Opening remarks
A: Good evening, glad to be in pads. Padded work was necessary, obviously. Again, let's get them all out there so we can develop some balance so we can integrate the contract guys with everyone else and try to get on the same page. That's basically what I feel. I'm glad to be out here in pads and I was glad to get the work. There were a couple of things that did disappoint me that we will teach and overcome with the young guys. It was good but you can see that some of the rust has to come off.
Q: What is the availability of the new signees?
A: As far as I know, at this point in time, it is a no.
Q: Do you think it will be done by tomorrow?
A: I think that if they can get it done during the day, with the way we practice late in the day, we can still pull it off.
Q: How did you feel about the hitting?
A: It was good. There were a couple of spots where it was a little too good as always. It is an incredible thing as a coach because what I try to do is make it as safe as we can possibly make it even though I want the aggressiveness. If you can define that for me, it would be the first time that I came into a situation where I felt good about yelling at a guy for being overly aggressive. The term that I use all the time is, you've got to be smart. It is one team and you can't lose anybody.
Q: Is Jim Cordle ok?
A: Yes he is. That was not pretty there.
Q: How is Devin Thomas?
A: Ankle but he will be ok. I thought that he maybe had stepped on somebody's foot but that wasn't the case, he just rolled it.
Q: How frustrating would it be to not have a full team practice because of the CBA?
A: Very frustrating but everybody has to deal with it so it depends on what you make of it. If you make it a huge issue, you make it a huge issue. From a team standpoint, we need to all get on the same field for crying out loud. We have so many of them, you almost need to hire another field so they can hang around it.
Q: How do you feel about Adrian Tracy's development?
A: It would have been nice to have him here all winter but those are the guys that you see are going to not be able to benefit from the early opportunity of an earlier offseason program. But he has done fine and the learning has been good.
Q: Re: Osi.
A: I'm not talking about Osi. I have nothing to say. I don't know anything. It seems like there's chapters. When I do have something to tell you, I'll tell you, but I don't know any more than all of the speculation. I'd rather talk about the guys that are here and are practicing.
Q: Were you surprised to see him out there tonight?
A: Not really. He was given the option. He's here.
Q: Were you pleased that he was here?
A: I was. I was pleased.
Q: That's a good thing?
A: I think it's a good thing. I'm hoping that it's the kind of indication that we're all looking for.
Q: What did you like about Shawn Andrews' brother?
A: He really looks good. He's come in light. He weighed, whatever you want a number to be, 340. He looks to be in outstanding shape. He's got good feet. We plan to play him at tackle, which if you remember a couple of years ago, that is the spot that he gained great recognition at.
Q: He was a right tackle? Can he do both?
A: I imagine he's more comfortable at right. He'll be put on both sides.
Q: Re: Gabe Watson.
A: In good shape. Light on his feet. We know quite a bit about him. I'll tell you, a year or two ago he was pretty darn exciting. I can't tell you snap for snap what happened over the last year, but he's a strong, powerful guy that shows good athleticism and quickness. His availability was attractive to us. Hopefully he'll look at this as a new start and do something about it.
Q: Do you ever think about guys like that, who have had success in the league then they're on the scrap heap so to speak? What do we know that other people don't? Why are picking him up when others aren't?
A: In this case, not really. I didn't look at that this way. Sometimes you're right. You're right. Sometimes that happens with a guy that is highly thought of. Then you say, 'Uh oh, what does somebody know that I don't know?'
Q: Re: Young linebackers.
A: They've been aggressive and noteworthy in their play. Sometimes they're in the wrong spot or something, but they recover and they seem to be able to go and make some things happen. I like the way they're running around.
Q: Do you think that they know it's wide open right now?
A: I think they do. I don't know why they wouldn't.
Q: Some of them are free agents, some of them were draft picks…
A: Just let it go. Come on in here and give it all you've got. You have absolutely nothing to lose.
Q: Is that what you're getting?
A: That's what we're getting. I like their attitude. I listen to the way they chirp away and I like what I hear.
Q: Beckum with a couple catches on the sideline tonight. Will he have a bigger role this season?
A: I hope so. That's the plan.
