Sunday, August 4, 2019
(On if he was disappointed to return to practice without a new contract deal) “At the end of the day, they had a chance to sign me for a long-term deal, but it didn’t get done, so it is what it is. I’m just here. Like I said, I love football, I love my teammates and I’m here to play games.”
(On if a deal will get done before the season starts) “It’s out of my hands. I don’t even know.”
(On how close he was to getting a deal done) “I don’t want to keep talking about the deal. Like I said, they had a chance to sign me for a long-term deal and it didn’t get done.”
(On if he thinks the team doesn’t value his worth) “At the end of the day, I know my value, I know my worth, that’s all I can say. It doesn’t matter about anybody else knowing my value, show it each and every year.”
(On being willing to bet on himself this season) “I bet on myself every season. I was a third-round pick, underrated, bet on myself, I’m still here.”
(On if he likes the musical genre of Afrobeats) “No, I don’t really do the Afrobeats like that, no.”
(On his willingness to risk injury this season) “I’m in god’s hands at the end of the day. What I mean, I’ve been playing this game since I was in the sixth grade, so I’m in his hands. I can’t really worry about the future, just have to go out there and play full speed.”
(On if he has a level of frustration with not getting a new contract deal with the work he has put in) “No, I wouldn’t say that. I’m motivated to be the best as I’m still underrated in this league, and my mom is my motivation, so I think about her every time I take the field.”
(On why he dedicated the 2019 season to his mom) “Because she works hard. Since I was a baby, I’d see her getting up at 4:00 a.m. every day to make ends meet, and she still does that until this day, so that’s my motivation.”
(On if he’s angry about the contract situation) “No, I’m not angry. What’s meant to happen is going to happen.”
(On if he considered not playing this season) “I love football. Like I said in the beginning, I was going to play regardless.”
(On if he ever asked to be traded) “No.”
(On if he was surprised the team got him involved back in practice so quickly) “I’m happy. I’m happy because you have to get the reps, you have to knock the rust off, so I’m happy they threw me in.”
(On if he looks at the trip to Baltimore as a homecoming) “Definitely. I just left my mom, she’s going to be able to get to the game. She’s only 45 minutes away, so it’ll be nice.”
(On if he will have friends and family at the game) Yeah, absolutely. People I grew up with, old coaches and things of that nature.”
(On what the reaction of the locker room was when he arrived back) “Oh they were happy. They’re still ecstatic. They told me there’s a difference with me being here and a difference with me being gone.”
(On his and Jalen Ramsey’s dance prior to today’s practice) “Yeah, you like that kick? Yeah, we got a little kick thing going on. It’s just two kicks, just two kicks.”
(On how much his teammates were keeping in touch and supporting him during this process) “I talked to them each and every day. Calais (Campbell). The d-line especially. Jalen [Ramsey] a lot, we were just talking back and forth via Instagram and they were just supporting me, one hundred percent.”
(On his reaction to Ramsey’s entrance to training camp) “I feel like it was dope. It was different. He had HaHa Davis, that’s a funny dude on Instagram. I think it was original. It was cool.”
(On what time he arrived to the facility this morning) “I got here around 6:50 a.m. It was still dark outside, like 6:45 a.m. Had to come in, I was just excited. I couldn’t sleep too much longer, I had to get in the building.”
(On if he expects to have his fines enforced) “I’m not sure. I’m not even sure about that.”
(On if he’s talked to the team about his fines) “No.”
(On if he would like his fines to be rescinded) “I’m pretty sure everybody would if people [are] trying to take away your money. But at the end of the day, we’ll see how that goes.”
(On if he knows why the team doesn’t view him as a Frank Clark or Demarcus Lawrence) “I view myself as Yannick. I don’t even compare myself to any other pass rushers. No disrespect to those guys, those are my guys, Dee Ford, all those guys, Frank [Clark]. I’m my own player. I feel like I bring a different aspect to the game. The stats show.”
(On if coming in before Tuesday to ensure he wouldn’t become an unrestricted free agent was important to him) “What really was important was me just getting back here and getting with the guys. Of course, everybody knows that’s a fact of the restrictedness and stuff like that, but I’d rather come here and meet them here instead of meeting them in Baltimore. I had to pack some clothes, too. I had no clothes.
(On what he weighed in at) “I was like [2]40. Like [2]40, yeah.”
