Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: This is the last time we're going to be talking to you before summer break. What do you expect from your guys in the next six weeks or so, and what do you do? What do you have on the agenda?

A: I would just say for those guys to come back ready to go. Be in shape. Make sure they're being safe out there over the couple of weeks. Rookies have a little less time than the vets. But come back ready to go, both mentally and physically.

As far as myself, I get a little bit of downtime, but then you're right back at it. Making sure you're reviewing schedules and training camp practices and getting a head start on some of the opponents. So, get a little bit of downtime. Don't do a whole bunch.

Q: I don't think we ever asked you about the joint practice with the Jets. (Jets) Coach (Robert) Saleh said the other day that you guys aren't going to do that. Is there a reason for that?

A: Yeah, we just thought this year we're going to take a break. They're practicing against a couple of teams, we're practicing against Detroit and then we play each other during the year. So, we'll kind of get together next offseason and probably start it back up.

Q: What do you think of the quality of your depth overall? Do you think it's better than it was a year ago?

A: I'd say it's probably tough to tell right now. We have a lot of work to do, a lot ahead of us once training camp starts. The guys have been working hard. The guys that we have here have done everything we've asked them to do, and I think we'll have better answers for that once we get out there with pads on.

Q: What was (former Giants head coach Bill) Parcells' message to the team after practice yesterday and how do you think it resonated?

A: I think that'd be a good question for the players, but they were definitely listening. I think all the coaches were. It was great to have Coach Parcells here. He talked a little bit about accountability and adversity. Good message for the team and for the coaches.

Q: What does that mean to you?

A: Oh, it was great. He's obviously an NFL legend, a Giant legend, and just to have him out here I think was great for everybody.

Q: What have you been able to glean from your team throughout the spring? I know you said guys don't win or lose jobs now, but I'm sure you can take something from the spring of what kind of roster you have.

A: Well, I think one of the most important things in spring is the strength and conditioning. I think those guys have done a good job with that. And then the chemistry that you build with one another, not just on the field, but off the field, getting to know one another. We've signed a bunch of new free agents; we have the college guys coming in. So again, it's been a good group to work with. Time will tell here as we get started in training camp.

Q: Do you see a more talented roster when you look out there than maybe you did last year?

A: I think time will tell. Every year is a different year. We'll see as it goes.

Q: As a guy who's called plays, what is it like when your team is running the ball well? Does that open up everything in the offense?

A: For us, each game is different. There's been times where I've called plays and haven't run the ball an entire half. I think that was close in a playoff game. It was close. So again, we're going to try to do whatever we need to do as we figure out our team, as we go through training camp. That's how we approach. It might not be the same as every team, but that's certainly how we approach it.

Q: As far as last year with your defense, you were low ranked in run defense. As much as (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale) wants to do everything, how much if you can't stop the run does it make everything more difficult?

A: Again, I think each game is different. Some games there's a lot of rushing yards against you and you can still find a way to win. Again, we've got a lot of areas to improve on, not just in that area and not just on defense, but on offense and the kicking game. Those are some of the things we've talked about here that we're going to have to work on once we get pads on.

Q: Do you have a message to your guys in terms of the difficulty of the schedule?

A: We're not there yet. My message is, 'Let's go out here and have a good day today.' You don't get ahead of yourself. Every year is a different year. Every team is different that you play. So, what you did last year really has nothing to do with this year. Your focus has to be on your individual improvement, your collective improvement and just keeping a day-to-day approach.

Q: A lot of coaches when they have a successful season or some success, they protect the next year against overconfidence. How much do you feel you have to do that? You were very adamant at the owners' meetings about, 'Hey, what did we really accomplish? We got smashed in the playoffs.' How much do you keep that in mind as you go through this whole process?

A: I just think you have to restart and build your team from the ground up. Again, it's like we say during the season, what you do one week has nothing to do with the next week. What you did one year has nothing to do with this year. So, we have to have the right mindset of improving each day. Again, as individually, coaches, players, staff and as a group. That's where we keep it. We don't get too far ahead of ourselves. There's a lot to work on, a lot to improve on and that's what we're trying to do.

Q: Have you noticed a chemistry or a bond between (quarterback) Daniel (Jones) and (tight end Darren) Waller?

A: Yeah, I think they're getting comfortable with one another. The new guys that are coming in, I think (wide receiver) Parris (Campbell) has done a good job with that as well. But again, we take it for what it's worth.

Q: How about off the field?

A: I think that'd be a good question for those guys, the two of them.

Q: (Wide receiver Isaiah) Hodgins jumped right and was very productive for you guys last year when he got here. How much will it help him this year to have this base?

A: Yeah, again, he wasn't a rookie, he had some familiarity with it, but I think anytime you're in the second year or the third year of a system, you have some experiences to draw from. It doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be better or you're going to be worse, because you have to go out there and do it all over again.

Q: What are you going to do the next six weeks? Are you going to get away from football?

A: No, I'm not going to do a whole bunch. You get away a little bit, but it's a different position than being a position coach or coordinator. There's always stuff that comes up. So, I think it's important to take a little bit of downtime, but you can't get too far away from it.

Q: Darren Waller mentioned that player input is welcome in the offense here. Why is that important to you?

A: Players are the ones that win the games. So, I take all input from coaches, from players. Again, maybe there's a route that that he ran, maybe it wasn't last year, but maybe it was three years ago that he feels pretty comfortable with that we don't have, and it'd be worth taking a look at. Those guys know themselves pretty well, particularly the good players that have done it for a while. So again, maybe that's not everybody's approach, but that's certainly ours.

Defensive Lineman Leonard Williams

Q. Leo you got a win last year in the Playoffs. How much does that motivate you getting that feeling in Playoff football, to get back to that this year?

LEO WILLIAMS: I mean, it motivates me a lot. Last year shows me we have everything it takes right here in the building to go even further. We made it there. We added some more additions to our team. Just got closer, built more and more camaraderie.

Like you said, that was my first time going through the Playoffs. We got a win in the Playoffs. I'm getting closer towards the end of my career. That the something that really motivates me, is getting the ring.

Q. How do you feel about the new additions on the defensive line?

LEO WILLIAMS: I feel great about it. Me and Dex (Dexter Lawrence II) a lot of times had to take a lot of snaps. I think this year we're going to have a great rotation with those guys we just added, A'Shawn and (Rakeem) Nunez(-Roches). We trust those guys. I don't care think going to be any type of drop off when the rotation starts happening.

Q. When you look your side of the ball, run defense, what was lacking or not lacking now?

LEO WILLIAMS: It's hard to say what is not lacking now just because we haven't been in pads yet. I think we have been working a lot on fits so far, which is the one thing we can work on when we're not in pads. I think that's just a matter of what it was last year, honestly, is just making sure that we're trusting the guy next to us, make sure we're staying in the gap that we're responsible for, trusting that the guy in front of us, next to us, behind us, is going to fit his gap as well.

Q. Is it possible slightly fewer snaps for you and Dexter will help you be better?

LEO WILLIAMS: I mean, that's been the history of football. D-linemen are usually not taking 100% or 90% of snaps. It's better to have a rotation and keep guys fresh. It's going to be fun that way when we're rotating guys, just beating up on offensive lines together. It's going to be fun.

Q. What do you think the addition of Bobby (Okereke) does?

LEO WILLIAMS: Like I said, we haven't been in pads yet, so it's hard to see.

Q. What do you think, knowing him as a player?

LEO WILLIAMS: Knowing him as a player, he has a lot of good leadership. He's very vocal. He seems confident in himself, trusts himself. I think that alone is a good presence on the defense, especially at linebacker. They have to be the quarterback of the defense. He's doing a really good job at being vocal, speaking up. He just really looks locked in and ready to go.

Q. How is your neck?

LEO WILLIAMS: It's good. I think during the season it was just hard for it to recover just because every time I made a tackle, I would feel it. It wasn't really going to go away till the season ended. I've had a few months off now since football. I've been back in the weight room. I haven't been feeling it at all. Now that I'm getting older, that is something I have to pay more attention to, though, is my recovery and my body.

Q. You didn't need anything like a surgery?

LEO WILLIAMS: No, I didn't need surgery. I rested it, strengthened it, did a lot of shrugs and neck exercises to try to strengthen around it. Most of all in the beginning it just needed rest. The constant banging on it was not letting it go away.

Q. Any kind of extra padding needed Bryan Cox style?

LEO WILLIAMS: Probably not Bryan Cox style (smiling).

Q. Anything like that?

LEO WILLIAMS: Yeah, actually near the end of the season, I started wearing a small type of roll. It was hard for me to get used to. I had to change it up a little bit in practice. Sometimes I would get in my stance, try to look up, it was restricting my vision. I finally found that sweet spot of something that would protect me when I make a hit and something I could also see in my stance. I think I'm going to keep using that, so it doesn't happen again.

Q. You know the league. Is it scary maybe more so than other injuries?

LEO WILLIAMS: It is a little scary. I think last year was also my first year ever missing a game. I think that was hard on me. It was hard to, like, sit on the sideline, see my team going at it when I wasn't able to help out. It was hard that like when I was trying to help, was going, it was still happening. But that's part of the game. That's what we all sign up for. We know it's possibly going to happen at some point. Luckily it happened later in my career than sooner. Luckily, I also feel good right now, and I haven't been feeling it since I've been able to strengthen it and let it rest.

Q. What is Nacho's personality like in the room like?

LEO WILLIAMS: I've known him for a while now. We went to the combine together. Two old heads. I've actually known him for a while. He has a great personality. Outgoing guy. He fits in our room perfectly, in the defense perfectly. You can tell he has some experience under his belt. There's a lot of times where not only is he helping out with the younger guys, but we also established that type of room where we hold each other accountable as vets as well. Even though he is new to the team, he still sees stuff that he can help out on and will be vocal about it.

Q. He really takes pride in stopping the run. Does the D-line need at least one guy that loves that part of the job?

LEO WILLIAMS: I mean, hey, that's something that Coach Dre and D-linemen talk about: you have to earn the right to rush the passer. Being a d-lineman, stopping the run comes first. You're not going to be able to pass-rush until you do that. Having a guy like him that's going to be able to do that is good.

Q. We know how close you are to Dex. When did you learn about his contract? What was your reaction?

LEO WILLIAMS: I forgot how exactly I saw it. I think I saw it online or something. He was obviously busy. Like he probably had to fly in, sign it, all that stuff. I remember that process. Probably got blew up a bunch. I didn't want to bother him at the moment. When I finally found out, I was so excited, so happy for that guy. It was so deserving. I'm glad to see he's able to continue his career here.

Q. Taking you to dinner?

LEO WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, for a while, I was like big brother to him. I was, like, taking care of the tabs, inviting him over to my house and stuff like that. Since the contract, I'm like, when are you going invite me over, stuff like that? It's pretty funny.

Q. Two or three times you said I'm old, it's late in life. You're 28.

LEO WILLIAMS: Yeah, yeah.

Q. I mean, are you feeling older? Are you considering retirement?

LEO WILLIAMS: I'm definitely not feeling older. We have this chart with our GPS trackers that shows our high-end speed, short 10-yard sprints. I pride myself always being first on that list. You know what I mean? I still have my explosiveness; I still have my power. Honestly, I feel like I'm knowing the game more, I have a lot more years in me. I joke around about the age because this is a young team.

Q. On discussions about your future?

LEO WILLIAMS: There hasn't been many talks about it this off-season. I'm obviously open to staying here. I think I have a good camaraderie with my teammates. I would love to keep playing with Dex. I would love to keep playing with these coaches that I've gotten to know. I'm also not one of those type of players that wants to bounce around team to team. I want to be able to be here. Been through the grind and the struggle of being with the Giants since I've been here, coming out on the good end, eventually getting a ring with them.

Q. With this coaching staff, is there more comfort, more fun that you have because you actually know these guys?

LEO WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, I think that actually makes a huge difference. I think that's something about the league that I had to get used to when I first came out of college, is the constant changing of the coaches and the new building. You have to reestablish yourself almost every time that happens. Now that we have this coaching staff, I feel like we've created an identity last year. Now we're coming in and just, like, knowing what it is. We know what type of coaches we have; we know what type of environment it is, we know what type of camaraderie we have. It just makes it smoother going through all of this this year.

Q. Dex talked yesterday about how y'all can know what each other means without saying something. When did that first start? Can you give me an example of that?

LEO WILLIAMS: Honestly, just happened today, which is pretty funny. It's funny he said that. Dex is like the first guy that hit me up when I got traded here. He reached out to Instagram, sent me his number, told me he was excited to have me on the team. When I finally met him, he told me he watched my tape when he was in high school. Made me feel old (smiling). Ever since then, I came to the building, he was the first guy that gave me that type of energy. Since then, we've been really close. Seriously there will be times in a game where, like, if I feel the center is jumping hard on me or the guard is setting deep, I can kind of look at him and we'll know to run like a pick stunt, something like that. I can seriously look at him, he will nod his head, we'll know exactly what to do. I think having that type of chemistry goes a long way in the trenches.

Q. What happened today?

LEO WILLIAMS: There was something we noticed about a player on the field. We talked about it early on. It happened again and I just looked at him. He came to me and was like, yeah. He started talking about it. It was a small detail but that builds the chemistry.

Tight End Daniel Bellinger

Q. What did you do this off-season?

DANIEL BELLINGER: Yeah, I mean, this off-season compared to last, I'm not focusing on the combine and stuff like that. I was able to focus on more weightlifting, just getting better. Of course, there's a picture out there, that's why I had to hide them today (laughs). But just really focused on getting better.

Q. Did you change the weight, or did you put on weight or what?

DANIEL BELLINGER: It was a mix of obviously working out. But nutrition, focusing more on that. Everybody's like, 'Oh, did you gain weight?' Realistically I'm the same weight if not a little bit lighter. Just more muscle and less fat. It's a good thing.

Q. What was your reaction when they got Darren (Waller)?

DANIEL BELLINGER: Actually, I was initially excited about it. He's one of the best tight ends in this league. In my personal opinion, he's top three, and not three. He's not just a great overall player, he's a great guy. I'm excited to learn from him. When we first got him, I was already watching film on him before we got him. Then (Tight Ends Andy Bischoff) Coach Bisch had a relationship with him before that. I had a good talk with him before, got to connect with him, just learning a lot from him.

Q. What have you learned so far?

DANIEL BELLINGER: A lot of different things I can see on film, how he attacks guys leverage-wise on defense, stuff like that. Things I could see off film, but now I could actually pick his brain, really talk and sit down, what were you thinking on this play, things like, that where I could see his thought process on a play.

Q. Do you expect your targets to go down this year given he is such a prolific receiver?

DANIEL BELLINGER: Honestly, I'm not even worried about it. I'm going to do what I can to help the team win. He's a unicorn of a player. Whatever it takes to help us win, whether that's if I get more or less, doesn't matter to me, whatever helps.

Q. You mentioned more muscle and less fat. Do you know what percentage of increase?

DANIEL BELLINGER: You have to ask the strength guys on that. I don't know what it is. Definitely more muscle.

Q. Do you feel different?

DANIEL BELLINGER: I feel better. I feel better running. Altogether I feel healthier.

Q. Do larger biceps help in any football capacity?

DANIEL BELLINGER: I wouldn't say so, besides just cameras (laughs). Not really. Just the strength side of it.

Q. What was your first reaction when you saw that picture?

DANIEL BELLINGER: I was like that's some really good lighting (laughter). The camera guy got me right on that one.

Q. It wasn't a purposeful flex or anything like that?

DANIEL BELLINGER: No, not at all.

Q. Did you have to do anything with your eye in the off-season?

DANIEL BELLINGER: I had to check in with the doctor here and there, just make sure everything is good. Things that aren't easy to tell, like inside the eye and everything. Everything's been good thankfully. Definitely blessed with that part of it. Just still periodically checking in with the doctor, but it's been good.

Q. There's no…

DANIEL BELLINGER: No worries, yeah. Just keep checking up to make sure. So far, no worries.

Q. Did you go to Tight End University this year?

DANIEL BELLINGER: It's coming up this next week. Excited for that. Get with those guys, (49ers tight end) George (Kittle) and those boys. Excited for it.

Q. When you go there, do you have a plan of what you want to accomplish there?

DANIEL BELLINGER: Yeah. Really, it's the same thing I do with Darren. Just sit down with those guys and, again, pick their brain. I can watch their film all day, kind of try to mimic what they do on the field. At the same time, I have to kind of create my own way of doing it. Really just trying to think about how they think and their process when they're on the field before play.

Q. With Darren, do you find in conversations with him, even about football, that he puts in some life lessons?

DANIEL BELLINGER: Absolutely. He's a spiritual guy. I see myself as a spiritual guy. It's kind of cool connecting him in that way. He's a big relationship guy, too. He definitely works to get to know you as well as learn football.

Q. After you got hurt, you wore a shield. Are you going to continue to wear the shield? Have you looked into different shields?

DANIEL BELLINGER: Yeah, at the end of last year, I kind of played around with it, the darker visor, the clear visor. I think I'm definitely going to go with the shield this year, just to take another safety precaution. Definitely don't want another one of those. Yeah, I'll probably wear the shield. I'll play around with it, see how it goes. I like the darker one because it helps the eye a little bit, especially with brighter settings and stuff. We'll see how it goes throughout the year.

Wide Receiver Parris Campbell

Q. What has been your experience this spring so far, with (quarterback) Daniel (Jones), everything?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: It's been great. I've enjoyed my time here thus far. The culture was the first thing that stood out to me. It's really a family atmosphere. From the guys in the locker room to the coaching staff to the front office, just everyone, you can kind of feel that family nature. I've just been trying to buy in since day one. But I've enjoyed myself. They've welcomed me like one of their own. It's been a good time thus far.

Q. (Wide receiver) Darius (Slayton) says he's fast than you.

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Yeah, I mean, Slay says a lot of things. That doesn't necessarily mean they're true (laughs). That's my guy. Deep down in his heart he knows.

Q. He knows what? That you're faster than him?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Yeah, of course (laughs).

Q. For these Giants receivers, the infusion of speed has been pretty remarkable. Is it a remarkable group in your experience in terms of all of you seem who so fast?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Yeah, this is definitely probably the fastest total complete group that I've played with in my career. I mean, we've got speed all across the board. It's speed that can do a lot of different things. It's not just guys running in a straight line fast, it's ball in the hands fast. In their routes fast. We complement each other. I'm excited for what's to come.

Q. Do you put (Darren) Waller in your group?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Oh, 100%. Not too many tight ends in this league (are) moving like how he moves. He's just an athletic freak. He's definitely in that group, for sure.

Q. We see you taking handoffs. How different is that for you? Did you do it a lot in Indy?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: I did it some in Indy. But it's really my high school and my college background. It's not new to me. It's something that I've done playing football before. But it's also fun for me. It's something that I like to do because they're using me in different ways. I feel like that's something that I'm good at, too, out on the football field. Getting some reps back there is good.

Q. Before you signed you probably looked at film of Daniel. Since you're a couple of months here, have you learned anything about him?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Yeah, the number one thing that I've learned is, man, he's a hard worker. I don't think just from the outside looking in he gets a lot of credit for that. Like from day one, he puts so much time and effort into his craft. As a quarterback, obviously that's something you've got to do. He takes it to a whole other level. I respect and applaud him for that. It gets you up, makes you want to play for a guy like that when you see him put in all that time and that work.

Q. Do you view this as a fresh start?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: 100%. Free agency was a little funny, was a little weird. As you guys know, the receiver market was kind of slow the first couple days. Deep down in my heart, it was kind of scary, having been in Indy for four years. It was scary, the thought of having to go somewhere new, move my family, all that stuff. But like when I really thought about it, you know what I'm saying, it was a new opportunity. Shoot, since day one, it's been nothing but good so far. I've been enjoying myself. I've been having fun out there on the football field with the guys, getting to know these guys. It's a blessing. At first, I wasn't so sure about leaving, but it's definitely been a good opportunity for me.

Q. Did you think the market was going to be different for you?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Yeah, I thought it would be different. But looking at my past, having dealt with all those injuries, it's tough for a team to invest long-term off of one year. So, the human nature of it, I thought that it would be different. When I really looked at reality, if I'm a team, I can't invest in a guy long-term because I've only done it for one year.

Q. When anyone talks about you, what you've done in your career, what you've done in Indianapolis, it's 'if you can stay healthy,' players don't like to hear that...

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Yeah.

Q. But some of it is true.

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Just from the facts of what my career has been, yeah, the first three years of my career I dealt with multiple injuries. But I feel like when you really look at the injuries I was dealing with, they were kind of fluke things. It's once in a blue moon that something like that happens on the football field. I could understand if I'm pulling hamstrings, pulling quad muscles, things like that. Serious season-ending injuries, breaking bones, I think it's fluke at the end of the day. Obviously now I got a chance to prove that I could stay healthy last year. Just looking forward that I can do that the rest of my career.

Q. What is it like seeing (inside linebacker) Bobby (Okereke)?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: It definitely helped early on having a familiar face here, kind of going through those early ropes of learning a new team, a new place together. Bobby has been a guy that I've came into the league with, so kind of like just seeing his progression throughout his career has been awesome to see, man. He got what he deserved, in my opinion. I'm excited to see where he goes next in his career.

Q. How would you describe his leadership?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: I think that's one thing about Bobby that stood out. I knew that about him already but it stood out to the guys here from day one. He's rallying the guys. Bobby is not shy, he's not scared to say anything. But he's kind of just that natural born leader. I think obviously as he gets more comfortable, that role will start to develop more. That's something from day one you notice about him.

Q. You mentioned you were a little nervous about the process of free agency, but from day one you were at ease. What put you at ease?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Before we started OTAs, a bunch of the offensive guys got together in Arizona, had a throwing trip. I was able to get to know the guys a little bit, hang out with them. We were spending every day together for three or four days. That's kind of what settled me in at first, having that experience with them. Once we hit the field, started learning together, it was kind of just like second nature.

Q. What are your impressions on (cornerback) Deonte Banks?

PARRIS CAMPBELL: Man, I think he can be good. I think he can be really good. He's patient. He's strong. He's smart. He's fast. Yeah, I think he could be really good.