Q: How does it feel to be here and start camp with the Giants?
A: It feels great. I haven't gotten the opportunity to get out there yet. They held me back this morning but I'm looking forward to this afternoon, to get out there with my teammates, to get out there and run around and start getting the season underway.
Q: Is there a different feel in the air trying to erase last season and start fresh?
A: It's a different feel because I'm on a new team, so absolutely. That's my fresh start right there.
Q: How far into this whole scene are you?
A: It really feels like football camp, when you're a young kid and you go away to football camp and you're meeting the guys who are in your bunk and everybody's from different states, so that's kind of what it feels like to me. Almost like college, when you're a freshman and you report and you're getting to know your freshman class and the guys around you, so it's definitely a great experience because I haven't been through it in a while, but I'm welcoming it with open arms and I'm definitely enjoying it so far.
Q: Did you grow up a Giants fan?
A: More so than a Jets fan, for sure. Honestly, I was a 49er fan back in the day.
Q: You're obviously no stranger to New York, you played in Syracuse. Are you glad to be back here?
A: Yeah. I think the best part so far was the drive up the Thruway yesterday. Just seeing the different places like New Paltz, Poughkeepsie, Saugerties. Places I haven't seen in a while, but I'm definitely familiar with making those drives and actually being here. My best friends went to the University at Albany so I would come down when I had free time from Syracuse and come hang out with them. I've actually eaten in this old cafeteria before and been in these dorms that we're staying at so it's kind of fresh.
Q: As you progress through training camp, what are the Litmus Tests that you've set for yourself to try to get ready for the season.
A: I'm just going to go out there. I'm going to be full tilt. I'm not holding back. I feel like I'm fully prepared. The training and rehab that I've done for the last seven months to put me in this position has been one of the Litmus Tests. Another will be just getting out there and banging and playing football again. Once I put the cleats on, strap the helmet on, there's no turning back now. I'm here and definitely looking forward to it.
Q: Will you be on the field this afternoon?
A: Yeah, I will be.
Q: Do you have to make up the run this morning?
A: No, but I'm prepared to do it if I need to.
Q: Do you feel the motivation flowing out of coach Fewll yet?
A: Not yet, but I'm sure this 12:30 meeting and progressing on that I will definitely feel it. I have my own motivation as this team. This team wants to rebound from an 8-8 season last year. I think that we're kind of on the same page in that. I want to rebound from this injury and get out there and show everyone that I'm still an All Pro football player.
Q: How much are you into the terminology?
A: It's pretty much football. Probably the coverages, they'll probably talk differently, but the fronts are the fronts. We'll find out this afternoon.
Q: Are you going to feel comfortable going out there this afternoon?
A: Yeah. I've been in this game for a long time. There's only so many defenses you can play and there's only so many different ways you can do it. It will probably take me a few days, a few practices, to get acclimated, but my learning curve will be pretty fast.
Q: Who did you know who went to the school here?
A: Just my two best friends.
Q: Did they play football here?
A: They did for like a week. It's a little different than Syracuse. I was on scholarship, they were kind of like "We'll continue playing football." It didn't work out for them. They just went on, graduated, and now they're living life.
Q: Are they from Rockland County too?
A: Yes they are.
Q: How does one develop into a leader at training camp when coming to a new team?
A: To me, I'm a natural leader. I think my field presence is one thing. I'm not a rah-rah guy. I'm not going to be out there barking orders, telling people what to do, because they'll probably look at me like I have four heads. But I'm just going to come out and do my job. People's expectations of me is to do my job, as I have expectations of them. We can't be that cohesive defense if everyone's not on the same page and if everyone is not doing their job. So that's first and foremost and if the guys gravitate toward me, that's fine. I'm sure I'll gravitate to them. Everyone expects me to come here to be a leader. I don't put that pressure on myself. I'm just going to come here, like I say, and do my job and we'll see what happens.
