Transcripts

Search Transcripts
Xavien Howard – November 30, 2020 Download PDF version

Monday, November 30, 2020

CB Xavien Howard

(I know a lot of times you talk about the team and you guys are doing well, but you individually are having a hell of a year. You’ve got seven interceptions this year. What do you see as a realistic end for you? Pro Bowl, All Pro, even Defensive Player of the Year? Do you aim for that sort of stuff?) – “Right now, I’m worried about taking it one day at a time. Those things I do see in the picture, in the bigger picture for us. I feel like the sky is the limit for me if I keep on balling. If I keep doing the things I’m doing each week, I feel like all of that is on the table. I can’t forget about those things, those achievements, that are out there.”

(Right now it seems like you are playing a different game than the competition. What is it right now that’s going right for you? Has the game slowed down? Is your body responding better than it ever has? Why are you playing at such a high level?) – “I feel like I’m just getting better. I kept that attitude coming off of injury of just being hungry. I want to focus on improving each day and proving to myself that I know what I can do on the field when I’m healthy.”

(You and WR DeVante Parker both had big days yesterday. I was curious to get your take on whether it’s training camp practices or throughout the course of the season, what does it do for you to go against a receiver of his caliber in practice, and how does that make your game better?) – “It’s been great. Me and DeVante have been going at it since I came into the league. We just kept that competition going. We just make each other get better. I feel like we’ve been doing a great job getting each other better, and it pays off on Sundays when we go against other guys.”

(I was doing some research and it turns out it’s been 38 years since anybody in the NFL got interceptions as often as you do. That’s a long time, 38 years. I also looked up some of the great corners of all time – Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Champ Bailey, Darrelle Revis – none of those great players got interceptions as often as you. It’s two parts, what do you think when you hear all of that? And then does any of those names jump out to you? Is it special to be compared to any of those guys in particular?) – “Those are some great guys, Hall of Famers and stuff like that. I don’t focus on stats and stuff like that and what I’ve been doing. I feel like everybody is different, and I feel like I just focus on getting better. With me just being in the same category of talking similar numbers, just doing that, I feel like that’s great. If I stay healthy and just keep going, that’s what’s in the future for me, the things that I want to achieve. I’m just focused on getting better each week.”

(The Jets threw the ball your direction 10 times yesterday. Are you surprised at this point when quarterbacks throw the ball your way?) – “No, I’m not surprised. Each week, I’m probably on the best receiver on the team – on the best receiver they have – so I’m expecting for them to throw the ball to that guy, no matter who’s on him. I feel like they feel like they want to give their guy the best opportunity to catch the ball. I’ve just been making the plays on the ball and just really just doing my thing.”

(What’s next for you in the developmental standpoint as a player and as a man?) – “I feel like you just got to keep growing and just make sure everything on and off the field, make sure everything is good. Just growing as a person, doing things right and doing stuff like that.

(I know we talked two or three weeks ago and you said this year wasn’t your best year yet because you had seven interceptions in 2018. Now you have seven now. Has this one made your list as the best year yet so far?) – “I just keep going. I focus on improving each year. At the end of the year, everything that I’ve reached or the things that I’ve accomplished, I’ll celebrate or do that. But I’m just focused on getting better each year and learning and taking advantage of everything that I do.”

Search Transcripts

Weekly Archives