Outside Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux

Q: You know this late in the season what the record is, what the playoffs are not, all this other stuff. What would one win do for you, for the team, for the coaching staff, for your teammates, for you personally? What would just getting one win here do for you?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think honestly, it's just about whooping somebody's butt every day. And I know that's super simple. But I think like you said, what would one win do. Not much obviously in the grand scheme, but I think as far as continuing to chop wood and just continue to get better as a team. I think it would definitely be positive.

Q: You know what the building's like, right? People are going about their business and they're not happy about what's going on. Would one win change a little bit of that on Sunday night, it's five o'clock and you come out of there with a win.

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think we've been keeping the same kind of mindset towards getting better and just understanding that, regardless of the wins or losses, if it was totally flipped around, we'd still be trying to get better at this part of the season. So, honestly that's really it. Focusing just on individually getting better and seeing how things shake out at the end.

Q: You're still a young player in this league. I mean, but you're already in year three is winding down at this point. I'm curious when you look at that young player tag in this league, maybe from your experience, when is it okay to speak up and become a leader and be a vocal leader? Because you have a lot of young players on this team. We've talked a lot about the age, and obviously you guys need guidance in whatever circle, whatever corner of the locker room you want guys to kind of step up and be themselves. From your perspective, how long does that take?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: Well, if you ask me from a real standpoint, in my personal opinion, this is a not for long league. So, telling guys that you have to wait until after a certain amount of time to be a leader is kind of like, it's smoke and mirrors because the average is only three years. So, it's like how long do you expect a great player to come in and not say anything? That's kind of not realistic. And then on the other side of that, I think it's beneficial. Obviously, we hope that the speaking up and everything else is uplifting and for the greater good of the team. But for me, when I came in, I kind of faced the same questions as (wide receiver Malik) Nabers did a couple weeks ago. But I'm a guy that believes this is a meritocracy. So, if you make plays, you have a voice. If you don't make plays, you don't have a voice. That's the name of the business. So, I would say for young guys coming in, continue to make plays first, and then be an impact in leadership.

Q: Maybe the younger guys even on your defense. I mean you guys have lost some leadership. You guys have lost some big voices on this team right now. I'm just curious, even from a (safety Tyler) Nubin or a (cornerback) Dru (Phillips) perspective, these are young guys playing a ton of snaps. But are they welcome to kind of…?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I mean honestly, it's like asking a new head coach. When I came in, (Head Coach Brian) Daboll was the rookie head coach, and it's like, 'This is his first time being our head coach, so he's going to take a back seat?'. No, he's going to do whatever he sees fit. So, from a player perspective if a guy sees, as a part of a bad culture or a negative culture, I think it's on him or on whoever else sees it to say something or do something about it. So, I definitely think as long as it's positive, as long as it's done in the right mindset, I think it's good.

Q: Can you just talk a little bit about what you're going to miss this year for the rest of this year, it looks like, without (defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence II) there? The run defense, the pass rushes, all that stuff. And the leadership, how do you guys replace all that?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think, the reality of it is we're going to miss him. But this is going to be a great test and a great evaluation on everybody around him, the back end, the front end. We kind of joked about it as, 'Dex can't be the crutch. Dex can't be our excuse on why we're playing well or why we're not playing well.' We all kind of got to each step up to the plate. Knowing that one of our top guys isn't there anymore. And as far as leadership goes, it's up to us in the front end and the back end to continue to step up, where he's now missing.

Q: You think it will change the scheme?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think it will change other teams' scheme on us, definitely.

Q: I'm curious from a defensive perspective, where do you think you guys are mentally, like philosophically? How do you move forward now without Dex?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I mean, we just keep trucking forward. I think it's you lose any player. When the team lost me, you kind of keep pushing forward. When the defense loses guys, the offense loses guys, we just got to continue to individually get better and understand that somebody has to fill that void in the leadership role and from the scheme forward.

Q: You keep talking about leadership. I'm curious, where do you consider yourself as a leader?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think leadership isn't considered. Like a person doesn't consider himself a leader. Like you don't consider it. It's more of a team thing.

Q: What do you mean by that?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: Like a president don't just make himself president, like he gets voted president. And like leaders don't just crown themselves leaders, they get voted. But the team looks to someone to lead rather than…

Q: Do you think you've reached that point?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I don't think about it. I just continue to live in my light. And if there are people that I can help on a personal basis or if there's a way, I can uplift my teammates, I try to do it.

Q: I'm curious how you see your season individually. Obviously, it got kind of marred by injury, but you came in talking about big sacks, big numbers. Obviously, you had the huge year last year. How do you look at your third year individually and how important for you is it to finish strong these last five games?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: Definitely super important to finish strong. I think missing out definitely hurt. I think every year I come into this, you'll probably be asking me that question on, how is the season going with how my goals are. And I think in reality, I got to keep shooting for the stars. Keep putting the work in. As long as your daily habits reflect your goals, I think you're in a good spot. So regardless of the result, I'm just going to keep getting better this last five weeks we got. I'm going to give it all I got. Hopefully I can come out in a better place. But definitely hungry. There's definitely still more work out there, focused on trying to finish strong and keep having impact.

Q: And I think the number one thing that media and fans are talking about right now is all the former Giants who are killing it right now. Like whether it's (Packers safety Xavier) McKinney, (Eagles running back) Saquon (Barkley), (Jaguars tight end) Evan Engram, (Seahawks defensive end) Leonard Williams, (Seahawks safety) Julian Love. I'm curious if that has reached you guys and if you guys are wondering at all why is it that these guys are doing so well in other spots? It's a little bit of a feel sorry question, I guess. But do you wonder why it didn't all come together for you guys together here?

KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think after building a relationship with guys personally, I love to see what they're doing. I mean from Leonard Williams, taking back the pick six to Xavier McKinney obviously leading the league still, top whatever in picks. And Saquon, obviously. I mean it's great to see from an athlete standpoint, love it. And then from a team standpoint, obviously you wish you could have some success with those guys being former teammates. But it is the way it is. It's the way the chips fall. And obviously, we wish that we were in a better standing right now, but we just got to keep pressing forward and super happy for those guys. But we got our own now.

Inside Linebacker Micah McFadden

Q: From a perspective of being a young player who didn't get as much time defensively in that first year, but obviously you were a part of this team, and you weren't just in the background, in the shadows. I'm just curious, from someone who goes from college and you're a center point and you're the leader of a team and then you get to the pros, how is that balance between wanting to step up and say something and be at the front of the room when you're a young player versus waiting your time and kind of seeing and picking your spots? (Outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) used the word meritocracy, which kind of stuck with me. Can you step up and have a voice if you don't have the skins on the wall, so to speak?

MICAH MCFADDEN: There's definitely a balance there. The more you produce, the bigger your voice is. Guys listen to the leaders and the people who are leading from the front and doing their job and executing at a high level. So, there's always that process that goes from high school to college when you come in as a freshman and you're kind of back at the bottom of the totem pole and then again in the NFL. It's definitely a unique experience and something you weigh the waters in and find your place.

Q: What about for you? Have you gotten to the point where you feel, in your position, that you can actually speak up and say something and say what you're seeing or are you still kind of waiting it out?

MICAH MCFADDEN: Without a doubt. I think, especially these last couple of years with the more experience I've gotten and more play time, I think I have a bigger voice, especially in our linebacker room. And in the defensive room, as well. Just pointing things out and when there's younger guys, I can help them along the way.

Q: First, can you explain to the people who aren't on the field, to us, to fans, what actually changes with (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence not in the lineup? How much more difficult does the job get? How will offenses attack you guys differently without Dexter there?

MICAH MCFADDEN: Obviously he's our rock in the middle there. Not only on the field, but he's our captain and our leader off the field. He's a voice within our locker room and especially on the defensive side of the ball. It's a big blow to us. Obviously, we'll find out where he is here soon. But it's difficult when you don't have that caliber of a player on the field. He's always doing his job and he's going to make sure that A-gap is closed every time he's in there. Got to get these other guys ready to step up to play and get more reps for them, which I think will be good. Obviously, we have a young team. So, the more reps those guys can get, it can only help us.

Q: The thing that's really buzzing in the fan base right now is all your former teammates who are doing well off in other places. I'm wondering if that's found its way to the locker room. (Eagles running back) Saquon (Barkley), (Packers safety) Xavier (McKinney), (Seahawks defensive end) Leo (Williams), all those guys. Is there any part of you that's wondering why it didn't all happen when you guys were all together?

MICAH MCFADDEN: Obviously, we're football players and we watch football, and we see everything that happens. We're all happy for those guys, former teammates and friends within the locker room. But, yeah, it's difficult to see it. Obviously, we would have loved to put it all together while everybody was here. But, it's kind of the nature of this league. You have your hills and your valleys, and it depends on what time in your career and what team and the situation. So, there's a lot of factors. Definitely proud and happy for those guys.

Q: I know in college you didn't always have big winning seasons in Indiana. Have you ever lost seven straight in college or high school?

MICAH MCFADDEN: I think I did my senior year in college. We went 2-10, I believe. I kind of know exactly what this feels like.

Q: Sorry to bring up those…What would one win do, do you think, for your psyche, for your coaches' psyche, for your teammates' psyche, for your family's psyche? Everyone's kind of going through this together. What would just winning one game Sunday, it doesn't change the standings very much or anything, what would it do?

MICAH MCFADDEN: I think it would do a lot just for the vibe within the building and within the locker room, especially. For everybody on the team, I think, obviously we've been through some tough games here. I think everybody on the team and everybody on the field has continued to battle through every game. But, for these other guys who are getting more reps due to injury or other factors, I think it would be good for everybody who's playing their tail off every Sunday to get a win.

Q: Your two wins have come on the road, right? So, you had flights back from Cleveland and Seattle where you won. Every athlete I talk to says that the post-game 10 minutes in the locker room after you win is so special. How much do you miss that? Do you almost forget what it feels like?

MICAH MCFADDEN: It's tough to. I know for the Cleveland game, I remember we went right into Cowboys coming back that next Monday too, so it was difficult. We didn't spend a whole lot of time on the win. Like you were saying, the flight, the post-game, the locker room, it's energy and it builds momentum into that next week. We can definitely use that right now.

Q: We all talk about being professionals and things like that. How tough is it now to do that?

MICAH MCFADDEN: Obviously, this season is not where we want it to be. But, at the end of the day this is our job, and we all get paid to do this. But, on a deeper level, there's a sense of pride. Especially for me, every time I step out on the football field, I have an appreciation for the opportunity to play in the NFL and to be out there with my teammates and to support them and play alongside them. It's a true honor. I think that's what we're all playing for.

Wide Receiver Darius Slayton

Q: I know you probably only had a walkthrough today and some meetings, but do you guys know who your quarterback is going to be on Sunday?

DARIUS SLAYTON: They haven't decided it yet. But we'll find out on Wednesday or something like that.

Q: You guys obviously have lost a lot of your captains here now. The guys that you elected to that position at the beginning of the year, really the guys that were there last year too. How do you start to fill in those holes, those leadership holes?

DARIUS SLAYTON: We try to have the same mentality you do when you play. You have a 'next man up' mentality and obviously nobody is ineligible from leading. If you're going to do the right thing and set the right example and encourage guys and bring guys along, then anybody can lead.

Q: What can one win do? You're winding down here, a bad season for the team. It's not going to change much of the standings or anything like that. What can it do, do you think, in your own head, your own psyche, your teammates, the coaches, the people in the building? What could winning one game on Sunday do?

DARIUS SLAYTON: A lot. Regardless of the situation, nobody goes out there and plans to lose or wants to lose. So, at the end of the day, you prepare and you practice and you get your mind and body right to win. So, regardless of what your current predicament might be, the ultimate goal is to go out there every Sunday and win the game.

Q: Do you almost forget what it feels like? That postgame, 10-minutes after you win with people yelling around. Does it almost seem like it's so long ago?

DARIUS SLAYTON: It's definitely been a minute. But that has no bearing on what we have the opportunity to do Sunday. At the end of the day, if we go out there and we execute, we'll put ourselves in position to win.

Q: As you sat and watched football yesterday and you saw (Philadelphia Eagles running back) Saquon (Barkley) with a big day and (Seattle Seahawks defensive end) Leonard Williams with a big day and (Seattle Seahawks cornerback) Julian Love with a big day. It's kind of what everybody in the fan base is talking about and you're pretty attuned to the fan base. Has that seeped into the locker room? Is there a question in the locker room of like, 'Why didn't this happen when we were all together? We have all these great players. I've been here six years. Why didn't this all happen when we were together?'

DARIUS SLAYTON: Obviously, they're all really good football players. So, obviously, they're going to make plays. They were good football players when they were here, and they've obviously gone on and done well with the teams that they're on now. But, at the end of the day, we have plenty of capable football players in this building. If we can just get everybody to play the level that they're capable of playing simultaneously, then we'll be all right.

Q: Does it make you wonder why you guys didn't win more when you guys were all together?

DARIUS SLAYTON: You would think. But, for whatever reason, it didn't work. Like I said, we've got to find a way to make it work with what we have here now.

Q: You've talked pretty openly in the past. So, I'm curious. Your numbers don't really justify the kind of player you are. I've heard you say that before. How confident are you that your best days in the NFL are still ahead of you?

DARIUS SLAYTON: I think I've improved every year that I've been in the NFL. Whenever the season ends, I believe I'll go into the offseason, I'll go to work, and I'll come back a better version of myself for year seven. So, that's just something that I personally take pride in regardless of my team situation or whatever. However a season may go numerically, I judge myself based on a standard of play and I've been able to steadily improve that since I've been a pro. So, I take pride in that.

Q: So, you think there's a much higher ceiling you can reach?

DARIUS SLAYTON: Yes, I think I am capable. Obviously, I try to prepare to the best of my ability, play to the best of my ability, every Sunday and I'll continue to do that going forward.

Q: Did you catch passes from both quarterbacks today?

DARIUS SLAYTON: Yeah, they both threw today. We did like some drills and ran some routes, but both of them threw passes today. So, we'll see, I guess later in the week, whatever decision they make.

Q: You're a veteran in this league, you've had ups and downs. What do you say to (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) about the ups and downs maybe that he's had throughout his rookie year here?

DARIUS SLAYTON: It's a culture shock. Definitely coming from the SEC, I understand. For him, you come from a big-time conference, a big time program like LSU and you're used to winning, you're used to going out there every Saturday and he was going up and down the field and having his way out there. That's definitely not how this year's went for our team. Obviously, we haven't won a lot, but it was very similar for me my rookie year. I came from a very competitive program, and we won four games my rookie year. Hopefully we win more than that this year. But it's just part of it. It's something that he'll, as he goes through it, he'll learn how to navigate it. Obviously, the main thing is, whenever the season does end, to having that as your first year, allow that to motivate you going forward in your career coming into the following years and not wanting it to remain the same and trying to do your best to change it going forward.

Q: What about the drops? I assume you heard what he said about the drops. Like, 'I don't care about drops.' Meaning that, 'Hey, I still want you to throw me the ball, I still think I can make plays after that.' What do you say to him about that? What do you think when you hear that, maybe?

DARIUS SLAYTON: I think it comes from the right place. I think it's kind of the mentality you have to have, to some degree. If you do drop one, you can't sit there and let one drop turn into five, because you're so worried about dropping one. You got to get back up there and go attack the ball with the same amount of aggression the second time around. So, I think it comes from the right place. Obviously, at the same time, that is our job, is to catch the ball when it comes our way. So, he obviously knows he has to make some of these plays. But, at the end of the day, Malik (Nabers) has good hands. He's obviously a first-round receiver and a top receiver in college because he can catch the ball. So, I think he has a ton of confidence. Obviously, that's what that exudes when you make a statement like that. I think it comes from the right place. But, at the same time, you have to also do your best to not drop the ball, which obviously, I would know.