Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas

Q. A couple of the guys who have already spoken have kind of already talked about the timing of this bye week. For you, a guy who has played through some injuries and stuff, how do you reset yourself for this push in these last five game?

A: For me, the first few days of the bye week was really just getting rest. I had my family in town for a few days for Thanksgiving so just spending time with the family, letting my body recover and then later in the week just trying to get some lifts in, some recovery, some treatment, just to get my body primed to go for this last stretch.

Q. If I can take you back to the opener, how much did that injury just set you back as you look back on it now?

A: Yeah, it's tough. I mean, you train all season to be healthy, coming off a really good year, I was trying to build on it, but injuries happen. It's part of this game. You've just got to find a way to one, stay healthy and two, recover as fast as I can if something does happen.

Q. If I could quickly just follow up, would your season had been different if the moment you felt that hamstring you would've gone out the game?

A: I don't know. You can make assumptions or what ifs, but my mindset is that if I can go, I'm going to try to go. Sometimes that may be a hindrance but that's just the way that I play football and I don't think that's going to change.

Q. The bye coming so late, sometimes you have 10-12 games to go, you only have five to go so you can sort of see the finish line. What would you say, if asked like I am, what is there to play for in these last five games?

A: First, I would say football starts after Thanksgiving. We've got a lot of NFC opponents. You never know what could happen. Then, outside of the playoffs – I said this earlier in another interview, we get an opportunity to play football. This has been our dream for a long time so any time you step on the field you want to put your best foot forward.

Q. Is that enough of an incentive you think? So many teams are really in that playoff push and you know what it's like last year, you know what it's like in college. Is it enough just to kind of hope?

A: I think it is. I think, as a team, you control your own destiny. As long as you go out there and do the things that it takes to win so we're just focused on getting one win at a time.

Q. When Georgia lost that game, sorry to bring up this memory, did you think they were out of the playoffs? Or do you think they should be in?

A: I didn't. I felt like they're one of the best four teams, if that's what the criteria is – but I don't make that decision. Better luck next year.

Q. Did you watch the game? The whole game?

A: I did watch it, yeah.

Q. Any remote controls being thrown around or anything or are you pretty calm?

A: No, I got pretty hype (laughs).

Q. Any destruction? Or everything stayed okay?

A: No destruction but a lot of yelling. My neighbors were probably wondering what was going on.

Q. You've been asked about injuries, and we know that even when you came back from the hamstring injury, you've been dealing with another injury with the knee injury and I've been asked, why is he playing? Why is it important to you to continue to play even though the season hasn't gone the way you've liked it to go? You and other guys as well.

A: You only get 17 guaranteed opportunities every year so if I have the opportunity to play, I'm going to take advantage of that. You never know what can happen. The average career is three-and-a-half years. Any time I get the opportunity to play, I'm going to do it. Regardless if we're 17-0 or we haven't won a game at all, that's just the mindset. A lot of guys on the team have that mindset as well.

Q. Just as a lineman, (quarterback Tommy) DeVito being a rookie, (quarterback) Tyrod Taylor being a long-time vet, what are some of the differences you notice between the two?

A: Obviously, Tyrod, the veteran presence. He's been in the league I think it's 13 years. DeVito brings in energy, juice. He's still learning the game and that works out for him. So they're different guys, but we trust both of those guys. Whatever the coaches decide, that's what we'll go with and we're going to protect the same and we're going to block the same regardless of who's back there.

Cornerback Adoree' Jackson

Q: I was wondering, did you watch last night's game, and if you did, did you sit there and go, 'This guy (Packers quarterback Jordan) Love's not bad?'

A: No, I did not get to last night's game, but the game I did see when I said he's not, obviously, that bad was the game versus the Saints. I think they were down 17 points going into the fourth, I believe. He was out there doing his thing. Then I saw one prior to that; I think it was last week or two weeks ago. I got to see them play. I was watching my guy (Packers cornerback) Keisean Nixon, number 25, he's a returner and DB over there. So, I'll be looking out to see him play. But obviously, I could see the offense and they do a lot of a lot of great things well, and Love is playing at a high level.

Q: The one thing that they mentioned last night was that they scored more points against Kansas City than any team all season…

A: Wow. I didn't know that. I thought they put up a lot of points versus the—I don't know how many they put up last night, but versus the Saints they came back from 17.

Q: I think Kansas City gave up 27 last night, which is the most they've given up all year…

A: Oh wow. Well, they play good football, though. I'd say very sound. They stick to them. Knowing (Packers Head Coach) Matt LeFleur, being in Tennessee with him, he sticks to what he knows and what he does well, and that's being able to distribute the ball around, have his receivers, whatever they like to use them as, and lets them use them at a high level.

Q: How was your bye week?

A: It was cool. I didn't do anything but relax, so that was much needed to get a little away from football and let my mind do something else besides think of guarding a receiver or looking at different formations. So, it was nice.

Q: Where do you think the defensive group is at coming out of the bye and the noise that was kind of happening last week with the (Defensive Coordinator) Wink (Martindale) and (Head Coach) Brian (Daboll) report?

A: I think for us, just keep trying to push forward and keep going and understand the way we've been playing let's say these last two stretch of games. I wouldn't say that's good noise, I guess, to stir something up just to have something to talk about in my eyes. Like I said, I haven't seen any disposition, any face scrunching, any body language change, or people just not being themselves. We're with them more than we are with our family. So, we get to see them and learn their body language, the way they talk. You can tell if something's off, and I haven't seen that at all. So, for us, just keep playing. Keep having fun. Let people I guess keep bringing up stuff that we see as not true, and just work around it by the way we play.

Q. What's it like being a cornerback in a Wink Martindale defense week in and week out?

A: It's exciting. I want to call his defense an opportunity. It's the fact that you know what you're getting, you know what you're going to have. Everybody knows we pressure; everybody knows that we play man, whatever it may be. For us, the opportunity comes from, since they know and you know, alright, now it's time for you to study and see the areas when you are in those type of defenses where you can make plays and where you can execute that. So, I just look at being in his defense as an opportunity not just for you, but your teammates as well. Let's say you do something well, then that gives your teammates an opportunity to do something. It all goes together. The rush, with the coverage, or how the linebackers play going in there and stopping the run and it helps us in the back end in being able to—as you see, getting a bunch of picks because the up-front seven is causing a lot of pressure. So, just an opportunity defense, and that's how I would describe it.

Q. What have you learned about (inside linebacker) Bobby Okereke in your time as teammates with him?

A: I see why he went to Stanford (laughs). Just how he acts, the way he talks. But what I learned about him really most is just what a good genuine dude he is. Obviously, knowing that we both played ball in California, came out the same year of high school. So, knowing of him and then seeing him now (inaudible) later, seven years later, whatever years I've been in the league – well, 10 total. But knowing about him and getting to meet him and talk with him, and obviously, now he's my locker mate, just seeing how good of a person he is and how genuine he is, and just being able to talk to him, and the conversations flow easily. So, besides being a great athlete, him being a person is one of the things that I take away about being able to get to know Bobby.

Q. This bye coming so late, you've been in byes early, maybe not this late. How has it been, and knowing that there are only five games left, and the record is what the record is, if someone would ask you like I am, 'What is there left to play for in these last five games,' what would you say?

A: For each other. I feel like that's what it is to play for. Obviously, the grand scheme and the big picture is what it may be. For us, the little picture is just playing for each other and not worrying about tomorrow, focusing on today, and understanding when you do that good things can and will happen. So, for us, I think the bye came at a great time. The way (wide receiver Darius) Slay(ton) was saying earlier, to be able to get your body, your mind, and get away from football and rest. I always joke and say I feel sorry for the guys who got their bye week, what, end of September, early October? Like, that's crazy. But at the same time, for us, I feel like I was just happy to be able to go through the stretch and be able to play a bunch of games and then be able to give my body enough time to rest, especially in this phase that we all call meaningful football. I know in college it was 'No Loss November.' Don't want to lose in November. Going into this stretch in December, it's the same way getting ready for playoff football. So, for us just to go out there and put everything on tape, showcase us and then play for one another.

Q. You mentioned meaningful football. You know that from the NFL, you know that from college. Is playing for each other enough to have you guys at your best? Is what is coming next meaningful football in your mind as far as teams going for the playoffs or first place? Is it hard to play for each other knowing that maybe the meaningful football part of it is not part of what you're going through here the last five games?

A: I think they all intertwine. Obviously, the goal is to make the playoffs, make a push, but I feel like if you play for each other, that's going to knock away any other distraction. You keep the main thing the main thing. I think in this time, (former Titans Defensive Coordinator) Dick LeBeau, my coach my rookie year, would always say, 'My fear that I had was not around any opponent, it was letting my brothers down.' I feel like you have that mantra, like, 'Okay, I want to play for my brother, I don't want him to be disappointed,' because we all hold each other accountable. No matter if you do something good, you

want to hear your teammates praise you; if you do something bad, obviously, you want them to tell you you did something wrong. Having that instinct and having that mindset, like, man, I want to make sure that I'm doing everything I can, so my brother doesn't smack his teeth or have to get on me. It comes with anything like having a big brother, your father, your cousin, anybody that's related to you. You don't want them to be able to say something to you and always want to stay on your P's and Q's. So, playing for each other, I would say would be the best example of what we can do these last five games.

Q. Last year, you guys did what you did, and you earned opportunities to be in primetime to have big opportunities for this team to see how far you came. How much do you personally and do you sense that with the primetime games you guys have had, you really haven't put out your best product? Knowing that it's Monday Night Football next week, and there was a chance that you could be taken off, but you're still on now playing a team that kind of made a big statement last night against Kansas City, is there any part of you that looks at that as that reset, that refresh? The idea of, 'You know what, let's take advantage of this opportunity since we haven't so far this year?'

A: Right. I understand, like you said, those other primetime games, not playing to our standard, our caliber, or putting what we want to put out there. Like you said, getting an opportunity to be able to establish again, or play again, just another game or opportunity to showcase not just what we want to do for ourselves, but for everybody else to be able to see. So, shoutout to the Packers for going out there and winning so we can stay on Monday night, and they don't have to flex us. I've been seeing the talks about that every now and then, so I appreciate that. But for us, just try to keep, like I said, the main thing the main thing. We know that it's a primetime game, but obviously all the games are the same. You can just check a highlight, the only thing different is everybody's watching. Everybody will see it on TV. Just go out there, just execute, do your job, and focus on one day at a time. Don't worry about yesterday; don't worry about tomorrow. Keep your feet grounded and worry about what's in front of you and what's present, and that's today. That's all we can control and when the game gets there, we always just talk about and say it's already written. So, don't go out there and be anybody else; just be you and being you is all you need to do, and good things can happen.

Q. You're the biggest college football guy I know, so I'm not going to leave without asking you your thoughts on the top four yesterday. Were you happy? Did you think they got it right or wrong?

A: I'm not going to lie, I think they should have put Florida State in there. Obviously, going undefeated which just crazy, and to see they were just ranked number four in that last game they played, right? And then they bump them out. I know I heard a bunch about the quarterback being out. That doesn't mean anything. I feel like they earned the right to be able to go play. I did see the one video of the Michigan people when they found out they had to play Bama, which was hilarious. It's like they were scared to play them. But I don't really have too much to say – SC (University of Southern California) didn't do what they had to do. I'm going to always 'Fight On,' but yeah, I just want to see who wins it. Hopefully Washington does. I'm going to rep the Pac-12, we're going to back the Pac – well, the last of the Pac-12. So, hopefully they hold it down for us and do a great job.

Wide Receiver Darius Slayton

Q: You have never had a bye week this late, most people have not had a bye week this late. How was it? There's so much less in front of you than there is behind you. My question would be, what is there to play for? What would you say there is to play for given where the season has gone so far?

A: Same thing we were playing for at the beginning of the year when we were 0-0. Everything that we want to accomplish is still out there possible for us and we just have to do a good job of taking it one week at a time, one game at a time, one opponent at a time. If we're able to keep stacking wins, you know, we had two wins before the bye. If we keep stacking wins, we'll end up where we want to be.

Q: How was it this late? You know what I mean? I mean, you know, you've had it, you know, you've had it four weeks, five weeks, six weeks. Is it good for your body? Was it hard to - is it hard to come back? It's different, isn't it?

A: Yeah. I mean, I'd rather not have another one this late, but at the same time though, it's kind of unique in that when it is this late, you come back and as you said, you have played the vast majority of the season. So, it's kind of like you get a little reset and then I feel like it kind of gives you a good chance to finish strong. We have what? Five weeks left? Five games left; I think. It kind of just allows you to, even though it's later in the year, you kind of get the wear on the front end. It kind of comes at the right time because obviously if you go into the postseason then it's nice to have that little break right before.

Q: I know you don't want to endorse one or the other, but are there any differences on the field or in the huddle between (quarterback) Tyrod Taylor and (quarterback) Tommy DeVito that you've noticed so far?

A: Of course. Tyrod has been in the league for 12 years, something like that and DeVito is a rookie. There's a lot of things that Tyrod knows about the game and kind of more so like the way he carries himself, you know, everybody kind of has to learn how to carry themselves, like how you fit into a team as you grow in this league and as a rookie, especially a quarterback, a leadership position, you have to kind of find your way and I feel like DeVito's done a good job of finding his way quickly, but it's impossible to close a gap of 12 years. I think DeVito's done a great job and Tyrod's a professional, that's why he's been in this league so long. I'm glad to have both on our team.

Q: How are you feeling? Did the rest do you some good?

A: Yeah, it does good to not get tackled, you know, kept my body off the ground helped out but I feel good.

Q: You're joking when you say that, but is there a difference? Do you come back and say, 'Oh this is what it's like to have a week off from someone beating up on me.'

A: You get so used to starting your week feeling terrible. Like now, like on Monday, you know, I feel great. It's like, wow, this is how Mondays are for regular people. It's always like that coming off byes, but I feel rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to go.

Q: This is about a guy on the different side of the ball, but as you know, I look at you as someone who has the pulse of the Giants' locker room. When you look at (linebacker) Bobby Okereke and the way he's fit in, and it seems to me, my non-football self, that he's grown throughout the season, perhaps in a leadership role. What do you see again? I know it's the other side of the ball, I get that, but what do you see from Bobby?

A: First of all, he's a really good football player. When he first got here, I kind of said to him, you know, you're trying to get me fired because he caused my lone fumble last offseason, so I'm very happy to have his ball-punching prowess on my side now, but no. I think he's done a great job. He's played at a really high level for us. He's made a lot of tackles and caused a lot of turnovers. I think at the end of the day as football players, we all can respect somebody playing at a high level, you know, something in our business that's coveted is elite players. I think once you recognize somebody, especially a teammate, somebody like Bobby, that's new to our team as an elite player, his influence grows, his leadership grows, and I think he's done a great job for us this year.

Q: Whenever we look at the bye week early, you always think, ok, how's the team going to come back and re-invent themselves? Whether it's personnel changes or schematically, strategically, how will they reinvent themselves, but with five games left, as you said, being so late in the season, we're in December. What do you anticipate this team looking like? Do you see a chance for it to reinvigorate with some changes or is it just really a continuation of what you guys had before the bye week?

A: I think for us specifically as a team, I think it's given us a good chance, you know, guys we have that are banged up or whatever. I think it came right on time, you know, being able to have this bye and going into a Monday night game. It kind of buys you another day on top of that. I think for our team specifically with where we're at, I think it helped everybody, you know, physically and mentally, kind of get a chance to reset mentally, but also give your body a break and be able to heal from some of the things that just come along with the football season.

Q: I just wanted to ask you about another one of the guys in your room. (wide receiver) Jalin Hyatt, a guy who got so much excitement, got people so excited through the Summer. It took a while and then last week, he kind of had a real breakout game for him. What do you expect from him in terms of development and what do you expect from him down the stretch?

A: I think what he showed last week is who he is. He's an explosive player, you know, he can make big plays for our team, obviously coming out of college, we all saw the kind of just go-ball after post after big play at Tennessee. I think he has that in his arsenal, but he also, you know, that's what he went viral for. He can play receiver, he can run routes, and he can catch the ball

in the intermediate game. I think as we go, we'll have the chance to show those things and I think he did a great job before, and he's been doing a great job all year.

That's just the nature of being a receiver. Sometimes people see you go for 150 then they see you go for 50 and they're like, well, what happened? Every game is different. Teams played us differently, and defended us differently every week, so the opportunities come and go sometimes, but I think as long as he gets the chance to make plays, he'll make them.

Inside Linebacker Bobby Okereke

Q. Is this the latest you've ever had a bye week?

A: I believe so.

Q. What has it been like and knowing sometimes you take a bye week with 10 games left, or 12 games left, or eight games left, there are only five games left. You can kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel. Somebody might ask what is there to play for with the teams record the way it is, what would you say to that?

A: I mean when you look at obviously the parity in this league, we are two games out of the playoff hunt, but even still just with this, the leadership we have with the front office and Dabs, (Head Coach Brian Daboll) obviously this is year two. Opportunity to leave just a good building block into next season and obviously just pride to play for at the end of the day.

Q. What has this been like for you to have, it's so late. Was it good, was it frustrating, was it helpful?

A: I think it's good when you look at it with this last five game stretch, you know this bye week was kind of an opportunity to reenergize and rejuvenate and really just get your mind right for a five-game stretch. Obviously, one game at a time, but where we are, where the playoff picture is looking like and just how close all these games and teams are in the NFL. There is a lot of opportunity ahead of us.

Q. Did you watch a lot of football or did you kind of put it away?

A: No, I watched football on Sunday. It was fun.

Q. Do you observe anything, I mean you observe plenty, but as a fan, who doesn't have a game? Do you look at it and say that's interesting? Anything you can take about what winning and losing means that you can maybe help this week and weeks to come?

A: It just bodes to the parity in this league, how tough games are. I mean the Packers going on and beating the Chiefs, that was crazy. I'm just rooting for some of my good buddies who are playing and watching other linebackers in the league.

Q. If you're watching those games, especially the 49ers and the Eagles, what did you make of the Philly guy (Eagles Senior Advisor to the General Manager/Chief Security Officer Dom DiSandro) getting involved from the sideline, I had never seen anything like this, I don't know what you've seen in terms of that stuff before…

A: Yeah, I had never seen anything like it either. It's a tough scenario, obviously as a player you wouldn't want anybody who is not a player or really not anybody who isn't supposed to be on

the field touching you and putting his hands on you, but also as a player you want to have that discipline not to hurt your team, so it's a tough situation. It was the first experience like that I've seen.

Q. What's it like playing in your role in (defensive coordinator) Wink's (Martindale) defense?

A: It's a lot of fun. I think Wink does a good job of kind of handing me the keys and letting me lead through my leadership, letting me lead through my play. I kind of work hand and hand, or side by side with him, whether it's during the week or even in game, just kind of what calls we're seeing, what scheme the offense is running, what are our checks and balances that can be, so it's been a lot of fun and I think Wink's done a really good job of promoting my growth.

Q. You obviously had a choice in coming here. Did Wink essentially recruit you? Were you already more on board than not on board? Could you go back to that for me?

A: Yeah, I mean I think I was already on board, just because of the opportunity here. Talking to Dabs, my agent talking to (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe Schoen, just the opportunity here, the need that they had for me. But then really when I got here, I remember one of my first meetings I sat down in the defensive meeting room with Wink and the staff, and I just felt comfortable immediately. Like, we just kind of sat around, had a fireside chat like we always do and just talked ball. I knew I was going to have a lot of fun playing for him.

Q. How about the idea though, I'm assuming that you had greater expectations for this season in signing obviously, do you think back like on a bye week of where things kind of went wrong or how they went wrong?

A: Not too much. I mean obviously with the five games ahead and you know me being a leader on this team, with such a young team, just trying to keep my focus forward and keep it narrow, keep a narrow focus. I'm just focused on these last five games, we have this opportunity ahead of us and like I said, the playoff picture is closer and closer. If we do what we need to do in these next couple games, I think we'll be happy with where we end.

Q. You mentioned the Packer-Chiefs game, what did you see from the Packers and what have you seen from their offense the last couple of weeks?

A: I think (Packers quarterback) Jordan Love just looks really poised and they have a dynamic offense, obviously it was tough to see (Packers wide receiver Christian) Watson get hurt, but I think the combination of their dynamic running backs, the receivers and their tight ends, obviously (tight end Luke) Musgrave is hurt as well, but I think they just do a really good job of spreading the ball around. Jordan does a good job of getting the ball down the field and just the efficiency they have from that offense. I mean obviously, (Packers Head Coach Matt) LaFleur and (Jets quarterback) Aaron Rodgers, like that whole rapport that they have and fundamentals of running that offense, I think Jordan has done a good job of picking that up.

Q. A couple weeks ago I think we talked to you, you said you had been on the field I think every play, is that streak still going and with five games left and the rib injury, are you still there?

A: Yeah, I still believe I haven't missed a snap. Ribs feeling better. I mean I just love this team, I love this defense. I want to do everything I can to be out there for the guys and really just help put this team in the best position to win. I spend a lot of time in the training getting my body prepped throughout the week so hopefully on gameday I can be out there every play.

Q. Can you imagine yourself not being on the field?

A: It would be tough. I know our linebacker room has done an incredible job stepping up, (safety/inside linebacker) Isaiah Simmons is playing very good ball, (inside linebacker) Micah McFadden is playing very good ball. I mean, we saw (inside linebacker) Carter Coughlin and (inside linebacker) Cam Brown come in and make explosive plays on special teams, so in the event I wasn't able to play, I know those guys would step up and do a phenomenal job. The opportunities in practice where I'm in the training room or doing other stuff because I'm healing and I'm not out there, I miss it wholeheartedly. Every opportunity that I can to be out there with my guys, I'm going to take advantage of it