azdad1978
Championship!!!!
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Q: I know you hate losing. How tough was the season for you and how did you get through it?
A: I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t like it, but besides just being a competitor and wanting to win, I was playing because a lot of people went ahead of me in the Draft, and I felt like I had a lot to prove.
Q: Were you surprised that you fell to the third round in the Draft?
A: Pretty much. Me, and everybody else on my team was surprised. I heard so much different stuff said about me and everything was a whole bunch of (nothing), but I didn’t hear anyone say that I couldn’t play ball.
Q: Did that bother you when you saw your character being questioned like that?
A: No, it really didn’t surprise me because I’ve been around a lot and seen a lot of things written out there that I know aren’t true. People are always looking for stuff to write about whether it is true or not. I just wanted to come out and prove to all those teams that passed up on me that they missed out, and I think I did that.
Q: With all of this bad stuff written about you, it is ironic to you considering that you are more of a homebody?
A: Yeah, I’m very much a homebody. For me, I may go out to the movies, but mostly I like being by myself, playing Madden or going shopping or something.
Q: What did you learn most in your rookie year?
A: How important it is to take care of your body early on. I didn’t know what to expect in a 16-game season and those last few weeks, I was tired.
Q: When did you first injure your groin?
A: It was when we played the Rams in the first game of the season out on that turf, but it was manageable. I got it back straight, but it is a long season and when week 10, 11, 12 rolled around, I just wasn’t use to it, and neither was my groin.
Q: Despite the injury, you stayed out on the field. Is an injury going to ever keep you out of the lineup?
A: I don’t really get bothered by injuries and say I can’t play. I have never been that type of person, and I don’t think I ever would become like that either. Unless I break something or just can’t walk then maybe I would sit out, but if I have a pulled hamstring or strained groin, that’s not going to hold me out. Every school I played for, we went out and played hurt every day, it really didn’t matter. Only the strong survive.
Q: Are your proud of what your draft class accomplished this season?
A: Oh yeah, definitely. I’ve been watching football a long time and I don’t think there has even been a draft class that came in like that and had so many guys playing and dominating out there, and really we have the potential to be that way for a really long time to come.
Q: Were you disappointed that you didn’t get more votes for Defensive Rookie of the Year?
A: No, I didn’t expect it. Vilma is the real deal. I played against him three years in college so I know what type of players Miami produces, especially at that linebacker position so I wasn’t disappointed at all. Hopefully my helmet will keep popping off so I can at least get the cute guy of the year award or something instead!
Q: Is there anything you are afraid of?
A: I’m afraid to die. I don’t want to die. I think everyone is afraid of that. I don’t take anything for granted.
Q: I know you did some artwork for T-shirts for the special teams this year. Is art a big hobby of yours?
A: I like to draw, but my real hobby is fixing up remote control cars and four wheelers. I buy them and rebuild them. Leonard Davis and I went riding a few times this year.
Q: Who does more tricks on the four wheelers?
A: Leonard weighs 380 pounds, he isn’t doing too many tricks. Now, I can do a lot, but my best is probably being able to ride on two wheels for about 350 yards.
Q: You better not get hurt…
I never get hurt. I’m not stupid on them.
Q: What have you been doing since season ended?
A: I’m back in Tallahassee, and I’ll probably stay here for about a month. I’ve just been running a little bit and lifting weights. I went swimming yesterday for my workout to change it up a little bit. It’s nice being back, just seeing all the guys I played with. A lot of guys that are in the league are back here right now so that’s good, and I’m just enjoying watching the young guys at Florida State train and checking out which guys they are trying to recruit, stuff like that.
Q: Did you watch the playoff games last weekend and what did you think?
A: I watched it. Seattle and the Rams, I think the Rams are a lucky team. Knowing that it could have been us was hard, but watching the playoffs really wants to make me experience that next year because it is real intense and I’d like to be part of that, fighting for that championship.
Q: You were pretty bold in coming out and saying before we played them the second time, that the Rams were a pretty soft team?
A: Everybody knows the Rams aren’t tough. I’m just saying what people are scared to say. I always say the truth. I don’t speak on things that aren’t any of my business, but if I’m playing against someone and you ask me an opinion about something…. Referees or an organization, I won’t talk about stuff like that, but a team that is physical or not physical, I’m going to let them know.
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Q: So who are you picking for the Super Bowl?
A: I think it will be Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and I think Pittsburgh will take it.
Interviewed by Chrissy Mauck, azcardinals.com
http://azcardinals.com/news/news_details.html?iid=2563
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