July 30, 2015
 
Opening:
You guys make me feel special. The first day is always a special day.

Q: On this first day, how do you feel?
A: I feel great! I think a lot of times people say ‘excited,’ which is the go-to, right? I am, really. I haven’t gotten much sleep the last couple nights just chomping at the bit. I’m excited to get back out here and play ball. It’s obviously something I love to do, but I’m ready to get out there and compete and enjoy.

Q: Are you limited in any way or are you full-go?
A: I better not be, but if the boss says that I’m limited, then I will be. It’s hard to lead from the back and obviously, as a leader, you want to lead by example, so you need to be out there taking all the reps, running to the ball, practicing hard, to set that example. Then when you tell someone they need to do the same, then it’s a merit to it. It’s on the film as opposed to you doing a rep or two, come out, we’re being smart, but then how do you get on a guy about practicing hard, so I hope not. 

Q: Do you look at it as if you have to step in that role even more as a leader or is it the same as it has always been?
A: I wouldn’t say more of a leader. I think we all lead in our own way. I think what’s unique about leaders is that I think it just matters to them so people notice that, so they follow you. If I had it my way, I would want everybody to want to lead, or want to do things a certain way, or do things the right way, so that maybe a young guy or even a veteran guy could watch them and say, “Hey, you know what? I’m going to do it that way.”

Q: You don’t feel that you have to be more vocal or anything now?
A: The system makes us more vocal. Spags puts a lot of pressure on us in terms of making a lot of adjustments and checks at the line, but it doesn’t matter really. I think when it comes down to it, you just want to do it the right way. If that means getting on a guy, you get on him, and if that means loving a guy and praising a young guy for doing it the right way, you do it. Hopefully we all come together. We have to get on the same page right away, doing the same thing at the same time, and playing great defense.

Q: As you enter the first day of practice, how much of Spags’ system do you have?
A: Well, it’s all review. We crammed for OTA’s, which I think is the best way to do it, you know, at least have seen it once, even if you haven’t mastered it. Hopefully we have some time here, obviously days are longer now, so there’s more meetings. We’ll meet three times before we even practice the first day. The way we installed, I think was the right way to do it, just get everything out there, probably 90% of what we do, and then we come back for training camp. There’s some carryover. 
  
Q: Have you had any contact with Jason Pierre-Paul?
A: I have not. If I had to put myself in his situation, I would probably feel the same way. I would probably feel cut off from the world a little bit. Why me? I would feel that I got a bad shake, for sure. The media doesn’t make it any easier. Turn it on, and people are talking about it. The way people made light of it at the ESPYs, it was (dis)tasteful, but it’s the world we live in. I have not spoken to him.

Q: Any doubts that he will be able to play this year?
A: I just want him to okay as a person. Obviously, you have a really big injury like that, something that is unforeseen and Murphy’s Law. Emotionally, I could imagine how he feels. I know what it is like to have the game taken away from you for a period of time. Hopefully he comes to terms with it mentally and emotionally, then he can start his quest to coming back. We look forward to seeing him as soon as possible, as soon as he is able to, and as soon as he is ready.

Q: Between you and Victor [Cruz], I think you guys played 10 games last year. Have you talked to him—he had a catastrophic injury that ended his season. Can you relate to what he went through and talk to him?
A: I think there are some benefits to having something you love taken away from you. In my situation, maybe one too many, I will say. I think when you can step back and see how the games just keep going. Someone else takes your position, and the games are still sold out, fans are still crazy about the Giants. You thought you were a big part of the equation and then you realize you are really just paying rent. I think there are some benefits in that, having it taken away from you, and I think you value it when you get it back. I look forward to him having a huge season this year.

Q: It’s not like without you two they went on to win the Super Bowl.
A: No, that didn’t happen, but if it did, I would be happy for the organization and for my team, but I wouldn’t want to win it like that. When you bring that up, I think about Jeremy Shockey in 2007. He was injured for that [Super Bowl]. I know Shockey, I know how competitive he is. Trust me, he was happy, but at the same time, it is a tough way to get a win.