Gary Jennings – November 7, 2019
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Thursday, November 7, 2019
WR Gary Jennings
(On moving here from Seattle.) – “It’s a long trip, but I wouldn’t say a ‘whirlwind,’ so to speak. I’ve been pretty even-headed, level-headed, and I’m just ready to go here.”
(We talked to Head Coach Brian Flores earlier and he said that you had paid them a visit prior the draft, so you had already worked out for them. To be familiar with the coaching staff again, is that…?) – “Yeah, it’s pretty cool to have built a prior relationship in that pre-draft process. They’re a great staff. I can’t wait to see what they have to come.”
(What’s it like to be an early draft pick and then have a team that selects you waive you and then another team claim you?) – “Honestly to me, everything has a reason. Everything works out in its own way. I’m just happy to be where I am now.”
(What do you remember from that pre-draft meeting? Some of the feedback you got or some of the interactions with the staff.) – “I know they were really high on me and that’s why they took a chance on me again.”
(What do you view as your strengths? What do you bring to the field, to the position?) – “I’m a playmaker. I’m smart and heady. I bring very great camaraderie and I’m a great teammate as well.”
(Anything you feel that you need to work on the most or where you could maybe improve?) – “In all aspects. When you start getting complacent, that’s when you regress so (I am) always looking to get better in all aspects.”
(How long do you think it’s going to take you to learn a playbook?) – “I’m trying to get it down as fast as possible. That’s the key.”
Brian Flores – November 7, 2019
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Thursday, November 7, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Can you explain the thinking behind not activating CB Cordrea Tankersley yesterday?) – “We didn’t think he was ready to go. He’s obviously coming off the injury. He’s made a lot of progress; but at the end of the day, we just felt he wasn’t quite ready and it wasn’t in the best interest of him or this team.”
(On game day, how do you handle the different personalities? I saw a funny moment in the last game where LB Jerome Baker was kind of dancing, he got you smiling and he was all “hey, I got Coach smiling.” Other guys have their headphones and are totally focused – how do you handle that or is that…?) – “It’s football. There’s different personalities. I deal with different guys on, really every day. From the coaching staff to the players to the trainers to – I like dealing with different personalities. I like dealing with different people. It’s part of the job. It’s also something I enjoy. ‘Bake’ (Jerome Baker) tries to get a smile out of me every once in a while. I faked a smile for him in that situation (laughter) just to kind of keep it going. I do what I’ve got to do to get my guys ready to play.”
(What can you tell us about the new receiver you brought in yesterday – WR Gary Jennings?) – “Gary – we brought him in for a 30-visit in the spring and we really – we liked him. We liked him as a player, we liked him as a person. We thought he had some speed, some size, some athleticism. He’s a young guy we wanted to work with. Obviously we weren’t able to draft him – Seattle took him; but when he was available, we felt like this would be a good young player to bring into the building and try to help develop.”
(Have you had to talk to RB Kalen Ballage about the opportunity that he has now or is that one of those things that it should be obvious so you just kind of let it go?) – “I talk to players pretty much every day. Kalen knows he’s a big part of this team. He’ll have some more opportunities this week. He knows that. It’s not something I’ve got to – I don’t have to get him going or try to – he doesn’t need any extra motivation. He’s a motivated kid. He’s someone who – he’s very eager. He wants this. It’s important to him. I don’t think he needs any extra motivation from me.”
(Where is C Daniel Kilgore on the road back and the same thing with DE Avery Moss?) – “Both guys are working their way back. Both got into practice yesterday and (are) making a lot of progress. We think we’ll be close this week. Hopefully we see both of them.”
(Is that something where you just have to wait for the medical clearance or you just see them practicing at a higher level?) – “(It is) a little bit of both. Obviously we’re constantly watching them. They’re cleared to practice and then you’ve just got to see how much of a hindrance the injury is. Are they back to full speed? Can they go into a game at a higher level in an aggressive and physical game and be productive? There’s a lot that goes into it. From a medically cleared (standpoint) – yeah. Are they all-the-way ready to go? We need to see that in practice.”
(Is there a player on the team that you see some of Boston College Brian Flores in or a player who you strived to be?) – “I hope not. (laughter) I hope not. No, there’s no guys like that. But yeah, there’s a lot of tough guys. I think I was tough and I was smart to get guys lined up. We’ve got a few guys like that, but they’re much more talented than I was. I’m coaching. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Brian Flores – November 6, 2019 (Conference Call)
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores Conference Call with Indianapolis Media
(Just to start off, what were your impressions of Colts QB Jacoby Brissett during his stint in New England?) – “I thought he was – he’s a great kid. I loved spending time with him. He’s smart. He’s got great leadership. He’s got a presence about him where guys rallied behind him pretty quickly early in his career. I was very impressed with Jacoby and I’m not surprised at all that he’s playing the way he is.”
(Kind of sticking with the theme with quarterbacks – what stood out about Colts QB Brian Hoyer when he was in New England with you and why do you think he’s had such a successful career as a backup for so long?) – “Hoyer is as smart as they come at the quarterback position. (He) understands defense, has been in a few different systems and understands different ways to protect, to schematically put together different concepts. This guy’s very, very bright. He’s another guy who, he and I would go back and forth, talk about defense, talk about offense, talk about protections, talk about route concepts – again, another impressive guy.”
(When it comes to the Colts offensive line, there’s been a lot of talk about it with C/G Quenton Nelson, C Ryan Kelly and T Anthony Castonzo; but more specifically, what are you seeing from Anthony Castonzo this year and how do you think he’s been throughout his career as a left tackle?) – “He’s a B.C. (Boston College) guy so I’m a big fan. (laughter) We’ll start right there. He’s been a very good player for – I feel like it was yesterday he just came into the league, but he’s been around for a while now. (He’s a) good player, good left tackle, very good in pass protection, hard to get around him, does a good job in the run game as well. He can pull. I want to say he caught a touchdown against – he’s caught a couple touchdowns, too. I like him. He’s got a lot of energy (and) a lot of enthusiasm. As a Boston College Eagle, I’m a fan.”
(You had some nice things to say about CB Kenny Moore II earlier today. What did you see from him during that 2017 offseason that you guys spent together in New England?) – “I was a big fan of him then out of Valdosta (State). Actually our corners coach Josh Boyer spent a lot of time with him, worked him out, really took a liking to him; but Kenny is first and foremost, he’s tough. He’s smart. Football is important to him. (Kenny is) disciplined. He can take coaching. He’ll tackle. There’s a lot to like about him. Again, another guy (I am) not surprised at all that he’s had the success that he’s had, but there’s a humility about him where I know none of this is going to go to his head. You can compliment him. It won’t go to his head. He’ll just keep putting his head down and working hard and trying to make himself a better player. He’s just a good overall kid – well he’s not a kid anymore, he’s a grown man now. I’m just proud to see the way he’s developed and I’m always happy for guys like that to have success wherever it is in the league. I kind of felt like he was going to have success wherever he went. I’m not surprised at all.”
Patrick Laird – November 6, 2019
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
RB Patrick Laird
(Obviously you’re looking at the very strong possibility of getting some work on offense. How exciting is that for you?) – “Yeah, it’s exciting; but I’m treating this week like every week this season – just come in, prepare, learn the game plan and try to execute in practice.”
(What have been the challenges the last couple weeks? You lose RB Kenyan Drake, now RB Mark Walton is gone, a new player is here – what have been the challenges for your group specifically?) – “I don’t think there’s been many challenges. I think everyone has just come in, learned the game plan that week and practiced hard and just try to execute on Sundays.”
(How antsy have you been to get some work on offense?) – “I haven’t focused on whether I get reps or not on Sundays. I just come in every week, prepare the same and make sure when I get the opportunity on a Sunday I’m ready to go.”
(How did you feel about your performance in the exhibition games?) – “Like the preseason?”
(Yeah, you led the team in rushing back then.) – “I felt solid about my preseason performance and the coaches had good feedback for me. We have a lot of good running backs on this team, but like I said, every week I’ve just come in, prepared; so if I ever do get an opportunity then I’m ready to go.”
(You have gotten a big role on special teams in the first half of the season. How do you feel that’s gone?) – “I love doing whatever I can to help the team win. If you’re a rookie in this league and you want to play, special teams is sometimes the best opportunity you have. I’ve loved playing on special teams. I didn’t play in the first game, but every other game I’ve been starting special teams and I love that role on this team and I’ll do it for as long as I can.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick – November 6, 2019
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(I think we’ve asked you this question in a few different ways, but I don’t know if you’ve been asked directly. Your plans for next season – do you want to be a starter or do you want to be in the league somewhere?) – “Way too early for that one. (laughter) I want to win this week.”
(I know you talked a little bit last week, but we got a chance to see you in the locker room with your boys. What was that moment like and sharing that with them?) – “It’s cool. It’s neat to be able to share that with them and for them to be of the age where they’re going to remember it. They’re going to remember some of these moments and they make friends with a lot of the guys in the locker room. It’s just neat for me to be able to share the experience with them. They were pretty excited after the game, that I was able to pull them down onto the field.”
(You had mentioned before that you felt like football had taught them life lessons that you couldn’t teach otherwise. Has football taught you any life lessons that you can share?) – “Yeah. I think a lot of it is teamwork, how to handle adversity, how to work through adversity, being able to to put a lot of hard work into something and actually see results and see it pay off. There’s a million different lessons. I think the one for me in my career though has been the adversity and fighting through it and never giving up on myself and always remaining confident and always working hard. Those are some of the lessons I think that will get passed on or at least that they’ll see and try to emulate in some way.”
(Your thoughts on when you heard the news about WR Preston Williams?) – “It was tough. That’s tough news to hear for anybody whether it’s somebody on our team or an opponent or somebody around the league. You never want to see a guy go down and get injured like that, but he’s such a talented player. He’s got such a bright future. For him, just doing as best he can to – after he does whatever rehab he does – just attacking every day and focusing on each day and getting better, and then he’ll be out there good as new in no time. I’m sure it doesn’t feel like that right now, but he’s going to be an amazing player in this league and he’s got an amazing career ahead of him. Just keep putting in the hard work and good things will continue to come for him.”
(It’ll obviously be more or presumably be more for WR Albert Wilson and WR Jakeem Grant. How much work have you done with them? I know you rotate all those guys through, but you didn’t have all of camp I suppose. What’s your comfort level working with both those guys going forward?) – “I think in general with me, I’ve thrown to a lot of different guys over the years. It’s fairly easy to get accustomed to different guys and I’ve worked with those guys, especially as the season’s gone on. It’s just a lot of communication, a lot of talking, making sure that they know what I expect out of them and having a two-way conversation and them telling me sometimes how they prefer things; but (it is) a lot of discussion in the huddle or after a play or in the film room and go from there. I feel good with everybody we’re putting out there.”
(We saw a bunch of dynamic plays from WR Albert Wilson and WR Jakeem Grant last year. We haven’t quite seen that yet. How do you get that out of them?) – “Just opportunities. I think the more opportunities they get, the more those flash plays that they can make. Just continue to try to get them opportunities and obviously with a guy that got a lot of balls in Preston (Williams) going down, there’ll be more balls to go around now.”
(What do you see when you look at the Colts defense?) – “They’re young. They fly around. They have fun. You can tell there’s a lot of youthful energy. They’re edge guys. They’re veteran guys that have played a lot and (been) very productive in the league, so it’ll be a nice challenge for us, especially going into Indy and playing there. Historically that’s just kind of a tough place to play. It gets real loud – not as loud as RCA (Dome) used to get – but it’s a loud place with fans that really know and love football. It’ll be a good challenge for us.”
(What do you think of TE Mike Gesicki?) – “(laughter) I think Mike continues to get better and I think that in terms of a guy that in the past maybe he hasn’t produced or he hasn’t lived up to whatever people thought he was supposed to be or is and he’s just put his head down and worked hard. Again, a good lesson of just continuing to work. He knows there’s a million things he can get better at, but the last few weeks have been nice to see that some of that hard work we’re putting in throughout the week is really paying off on Sundays and he’s done a nice job, become a really reliable target and he’s got a skillset in terms of his length and his speed and his size that is something you can’t really coach. Now, getting him coached up and running things a certain way and really gaining more confidence as a football player, he’s just going to continue to get better and better.”
(I know you guys haven’t been together long this week yet – Victory Monday and an off day yesterday – but are there things that you can tell from the victory with the team either tangible or intangible right now?) – “I just think – and I don’t know what it was a few weeks ago – but really the last three weeks of practice now going into this one, there’s been a shift in attitude of guys really working hard and being really focused. That’ll hopefully continue this week and it was good today out there. It’s a fun group to come to work with every day and that’s a lot of the reason why and I think we’ll just continue down that path and see what kind of results we’ll get out of that.”
(Is there anything that you could point to that caused that shift?) – “I don’t know. I don’t know if it was one particular thing, but it has been a noticeable difference of good energy.”
Jerome Baker – November 6, 2019
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
LB Jerome Baker
(It seems like you are around the ball quite a bit. Do you sense any difference out there in terms of maybe comfort or anything at all?) – “Yeah, just the comfort level. My mentality is different. I kind of just push myself to no matter where the ball is at, I try to be on the play. That’s pretty much been my focus.”
(I wanted to ask you about your video and getting mic’d up and all. What sort of reaction have you gotten over it?) – “My social media has been going crazy. A lot of people just laugh at it. It just shows my personality, really. My mom was in town so when she’s in town, I kind of look for her as much as I can. I usually don’t look at the tickets before the game; but the day before I looked and it was Section 103, Row 10. So I kept trying to glance over and try to count up – 10 rows up – and I just couldn’t find her. I kind of forgot I was mic’d up so I kept saying ‘Where’s my mom? Where’s my mom?’ And they just cut it up to however many times I said it. It was a joke. It was funny but yeah, I was just kind of looking for my mom the whole game. (laughter)”
(How long did it to take to find her?) – “When Nik (Needham) got the sack and everybody was celebrating, I just stood there. I was so close I could actually see people’s faces, so I finally found her. ‘Kwon’ (Raekwon McMillan) is always next to me so I always kind of tell him like, ‘I finally found her.’ (laughter) It took me a while to actually find her though.”
(So what did your mom say about the video?) – “I actually haven’t talked to her yet. I know she’s probably loving it and soaking it all up. (laughter) My mom was there so I definitely wanted to see her.”
(Was this the first game of the season she’s come to?) – “No, she always comes and I always have the same reaction. A lot of times when it gets very, very intense, she’ll go and use the bathroom because she can’t take the intensity. I just felt that we were winning – we were up – and I wanted to make sure that she was there, so I just kept looking for. It was just a moment that I definitely wanted my mom to see.”
(I love the part when you said “I found her! No, that’s not her.”) – “(laughter) So that was a good story. My cousin, he comes to every game, and I saw him so if I see him, I know my family is right next to him. So I saw him and I remember ‘P.G.’ (Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham) said something. I looked over, I got a correction and I looked back and I lost him. So I thought I found her but I lost her.”
(There’s another part that caught my ear. “I’m a d-tackle.”) – “Yeah. That’s our certain package. I’m lined up on the line so I’m basically in a 3-technique and just looking at the formation and film study, I knew it was run. I definitely told somebody outside of me that it’s a run. They snapped the ball and I was like ‘oh snap, it actually is run,’ and I was in the tackle. So I talked a little stuff to Le’Veon (Bell). It all worked out.”
(How does that feel? It seems like a different atmosphere coming off a win after so many losses. What does it feel like inside this locker room?) – “Yeah. Monday and Tuesday was definitely relaxed. A lot of energy, a lot of fun. Now we’re back to work. That’s what is unique about this team. The first one was definitely fun but we’re coming in and ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores) set the tone of our goal is not just to win one game. The intensity raises up a little bit. Today we definitely got after it.”
(What was your reaction when you saw the video on social media?) – “I was dying laughing. I really forgot (I was mic’d). So I usually know at the beginning of the game I’m mic’d up. So I kind of get all of my whatever out. But once the game starts, you kind of forget you’re all mic’d up. So I’m talking to my teammates just how I talk to them. I said something funny and ‘Kwon’ (Raekwon McMillan) was laughing and I remember I looked over and the guy that has the headphones on and is recording it, he started laughing. So I’m like ‘hold on, hold on, you can hear me?’ And I said it (out loud). He’s like ‘Yeah.’ I was like ‘Aw, snap.’ (laughter) I just kind of forgot that (I was) mic’d up. You just forget about it and just play and have fun with it. When I’m out there, that’s the most fun I have every week so it’s definitely cool.”
(Are they going to mic you up every week now?) – “I hope not.”
(They should.) – “(laughter) You only saw the good stuff.”
(It helped that they blocked out some of the crazy stuff?) – “Oh, yeah. I definitely cuss a lot. Hopefully my mama doesn’t see that part but it’s all good.”
(What do you think of the college football rankings?) – “The Buckeyes are the best in the nation. Is anybody surprised? No. I’m definitely happy for The Ohio State. I’m definitely proud. That’s my mentality.”
(Are you surprised that Clemson is not in there though?) – “No, I’m not surprised. (laughter) Clemson is a great school. They have a great team. The one game I watched, they played UNC. I watched them a little bit. That was a good game but it’s all about the Buckeyes right now, so Go Bucks!”
Mike Gesicki – November 6, 2019
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
TE Mike Gesicki
(Head Coach Brian Flores was talking today about guys who might’ve “turned the corner.” After your performance on Sunday – he doesn’t really want players to see it that way. He wants them to always think they’re aiming for that corner and keep the fire going. How do you feel on that?) – “I would say that I’m part of the people that are not – I don’t feel like I’m there. I’m never going to have that feeling. I think I’ve got a lot left to prove, a lot of football left, honestly, for us to play this year. I’m going to continue my routine, continue to do what I do. I’ve just got to be ready when my opportunity gets called.”
(That said, two offensive weapons were lost this week and after your performance last week, I’m sure that you’re looking forward to going out there and keep the success going to help this team, right?) – “I think here we just have a next-man-up mentality. I think there’s going to be a lot of guys who are going to help fill that role with some guys not being out there. But ultimately, I think everybody does a good job in preparation to be ready for when their opportunity does get called and when they do have their shot. I think Sunday is going to be another example of that.”
(To what extent is last Sunday an opportunity for you to build on?) – “I think every week is something to build on, whether it’s some negative plays that happened in the game that I need to learn from or the positives that everybody wants to talk about. Ultimately, I’m the guy that’s never too high, never too low. When things are going good, I’m going to keep doing what I do. When things are going bad, I’m going to keep sticking to my routine and know that I’m going to get over the hump eventually. That’s where I’m at with my mindset. It’s where I’ve always been and I’m not going to change it.”
(How much faith do you have in RB Kalen Ballage that he can step in there and get the running game going?) – “I think a lot of people forget Kalen last year stepped in, had a great game against Minnesota. He had I think it was like a 70-yard run. He’s a very talent player. I think he’s going to do a great job for us. He’s been preparing all year long and now he’ll have his opportunity and we’re all excited for him.”
(What is it about RB Kalen Ballage that makes him…?) – “Just go around the corner and look at him. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he can run the ball, he can catch it, he can do whatever you ask him to do. I think that it’s going to be a great opportunity for him to go out there and whatever they ask him to do, to go out and make plays.”
Marcus Sherels – November 6, 2019
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
CB Marcus Sherels
(Your thoughts when you got the call from the Dolphins?) – “Excited. It’s a good opportunity. It’s a good organization. I’m just happy to be here.”
(Was any part of you a little bit surprised because the team has gone with a lot of young players and you aren’t as young as you used to be?) – “Yeah but you never really know in this league. You’ve got to stay ready if you’re a free agent guy and just be ready for any call from any team.”
(What are you hearing as far as how you might be used? I know you’ve done a lot of work in the return game and they just lost a punt returner last week. Is that kind of a fit?) – “I’m not sure what my role is going to be exactly but I’m just preparing and whenever my number is called, wherever it is, I’ll be ready to go.”
(What do you think you offer as a return man?) – “A lot of experience. I’ve been doing it a long time. I can help out the young guys or whoever.”
(You’re second among active players in career punt returns for touchdowns. Were you aware of that?) – “I was not aware of that. Who is first? Darren Sproles?”
(Eagles RB Darren Sproles, yeah. He’s got seven and you have five. What do you think has been the key to allow you to take so many to the house? Is it your speed or is there anything more to it than that?) – “A little bit of everything – the punt, the blocking, the return we had set up. It’s kind of like a perfect storm and it’s worked out for us.”
(Do you expect to handle punts this weekend?) – “I’m not sure what my role will be but if that’s it, I’ll be ready and I’ve just got to be ready to go wherever they call my number.”
(And at cornerback, any sense if you might get an opportunity there?) – “I’m not sure what my role is going to be but I’ll prepare and get ready as fast as I can.”
(Do you look at other returners around the league and kind of place yourself in that group, especially among the elite?) – “No. I root for all of the returners in the league. It’s not a very lucrative job in terms of guys wanting to do it; but it is fun. I like it and all of the returners in the league kind of have a bond.”
(What is it that drew you to becoming a returner? Does it go back to high school or college?) – “In college, I barely did it. My first year in the league I asked a coach. I said, ‘Can I catch punts?’ I was a try out free agent for the Vikings and he said, ‘Sure.’ Ever since then, I’ve been doing it.”
(Might it feel weird at all for you the first game you play for the Dolphins considering you played high school in Minnesota, you played at the University of Minnesota and you played for the Vikings?) – “Yeah, it will be different but I’m excited. I’m happy to be here. I heard that we had a cool day outside. They said I brought some Minnesota weather down with me. (laughter) Yeah, it’s nice.”
(A lot of guys don’t want a whole lot to do with special teams and yet you volunteered. Was that just a guy trying to get a foot in the door? What made you jump up and say ‘Hey, what about me?’) – “Yeah. The more you can do in this league, the better. I’ve always volunteered for whatever they need me to do and tried different positions.”
