Jakeem Grant – July 26, 2019
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Friday, July 26, 2019
WR Jakeem Grant
(QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is running around with your little ones, what is that like to see and experience?) – “It’s amazing just to see him running around playing with my kids and that just shows how our relationship is. It’s bigger than football. We like to have fun with each other and get out there and enjoy it. Besides football, just the fact that he has kids and I have kids. His kids are probably a lot older than mine are. It just really meant something to me when he came over to play with my kids. It meant a lot.”
(What are you most proud of in your career because we saw you go from punt returner who didn’t always have success with the hands and now you’ve accomplished that. Slot receiver, we saw you on the outside last year and you accomplished that. You’ve got a lot to be proud of. What makes you most proud?) – “I would just say getting better and being able to be more consistent. I feel that in this game, you definitely need that. I feel like each and every year I have gotten better and better at something or just better in my game all around, and that’s what I’m trying to do. Even if I feel like I’m doing great at punt returns and catching punts, I am still out there working on it like I’m not even good at it and the same goes for receiver. I always try to work to perfect anything. I know nobody’s perfect but I am a perfectionist and I like to go out there and try to perfect my craft and separate myself from the other guys. ”
(Where do you get work ethic that from?) – “I don’t know. Honestly, I just don’t want to be average. I look at all the greats like Deion Sanders and all of those guys and think what did they do to separate themselves? I just don’t want to be a regular guy. When they look back after I’m done, (I don’t want them to say) ‘Oh, Jakeem he had a good career.’ I want to go back when they’re playing my clips and (have them say), ‘Oh, Jakeem had a great career.’ A wise man told me there are only two thing that are sure in life is that you live and you die. Therefore, I am trying to maximize my opportunity so that little space between when you are born and when you die, I just want to leave a legacy.”
(Your teammates, what do they bring to the mix?) – “He brings a lot. Everybody brings in different special talents and that’s what is great about this team: everybody is special in a unique way. Everybody can do mostly everything. Whether it is catching the deep ball or taking the short route the distance, I am trying to teach every guy – all the receivers – how to make people miss and take it the distance. Basically, we pick off each other’s plate and ask help me with this, how do you do this and how do you do that? We just come together and work as a unit.”
(Is there a common ground there with WR Albert Wilson where you both had some pretty bad injuries last season?) – “Definitely. We both were injured together, working together. We both got in the training room and worked hard together we even competed against each other with bounce drills and everything, making sure we both got back and we were healthy. We also wanted to take our time and not rush into things and have that setback. With that being said, that shows that the bond is there and we truly love each other and want to see each other do great.”
(What’s no speed limit?) – “I was trying to push that message, no speed limit. I remember when ‘Rizz’ (former Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi) was here, I used to ask him is there a speed limit on the field and he used to say no. That is where I got the phrase ‘no speed limit’ from. I feel like there is no speed limit on the field, as you can see, and I am going to continue to push that message. There is no speed limit. You’re not clocking me at no speed and so I am going to continue to go out there and be the fastest man on the field each and every game.”
(Is it tough for you to be patient because you started off to a great season last year, you got your injury and now you are rehabbing, I’m sure you want to be out here at 100 percent. Is patience tough in this situation?) – “It’s definitely tough. Just going out there, I tell Coach (Flores) even when I feel like I am ready, and Coach (Flores) is still like ‘Jakeem, you’ve got to be smart. We are thinking about the long term,’ and so I am like Coach (Flores), ‘let’s go, let’s go.’ He keeps telling me, ‘Jakeem, you have to chill.’ I know he is looking out for me and he wants me to be patient and not have any setbacks and I am cool with that. But as a competitor, I want to be out there more and I want to compete.”
(This is your first time being in this situation?) – “Yeah, (the) first time. So at the beginning, it really sucked; but right now, being back there with them is a joy.”
(S Minkah Fitzpatrick was talking up your speed. What’s it like for him to be out there challenging you?) – “It’s great. He is a smart player. He can play any role and he can run. I can’t just use my speed and run past him because he is a smart player. I actually have to give him some moves. I can make him get off balance and run past him, but he’s a hell of a player and he’s going to go out there and make plays. He’s not going to bite off of just one move. You’ve got to give him two or three moves just to get him off balance. He can read very well and he can play anything.”
(Does S Minkah Fitzpatrick have a speed limit?) – “No, actually he doesn’t. To be honest, he really doesn’t.”
(What has made you a complete receiver? Because we know you have the speed, the quickness and again you added the outside to your game. What makes you a complete receiver and why do you think you are a complete receiver?) – “I would say I focus on my route-running and I play outside and inside, so I got a dose of everything. Playing against corners, playing against nickels, going against safeties, everything. I just feel like – I am not perfect, I am not completely there yet but I will continue to work each and every day. I feel like I have proven and shown that I can go out there and be a receiver and make a big impact in the offensive game and I am going to continue to come out here and work on my hands, my routes, just like if I didn’t have a chance at receiving. So I am going to continue to go out each practice and work on that.”
(When will you be at 100 percent?) – “I am just working to get better each and every day.”
(Like in the preseason or do you think it is more Week 1?) – “I am just being smart, taking it day-by-day and just trying to get stronger and better each and every day.”
Allen Hurns – July 26, 2019
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Friday, July 26, 2019
WR Allen Hurns
(How happy are you to be home playing for the hometown team? You went to high school here, college and now you get to play for the Miami Dolphins.) – “It’s always good being back home. It’s a blessing being able to come back. I played here for college, so playing here as a professional, I’ll love to see how that goes.”
(Why is WR Brice Butler your biggest fan here?) – “We were in Dallas, so we spent some time (together). Once you’re in the room with a guy, it’s kind of like he’s your brother. It’s bigger than ball. Once I saw him, we reunited. It was good.”
(What are your expectations signing with the Dolphins?) – “Coming off of an injury, my main thing is to come in here, learn the playbook and put my head down and go to work. My main thing once I got released was finding a good opportunity. I felt like it was a good opportunity here, so my main thing is to put my head down and go to work.”
(How has the last week and a half been for you?) – “It wasn’t bad at all. Once I found out that we wanted to go separate ways, my main thing was to find my next destination. I wasn’t stressed or anything. As far as how I am mentally, I’m good. I don’t let too many things bring me down. I was just excited for the next move.”
(Did you grow up a Dolphins’ fan or did you ever think one day you’d like to play for this team?) – “No, actually not.”
(What team did you follow?) – “The Atlanta Falcons. I liked Michael Vick. (laughter)”
(Does it feel kind of right being in Miami on a practice after you University of Miami Days?) – “Yeah, it feels good. It’s my first day so I didn’t practice (much) but I did a little bit of the individual drills. It felt real good, just being back in this heat. You’ve always got to get acclimated with that. But, I trained down here for a couple of weeks at Bommaritos, so it feels good just being back home.”
(What kind of healthy competitions will it be here with WR Kenny Stills and WR Jakeem Grant?) – “It will be a lot of good competition. There are a lot of guys that do a lot of good things. Me coming in, my main thing is I’ve got to learn the playbook. But as far as being on the field, we’ve got a lot of guys. I feel like competition brings out the best in guys so coming in each and every day, going against those guys and working with those guys, I feel like we’ll bring out the best in each other.”
(How many opportunities do you think you had after you left the Cowboys and how ideal was the situation to basically come home?) – “I feel like it was very ideal to come back. There were still opportunities of me going back there. My main thing was just the best opportunity of being on the field and just being able to make plays. I just wanted a fresh start, to just come in and learn the playbook, come out here and make plays. I’m excited to see how that goes once I’m able to go against the defense. It feels good to be back home, for real.”
(The Hurricanes kick off their training camp today. What are your thoughts on Head Coach Manny Diaz and this year?) – “I love him. I feel like he fits the culture. He’s a guy that’s about business, but he’s also going to let guys have fun. I think that’s the Miami culture. When you think about guys from South Florida from high school or little league, it’s guys that play with swagger and are just comfortable being them. I feel like he fits the culture. Guys in the past were great coaches but some of them were uptight and that doesn’t always fit the Miami culture. I feel like Manny Diaz will fit that.”
(Have you and WR Brice Butler had that conversation about that 17 jersey?) – “No, we didn’t. (laughter)”
(How do you feel physically? Where are you in your rehab?) – “I’m full go. I worked out earlier, ran routes and everything – jumping, cutting, everything. I feel good.”
(Take me back to the injury, not to bring up too bad of a memory for you. What did you think when it first happened? Some guys just never want to see that play on tape.) – “It was one of those things where it was disgusting to see. It will make you cringe. As far as me and my faith, I knew I’d be able to get through it. My main thing was just seeing my foot facing the other way, that kind of freaked me out. I saw it in college with one of my other teammates that was here, Malcolm Lewis. I knew it was going to be a lot of work to get back. I’m blessed to be back. It’s crazy how the body heals. It was a long process. Once you stay dedicated and stay good mentally, you’ll be able to overcome anything.”
(At what point were you cleared?) – “I got cleared in minicamp.”
(Were you kind of surprised that Dallas waited this long to move on? It seems like this is something that could’ve been done earlier in the offseason.) – “Of course. Ideally, it could’ve happened earlier for me; but at the end of the day, I’m just glad it happened. It got to a point where it was a mutual thing on both sides. It was good for me to get a new opportunity and things like that. The timing of it wasn’t ideal; but at the end of the day, I’m just glad to be here.”
(You’re 100 percent at this point?) – “Yes.”
(Do you think you’ll be jumping in on team stuff soon, as soon as you start to get the playbook down?) – “Yes. As far as me, I’m ready to do whatever. I’ll leave it up to the coaches however they want to go about it each day.”
(But physically you’re ready?) – “Yes, I’m ready to go.”
Brian Flores – July 25, 2019
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Thursday, July 25, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(It’s your first training camp as an NFL head coach. What’s going through your head right now?) – “A lot of excitement. You go through the end of the season, you go through the offseason for today, so (there is) a lot of excitement. I think the team, we’re ready to go. We’re raring to go. I think we understand that it’s an opportunity – a great opportunity – for us to go individually, but more importantly as a team. Individually from a fundamentals techniques standpoint, and then putting those together with your teammates, everyone working as one.”
(How much will WR Albert Wilson participate in camp right now in the beginning stages?) – “Albert’s working his way back. He’ll participate in some individuals and maybe try to get him into some other drills, but he’s definitely doing a good job and working his way back.”
(You all are looking at WR Allen Hurns having him try out today according to an ESPN report. What is it that you feel you can use or need for this receiving corps?) – “I think we take a look at everyone who’s available, so (General Manager) Chris (Grier), (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore), our personnel staff, they do a good job of just evaluating everyone who’s available. Is this person a fit for our team? Regardless of position, age, etc. So I think that’ll be something that’s ongoing. Obviously Allen is available, and we’ll take a look at him like we do really anyone who’s available.”
(What has or will be the message you have for QB Josh Rosen and the approach you want him to take to this training camp?) – “The message to him is the same as everyone on this team: be ready to come in here every day and compete. And that’s compete in the meetings, compete in the walkthroughs, and obviously compete in practice. So that’s the message to Josh, that’s the message to ‘Fitzy’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick), that’s the message to everyone on the team. We want to improve every day. We want to build as a team and improve individually. I should say that in the other way – improve individually and build as a team. That’s the goal. Let’s take it one day at a time and string the days together. That’s the message to really the entire team, really the entire organization.”
(Back to WR Allen Hurns for a second. He obviously had that pretty awful injury during playoffs. Are there any concerns health-wise with him going forward?) – “I think that’s part of the process like it is with any player. We’ll evaluate him on film, evaluate him from a health standpoint, and that’s the case with really anyone we bring in.
(What are some things you look to accomplish this season? What would be an underachievement of that, and what would be an overachievement of that?) – “My focus is on today, so to think down the road – season, seasons, etc. – our focus is on today. Let’s put one foot in front of the other. Let’s improve individually, as a team, as a coaching staff and then try to build on that in our meetings afterwards. I don’t even like to think about that, because I’m focused on the individual period. That’s where my focus is, nothing really past that. And that’s the message I’ve sent to the team. There’s no reason to think about either preseason Game 1 or preseason (Game 2) or Game 1 in the regular season or Game 8. Let’s get better today. Let’s not waste energy on that. Let’s put all of our energy into today.”
(Where will you spend your time during practice?) – “I’ll be on offense, I’ll be on defense, I’ll be on the kicking game. I’ve got my eyes on really, all parts of the team, all parts of the organization, and that’s kind of my thought process. I think that’s fluid for me. If I see something I don’t like, I’m walking over there. If I see something I feel like we need to do a little bit better, I’m walking over there. If I feel we need to improve in the area, if someone needs a good yelling-at, then I’ll go where that needs to be as well. If somebody needs a pat on the back, I’ll do that as well. You won’t see too many of those, but that’s my plan for practice.”
(A lot of attention will obviously be on the quarterbacks. What would you like to see out of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and QB Josh Rosen to start off camp?) – “I’d like to see – first and foremost – get the quarterback/center exchange, get in and out of the huddle. First and foremost it’s get in and out of the huddle, get the quarterback/center exchange and just our fundamentals and our technique from a footwork standpoint, from an accuracy standpoint, from an in-and-out-of-the-huddle standpoint, from a communication standpoint. It’s Day 1. Look, we’re not going to be in midseason form today, and no one in the league is going to be in midseason form. This is about building. It’s really what it boils down to, and I want to see these guys build today, or really work today and then build on that day after day after day and string good practices together.
(Do you foresee the quarterbacks swapping who works with the first unit/starting unit during training camp?) – “I think that’s fluid as well, and we’ll see. We’ll talk about that daily as a staff. Obviously we want quarterbacks working with different receivers, receivers working with different quarterbacks, offensive linemen working with different backs, safeties working with different linebackers, so that’s very fluid. We’ll be moving guys around, moving offensive players, defensive players, kicking teams. We’ve just got to get the right 11 on the field, so it’ll be fluid. There will definitely be some movement from that standpoint.”
(We haven’t had a chance to talk to you since DT Kendrick Norton’s accident. How’s he doing, and what do you think the prognosis for him long-term is?) – “Kendrick, he’s in great spirits. I spent a lot of time with him after the accident. I talk to him on a pretty frequent basis. His spirit, the way he’s handled this situation is really – it’s amazing. That’s a testament to Kendrick, his support staff, his mom Tess – she’s a wonderful lady. Spending time with him and his family, he’s got a great support system that includes that Miami Dolphins, and we’ll support Kendrick any way we can.
(As you guys begin training camp today, are there areas where this team is a little bit further ahead than you thought they would be either on the field or off the field?) – “I think this is a hard-working group. This is a group that’s motivated. This is a group that wants to work, wants to get better and wants to improve, and I’m looking forward to working with everyone on this team. As far as me having higher or worse expectations, I wouldn’t say it’s either. I’d say right now it’s too early to, we’re just focused on today. My expectation is to get better today, to improve today, to coach them hard today and tomorrow and the next day and every day moving forward, and I think we’ve got a group that’s willing to put in the effort, the work and hopefully string good days together.”
(What is your either window or deadline as the case may be for selecting a starting quarterback?) – “Again, that’s something that I would say it’s too early to – I don’t have a concrete deadline. I would say that. I think we’re in an evaluation process, really from now and throughout. I think in this league, with the players that are in this league and how guys develop and the light bulb goes off for certain guys at certain points. Then, there’s always opportunities for changes to be made, and that’s a good thing for everyone on the team. There’s no spots that are slotted. There’s no sacred cows. I’ve said that before. People, our team, our organization need that competition, and the best players are going to play. The guys who practice who we feel like are going to give us the best opportunity to win, those are the guys that are going to be out there.”
(How do you anticipate the loss of Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell on a day-to-day basis impacting QB Josh Rosen and the rest of the quarterbacks you have?) – “The most important thing to me is Jim’s health. I’ll say that first and foremost. He is obviously taking a leave of absence for health reasons. I talked to our staff about just splitting his roles, his responsibilities. We’ve talked at length about how we’re going to do that. We’ve got a good plan in place, something we’ve talked about, really I would say, over the last two weeks, two to three weeks extensively, and there’s a plan in place; but his experience, his knowledge, it’s not something you replace easily, I’ll tell you that. He’s in a consulting role. I talked to him yesterday. He’s still with this team; we just won’t see as much of him as we’d hoped to.”
(Do you anticipate elevating somebody into his QB coach role?) – “That remains to be seen. Right now, we have a plan in place to split those responsibilities, and that could happen; it may not happen. That’s just something that we’ll evaluate on a day-to-day basis, and if we feel like we need to do that, then great. But I think we’ve got a really good offensive staff. (Assistant Quarterbacks Coach) Jerry Schuplinski stepped into that role. (Offensive Coordinator) Chad (O’Shea) has taken on a little bit more, (Tight Ends Coach) George Godsey’s taken on a little bit more, (Running Backs Coach) Eric (Studesville) has taken on a little bit more, (Wide Receivers Coach) Karl (Dorrell) has taken on a little bit more. Our quality control guys have taken on a little bit more and that’s what we want on this team, whether it’s from a coaching staff standpoint or from a player standpoint. If something happens, we just have to split the duties amongst some other people and do the best we can.”
(What was your message to the team today?) – “Improve. My message was to focus on improvement – fundamentals and your technique. Take those techniques in individuals to the group drills, those techniques from the group drills to the team drills. We’ll come back in, we’ll watch it, we’ll improve and we’ll try to get better tomorrow. But the focus is on right now. I want a tough, smart, disciplined team. They know that. That starts in practice and there’s nothing more important than practice, so hopefully we got here with the effort, the energy. Again, it’s Day 1. I hope we get great execution, 100 percent execution; but there’s never been 100 percent execution in a football game, so there’ll be some mistakes out here. Hopefully we learn from those mistakes, we improve, we get better and we build.”
(How do you anticipate choosing captains on this team and how do you anticipate the leaders stepping up?) – “Obviously leadership’s important to me, but if you want to be a captain on this team, you have to earn that role. You have to earn that in the meeting room, in the walkthroughs, on the practice field and on the game field, so that remains to be seen. I would say that’s pretty much the criteria. Someone who’s productive, someone who shows leadership both on and off the field, someone who brings the effort, intensity, energy that we’re looking for on a day-to-day basis.”
(I know you were on the radio with Joe Rose this morning talking about last night and any restlessness. Can you elaborate a little bit on what was happening there?) – “Well, I was having a great night of sleep. Then my son Maxwell decided to pop in the bed, and he’s a, let’s call him a restless sleeper, and I was up. I probably lost an hour. He came in about 3:30, 4 a.m. and I was up shortly after that. I don’t mind my kids coming into bed. That’s a great time for me whether it’s my son Maxwell or my son Miles or my daughter – my daughter normally doesn’t. She goes to Mom. But no, I don’t mind that. This time of year, when you start getting going into football coaching and long hours, those moments – it doesn’t matter if it’s late at night or early in the morning – I cherish those, so that’s a welcome situation to me.”
(What did your personal workout routine involve today?) – “Yeah, I got a little sweat going. My guy Drew does the ‘Murph’ workout. I didn’t do the full one. Let me tell you that right now. I did a modified version of the ‘Murph.’ Drew and Matt, Matt’s the ‘Murph’ king over here.”
(Is that part of the daily routine?) – “That’s part of my routine and workout right before. I’ll try to cut the sweating down a little bit tomorrow. It’s my first day, alright guys? (laughter)”
(What do you tell a fanbase that is conflicted between winning and looking ahead to the future and wanting a high draft pick?) – “I tell them support the Dolphins. You’re going to have a tough, smart, disciplined team that works hard, is not going to beat themselves, and we’re going to fight to win every week. That’s what I tell them, and they’ll support us to do that.”
Josh Rosen – July 25, 2019
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Thursday, July 25, 2019
QB Josh Rosen
(A lot has been made going into this quarterback battle and yesterday on NFL Network, Jordan Palmer who said he’s worked with you, said it’s a little bit different of a quarterback battle than you’ve been in, in the past where you may not be the smartest guy in the room is what he said. Your thoughts on that comment?) – “I don’t have many thoughts to the comment. Regardless of whatever battle or situation you’re in at any positon, you’re just trying to get better. It doesn’t really change the course of action day to day. I just try to watch as much film as I can, listen in meetings and get better every day.”
(How did you feel today?) – “I thought I had a slow start but finished pretty strong. I think it’s about getting used to everything – teammates, offense, situations and all of that. I think as long as tomorrow is better than today, I think we’ll be good.”
(Did you have a chance to get together with the receivers before camp or is this the first time you’ve thrown in awhile?) – “Yeah, there were a couple guys out on the West Coast with me. I went back to L.A. (Los Angeles) to spend my offseason. There were a couple guys out there that I threw with.”
(I presume WR Kenny Stills was one of them?) – “Yeah.”
(How different is the first day of training camp being around Head Coach Brian Flores as opposed to the offseason?) – “I think he’s the same guy. I think that’s what’s awesome about Coach (Flores) is you’re going to get the same guy every day. He’s reliable. He’s got high expectations. I think it’s our job as players is try to fulfill those every day.”
(I know you see a guy like WR Albert Wilson in the offseason rehabbing and now he’s finally out here. What do you see from him?) – “He’s explosive. We’ve got a lot of awesome playmakers on offense. It’s going to be fun to throw something short to him and watch him make us look good.”
(How does losing Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell day to day affect your learning and how you grow?) – “It’s tough. He’s an unbelievable coach. He helped me a lot throughout OTAs, sort of eased the learning curve a little bit. I just wish him the best. I hope everything is okay with him.”
(How much easier do you anticipate, not easy, but what type of a different feel do you think it’ll be this season? As you said, there are so many experienced weapons here that have put up numbers that you can work with. Just the process of being with a new team, learning a new system and what you’ve got to work with, how much does…) – “Every situation is different. It’s got it’s own sort of unique twists and turns. I’m excited to play with a really talented group. I think this team is pretty close. We’ll be battling into the dog days of camp but at the end, I think we’ll be excited to have each other’s backs and go out and play games.”
(Back to minicamp, the competition was ongoing all the time. That’s kind of expected, it’s ramped up a little bit. Do you feel that the competition is kind of stepping up?) – “Maybe a little bit, but whether I was in one or not in one, starting, backing up or third string, that wouldn’t change my approach at the end of the day. I know you guys are all writers and it’s at the forefront of all of your brains, but it’s in the back of mine. When I get a play call, I’m just trying to execute that one play regardless of the situation on the team or my position or anything.”
(What is that misconception? When you say us as writers reporting stuff, do you think too much is made out of that this early?) – “I don’t know. For you guys, maybe not. For me, maybe so. Regardless of what you guys say, read or write, I’m going to go about my approach that has gotten me this far.”
(Did you have a chance to see some of the Rosen jerseys out there because there seemed to be a slew of them. What are your thoughts on that?) – “Ever since I got here, there has been an unbelievable amount of support from all of the Dolphins fans. I can only hope and try as hard as I can to bring them as many wins that I can. It’s been great so far. I’ve had an awesome welcome to South Florida. It’s been really fun so far and I appreciate it.”
(How would you describe the approach that Head Coach Brian Flores, Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea and Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Jerry Schuplinski have brought? What’s the approach that these guys want you to take in this training camp?) – “I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, it’s not like a rehearsed thing but it’s just literally getting better day-by-day and trying to improve. It’s not about taking a massive step forward, it’s just about continuing to grow and continuing to make positive progress. I think that any kind of setback is worse than any progress you can gain. I’m just trying to stay consistent. I’m just trying to get better and master this offense and get more and more comfortable behind center.”
(What were you doing during the break? Did you go back west? Did you stay here?) – “Yes. I was back in Los Angeles staying with my mom. I hadn’t seen her for a little bit. I went back to the East Coast for a little bit to see some family. I went to the UFC fights with Chandler (Jones), an old teammate, to see his brother fight. It was a good offseason, got a lot of good work in. I’m glad to be here and attack Day 2 tomorrow, and finish out Day 1 today.”
(How’s your fluency of the offense compare to the last time we talked to you?) – “Substantially better but definitely not there yet. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
(What are your expectations for this season?) – “I’ve got none. (laughter) Tomorrow, I’m just trying to get better than I was today.”
(You said something earlier today, whether you’re a starter or a backup. Could you see yourself playing in a backup role here?) – “I don’t know. Whatever they ask me to do, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. Right now they’re asking me to be better tomorrow than I was today, and that’s my job these next couple of hours throughout these meetings.”
(What if they ask you to be the starter?) – “If that’s what they ask me to do, then I’ll do it to the best of my ability.”
(Are those things that you want? Do you want to be a starter, do you want to be a backup? Is there anything that you want that you feel like you could have?) – “Whatever the coach asks me to do I’m going to do to the best of my ability.”
Reshad Jones – July 25, 2019
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Thursday, July 25, 2019
S Reshad Jones
(Is this heat just old hat for you now? Are you used to this?) – “I don’t think you can get used to this heat, but it feels good to be back out here.”
(What’s the most exciting thing about this defense and what Head Coach Brian Flores does? I know there can be some unpredictability in it, but what most intrigues you about it?) – “Just different roles. Guys are lined up everywhere. It’s going to be hard for offenses to tell what we’re in and different things like that. You wear a lot of hats in this defense. I think it should be pretty interesting and pretty fun.”
(What skills do you think CB Bobby McCain has that will make him most suited to play safety as he makes that adjustment?) – “Safety is a defensive back. He’s versatile. He can play the slot, he can cover and show his range back there. This is his first time back there. He’s a piece in our room that will be able to help us.”
(How much does your off-the-field preparation change now that you have to know so many positions?) – “It’s spots, it’s spots. It’s definitely more challenging learning different roles, playing Sam ‘backer and safety linebacker, cornerback or wherever coach may need you. It’s definitely challenging; but like I said, it should be fun and interesting to fill those roles.”
(How do you feel playing that Sam linebacker position after playing safety?) – ‘I feel good. Whatever it takes to help this team win football games, that’s what I’m here to do. That’s what I’ve been here doing for the last nine years.”
(You mentioned learning cornerback, have you actually played some there?) – “I can play a little cornerback if need be. I’m more of a safety but…”
(Not this offseason yet?) – “Not yet.”
(Do you guys listen to the critics, the underdog stuff? Do you embrace the underdog role this year?) – “Most definitely. We’re all in this thing together. We know what we’re working for in the locker room. All of the outside noise, we tune it out, put our heads down and continue to grind.”
(What was the message from Head Coach Brian Flores before you guys came out here today, to the team?) – “Just continue to work, just put our heads down. It’s going to be a long (camp), mentally and physically. Just to continue to put your head down and grind, basically.”
(You’ve had a lot of different coaches throughout your career here. What stands out differently about Head Coach Brian Flores?) – “He’s a straightforward guy. He’s about business. He tells it how it is. He tells you when you’re doing it right and when you’re doing it wrong. He comes from a winning program, so he knows what it looks like.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick – July 25, 2019
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Thursday, July 25, 2019
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(It’s the first day of training camp. How did it go for you?) – “It was hot. It was definitely hot. We’re going to use this to our advantage in terms of coming out here and practicing hard and being competitive. This heat is tough to practice in but it has to be an advantage for us, especially early in the season. I was really happy with the way the guys came back in shape, ready to go. Day 1 was okay. We have a ways to go but it’s nice to see everybody and be back in the swing of things.”
(A lot of people are saying that this team is going to have a fairly low win total this year. Do you think that home-field advantage is an asset for you guys that people aren’t really taking into account?) – “It’s hard to listen to any of that. Going into Year 15, it’s put your head down, do the best you can, work as hard as you can and try to make everyone around me better and just go out and play. I think that’s the focus right now.”
(Are there times when the heat makes you re-consider the beard?) – “No. It’s just part of me so I don’t even remember what it’s like without it. It’s going to be hot no matter what.”
(Have you had a moment where you’re like ‘15th season, that’s a long time?’) – “Yeah, it’s a long time but whenever I’m feeling old, I just look over at (John) Denney. (laughter) He’s 40, so that makes me feel young again.”
(How does Head Coach Brian Flores motivate this team? He has fire in his eyes. What is it like for you guys?) – “I think he has a great demeanor. I think he’s very genuine when he talks. So the message that he’s trying to bring or get across always does get across because you know it’s coming from a good place and you know it’s coming from the right place. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him a little bit and his coaching style. Obviously we haven’t played in a real game yet but he has the attention, command and respect of the team right now. That’s really important and a hard thing to do so early as a coach.”
(How are you approaching this competition in training camp between you and QB Josh Rosen?) – “I’m just trying to be the best version of me that I can be. That really is it. There are so many things that I’ve just continued to get better at in my game. Knowing who I am as a player and working on my deficiencies, communication is something I try to pride myself on. Just the communication with the guys and making sure we’re on the same page. We had a couple of lapses today that hopefully will get cleaned up and then you move forward. Especially down in the red area, you only have so many chances. So you have to take advantage of all of them and you have to be on the same page with your guys.”
(You had some fans over there wearing a No. 29 jersey for the other Fitzpatrick. How do you turn those into 14s?) – “Well I also saw some 14s with (Jarvis) Landry on the back. (laughter) One of them had tape on it. No, I’m probably going to buy my kids some 29 jerseys too. I’m a big fan of Minkah and the better he plays, the better it is for all of us.”
(Do you embrace the underdog role this year? How do you go about it or do you not pay attention?) – “I don’t even think about it that way. I think about how am I going to put myself in a position to make this team better. That’s really all it is.”
(Did you have a chance to work with some of these guys over the past few weeks or is this the first time you’re seeing them?) – “No. Since we broke here, I’ve just been in Arizona. (I had) a couple of other small family vacations but just getting that last family time in and then coming out and getting to work.”
(What do you think RB Kalen Ballage brings to the offense when he’s back there for you?) – “I think he was very impressive to me in the offseason, just in terms of work ethic. He’s a smart guy. He wants a big role. He’s very versatile in what he can do. I think versatile backs are very good in this system. He’s got a nice chip on his shoulder just in terms of being able to show everybody what he can do and I’ve had a good time with him so far.”
(When you signed here, you said that the Dolphins starting job was one of the big reasons why you wanted to come here. Obviously that’s probably still the case but could you see yourself playing in a backup role?) – “Again, I’m totally focused on how do I put the best version of myself on the field. I like playing football.”
(Are you embracing a mentor role with QB Josh Rosen a little bit too?) – “We spend so much time together – me, Josh and Jake (Rudock) and (Assistant Quarterbacks Coach) Jerry (Schuplinski) in that room as well. There’s a lot of stuff that we’ll discuss in that room and some of it is me and my experience and maybe, as a quarterback, you develop scars, bad plays, things that you want to try to avoid. A lot of what I do is just offer information and if people want to take the information and go with it, they can. There’s been a lot of situations that I’ve been in – good ones and bad ones – that I try to share with them and pass on. Again, one of my things with that is to work as hard as I can and focus on me, and then hopefully that rubs off on everybody.”
(What is the potential and the ability of the receiving corps this year with WR Kenny Stills as the veteran, WR DeVante Parker can go it and then you have the two speedy guys in WR Albert Wilson and WR Jakeem Grant.) – “We have a lot of skill. The thing is, on paper, it’s there. We’ve got to put the work in. We have to have those discussions, the communication. We have to get on the same page. We have to get everybody up to speed. Those aren’t easy things. It’s going to be a process throughout training camp and even throughout the season but I’m really excited about the group of guys that we have.”
(You haven’t won the job yet but the opportunities you’ve had with the first team, what does that mean to you?) – “I hate just giving the same answer but I enjoy being out here and playing football, and try to take advantage of every rep I get. I know in this league it’s hard to come by opportunities and you just do the best you can and take advantage of each one that you get.”
(You face this secondary, obviously, all of the time. Are there two or three things that you think that they do especially will?) – “Personnel-wise, there’s a few guys; but the scheme is a lot different. The scheme is a scheme they haven’t done in the past. We’re going at it here. I would say they’ve been good. The biggest thing is they make us better. They’re very competitive back there. I think we’re very competitive as a wide receiver and tight end group and we’re going to make each other better and have some good battles out here.”
(T Laremy Tunsil was telling us that he’s starting to feel like a real veteran going into his fourth season, which probably doesn’t impress you too much. What have been your early impressions of him and the kind of role he can have both on and off the field for this team?) – “I love him. He’s such a steady guy. That’s important to have. I’ve appreciated getting to know him a little bit. We’ll just continue to get to know each other on and off the field. He’s a guy that gives me confidence. When I look in the huddle and I see him, I have a lot of confidence.”
(Does that deep voice give T Laremy Tunsil extra gravitas?) – “(laughter) Sometimes, yeah.”
(How difficult was the loss of Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell?) – “He was a guy that I didn’t really know (before I got here). I knew a lot about him but I didn’t really know him heading into this gig. I gained so much respect for him in the short time that we had spent together, just in terms of as a coach, the knowledge and as a man, the steadiness, the calm demeanor. Just the character every day … There aren’t many people that I respect more than that man. So it was tough to hear that he wasn’t going to be in our room every day but he’s got such a commanding presence and I feel like his presence will still be felt in the building.”
(Moving forward, I guess Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea and Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Jerry Schuplinski have split up some duties that Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell will have. How do you guys kind of move forward without Jim?) – “Well, you’ll have to talk to Coach (Flores) about the role that (Caldwell) will still take and all of that but in terms of the day-to-day, it’s a little bit different not having him as a presence in our room every day. But just like when somebody gets injured during the year, it’s almost heartless to say but it’s the next-man-up mentality and you’ve just got to keep moving forward. I know he would do the same with a quarterback injury or whatever it was. We’ve just got to keep moving forward and we’re obviously keeping him in our thoughts as well.”
(It’s often said that quarterbacks and wide receivers build a rapport with each other. Who would you say has been your favorite target so far since you’ve gotten here?) – “My favorite part has been that I’ve got a lot of guys that I like throwing to. It’s going to be nice and the fact that the ball is going to get spread around a lot, we’re trying to take advantage of matchups and we feel like we have the right guys to do it on our side.”
(What is your favorite nickname that you like to go by?) – “I don’t mind the nice ones. (laughter) When I was in Buffalo, the ‘Amish Rifle’ creeped up a bit. That one was funny. I don’t mind it because there is a lot of bad stuff that people call me too. I’ll take anything I can get.”
Laremy Tunsil – July 25, 2019
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Thursday, July 25, 2019
T Laremy Tunsil
(Day 1 out there with this new regime…) – “Day 1 is in the books. It was good, not perfect. We will get in the film room and look at our mistakes, get them corrected and come out here for Day 2.”
(How excited and encouraged are you to get out here with this squad and see what you guys can do?) – “Very excited. It’s the start of a new season and the start of football (being) back. Everybody is excited to get here and get working and see where it goes from there.”
(When you listen to Head Coach Bryan Flores, I get encouraged by what he has to say, that fire in his eyes. Can you tell me what type of energy he brings to you guys?) – “He’s a serious guy. He’s all about business and that’s the type of coach you need. (He’s) somebody who’s ready to work and ready to see his players work, just a respectable guy. That’s what we like to see.”
(The offensive line, the importance of training camp for a bunch like you guys, just to be able to get some kind of cohesion…) – “Facts. We need cohesion. I like that word actually. There are five of us and we all have to work together just to make a hole or protect the quarterback. Just to be out here with those guys is extremely fun and I know we’re going to get it and keep working.”
(It goes fast, but you’re technically a veteran on this team. You’re one of the most senior guys.) – “I feel like I’m a veteran. It’s Year 4 and I feel like I’m a vet. Don’t tell me that. (laughter) I’m still learning. There are a lot of vets out here like Daniel Kilgore for one, this is Year 9 (for him) and I look up to him a lot.”
(When you think about QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, what are some things that come to mind as strengths?) – “He’s a leader for sure, and everybody looks up to him when he steps in the huddle. One thing he says is ‘give me your eyes’ and everybody looks and listens. He has that leadership and everybody respects that.”
(What have you seen from the young puppy QB Josh Rosen?) – “A beast too. They are both beasts and I’m glad to see them both out here competing and working. I love both of those guys.”
(How do you deal with the challenges of dealing with a new offensive system and new quarterbacks?) – “It’s very challenging but it’s part of the process. That’s just part of being in the NFL. You’ve always got something new. You’ve got to take that role and learn it. No ifs, ands or buts.”
(Nationally, you guys are not getting a lot of love. But this place if full of fans…) – “I love it. I love being the underdog. Let’s keep it going.”
(Why?) – “We don’t need any attention. Let’s get it out of the mud. Let’s keep working on the low and get it.”
(Do you feel like this team has the talent to win in the NFL and get to the playoffs?) – “We’re going to keep working. Work every day and take it day-by-day and we’ll see.”
(What are the extra roles that you find yourself, especially this year, as things figure themselves out. Are there different roles that you’ve taken on?) – “Year 4 is more of a leadership standpoint. That’s one thing I’ve got to learn and take that role day-by-day. I’ve just got to learn it and I’ll get it.”
(What did you do in the offseason, conditioning-wise?) – “I was training. Conditioning-wise? I was running every day. You see this man, you know he runs us. We’ve got to run all the way to that wall and back.”
(How much running are we talking about?) – “Every single day. I probably did the conditioning test every day. I had to.”
(Do you feel faster, the best shape of your life right now?) – “I wouldn’t say the best shape of my life, but I feel like I’m in shape. He made sure of that for sure.”
(We saw in the offseason that CB Xavien Howard got his and at some point, it’s going to be your turn. Is that at all something that’s been talked about with you and your agent?) – “That’s not a concern for me right now. I’m trying to be the best that I can be and help the team any way I can, and just keep it going day-by-day.”
(For CB Xavien Howard, it was important for him to be the highest paid corner ever. Do you have those kind of goals for left tackle?) – “Day-by-day, man. We’ll see. I’m going to let my actions talk.”
(Generally, how would you feel about spending many years with the Dolphins organization?) – “I would love that. I would love to be with one organization for the rest of my career.”
(Why is that?) – “That’s just a goal for everybody. Nobody wants to leave.”
(Stability?) – “Yeah.”
(With all of this running that you’ve done, have you gotten faster?) – “I hope so. (laughter) We’ll see.”
(With you and G Chris Reed, how much, it seems like he’s the stable guy that’s been working there at left guard. How much does that help in terms of chemistry?) – “We started playing together in the offseason and OTAs and minicamp. We started learning each other.”
Albert Wilson – July 25, 2019
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Thursday, July 25, 2019
WR Albert Wilson
(How does it feel to get back out there?) – “Pretty good. I’m just finally getting back out there and getting my legs under me, so I feel pretty good.”
(In June, you said you felt 100 percent. Are you still feeling that way?) – “Yeah, I feel pretty good. I’m just going by our timeline, just doing what we can right now and just working every day to try to get back on the field with my team.”
(As far as team drills, any idea when you’ll be involved in those and how close we are to that?) – “That’s up to Coach (Flores). You’ll have to ask him about that one.”
(Do you expect to play in any preseason games?) – “When (Coach Flores) lets me go, I’m ready to go. We’re on a timeline. We’re just going to stick to it. We’re going to take it day-by-day and get ready for whatever comes.”
(You know your body better than anybody. Do you feel like it’s the same or better than it was before the injury?) – “I’m definitely feeling better. I’ve been working on little things that I haven’t been working on before, so I’m definitely getting stronger. I feel like I’m getting faster so I think it’s going to be a good thing.”
(How close to 100 percent are you?) – “I’m feeling pretty good but we’re taking it day-by-day with whatever they give me. I’ve been doing pretty good with whatever they throw at me. We’re just really waiting on the day that we decide that it’s time to go.”
(How tough is it to watch them in team drills and not be out there?) – “It’s kind of tough but I’ve been doing it for a long time now. I’m just standing on the sidelines, trying to learn this playbook like the back of my hand, cheering guys on and making sure that we’re there for each other so when the time comes, we’ll be pretty tight and we’ll be ready to go.”
(With that in mind, how big was it for you to not start training camp on PUP?) – “Pretty good. It’s just every day, we take it one day at a time. So whenever it’s time, we’re going to be back out there.”
(Last year, Head Coach Adam Gase came up with creative ways to use you and you took full advantage of it. Have you and Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea talked about other ways that you can be used – if not like last year – to maximize your skills?) – “Right now I’m just trying to get back out there and show them what I’ve got. They’re a new coaching staff so I’m just trying to wait until the day that I get on the field and show them how talented I am so they can get upstairs and do what they’ve got to do.”
(You mentioned the new coaching staff. What’s Head Coach Brian Flores like?) – “He’s a great leader. He came in and gave us the blueprint on how to be a winning team and to take care of the little things and do what we need to do before we get out there on Week 1. We definitely bought in. We’re definitely behind it 100 percent. We believe in him and what he’s got going on. I’m excited to see what the season holds.”
(I’d imagine this is what you live for – games, practices, being back out here on the field. So after all of that work and rehab, what does it mean to be back out here?) – “It’s a blessing. It was kind of a rollercoaster. I didn’t have any setbacks but it has been a long time since I’ve been able to do the things that I love to do. So for me to be back out here, it’s truly a blessing.”
(What are those challenges like when you’re doing the rehab and you maybe want to open it up and the coaches are like no? How patient do you have to be or how has that been?) – “Real patient. But you know, these guys are professionals at what they have to do. I trust everyone in the training room. I trust all of the coaches to make sure that when I get back, I’m 100 percent and can benefit for the team.”
(You mentioned the timeline. Are there things that you look for yourself that can kind of make you feel that you know that you’re ready for that next step and that you’re getting closer?) – “Just every exercise they give me, I’ve been knocking it out. There’s really nothing that I’m rushing to do. Like I said, I trust everything – the plan – that they’ve got for me, and I’m just taking it a day at a time.”
(What does the hip most affect from a skill standpoint? Is it speed? Is it movement back and forth? What is most affected where you’ll have to cross that barrier to be 100 percent?) – “Nothing is affecting me. I’m good.”
(How fun was it to run the ball last year? Is that something you would hope would continue?) – “It was awesome. I grew up playing running back so it was kind of a dream of getting to the NFL and running the ball. So it was pretty cool. If that’s what they have planned for me this year, I’ll be happy to do it; but if it’s not, I’m not tripping.”
(How much have you and WR Jakeem Grant helped each other – since you’re both coming back from injury – having a guy side by side…) – “We’ve been pushing each other since the time it was ready for us to get up and start doing rehab. Every day we show up ready to compete against each other. If it’s lifting, if it’s running in the pool, if it’s coming out here and doing conditioning or whatever it is, we’ve been competing nonstop and I think that’s why our rehab has been so successful. To have someone, I feel like I’m so competitive and so willing and ready to work every day so it was truly a blessing that I had somebody to go through it with.”
(How would you describe the potential of this offense?) – “I think it can be one of the best. I think we have a lot of guys that can do really good things with the ball. I think we have quarterbacks that can get the guys who can do things with the ball. I think we are going to be really good.”
