DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZACH ORR
You have S Malaki Starks, OLB Mike Green, a lot of young guys. How do you think they have developed and worked so far? (Jamison Hensley) "I'm excited about the young group that we brought in. I think that [executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta] and his staff did a great job of identifying talent, and I think most importantly, [they're] Ravens, man, guys that really love football, love to grind, love to compete, man. So, I'm excited about the young guys. Man, we're throwing a lot at them right now. They're picking it up well. They're learning from their mistakes. I just appreciate the way that they're coming into work, so we're fired up about them. They have long ways to go, but I like where we're at right now with them."
I know S Kyle Hamilton is not here this week, but what's the vision of what Kyle and S Malaki Starks can do in the same secondary? (Kyle Goon) "I think that could change week by week, but I think the vision, ultimately, is be ball hawks and be ball control back there. [Be] great communicators, great leaders. Get us in and out of the right calls, nothing over our heads, and then make plays back there. Last week, when 'K-Ham' [Kyle Hamilton] was here with Malaki [Starks], it was great to see those guys kind of start building that chemistry, and I've already seen the impact that 'K-Ham' has had on Malaki with his communication, his knowledge and just his football savvy. So, Malaki's picking that up. I have a great vision for those guys. I think they're going to help us out and play great football for us."
What's it been like working with Sr. defensive assistant/secondary coach Chuck Pagano, and how valuable is it to have someone, not just a former DC but a former NFL head coach on staff? (Luke Jones) "Man, it's been great. It's been great. I'm glad that [Sr. defensive assistant/secondary coach Chuck Pagano] is here. I don't know how old he is. I won't put his age out there, but he has great energy. His energy is great, and obviously, like you said, his football knowledge – it's just so valuable to me, personally, and then just to us as a team and as a defense. He's led great defenses here as a coordinator. He was a great position coach throughout his whole career [and] great head coach, as well. So, he's seen a lot, been around a lot, and he's a DB expert, so he's going to be great for our guys. He's already been great for us as players and coaches and as an organization. So, I'm fired up about him."
CB Nate Wiggins said he put on some weight this offseason. He has big goals and expectations for this year. What are you seeing from him out here at practice, and what do you see for him in terms of expectations this year? (Garrett Downing) "I thought Nate [Wiggins] did a great job going to work this offseason, putting weight on. That's a testament to him and the strength coaches coming up with a great plan. Obviously, he followed it. The weight is real, so that's good to see, but what I see him focusing on now, he's more locked in on his fundamentals and technique on a more consistent basis. Like last year, I felt like he got to that point towards the middle end of the season, but last year, he was just running like a chicken with his head cut off, trying to figure out what to do. Now, he understands the system. He understands the defense. He's been in the league for a year, so he understands formations from offenses, so now, he can really just hone in on his technique. Man, that guy right there, [if] he takes his technique to another level on a consistent basis, the sky is the limit for him."
You get the outside linebackers room back intact, plus OLB Mike Green. I know it's early, but when you look at him, what have you seen, and what does that do in terms of versatility in terms of what you can do pass-rush-wise? (Brian Wacker) "I see a guy that comes out here and works, but from a physical standpoint, [Mike Green's] get-off is real, and he understands the level of the quarterback. So, I think he's going to be a really valuable piece for us. He's strong. He's explosive. He can rush on the outside, and he can rush on the inside. One thing we always say [is] you can never have enough rushers, and he's going to add to that room, and it's going to be a great valuable piece for us, but I'm happy with Mike. I think that he's doing a good job with what he can do right now, given the restrictions with the pads and everything, but I think [during] training camp and preseason, you guys will really start to see what abilities he really has."
From the middle of defense, ILB Trenton Simpson is a guy you stayed high on, even though he had some struggles last year. What are you seeing from him in these days at OTAs? (Kyle Goon) "[Trenton Simpson] is a lot more confident, man. This is the most confident that I've seen Trenton, and he's a lot more relaxed before the play. I hear him talking. This is the most I've heard him communicate on the field, so I'm excited. We're excited about him. I think Tyler Santucci, our linebackers coach has done a great job with him thus far, and he's done a great job out here. So, he's actually turning into one of our most vocal guys, so the only way we say you can be confident in speaking is if you're confident in knowing what you're doing. Obviously, he's confident in what he's doing, and he's doing a heck of a job, so I'm excited to see him to continue to trend upwards for us."
Also with the linebackers, what excites you about ILB Teddye Buchanan? (Giana Han) "Teddye [Buchanan] plays like a Raven. [On] his college film, he flies around, and he seeks contact. He can play in space, and he's a smart player. Talk about a guy who came from a smaller school, dominated that, then made a one-year jump. [He] got there kind of like during the middle of the summer and dominated in the ACC at a big school, so I'm excited about Teddye. We're throwing a lot on his plate. He's playing both positions for us – mike [linebacker], will [linebacker] and dime – and he's done a good job going out there so far."
We see CB Jalyn Armour-Davis floating all over your defense, playing a bit at safety. What goes into that decision? What goes into sitting down with the guy and saying, 'We think this will work.' (Bo Smolka) "Since I've been here, way back in 2014, it's always been preached; you want to get your best 11 guys on the field. So, in a secondary, most of the time, you're going to have at least five DBs on the field – sometimes six, maybe seven – so you want to get your best 11 [on the field], but especially with the Top 5 DBs, you want to play with the best five. You don't want to limit yourself or a player just because, 'Well, he's only a corner, so even though he might be better than a safety, we can't play him because he's only a corner.' So, we force our guys to learn everything, and then we start throwing them out there to see if they can pick it up and execute at a high level. So, Jalyn [Armour-Davis], he probably might be the smartest DB in the room, because he knows all the positions. He can play all the positions, but he's just one of the guys we're starting to do that with, and you'll start seeing more guys do that as we get going."
OLB Odafe Oweh also put on some weight this offseason. What do you think that'll do for him? How do you think it'll help him take another step? (Carita Parks) "[Odafe Oweh] is another guy who came back – and he's always been in real good physical shape, but you could see he took it to another level. He's [gained] 20 pounds of muscle. I don't know how he did it, but I'm glad he did, but he's still fast. He still has that [speed], that twitchiness and that explosiveness, so this is a big year for Odafe. We don't shy away from it. We all know what it is. It's a contract year for him. We know his individual goals. We know [what] he wants to get accomplished. We know his team goals. He wants to be a centerpiece to help us reach the Super Bowl, so he's [taken] that approach. I think it's going to do wonders for his game, because [offensive] tackles are already scared of his speed, and he has the ability to [use] power, but I think with 20 extra pounds, that's going to make his power even better. So, I'm excited for Odafe, man, and I think he approached his situation the right way in the contract year, and he's been here. He's been here, even in Phase One and Phase Two, and he's out here practicing, working his butt off, and if he continues that mindset and keep putting the work he's putting in, it's going to pay off for him."
During the Draft process, I know S Malaki Starks' interception against Oregon stands out. Do you remember a play or an anecdote that you had when you were watching this tape that really stood out to you? (Sam Jane) "Man, [Malaki Starks] made a lot of plays, man. This dude, he's kind of been on our radar for a while, just because Georgia, obviously, they've been a great football team, so they had a lot of guys come out over the years. I remember watching DBs that came out, specifically in last year's class, [the] 2024 class, and I'm like, 'Man, who's [No.] 24?' [I was] asking the scouts and everything. They're like, 'He's not coming out until next year.' I was like, 'Oh, he's a true sophomore.' The thing that really impressed me about him this year was Georgia had a lot of young guys in the secondary. He's one of the older guys there as a true junior, so basically by week or by game plan, he played all around the secondary, and he still was their best player back there. So, that's what was really intriguing to us. We like to be versatile with our guys. We don't like locking our guys in one position. We don't like locking ourselves in one position depending on who we're playing that week, so if you have a guy in the secondary who can play safety, corner, nickel, dime and play it all at a high level, it's really valuable. So, I think that's what really stood out to me about him this year."
Obviously, the defense didn't start off the way you wanted to, but by end of the season, statistically, you were one of the best defenses. What did you learn the most throughout last season? (Jamison Hensley) "Man, I probably just learned that it's a week-to-week league. I knew it, but you got a chance to see it. It's week to week, and you have to go out there and do it, no matter who you have back there. The names don't mean [anything]. Our names on our jersey, we take pride in that, but the team [is] coming in trying to whoop our butt, and the players, we have real accomplished players and coaches. The team that's coming in that's playing us [doesn't] care about that, so you can't rest on what you've done in the past. You've got to show up as a team, as a coach, as a player, every single week and get your respect, and I think that when we finally fully embraced that, our game went to another level, and the only way you can do that is out here on this practice field. It is not just going to happen on gameday, so that's what I probably learned – just continue to preach that message, continue to stay on top of that all the time. We talked about it today. We're going to be a little anal about it, and that's good. If you love football, you want be challenged, you want be coached [and] you want to get pushed. If that's the type of player and coach you are, you're going to thrive here. If not, then it's probably not going to be the place for you."
You called Sr. defensive assistant/secondary coach Chuck Pagano a DB expert. Is there anything when he first got here that he said that he liked the way you guys improved last year, or just any notes that he came in with from about last year? (Sam Cohn) "Yes, definitely. The biggest thing that he [said] just jumped off the tape to him, just watching, was just the communication back [in the secondary] – and some of that, like I said, was on me, as well – tightening the menu up, but just the communication. Then, he said once we got that fixed, the sky's the limit. We're a talented group back there, and then, the other thing that stood out to him was technique. We have to get better with our technique in the back end. It's like we make really good plays, but we give up plays we shouldn't give up, because either our eyes are not right, our leverage is not right, or our body position is not right. So, those are just little nuances he picked up, and I think what's impressive is a lot of guys went up to him – he might not even know I know this – but a lot of guys went up to him and asked him one on one what they could work on, and he had an answer for every single one of those guys, a deep, detailed summary. So, like I said, man, it is great to have him here in the building, and like I said, don't be fooled by his age. You guys are going to talk to him here in a second. This dude has real juice and energy and knowledge, man, so I'm fired up about him and all the coaches that we brought in."
DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT/SECONDARY COACH CHUCK PAGANO
You were part of the media for a little while, any knocking off rust getting back into coaching? What was it like getting back into coaching for you? (Jamison Hensley) "You've got to get [back] in football shape. You know how we tell the guys, we're fixing to send them home for the summer, and you always worry about that, right? Because they're in great shape now and then everybody has got a month off, so you want them to come back in football shape, but you really can't replicate the pads and all those kind of things. Coaching is no different. I'm pretty good on a Peloton – I ride my tail off on that bike. But coming out and running around with these guys again, that took a minute. I don't have the bounce of my step that I used to, but it's been awesome. I'm so grateful and thankful for the opportunity to be back. It's always something when you have something, you kind of take it for granted, and then when you don't, you realize just how special it was to coach and be a part of something, be a part of a team, have the relationships that you develop and build when you're part of something like that. So it's been awesome. [This is] obviously a gold standard of organizations, top down. [I have] the familiarity with John [Harbaugh], but the staff is a lot different, but it felt like I knew everybody. Manny, in the kitchen, bugging me every day still like I never was gone. [I] see a ton of familiar faces, so they've all made [it] a pretty easy transition."
What's been consistent about, like you said, it's been a bunch of years since you were here last, but the organization is pretty famous for its consistency. What do you kind of notice off the bat coming back? (Kyle Goon) "Just the same. The standard is the standard. I know that's cliche-ish, but the type of people, if you don't ... John [Harbaugh] talked about it today, [and Jon] Gruden was here today; if you don't love ball, you can't survive here. There's a big difference between like and love. In a relationship – it's going to be 36 years [of marriage] in July for me and my wife – if I would've just kind of liked marriage, that would've been over probably 35 years ago. But she sacrificed a lot. You've got to love ball. The type of people that they bring in here – the football character, the football IQ, the standards, what the expectations are – that hasn't changed. Just seeing 'Oz' [Ozzie Newsome] every day, Eric [DeCosta] every day [and] John [Harbaugh] – it's like you never really left. The building is a little bit bigger, they're adding on again [and] some of those things, but it's been pretty seamless."
When you look around the league, especially on the defensive side of the ball, you're seeing more positionless football, guys that can play all over the place. The Ravens have a couple of those guys on their defense. How different is that, trying to scheme up and coach those types of guys compared to [when] guys used to play just seven positions? (Cordell Woodland) "When you have a guy, I'm assuming you're talking about a guy like Kyle Hamilton. Marlon Humphrey, a veteran guy [who has] been in the league a long, long time, [who] can play outside and can play the nickel. Kyle played deep, played big nickel, played dime linebacker, played deep in coverage, played man, blitz, all those kinds of things. When you have chess pieces – as we like to refer to them – and you can move those things around, not only his football character but then his skillset and his ability to do all the things, you think about the wide receiver groups that we're going to have to face, the quarterbacks that we're going to have to face, you're going to have to have dudes like that. Roquan [Smith], I was with Roquan, as you guys know, in Chicago. I knew the minute he came over here that he was going to be a gamechanger for this defense and for this unit. Those guys, again, their football smarts, their football IQ, their love for the game, their passion for the game, their passion for playing for one another is off the charts. So, you can't have enough of those guys."
Defensive coordinator Zach Orr is going to be a second-year play caller. What sticks out to you about him so far? (Giana Han)
"[Defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr] is awesome. As you guys know, [he has] a ton of energy, ton of juice, a ton of passion. He's super smart, super intelligent. He knows this defense inside and out. I just look at the transformation, like what happened here on defense [last year] when you look at from the Bye Week on, there wasn't a better defense in the National Football League. They gave up probably an average of 270 [or] 280 yards total. The pass defense was awesome, rush defense, of course, they led the league anyway in that, their turnover margin, third down, everything was No. 1 or [No.] 2 in the National Football League. So, I think it's a process, [and] stepping into that role [of defensive coordinator]. I stepped into that role back in 2011 here. I coached the secondary for three years, and then all of a sudden, a guy leaves, and you get the opportunity of a lifetime to be that playcaller. That's a process, that takes time. Now the system has been in place, the players were the same, so Zach is fortunate that way, I was really fortunate that way. And [Zach] has got a bunch of great coaches – excluding one 65-year-old man – in that defensive room. So, I'm just trying to do my part, stay in my lane [and] know my role. But yes, he's been tremendous. And the thing about Zach, he's going to hold himself accountable, but he's not afraid to hold these players accountable. And he's going to be honest with them, he's going to be upfront, he's going to be forthright, and he's going to tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, which – to me – is huge, and that's a great quality to have."
How do you ensure that the secondary hits the ground running? I think those guys would be the first to say that they didn't play up to the standard the first half of the season. (Childs Walker) "I think we're off to a great start right now. [Defensive backs coach] Donald D'Alesio ... he comes over from Kansas City, [and] he's done a phenomenal job, to this point, of getting, not only the veterans that have been here, but these young players, these rookie players, Malaki [Starks], the couple of corners that we drafted, 'BK' [Bilhal Kone] and 'Beam' [Robert Longerbeam]. So, he's done a great job. We've got another handful of OTAs, we've got a mandatory minicamp, we'll do a great job and give these guys kind of a prescription when they leave for that month of what to keep working [on] from a skill [standpoint]. They'll have their iPads, they'll get to take all the tape home, all the corrections home, all the film home and keep studying and keep growing [in] that way. So that when training camp comes, it isn't like ... Back in the day, when I was here in '08, we were going to Westminster [for training camp]. There was no CBA in place that said you had to practice [in] shorts, shorts, shorts, maybe spiders, then maybe get into pads [and then] have this ramp up. [On] Day Three, we were full pads, Day Four ,we were full pads, Day five, we were full pads, and it was two-a-days. My point is, you had to show up in shape, [or] you wouldn't make it through the first three days of camp. This is really no different. So we've got a good veteran group, we've got leaders in the backend there that we will lean on, Donald and myself will lean on, to stay connected with all the guys in the backend, so that when we do show up, we hit the ground running, we're in shape physically. If you don't show up in shape, then as soon as you get tired, [your mind] slows down. You lose focus, you lose concentration, then you have a bad day and then fall maybe by another, [it] can't happen."
How did this opportunity come about? We didn't get a lot of background. Was this something that was kind of stewing with you that you were kind of getting the itch to get back in? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I never really stopped thinking about coaching and thinking about the game. I was fortunate, [with] Pat [McAfee] having me on and doing that show, being on the program with him and the boys, that was kind of my football fix, but that was six months out of the [year]. That was football season, but it kept me connected to the game. I never really stopped thinking about maybe coming back at some point. My kids, my wife, my daughters, I've got three daughters, I got five grandkids – they don't know any better – but they all thought I retired too young as it was, but it was 2020. It was coming off of COVID-19, and I just kind of had enough. I was like, 'OK, I need a break,' probably like everybody else in the world, but I never really stopped thinking about it. This was just, probably the only opportunity that would get me off the couch. Because I was playing golf and working out and playing with my grandkids, and life was pretty good. A lot of my friends back home were like, 'Are you out of your mind? Why would you go back to the grind?' You can't replicate [being with an NFL team]. You can't replicate the grind. It's hard to fill your days. My day was usually ... I was done with the workout, honey-dos, chores, and it's 10 o'clock in the morning and I'm like, 'I can't start drinking.' I wait until a certain time to start that." (laughter) "But it is hard to fill your days. It was, like I said, an opportunity of a lifetime and probably the only place that could get me to come back."
Has Pat McAfee rubbed off on you; Are you going to be out here wearing sleeveless shirts or something? (Kyle Goon)
"I don't think so, no, John [Harbaugh] would kick me out. If you don't have, you've got to wear the right attire. You're not in the right attire, you're getting sent back in. He doesn't care how old you are and how many years you've got in. No sir. Yeah, no tank tops. I've got guns, too. You'd be [surprised]." (laughter)
We heard defensive coordinator Zach Orr saying that when you first got here, a bunch of guys would come up to you seeking one-on-one advice. I'm just curious what the acclimation process was like for you and if there's anything you can share about some of those conversations? (Sam Cohn) "They were more [of] just trying to build relationships from that standpoint. You get hired, and they're not here, they're off in the offseason stuff. So, you start a text thread, texting the players, introducing yourself, telling them how much you're looking forward to being part of their family, their team and being part of this organization. And then once they start to filter in, then you just really start to build a relationship with them, and not so much even the football side of it. Some had played more than others, some had a bunch of tape you could look at, and some hadn't really been on the field yet – a first-year guy who got injured and didn't get much time, a guy like T.J. [Tampa Jr.] and [also] Beau [Brade]. So, the conversations were great. Again, it was more of just building relationships with these players, and if you have a strong bond – and Dick Vermeil said a long time ago – he said, 'These players don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.' And so, I've kind of lived by that philosophy my entire coaching career. So, it was more about just building relationships and getting to know these people."
Now that you're back coaching again, do you have any desire to be a head coach in the NFL? (Jamison Hensley) "No, sir. Again, I was in the right place at the right time. I got the opportunity of a lifetime. Mr. [Jim] Irsay, God rest his soul and rest in peace. What a great man. He gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. All that I went through in Year One, [Jim Irsay] stood by me and had my back the entire time, but you have no idea. Nobody has any idea until you sit in that seat. And it's one thing being a position coach, it's another thing being a coordinator on one side of the ball. You kind of live in your own little world. But, sitting in that seat looking for the head coach manual. Two days after I was hired in Indianapolis, the presser was done, and all the media were gone, and I'm going through [former head coach] Jimmy Caldwell's desk looking for the head coach manual, hoping he left it behind. I looked at Tina [Pagano], I was like, 'What the frick did we just do to ourselves?' I loved it, but some of my fondest memories and best coaching moments were [from] the first time I was here and just being a secondary coach and having that room and that group and that bond. In head coaching, they'll tell you, 'You've got to stay involved.' You want to keep coaching, but it's dang near impossible because you have to do [the media obligations] three out of the four days a week. You get a Thursday off. Does John [Harbaugh] still get Thursdays off? I used to love Thursdays – not because I didn't love the media; everybody's great people, but it's just a break where you could actually go in and maybe look at some tape and coach some guys up, but you get pulled away from what you love doing – and that's coaching the game – because you've got so many other things going. So, I know that was a long-winded answer to your question, but no, I'm good. I've had enough of that. I'm just trying to hold onto my job. You know that scanner thing? Every morning when I come in, and I scan it, it says, 'Access permitted.' I'm like, 'Thank you.' Because you go up and you scan that, and it'll say, 'Access denied,' and I'm like, 'What did I do wrong? Boy, how did I screw this up?' But no."
WR RASHOD BATEMAN
On how his three-year contract extension came to fruition: "It was just the two parties kind of met. We've been negotiating since the end of the season, and it was something that both parties wanted to do, and it just made sense for both of us, and we worked it out. So, I'm happy to be here, blessed and fortunate, so we'll keep chasing the Super Bowl."
On if it was less of a surprise this year than last year: "It was definitely less of a surprise this year. This year it made sense to me, for sure. Most definitely."
On why the contract extension made sense: "Because I feel like I finally did something on the field that was impressive and something that you can respect and stand on. Before that, it was a little bit shocking [that I received the extension]. I had some ups and downs here and there, so to be able to be here now feels good."
On if there was a time when he might not have been sure that he was going to be here for eight or nine years: "No, I knew I've always wanted to be here. I just think, as a player, you don't know when your time is up. You don't know the conversations that are had when you're not around or in the meetings or those types of things. So, you're always wondering what's going to happen to you. You've seen some of the best players get traded sometimes, so you just never know. But we've had some good, transparent dialogue throughout this whole process. So, they were honest with me; I was honest with them, and here we are today."
On what more he thinks he can do: "I just know I can play ball, and everybody knows that now, and I'm not here to prove that to [anybody]. I want to prove that to my teammates, and I work for the Ravens. I work for Lamar Jackson, technically, and if these guys are pleased with what I'm doing and my work ethic and all of that, then I feel like, as a team, that's what's important to me. So, I've done that, and I'm definitely looking to continue to build off of that, for sure."
On if he looks at the contract as a validation for what he's accomplished: "Yes, for sure. Most definitely. It's kind of how the league works. You get paid if you're doing the right things on and off the field, and it's a respect thing. It's showing that the organization believes in me. It [shows] that I believe in them, so hopefully this thing keeps on trucking in that direction."
On if this extension shows that, "If I outperform the contract, the organization will reward me": "That's what you would want them to do, but it doesn't guarantee anything. I've got a good relationship with [executive vice president & general manager Eric] DeCosta, and I think that helped, as well. They respect how I work, how I come in the building, and my teammates do. I think that's why I'm still here; I hope so. [It's] not just about what I do on the football field, so I'm definitely hoping to continue that mindset and that work ethic to continue to prove to the coaches that I'm worthy."
On talking to head coach John Harbaugh before practice: "I don't even know if he [John Harbaugh] was really talking to me. I think I just dapped him up and kind of kept it moving. But 'Harbs' [John Harbaugh] has always been a guy that's believed in me since I've been here. Cool guy, cool guy. And he's good for the team, and he's good for all of us."
On how he approaches his role as a veteran leader and how he sees himself developing as a leader in the locker room: "I'll continue to do what I do and lead by example. Some people are vocal, and some people lead with the way they work, and Lamar [Jackson] is a good example. Derrick [Henry] is a good example. They might not say much, but you can tell when it's time to get right and lock in. And I think that's more of what I am. Roquan [Smith], he's more of a vocal leader. Kyle Van Noy, he's a vocal leader, but they work hard, as well. But me, I'm going to show up every day and work, continue to do that, and hopefully that helps others around me."
On the impact that going through last season healthy had on him: "I just think last year was fun overall. I don't think it helped me really get through anything. I think before the season started, I was kind of at that point of peace and I feel like that was a heavy reason to why I was able to do those type of things on the field and have that much success, just because I know I was in a better headspace throughout the whole year. So, hopefully we keep that mindset as well and [there will be] plenty more big plays to come."
On if there's anything he wants to pick WR DeAndre Hopkins' brain about: "Nothing in particular, but I think with a guy like that that's done so much in the league with so much respect, I'm ready to ask him [DeAndre Hopkins] anything as far as catching, hands, route-running, taking care of your body, what you do when you were in Year One compared to Year Five, and there are a lot of different variables. I'm a deep thinker, so I am not a one-question guy. If I'm asking a question, I want to keep digging until I really figure out the best way to do something, and 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins] has already been a good, vocal leader for us as far as the helping us with the young guys, and I definitely trust that he'll continue to help us out in that way."
On if he expects to play in the slot this season: "I honestly don't know. I really never know. I really never know, so you've just got to be prepared for it all. Just show up and be ready to play, so I'm going to just continue to do that."
On if he feels like they will spread him out wide more: "Whatever they want me to do, I'm going to do. I just like playing football, and at this point, I'm grateful for it all. So, if they throw me in the slot, throw me at tight end, to chip block, whatever, I'll do it, especially now." (laughter) "I'll be all good."
On being a three-contract player with this organization: "I just think, for me, it hits different when it's a receiver here. We all know the perspective here [about receivers], and we've been through a lot, [and] we go through a lot. We continue to go through a lot when it comes to facing backlash here and there, or wherever it may be. But, I'll just say it means a lot to be able to start something new here, something fresh when it comes to the receivers room, and hopefully we continue to make plays and change the narrative [about receivers] of what we have here."
On what it means to have the support of executive vice president & general manager Eric DeCosta: "It means a lot. That's coming from the top man that pays us, so honestly, if you've got that respect from [executive vice president & general manager Eric DeCosta], it means a lot. And hopefully that continues to develop and grow over the time of me being here, but being able to build a relationship with him – even all the coaches – it's been really good, and it's been really beneficial."
On if he's had an opportunity to talk to his family since signing his contract extension: "No. I told my mom about a couple of days ago, but I haven't called her yet. I kind of signed [my contract] and then came to work after that. So, I'm going to go call her right now."
