Minkah Fitzpatrick – April 17, 2019
Download PDF version
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
(On if he’s been told what position he is playing.) – “It’s the first day or the second day, so nobody knows where they’re playing. We don’t even know what kind of defense we’re running. Nobody knows anything. Coach is going to put us in the best possible positions to be able to win games and that’s it.”
(Have you been at safety the last two days with S Reshad Jones not here?) – “I’ve been moving around a little bit.”
(What’s your preference on where you’d like to be this year?) – “A football player. (laughter)”
(I know the point you had made in December was that it would be helpful to know just in terms of how much weight to lose or gain. So without them telling you to this point, what have you done from a weight standpoint? Have you played at a bigger safety weight or have you put yourself in a position to where you’re at a bigger safety weight or a smaller corner weight?) – “I’m just sitting in the middle. Just in case so if I have to lose weight or if I have to gain weight. I’m just sitting in the middle.”
(So that’s around…?) – “About 204 (pounds).”
(You finished last year at what?) – “About that – 204 (pounds).”
(So have they explained to you when they’ll be able to tell you what you’ll be playing?) – “No. Like I said, it’s still the second day. This is the second day that I’ve been working with these coaches out in the field. They don’t even know us as players yet. They only have film on us. They haven’t put our hands on us at all for real. Nobody has any idea of where they’re playing or what we’re doing. We don’t know the defense that we’re running. We’re just out there trying to learn the basics and the fundamentals of everything before we get our positions set in stone. And anyways, the defense that we run, everybody has to move around. I don’t think anybody in the secondary is just going to be sitting at one spot.”
(What’s your first impression of the new coach – Head Coach Brian Flores – been?) – “He’s a great coach. He’s all business. He’s serious, which is a good thing. That’s how you win games. You pay attention to detail. You pay attention to little things because that’s what wins games. We just had a meeting today just about the small details. That’s how you separate yourselves from good teams and average teams and become an elite team. It’s just those details. I like him.”
(You’re a big believer in that personally, too, aren’t you?) – “Yes, for sure. That’s what we learned at Alabama and that’s how we won games at Alabama.”
(How unsettling is it, all of this talk about S Reshad Jones? Maybe he’ll still be here, maybe he won’t. Where do you come down on that?) – “We’re just focused on everybody that’s here. Reshad is doing what he thinks is his best business decision and we just have to focus on the people that are here. He’s a great player. We’d love to have him with us. He’s a great vet. I’ve learned a lot from him so we’d love to have him here; but we just have to focus on the guys that are here, do what we can with the guys that are here and move forward.”
(Let me use a bad word for you – tank. It’s been suggested that maybe the best approach for the Dolphins is to be bad in order to get real good. Where do you come down on that?) – “The head coach already answered that question and I think all of us feel the same way about it. It’s a term that only losers use. It’s not something that I would ever use or ever even think to use. Even if somebody were to decide that we were going to do that, I don’t think anybody in this program would try and buy into it. We’re professional athletes. We’re paid to not just play the game but to win games and be the best that we can be, so I think tanking shouldn’t even be in the vocabulary of any professional athlete.”
(We were talking to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick yesterday and he gave us a stirring look at first when we mentioned ‘Fitzmagic’ and then he kind of laughed and said that was something he tried to smooth over with you. What was that like to kind of have that smile and move on?) – “It was funny. The whole thing was just funny and everything like that. Some people made it into a bigger deal than what it needed to be. We both made a joke about it. I call him cousin and he calls me cousin and stuff like that. (laughter) It’s funny. We’re just both out there and going to play the best we can and that’s it.”
(How does your approach change now going into your second year? You’ve been around this once. What are you expecting?) – “Well, last year I just learned so much that I’m just applying everything that I learned. It’s just learning, growing and everything like that. I’m just applying everything that I learned last year because last year, I stepped into the game and I didn’t know what to expect. I was just soaking everything in and just absorbing everything. Now this year, it’s just applying it and move forward and growing every single day.”
(Do you think you’ll have to – I don’t want to say a step back – but hit the reset button because there’s a new approach and a new coaching staff?) – “For sure. The basics and the fundamentals of what they want and what other coaches want are different. It’s almost like my rookie year all over again, just going back and learning the basics, learning the fundamentals, learning the details and stuff like that. Then just keep growing and continue to grow so you can go out there and play fast and play physical and just play how we want to play.”
(There’s a lot of mystery associated with you in terms of where you’re going to play. I know you played cornerback, safety and nickel last year but do you feel like that’s going to help your growth if you continue to play all three positions?) – “Yeah, I think so just because the type of defense that we’re projected to run, you’ve got to be versatile. You have to move around. I don’t think anybody in the secondary is going to just be sitting at one spot. You might sit at one spot in one game and then the next you’ll be in a different spot. I think no matter who you are in the secondary, you’re going to have to be able to move around. You’re going to have to cover guys in the slot, cover guys outside. It might be a different matchup every week but you’re going to have to learn how to cover people and do different things in different spots.”
(Where’s home base for S Minkah Fitzpatrick?) – “It’s out on the field. That’s it.”
(There’s a lot of Patriots influence on this defense. Is there someone you watch or were told to watch on that defense whether it be S Devin McCourty or someone else to kind of give you an influence of how you could be impacted?) – “I asked the same question and they said just watch all of them. All of them moved around. There was no guy who just sat in the box. There was no guy that was just a cover guy. A couple of guys just covered guys but out of the three guys that moved around a lot, none of them just sat in one spot specifically. You’ve got to watch all of those guys, see how they play, learn from them and that’s it.”
(It makes your job harder, I guess?) – “Harder but it’s worth it. You get to make more plays.”
(You were so easygoing last year about switching between positions. What makes it easy for you to keep doing that even without really having clarity on where you’re going to be playing.) – “I think it’s what the coaches want and what the coaches think is best for the team. If that’s what it is, then you just have to go into it with a positive mindset. It adds value to myself, just being able to move around and do some things and play different spots on the field. It adds value to me. Even though it may be extremely tough, hard and taxing, it’s worth it.”
(Have there been cornerback snaps this week for you so far?) – “No, not yet.”
(Have they told you in May whether you’ll get some work there?) – “They haven’t told me anything.”
Kenyan Drake – April 17, 2019
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
RB Kenyan Drake
(What’s your impression of the new coach, the new approach?) – “We’re just out here working. It feels good to be back out here in helmets. With a new coach coming in, we’re awarded an opportunity to come out (and) have an extra minicamp. Just getting to run around, get on the ball, play against the defense, just take advantage of the extra time we have is definitely something that I’m definitely taking advantage of.”
(RB Frank Gore is gone. Have you had a conversation about what your role might be this year?) – “No, I’m just taking it one day at a time, honestly. (I am) trying to go out here and get the plays cemented in my brain, come out here and run them, get everything worked out with ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick, the line, my fellow running backs, receivers, making sure everything is smooth when we start working on air after this week.”
(A lot of folks were proud of how you handled last season because you came in expecting you would handle the ball a lot more. How did you deal with it?) – “I like taking everything one day at a time, keeping everything within the realms of my control. If I can’t control it, it’s out of my hands. The only thing I can control is my attitude, my effort. I come to work every day to put that work in and get better. That’s all I can worry about.”
(Are you at the point in your career where really everything is in place for you – the confidence the health, the knowledge, the experience? Do you feel that way?) – “I take advantage of the opportunity of being in this league for four years. (I have) been able to stay healthy, take care of my body. New coaching staff coming in, so it’s almost like a clean slate to get a new offense under my belt, continue to build my repertoire of knowledge for football in general. I’m definitely confident in and comfortable in the position I’m in because now I’m getting my routine down. I’m able to take that extra step and understand that people are going to make mistakes right now, but as long as you don’t make the same mistake twice and continue to build upon everything that you want to work toward and get everything straight.”
(Any personal goals you set for yourself this season?) – “Right now, I’m just trying to continue to work on April (17th) right now. That’s the thing I’m working for.”
(There will be other guys that come in between now and September. As of now, how does it feel being the old guy in the running back room?) – “It’s definitely interesting. I feel like having Frank (Gore) come in last year and him being 35 – 36 this year – it gave me the opportunity to look at somebody that epitomizes the longevity. To be able to stay healthy, eat right, take care of everything I need to take care of from a personal standpoint and a professional standpoint, I feel like I can play in this league for a long time. I just want to take that step each and every day.”
(I’m going to say a bad four letter work: tank. That’s been talked a lot about this team that maybe that’s the best approach to be real bad in order to get real good. How do you feel about that word and that approach?) – “It’s not in my vocabulary. We’re all here professionally – athletes and football players and coaches – to win. Any opportunity to go out there and not give our best effort, I feel like everybody should play for another organization, play for another sport in general. Football is a team sport. It’s built upon the fact that every day you come in, you grind, you’re going to sweat, you’re going to put those tears in, so I really don’t understand the fact that people would work hard to purposefully lose to do what? I don’t see a gain in that. Right now, like I said, we’re focusing on getting better each and every day and when that opportunity comes, we’re going to go out there and try to win football games.”
(Speaking of a clean slate, how important is that to you?) – “It’s important to really take everything in stride. Whether the situation was somebody was still here or a new coach or whatever the case may be, I’m controlling what I can control. Putting everything into perspective, I’m accepting the challenge.”
(What has stood out to you about Head Coach Brian Flores in the short time that you’ve been with him?) – “He’s definitely very serious and very personable. I’d love the opportunity to continue to get to know him as this offseason and the season approaches. I feel like he’s going to put everybody in the best position to continue to win games.”
(What do you think about Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea and how he plans to use you?) – “How he plans to use me is yet to be seen, because I have to put myself in the best position for him to use me as much as possible. At the end of the day, I’d love the opportunity to go out there and prove myself on a daily basis, put my head in the playbook, make sure that I put myself in the best position to go out here and help this team win games.”
(What do you want to improve on?) – “From an entire basis … It’s not anything specific. I’m trying to make sure I become a complete player understanding that within every task, there’s a lesson to be learned. Focus on the details, becoming not necessarily a ‘rah-rah’ leader, but every time I step on this field I’m a person this team can count on.”
(Do you have to fill that role that RB Frank Gore had as the veteran of the running back room?) – “I appreciate everything that Frank did. I’m just trying to make sure at the end of the day I’m putting myself as Kenyan Drake, the opportunity for people to see me as not necessarily what Frank did or anybody else did just putting my stuff on … and helping this team win games.”
(Have you watched some RB James White? I don’t know if he’s a good comp in terms of how they utilized him. He’s obviously an excellent receiving back. What do you notice when you watch Patriots running back film?) – “I definitely notice. Obviously, they get the ball to the running back in check-down situations. (Tom) Brady always does a great job of finding outlets that lead to getting 5-, 10-yard gains, 3-yard gains. Eventually that adds up when you have an athlete as versatile as James White. You can make a person miss and take it the distance any time. To be able to watch film like that in terms of getting out into the defense and figuring out a way to get into the zone and use leverage to my advantage to free up space for me to make plays. Each and every day I’m trying to get better and better.”
(In Year 4, do you have chance to prove yourself as a three-down, premier back?) – “I feel like that’s a daily occurrence coming out here … not necessarily not making mistakes, but like I always reiterate, it’s not making the same mistakes twice, going in the film room, taking what I learn in class out here to the grass and really just being particular with everything I’m trying to work for. It’s not something specific. It’s completeness of trying to figure out how I’m going to put my stamp on this team.”
(A lot has been said and a lot has been written about this being a contract year for CB Xavien Howard. It’s also a contract year for you. How aware of that are you and what’s your approach to that?) – “I’d be lying if I said … Obviously, it’s not the reality of the situation. But I understand that what I do right now is going to affect that when it comes. I’m just putting the work in right now in the weight room and film room, on the practice field, at home watching film, putting myself in the best positon, so when I come out here there’s no hesitation, there’s no what ifs. I’m coming out here trying to put my best on the field. At the end of the day, I can only look myself in the mirror and say I gave my best and my best was what I put out here.”
DeVante Parker – April 17, 2019
Download PDF version
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
WR DeVante Parker
(What was your reaction when they told you and your agent that they wanted you back?) – “I was excited for them just to have confidence in me again, have trust in me and faith in me to be able to sign me back again.”
(Had it surprised you in the sense that they were obviously looking to clear cap space, they’ve gotten rid of a lot of veterans, it would have been easy for them to just shed the money and not bring you back. So did it surprise you in that regard?) – “I’d say not really. Like I said before, they had confidence in me, so (they) just (wanted to) keep me here and give me another chance.”
(What do you hope to accomplish at this point now going into the season?) – “Just to go out and work hard and go out there and play 100 percent every play and just go hard every play.”
(How are you feeling, health-wise?) – “I’m feeling good health-wise.”
(A lot better than last year, I’m sure?) – “Yeah, a lot better.”
(What do you think that would help you do throughout this offseason and where you want to go?) – “I would say it would just help me get out there, to go out there and help the team out in any way I need to help the team.”
(It wasn’t just that the Dolphins wanted you back. You had a choice too. So you wanted to be here. Talk about the reasons why it was important for you to stay when you could have left.) – “I just love the atmosphere, the fans and everyone out here. There’s a good group of guys here. I’m just glad I was able to be here again.”
(What kind of vibe do you get from getting a new coach here and kind of a fresh start for everyone here?) – “The vibe here is good. Everyone gets along well. I’m just looking forward and ready to go.”
(What kind of style do you feel Head Coach Brian Flores is bringing so far?) – “He’s a good coach. He gets us going and we’ve just got to come out.”
(I think this is your third full-time starting quarterback – Ryan Tannehill, Jay Cutler and now Ryan Fitzpatrick. How long does it take you to get accustomed to a quarterback and build a good rapport with him?) – “I don’t think it takes that long. You’ve got to be at the depth you’re supposed to be at and be there on time, just be in the right spot.”
(Different quarterbacks, they can have different little things about that, though, right? They want you here, he wants you here. How long do the little adjustments like that take, weeks or games?) – “It’s all based on depth. You’ve just got to be at the right depth. That’s it.”
(What’s the message from Wide Receivers Coach Karl Dorrell about what he would like to accomplish with you together? What have been the things that you’ve taken away from your conversations with him?) – “His thoughts have just been just work hard every day. Just come out here and grind every day and just get better.”
(Do you like at this year as a fresh start for you?) – “Yeah, it is a fresh start. We’ve got new coaches. It’s just another opportunity for me.”
(Have some of the new guys on the team come to you asking, what’s Miami like? What is this team like? Kind of how do we go from here?) – “We’re all talking in the receiver room about different things. We just have a little bit of discussion about stuff.”
Jesse Davis – April 17, 2019
Download PDF version
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
G/T Jesse Davis
(Have you gotten the sense that you’re staying at guard? Has that been their indication to you?) – “I’m just going day by day. Wherever they want me, that’s where I’m going to be. Nothing yet.”
(It’s been guard the first couple of days of this camp?) – “Yeah, so far.”
(Are you most comfortable there?) – “I would say so, just because the whole year I played guard. I’m still working tackle on my own and stuff like that.”
(How much do think you’re going to be spending time cross training and would learning that tackle spot be easy to regain that stuff again?) – “They haven’t told me anything about it. It’s just day one, here’s where you’re going to play, day two here’s where you’re going to play. I’m comfortable doing both left side and right. It’s just whatever they have their mind up to.”
(What’s this offseason like knowing that you’ve spent an entire year and played every snap as a starter?) – “It’s been great. I’ve been here the whole offseason working out at the facility around everybody here. I’m healthy, nothing is banged up, so we’re doing good.”
(What’s the next step for you in your career, in your opinion?) – “To get a starting spot right now and just improve every day, take in what they are teaching us here. Just every day I’m trying to improve. That’s my number one goal.”
(Does it seem like the concepts are different or the same compared to what you’ve been exposed to before?) – “It’s generally all about the same. It’s just different lingo, different kind of stuff that we’re doing inside; but everything is generally the same.”
(In your mind right now, Jesse Davis is a guard?) – “Today I was. That’s all I’d say. Today I was a guard. (laughter)”
(Could you be a tackle anytime soon?) – “I have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine.”
(What’s it like to … Obviously you’re thankful and happy to be in the NFL. But what’s it like to see an entire team go through this evolution?) – “The changes are good for us. It’s crazy to see how it’s working out to be. Everybody is responding really well to it, especially our group. We just take it day by day, stay positive and keep everybody up and have a good time with it.”
(You guys right now don’t even have enough players to go two units, so who goes in there?) – “Once we’re done with one, the second group goes in so we just rotate every play. One guy goes in and we just go down the line and handle it that way.”
(What was your reaction to T Ja’Wuan James making the move that he made?) – “I was happy for him. I texted him and said ‘congrats.’ He earned it. Hopefully it works out well for him there. I think he’s definitely earned what he’s got.”
(You’ve got a little while before you get your payday. What’s that like?) – “Just keep punching that timecard. (laughter)”
(How much will you pay attention to the draft this year?) – “Probably not at all. I’ll probably just (hear things) from hearsay stuff. I don’t do draft parties or whatever people do. It’s fun for guys that do it, to have fun with it and see what we will get.”
(It’s going to kind of tell you where you’re going to play.) – “Exactly but we’ll worry about that after draft weekend. We’ll see.”
Bobby McCain – April 17, 2019
Download PDF version
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
CB Bobby McCain
(When you look at the two-deep, what do you think?) – “On paper you can say what you want but at the end of the day, it’s just about the guys coming out here and competing and working. I tend not to look at or worry about what (people) think about us. All that matters is that we believe in ourselves and as long as we believe and make a championship effort, then it’ll happen for us.”
(A lot of changes were made around here, more than any time in your career, but you are a veteran. How much do you think about the changes that were made and why they were made as opposed to ‘I’m just going to worry about football?’) – “At the end of the day, that’s not my job. My job is to come out and win football games, make plays. They made changes. It’s not like I have a say in whether they do or they don’t. I appreciate the last coaching staff and I’m working my ass off for this coaching staff.”
(What are your early impressions of Head Coach Brian Flores?) – “He’s a good coach. We all know. We know what he’s about. We’ve been playing him twice a year on the defensive side up on the north. We know what he brings to the table. He’s going to bring a competitive nature and that’s all we’re going to be about. We’re just going to be about competing, working hard, getting better each and every day and that’s what we’ve showed out.”
(How intrigued are you to find out what exactly the defense is going to look like with all the permutations, all the changes in the room and all that?) – “It’s exciting. With the change, we’re going to be able to play different defenses. You have to be able to do it all. At the end of the day, just going out and making plays within the defense. So, just getting in your playbook, understanding what the pros and the cons, the strengths and the weaknesses of the defense and going out and winning football games.”
(What’s the next step for you in your career?) – “I’m just going to keep working. I’ve never been one to look back on the past. I’m just going to keep working, keep going, taking it day by day and be the best player I can be.”
(With Head Coach Brian Flores having a defensive mindset, does that inspire you as a player? Does it make you want to play for him more knowing that he has your back as a defensive-minded coach?) – “I play football because I love football. I appreciate the coaching staff and I appreciate everything that comes with it. You get the royalties and all, but at the end of the day, I love football. That’s what I love to do.”
(How much did you pay attention to the Alliance of American Football?) – “I had a couple of old teammates on the AAF teams, so I definitely paid attention. I watched the games, for sure.”
(What did you think of the quality of football there?) – “It was good football. Some of these guys were drafted, some of these guys were on teams. Some of these guys were on the Dolphins when I was on the Dolphins, such as Terence Garvin, a running back (De’Veon Smith). (There were) a couple of guys on different teams that I know and I know can play good football. It was good, quality work.”
(When the league folded, was that a ‘wow’ moment, or were you kind of, ‘I didn’t think that thing was going to work?’) – “I thought it was going strong. I thought they had a good thing going, but unfortunately it did fold and guys were out of jobs. That sucks. Hopefully … I don’t know what the steps (are) from here, but hopefully they can piece it back together.”
(Have you talked to any of these guys here about their AAF experiences and how they were told the league broke up?) – “I’ve talked to some former teammates of mine and they said they were just at practice one day and they came in and they said it was done, so they just had to go home. That’s a bad feeling.”
(I know he plays a different position, but have you noticed anything about your new Brazilian teammate, DT Durval Queiroz Neto?) – “Yeah. He’s from Brazil. (laughter) He’s a strong cat. He just puts his head down, he works, he doesn’t say much. That’s what he’s about.”
(Is it too early to learn about philosophy of a new defense, a new coaching staff? Has it been kind of embraced by you guys on the whiteboard and then on the field the last two days?) – “One-hundred percent. At this point, you don’t have a choice. We play a game where either you’re going to get it done or you’re not. If you don’t get it done, you won’t be here. If you can get it done, you’ll be here and if you won’t, that’s unfortunate.”
(It seems like attention to detail has been a big thing, from us looking from the outside. What’s it been like on the inside?) – “Yeah, for sure, attention to detail because that’s the difference between a game. One of our coaches, he always says the difference between a bad player and a good player, a good player and a great player is this much. Just making sure you have that attention to detail. You never know. Like he says, it’s the difference between getting a fourth-and-1 and not getting a fourth-and-1.”
(Your versatility is probably one of your best assets. Do you see yourself playing more cover corner or more nickel? Do you see yourself playing multiple positions or kind of sticking to one?) – “I’m a football player. Wherever they put me, if that’s what best suits the team, that’s what’s going to win a football game.”
(I saw you at Dwyane Wade’s last home game. Where did that rank on stuff you did this offseason?) – “That was dope. That was definitely top three. Just seeing him come out, seeing the city come out and support him for everything he’s done with the three championships and just the legendary career he’s had, he’s very appreciated.
(What’d you think of the crowd that night? It seemed like a NBA Finals type of buzz.) – “Even though they weren’t making it to the playoffs, it definitely was. It was energetic. Like I said, it was his going away party. It was a lot of fun and I was just happy to be a part of it.”
(How many of your teammates were there?) – “A couple of them. I actually went with my teammate Cornell Armstrong. I know a couple of teammates were there, a lot of people I knew were there and it was a good time.”
(What were your other two on your top three? You said that was in the top three?) – “One we won’t speak of. The second one we won’t speak of. (laughter)”
Davon Godchaux – April 16, 2019
Download PDF version
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
DT Davon Godchaux
(Have you been playing nose?) – “We’re just going out there. I’ve been doing nose and I’m in a 3-technique; but at the end of the day, I’m doing what the coach tells me to do and what’s best for the team.”
(Do you feel like nose is a position that suits your skills?) – “It doesn’t matter. I feel like once you come out here, you drill the drills with (Defensive Line Coach Marion) Hobby wants you to line up and do the technique. I feel like any positon on the d-line, you have to be ready to play.”
(Can you play 3-4 end?) – “Anything the coach wants me to play. If they say ‘Godchaux, go out there and play a 3-4 end,’ I’m going to go do it to the best of my ability.”
(What are your early impressions of Head Coach Brian Flores?) – “We’re going to run. We’re going to be the most in-shape team, I can tell you that. That’s probably the only thing I can tell you. The bottom line is we’re going to be the most in-shape team.”
(Did you do a lot of running today?) – “Yes, sir. But it’s good. (Flores) came from a winning system and brought it down here to Miami and it can translate to here too.”
(It’s more than last year you’d say?) – “It’s Miami. We ran a lot last year too. They both are about the same.”
(What’s different so far about this camp, the feel in the building and anything like that?) – “We started earlier, that’s the difference. Last year we didn’t start around this time, obviously. This year we started a little earlier, so that’s probably the biggest difference: to get in here, get a pair of cleats starting early, coming out here and doing the minicamp before the OTAs.”
(You’re a team leader now. How is that different, reporting to camp as a guy who has done stuff on this team?) – “I feel like every year you have to be a team leader. I was telling the other guys, you never know when your number is going to be called. And when your number is called, that means you’re taking that leadership role to get in that starting lineup. You always have to be ready to prepare. In order to be a great leader, you have to be a great follower first. I feel like I’ve always been a leader. I might not have been as vocal but I feel like I’ve always been a leader.”
(Do you think that other players look at you differently this year? You’re not really an old head.) – “I’d like to hope so. The things I’m doing on the field, the things I’m doing off the field with the guys, I’d like to hope everybody looks at each other with a little more respect, doing the right thing and holding everybody accountable.”
(What are you doing off the field?) – “We’re just working with our strength coach, Dave Puloka.”
(Are you all doing bonding? I know you do the Chaux-down at your place.) – “Yeah. You have to continue to bond. At the end of OTAs, we’re always going to have a crawfish boil. We’re going to have a barbecue, whenever the team wants to come over and do a barbecue. We always do team bonding because we have to have the guys close.”
(When does that start?) – “The last Thursday of OTAs. Probably like June 5th, before everybody flies out.”
Daniel Kilgore – April 16, 2019
Download PDF version
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
C Daniel Kilgore
(At what point were you all the way back where you felt like you were completely back and ready for football?) – “I would say if I was needed at the end of last season, I probably could’ve fought through it, but no reason to risk it. I feel good. (There are) no limitations now. Everything is full-go.”
(As a veteran player on the roster, what have you thought about the approach, which is obviously trading or releasing a lot of veteran players and rebuilding?) – “I’m going on my ninth season (and) this is my sixth head coach, sixth offense. I approach every year, when there is a change, the same way. You have to win these guys over. That was my goal last March when I got traded here. For me, it’s always been the same story. You have to fight your ass off. You have to show them that you’re wanting to play and just do your job.”
(Has there been any expression to you from General Manager Chris Grier or from Head Coach Brian Flores that you’re going to be here this season? Has that been conveyed to you?) – “No. I don’t own that locker. Nobody owns their locker, not even the coaches. You just rent your spot, so you never know.”
(Do you feel a pressure with the exit of all of the veterans to have to step up and be a veteran leader?) – “I don’t think there’s pressure. I definitely feel that it’s needed with younger guys, but you have older guys coming in. ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) has been in the league for a while now. You have Kiko (Alonso) on defense and Bobby (McCain) and all of those guys. We still have leadership. There’s no pressure. I think this group of men do a really good job showing up to work every day ready to work.”
(For players who have been in the league several years like you, how do you approach when you hear a team is going to rebuild and might have to suffer short-term pain? Do you look at it as ‘This is going to be an interesting thing’ or do you get deflated by virtue of the fact that you might not win big this year?) – “I don’t even think about that. Again, for me it’s always been about coming to work and do whatever you can to win ball games and help this organization win games. Ultimately, no matter who’s here, who goes or whatever, that’s the team goal is to win ball games.”
(There are going to be obviously a couple of pieces added to this offensive line, but your thoughts on what you have now with you, T Laremy Tunsil, G/T Jesse Davis sort of as building blocks?) – “Definitely, you have guys who have played quite a bit of football. (We) have to have guys step up. Whoever they bring in or whoever is here, they just have to come work and be ready to learn. It’s high expectations with this group as always, in any year, with any group. You just have to come to work ready to work because it’s not going to be any different.”
(You mentioned the six coaches in nine years. How do you handle getting to know your coach? How is that process and how has it been so far?) – “You do what they ask you to do, no matter what it is. For me, I’ve been the utility guy. I’ve rotated in at guard, center obviously, fullback in my early years. You have to do whatever they want you to do, let your work speak for itself and what you do in the classroom, and take it to the field.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick – April 16, 2019
Download PDF version
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
(What are your first impressions of today?) – “Definitely we’ve got to learn to walk before we can start running. It’s nice to get this extra work out here and start installing the very basics of our offense and our defense and our special teams stuff. We’ve got a long way to go, obviously; but in terms of the attention to detail right now and the effort, all of that is good. But it’s always good on day one. We’ve just got to continue to stay with it and continue to get better with it each day.”
(How much work were you able to do with the receivers before this all started?) – “Not a ton. We’re going to have plenty of time here in the offseason to get that going. For me, one of the things I think that I do best is getting on the same page with them and a lot of it’s through hard work, whether it’s through OTAs, whether it’s after that or the minicamps and training camp. Getting on the same page is important and I’ve worked with a lot of different guys, so sometimes for me I’ll put them in certain boxes and sometimes I’ll run into guys that I haven’t seen anything like it. We’ll see how it goes, but so far in terms of the willingness to work in that group and again the excitement and enthusiasm, I’m very excited about it as well.”
(Having the advantage of working in a lot of different locker rooms, is there something to be said knowing that your coach is coming from a winning culture and can bring it to a new team?) – “I think every situation is different. We are going into this year with a fresh start, a fresh approach, and a lot of new faces whether it’s coaches or players or people around the building. I think the one thing that we’re all going to be on the same page with and the one thing that we stress and preach every day is we’re here to win. Everybody in this building, whatever it takes to get this team to win, that’s what you have to be willing to do. We’re making sure that everybody is on the same page with that and winning is the most important thing.”
(The coach-QB relationship is always so important on any football team. I know both you and Head Coach Brian Flores are new but do you guys get together and that’s some common ground you meet on and able to discuss?) – “It’s so early in the process, again. When I signed here, we had a couple of very nice conversations. Again, it’s offseason. I’m out here just trying to learn how to call a play in the huddle and trying to get the guys lined up and like I said, walking before we can run. There’s a lot of stuff going on right now on both sides of the ball where we’re really focused in trying to learn how to do our jobs the best way we can.”
(It seems like a little bit of a challenge, the number of guys out there. I think there were only three running backs and not a lot of receivers. Have you ever been a part of a thing in the offseason where the numbers are so down?) – “I think as long as we have 11 guys in the huddle and we don’t line up with 10 or 12, then I’ve done my job and we’ll go from there. (laughter)”
(You’ve had some stretches in your career where it seems like you can’t do anything wrong, you get so hot.) – “I appreciate you putting it that way. (laughter)”
(What is that like and how do you handle the flip side when things are going wrong?) – “I love a lot of things about football. One of the things I love most is the adversity and having things not necessarily go your way, but leaning on your teammates and making sure that you’re the same guy in the building every day, the same guy in the huddle on every play and going from there. That’s something I pride myself on. Last year, especially at the begging of last year, it was nice for me to go out there and have some of that success, but that was last year. I’m going to do my best. I think in the last four or five years, I’ve really gotten better every year and I think as funny as it sounds, I think my best football is still ahead of me and that’s why I’m still playing. I love being out there. I love being in the huddle with the guys and hopefully they’ll get a chance to feel that and see that with me and they’ll think the same way.”
(I don’t think you care about the Twitter trolls and what not, people talking about your weight. How do you feel about your weight? How do you feel right now on the field?) – “I would say I’m in peak offseason form. I think two weeks ago I was in peak offseason form. (laughter) The thing with me is I have seven kids, so in January we have three birthdays. We’ve got a family birthday party, which includes cake and then we’ve got a friend’s birthday party which includes cake. So, that’s six times in January. We’ve got three birthdays in March – March 1st, March 6th and March 11th – which again, that’s a tough stretch. That’s cake six out of 10 or 11 days. (laughter) Then we’ve got an April birthday. So, it doesn’t slow down. But now that the birthdays are behind me, and I think I’m going to try to go from peak offseason form maybe down to peak in-season form, I’ll be okay.”
(We talked to General Manager Chris Grier out at the owner’s meetings and he was pretty forthcoming. He said you know this isn’t a long-term deal here. Is that a conversation you had that you know that this is a shorter-term deal?) – “I’ve been at this thing for going on 15 years. I know the way the league works and I know for me, I put my focus and energy on doing the best that I can and being the best player I can be. Things have tended to work out if I did that. That’s what I do. I put my energy in getting myself better and getting my teammates better and that’s all I focus on.”
(QB Tom Brady says he wants to play until 45, is there a number you have in mind?) – “(laughter) No. I don’t have a number. I still really enjoy playing, so it was an easy decision for me.”
(We had a conversation with S Minkah Fitzpatrick about ‘Fitzmagic.’ Are you guys going to double up on that this year?) – “I don’t know what you’re referring to. (laughter) No, it was one of the first things … We kind of smiled at each other when we met. It was a cheesy line but I’ll say it again, I think there’s enough magic to go around, especially being on different sides of the ball.”
(You spoke about the new faces, the new step this franchise is kind of taking you’re joining. Where do you believe you fit in all of this?) – “My whole career – and I think for everybody, not just here, but around the league – you can’t take anything for granted. You just have to go out and work as hard as you can. That’s what I’m here to do: put my head down, ignore any and everything that goes on outside of this building and see if I can be the best player I can be and bring guys up and make the guys around me better.”
(You’ve been on a couple ‘rebuilding’ teams. What do you see as a key of being a part of those teams?) – “I think today, getting out here on the field and installing a new offense, a new language, communication is going to be huge for us. Being able to make sure that we’re all on the same page, we’re not afraid to ask questions; but at the same time, knowing that we’re holding each other accountable. A mistake here or there is okay, but when the same one happens over and over again, that’s not good. There’s something wrong. We have to find a different way to study and do it. Being accountable, not just with yourself but with others as well, and just making sure that everybody is also working on their dependability and taking this thing serious.”
(How close do you watch the draft?) – “Less and less every year. I think it drags on a lot. I get it. My kids are in it and interested in it; but if my kids didn’t want it on, it probably wouldn’t be on.”
(Have they moved down here yet?) – “No.”
