Q: Linval, you come to a team that last year many thought had the deepest defensive line in the league. What do you think you can bring here?
A: First off, I can bring a big body. I'm ready to do anything. Whether it's being outside and being explosive. I just want to help the team out anyway I can.
Q: Where are you more comfortable as far as positioning…over center or moving you out?
A: Man, it's crazy. I can play inside or outside. I like to stop the run. I like to hit the running back, I don't why. I just like to hit the running back. So, I like to play inside. I feel comfortable inside. But I also like getting outside and trying to hit the quarterback.
Q: After your freshman year, you woke up and lost the weight, what was your motivation there?
A: I don't know. When I had the weight up, I was fine. It just got to a point where I was like this is disgusting. It's hard for me to breathe, and it's hard for me to tie my shoe. It was just too much. I guess when I got hurt and had back surgery that freshman year, I got tunnel vision. I saw that a lot of people don't really care about me because I was in the hospital and three people called me. That's when I really got tunnel vision and started caring about life and everything.
Q: What were you in the hospital for?
A: I had minor back surgery.
Q: Out of your whole entire team, only three people called you?
A: My mom, my coach came to see me, and a girl. I mean people called me but few people came to see me and try to support me to see if I was okay. It wasn't a lot of people. Ever since then, I figured out my real friends from my fake friends. I just had tunnel vision, and I knew what I want to do and I knew what I had to do to do it.
Q: Sounds like loyalty is a very important thing to you. How important is it for you to pay the Giants back for them picking you and how are you going to do it?
A: By being a dominant player and helping them win games. Hopefully, we will win the Super Bowl and win playoff games. I just want to help them any way that I can.
Q: Did you have any idea the Giants were interested in you?
A: It's hard to say because there were a lot of different teams. I don't know. When I was at my pro day, and one of the scouts came up to me, I told him my story again. I had a feeling there that 'Man, I'd really like to go to the Giants.' Today, I played Madden and I play with the Giants. My brother had it. It's crazy how everything came around this way and the Giants picked me. We were talking about them yesterday, and talking about them today. I played with them on the video game, and then they picked me. It's crazy.
Q: Did they call and say 'Hey, sit tight, we are going to pick you if you're there?'
A: Yes. They called me a couple of picks earlier. It was crazy. I was excited and I was shocked. I didn't know what to do. We talked for about 10-15 minutes and it was the best feeling of my life.
Q: Who called you?
A: Oh my god…who called me? So many people called me.
Q: Coach Coughlin? Jerry Reese? Who was it?
A: Hmm…which coach? I really can't tell you off the top of my head?
Q: What else did you do today besides play Madden?
A: I got up this morning and went to the gym and worked out. I did some cardio. Came home, helped my mom around the house. Bought some supplies for the fish fry. I played a couple games and got ready. I pretty much got ready for the draft. Had a little party and I hoped for the best.
Q: You guys having a fish fry right now?
A: Right now they're outside having a nice big fish fry.
Q: They going to leave you anything?
A: I already had my share.
Q: Do you see yourself as a nose or as a three technique?
A: I don't know where I see myself right now until next week. Right now I'm ready to play the nose or the three, wherever I'm needed. Wherever I can help in or whatever position, I'm ready. I can play both so I'm ready for the opportunity.
Q: Tom said what impressed him was that you dropped 10 pounds between the combine and your pro day. What weight do you feel the most comfortable playing at?
A: Right now, I'm 315. I'm a strong and fast 315 and I can last for a long, long time at 315. But between 315 and 325, I feel pretty solid right there. 315 is where I like to be at.
Q: At 315, you're not compromising any of your size and strength advantage?
A: At 315, I'm perfect. I'm strong at 315. When I get smaller than 315, I drop off a little bit strength wise. When I get down to 310 or 305, I'm not as strong as I'd be at 315 or a little heavier.
Q: The Giants a few years back went to the Super Bowl and the defensive line was an important part of that…did you follow that at all?
A: Actually I did. Michael Strahan on the sideline said 'One more series, one more drive, we get the ball back and win this game.' That's what they did. They got the ball back and pretty much won the game.
Q: Were you rooting for the Giants?
A: Actually I was.
Q: You didn't happen to watch them at the end of last season, did you?
A: At the end of last season, no not really. I was pretty busy.
Q: They only gave up 85 points in the last two games…
A: Oh man. Hopefully I can help with that.
