Offensive Tackle Jermaine Eluemunor

Q. Curious, take us through what Monday was like for you and what ultimately led you to coming back here.

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: A little stressful, because obviously like the anxiety of just trying to figure out what's going to happen. I had a feeling I would be back just from the calls I had with (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) and Coach (offensive coordinator Matt) Nagy and talking to Coach Harbs (Head Coach John Harbaugh) and (offensive line) Coach Bloom (Mike Bloomgren). So, I wanted to be back here. I didn't really want to go anywhere else. So, I was hoping that we could work it out where I could come back here and I could continue to do what I've been doing here. And now I'm just really glad it all worked out.

Q. You mentioned Coach Harbaugh. You played for him as a young player. Just your memories of him from back then and the other part of that is how much of a different player is he getting now?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Well, I'm nowhere close to the player I was back then, I can tell you that. Coach Harbs is the type of guy that's going to love you hard, but he's going to coach you harder. And like I said, he's going to hold you accountable for everything. He's going to hold you to a certain standard and a certain expectation when you're practicing out there, the way you carry yourself, the way you represent the franchise, and just the way you are as a person. He wants great players, but he also wants great men and great people, and he's a big believer in that. I think that's something he's done great job of throughout his career and how long I've known him.

As for the player, obviously I wasn't a good enough player back when I was in Baltimore, that's why they traded me. But again, standing in front of Harbs and telling him the player I've become and the player I'm going to be in the future, it was really cool just to be able to sit in front of him and just see him again and let him see the man I've become. Because I was, back when I got drafted, obviously that was almost 10 years ago now, or I guess it will be 10 years ago this season. So, I've grown a lot, matured a lot, and coming into my own as a player and as a person, and I'm just really glad that Coach Harbs gets to see that.

Q. You obviously mentioned on Twitter and I think on another show that how much you love this fan base and how much love you received from them. How much did that factor into your decision to come back?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: It's huge. I don't think it's every day that, it doesn't matter who you are, like a player gets the type of love and appreciation and just reception I've gotten from this fan base ever since I signed here. Yeah, I didn't do anything that was extra or anything that was kind of out of my character, I just was me, and it was really cool that the fans related with that. I guess they appreciated that and just backed me. I've been in a lot of places where things have been said negatively to me, or just fans just haven't really liked me. So, I don't know why that was because of, but being here in New York and the type of reception I've gotten and just the love that's been shown to me that I just never expected it and it's been really cool. Even before I resigned here, just getting the Tweets every single day and the messages on Instagram and from fans really wanting me back here, it means a lot. And like I said, I don't think a lot of players get to experience what I'm experiencing right now and I truly, truly appreciate it and don't take it for granted.

Q. You could have walked in there in a Giants hoodie or a sweatshirt, why are you dressed up today?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: It means a lot. It's something I've been working towards my entire career and I just wanted to show them that it's, this isn't just another day for me, it's a combination of all the days I put in, all the hard work I put in, just keeping my head down and working. And I've been open about my story where I've been cut, traded, put on the p-squad, cut, benched and I've been through all these different things that not a lot of players get to this position I'm in right now. And to me I truly just wanted to show just how how important this is. And I feel like you put on suits for important events and this truly is an important event, and I just wanted to show whoever, like the fans, the coaches, anyone in the building, just how much this meant to me and how much I truly appreciate this. And I feel like you have to dress for the occasion. Not everyone may do it, but for me I truly think that it was appropriate for this situation and the day. And it's a huge day for me and my family and I wanted to show that through the suit.

Q. Is that new?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I got it custom made for this event.

Q. Custom made?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, well, I mean, it's hard to find suits that fit me. But I have a tailor who is in New Jersey that has tailored a lot of guys in the NFL that made this really quick for me for the event, so I'm really glad and thankful for that.

Q. So you got this suit after you signed? After you agreed to terms, you said, let's go with the suit? I mean, how did that work?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: No, I actually got it before. I was kind of banking, well, not banking, I would say I was hoping that I would get the opportunity to wear it. If not, then I was just going to wear it for the first game next season. But kind of put faith in myself that I was going to be back here, and wanted to get a suit for the occasion, because, I mean, it's New York, you have to dress up for basically everything here. So, I actually got it while I was on vacation in St. Lucia a couple days before free agency, so I hit up my tailor and I said, 'hey, God willing, I'm going to sign the biggest contract of my life, and I want a suit that matches the occasion.' I had always wanted a suit that looked like this, and I'm very glad that I get to put it on and just wear it for the day, which is an honor and I'm really grateful for it.

Q. I'm not going to ask you to stand up, the pants match, right, it's a suit?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: One hundred percent.

Q. For the first time in your career you went over a thousand snaps and normally guys when they play that much for the first time they tend to wear down. You had one of your best career performances in terms of pass blocking, in terms of everything. What do you attribute that to?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I mean, honestly, this was my first year getting to play one position. So, I think it's that every single day I came in this building, I was able to focus on the right tackle and I was able to go against (outside linebacker Brian) Burns and (outside linebacker Kayvon) Tibs (Thibodeaux) and (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) every single day. And a lot of my -- I went against a lot of great players this year, but I think that those three are three of the best edge rushers or three of the best edge players in the NFL. So, getting to go against them is a blessing.

Also, it was a mentality for me. To me, every single year of my career something has been on the line. There's never been a sense of stability or a sense of comfort. I've always played with a chip on my shoulder. I've always played with the pressure on my back, and I've known that I have to perform and I need to produce because if not then my spot can get taken. Maybe some people say, no, they don't think that, but that's just how I play. I play like someone's behind me chasing me and I'm trying to keep the lead on them instead of them catching up to me. And I'm going to continue to play like that the rest of my career. But I think it's just a combination of things. Again, to go against Burns, Tibs and Abdul every day, getting to having to look over my shoulder and also just knowing that I was going to play one position and that position was mine which was a really cool feeling.

Q. I know those are shorts, Jermaine, come on, I know that's a shorts suit, isn't it?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: No, it's not. (Laughing).

Q. I left mine in the cleaners, so next time we'll match up again.

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Oh, for sure, for sure.

Q. Can you describe the responsibility you felt, you mentioned your family earlier, and the last time you went into free agency it was a, I don't want to say it wasn't about your family, but it really was about you to prove that you deserved that contract. How much responsibility have you felt over the last couple weeks? I know everybody has that in their life, but for you deciding where you were going to be and how much it was going to change not just your life, but your family's lives moving forward?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I mean, I think every man of the household has that sense of responsibility to protect their family and put their family in the best situation possible. For me it's been like that for my entire career. I've put that pressure on my shoulders and that weight on my back where I've known that I need to go out there every single day, practice, in the weight room, in the film room, whatever it is, I need to make sure I'm at my best so on Sundays I'm at my best. That way I can put my family in the best position possible, which I'm doing right now, and which is an honor and a blessing. And I'm really grateful for the Giants franchise for believing in me and giving me the contract that they did, which is a blessing. So for me the work's not done, it's just started because now a whole new different pressure gets put on your shoulders, where you need to produce because you need to show the fans and the franchise and the coaches and the GM and the owners that you are worth it of the money that they're investing in you. Because that's what it is, it's an investment. So now for me my job now is to show that their investment was worthwhile. And the whole family aspect of it, I feel like I've finally been able to secure my future for my family, which is a blessing and an honor, and I'm truly grateful for that. But the other side of that is now there's a whole new pressure where I need to go out there and continue to do what I've been doing, but to a higher standard now, and I'm really excited that I get the opportunity to do that.

Q. I got two for you. One, I know they asked you about Monday, what else can you tell us about Monday? Like can you tell us any other teams, like did you have comparable offers that you picked the Giants, did you maybe did you take any little less to come to the Giants, like what can you tell us about the actual decision on Monday, what was in front of you?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I mean, I wanted to be here and so, like I said, I'm glad that we were able to do something where it worked for both sides and I was able to continue to do what I've didn't here. I didn't want to be anywhere else. I wanted to continue to be a New York Giant because I love this team, I love this franchise, I love the people in the building. I wanted to play for Coach Harbs, and I'm excited that I get the opportunity to do that again. And Coach Bloom, G-Ro (senior offensive assistant Greg Roman), Coach Nagy, (passing game coordinator/quarterbacks) Coach (Brian) Callahan, they're all great coaches and they're all really, really qualified coaches, but they have a ton of experience, and so I'm really excited that I get to be a player in their offense and in their system on this team.

Q. So, it looks like you could have at least four of the same offensive linemen, but the guy next to you isn't signed yet. What do you know or what do you think or what do you want, you're a pretty opinionated guy, what do you think about right guard next to you, and who you want to see there?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I do whatever they want me to do. Like I said, whoever they put next to me, I'm going to make sure that we're aligned and that we think the same. And when we go out there on Sundays, we do our best to not only protect the quarterback, but open up run lanes and make sure this offense is producing on all cylinders

Q. Media Good Guy Award this year?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I'll try my best. I don't know how Burns got it over me. It's kind of crazy, but if I don't get it this year, I'm not talking to you no more (laughing).

Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds

Q. Curious what the last week or so was like, because I think you were kind of on the trade block, and at what point did you find out the Giants were interested in you?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: It's been a lot, just as far as just the business side of it and kind of going through the process. But with free agency it's kind of weird. You find out a lot of things, really when the window is open, you know what I mean, for teams to kind of reach out to you and start talking contract stuff and looking like what it is.

But just backtracking, obviously, it was a trade situation, and then the release from Chicago, what led me here. And just kind of going through the process, taking it all in. Definitely forever grateful for my opportunity in New York now with Coach (John) Harbaugh and the staff, just kind of getting here, getting my feet wet and really hitting the ground running, and really trying to build something special for sure.

Q. Did you think there was any chance the Giants were going to trade for you? Was that a team that came up at that point?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: To be honest, man, the process goes so fast. It's really hard to say who's going to do this and who's not going to do this. But I'm excited that I was able to come here, and to be able to get things started here.

Q. This might sound like a very elementary question, but everybody is different, and I'm kind of wondering, how do you go about leading a defense?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Yeah. I mean, that's not elementary. If you don't know, then that means I got to answer it for you.

No, it's just you got to be yourself. Like this is my ninth year going into the league, and it's always been the same mindset for me. Like be your authentic self and people are going to be led by somebody like that. I don't try to be somebody I'm not. Obviously, just being a good defense, being a good team and being a good player, like you got to demand a lot out of each other.

So that's definitely one thing that each and every one of us should want out of each other. That's what brings a team together, that's what brings players together, and that's what I've always been about all my years, not trying to show up somebody that I'm not, respecting everybody, showing love, but at the same time, like you're going to see off my work, I've always been a hard worker. All my teammates can vouch for it. And that's just how I truly believe like you can be a good leader, a good player and just have longevity in this league, be yourself, be your authentic self and people are going to gravitate towards that.

Q. Obviously John Harbaugh loves his middle linebackers, (former Ravens linebacker) Ray Lewis, (Ravens linebacker) Roquan Smith, all those guys. When he talked to you about the fit, how you fit on this team, what did he explain to you about your fit and how excited are you to play for a coach who loves that great middle linebacker play?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Yeah. As far as fit and role and stuff like that, to be honest with you, like I said, stuff has been going a thousand miles per hour. Even now, I just got here and kind of came straight up here. So as far as sitting down, going through the logistics and what that looks like, we haven't technically got there yet. But he shored up that obviously that's a Hall of Fame coach. You know what I mean? I've been a fan of Coach Harbaugh for a long time. I actually grew up a Ravens fan. So, I was very close with what he did and players that he coached.

You brought up Ray Lewis. That was my favorite player going up, ironically. And just to be able to kind of get under that same tree and, you know what I mean, just get around greatness. And he's coached, like you said, some other hall of fame players and some other big-time players. And now it's my time to come in to take that coaching and to elevate my career and elevate what I've been doing over these years.

And I'm extremely excited. It's going to be definitely a lot of work, but at the same time, that's what you want. You want something that's going to be hard. Anything that's worth having, it takes hard work and sacrifice. So, I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity, and I'm excited for this opportunity for sure.

Q. And obviously you've been a vet in this league, but you said you grew up watching John Harbaugh and the Ravens and Ray Lewis. Does it hit you at any point that you're going to play for a coach that you've admired for such a long time and being part of that tree like you said?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Yeah, 100 percent. That goes into the decision of why I wanted to come here, to be around that, to know what he stands for. Not just obviously on the field, but even talking with him you know what I mean? He's a guy that you just get the feel, like you know what, man, he's all ball. It's not just all talk. It's based off his resumé. Like just look at the things that he's done.

If you have any type of competitive drives in your blood or whatever, like you want to be playing for a guy like that. And to have that opportunity to come out and show not just him, but just the whole New York Giants organization what I could do, that's what I'm looking for, to showing my teammates that I am one of the best linebackers in the league and showing them that you can trust a guy like me to go out there and help bring this thing together and really be where we want to be at.

That's the most exciting thing about it. But like everything, man, it takes one step at a time. Obviously learning from my experience, that's really what I want to pour back into the young guys, show them the bad side of it, show them the good side of it, because at the end of the day, that's what it is. It's a journey, and you got to take each step and apply that into where you're trying to get to, but it's one step at a time. You can't look at tomorrow without getting through today and what today's mission is. So, we take it one step at a time and see where things go.

Q. You were first round pick in Buffalo, (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe Schoen was the assistant GM there. Do you have any kind of relationship with him? Sometimes players and assistant GMs really don't. But now the reconnection here with the Giants. Did any of that affect anything in any way?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Yeah. I mean, I've had some relationship with him, you know what I mean? Just obviously being in Buffalo, him being in Buffalo, just having a relationship, talking on the side and when we run into one another and just being able to just say what's up, small talk. Well, sometimes it may be big talk.

Obviously, Buffalo was a couple years back for me now, but just to see his success over the years, first, just want to congratulate him even for this job that he has now. Obviously, it's not easy leading an organization, and to see what he's doing, obviously bringing in Coach Harbaugh, bringing in these new pieces and trying to really turn this thing around. I think he's definitely off to the right start.

It's definitely always good to come back around somebody that you're familiar with. So just kind of seeing each other again and kind of just smiling and saying, man, it's been a while, but I'm glad we were able to reconnect. It's always good, obviously, seeing somebody else again.

Q. Did you think you found a home in Chicago and were going to stay there? I mean, how hard is it to be told to leave and then have to find this? I'm sure you're very happy to be with the Giants, but you know what I'm saying? Upheaval and moving is hard, isn't it?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Yeah. It's the business. You know what you signed up for. And I say that smiling, but when you trust your ability and you trust, honestly, God's plan, I'm a firm believer that I am where I'm supposed to be at.

I don't know, you know what, I may have been protected from just transitioning to this phase, but I'm extremely excited, extremely confident that this is going to be my best phase out of my whole career. I'm looking forward and not more so looking behind me.

So, a lot of the things are positive. Chicago, I'm grateful for all the experience I got there over the last three years, amazing fanbase, amazing coaching they have over there with (Chicago Bears Head) Coach (Ben) Johnson and just amazing players and friendships that I made over there. But you take those experiences, take those friendships and you build into the next phase of your life. You know what I mean?

Life don't stop now that I'm going to another team. It's just now we add on to the things that we've done over there, or that I did over there. And it's kind of just bringing some of my experiences, you know what I mean?

I'm going into year nine. I have some experience to show some of the younger guys just as far as maybe starting off a certain way but changing stuff around. And I'm not saying it's just my way or the highway. But I'm a firm believer that experience is a number one teacher. So, we all can learn from one another.

But to answer your question again, I'm extremely grateful for it. Man, I am not looking back on it at all. I got nothing but love for the city of Chicago, and I want to thank them for everything that they've done for my career.

Q. What do you know about (defensive coordinator) Dennard Wilson and what do you think you can kind of bring to this team and this defense?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Yeah. Definitely know him, he's aggressive. I like his coaching style. I know a couple players that played for him kind of spoke briefly on just his style in general. Kind of followed him a little bit in his last spot as well, and I'm just excited to get to know him a little bit more and for him to get to know me.

I think player-coach relationship is important in this league, to be able to look at strengths and weaknesses of a player and of a coach and be able to come together for something greater than yourself is what I admire most out of my years, people from different backgrounds, different experiences.

Obviously, he was in a new spot last year. I was in a new spot last year. So, I would like to say we both come into this situation with a chip on our shoulder. And that's the most important thing, and that's the most exciting thing.

Like when you have somebody -- not just somebody, but people as a whole that they only want to do is just win. That's all they want to do is win, and that's the vibe I'm getting from him, extremely confident in what he do. And I'm excited to get the ball rolling.

Q. And also, I'm curious, what happened at the end in Chicago? Like what did they tell you? Why did you become available?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: That's how the business goes, man. That's how the business goes. And just the whole situation played out how it played out. But like I said a couple minutes ago, I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity. Whatever happened, happened as far as conversation wise. We don't have to really get into all those details.

But it's more so just the opportunity that I have now, man. I'm extremely happy just to be able to come in here and really do something that I feel like the city wants, and that's to win. And that's all that's on my mind. Each spot, everywhere that I played, it resulted in us winning just as far as I'm talking about as a team, and that feeling is contagious. And that's what you want as a player. That's what you want as an organization. And that's just what I want to do here exactly in New York as well.

There's great players that's already on this team and just being able to come and kind of just add to it, because it's not like I'm starting from ground zero. We have great players here already that's been playing at high levels, and that's really what drew me to even come here, too, to be able to team up with some of these guys and to really make a run for this thing. So, I'm extremely excited, man, and I think the sky is the limit.

Fullback Patrick Ricard

Q. Patrick, I wanted to ask you a little bit about your earlier career. You started off as a defensive player. You converted over to fullback, and I just want to get an idea, because you don't see very many pure fullbacks these days in the NFL. What did you pick up from playing defense that you were able to successfully transition over to playing fullback?

PATRICK RICARD: I love that question. I think it's the physical part of defense. Defense, you're always on the attack. You're always trying to be as physical as you can. You have to beat a offensive linemen. You have to chase down a quarterback. You have to do all these things to where for me playing fullback, I think it translated really well, on top of also understanding how defenses work, how a defensive line, how a front plays, how their gaps sound, how they blitz, how they pass rush, and I think I was able to take all those things that I learned from playing defense and use it in my game on offense.

And I think that helped me really understand and really learn, because I didn't play offense in college. So for me to try to block and play in an offense against the best in the world, it was a huge learning curve, and I was just thankful for great coaches to help me, and the coaches here now, (Head) Coach (John) Harbaugh and (senior offensive assistant) Coach (Greg) Roman. So, I'm just grateful to be back with them again and continue my journey with them.

Q. Are you kind of surprised that fullback is kind of – I don't want to say it's been extinct, obviously, because there are still some pure fullbacks in the NFL. But are you surprised that the game has kind of gravitated away from the position, and do you see it making more of a comeback?

PATRICK RICARD: I think it's anything with football. Football goes through different phases. If anything, I think nowadays you're starting to see a little bit I think of a resurgence. And I think on top of it as well, it's hard to find good fullbacks. It's a very kind of thoughtless – I mean selfless – that's the word I'm looking for – position to where it takes the right kind of guy to find. And I'm just happy to be the guy that's set the standard and hopefully wanting more teams to use.

If you look at this past Super Bowl, the Seahawks and the Patriots, they were both using fullbacks. So, I think personally every team should be using them. I don't know why you wouldn't want to use that. But I'm going to continue to try to set the standard. I'm going to continue to show teams why they should be using them.

Q. Can you tell us about your process? I gather you probably had your last head coach and your last offensive coordinator fighting for your services. So, what was that decision like?

PATRICK RICARD: Yeah. I mean, I just want to start off with saying I'm just very grateful for Coach Harbaugh. I mean, he's been in my corner my whole career. He's believed in me. And as soon as I saw he got the job here, I was definitely interested. I even told him, like, look, if you were coaching a Pop Warner football team, I'm interested. You know, like I'm there doing something. I don't even know if I'm like the water boy, you know what I'm saying?

So, like as soon as he was interested in me coming here, I was all in. I was just ready to just sign the contract and let's get going.

Q. But am I right in assuming that Cleveland probably had a lot of interest, too?

PATRICK RICARD: Yes. They were definitely interested. We had talks back and forth. Ultimately, I made the decision to sign here. Felt like it was a better fit for me and my family, I felt like my history with Harbaugh. I obviously love (Cleveland Browns Head) Coach (Todd) Monken, with him for the last three years now, I think it was. And just a ton of respect for him, and I know he's going to do a lot of great things there. So I'm excited for the Browns, but I'm more excited for the Giants.

Q. What do you know about (offensive coordinator Matt) Nagy's offense? He's obviously used a full fullback quite a bit over the years, too.

PATRICK RICARD: Yeah, so that's something I'm going to have to get more familiar with. I know they have Greg Roman, who I spent a lot of time with in Baltimore. So for me personally, I'm here to do whatever they ask me to do. If they want me to run the ball, they want me to throw the ball, if they want me to, I don't even know, do whatever, I'm going to do whatever I can to help this team. If I have to play every snap, if I play one snap. But I'm excited to get this thing going and see how I will be used to help this team.

Q. You talked about selfless before. Do you know how many rushing attempts you have in your career?

PATRICK RICARD: Like me getting the ball you're asking? Maybe like 15 max.

Q. You're short changing yourself.

PATRICK RICARD: How many is it?

Q. I believe it's -- is it 22? No, you're right. It's 11.

PATRICK RICARD: 11. Yeah.

Q. I misstated the yards and the thing. 11. 11 in nine years. What does that say about you and your job and your role? I know you've caught the ball and had some touchdowns, but a fullback who wants to be a big part of the running game, and you have 11 rushing attempts.

PATRICK RICARD: Yeah. I mean, that doesn't bother me at all. I've been fortunate enough to play with so many great backs and so many great quarterbacks who can run the ball to where as long as I am blocking and we are getting yards and we're getting touchdowns, that's all I care about. That's all that matters.

And for me, like I've garnished the nickname Pancake Pat because I pride myself in how physical I am, the point of attack and pancaking defenders, and if I can continue to do that, that's all I care about.

It does not bother me if I don't get the ball at all. Sometimes I'd rather have these other guys get the balls because they're just, to be honest, they're better. They're more explosive. They can run a lot faster than me, you know, I'm 300 pounds. So, I'd rather have the ball in their hands and me blocking for them.

But, yeah, sometimes it's nice to get the ball and make a play for the team. But I'm okay with either, either option you want to do.

Q. How familiar are you with (running back) Cam Skattebo?

PATRICK RICARD: So, I loved watching him last year, and I was just thinking to myself, I'm like, man, that guy has a lot of fun. And you can just tell by how he plays and the juice he brings to the team.

I've had a couple conversations with him. He was recruiting me to come here. I'm close with (tackle) Jermaine Eluemunor, both in the same draft class in Baltimore. Jermaine was FaceTiming me, and right in the background there's Skatt just saying what's up to me. So, I'm excited to work with them and get to know him more.

Q. What does it look like for a 300-pound fullback leading the way for Cam Skattebo, who is a unique individual in a lot of ways? What is that going to look like?

PATRICK RICARD: It's going to look like a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns. It's going to be just physicality all over the place. It's going to just be exactly what the people want to see.

Q. You mentioned kind of what I was going to ask you about. You love physical play. You played with that with Harbaugh. So, I'm just curious, what does that look like when this offense is physical, knowing what Harbaugh wants to bring to this offense and your role in it? What does that look like and feel like for fans who are going to be getting used to a fullback-heavy offense?

PATRICK RICARD: It's going to look like a group of individuals playing together who love football. You're going to see the passion on the field. You're going to see guys playing incredibly hard for one another. You're going to see a defense that's not going to want to come to MetLife Stadium to play us. You're going to see, you know, just bodies flying all over the place. You're going to see guys just selling out for their teammates.

And I know that's what I'm going to bring, and I'm going to try to bring that to my team and show that to my teammates and prove that every day and just be the example for the locker room for everyone to follow.

Q. And the last thing for me, you mentioned you and Jermaine are pretty cool. I'm just curious, what were those conversations like and how excited are you to kind of play with him again, because obviously you guys had some time in Baltimore; right?

PATRICK RICARD: Yeah. So, if you look at Jermaine's journey, I mean he's trying to find a home, kind of bouncing around, and that whole time, I was in Baltimore for the last nine years. He's kind of bouncing around, and I'm in Baltimore, and for us to now finally be together again is just a full-circle moment.

And he was just telling me how great this place is and how much I'm going to love it and how much I'm going to love my teammates, the city. And he couldn't have said anything better about this place. So, I'm just excited to be with him once again and to enjoy and see what the city is all about.

Q. I'm just sitting here worrying about that Pop Warner team that's got to deal with Pancake Pat. Harbaugh at some point this spring is going to stand in front of the entire team and deliver his first speech as the head coach of the New York Giants. You have been with him obviously your entire career. Give me a feel, give me a sense of what John Harbaugh Act II will feel like and what it'll be like for you to kind of be in a different room, different atmosphere, different uniform, but it's the same man, same coach?

PATRICK RICARD: Yeah. It's going to – I'm interested as well to see how he's going to be and if he's going to be – if he's going to be the same man that he was in Baltimore or if he's going to come at it with a different approach.

But I will say this. He's going to be -- he's going to bring just that culture that he had in Baltimore in terms of being together, playing together, going through the adversities that a season brings, just being all the things that you want to see in a football team, smart, physical, disciplined, and I think that he's done it for 19 years. He's going to continue to bring it here, and I'm happy to be one of the players that's going to kind of just kind of show the guys what he wants, what he expects out of us.

I think that's the biggest thing is he's a great leader. He understands how to bring a group of men and make them one. And I think that's the biggest thing is that we can all understand that he is our leader, and as long as we do right by him, we'll be all right.

Tight End Isaiah Likely

Q. I want to ask about your new quarterback. Have you gotten a feel for the (quarterback) Jaxson Dart recruitment experience, and what are your impressions of Jaxson and what are you looking forward to being able to accomplish as his teammate?

ISAIAH LIKELY: Man, Jaxson, you know, a great quarterback, a great young quarterback. Obviously shows a lot of charisma when he's out there. Excited to get out there and play with him. When you watch him, you see the type of drive he has to win any game by any means necessary. You love that when you have a quarterback like that that's ready to do whatever it takes to win the game.

Q. Have you been in contact with him at all the last couple days?

ISAIAH LIKELY: Yeah. I texted him a little bit. Texted him probably a little bit before, just to throw a little bit, and then texted him after when he got done.

Q. Is he as good of a recruiter as he says he is?

ISAIAH LIKELY: He got me here (laughs).

Q. (Fullback) Patrick Ricard was just saying if (head coach) John Harbaugh coached a Pop Warner team, he'd be interested in playing for him. Obviously, you've played for him before. What is it about John Harbaugh that makes you, Patrick and other guys want to follow him to the Giants?

ISAIAH LIKELY: I'd say really just the culture that he brings. With Harbs the mantra was always be disciplined, you're going to give 110 percent effort for a whole 60 minutes, and understand that you'll never go into a game thinking negative. And I feel like that's the best mantra to have going into any organization having Harbs as your leader.

Q. You mentioned just what John Harbaugh brings, but just for people who want to understand about what a physical John Harbaugh team looks like, what did you love most about playing for him and playing for a team that prides themselves on being very physical up front?

ISAIAH LIKELY: Like you just said, up front you're going to be physical, you're going to be violent, you're going to play the whole 60 minutes like you're winning the whole game, and you're going to fight until you get the W. I mean, from the first snap to the last snap, that's the thing that Coach Harbs preaches every day, every practice, every meeting, every team meeting, you're going to understand that what you're getting out of Coach Harbs is what you're going to get from the first day that you have him until the last day that you have him.

Q. And then, also, Jaxson Dart loves his tight ends. Him and (tight end) Theo Johnson have a pretty good connection. Was that something that interested you as well knowing that Dart loves to utilize his tight ends?

ISAIAH LIKELY: For sure. When I watched Dart a little bit during the year, I've definitely seen the connection that they had. Just trying to help him create as (many) big plays as possible.

Q. If my numbers are correct, you played in the slot more than you had played in your career. I just want to get your take on what is it about the slot that you think is such a fit for what you do well, and do you like playing in the slot?

ISAIAH LIKELY: I feel like in the slot you get to see a lot more, right now, right then and there. When you're in line, hand in the dirt, obviously you have to look up, you have to evade defensive ends, outside linebackers. So really just, in the slot, just being able to look up, understand the snap count and really just (inaudible) it from there.

And I'd say, really, I just excelled in my game on just being a chess piece, whether it was in the slot, back field, in line, out wide, just being out there, being the chess piece to be able to get any play done.

Q. And then in terms of the jump ball, I think, again, unofficially, that's where you had most of your plays, if I'm not mistaken. And you've had some success with the jump ball. Can you just talk about that aspect of the game, especially I would think that would come in handy in the red zone…

ISAIAH LIKELY: For sure. I mean, it's just understanding that when the quarterback puts the ball way, that you're not going to put it in harm's way. Understanding that the quarterback is trusting you with the ball to go up and make a play, whether it's catching it for a big gain, catching it and going for six or just not making not a bad play worse, and that's just the mantra I have when the ball's in the air of it's my ball or nobody's, and that's just the mantra I get.

Q. Couple of quick things for you. We just had Patrick on. You being his teammate, talk about physicality and a 300-pound guy who never gets the ball.

ISAIAH LIKELY: (Laughs).

Q. You're laughing. What does he do for an offense -- I mean, maybe (Ravens running back) Derrick Henry would be better to ask about this than you, but what does he do? He's such a unique person. What does he do as a player that helps you?

ISAIAH LIKELY: I mean, Pat is just that Swiss Army knife that you need for a team, whether it's in the run game, physicality, pass pro or really just being that extra layer of the offensive line. And Pat is just a great teammate, great vet that I've had the past four years before this year, having him in Baltimore, just learning from him, being able to attack leverages, hearing from him say, obviously, like how he moves 300 pounds through gaps and blocks for everybody.

But the one thing that really stuck with me with Pat was when he was kind of bickering with me in 2023 because he had the longest reception in the room for about two weeks until I jumped him.

Q. Is he in your room?

ISAIAH LIKELY: Yeah. He should be in the tight end room. I told him he can't leave me. So, I'm trying to get that done.

Q. You don't really call him 'Pancake Pat,' do you?

ISAIAH LIKELY: No. I call him Pat (laughs).

Q. And one last thing. You look at your numbers, and you obviously shared a role with (Ravens tight end) Mark Andrews, or you had shared snaps. Do you think there's more there that your numbers are – you're ready to do more? I mean, you still have Theo Johnson here. I think Coach Harbaugh wants to be a running offense certainly. But do you think there's more there that you can show in New York?

ISAIAH LIKELY: Absolutely. And I feel like New York was just the best place for me to pick to be able to blossom, show my talents, and show that I'm a top tight end caliber player in this league now and really just being able to just express everything, showing New York that you got everything out of Isaiah Likely from here.

Q. Two things. One, for those of us who have watched a lot of the Ravens in Prime time, it always seemed like (Ravens quarterback) Lamar (Jackson) went to you in the clutch of times. Why? Was that something between you guys? Did you feel like you stepped up more in those clutch times than you do the rest of the game? Like why did it always seem like third and fourth down was to you?

ISAIAH LIKELY: I'd say, you know, just the connection that me and Lamar built, not only on the field, but off the field, was definitely excelled when we went on the field. And then just having the mindset of when the ball comes my way to always make a play, never make the quarterback wrong. And that's just what I've been trying to do my whole life is when the lights are the brightest, make sure you make them plays.

Q. So touchdown against the Steelers, right? That was a touchdown?

ISAIAH LIKELY: (Laughs) You know it.

Q. But I'm serious about this, Isaiah. Like have you had a chance to think about how crazy, maybe if that's a touchdown, maybe you win that game, maybe you're in the playoffs, maybe Harbaugh is still in Baltimore, maybe you're still in Baltimore. Have you thought at all about the craziness of that sliding doors theory I just gave you?

ISAIAH LIKELY: I mean, then you wouldn't be able to talk to me now, because like you said, I'd still be in Baltimore. So we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Q. It's kind of crazy how things work out, right?

ISAIAH LIKELY: For sure.