1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: How do you feel. I feel great. I'm extremely excited. Um. 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: I feel like the Week one in the NFL is 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: always a really really exciting week. Uh. You know, every 4 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: team in the NFL's goals are out in front of him. 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: You know, you've worked since we came back together virtually 6 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: in April for this week. Everything that we've done through 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: virtual meetings, O t A S meet camp, training camp 8 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: is for this. Uh. These are the games that that matter, 9 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: and these are the games that are for real. Absolutely yeah, 10 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 1: I couldn't be more excited. Uh, these last couple of 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: weeks for me. Um, I set it up in New 12 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 1: England just you know, this is what I love to do. 13 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: I love being out there with my teammates and you know, 14 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: I tell people all the time, the hardest part of 15 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: our game is when you're injured and you can't be 16 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: on the field. And that's what I dealt with for 17 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: you know, eight months since December, and it was just 18 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: really exciting for me the last couple of weeks being 19 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,319 Speaker 1: back out there sixty snaps. If you need Sunday, I'm 20 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: always ready to play sixty snaps. You just you play 21 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: this game long enough, you know what it takes. And 22 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: you know, for me, I've you know, early on in 23 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: my career, I kind of learned you know, you approach 24 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: it's cliche to say, but you approach each play and 25 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: then you know, I kind of learned it when you 26 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: play preseason games and you know, everybody knows you may 27 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: play eight plays, you may play twelve plays, you may 28 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,559 Speaker 1: get a quarter, um, but you're not playing the whole game. 29 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: But yet you you prepare that entire week like you're 30 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: gonna play the whole game. And that really has taught 31 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: me over the years how to on Sundays go out 32 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: there and play one play at a time. And Um, 33 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: you play one play at a time, you put one 34 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 1: ft in front of the other. And if that's thirty times, 35 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: sixty times, seventy five times, so be it. What are 36 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: the qualities of Joe Judge and have stood out to you? 37 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: The biggest thing for me is his leadership. Um, this 38 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: is my first time playing for a head coach that's 39 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: not an offense or defensive minded coach. Um, he's a 40 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: guy that's had um in his special team's background. He's 41 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: had the whole team in his room for all of 42 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: his meetings, and you see that throughout our entire locker room. Uh, 43 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: you know, the leadership of guys on offense, guys on defense, 44 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: certainly guys on special teams that he you know, has 45 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: a close eye on. So for me, it would be 46 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: his leadership ability. How did your role change if Evan 47 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: does a play? Um, you know what? To me? I 48 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: probably couldn't sit up here and tell you how my 49 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: role is at this point. Anyways, Um, you know we're 50 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: gonna go out there, and you know, the guys we 51 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: got are gonna give it everything. We have to try 52 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: to go beat the Denver Broncos. And you know, and 53 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: this league, all you're doing is worrying about one and 54 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: oh this week we want to go beat the Denver Broncos. 55 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: Is that a little strange you as the guy who 56 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: was at one place for so long was so you know, trench, 57 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: they to come here and not really know kind of 58 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: how you're gonna I'd be lying to you if I 59 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: knew what my role was each and every week in 60 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: Minnesota as well. That's the nature of our position. When 61 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: you go into a game, you may catch ten balls, Uh, 62 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: you may not catch a single ball, and you may 63 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: be in past protection. You look at the team that 64 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: we're playing and the two guys that they have on 65 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: the edge, I can guess what my role is going 66 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: to be for most of the game. Um. But at 67 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: the same time, you just you have no idea. Uh. 68 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: And that's part of the beauty of the tight end position. 69 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: You have to be locked in on every play because 70 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: our role is in all three phases of the game run, pass, 71 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: end protection. The offensive line is statement share of criticism. 72 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: But you haven't been in there, and I mean that's 73 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: one of your strengths. How much can you improve the 74 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: line being in there? I mean, you know, I'm not 75 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: going to improve those guys. That's Those are five guys 76 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: that have worked extremely hard, five guys that, in my opinion, 77 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: have the toughest job in in our game. You know, 78 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: you think about who are the highest paid played players 79 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: on defense, it's the guys that they got to keep 80 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: from getting to the quarterback. Um. But at the same time, 81 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: I have done a lot more past protecting and blocking 82 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: and and years you know Reese in years. So if 83 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: I can be there for them and help them and 84 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: take some of the burden off them and protection, uh, 85 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: then I'll gladly do it. And know it's that point 86 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: of your assignment this week. But the guy who's playing 87 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: quarterback for dead or you're pretty familiar with, Yeah, he's 88 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 1: as good as they come. Uh. I couldn't be happier 89 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: for Teddy for his opportunity to be the starting quarterback. 90 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: He deserves it. Um, you know what he went through 91 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: when we were together. The fact that he's even playing 92 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: football right now is a true testament to him and 93 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 1: his work ethic. Sneak into the defensive rooms and let 94 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: them pick your brain a little. I'm pretty familiar with 95 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: this quarterback in that offense. On the other side, I 96 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 1: played in it for a few years as well, So 97 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 1: if they ever have any questions, I'm here to help. Obviously, 98 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: there's a familiarity here for some of the guys with 99 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 1: Pat Charmer calling the offense. You obviously, I remember talking 100 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 1: to you when you guys were in the MC who 101 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: title gave him about your affinity for Pat. Will be 102 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: good to see him as well. Yeah, it definitely will 103 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: be one of those guys that hopefully after the game, 104 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: after I win, I can go see him and say 105 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:07,679 Speaker 1: hi and ask him how he's doing, how his family 106 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 1: is doing. But he's certainly he's He's one of the 107 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: guys that I have a great affinity for in this 108 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: game and have a ton of respect for. I had 109 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:17,359 Speaker 1: him as a position coach, and I had him as 110 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: a coordinator, and uh, you know, he's as good of 111 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: a human being as they come, and he's equally as 112 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: good as a coach. Okay, I know you don't know 113 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: if Edvan or Kaden can play, but if they can't, 114 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: he's your foot ready to play seventy snaps a game. Yeah, 115 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: I answer that question before you know. Whatever is needed 116 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: for me, I'm ready to go. You know, whether it's fifty, 117 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: who knows what overtime we can get into the eighties 118 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: or nineties. I'm just gonna keep going until they take 119 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: me out. It's kind of funny, how now you're the 120 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: healthy guy. You know, I've certainly had enough time to 121 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: get healthy. So here we are. You mentioned Joe Judges leadership. 122 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 1: How does he leave? What is his leadership style? Um, 123 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: he's tough. He's really tough. One of the first lines 124 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: that stood out to me and our first team meeting 125 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: in training camp was that, you know, it's not gonna 126 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: be easy. His program here is not easy, but it's 127 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: worth it. And you know, I've mentioned my familiarity with 128 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: that style, having played for coach Wise in college, and 129 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: it couldn't be more true. You know, he pushes us, 130 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: he gets the most out of us, but at the 131 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: same time, he's always fair and it's always worth it.