Q: Welcome to Big Blue, how are you feeling?
A: I feel good. I feel good, man. I’m ready to get things started.
Q: You were doing some extra running after practice outside?
A: Yeah, you know, just conditioning purposes to get right. It is going to be a nice, long season.
Q: Is that something you chose to do yourself?
A: Yeah, I have been doing that since I started, so I always condition myself.
Q: Does this training camp feel any different?
A: Well, it just started. I will be able to answer that question when we get in pads.
Q: Do you have a sense yet for what this team can do?
A: I think we have a lot of leadership on the team right now for the most part. Right now, it is just getting the pads on and seeing what we can do, being physical and being smart.
Q: Can you see yourself in a leadership role coming in?
A: I feel like for me, for the most part, I am a guy that is going to go out there and play. I’m just going to try and contribute for the most part.
Q: Do you have a certain goal for the training camp?
A: My goal going in every year is staying healthy, and I feel like that is everybody’s goal, so right now it is just staying healthy.
Q: Are you and JPP okay with switching sides occasionally?
A: I mean, I have always played on the right side, but if Spags has something, me and JPP are probably going to be open to it, so it is cool.
Q: The Dolphins are coming into town August 12. Any thoughts going into that game?
A: I just wish those boys luck, man. That is it. I am grateful for that opportunity in my first four years in the league and I guess it is a little farewell party right there and then keep it moving after that.
Q: You are with a new team and new defense. What are you going to try and accomplish here in your first year?
A: First thing is making it through training camp. That is everybody’s goal, but I would say as far as a team and a defense, it would be working together and being able to communicate. That is the biggest thing right now that helps the progress of defense is communication, so as long as the team can get on top of that, I think we will be all right.
Q: Coach McAdoo said that the biggest goal with the team was you guys being physical. Did you see that on day one?
A: Well, day one we really didn’t go against each other, so you can only do so much when you don’t have pads on, so I will answer that question again when we get pads on this week.
Q: How much are you looking forward to that [putting on pads]?
A: Man, it is always a good feeling to get into pads, shake the rust off and get to put your hands on somebody. There is no better feeling than that.
Q: Do you feel like that is kind of the first day you can show off what they got with you?
A: Yeah, as far as everybody with what they have to show, to offer. Being physical, one thing about this game is you have to be physical. You can’t be out there soft pawing or anything like that, so I think that is the biggest thing come Tuesday, to see who wants to come and play.
Q: You mentioned the conditioning aspect of it. I know a lot of players are wearing sensors and tracking their conditioning and dieting. Is that something that the Giants are trying to do?
A: I mean, coming from the Dolphins, all the guys I have been around down there, I have learned from those guys how to take care of your body and what to put in your body, so I think the organization is doing a great job with trying to implement that, especially for the younger guys coming in because it is all new to them. I think if they can get a quick step on that, then everyone will be all right.
Q: Does being on a new team with a new contract add any pressure?
A: Not really. I mean, at the end of the day, it is football. I don’t think football changes when you get money. At least in to my eyes, it doesn’t. I’m just coming up here with different scenery to play football, man.
Q: The expectations are a little higher, though, right?
A: Oh yeah, I mean I already know that. I would be a fool not to believe that, but as long as I just stick to my game plan, I will be all right.
Q: Does that contract change the way other people around the league perceive you?
A: Look, I mean, hey, it is what it is. If you watch the film, you can see what I can do. If you have something wrong about that, you can always go against me and see what happens.
Q: Going from the AFC to the NFC, have you had a chance to watch film of the Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins?
A: I mean, we went against that division last year, so I got a little sense of the type of player and the type of caliber players I will be going against, but right now we are just focusing on getting the plays in and working together as a unit.
Q: When you report to training camp and Snacks is on PUP, do you get worried?
A: No, Snacks will be all right. He is a soldier, so nobody needs to worry about that. He is going to be fine. He has been doing this for a long time, so I think he knows how to take care of his body.
Q: Did you hear a lot about the contract from people around the league?
A: No, not really. I mean, if anything all the guys were really happy for me, so nothing too crazy.
Q: Some of the guys who signed after you didn’t mind.
A: Oh yeah, that, too. No, they don’t mind. Everyone was fine.
Q: Some people have something in mind when they sign that first big contract. Buy a car, a big house. Did you have something in mind?
A: Well, looking for a spot up here. I haven’t really thought of anything to get yet, so I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about that.
Q: How would you assess the chemistry of the team?
A: I think it is fine. It is still kind of fresh in the beginning, but at the same time, it is all about building the chemistry as an overall team and I think with the type of leadership we have on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, I think we can build that pretty fast.
Q: You stepped into one of the worst defenses in the NFL. A lot of changes this year and pressure on the defense. Do you think that going into this season that this defense can step up and make some progress?
A: I mean, I know as an organization, that is the last thing you want to be known for. Being one of the worst defenses in history and last in the league, so I know everybody right now is just building and working towards it, to be a lot better than we were last year. It starts here with training camp and heading into the season.
