Coach Brian Daboll

Q. In your experience, is it typically easier to groom a quarterback who is maybe a little older a prospect or are you better off with a younger prospect who maybe hasn't seen as much?

BRIAN DABOLL: I think every situation is different, regardless of the position, regardless of the player. Obviously guys that have played in the league, that have certain experiences in the league, they've done it for a while, so there are some things that maybe they know that a young guy that hasn't played in the league knows.

Every situation is different, every position is different.

Q. What about in terms of systems? Does a certain system in a college program make it easier or is it also a matter of everybody is different?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think any team you go to is going to do things differently than the way you've done them in college, so there is a learning curve for every position, for every player, every rookie that I've ever coached, receiver, tight end, offensive lineman, quarterback, defensive back.

I've coached a variety of them, and there is a learning and a process that you go through with all young players.

Q. So with the last few workouts you guys had, curious, I know you said you specialize and love doing that; what do you glean going into the last few days of this decision process before the draft? What do you learn, gain, see? How do you take that into your final deliberations this week?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I appreciate the question, understand the question. The draft process is -- we hold those close to the vest. There is still work that needs to be done. To get into the details of this helps, this doesn't help, we'll keep those private.

Q. Maybe just in a general sense. How does it help the process?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, look, you do as much work as you can this time of year for the draft. I really have great appreciation for (general manager) Joe (Schoen) and the scouts that have put so much time, effort, and energy into this, as they do every year, of being on the road and meeting with people.

You try to catch up the best you can as a coach, so every touch point is important.

Q. What do you like about -- this is day where obviously players are in. First day of the workouts. Couple questions. What do you like about today?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, you like that the players are back in the building. It's always -- you know, that's what you do as a coach. You sit down, meet with players. This is very introductory in terms of our systems and our expectations and our standards, but the relationships that you've built with the players that have been on your team, to get to see them and see how they're doing.

And then also the new players you added, to get a feel for those guys, albeit early in the process, but it's always better when the players are in the building.

Q. As a guy who has been around quarterbacks your whole football career pretty much, do you glean in on seeing like a guy -- Russell Wilson is in the building for the first time with a lot of the players. I know he's worked out with them out of the building. Kind of look and see how is he interacting with these guys? He's a guy who is going to be playing a lot. He is a veteran. This is a whole new group. Kind of look from afar or try to facilitate, like just let see how he's doing with the guys early and check on that as things come on?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think that's important for the quarterback position. Again, Russell has been doing this for a long time, as has Jameis (Winston). Both of those guys, I asked them to get up this morning in front of the offense and talk a little bit about their story, kind of where they came from and who is important to them in their life and what's important to them in this game, and they both did a great job.

It's really early in the process, but they understand what leadership is. They've done it in a number of places; I expect them to do that here.

Q. I feel like when we talk to you about quarterbacks you talk about intangibles, like how they are in crunch time, two-minute drills. Is there a baseline where you need guys to have a certain level of physical traits?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, that goes for every position. You have to be a good player physically. Whether it's speed, quickness, accuracy, decision making. I'm talking about those last two for quarterbacks. Power, ability to bend, redirect.

Offensive lineman get off, ability to cover man to man, play the deep part of the field. I mean, there is obviously a physical skillset. You got to have good players to put yourself in good position that can do the necessary things physically you need them to do.

Q. And you and Joe have gone through the quarterback process multiple times now. Are you aligned in your evaluations of the group this year?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think, again, the draft, it's really good to start catching up as a coach. Got a lot of work to put in. Our scouts and Joe have been doing a great job. I would say the process has been excellent every year.

There is really good communication, and not just with the quarterbacks, with each position. It's okay to disagree. You're not going to be disagreeable. Everybody has thoughts and opinions of what they evaluate and what they see.

There is great conversation. I mean, I really enjoy our process of how we do it with the assistant coaches, area scouts, national scouts, sometimes the pro scouts, with Joe, myself, people that are kind of in Joe's leadership group, our coordinators.

There is a lot of good give and take, and at the end of the day when you're drafting a player, everybody is on board with who you draft and the process which we go through.

Q. Every year you come in there, I'm sure you have like a message to the team, a big overarching message that varies by year a little bit. What was your message to this group this year?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, it's early. It's phase one. We're really -- our strength coaches are speaking to our team. Heads from departments are speaking to the team, different departments. Could be nutrition, sports psychology, training room, media relations, myself.

And then we break up. One area goes to lift, the other team, the offense stays to meet and then they flip. It's very introductory right now. We are just getting going here in phase one. Look forward to getting to work.

Q. And then how to you balance your time? You have the team here now and you also have the draft this week. Are you guys -- are you close to being done on the draft side? Where are with that and how do you split your time there?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, Joe goes all the way up. He'll have a good idea what we're going to do, but there is conversations still to be had.

As a coaching staff, myself and the assistant coaches, from the players that are in here, from when they get in here at 8 a.m. until they are done, all our focus is on our players and who we have in our building.

Then there will be other meetings after that. Maybe you might bring a coordinator in or a position coach that has evaluated a certain guy or someone who was a late add-on.

But there is conversations all the way up until the day.

Q. You guys were as injured at the end of last year as any team I can ever remember. As you get going here -- I know you're not on the field yet -- but as you get going, do you have anybody that you expect to be out for a while? You expect most of the guys injured at the end of last year to get going this spring? Anybody you don't think we'll see until camp?

BRIAN DABOLL: It's early. All the guys that had some injury are rehabbing. They've done a great job throughout that process from the time they been gone up until now.

Q. What happens -- like how do you reach that consensus? You gave us a very good answer on the process. What if it's Wednesday and Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen don't agree on who the third overall pick should be? Or it's Friday and you don't agree on the 34th overall pick. You make it seem like you always reach an agreement. Does that mean somebody has to give in?

BRIAN DABOLL: No. I just really appreciate our process. Having done this a long time in a variety of places, I appreciate our process, our communication, the scouts' communication, the coaches' communication.

Once we come up with who we're taking, regardless of when that is, there is an agreement on all parties. We look forward to bringing that player, whoever that player may be, into our building and try to help develop them.

Q. Along with the question about messaging, from your perspective, how much time and thought do you put into the messaging to the team? And maybe it's a bigger scope. The idea of not just today, but three weeks from now and what you want to say for the season's message.

BRIAN DABOLL: Sure.

Q. Or what's important in mini camp. How much do you think of that in terms of when you meet in front of the players and you assemble your coaching staff and things of that nature?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, quite a bit. I think messaging is important. I think having a detailed plan of how you want to go through each meeting is important.

I give expectations for the position coaches and for the coordinators leading up to this of messaging and things that I think we can do a better job of as a staff and me as a head coach, and then what we're looking to get out of each particular phase, phase one, phase two, phase three.

You don't go too far ahead. You kind of stay where your feet are and put everything you have into, in this particular phase one of the program.

But I have obviously things that down the line when it comes to phase two, phase three, touch points I think are important. Those will evolve with getting to know the players, the relationships with the guys, how things are going in phase one, and making sure you adjust and adapt accordingly.

Q. That carries through the entire season, right? That's really a part of your job once you become the head coach, you got to be involved in all of that.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, absolutely. You have good meetings in the offseason with different departments, people responsible for other areas of the building and how I can serve them better and what I can do for them to help with the players. I think that's important, first and foremost, is looking at yourself, and then getting ideas.

At the end of the day you have to put things together or present things that you think will be for the benefit of the team. That's certainly what I always try to do. And will always try to do.

Q. I guess what are the conversations like when there is disagreement on a prospect and if you guys aren't aligned on someone? Joe said last week I think he's tasked with making the final decision on a player.

BRIAN DABOLL: It's just that. You just have good conversations. You are together all the time. Been together for a long time.

So again, it's like getting ready for a game. People are going to throw ideas out, plays that might not necessarily be something that you had in mind. Then you open to listen and say, oh, I see it that way.

Again, there is not -- there is very professional conversations that we have and we're all trying to do the same thing: improve our football team.

At the end of our process, whatever that may be, regardless of the position, everybody is entitled to give their thoughts and opinions, which I think are important.

Then you listen to other people. Again, whether that be a scout, a position coach, a national scout, someone else that's double checking from the other side, whatever it may be. It's professional conversations and you come up with the person or persons that you think would be good in that spot.

First round, second round, third, whatever it may be. And you come to a consensus of this is the player that we want, or players, because you're going to have to have multiple players based on what happens in front of you.

And it's a process that I believe in. I got a lot of respect for everybody's thoughts and opinions and the work that they put in. You put a lot of work into this.

At the end of the day, you have your conversations and you come up with a certain amount of players that you would pick in each of those areas.

It's a very good process. I enjoy it. It's a lot of work. The conversations that we have, you know, Joe and I listen to a number of people, and then at the end of the day we'll have a conversation and pick the player we think will best be suited for the New York Giants.

Quarterback Russell Wilson

Q. Just curious, Dabs just told us that he had asked you and (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) to get up in front of the offense this morning and just kind of -- I don't know if you needed to introduce yourself at all, but just in terms of when you look at a day like this, you're coming to a new team, what do you want to get out of this? Obviously, you're not on the field yet, but I'm just curious from a personality aspect, from your experience, what are you trying to get out of a day like today? I'm not sure if it's a first impression for everybody, but certainly being here, it's a start of something different.

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, well, first of all, it's exciting to be here. Obviously to have the guys, sharing the locker room, to be able to be in the team meeting room with the guys, the QB room, just to be on the field with the guys getting work and being in the weight room and all that stuff that makes it exciting and that we're playing ball again. That part I love.

Dabs ran a great meeting today. He introduced everybody, from the coaches to everybody else, from the new players as well. Obviously, with me being one of them. Just to be able to go up there and talk to the guys about kind of where I come from and just my story a little bit and just the focus of it all and what we want to accomplish individually, but also this year.

I'm excited to be with these guys. I'm excited to have the opportunity to play and be a New York Giant. What an opportunity it is. We can make it really special. I think we have the right guys with a lot of hard work, guys that are focused on the details of it all. Like I said, I'm excited to be here.

Q. Who did you get to throw with since the last time we talked? I've been following you on Instagram. It looked like (tight end Daniel) Bellinger, some of the receivers. Which of your targets were you able to corral, and how did those all come about? Was that your initiative?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, a bunch of the tight ends, a bunch of the receivers. A bunch of guys, man. We really got in a lot of extra work. We were able to throw in San Diego some, to be able to throw in Atlanta too. Flew to Atlanta and just different guys that I was able to throw with back and forth in San Diego and the ATL. It was a lot of fun. We just got a lot of work in.

I think what's exciting is we've got a plethora of guys that can really make a lot of plays. Obviously, our star receiver, (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) and what he's capable of to (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) and his ability to make plays. I think (wide receiver) Darius Slayton is a star too as well. Obviously, he's an experienced vet. Guys like Bellinger, who is a really, really talented tight end, and (tight end) Theo (Johnson) and guys like (tight end Greg) Dulcich I think are really good players that can run. I played with him in Denver. I know what he's capable of. So many other guys. (Wide receiver) Jalin Hyatt, I think that he's going to have a great year this year.

I'm excited about the people. I'm excited about the guys. They love football. They love the work. They want to be great. The guys I played with before in the past too, guys like (wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey) LJ and other people. I'm excited for the opportunity just to be able to play with these guys because of their ability.

Q. Then off the path a little bit, are you going to be a regular at MSG this spring, and do you know (Jalen) Brunson and any of those guys? We saw the big bro hug you got after Game 1?

RUSSELL WILSON: I've gotten to know Brunson over the last couple of years. Just a talented player, man. I just have a ton of respect for his game.

Obviously, you get to meet guys throughout. (Karl-Anthony Towns) KAT, I know him too as well. Just other guys, (Josh) Hart. There's a lot of guys I'm connected to in some form or fashion. Just my guy, (Performance Coach John Shackleton) J Shack, knows him well too, as well.

I love sports. I love basketball. I've always been a guy that admires greatness and to be able to watch guys go to work every day. To see it up close and personal, it's always inspirational to be around and it and vice versa. I'm really close with those guys. I've gotten to know them over the years. Now being in New York, you'll get to know even better, but just to be able to watch them up close in person and be the stars they are.

That game the other night was special. The fourth quarter was really remarkable and how they came back. I think they went on a 21-0 run. What an electric crowd that was.

Q. I want to take you back a little bit. It is draft season. In 2012 some scouts said that if you were three inches taller, you would be at the top of the draft, right? That wasn't the first time you heard that you were too short. Can you talk a little bit about what you remember about your draft process and about being a third-round pick and obviously being the best of that group that came out easily by far?

RUSSELL WILSON: I think for me personally I just wanted the opportunity to play, an opportunity to shine and do what I was capable of doing. I was fortunate to be able to go to Seattle around some great, great players and great teammates and great coaching staff, great culture and atmosphere. I loved playing there. I was very blessed in that way to be surrounded by some guys that I'm still forever connected to.

Guys in my draft class too – guys like (linebacker) Bobby Wagner and guys like (former NFL running back) Robert Turbin and guys that I played in college with, guys like (former NFL guard) J.R. Sweezy and many others. Guys I played against in college, like (linebacker) Bruce Irvin. We just had a competitive group, a rookie class. A guy like (former NFL wide receiver) Jermaine Kearse, who was an undrafted free agent, and (former NFL cornerback) DeShawn Shead, and just many guys. We wanted to be great.

All of us – the vets. Obviously, The Legion of Boom and different guys I was able to play with and everything else and (former running back) Marshawn (Lynch).

But I think the thing going back to the actual draft day and that whole process, I remember (Raiders head coach) Pete Carroll calling and (Seahawks general manager) John Schneider, (former Seahawks owner) Paul Allen, and just the excitement and the joy to be able to play the game I love, to be able to have the opportunity to do it. Listen, I think for me I've always believed that you have to work for everything. I was going to do everything I could to be the best that I could possibly be every day and have a Day 1 mentality, and I still have that today. That's what I remember most.

Q. Are you a draft guy? Do you know these quarterbacks in this draft? Did you follow them? Do you think that you are proof that if you're not the biggest guy, obviously you're not the biggest guy and you've made it pretty well. Do you think some of these guys that people say, Oh, he's too short -- maybe taller than you but too short, no, no, like, Just look at me, you can do it?

RUSSELL WILSON: I think in any position it's really about what you're capable of. I think the grit that you have, the mentality, the ability, the winning habits that you have, all those things are critical. The "it" factor, the ability to change the room, the ability to elevate others, to make them be their best no matter what position you play.

For me I knew that God had given me a gift to lead. God had given me a gift to throw a ball a really long ways and drop in a bucket and throw it up to the moon and let it fall down, I guess, and just the certain things that I was able to do. For me every day I'm just grateful for the opportunity that I've had and just to be able to inspire others.

There weren't many short quarterbacks in the National Football League, and there weren't many guys at the time that were dual threats at the time. There were guys like Cam (Newton), and there were guys like Colin Kaepernick and Tyrod (Taylor) and a couple of others really, but that was really it at the time.

So, for me I just wanted to be able to change the narrative, and I think it's definitely changed along the way, and there's many guys before me that were able to do that for me and crack the door open too.

I was fortunate to be able to win the Super Bowl and I take pride in that – to be able to win the Super Bowl, to be the first mobile guy like that, but – shorter mobile guy, I should say. Then I think also, too, to be an African-American guy, the second black quarterback to ever win it was something significant.

I always have fun thinking about that. A lot of amazing memories, and we've got to go make more.

Q. I know you're not that far removed from being a young quarterback, but over your experience what has been the biggest transition other than maybe learning the language, the ways of the team? What's the biggest transition, the hardest transition, for a young quarterback to pick up?

RUSSELL WILSON: The hardest thing is the speed of the game and the talent of the players around you. I was able to play in the ACC with a really good, talented team and was playing against some of the world's best guys, like (former NFL linebacker) Luke Kuechly, and Hall of Fame player. I got to go against guys from Florida State and Clemson and just different all-time players.

But I think the thing is the game was super fast then, but you go to the National Football League, and it's even faster. You're getting everybody's best. You're getting the best, best player in the ACC. You're getting the best, best player in the SEC in college, and then you're getting the experience of the veterans that are the all-time greats from wherever they come from.

The speed of the game I think is the biggest thing for guys. The question is, can guys adjust, whether you play receiver or quarterback, running back, defense? It doesn't matter what position you play. You've got to be able to adjust the game. I think I was fortunate because I got to go against some of the best players in the world every day, and that was always great to just have that competitive edge.

Q. Do you think it helps the young quarterback if he has played in multiple systems for multiple teams?

RUSSELL WILSON: In college or pros? What do you mean?

Q. College I'm specifically talking about.

RUSSELL WILSON: I mean, possibly. It just depends. I think it depends. I think it's all about the guy's aptitude to learn and all that. That affects everything, and the guy's ability to learn quickly on the move and adjust and to be put into successful positions but also get the team out of tough positions as well.

I think the thing about quarterback is you have to have the ability to win games late and often. I think that's really the name of the game most of the time.

Q. I'm curious, how important do you view the process of going through the spring, getting those extra throws with guys? How important is that for you to get the chemistry built up, and do you feel like it's a short amount of time, and you're trying to crunch it in, or is it up until the start of the season?

RUSSELL WILSON: Just like anything, those extra reps, the time under tension is everything. I think a lot of times you get into sports, and the guys that can spend more time going full speed, getting the reps, getting the time, spending time in the offseason, spending time when there's nobody watching, those moments, those relationships, going to dinner, talking, chopping it up, that team bonding is everything. It just clicks on the field that way. I think it just makes everything smooth and transition well.

I think we're doing a great job of that. I think we're ahead of schedule on that, and really excited about the guys we have and who they are, their work ethic, their mentality, their character, their ability to love the game, what they want to do in the community. All the different things about the guys that we have on this team. I think it's a great opportunity to really do well and for us all to just shine. We've got to work for it, though. There's no magic pill besides the work. We have to put the work in. You've got to love it. You've got to have that attention to detail, and we're excited about that opportunity to do that.

Q. I know there are two sides of things that are going on right now. You guys are here. You're starting to prepare. You're starting to work out. The flip side, the team is also still juggling the draft. Have they talked to you about that? Do you know any of these prospects personally? Have they talked to you about any of them at all?

RUSSELL WILSON: No, we don't go into all that stuff all the time. I think the biggest thing is that we're excited about having an opportunity to draft extremely good talent and help our football team get better every day. I think that's the best thing about the draft is you get young talent, and hopefully those guys can add to the team and just really be significant playmakers for us and to change the environment on the field every day. I think that's the thing from practice, the games and those level of players.

Sometimes they're early. Sometimes they're late. Sometimes you find them through the free agency. I've played with a lot of great guys that you may find in the fifth, sixth round that are game-changers and play the longest in their careers. They may play 15 years. So, hopefully we can find some dark horses too along the way.

Q. You kind of mentioned your time with The Legion of Boom a little bit. You've got a young defense on the other side of your ball here. I'm just curious, how excited are you to kind of see them grow and develop? There's a lot of young guys, like (cornerback Paulson) Adebo, (safety Jevón) Holland, those guys. How excited are you to see this young group grow and watch it from the other side of the ball as they gel together a little bit?

RUSSELL WILSON: I think, first of all, every great defense starts with a defensive line. I think our defensive line is one of the best in the National Football League. The opportunity to add more guys and everything else, but just the ability for guys to get to the quarterback, that's the name of the game. Who can stop the run? Who can get to the quarterback? I think that's the reality of it.

I think the linebackers that we have, the best in the game. Guys that can fly around, really get to stopping the ball carriers from getting plus yardage. I think our secondary and the additions that we've had too.

I was just joking with Holland in the locker room because we played and he knocked out, like, two balls back in the day, punched out two in the game. Receivers were catching them and just running down the field, and I think a running back maybe, and he knocked two out. He's a talented guy, Holland is.

I think he's made a lot of plays. We're excited to have him on the team. I think just the additions that we've had. I think also the guys we already have. I know Tae Banks is a young, talented guy, and I think he's really looking forward to this year and rising up to the occasion in a great way.

It just takes a team effort. I think the great thing about this game, it takes all 11 on offense, takes all 11 on defense, takes all 11 on special teams. The most important part to the offseason is the bond and the relationships and how fast can we put all those pieces together in an effective way to be as effective as possible come Sundays.

I think we have an opportunity to do that. I think Coach Daboll is a tremendous leader, a tremendous communicator. He was great in the team meeting today. He's very inspirational, very clear message on what we want to do and how we want to get there. I am excited about the opportunity to play and just do what we love to do.

S Jevón Holland

Q. When you walk in here on Day 1, what do you want your teammates to know about you, whether it's player, person, or just the total package? What do you want people to say about Jevon Holland?

JEVON HOLLAND: I just want them to get to know me, man. I just want them to say, Yeah, he's a cool guy. I'm here just like everybody else. All I want to do is to learn the playbook, dive deeper into the family, and become a unit, become a part of that Giants' legacy. Yeah, nothing too crazy.

It's Day 1, so keeping it cool, man. Just saying, what's up, to everybody and putting a face to a name.

Q. It has to be a little different, right? This is the first new team that you're joining in the league, so you knew everybody that you were with in Miami. Once you established your impression, people knew who you were. They knew the type of player you were. Is it any different coming to a new team like this where you know people have watched you for years, so they already have opinions of who you are as a player and a person?

JEVON HOLLAND: It might be for them, but for me, it's the same as meeting somebody for the first time. Whether their impression of me is something and I'm different than what they thought or their impression of me is exactly who I am, they're going to get to know me, and I'm going to meet them the same way I meet any other stranger, with a handshake and saying, what's up?

Q. Just curious, what were some of your conversations now that you signed and obviously had to talk to some of the guys? What are some of the early conversations about getting to know some of the guys and then getting to know you? How have the conversations gone so far?

JEVON HOLLAND: They've gone great. It's just, like, regular introductions. It's not something special. Just getting to know the guys who are in the room, you know, telling them who I am and my background and why I'm here. Yeah, telling them I'm here to be a great teammate, support them, and try to help win games. That's the goal, to win, and I'm here to help.

Q. Just being around some of the guys that are established here, what maybe I don't know if you were surprised or anything, but what is it like just seeing and being around them versus maybe just talking to them over the phone or video chat? What's it like being around them that first day? Is it clicking, or is it like, all right, let's get to work, let's go?

JEVON HOLLAND: It's clicking. Everybody is cool here. Everybody is a good time. Everybody is chill. It's day one It's not like we're doing anything crazy. It's a workout, introductions, and everybody is just here. It's a new year, a fresh start. Everybody is ready to get to work and excited to be a part of this.

Q. I'm curious. I know it's early, really, really, really early, right? I'm curious, what's your first impression coming into this of the defense schematically of what they run here and how you fit into that?

JEVON HOLLAND: It's the first day.

Q. Even before getting here the first day, but when you signed here, what do you envision? What did they tell you about, hey, you're going to fit in here?

JEVON HOLLAND: They're going to fit in like my attributes of being a long, rangy safety that can come down and cover man-to-man. You know, the things that the general public knows absolutely, but in terms of the specifics, we haven't even gotten to that point yet.

Today was just about shaking hands, saying, how are you doing, and meeting everybody. I'm sure that you guys will know before me when we have the specifics on what's going down. That's a question for coaches that's not a question for me right now. Yeah, it was just introductions today.

Q. I was just curious about what you wanted when you entered free agency in regard to a role and what you can kind of thrive in. That's what I was getting at there.

JEVON HOLLAND: I've been in a lot of different systems in my career. It's not necessarily that I like one more than the other. It's just about the flow of the team, the personnel, who we have that kind of fits around how I'm going to be able to help and where we need help. I wouldn't say that I'm looking for one specific role or one specific position, but more so finding me a place where I can help the most.

Q. We were just speaking with Russ (Russell Wilson), and he was talking about joking with you in the locker room about how you kind of punched out balls back in the day. I guess what your relationship with him is like and just getting to be here with him?

JEVON HOLLAND: It's really cool. My mom is a big Seahawks fan, growing up in the Bay area. My dad played for the Niners. The rivalry between (Michael) Crabtree and Richard Sherman. Over the years just watching Russ his whole career from Wisconsin and going into the league and then him just playing and me being a fan of him and teams that he's on and then all the way up to the point where we're playing him last year.

It's kind of a similar story with Tom Brady. I ran past him, and I was kind of like, Hey, what's up, Russell Wilson? I can't say -- I was just not saying his name just Russ. What's up, Russell Wilson, because that's how I saw him.

From that point on until now we've developed an acquaintance relationship. I see him in the locker room. He knows my face, which is cool, and I know his face. I say, "What's up and ready to get this thing started. But, yeah, it was cool playing against him last year and going against a quarterback in the league that's seen defenses and being able to give us some trouble. Yeah, just have a competitive time.

Q. Along those lines, I know that Russ and Jameis both got up. Coach Daboll asked them to tell their stories and journeys. Did you learn anything from listening to them about I didn't know that about them, something like that?

JEVON HOLLAND: I mean, it was pretty brief, but just the basics of the family and whatnot. I didn't know specifics because I haven't been in the room with them, but you can tell their personalities just by their demeanor and how they spoke to the team.

Especially Jameis. Jameis is obviously, as everybody has seen, a character. Now being in the locker room with him and seeing him, he is just a great dude. A great player, but an even better person. It was cool to just see their charisma and speak in front of the team.

Q. Is it different as you're still a young player when you have these older quarterbacks get up? They just carry themselves differently, these veteran guys.

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, I'm glad you said veteran guys. I don't think it's just quarterbacks. It's veterans in general that have a calm presence in the midst of new things and changes just because they've been around the block. They've known these things. They understand how to go about these things, and they have a process to do so.

As somebody who was creeping into that range of older player -- not to say I'm old at all, because I'm only 25, but I do like to say, oh, man, you know, I'm getting old just a little bit. Year 5, it's not that long, but it's kind of long.

It's cool to see their process and mimic some of the things that they have so that I'm also feeling comfortable and can acclimate to the environment as quickly as they do.

Q. At 25, you're not creeping into anything.

A. Running into people at full speed does age your body a little bit, but I'll be all right.

Q. It's draft week. If memory serves, there was a lot of talk that you were going to be a first-round pick. How did not going on Day 1 light a fire for you going into your career?

JEVON HOLLAND: I was supposed to be a first-round pick?

Q. I remember hearing that, I think. Didn't Joe Schoen tell us last week that the Bills were going to pick you in the first round?

JEVON HOLLAND: That's news to me, man. I would love to have a motivating answer for you that just, like, wow, this guy is lighting a fire under his ass, and he can go, but unfortunately, I didn't know. I didn't think I was going in the first round.

I thought I was going to the second round, or something like that. I kind of had a feeling. My agents were just like, think the second day. If you go in the first day, that would be dope, but pretty much the second day. I was like, Cool.

I think I went around where I should have gone. There was some speculation just because of 2020 I didn't play, but we saw how that didn't even matter. It would have been cool, but no, second round.

S Tyler Nubin

Q. How is being back here for year two? How is it different here? A year ago at this time you didn't even know what team you were going to be on. So how is it different here coming into the building year two, especially with a totally different secondary with (safety Jevón) Holland and (cornerback Paulson) Adebo?

TYLER NUBIN: It's been great, man. Definitely a lot more comfortable than coming in like a rookie with his head cut off not really knowing what's going on, kind of just running around trying to figure it out.

Definitely feels good to be back to be around the guys, especially the new guys. I think they're going to be great additions for us.

Q. How are you doing? If memory serves you missed the last three or four games of last season injured. How are you health-wise? Do you think you'll be on the field at all this spring? Where are you at?

TYLER NUBIN: I'm doing good. I'm getting better every single day. The staff has been amazing, the training staff, getting me back to feeling good. Definitely getting better every day.

Q. Did you have a procedure or anything of that sort?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, I did, at the end of the season.

Q. Everything came along fine from there?

TYLER NUBIN: Oh, yeah. Surgery went great. The doctors that did it, they handled it really great, and the training staff has been really good with the recovery process, rehab process as well.

Q. You don't expect to miss any time? You're good to go kind of deal?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, I'm still in the process of getting better. Still attacking rehab every single day right now.

Q. What I really wanted to ask you is, I'm curious, what did you think about when you heard that Jevón signed? You were adding another safety next to you. What did you know about him? What have you come to learn about him?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, it's funny. I've actually been watching Jevón for a while, since I was in college because I feel like me and him, we kind of have similar play styles, similar body types. He's a longer, bigger guy. I've always been a fan of his game. So, I was excited to hear that he was going to being part of our team, for sure.

Q. That's what I was curious about. You do have sort of similar body types and skill sets. It kind of makes you in a way, I would think, the defense should help in that you're interchangeable?

TYLER NUBIN: Right, exactly. I feel like, yeah, we definitely have similar skill sets that we can play off each other for sure.

Q. First off, you got new digits for this year. Did I see that right?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, I did. Yes, sir. Yeah, 27.

Q. That means something to you, doesn't it?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, definitely, man. Last year was the first time I ever wore anything other than 27 my whole football career. It's definitely something that means a lot to me, for sure.

Q. What is the meaning behind it?

TYLER NUBIN: So, 27 actually started originally with my uncle, Uncle Steve. He actually played cornerback at the University of Michigan opposite Charles Woodson in college back in '94. He passed away 10, 12 years ago. That's really important to me.

He actually and my dad and his other brother, they also wore 27 in college too, and they didn't even plan it. They all went to three different colleges and all ended up picking 27. It's kind of like a family number. It's an honor to be able to bring it to the NFL for the first time.

Q. Obviously there's a lot of draft speculation. You're behind that, right? That's in your rearview mirror. You played in the league, in the conference with (Penn State linebacker Abdul) Carter. What kind of player is he, and if you guys get him, what could he add to a defense, do you think?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, he's a great player. I mean, you guys see what he can do on tape. He's a special kind of guy. I think anybody that gets him is going to be getting a great player for sure.

Q. What do you think about pass rushers in general? They make your job easier, right? Can you have too many of them, or is it like the more they want to bring in the better, and it makes your job easier on the back end?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, I feel like they definitely go hand in hand. Pass rush definitely goes with coverage; coverage goes with pass rush. We definitely help each other. It's great to see guys doing their thing down there. It helps us. When we're locking down back in the back end, it gets them sacks. So, they definitely going hand-in-hand, for sure.

Q. Are you a draft guy? Thursday, Friday, are you going to be paying attention, seeing what's going on there?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, for sure. Especially obviously being in it, you definitely are going to pay attention.

Tight End Theo Johnson

Q. Just, first off, how are you doing with your injury? I know you had surgery. I believe you had surgery, right?

THEO JOHNSON: Yeah, I'm doing really good right now. Getting better every day. I like where I'm at right now. Yeah, I'm feeling good, really good right now.

Q. Any timetable yet on when you'll be back, or are you good to go at this point?

THEO JOHNSON: We're taking it a day at a time. Like I said, I'm getting better every day, and I like where I'm at right now.

Q. How does it feel this year being back? Obviously last year was just a learning period. What was it like for you to kind of be in this year? Do you feel more comfortable and everything?

THEO JOHNSON: Yeah, it's really cool to know what to expect and kind of have my feet under me this year and not being a rookie and feeling like everything is kind of coming at me at a million miles an hour.

It's really great to start from the beginning of the offseason program as well. I'm excited to get a full offseason here. So, yeah, I'm really excited to be back and get back to work.

Q. A couple of things. One, for you I don't know if you heard when we first got the chance to talk to (quarterback) Russell Wilson, one of the first guys he started raving about was Theo Johnson. I'm curious, I know you've gotten a chance to work with him a little bit. What do you think about your new quarterback, who I would imagine you've watched a lot are on TV through high school and college?

THEO JOHNSON: Yeah, I'm super excited to work with him. You know, the little bit that we've worked together, I think he's going to be not only great for our offense, but for our team. Just the energy and the enthusiasm he brings every day with everything that he does and just the leadership he's going to bring and the experience, I think it's going to be super valuable for our offense.

We've got a young offense, a young skill unit, so I think it's going to be super valuable for us. I'm super excited to see what we can do with him throwing us the balls this year.

Q. I thought Penn State was always Linebacker U, but it seems to have a nice tight end flavor the last couple of years with all you guys out there. We were at the combine, and we had your buddy talking about how much you were a mentor for him. Thursday is going to be a big night for him, and I'm curious, have you put in a good word hoping that — obviously it doesn't look like they're coming to take your spot here, but the team on the other side of town might be looking for a tight end in that spot. I'm curious your conversations with (Penn State tight end) Tyler (Warren) and what you have shared about the process and the NFL?

THEO JOHNSON: I've always had nothing but good things to say about Tyler. I have a ton of respect for him. He's one of my closest friends. We keep in contact a bunch. We've been talking a whole bunch through this process for him.

I think he's going to be a stud in this league. Whoever gets him is going to get a tremendous tight end that's going to play for a long time. He handles his business the right way. He's already a pro, and he's not even a pro yet.

I'm not sure where he's going to end up, but I'm super excited to see where he ends up, and he's going to do really well. I'm excited for him.

Q. Basically, if he comes to New York, you guys are going to be looking for an apartment between Florham Park and East Rutherford?

THEO JOHNSON: I'll be juiced up if he's over here. Truly, I'll be super thrilled. Playing next to him made my job a whole lot easier. We made each other better every single day. I'm a better player after having played with him. So, I'm super excited to see where he ends up.

Q. You were a teammate of (Penn State linebacker Abdul) Carter for two years at Penn State, is that correct? What do you remember about him as a teammate?

THEO JOHNSON: The guy brings a lot of juice. Good ball player. I think he's going to do really well in this league.

Q. Were you out with Russ in San Diego or Atlanta at all?

THEO JOHNSON: He came to Atlanta and threw with us.

Q. Were you able to do anything, or were you just kind of watching at this point?

THEO JOHNSON: No, I was in the throwing session.

Q. Can you tell he's a veteran right away just from throwing with him the first time, that kind of stuff?

THEO JOHNSON: Yeah. From the very first interaction with him, you could tell the guy knows a lot of ball, and the biggest take-away for me was just his passion. He loves football and every aspect of the game, which is infectious and something that he's going to infect in our locker room just his love and his passion for the game.