Wednesday, November 13, 2019
(On if he has had enough practice time to get ready for the Week 11 game at Indianapolis) “You get a few weeks, and then you go play.”
(On how practice has been going) “It’s been great. We’ve made the most of it. I was able to – it was two weeks before you can return, I don’t know all of the concrete, I basically do what I’m told – but it was good to run some scout team and get back out there with the guys and really just get reacquainted with the offense, and dropping [in the pocket] and doing all of those things. I was doing everything I could to give back and I’m excited to be back with the guys on the field playing. It’s a great group of guys. Obviously, we want to continue to grow where we’re at, but I’m proud of the guys for what they’ve done.”
(On why he was able to return quicker than in 2014 when he suffered a broken clavicle with Philadelphia) “Well it’s amazing with medicine. You get a hairline fracture where you don’t need surgery [and] it can take longer, to where when you snap it, you need surgery and put a plate in there, it can actually heal quicker. So, snapping it actually helped it. A little more painful. I get to buzz – every time I go through the airport now, I get to get stopped and checked. I get to meet more people, it’s great.”
Photo Credit Candy Ebling
(On returning to the team that has a chance to make a run at the playoffs with seven games left in the season) “Like I said, the guys have done a great job. Obviously, we want to continue to grow as a team and continue developing our culture like we’ve been doing. But to be back in a situation where we have an opportunity to make a run, that’s all we can ever ask. I’m grateful to be healthy and be back with those guys. I’m proud of Gardner [Minshew II] for everything he’s done. He’s a tremendous player, he’s been amazing in the QB room and I’ve really enjoyed watching him play and develop as a young player. Because I was once him playing as a young player, and to see him play at the level he has, has been amazing. He’s just going to grow and have a bright career, so I’m excited for him. I’m excited [that] I get to work with him and Josh [Dobbs] in the QB [room], because that’s a huge part of a QB success, is that room, and it’s not talked about enough. The guys that are in there — we go through film study, we go through preparation on the sidelines, going through everything together with [Quarterbacks Coach] Scott [Milanovich]. It’s been huge, so I’m grateful for them.”
(On how hard it was to not play and watch Minshew II have success while on the sideline) “No, that’s where you know – right when I felt this thing break, and I was going into the locker room, I just realized God – this wasn’t exactly what I was thinking when I came to Jacksonville. Obviously, you come here, and you want to create a culture and impact people, but at the end of the day, I was like, ‘God, this is the journey you want me to go on and I’m going to glorify you in every action, good or bad.’ I still can have joy in an injury. People hear that and say, ‘That’s crazy,’ but when you believe in Jesus, and you go out there and you play, that changes your heart. And you only understand it when that purpose in your life – just like when I hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, the reason I’m smiling is my faith was in Christ. In that moment, I realized I didn’t need that trophy to define who I was, because it was already in Christ. And that’s my message when I played. Same thing happens when I get injured. We tend to make this so much about us as human beings, we tend to make it about us as athletes. It’s not about us, it really isn’t. And if you make it about yourself, you’re probably going to go home at night, lay your head on your pillow and be very alone and very sad. And then hopefully some day you can find that purpose in your life, because my purpose isn’t football, it’s impacting people, and my ministry happens to be the locker room. And I’ve been able to get to know people, get to know these guys through an injury. Though I might not be playing, that is difficult from a fleshly perspective, but from a spiritual perspective, from my heart, I’ve been able to grow as a human being to where I feel like I’m at better situation here as a person then I was before because of the trial I just went under. And I know that’s a sermon in itself, but that’s how I go through life, and the good Lord’s been there. It’s not always about prosperity. I don’t believe in the prosperity gospel, I believe [that] if you read the word of God, and you understand it, there are trials along the way but they equip your heart to be who you are. So, when I step on the field, I’m going against a man in [Colts Head Coach] Frank Reich who’s very similar. He’s a guy that I admire more than anything. He’s a guy that has impacted my life so much, and he’s going to be on the opposing sideline, so that’s going to be fun.”
(On if his experience with Reich gives the Colts an advantage in game planning against him) “I don’t know. I think the big thing is it’ll be emotional seeing him because of what he means to me. He’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever met, so when he went there, I was so excited for him. But I’m going to go out there and play. At the end of the day, Frank’s not going to be the one out there. I know he’ll have something schemed up and everything, but I’m going to go out there, and trust my teammates and play, read and react. Frank was a big part of getting that out of me. He was the one who recognized that before the playoff, that the way that we were designing plays for me wasn’t exactly my strength, and he was someone who observed that, and he impacted me because he recognized that in me. So, he knows that about me, but if we’re doing the right thing and executing, we’re going to be alright from a read and react situation. But their team is outstanding. Watching them on film, watching their defense, I focus on their defense. Man, they’re well coached. They play hard, they play to the whistle. They’re stripping the balls, they’re getting turnovers, safeties are making one-handed picks. So, we’re going to have a challenge. That’s not going to be easy going up there, because they’re very well coached and that’s what I would expect from a Coach Reich team.”
(On his feeling on the tight end group and what he has seen in Josh Oliver) “Josh is a great young player and unfortunately, he was injured early in the season, so he was not able to get those reps during training camp and at the start of the year. But he is a guy that continues to develop, and the sky is the ceiling for him. We also have some veterans, guys that are coming along and getting more comfortable. Seth [DeValve] came in here at the start of the season. Ben [Koyack] has been here, but we are moving him in every different situation. I would love to get our tight ends more involved, a lot of the times it is just seeing what the defense plays and then playing the play, but you always want to get the tight ends involved because it makes it more difficult to defend.”
(On what is different about November and December in the NFL) “It is harder, it is a lot harder. Guys have been playing for a long time. More is on the line. Offenses and teams and cultures have been developed. You never know each year that a team is developing a culture. It does not matter if you have 90 percent of your team returning. That 10 percent will affect culture and you have to bring them along. At this point, culture is a really big thing. That is the biggest challenge of stepping back in there and playing football when it has been a while. I look forward to the challenge because of the guys I get to step in the huddle with and be with on the sidelines.”
(On if there was anything he saw from the sidelines that he would not see when he was playing) “Obviously you want to be playing because that is where you grow and that is what you see from – a playing perspective. But it is how you approach it and just sit there and wait till you play. The big thing was watching our offense, watching Gardner [Minshew II] play, seeing the ins and outs and going through the game plan, studying the film. I was able to learn and see different things more so from a personnel perspective from what we have. I got to see here in OTAs and training camp what we have, but you never know what the lights are on what it is going to be like. I was able to learn about our players and the type of guys we have through watching the games absolutely.”
(On what he shared with the team after the Texans game) “The big thing was obviously appreciation for Gardner [Minshew II]. I think the world of him like I have said before. Also, telling guys that your identity … You think your identity needs to be as a football player. You need to take a step back and realize you are more than a football player. Take this time to go into family time and take a breath. Step away from the game, clear your mind. There is a lot on us every single week to go out there and prepare and play, so this is time just to take a breath and when you come back, come back refreshed ready to grow. Staying in the moment and just attacking the day at hand and simplifying things in your mind. The message was really simple. It was really to just take the pressure of football off. We are blessed to do this, absolutely, but there is a lot of pressure. To allow guys to know that I feel that pressure as well, I know what the anxiety is like, but this is how I counteract it and we can do this together. That is what I talk about with culture, brotherhood. Talk about not just Xs and Os, but life in itself because when you can do that, you grow together as a team and as people. I am a firm believer that in the fourth quarter, players make plays. If you trust the guy next to you, you are probably going to execute better than if you don’t. That is sort of what we are building here.”
(On how he spent the Bye Week) “Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away, the one I grew up with … Life happens. I was able to go to his funeral and speak and be with my family. It was more of a celebration of his life, and he was the one that would always want to talk to me after games. When I step on the field, I will always think of him and what he means to me. Being with family in Austin, Texas and bringing my daughter and my wife and letting my daughter spend time with cousins. It was really nice to have that before we get back on the field.”
(On what he learned from Reich as a player that he has been able to take with him) “It’s more as a person. I think in this business, it’s always got to be this and that, but Frank was just like, man, he’d get up in front of the team after a loss or tough time and he just kept it real and he kept it light, he was joyful. There was something different in his heart, and I gave that sermon earlier, so I’m not going to go there again. But seeing him handle his everyday life like he did, with the joy he had, and how he spoke to people and loved everyone, was the most impactful thing and it was really special to be around. And obviously, he’s an amazing coach, he knows football. I think he’s a part of the greatest comeback in the history of the game, so the dude knows how to sling it and place the football. But the thing that most impressed me about Frank is him as a person and I’m grateful for him.”
(On how important it was for him to stay at the facility during the weeks he was on IR) “It’s very important. Obviously, my role changes once I’m injured and put on IR. The first couple weeks, you’re with the team for meetings and then go home and rest because you’re not very comfortable, so a lot of sleeping. A lot of sleeping. But then once I was able to really be here, and just be around them, it was great. Just to watch everything, watch Gardner grow and watch him run the offense. My role changed, but I wanted to do that role to the best of my ability. So, it was really important to be around them and to continue developing those relationships. And obviously now that I’m back playing, just let whatever’s inside me out and let’s go, but it was really great being around the guys during that time.”
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
(On how practice has been going) “It’s been great. We’ve made the most of it. I was able to – it was two weeks before you can return, I don’t know all of the concrete, I basically do what I’m told – but it was good to run some scout team and get back out there with the guys and really just get reacquainted with the offense, and dropping [in the pocket] and doing all of those things. I was doing everything I could to give back and I’m excited to be back with the guys on the field playing. It’s a great group of guys. Obviously, we want to continue to grow where we’re at, but I’m proud of the guys for what they’ve done.”
(On why he was able to return quicker than in 2014 when he suffered a broken clavicle with Philadelphia) “Well it’s amazing with medicine. You get a hairline fracture where you don’t need surgery [and] it can take longer, to where when you snap it, you need surgery and put a plate in there, it can actually heal quicker. So, snapping it actually helped it. A little more painful. I get to buzz – every time I go through the airport now, I get to get stopped and checked. I get to meet more people, it’s great.”
(On returning to the team that has a chance to make a run at the playoffs with seven games left in the season) “Like I said, the guys have done a great job. Obviously, we want to continue to grow as a team and continue developing our culture like we’ve been doing. But to be back in a situation where we have an opportunity to make a run, that’s all we can ever ask. I’m grateful to be healthy and be back with those guys. I’m proud of Gardner [Minshew II] for everything he’s done. He’s a tremendous player, he’s been amazing in the QB room and I’ve really enjoyed watching him play and develop as a young player. Because I was once him playing as a young player, and to see him play at the level he has, has been amazing. He’s just going to grow and have a bright career, so I’m excited for him. I’m excited [that] I get to work with him and Josh [Dobbs] in the QB [room], because that’s a huge part of a QB success, is that room, and it’s not talked about enough. The guys that are in there — we go through film study, we go through preparation on the sidelines, going through everything together with [Quarterbacks Coach] Scott [Milanovich]. It’s been huge, so I’m grateful for them.”
(On how hard it was to not play and watch Minshew II have success while on the sideline) “No, that’s where you know – right when I felt this thing break, and I was going into the locker room, I just realized God – this wasn’t exactly what I was thinking when I came to Jacksonville. Obviously, you come here, and you want to create a culture and impact people, but at the end of the day, I was like, ‘God, this is the journey you want me to go on and I’m going to glorify you in every action, good or bad.’ I still can have joy in an injury. People hear that and say, ‘That’s crazy,’ but when you believe in Jesus, and you go out there and you play, that changes your heart. And you only understand it when that purpose in your life – just like when I hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, the reason I’m smiling is my faith was in Christ. In that moment, I realized I didn’t need that trophy to define who I was, because it was already in Christ. And that’s my message when I played. Same thing happens when I get injured. We tend to make this so much about us as human beings, we tend to make it about us as athletes. It’s not about us, it really isn’t. And if you make it about yourself, you’re probably going to go home at night, lay your head on your pillow and be very alone and very sad. And then hopefully some day you can find that purpose in your life, because my purpose isn’t football, it’s impacting people, and my ministry happens to be the locker room. And I’ve been able to get to know people, get to know these guys through an injury. Though I might not be playing, that is difficult from a fleshly perspective, but from a spiritual perspective, from my heart, I’ve been able to grow as a human being to where I feel like I’m at better situation here as a person then I was before because of the trial I just went under. And I know that’s a sermon in itself, but that’s how I go through life, and the good Lord’s been there. It’s not always about prosperity. I don’t believe in the prosperity gospel, I believe [that] if you read the word of God, and you understand it, there are trials along the way but they equip your heart to be who you are. So, when I step on the field, I’m going against a man in [Colts Head Coach] Frank Reich who’s very similar. He’s a guy that I admire more than anything. He’s a guy that has impacted my life so much, and he’s going to be on the opposing sideline, so that’s going to be fun.”
(On if his experience with Reich gives the Colts an advantage in game planning against him) “I don’t know. I think the big thing is it’ll be emotional seeing him because of what he means to me. He’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever met, so when he went there, I was so excited for him. But I’m going to go out there and play. At the end of the day, Frank’s not going to be the one out there. I know he’ll have something schemed up and everything, but I’m going to go out there, and trust my teammates and play, read and react. Frank was a big part of getting that out of me. He was the one who recognized that before the playoff, that the way that we were designing plays for me wasn’t exactly my strength, and he was someone who observed that, and he impacted me because he recognized that in me. So, he knows that about me, but if we’re doing the right thing and executing, we’re going to be alright from a read and react situation. But their team is outstanding. Watching them on film, watching their defense, I focus on their defense. Man, they’re well coached. They play hard, they play to the whistle. They’re stripping the balls, they’re getting turnovers, safeties are making one-handed picks. So, we’re going to have a challenge. That’s not going to be easy going up there, because they’re very well coached and that’s what I would expect from a Coach Reich team.”
(On his feeling on the tight end group and what he has seen in Josh Oliver) “Josh is a great young player and unfortunately, he was injured early in the season, so he was not able to get those reps during training camp and at the start of the year. But he is a guy that continues to develop, and the sky is the ceiling for him. We also have some veterans, guys that are coming along and getting more comfortable. Seth [DeValve] came in here at the start of the season. Ben [Koyack] has been here, but we are moving him in every different situation. I would love to get our tight ends more involved, a lot of the times it is just seeing what the defense plays and then playing the play, but you always want to get the tight ends involved because it makes it more difficult to defend.”
(On what is different about November and December in the NFL) “It is harder, it is a lot harder. Guys have been playing for a long time. More is on the line. Offenses and teams and cultures have been developed. You never know each year that a team is developing a culture. It does not matter if you have 90 percent of your team returning. That 10 percent will affect culture and you have to bring them along. At this point, culture is a really big thing. That is the biggest challenge of stepping back in there and playing football when it has been a while. I look forward to the challenge because of the guys I get to step in the huddle with and be with on the sidelines.”
(On if there was anything he saw from the sidelines that he would not see when he was playing) “Obviously you want to be playing because that is where you grow and that is what you see from – a playing perspective. But it is how you approach it and just sit there and wait till you play. The big thing was watching our offense, watching Gardner [Minshew II] play, seeing the ins and outs and going through the game plan, studying the film. I was able to learn and see different things more so from a personnel perspective from what we have. I got to see here in OTAs and training camp what we have, but you never know what the lights are on what it is going to be like. I was able to learn about our players and the type of guys we have through watching the games absolutely.”
(On what he shared with the team after the Texans game) “The big thing was obviously appreciation for Gardner [Minshew II]. I think the world of him like I have said before. Also, telling guys that your identity … You think your identity needs to be as a football player. You need to take a step back and realize you are more than a football player. Take this time to go into family time and take a breath. Step away from the game, clear your mind. There is a lot on us every single week to go out there and prepare and play, so this is time just to take a breath and when you come back, come back refreshed ready to grow. Staying in the moment and just attacking the day at hand and simplifying things in your mind. The message was really simple. It was really to just take the pressure of football off. We are blessed to do this, absolutely, but there is a lot of pressure. To allow guys to know that I feel that pressure as well, I know what the anxiety is like, but this is how I counteract it and we can do this together. That is what I talk about with culture, brotherhood. Talk about not just Xs and Os, but life in itself because when you can do that, you grow together as a team and as people. I am a firm believer that in the fourth quarter, players make plays. If you trust the guy next to you, you are probably going to execute better than if you don’t. That is sort of what we are building here.”
(On how he spent the Bye Week) “Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away, the one I grew up with … Life happens. I was able to go to his funeral and speak and be with my family. It was more of a celebration of his life, and he was the one that would always want to talk to me after games. When I step on the field, I will always think of him and what he means to me. Being with family in Austin, Texas and bringing my daughter and my wife and letting my daughter spend time with cousins. It was really nice to have that before we get back on the field.”
(On what he learned from Reich as a player that he has been able to take with him) “It’s more as a person. I think in this business, it’s always got to be this and that, but Frank was just like, man, he’d get up in front of the team after a loss or tough time and he just kept it real and he kept it light, he was joyful. There was something different in his heart, and I gave that sermon earlier, so I’m not going to go there again. But seeing him handle his everyday life like he did, with the joy he had, and how he spoke to people and loved everyone, was the most impactful thing and it was really special to be around. And obviously, he’s an amazing coach, he knows football. I think he’s a part of the greatest comeback in the history of the game, so the dude knows how to sling it and place the football. But the thing that most impressed me about Frank is him as a person and I’m grateful for him.”
(On how important it was for him to stay at the facility during the weeks he was on IR) “It’s very important. Obviously, my role changes once I’m injured and put on IR. The first couple weeks, you’re with the team for meetings and then go home and rest because you’re not very comfortable, so a lot of sleeping. A lot of sleeping. But then once I was able to really be here, and just be around them, it was great. Just to watch everything, watch Gardner grow and watch him run the offense. My role changed, but I wanted to do that role to the best of my ability. So, it was really important to be around them and to continue developing those relationships. And obviously now that I’m back playing, just let whatever’s inside me out and let’s go, but it was really great being around the guys during that time.”
