Wednesday, because it is a press conference. I know that every other day, I have a press conference, so this is the middle one. Outside of that, I don’t even know. I can’t even tell you. I know we talk a lot about all sorts of different players and teams. Our business is football. So we talk about players to a great extent throughout the season. I’m not sure really when he came up, specifically. Then there’s a time where teams start discussing that option and quite honestly, I couldn’t even tell you when that was. But it’s something that as you guys know, I have an affinity for the edge players. It’s my specific position of choice. Having practiced against him back in 2019 and also in game stuff, he’s been on my radar as one of those guys that you can really dictate the terms for what you’re able to do offensively, which is why it’s cool to have him here.”
(You’ve been committed to QB Tua Tagovailoa since you got here. But us as media, we see this trade, we see you guys giving up a first-round pick for 2023, and we see that as sort of doubling down as we talk about being all-in on QB Tua Tagovailoa as your quarterback. Are we thinking about this trade in the correct way of what it means, as it relates to Tua?) – “Good question. We all agree with that? We all feel that way? (laughter) Well, yeah, I would say you’re right on all fronts, that from the get go, I’ve fully seen Tua as our quarterback for this team and this franchise. I think he’s an unbelievable talent. So I guess in a roundabout way, I think that implication, I think that’s fair. But it’s not something that we all of a sudden rethought after he had a good game. This is something that since I’ve been here, we’ve kind of known and we’ve been able to operate with that in mind with all the things that we’ve done.”
(With RB Jeff Wilson Jr., what did you like about his game, him as a player, him as a person with your time with him San Francisco?) – “So Jeff – it’s a cool story because when he was an undrafted – actually when he was coming out of college, I actually flew down on a vacation day and worked him out at North Texas. I was like in denim covering him on wide receiver routes. And let’s just say I didn’t cover him well, which isn’t saying much. But I got to learn a lot about him that day. Much of which, with the support of the scouting department there, we targeted him as an undrafted player, and I’ve seen him really grow into a professional. He’s a guy that is magnetic. He’s very focused on football, has a nature of playing football that I think help or affects his teammates in a positive manner. He’s a physical guy that you can count on to bring that physicality and tone sets in that regard. Great teammate. And he’s a guy that doesn’t – you always really gravitate towards people that expect nothing given to them and enjoy the process of earning stuff, and that’s the way he’s always been. He’s always been very – he’s been around very competitive backfields and he’s always rooted for his teammates, and is one of the locker room’s favorite players, while also trying to do his best and whatever he can to help the team. So I couldn’t be happier with the person that we’re bringing to Dolphins.”
(On the other side of that, trading away RB Chase Edmonds. What do you think really didn’t click here for him?) – “I talked to Chase. It wasn’t really that. It wasn’t not clicking. There’s no doubt in my mind that you guys would have started to see a lot of the Chase that we’ve seen in practices and there’s a couple opportunities that didn’t really go his way and then the way we were playing, Raheem (Mostert) playing well minimized the opportunity. So this was not moving on for that reason. This was something to help really facilitate a different roster need, that we felt fortunate to be able to compensate from his loss with the ability to go get Jeff. So it was a matter of time. I think, myself, I was very confident. I think a lot of his teammates were confident that the ball was going to start bouncing his way and he was going to start making the plays that he’s accustomed to making. But it was just a short period of time – the NFL season – and with the contributing factors, it just didn’t work out. But I wish him the best and the way he’s really attacked being a Miami Dolphin, he’s a Dolphin to me as I know him. I’ll be proud of what he does in Denver. I know he’s going to do well.”
(How in sync are you and General Manager Chris Grier? Considering the LB Bradley Chubb trade and the WR Tyreek Hill trade, this is like the second time he’s made your dream come true.) – “I feel extremely fortunate to work with a GM such as Chris. I feel very fortunate to be in the organization in general. All of those things, like I said, it was one of the overwhelming things when I was interviewing for this place is I could piece it together pretty fast that there’s a lot a lot of parts of this organization that a lot of head coaches aren’t afforded. So it is awesome. We take it very serious, the direction of the Miami Dolphins organization, and every decision that is made with that in mind. So there is no such thing as over-communication and we wouldn’t allow it to be any other way except for being 100 percent on the same page about anything that we’re doing.”
(You said there’s no such thing as over-communication. How frequently do you and General Manager Chris Grier talk?) – “He’s talking to me an earpiece right now. He’s telling me not to answer that. (laughter) No, we share office walls. It’s really hard to do anything without knowing what each other are doing. I’m sure he’s getting pretty sick of hearing late 90s, early 2000s rap. But he’s going to have to deal with it. We take pride in that. We’ve been fortunate enough to be in the NFL for a good amount of time, each of us collectively, and we realize how important it is to the entire organization, that the organization is depending on us to be working together in a forthright manner. So we do not take that lightly.”
(I want to ask another QB Tua Tagovailoa big-picture question. Now that you have an answer at quarterback going forward, how freeing is that as an organization to know that the most important questions have been answered for you guys?) – “I mean, yeah, in those conversations, and I’ve been on both sides of them, but you’re firmly on one side of the fence or the other. And it does change how you’re able to big-picture operate. I think it influences it. It doesn’t like dictate it, but you still – teams win, individuals don’t. But when you’re in the search, it’s a difficult place to be in and there is some clarity with regard to being very, very confident in your starting quarterback.”
Chris Grier – November 2, 2022
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Tuesday, November 2, 2022
General Manager Chris Grier
(In getting LB Bradley Chubb can you kind of walk us through the timeline of that deal? We know that you had talked about premium picks being so important, but can you just walk us through how that all came together?) – “Yeah, we talked about here a bunch, you guys heard me say that we’re always looking for opportunities to upgrade the roster and do things that we thought could benefit us not just today, but long term as well. He’s a 26-year-old player at a premium position. He’s a very good football player. We had some very casual conversations a couple weeks ago about it, but probably until like the last couple days when they got back from London is when things really heated up between George (Paton) and I just having conversations, multiple conversations throughout the days trying to see if we could get a deal done.”
(LB Bradley Chubb in the final year of his contract. Are you in a place where you’re confident you’ll be able to reach an extension with him?) – “Yes. When you do a deal like that for a player, you always would like to – from our perspective when we do business –we would like to have something done and we anticipate having something finished up here shortly.”
(Obviously LB Bradley Chubb has had several incidences throughout his career where granted he’s been very productive, but he’s also had a string of injuries. What gives you confidence that he’s going to be able to stay on the field in Miami?) – “Yeah, we did a lot of research and analytics looking at that as well. With him obviously the ACL, but if you go around the league and look at some of the other guys that are premium pass rushers, historically there’s been guys that have had ACLs and multiple ACL injuries, too, as well. So with him, he’s 26 years old. He’s a tough kid. He keeps himself in great shape. Everything that the research – talking to people about him, talked about his character and love for football and drive and it matched everything we had had on him. We studied him coming out of college a few years back. Listen, injuries happen. But we feel good that at his age and how he plays and the things we do that it was a risk worth taking.”
(You guys have now a lot of big contracts on your book so 2023 could be a little dicey from a cap situation. Why are you confident this can all work? That you can continue to add to the team like you’ll probably need to in the offseason?) – “I think when you do these type of deals, you always have to have an eye for the future like we’re talking about. For us, adding Bradley (Chubb) – he’s a good player – but we also feel good about Jaelan (Phillips), Andrew (Van Ginkel) and Melvin (Ingram). So we’re adding a piece to that group. But you always have to look for the future. We haven’t really done anything here since I’ve been in charge of I guess not having that eye of being very aware of where money and limiting our chances to make a move in the future to help us.”
(These two moves with RB Jeff Wilson Jr. and LB Bradley Chubb, do you consider your team a Super Bowl favorite or Super Bowl contender in the AFC? How do you view yourselves in that respect?) – “I’ve always just viewed it as always just trying for us to put together the best team we can. So for us, I think we have a lot of good players. I think Mike (McDaniel) and this coaching staff have done a great job of working with these guys, implementing their scheme and doing things that give us a chance to win. I’m not into predictions and everything, but I do think we have a good team that has a chance to compete and win some games in the future.”
(This was the busiest trade deadline that the NFL has seen and obviously you were very involved yesterday. You’ve been involved in your tenure here as general manager. So this is a big picture question, but can you kind of explain how we got here? Like why are we seeing so many more trades? What has changed within the NFL landscape that’s gotten us here?) – “I think analytics has played a big part. I think you’ve seen a lot of GMs come in that are much more open to trading. Like it’s always – when you see an inter-division trade. We did one with DeVante (Parker) earlier and then now you see that with Minnesota and Detroit. I just think now teams are much more willing if they feel there’s an opportunity to help their team not just now, but long-term as well in terms of draft capital, which is where we were a few years ago – we had a ton of picks, picked some good players – and now just feel we’re at a point where we can afford to give up a pick here and there to pick up a player like Bradley Chubb.”
(All transactions are obviously made with the quarterback situation in the front or back of your mind. So by not having first-round picks next year, has your perspective on a question you answered before the season for us altered? The question was of course, “can Tua be elite?” Now that you have some more evidence, what do you think?) – “I will say we are very, very happy with how Tua (Tagovailoa) is playing and what he’s done for us. It’s been really exciting to watch him blossom on and off the field. He does so much work here behind the scenes that people don’t see in terms of all the stuff to prepare to make himself take that leap. Him and Mike (McDaniel), their connection is really special. I think you guys kind of feel it being around them and it’s been really fun watching them. That’s why we drafted him where we did. We believed and so we’re very, very happy with him.”
(The team hasn’t made a move for a cornerback or a safety with all the injuries at those positions. Can you explain why? Is there something still possibly in the works or do you anticipate a return from CB Byron Jones pretty soon potentially?) – “Again, we’ll always keep looking for those opportunities. When you get to the trade deadline, another thing is everyone is looking for the same position. They’re looking for corners, pass rushers and offensive linemen. And so for us, we didn’t make the move. Our coaching staff feels very strongly, as I do, that we have a good group of guys. The guys have played well that have been inserted and asked to do more than some guys have ever done for a few years, but they’re all team guys. They fit very well in the scheme, so we’re happy with the group, but we’re always looking still. And in terms of Byron (Jones), he’s still working his way back. He’s here, he works hard and so for us. we’re just letting him get back to trying to be back as soon as he can.”
(Another question about a move you didn’t make. How much attention, how many phone calls, did you receive maybe inquiring about TE Mike Gesicki’s availability?) – “I received no phone calls about Mike (Gesicki) and we were not actively shopping him. Mike (Gesicki) has done a good job. I know it’s been chronicled here, his journey, but he’s made plays for us. He’s a valued member here. I know he and Mike (McDaniel) have really been working and talking and spending time with each other, and it’s been fun watching Mike. I think you see the joy he’s having playing, especially the touchdown last week. So very happy, but we did not have any calls and we did not pursue any trades.”
(After the WR Tyreek Hill trade, your kids showed you some memes that were circulating about a quote from maybe the Rams GM with your face on it. Did you see any of that re-circulation and if your kids came back to you with anything?) – “No. (laughter) No, I didn’t see anything yesterday. We were still in here getting ready for Chicago.”
(Going back on that – Les Snead gets the reputation of what he did with draft picks, but you’ve been doing this since 2018, 2019, even before. The wheeling and dealing you’ve done, turning every single trade into the team that you’ve had now – I guess big picture, to be in this position, how does it feel after everything that you’ve done to maneuver this team into this place?) – “For me, I’m just doing a job. I don’t really think about it that way. I think I’m just trying to do everything I can and I have great support with (Chairman of the Board/Managing General Partner) Stephen Ross, (Senior Vice President of Football and Business Administration) Brandon Shore and (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) and (Vice Chairman, President and CEO) Tom Garfinkel. So I think just working through all that, doing that, and Steve (Ross) being willing to listen and trust me to do these things. (He) is unbelievably supportive for me and I appreciate and won’t forget it. But I think for us, it’s just doing a job. I don’t think any of us, including myself, will be happy unless we ultimately win a Super Bowl, which is what every team is trying to do.”
(Do you feel a bit of satisfaction though because obviously there was talk in December, January, there have been coaching changes made – was it the players or the coaches the reason you guys didn’t reach your goals – the fact now that the players, particularly your quarterback, are showing up as you kind of envisioned from the start, at least give a sense of satisfaction for you that it’s all kind of coming together?) – “I really don’t give myself time to do that and I’m not trying to avoid the question or deflect it. We’re just in the moment working trying to win as many games as we can and it’s a very competitive league. We’re in a great division. Buffalo is a great team and the Jets are playing well and New England is coming on, so for us we’re just trying to win as many games and give us a chance to get to the postseason.”
(Do you have a piece of paper or dry-erase board or something with Laremy Tunsil at the top and then all the picks and players you’ve gotten from that trade? We tried to figure it out and it’s really hard, but obviously there’s a lot of players that have come out of these transactions. Do you have it written down somewhere and now that it’s almost over, what do you think about the Tunsil trade in retrospect?) – “Well, I always go back to – Laremy (Tunsil) is a very good player and he and I still, we’ll text every once in a while and I’ll joke with him and guys will tell me like, ‘Laremy is like, bring me back.’ (laughter) Just joking in the offseason about stuff. But listen, at the end of the day, I don’t really think about it. Someone sent me a text or (the football communications staff) showed me something that said something about the three picks from last year, how they turned into (Jaylen) Waddle, Tyreek (Hill) and Bradley (Chubb). But I really don’t think about it other than if someone shows me that. That’s just who I am. I think you guys know me. I said I’m not out here seeking attention to talk to you guys. I very much prefer to stay in the background. (laughter)”
(What are you guys getting about of RB Jeff Wilson Jr. and did Head Coach Mike McDaniel have some influence on that acquisition?) – “He probably had a little bit of influence on that one. (laughter) Jeff (Wilson Jr.) is a guy we’ve watched. He’s a tough kid. He’s physical. We had talked about him in the offseason as well. So when the opportunity came, when Denver asked for Chase (Edmonds) specifically to get the deal done – they wanted Chase (Edmonds) – so we had to find a running back and fortunately John (Lynch) and Kyle (Shanahan), in talking to them, we were able to get a deal done to get Jeff here. I know he and Mike (McDaniel) and Raheem (Mostert) were all hugging and having their kumbaya moment together, being back together, but it’s cool. He has toughness. He’s familiar with the system so I’m very excited to get him here and see what he adds to the team.”
(Coming back to QB Tua Tagovailoa, how much did his development this season and success this season accelerate this team’s timeline in your perspective?) – “Yeah, I would say it has an effect on it. But I don’t think we looked at it – because you heard us from Day 1, especially Mike (McDaniel) from Day 1 was like, ‘this is the guy and we’re going to win a lot of games with him.’ So for us, this was just about making a move to add a really good player at a premium position that is 26 years old and get them to a deal here to have them here long term as well. So this was again, looking at now, but also the future for this team.”
(We saw the reaction from WR Tyreek Hill. He was on Twitch yesterday and he’s like, “Man, we got Bradley Chubb. Let’s go.” Can you talk about what it means to add an impact player for not just the future but also the stretch run and kind of reinforcing that this team is going for it?) – “Yeah, I think any time you add a player of you know Bradley’s caliber and even adding Jeff – guys were excited about Jeff Wilson that have played against him. They know how tough he is. He is a physical runner. It does. It gives everyone a boost. Guys were very excited today. They were talking about it. We’re very excited. The locker room was very excited. The coaching staff, too. The defensive guys are running into Mike (McDaniel) and I and hugging us. So it’s pretty cool. The guys were excited. We’re just looking forward to seeing how everything turns out.”
(Laremy Tunsil – Ring of Honor. Is that in the works?) – “(laughter) That’s a question for Steve (Ross).”
