Thursday Media Transcript: Linebacker Connor Barwin

Linebacker Connor Barwin
07/26/2018
 
Q: How does it feel to be on the other side of this rivalry?
A: It feels good. I am very excited. I happy to be a Giant, happy to be back in the best division in football.
 
Q: Why the Giants at this point?
A: I thought it was the right fit for me and it’s a good opportunity. I’m close to my family back east, it’s a good defense for me, I know Shurm [Head Coach Pat Shumur] and I know [Linebackers Coach] Bill McGovern. I had I think 25.0 sacks with McGovern in Philly [Philadelphia] so I’m happy to be back with him and be back with this group of guys.
 
Q: Does it feel weird wearing Giants blue?
A: I think it’s already over. It was a little weird yesterday, but that’s already over. We had a walk through today, we’re practicing, we’re focused on football so it’s all about football. That stuff you forget about right away.
 
Q: What do you see your role being?
A: It’s to rush the passer, be a veteran presence, be a leader, be available to play Sam or Will and definitely mentor the younger [guys]. I haven’t played in [Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher] Bettch’s defense but it’s a 3-4 and I’ve played in a number of different 3-4’s. They are all similar so that kind of covers my role.
 
Q: What’s it like to have the defending Super Bowl champs in your division, does that increase everyone’s attention?
A: I don’t know. I think every year we are focused on us and that’s what you should be focused on. Eagles won the Super Bowl, which was last year and I’m sure they are focused on this year too.
 
Q: From the players you have been around do you sense they are ready to rebound from a 3-win season last year?
A: Yeah. It’s the first day of training camp everybody is excited, you better be excited. We are all lucky and privileged to be here playing football, to be in another camp. It’s my 10th camp, I feel blessed and lucky to be doing it again and I get that feeling from everyone in the locker room right now.
 
Q: What is the key to being a pass rusher, everyone wants to be one, what’s the key to surviving 10 years?
A: You have to be productive and you have to be disruptive. It’s not always sacks but you want to get the sacks, but you have to be disruptive. People have to know where you are at all times. You have to pressure the quarterback and be disruptive as much as you can.
 
Q: How much do you feel you have left? 
A: I feel like I got a lot left. I thought last year went well for me in L.A. and I’m excited to be back here.
 
Q: With both you and Alec Ogletree coming from L.A. does that help with your leadership role, where you have another guy who you are familiar with that can help show the way to the younger guys?
A: Yeah, I loved playing with Tree last year. He was as captain; I was a captain last year. It’s easier for me to be here, I don’t know many guys on the Giants personally. I obviously played against them for 4 years so I recognize a lot of the guys but Tree is the only guy I really know personally so it’s nice to have a guy here that you know.
 
Q: You guys were both on a team with a quick turnaround last year what was the key to that, and what is the key to doing that here?
A: The key last year was accountability, playing together and discipline. I wasn’t there (L.A.) two years ago but Tree was and he said that was the big difference and that’s what we have to do here. Guys have to come together, guys have to play as a team and you have to be accountable for your actions.
 
Q: He [Ogletree] said you are one of the best teammates he has ever had, what is the key to be a good teammate as far as you coming here to a new team? How quickly can you acclimate?
A: Tree is one of the best I have ever had too. People ask what makes a great player, I think what makes a great player is being a good teammate. It’s something I pride myself on and the more guys on your team that try to be a good teammate you are going to have a better team.
 
Q: How do you define being a good teammate?
A: You try do whatever you can to help a guy do better. Whether its rushing the passer, I’m trying to help the guy next to me get to the quarterback really what you’re doing is you are going to help yourself but you are going to help him, you are going to help everybody get there.
 
Q: Do you feel like you can compete for a starting role?
A: Yeah.
 
Q: You felt like this was the best fit, was part of that because they needed a pass rusher with JPP [Jason Pierre-Paul] leaving? They were obviously looking for guys.
A: Yeah, with any 3-4 you want three guys. Not every team has it but every team wants three pass rushers. For me I thought there was an opportunity to come here and be one of those three guys.
 
Q: Watching the Eagles make that run, you were a big part of the Eagles, was it bittersweet?
A: Yeah man I talked about it but I was happy for those guys. It’s over now, I am focused on the Giants, I’m focused on our practice this afternoon and that’s all I’m thinking about.
 
Q: Did you play against the Eagles last year?
A: No, I played 112 straight games and then I broke my forearm so I missed the Eagles game. I am very happy I get to see them twice.
 
Q: Are there any guys on the Giants that you butted heads with while you were on the Eagles still here?
A: A lot of those guys are gone form the O-line which might be a good thing.
 
Q: Is there any extra motivation going against your former team, hopefully get a ring yourself?
A: What you said at the end you know. You are going for a Super Bowl ring. I like to think I was going for it as hard as I am now, but now I’m in my tenth year so that’s all I’m thinking about. I want to be a good team player and I want to contribute to this organization but ultimately you want to win a championship.
 
Q: Why did you wait until now to land with a team, was that your choice?
A: It was really a blessing. My wife had a baby two months ago so I got to stay home for the entire off-season, it was incredible. I got lucky I had the entire off-season to myself. I take care of my body so I was fine, I’m rusty but I have four weeks to catch up and learn the playbook and all that stuff.
 
Q: The opportunities you had now, were they there a couple months ago for you and was it the best thing to wait?
A: There was a dialogue with the Giants and other teams we were talking to and it just worked out this way.
 
Q: Will training camp be a time when you can catch up on your sleep?
A: My son has been pretty good, knock on wood. I slept great last night.