Tuesday Media Transcript: Safety Jabrill Peppers

Safety Jabrill Peppers -- June 4, 2019

Q: How has it been working with (Antoine) Bethea?
A: It has been tremendous, it has been tremendous. A guy who has played that much football in this league, definitely fortunate and he definitely knows what he’s doing. Any chance I get to pick his brain and see what he does well, what methods work well for him, that’s what I’m gonna do. I have no problem asking. He has no problem relaying information I need, so it has been great.

Q: You seem like you’re having a lot of fun and bringing a lot of enthusiasm to the field, how much work is that?
A: You always have to remember this is a blessing to be able to play this game and get paid for it. No matter how hard the days get, you don’t gotta do it, you get to do it. There’s a lot of guys that would love to get this opportunity that we have. Whenever you don’t feel like doing it, you just gotta bring yourself, something has to come over you to just (say) this is a blessing to be out there. That’s what I try to do, even some days I don’t feel like doing it. Once I get out there, that pretty much goes away and diminishes. It kinda comes naturally.

Q: Is it hard to come to a new situation, a new team, all new teammates and be that guy that brings the energy?
A: Not really. If that’s who you are regularly, it kinda comes natural. I’m pretty much from here, so I already had a familiarity with the place. All I had to do was gel with the guys and learn the playbook.

Q: How excited are you that you are back home?
A: It’s definitely exciting. I had some of my best years here, I hope to keep the streak going.

Q: Couple of the offensive players have said you really increased the trash talk on the field, why is that a part of practice?
A: Just to see how easy it is to get in guys’ heads. I know how defenses play the game, so if they are used to it in practice, they will be used to it in the game, and to see how they respond. Competition brings the best out in everybody. It never hurts a little bit.

Q: Anybody ever tell you let’s ease up on that a bit?
A: Not yet, I kinda know how to teeter that line.

Q: Who gives it back to you the best on the offense?
A: Right now, probably Shep and Saquon.

Q: Is there a sense of pressure at all in the fact that you are going to be one of the faces of the franchise because of the trade?
A: Even before the trade, I was saying that I have to pick up the play, it’s year three. You definitely gotta pick up the play to be at the level I know I need to play at, and this organization needs me to play at. Regardless how I got here, I’m here, and I’m ready to play my best ball, work as hard as I can and help this organization win ball games on Sundays.

Q: Were you disappointed with your playing time with the Browns, you sent out a tweet a couple weeks ago?
A: In the grand scheme of things, I didn’t really realize it. Looking back on it, more plays means more opportunities to make plays. Everything happens for a reason, I still think I did pretty well. I can definitely take it up a notch.

Q: How do you feel like your role is in this defense, in terms of how you are being used here?
A: I love it so far. Playing various spots, populating the ball, dropping back in coverage. Me and AB are two interchangeable guys. We can definitely mix up the looks, hold disguises, things like that. It should definitely be fun.

Q: One of the things that’s been said about you is your versatility, that you are used in a number of roles. Do you have a sense that that’s going to be the case here, are you going to play a number of different spots?
A: I believe so. Week in and week out, everything is probably going to go by game plan. Coach Bettch is a smart guy, he figures out where to put us and we gotta make him look good by making the plays. I’m not really too worried about it right now, just learning the playbook, learning as much as I can, soaking it all in, so if he does need me to play multiple spots, it won’t be too much of a shock to me.

Q: What do you like about this system?
A: The aggressiveness, the mixture of coverages. You could be playing two different coverages on one set down. Things like that, there’s always knuckleballs, curveballs, and he’s an aggressive play caller. You love to play for guys like that.

Q: Out of all the roles, which one do you like the best?
A: I like all of them. You knew I was going to say that. Just to keep the offense guessing about what I’m doing, what AB is doing. Even with the backers, even with corners. If you just know what you are supposed to do, know where your help is and play to your strengths, I think you will be pretty good in this defense.

Q: They talk about offensive mismatches in this league, can you do that defensively, can you be a mismatch?
A: I definitely think I can do a lot of things defensively. My main thing is I’m going to be competitive wherever they put me. Whoever it’s on, that’s my answer on that.