WEBVTT - Press Pass: Justin Madubuike Contract Extension (3/11) 0:00:03.000 --> 0:00:06.039 Welcome into the Ravens Press Pass podcast. It is Monday, 0:00:06.360 --> 0:00:09.560 March eleventh, and the Ravens kicked off free agency in 0:00:09.560 --> 0:00:13.240 a big way by reaching a new contract extension with 0:00:13.400 --> 0:00:18.119 defensive tackle Justin Medabiqu. Medibik was in the building on 0:00:18.160 --> 0:00:20.720 Monday to sign that new deal and hold a press 0:00:20.760 --> 0:00:23.200 conference with the local media. So let's kick things off 0:00:23.360 --> 0:00:28.560 with Medabik, GM Eric Tacasa and defensive coordinator Zach orr. 0:00:31.440 --> 0:00:31.640 Well. 0:00:31.680 --> 0:00:33.000 Just first of all, I want to thank everybody for 0:00:33.040 --> 0:00:35.919 coming out here today. We are thrilled to announce that 0:00:35.960 --> 0:00:42.639 we've extended Justin Medabik to a four year contract. Very 0:00:42.680 --> 0:00:44.519 special for us to be able to get that done. 0:00:44.960 --> 0:00:48.040 We've always strived to keep our best young players here 0:00:48.080 --> 0:00:51.159 in Baltimore, and I'm thrilled that there is another example 0:00:51.200 --> 0:00:55.320 of that. And I want to thank Justin his family. 0:00:55.640 --> 0:00:58.840 I want to thank Nick Mattio, who was instrumental in 0:00:58.880 --> 0:01:02.440 this deal taking place. I want to thank Steve Bishati, 0:01:02.960 --> 0:01:06.160 and also want to thank Ben Renzen, Justin's agent, who 0:01:06.240 --> 0:01:08.560 did a great job. So we're excited. We hope our 0:01:08.600 --> 0:01:11.400 fan base is excited. We know Justin's excited, and we 0:01:11.440 --> 0:01:13.280 can't just can't wait to see what the next four 0:01:13.319 --> 0:01:13.920 years look like. 0:01:16.959 --> 0:01:18.080 Man, it's an exciting time. 0:01:18.160 --> 0:01:18.479 Man. 0:01:19.160 --> 0:01:21.960 Credit to Eric and all the people involved. Credit to 0:01:22.280 --> 0:01:26.600 Matty Beaks, man, everybody involved getting this deal done. Justin 0:01:26.720 --> 0:01:28.480 he's not only one of the best defensive tackles in 0:01:28.480 --> 0:01:30.520 the National Football League, but he's one of the best 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:34.040 football players overall. And man, just a quick story about him. 0:01:34.319 --> 0:01:36.480 Back in twenty twenty when he came in during COVID. 0:01:36.800 --> 0:01:38.440 I remember training camp. It was the first pad of 0:01:38.480 --> 0:01:41.200 practice and you know, we're all amped up, want to see, 0:01:41.319 --> 0:01:44.240 you know, what our team's gonna look like, ones versus ones, 0:01:44.840 --> 0:01:46.640 and Beaks is out there and I'm like, man, I 0:01:46.680 --> 0:01:48.600 got a rookie out there, Okay, about to see what's 0:01:48.640 --> 0:01:49.080 going on? 0:01:49.560 --> 0:01:49.720 Man. 0:01:49.760 --> 0:01:53.080 He striked the lineman TfL. It was explosive play, and 0:01:53.080 --> 0:01:55.840 I remember just that moment we looked like, man, this 0:01:56.280 --> 0:01:58.000 dude got a chance to be a great player. And 0:01:58.080 --> 0:02:00.920 ever since that day, he's come with the same mindset, 0:02:01.360 --> 0:02:04.800 practice meetings, worked his butt off, and it's no shot 0:02:04.840 --> 0:02:06.720 that he's a player that he's become today. And the 0:02:06.760 --> 0:02:08.840 great thing about it is he's only gonna get better. 0:02:08.880 --> 0:02:13.080 So it's exciting time. Happy that we got this done. 0:02:13.360 --> 0:02:16.480 He's earned this and the future is bright with Justin 0:02:16.480 --> 0:02:17.959 Matty Beka. We just getting started. 0:02:21.400 --> 0:02:24.800 First of all, at the thank God for sure, just 0:02:25.360 --> 0:02:27.919 without him, I wouldn't be here. I like to think 0:02:28.800 --> 0:02:34.440 Steve a Shotty Eric Cltrball giving me this opportunity to 0:02:34.440 --> 0:02:37.160 be here and to believe in me. I like to 0:02:37.160 --> 0:02:40.600 thank my dad, I'm my biggest supporter, my my uncle 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:45.560 for making it just exciting time to think, Zach, it's crazy. 0:02:45.639 --> 0:02:49.399 We talked about this right after the Bengals game, after 0:02:49.440 --> 0:02:51.760 that long hundred yard touchdown and everybody was just feeling 0:02:51.760 --> 0:02:54.079 bad about themselves, mean exactly, gave each other a hug, like, man, 0:02:54.120 --> 0:02:55.840 you had a great year, and already know next year 0:02:55.919 --> 0:02:57.520 gonna turn off. You're gonna be all pro. You're gonna 0:02:57.520 --> 0:02:59.160 be pro white. I can see it, I can feel it. 0:02:59.440 --> 0:03:02.320 And at that moment, I knew, I'm gonna take a 0:03:02.320 --> 0:03:05.919 month off and I'm gonna, uh literally work my butt 0:03:05.919 --> 0:03:07.720 off to be one of the best in the league. 0:03:07.760 --> 0:03:11.040 And with hard work and faith and consistency and uh, 0:03:11.080 --> 0:03:14.040 your dreams can come true. And I'm living testimony of that. 0:03:14.160 --> 0:03:16.680 So like I think everybody who believed in me, think 0:03:16.800 --> 0:03:20.119 the whole organization, and I'm hungry, I'm I'm I'm ready 0:03:20.160 --> 0:03:22.480 to get back to work again. I've been working out, 0:03:22.520 --> 0:03:25.040 y'a can see a little bit. But uh, you know, 0:03:25.400 --> 0:03:28.000 I'm just very thankful for the opportunity, thankful to be 0:03:28.080 --> 0:03:30.280 here living my dreams. And I'm just gonna keep working 0:03:30.280 --> 0:03:33.079 and keep being better and just keep striving for greatness for. 0:03:33.040 --> 0:03:38.000 Sure, Essostin. Uh you know, was there a time over 0:03:38.040 --> 0:03:41.160 the past week where there was a playing like, Okay, 0:03:41.800 --> 0:03:44.000 something wal term could get done pretty. 0:03:43.760 --> 0:03:44.440 Soon the year? 0:03:45.560 --> 0:03:46.200 Yeah, for sure. 0:03:47.040 --> 0:03:48.720 Eric has always been in communication with me that he 0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:51.280 wanted to get a long term deal done. It was 0:03:51.360 --> 0:03:53.120 just about, you know, getting the right time and the 0:03:53.160 --> 0:03:54.720 right moment to get it done. And my agent took 0:03:54.720 --> 0:03:57.760 care of that. And now I'm here and I plan 0:03:57.840 --> 0:04:00.240 on being here for whole hopefully my whole career, because 0:04:00.320 --> 0:04:01.440 I just love this organization. 0:04:01.640 --> 0:04:01.760 Uh. 0:04:02.200 --> 0:04:03.760 Not only have I grown as a player, but I've 0:04:03.760 --> 0:04:06.880 grown as a person. And I just love my teammates 0:04:06.920 --> 0:04:11.400 and love staff and from the cafeteria to nutrition to everybody. 0:04:11.480 --> 0:04:13.240 You know, it's it's it's top tier. It's the best 0:04:13.240 --> 0:04:15.520 in the league. And I want to definitely be a 0:04:15.600 --> 0:04:17.680 leader and set that example and just just be the 0:04:17.720 --> 0:04:22.440 best justin I remember going into the twenty two season, 0:04:22.640 --> 0:04:25.839 Coleas Campbell was effusive talking about how you were going 0:04:25.920 --> 0:04:26.599 to bust out. 0:04:27.240 --> 0:04:29.839 Did it just take an extra year or what do 0:04:29.839 --> 0:04:30.919 you think it was? 0:04:30.960 --> 0:04:33.760 It came together twenty three, that didn't come together at 0:04:33.800 --> 0:04:37.680 twenty two. Uh, I mean Klass was taking all my reps. Man, 0:04:37.760 --> 0:04:40.880 But no, I'm just kidding. I just having a guy 0:04:40.920 --> 0:04:43.640 like that class a great leader or Walter Payton Man 0:04:43.640 --> 0:04:45.880 of the Year definitely says the example of how to 0:04:45.880 --> 0:04:50.000 be a true professional. And definitely having him as a 0:04:50.000 --> 0:04:52.560 as a vet, asking him questions and stuff like that. 0:04:53.080 --> 0:04:55.720 Obviously we're competing for playing time, but also he's a 0:04:55.760 --> 0:04:57.720 he's a solid, stand up guy, always checks on me, 0:04:58.320 --> 0:05:00.920 and that's a great person to have in front of 0:05:00.960 --> 0:05:01.600 you to learn from. 0:05:02.520 --> 0:05:05.200 Now that you've signed your second contract, do you feel 0:05:05.200 --> 0:05:06.880 like you've become one of those guys? I mean, are 0:05:07.200 --> 0:05:09.159 the young guys are coming the door, gonna start coming 0:05:09.200 --> 0:05:11.200 to you and you know you're gonna be a a 0:05:11.200 --> 0:05:13.200 toe center for the whole deal? Do you do you 0:05:13.240 --> 0:05:15.640 feel that and do you afford to that responsibility? 0:05:15.640 --> 0:05:18.880 I guess I feel like I've always been that guy 0:05:18.920 --> 0:05:23.200 that you know, I've always opened to give information to 0:05:23.200 --> 0:05:25.240 help people out. I feel it's gonna be more now 0:05:25.360 --> 0:05:27.640 with just the success of Hat on the field and 0:05:27.720 --> 0:05:29.599 just the type of person I am, So I'm always 0:05:29.640 --> 0:05:33.160 open to help people out and be that guy definitely 0:05:33.240 --> 0:05:35.720 for young guys to ask questions, to look forward to 0:05:36.080 --> 0:05:39.960 or or to to count upon for information. So yeah, 0:05:39.960 --> 0:05:44.800 for sure, with Justin signing, a robots up behind him 0:05:44.839 --> 0:05:47.840 and call Hamilton so some despiding defense to say, how 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:48.800 big is that for you? 0:05:48.880 --> 0:05:50.960 As far as putting out the rest of the defensive. 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:53.640 Offseason, Well, I think it's it's big anytime you keep 0:05:53.720 --> 0:05:56.359 your your best young talent. And uh, you know, we 0:05:56.400 --> 0:05:58.360 feel really good about those guys. We feel really good 0:05:58.360 --> 0:06:01.240 about where the defense stands overall, and we're just kind 0:06:01.240 --> 0:06:04.360 of on the come. We're excited to see Zach orchestrate 0:06:04.400 --> 0:06:06.719 this whole thing. And you know, certainly, I think the 0:06:06.720 --> 0:06:10.120 thing that stands about Justin is just his ability as 0:06:10.160 --> 0:06:12.760 a three down player. He can play the run, and 0:06:12.800 --> 0:06:16.400 he's an exceptional pass rusher too, and he's a guy 0:06:16.440 --> 0:06:19.600 that's gotten better every single year. He's a great example 0:06:19.640 --> 0:06:22.279 for the younger players. You know, they can see him 0:06:22.560 --> 0:06:26.760 and see his progression from twenty twenty to now. That's 0:06:26.800 --> 0:06:29.919 exciting for those guys to see. And we're thrilled that 0:06:30.000 --> 0:06:33.120 we have him up front and we've got, you know, Roquan. 0:06:33.200 --> 0:06:35.280 We've got some good young players with Roquan at the 0:06:35.360 --> 0:06:38.479 linebacker position and also in the secondary. We feel like 0:06:38.480 --> 0:06:39.280 we're very strong. 0:06:40.279 --> 0:06:41.200 You know, you've done. 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:43.920 Some work with Tubs Smith and all things in the past. 0:06:43.920 --> 0:06:45.960 Who was it like to be able to what type 0:06:45.960 --> 0:06:46.800 of m points wasn't on. 0:06:46.839 --> 0:06:48.880 The remains to be able to work with him now to. 0:06:49.360 --> 0:06:55.919 Need Now it's free teaching. You know, I had to 0:06:55.920 --> 0:06:59.360 go to Atlanta and pay, you know, so for him 0:06:59.400 --> 0:07:01.239 to be on the staff now is like free teaching 0:07:01.320 --> 0:07:03.599 every day. But just the person Chuck is, you know, 0:07:03.760 --> 0:07:06.640 very open, very honest in terms of just technique and 0:07:06.680 --> 0:07:09.360 just pass rushing and stuff. He just helped not only me, 0:07:09.480 --> 0:07:10.960 but I know a bunch of my teammate just get 0:07:11.400 --> 0:07:13.560 just more crisp and more trim in terms of past rush. 0:07:13.600 --> 0:07:16.440 And he's really good at what he does. I've worked 0:07:16.440 --> 0:07:18.040 with him for the past two years, and I feel 0:07:18.080 --> 0:07:20.440 like my game has evolved as soon as that starts happening. 0:07:21.240 --> 0:07:24.720 I'm with him in training, So yeah, great, very big 0:07:24.720 --> 0:07:25.520 influence for sure. 0:07:26.040 --> 0:07:28.120 That's typically when you guys have used the tag in 0:07:28.160 --> 0:07:30.880 the past, you've eventually gotten a deal done, but it's 0:07:30.920 --> 0:07:32.239 usually taken some more time. 0:07:33.120 --> 0:07:34.320 Were you surprised that this. 0:07:34.280 --> 0:07:36.760 Came together as quickly as it did considering the deadline 0:07:36.800 --> 0:07:40.480 last Tuesday? And you know what about this negotiating negotiation 0:07:40.600 --> 0:07:42.840 made it that you were able to come to a 0:07:42.920 --> 0:07:44.320 bog term deal as quickly. 0:07:44.040 --> 0:07:44.880 As you as you did. 0:07:46.040 --> 0:07:48.440 Well, I think we were coming from a place of respect, 0:07:49.040 --> 0:07:51.800 you know, and Justin knows what we're all about, and 0:07:51.840 --> 0:07:54.920 we know what Justin's all about, and he's got an agent, 0:07:55.000 --> 0:07:56.960 and I think he and I have had a good 0:07:57.000 --> 0:08:01.320 relationship over the years, so you know, we weren't that 0:08:01.360 --> 0:08:03.440 far away. You know, there was a chance we could 0:08:03.440 --> 0:08:06.640 have gotten a deal done before we had the franchise them. 0:08:06.680 --> 0:08:09.400 We were close, and we've had good discussions along the way. 0:08:09.880 --> 0:08:12.120 We met at the Combine and we've had along the 0:08:12.120 --> 0:08:14.600 way a lot of opportunities, So, you know, I think 0:08:14.800 --> 0:08:17.720 just it's keeping a lot of communication open, being honest 0:08:17.760 --> 0:08:20.360 with each other. We've we've done a lot of deals 0:08:20.880 --> 0:08:24.760 some take two years, some take two weeks, and and 0:08:24.800 --> 0:08:26.360 this was a very easy deal to get done in 0:08:26.360 --> 0:08:27.000 most cases. 0:08:28.440 --> 0:08:31.640 Did you guys come close to a deal before last 0:08:31.640 --> 0:08:32.080 off season? 0:08:32.200 --> 0:08:34.800 I know, you know Justin was a big on him self, 0:08:35.440 --> 0:08:38.319 but just kind of getting back how Boord, what was 0:08:38.360 --> 0:08:40.719 there any pressure on your end to get a deal 0:08:40.800 --> 0:08:43.600 done before the temperate period started and maybe to start 0:08:43.679 --> 0:08:45.960 to see some deals competitive for ropper guys at the 0:08:45.960 --> 0:08:47.280 top of that defensive white market. 0:08:48.920 --> 0:08:49.199 Yeah. 0:08:49.280 --> 0:08:51.640 We you know, we've never really had any kind of 0:08:51.640 --> 0:08:56.200 long term discussions with with Justin prior to this this year. 0:08:56.520 --> 0:08:58.680 You know, we had a couple of discussions during the season. 0:09:00.440 --> 0:09:03.120 Those are tricky at times. You know, obviously you want 0:09:03.120 --> 0:09:04.720 the player to be as focused as he can be 0:09:05.200 --> 0:09:07.440 on the season, and Justin did a great job of that, 0:09:07.480 --> 0:09:11.480 and we decided that as pipeas to really kind of 0:09:11.480 --> 0:09:14.920 get going on the whole thing. You certainly do look 0:09:14.920 --> 0:09:17.800 at the market. You kind of weigh that in the end. 0:09:17.840 --> 0:09:21.040 I think, you know, there's always a value to the 0:09:21.040 --> 0:09:23.000 player to get this deal done if you can't early 0:09:23.080 --> 0:09:25.280 before the market, and sometimes there's a value for the 0:09:25.559 --> 0:09:29.640 team as well. It's not an exact science, certainly, but 0:09:29.800 --> 0:09:31.800 we felt like there was a deal to be made. 0:09:32.480 --> 0:09:34.600 We were that close that we could get the deal done, 0:09:35.160 --> 0:09:37.440 and I thought that it was in our best interests 0:09:37.440 --> 0:09:40.319 as a club to get that done, deal done before 0:09:40.360 --> 0:09:41.760 free agency started. 0:09:42.720 --> 0:09:44.439 Like to share them old your family and when you 0:09:44.559 --> 0:09:46.480 got to use everything you've been. 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:49.319 Agreed to, it was huge. 0:09:50.840 --> 0:09:51.040 You know. 0:09:51.679 --> 0:09:53.480 The first thing I did was, you know, I park 0:09:53.559 --> 0:09:56.920 ride a little bit Angoa Lia, prayed, call my dad 0:09:56.920 --> 0:10:00.679 immediately he was stoked. He was like, what really, you know, 0:10:00.800 --> 0:10:03.880 but uh, it's very thankful, glad to have a great 0:10:03.880 --> 0:10:09.280 support system. I'm just I'm ready to get to work. Really, 0:10:09.360 --> 0:10:10.240 you know, I'm hungry now. 0:10:10.360 --> 0:10:13.040 So Justin, you talk about that hunger and wanting to 0:10:13.080 --> 0:10:15.240 continue to get better. What what does that look like 0:10:15.280 --> 0:10:17.280 for you in the future, as as you continue to 0:10:17.360 --> 0:10:18.920 just progress in your career and get better. 0:10:19.240 --> 0:10:20.160 How do you envision that? 0:10:20.320 --> 0:10:23.120 And then, Zach, what is it about Justin that makes 0:10:23.200 --> 0:10:25.240 him you know, there's so much more even to come 0:10:25.520 --> 0:10:26.760 besides what he's already done. 0:10:26.760 --> 0:10:27.200 So the bar. 0:10:32.559 --> 0:10:35.560 Just when I see in the future is just continued greatness, 0:10:35.559 --> 0:10:40.040 continued just impact on the game, just being a forced 0:10:40.080 --> 0:10:44.720 being a cornerstone to his defense. Just hold myself at 0:10:44.720 --> 0:10:47.120 that high standard that I did this past season and 0:10:47.840 --> 0:10:50.200 staying consistent. That's what I see. I feel like when 0:10:50.200 --> 0:10:51.640 you do those things, taking one day at a time, 0:10:51.679 --> 0:10:55.120 good things gonna flourish, Good good things gonna happen, and 0:10:55.160 --> 0:10:57.880 it's gonna radiate to the other like uh, to the 0:10:58.000 --> 0:11:00.520 other teammates for sure, and motivate them as for them, 0:11:01.000 --> 0:11:02.480 so we can just be the best because we have 0:11:03.280 --> 0:11:06.880 a goal in mine that we definitely felt short this 0:11:07.000 --> 0:11:10.120 year and we're longer to get back where we belong. 0:11:10.280 --> 0:11:16.040 So yeah, I mean Eric said it like Justin's great 0:11:16.040 --> 0:11:18.760 against the run, He's great against the past, and this 0:11:18.840 --> 0:11:20.600 year what I felt like helped take his game to 0:11:20.600 --> 0:11:22.640 the next level. If you really just watch him and 0:11:22.640 --> 0:11:25.080 watch our film and pay attention to it. He played 0:11:25.120 --> 0:11:27.760 all across the defensive line, so I mean he played 0:11:27.800 --> 0:11:30.480 the shade, the head up zero, played the three, played 0:11:30.480 --> 0:11:33.600 the four, played a six, sometimes played the five, He 0:11:33.640 --> 0:11:35.920 played the run and rushed out of all those positions, 0:11:36.400 --> 0:11:38.400 and like I said, this year was his first time 0:11:38.400 --> 0:11:40.640 really getting those opportunity to do that. So now it's 0:11:40.679 --> 0:11:43.880 just another year being comfortable with the technique that we 0:11:43.880 --> 0:11:47.960 want at all those different positions. That way, teams can't 0:11:48.000 --> 0:11:51.240 just focus in on one spot where he's at, and 0:11:51.280 --> 0:11:53.360 he's gonna continue to get better at that. It's gonna 0:11:53.400 --> 0:11:55.360 be great for us. So that's that's how I see 0:11:55.400 --> 0:11:55.959 him getting better. 0:11:56.000 --> 0:11:56.120 Man. 0:11:56.200 --> 0:11:57.880 Just continue to work on the technique just like he 0:11:57.920 --> 0:12:00.480 said he's gonna do, and it allows to move 'em 0:12:00.480 --> 0:12:03.080 around different spots, so offenses just can't key in on 'em. 0:12:03.440 --> 0:12:06.640 Just in, what sort of advice did you seek or 0:12:06.920 --> 0:12:10.480 or get maybe to you know, kind to reach this 0:12:10.800 --> 0:12:13.680 decision about signing the deal and stay there long term 0:12:13.760 --> 0:12:15.360 versus you know, playing out time. 0:12:15.200 --> 0:12:15.760 And so forth. 0:12:17.840 --> 0:12:22.320 Any advice? Uh, I don't really get much advice. He 0:12:22.400 --> 0:12:26.720 just said just just stay cool, stay calm, chill, It'll 0:12:26.720 --> 0:12:29.280 get done. They want you there, you wanna be there, 0:12:29.760 --> 0:12:32.320 just give it patience. So really, patience was my advice. 0:12:32.360 --> 0:12:35.840 I would say, just in a lot of times, contract years, 0:12:35.840 --> 0:12:38.200 when there's pressure on it brings pressure on a player. 0:12:38.400 --> 0:12:40.400 Some players struggled to deal with it. 0:12:40.800 --> 0:12:44.080 Why were you so comfortable this year with knowing that 0:12:44.240 --> 0:12:47.040 you know you could be playing for your next contract? 0:12:49.080 --> 0:12:51.680 I would say my faith for sure, My my my 0:12:51.800 --> 0:12:55.280 faith and my belief in myself kept me calm. I 0:12:55.320 --> 0:12:57.000 just knew that if I just do the right things, 0:12:57.160 --> 0:13:00.200 go to bed on time, stay consistent, stay focused, just 0:13:00.200 --> 0:13:01.439 do the right thing. I know at the end of 0:13:01.480 --> 0:13:03.120 the uh of the of the tunnel, there's gonna be 0:13:03.160 --> 0:13:05.360 some light and everything's gonna take care of itself. And 0:13:05.360 --> 0:13:08.800 and it did. So I'm gonna continue that formula, keep 0:13:08.800 --> 0:13:12.240 it going and just try to continue to be an 0:13:12.280 --> 0:13:13.120 impactful player. 0:13:14.040 --> 0:13:14.959 Trust any you. 0:13:14.880 --> 0:13:17.600 Know what Jack said value versatility play along that some 0:13:17.640 --> 0:13:19.600 guys aren't able to do that, whether it's is their 0:13:19.640 --> 0:13:23.360 body type or their technique. Right, what what makes you 0:13:23.679 --> 0:13:25.400 able to do that be so versatile? 0:13:25.480 --> 0:13:26.000 Play along that? 0:13:26.400 --> 0:13:33.679 Oh, like you said, I'd say, like like the body 0:13:33.679 --> 0:13:35.080 types and stuff like that. I feel think I have 0:13:35.080 --> 0:13:38.000 a very unique uh body type and in which I 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:40.600 can I'm strong enough to hold myself in terms of 0:13:40.640 --> 0:13:43.199 UH being a nose. I'm quick enough and argia enough 0:13:43.240 --> 0:13:45.319 to rush as a three, and then I'm I'm also 0:13:45.360 --> 0:13:49.200 fast enough to burn the edge. They's just the hard work, UH, 0:13:49.240 --> 0:13:53.440 consistency and the standard I put myself to and knowing 0:13:53.440 --> 0:13:56.200 my abilities and just showcasing them and uh just believing 0:13:56.200 --> 0:13:56.720 in myself. 0:13:58.920 --> 0:14:02.160 Just any talks earlier about the end of the twenty 0:14:02.200 --> 0:14:04.520 twenty two season and the goals that you had going 0:14:04.559 --> 0:14:07.760 into last year, and now when do you sort of 0:14:07.880 --> 0:14:10.800 set that mindset? You talk about how many sacks you 0:14:10.800 --> 0:14:11.840 wanna have in a season. 0:14:12.080 --> 0:14:13.880 Sometimes you won't tell us your goals, but. 0:14:13.840 --> 0:14:16.439 When does that when do you set those in your mind? 0:14:17.840 --> 0:14:25.040 Now, Jefin, you mentioned sharing's moment with your family, but 0:14:25.200 --> 0:14:28.000 your teammates showed a lot of love when and and 0:14:28.080 --> 0:14:30.160 reacted very positively. 0:14:29.680 --> 0:14:30.520 To the contract. 0:14:30.560 --> 0:14:32.680 I mean, what was your reaction to that to just 0:14:32.720 --> 0:14:34.560 see how much support it at to you? 0:14:35.800 --> 0:14:35.960 Uh? 0:14:36.080 --> 0:14:37.920 It it means work to me. You know, those are 0:14:37.920 --> 0:14:41.000 the guys that uh literally we go into war with 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:45.720 each other, you know on Sundays, Mondays and now sometimes Saturdays, 0:14:45.720 --> 0:14:48.840 I guess. So, you know, it's just a blessing just 0:14:48.880 --> 0:14:51.120 to have a brotherhood, like it's a real brotherhood. You know, 0:14:51.200 --> 0:14:52.800 we say it in the media, a lot of people 0:14:52.800 --> 0:14:55.600 say that, but it's really true. We go up playing 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:58.920 with each other like on the football field, and we 0:14:58.960 --> 0:15:00.680 just got each other back, which with each other in 0:15:00.680 --> 0:15:03.560 the offseason as well. You know, it was just awesome 0:15:03.600 --> 0:15:06.440 to have my uh teammate support and just be genuine love, 0:15:06.480 --> 0:15:09.480 and just a lot of guys text me like, man, 0:15:09.520 --> 0:15:12.040 this is really motivated for me, Like you really like 0:15:12.160 --> 0:15:12.520 did that? 0:15:12.600 --> 0:15:12.720 Man? 0:15:12.800 --> 0:15:14.920 We talked about it and now like I believe in myself, 0:15:14.960 --> 0:15:18.320 So I feel like it just creates everybody to just 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:20.280 inspire to keep getting better. 0:15:21.360 --> 0:15:24.400 Was it important for you to get this deal done 0:15:24.920 --> 0:15:27.120 prior a free agency because you knew that it could 0:15:27.560 --> 0:15:32.080 benefit the team to you know, navigate through free agency 0:15:32.080 --> 0:15:33.560 and so was that something that was at all on 0:15:33.680 --> 0:15:37.720 your mind? 0:15:38.600 --> 0:15:43.040 Not really in my mind. I was just like, hopefully 0:15:43.080 --> 0:15:44.760 we can get this deal done. So when it's done, 0:15:44.760 --> 0:15:47.120 I can just focus on just grinding and getting right 0:15:47.360 --> 0:15:50.880 and getting ready for this upcoming season. And that's what happens. 0:15:50.880 --> 0:15:54.880 So now I can focus on just you know, enjoying 0:15:54.880 --> 0:15:56.359 this with my family but then getting. 0:15:56.080 --> 0:15:56.520 Back to work. 0:15:57.000 --> 0:16:00.480 Are touching on that, how much does not have security 0:16:00.480 --> 0:16:01.880 of the franchise tag? 0:16:02.160 --> 0:16:03.600 How much does that help the team entry? 0:16:03.640 --> 0:16:03.800 For you? 0:16:04.680 --> 0:16:06.520 Well, it helps, you know, we need all the help 0:16:06.520 --> 0:16:09.000 we can get, you know, so yeah, it helps. Every 0:16:09.040 --> 0:16:12.400 little bit helps. You know, these are things that you know, 0:16:12.640 --> 0:16:14.440 we just don't look at in a vacuum. We're trying 0:16:14.480 --> 0:16:17.120 to consider all the different consequences of these types of things, 0:16:17.160 --> 0:16:21.200 and something that I've been looking at really since last August, 0:16:21.600 --> 0:16:24.240 you know, in meetings with Nick and Pat and Aussie 0:16:24.280 --> 0:16:27.480 and Steve and Sashi and everybody, just looking at, like 0:16:27.640 --> 0:16:30.240 financially projecting out what we're gonna look like in twenty four, 0:16:30.280 --> 0:16:35.160 twenty five, twenty six, twenty seven, obviously with a franchise quarterback, 0:16:35.400 --> 0:16:37.520 and what those contracts look like. I have said this before. 0:16:37.520 --> 0:16:41.720 The landscape changes, so every deal you do is critically 0:16:41.840 --> 0:16:43.920 important in the grand scheme of things. And that's why 0:16:44.840 --> 0:16:46.400 I think you all can get a sense for the 0:16:46.800 --> 0:16:49.120 feeling we have towards justin that we were willing to 0:16:49.120 --> 0:16:52.280 commit to a contract like this, I think speaks the 0:16:52.320 --> 0:16:53.960 world for how we feel about him as a player 0:16:53.960 --> 0:16:54.560 and as a person. 0:16:55.240 --> 0:16:57.760 Karin, the windows what's about to open? I mean, the 0:16:57.800 --> 0:16:59.840 reports are about to start flying. I mean, is there 0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:03.040 on the peace of mind also in knowing that you've 0:17:03.040 --> 0:17:05.199 probably gotten done your biggest piece of business on the 0:17:05.200 --> 0:17:05.680 off season. 0:17:06.640 --> 0:17:08.600 Yeah, I think that's right. I mean, and looking at it, 0:17:08.600 --> 0:17:10.600 you know, you know, you just can't keep every single 0:17:10.640 --> 0:17:13.800 player on your team us A. That's a frustrating aspect 0:17:13.800 --> 0:17:16.440 of this job that I have so you have to 0:17:16.520 --> 0:17:18.480 keep your very best if you can, the guys you 0:17:18.640 --> 0:17:21.280 feel most strongly about as players, but also as people, 0:17:21.720 --> 0:17:24.200 the guys who impact your roster and your fan base 0:17:24.280 --> 0:17:27.320 in different ways, and and Justin's one of those types 0:17:27.359 --> 0:17:30.159 of guys. We won't be able to do this in 0:17:30.200 --> 0:17:33.960 every single instance, unfortunately, but we feel very very good 0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:36.600 about what we did this weekend, and we're a better 0:17:36.600 --> 0:17:38.800 football team. We're gonna win a lot of games this 0:17:38.880 --> 0:17:42.880 year with Justin manning the defensive line, and hopefully we've 0:17:42.920 --> 0:17:45.639 got some other young players who see the opportunity to 0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:48.840 stick to stand up and help us as well. 0:17:49.440 --> 0:17:52.160 You mentioned the importance kind of getting the steal done 0:17:52.160 --> 0:17:54.280 ahead of free agency and so forth. I'm just curious 0:17:54.359 --> 0:17:57.879 having a few that running back market versus what you 0:17:57.960 --> 0:18:01.960 might do say in the draft versus free and say 0:18:02.480 --> 0:18:05.760 do you expect to be aggressive patient? I know patients 0:18:05.840 --> 0:18:08.080 is kind of something you guys have always displayed. 0:18:09.119 --> 0:18:11.440 Yeah, I really don't. I mean, I understand the question, 0:18:11.520 --> 0:18:13.560 but talking about a market on the eve of free 0:18:13.560 --> 0:18:15.560 agency doesn't seem like a smart thing, So I probably 0:18:15.560 --> 0:18:16.359 passing that question. 0:18:18.880 --> 0:18:19.399 I'm wondering. 0:18:20.800 --> 0:18:22.680 Eric mentioned that it was important to him to sign 0:18:22.800 --> 0:18:25.000