Running Back Jonathan Stewart
July 28, 2018
Q: How has the running back room been so far and how have you guys fed off each other early on in camp?
A: The running back room has been really cool. The running back coach is smart, has a lot of wisdom, a lot of knowledge. Everybody there can play and not only can they play, but they’re very smart so it makes everything easy.
Q: How much have those other guys been picking your brain everyday to see kind of what you’ve done over your career?
A: Everyday I get a couple of questions here and there. You can definitely tell that they’re eager to learn and just work on their craft and just be better teammates and football players.
Q: How much do you have to learn because it is a new system?
A: If you’re not learning everyday then you’re getting dumber, so you got to figure something to get better at everyday. I’m always picking the other guys’ brains. I’m always trying to pick Eli’s [Manning] brain, some of the receivers’ brains. Even from like my running back peers. Just because I’m older and a vet doesn’t make it that I know everything.
Q: You called them peers. All of those guys are saying how much you helped them when they watched you. Is that important for you to think of them as peers and not that your are the mentor to this group?
A: I mean, yeah. At the end of the day we’re a team and there’s no hierarchy. Yeah, you have to do your job and you have to help the team win, but the moment you start thinking of yourself as something bigger than the team, that’s when things can go downhill.
Q: We know the linemen have been talking about how they can’t wait for the pads to go on. As a running back, does it change a little bit today?
A: Oh yeah, it’ll definitely change, you’ll definitely have to embrace the thud and stuff like that. Just practice like a professional, we’re out here trying to get better and get through this preseason and show what we’ve got and get ready for the first game of the season.
Q: Do you remember going back when you were a rookie, that first time, that first hit you took?
A: Yeah, it was Thomas Davis, linebacker for Carolina [Panthers]. During practice, up the A-gap, it was a power play and no one blocked him. But after that though, I let him know that I wasn’t just going to back down. I think the very next play I came right back at him and stiff armed him or something like that. I mean, that’s football, right?
Q: As someone who has watched Saquon [Barkley] to this point, is part of you kind of eager to see…?
A: Oh yeah, I’m definitely eager to see him and put the pads on. I mean he’s excited to be out here with the pads today so. As a running back, as a football player, there’s nothing like when you put the pads on for the first time. He’s going to experience that today at this level and it’s a big step.
Q: Nobody blocked Thomas [Davis] on purpose or was it a rookie hazing?
A: I don’t know what that was back then. It might have been a little bit of everything. All jokes aside, me and Thomas are very close and we always talk about that play every year.
Q: What year was he, then? He didn’t come in the same year as you?
A: No, no, no, no. Yeah, two or three years ahead of me.
Q: So you expect [Alec] Ogletree to run free on the first play?
A: No, respect your teammates [Laughter].
Q: What have you been able to figure out about the personality of this offensive line’s on field personality.
A: Relentless. Those guys are really starting to come together and work as a unit. That’s the biggest thing is chemistry with that group. With depth and to be able to continue that chemistry on the field, no matter who’s in there, is very important and they seem like they’re a very close knit group which is important.
Q: You ever seen somebody ask so many questions as Saquon [Barkley]? You were kind of talking about how he was picking your brain everyday.
A: He’s a student of the game and if you’re not asking questions, then you don’t really care. All credit to him because his preparation, just coming in here and just the mindset to be ready to pretty much soak up any and everything about this offense and about the professional level, that’s that guy.
Q: Does it kind of make you up your game because everyone is asking these questions and you feel like you’ve got to have some answers.
A: Absolutely, you’ve got to stay in your books, you got to know what’s going on. Study to assure you improve, right? Me being an older guy too and being a room full of young guys has definitely made me more youthful.
Q: Any athlete would always say – how much would you want to play and they would say I want to start. How do you approach this? Do you just say I take what I get or…?
A: I approach it like I do every year. I play this game to win football games and at the end of the day you practice like you’re the starter because you never know when your number is going to be called. That’s how I’ve ever done it since I was in high school.
Q: You’ve had a lot of up and down seasons through you career. What’s the key to do a quick turnaround like the Giants are trying to do?
A: I’d say just consistency. Just be who you are and be ready to feed off. If you’re at home with your family, you’re a father and a husband. If you’re at the facility, you’re the best teammate that you could be.
Q: Was it good to see Dave Gettleman the other day?
A: Oh absolutely. His attitude about everything right now that he’s going through is very inspirational. I’m just glad to see him up and walking and smiling, so it’s good.
Q: Something the team could kind of rally around, right?
A: Oh yeah, absolutely. Cancer is as terrible as it is. It’s definitely uplifting for those who get the opportunity to watch someone like Gettleman just battle. It’s really cool.
