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CB Lardarius Webb
Can you talk about your excitement to join a team like the Ravens, who are known for their defense?
"I'm extremely happy. I cannot even explain myself. I get to play with my idol, my role model, Ed Reed. Baltimore has a great, great defense, and to be a part of that is really breath-taking."
You went to the Ravens' playoff game in Miami and met Reed. Does it feel strange now that it worked out for you to come play here?
"Oh, it feels strange how it worked out. I just wanted to meet Ed Reed. I went to the game, and all I wanted to do was meet Ed Reed. I really wasn't paying attention to the game. I wanted to meet Ed Reed that bad. It was just… I just wanted to meet Ed Reed. It was a great game and everything. He had returns, he had two interceptions, but I just wanted to meet Ed Reed."
Do you think you'll have a lot to prove coming to the NFL, coming from a smaller school?
"Yes, I think I have something to prove anyway. I'm just coming in with a clear mind to have fun like I always do, really. I love the game. To get a chance to continue playing football on another level is perfect. I just want the competition."
What do you feel like you bring to the table as a cornerback? Did they give any indication that you would be returning kicks as well?
"Yes, sir. I think I'm going to bring excitement to the team. I know they've got Ed Reed, and he's a lot of excitement for everybody. But my return abilities and everything are going to be amazing, and all the things I can do are: I can cover, I can return kicks, punts or kick returns, I can play gunner, I can do a lot of things for this Baltimore Ravens organization. I just want the best and the best for Baltimore. So, I'm going to do whatever they want me to, the best that's for me and the team."
What did you learn from the mistakes you made at Southern Mississippi?
"First of all, the crowd that I choose to be around… When I'm around crowds, I've learned to make better choices. I was a young guy making stupid decisions for all the wrong reasons. Now I'm older. My thought process has grown up with my age. I'm glad I made that mistake at a young age, so I could learn from it. Other than making it when I make it to… Since I'm in the NFL, I don't want to make the wrong decisions, because it can really cost me a lot. I'm just saying that I learned a lot from it, and I'm happy it happened whenever it did happen."
What specifics can you tell us about it? And what can you learn from your parents? You mentioned in another interview that your parents had some issues…
"I just learned a lot. You said something about my parents? I've learned that we've all been through a lot of adversity. My parents have been together for 27 years. They didn't get married until after 18 years of ups and downs. On the problem of parents on drugs, how my mom came, faced adversity with that, it makes me really think a lot of her. She's a strong woman, and everybody's not able to come out of that. But for her to come out of that and be strong, it really gave me the strength to say, 'OK, I can come out of anything I want to. Anything I put my mind to, I can do it.' Just her being my biggest role model. I really looked up to her and my father."
What have your emotions been like today, the whole ride of waiting for your name to get called and then finally hearing it?
"I couldn't even eat this morning. I was nervous, and right now it still hasn't kicked in. I don't know what to say. This is exciting. It's breath-taking. I don't know what to say. I'm happy. It's a dream that I always wanted to do. For the kids to be able to see that you can really make it in the world, from where I'm from… I'm from a small school, and for the kids to see that you can really make it, that's what I want. I just want to keep kids' dreams alive. And with me making it to the NFL, I made my dream come true, but [I want] to give hope to the young children right now, knowing they can make it from here."
