Transcript: Center Joe Looney

Center Joe Looney

August 2, 2021

Q: What’s it like being out here? You didn’t know you were going to be with the Giants until this part of the offseason; I’m sure is unique for you not knowing where you’re going to be. But what went into the decision to come here?

A: Yeah, you know, I love playing football. Football, I grew up with it, man. My family loves it. It’s great to be here. I know Coach (Offensive Coordinator Jason) Garrett. He’s a great guy. It’s always exciting to work with a new team, so just very blessed to be here for this opportunity.

Q: How much of it is familiar to you? Obviously, you know Coach Garrett, but what was familiar to you? What wasn’t?

A: A lot of it is familiar. I feel like once you’re a veteran in the league, you learn the systems and each thing is almost the same. A team can only run so many plays. It’s a new opportunity for me. There are new calls, new things I need to learn in the playbook, so it’s a challenge to me.

Q: Is running laps new to you? You had a couple of go-arounds there.

A: Yeah, that’s something I ain’t done since little league, but you know I loved it. It’s another way to hold us accountable as professionals. If you make a mistake, you’re going to have to run a lap for it. You know, I’m all about it. It holds us accountable at the end of the day.

Q: Did you know that was part of coming here that there was a lap, or did you only know you when you had to run the lap?

A: No, I found out once they said take a lap. I haven’t heard take a lap since I was 10-years old, but I definitely understand it and I’m going to do whatever helps the team and helps me, also.

­­Q: What’d you do?

A: So I just snapped the ball early. You know, little things. I’m knocking the rust off, you know? Eight months without football, still knocking this off.

Q: It looks like you said something to (Quarterback) Daniel (Jones) mid-way? Like were you guys trying to figure out what went wrong or were you like, ‘hey, is this a normal thing?’

A: We were actually just talking about taking some snaps before practice. You know me being a new guy, we haven’t gotten snaps. It’s just things take time. It just takes time with that center-quarterback relationship.

Q: So you were talking to the Giants last year a little bit and you considered coming here last year? How close did you get to even thinking about coming here or did you always want to go back to Dallas last year?

A: No, no. It was definitely a tough decision for me. I was with Dallas for a long time and the family’s back there, but we work in a business, so we’re all going to be moving around. Like I said, I’m very thankful to be signed here and go through training camp.

Q: Were you surprised that they didn’t re-sign you?

A: You know, I put my faith in Jesus Christ at the end of the day. Wherever He wants to put me, He’s going to put me. I’m just going to go with the flow and trying to be the best player I can be and the best guy I can be at the facility.

Q: What do the Giants want from you? Are you strictly a center? Do they want you to play a lot of guard? Do you have any idea on that?

A: I don’t have a preference. Wherever they want me at and wherever I can come in and help and step in even coach and give guys little tips here and there. I’m just out here trying to have fun. At the end of the day, this is a game. It’s a kid’s game that we play, so I’m going to come out here and have fun and give it my all.

Q: But they didn’t tell you, ‘hey, you’re going to do both’ or they kind of did suggest that?

A: You know, just throwing me around and what not, but as a 10-year vet, I’ve been very blessed to play all over the line, so nothing surprises me.

Q: Did you do any guard today?

A: A little bit. A little bit today.

Q: Joe, you have a really big personality. Did you already get to share that with your teammates on the practice field?

A: Oh, yeah. Just like I said, this a kid’s game we play. My dad always told me when I was kid running out to play little league games, ‘get cuckcoo for Cocoa Puffs.’ So he always made it fun. He was my coach growing up and my mom always supported me, so it’s always been fun. You know, I know there’s a lot of pressure on us at the end of the day being professional athletes, but we can’t forget what the game is about. It’s about having fun and being around these guys.

Q: I know you’ve only been here two or three days, but what are your early first impressions of Daniel?

A: Man, he’s a hard worker. You just look at him and he takes command of the offense and he looks like a leader out here. Just the couple of days that I’ve been here with the team, he’s marching the team down the field. He’s trying to win games.

Q: What is it like seeing Jason out there in a Giants hat?

A: Oh man, it’s crazy. Him here and all this, you know we sat out here on the practice field and reminisced a little bit. It’s awesome to be with him. I can’t say enough about Coach Garrett. He gave me a great opportunity to be with Dallas and now here. I want to play my tail off for him.