Tuesday Media Transcript: QB Kyle Lauletta

QB Kyle Lauletta -- November 6, 2018

Q: Can you talk a little bit about what happened last week? I know you probably can’t get into detail, but can you talk a little bit about the thought process that went with what you did?
A: First thing's first, I just want to apologize to the Giants organization, all the coaches, my teammates, the fans, and my family, especially my parents. The incident that happened last week is a terrible representation of who I am and what I stand for, and I do recognize that those cops have a very difficult job, an important job at that. I’ve seen that intersection when there are no officers and it’s very chaotic, so I respect those guys and I can’t say I’m sorry enough about what happened. All I can do now is just move forward and try to prove myself by my actions and my work ethic, just kind of come back to work and try to put this behind me and continue to be a great teammate and just try to continue to develop and be the best player I can be. That’s all I can control, so that’s what I’m going to do and just move forward from it and focus on the 49ers this coming Monday.

Q: Coach said that he was disappointed in the fact that not only because of what had happened with the incident, but you were probably going to be late. Is that something that’s even more disappointing in your eyes?
A: Yeah, no doubt, absolutely. As an NFL player, as a guy with a target on my back, I can’t put myself in those positions and you’re absolutely right. That was the first thing I thought to myself was how disappointed I was for leaving later than I should have and had I left an hour earlier, none of that probably would ever happen, so that’s my fault, it’s no one else’s fault. Right is right, wrong is wrong. My parents raised me better than that and it’s tough, but you just got to move forward from it and take it as a lesson and hopefully that’ll be an example to some players, to some people someday, and just goes to show I can’t put myself in those situations. I’m very regretful that I did that and I’ll do everything that I can to make sure that that doesn’t happen again. These guys know who I am and these guys know what I’m about, but it’s still unfortunate and I have to deal with the consequences and that’s that.

Q: It looked like, by all indication, you were going to get a chance to play at some point this season. Do you worry that one of the consequences will be that you have blown that chance?
A: I don’t know about ‘worry’. Like I mentioned, I can’t worry about that. I can’t afford to worry about that and let it affect how I prepare, how I play, how I come to work every day. Maybe that’s a better question for Coach Shurmur. Like I said, I’m just going to do everything I can and prove to everybody -- I’m not going to say it, I’m just going to prove it by how I come to work every day and give this thing everything that I have and be the best teammate I can be and just keep grinding, put my head down, get back to work and just try to keep moving forward one day at a time. I think that’s where I’m at and that’s kind of my mindset moving forward.

Q: Did you want to talk to Coach Shurmur immediately and how did that sort of work out? What did you say to him specifically?
A: I did. I talked to Coach Shurmur immediately after the incident, but that’s between me and him. Obviously, he was disappointed and rightfully so. I was disappointed in myself and like I said, I can’t put myself in those situations and I feel horrible for coach. (It) puts him in a really tough spot and he’s been nothing but the best to me, so for me to turn around and do that and not even be there for practice is – it was unfortunate, but I’m just going to move forward.

Q: Did you have any idea at all that a police officer saw you in the car do the same thing on Monday as opposed to doing it Tuesday as well? Did you have any idea?
A: I really don’t want to talk about the details about what happened. I accept responsibility and like I said, right is right, wrong is wrong. I was wrong and I’m just going to try to move forward from this as best I can.

Q: Was there any part of you that was concerned that you wouldn’t be standing here after what happened last Tuesday?
A: Sure. A lot of things run through your head when something like that happens. Never been in that situation and I don’t plan for it to happen again, but yeah, it was horrible. It was a horrible feeling and it doesn’t really matter. Like I said a few times now, I’m just going to move forward and try to put my head down and just continue to work and just continue to grind and move forward.

Q: One thing that Coach Shurmur said was a big thing about a quarterback is his decision making and this is a bad reflection on decision making obviously off the field. Do you feel they need to worry about your decision making moving forward on the field or off the field?
A: No, I don’t, but I showed with what happened that I made a bad decision. I made a horrible decision that I’ll regret for the rest of my life. I can’t take it back, though. There’s nothing I can do now, so the only thing I can do is make good decisions moving forward and show up to work early every day and work my butt off and just try to prove to everybody not by what I say but what I do, and hopefully this will be a thing of the past in a few weeks and nobody will be worried about it and we’ll just move forward as a team and that’s that.

Q: Coach said that quarterbacks should be, quote unquote, early rather than on time for practice. The fact that happened at 8 a.m., is that kind of your normal arrival time? Was there more traffic?
A: No. Like I said, it was a poor decision and if you rewind it, that was, in my eyes, what caused the whole thing. Had I been earlier, which I always am, then none of it would have happened, so just kind of a chain reaction, but like I said, it’s my fault. By waking up late, I put myself in an unfavorable position and now I’m going to have to deal with the consequences.

Q: What have your interactions with Eli (Manning) been like since? He’s a guy who’s seen a lot in life and in this league. Has he offered any guidance or advice?
A: We talked about it a little bit. Eli’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had and he was just supportive. He was there for me. I’m there for him and I support him all the way, so we have a great relationship and right now my goal and my focus is to help myself get ready, but also help Eli and be there for him in whatever ways I can, but I do appreciate Eli and he reached out later that day and it meant the world to me. Really meant a lot coming from Eli.