For those of you outside the Boston TV viewing area, the show will also be available immediately afterward on Patriots.com.

Some highlights to look forward to:

• Dan Roche re-caps a wild first week of the NFL new year.
• Newly signed Vince Wilfork sits down with Steve Burton for his first extensive interview since re-signing with New England.
• Burton also sits down with Patriots Personnel Director Nick Caserio to discuss the first week of free-agency.
• ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss and Patriot Weekly’s Paul Perillo offer their thoughts on the Patriots off-season moves to date, as well as their opinions on additional off-season needs.

Video Preview:

Also, on the NFL Network this week, check out the follow Patriots-related programming.

Saturday March 13th

8:00 PM – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XXXIX – Patriots vs. Eagles w/ Paul McCartney Halftime Show (HD)

Sunday, March 14th

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: 2009—Week 1, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots (HD)

Monday, March 15th

10:30 AM – NFL Replay: 2009—Week 1, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots, 24-25 (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL Replay: 2009—Week 1, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots, 24-25 (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 2003 – Week 13, New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts, (HD)

12:30 AM – NFL Classic Games: 2003 – Week 13, New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts (HD)

Tuesday March 16th

11:00 AM – NFL Classic Games: 2003 – Week 13, New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL Game of the Week: 2001 AFC Championship Game – New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

Post from: Patriots Daily

Patriots All Access Special Tonight at 7:00pm & NFLN Programming This Week
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Auburn Running Back Ben Tate

Bigger running backs get reputations as between-the-tackles guys who get a few yards up the middle and not much else. At 220 pounds, Ben Tate knew this perception of him going into the NFL combine, and he figured he’d do something about it.

The Auburn product cast aside that image by finishing at or near the top of six categories for running backs. He spoke with PD about the combine, playing in the SEC, and the diverse abilities he’s always had.

Well, I wanted to start out by saying congratulations on a great combine performance. I was wondering if you could talk about your workouts leading up to that, and how you feel about the results.

Leading up to the combine, I was just working really hard on the 40 and all those types of things that we were going to do there, as well as position drills. You know, I just worked my butt off. I had my goals set high, and I reached, pretty much, some of my goals, but not all of them. By the end of the day, I was pretty happy with what I did.

What were you most pleased with, and where were you maybe a little disappointed?

I’d say I was most pleased with my (40.5-inch) vertical. And I was a little disappointed with my (4.43-second) 40 time.

Had you been timed in the weeks leading up to that and done a little better?

Oh, yes. Yes, I had. Prior to the combine, I ran a little bit better than what I ran at the combine. So I was a little upset about that at first.

In terms of the months leading up to the combine, what did you feel your perception was – or the perception of you was – as a running back?

I think everyone had this perception of me as just being a big bruiser: I don’t have any moves, I’m not fast, maybe I can’t catch the ball. I think that was more (the) perception (of me), that I was just a big bruiser, when that’s really not so at all. You know, I have real speed to take to the defense, and I definitely can make people miss. I think I’ve shown that plenty of times this year past, my senior year… I also think I’ve shown that, when I’ve had the opportunity, that I can catch the ball well.

Talking about opportunities, I read just recently in a draft magazine that you’re the type of back who can’t make it to the outside – make it around the end. Obviously, based on your 40 time, that’s not true. Do you think your offense is maybe geared a certain way that makes you look like a certain kind of back?

I would say that that perception really comes from my junior year, being in that spread offense. A lot of our running was side-to-side, and if you’re in the backfield, you’re in a shotgun, you’re lined up on the opposite side. You know, coming all the way across the formation with the ball, trying to run outside, I mean, it’s the SEC. There’s not too many guys that’s really going to make that corner. I think that perception, you know, came from, definitely my junior year, when a lot of times I wasn’t really getting the corner because guys (were) already halfway there before I was. I think that’s really where that perception came from, a little bit. But this year, as you can see – and if you go back and look at my sophomore and freshman year – that I got the corner a number of times.

Also, do you think going up against SEC defenses every week has helped you, or hurt you?

I think it’s definitely helped me. I think it helps a big deal, that the defenses in the SEC are big and fast, and it’s a lot of the same guys that tend to be successful at the next level. You know, going against those guys week in and week out, I think it just better prepares you for the next level. I went to the Senior Bowl, and I was actually getting to practice against those guys. It’s just amazing to see how fast those guys move at practice and things like that. But then, once we got into the game, I mean, it was just like another SEC game because you’re going against the cream of the crop, but it seems like… after going against the SEC, the guys on the other side still maybe wasn’t as fast as some of those (SEC) guys. You know, I think it definitely can help me get ready for the next level.

Were you always looking at playing in the SEC coming out of high school?

For the most part, yes. For the most part I kind of wanted to play in the SEC, but at the same time, I still liked Maryland and Penn State, those schools that was close to home (in Maryland). But I still felt like I would have an advantage playing in a tough conference.

And what made you decide on Auburn?

Again, it being the SEC, going against the quality defenses week in and week out. And, you know, with the tradition of running backs that they have here at Auburn, I felt if I came out and I performed well in a tough conference, all I could do is just help my opportunity, better my chances of being at the next level.

In high school, you gained almost 6,000 yards in your career, and you averaged almost 11 yards a carry. Was there ever a point where you thought it was kind of easy?

Ah… it was, sometimes. Sometimes, it really was easy. (Laughs.) You know, I’d get to the point where sometimes I would make bets with my father: “I’ll bet you I score two touchdowns in the first quarter, or have 100 yards rushing in the first quarter.” Just little things like that, that still just kept me working hard and kept pushing me. But it wasn’t always like that. There was definitely a lot of tough games I had throughout my high school career. At the same time, there was times when I thought it was a little easy, but I still had to find a way to keep myself going hard, and not really bring my level of play down.

A lot of people might go through kind of a senior slump in high school, but you graduated early to attend spring practice at Auburn, is that right?

Yes, that’s correct.

And what was that like?

Oh, it was a great experience. Coming in, I was a young guy, and, you know, I had to work my way up to the top again. So, it definitely humbles you. And it gave me a little step on the other guys coming in at the same time as me.

What do you think NFL scouts should know about you that they might not see on film?

Just how much of a competitor I am, how much I love the game. Just, you know, my good overall character. I’ve never had any off-the-field problems. I’ve always made a pretty good impression. I think that’s important, too.

What running backs do you watch in the NFL? Do you try to emulate anybody’s game, or is there anyone who you like to watch in particular?

Oh, I don’t try to emulate anyone’s game at all. I think my game is a little bit different than most of the guys that you see in the NFL now. I have some similarities to some of the guys, but overall I think my game is a little different. But, you know, my favorite running back – definitely, I like to watch Adrian Peterson and LT. I like watching Chris Johnson, too, but I just know there’s no way I can do what he does: he’s just way faster than me. (Laughs.) He’s got a lot of speed.

Do you see yourself as more of kind of a grind-it-out, old-school back, or are you just leaving that wide open in terms of all of the things you’re able to do?

I like to leave it wide open, you know, because I think I can do it all. I think I can be a great pass-catcher out of the backfield. I’ve shown that plenty of times. I feel like I can be that guy that gets to the outside and runs inside, and at the same time, pick up – if the linebacker comes up – blitzes, like I’m a complete back. I think you have to be, especially in the NFL. You’ve got to have a complete running back. And I definitely think I’m a complete running back.

Do you think there’s any one thing you need to work on more than others?

Not really. I think you always can improve your game, so I’m always working to improve every aspect of my game, from the technique of pass protect all the way to quick feet, or just holding onto the ball. The little things. Always trying to improve the little things.

Did you get to talk to NFL teams at the combine or at your pro day?

Yes, I got to talk to a couple of teams at the combine.

Which ones in particular?

Oh, you know what? It’s really hard for me to remember right now. (Laughs.)

(Laughs.) I’m sure it must have been – was the combine experience just crazy?

Yeah, it was a little crazy, but at the same time, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you kind of stay with the moment and go with the flow, and have fun at the same time.

And what are you going to be up to from now until the draft?

You know, just working out now, with a couple of team workouts, and things like that. Just working out with different teams, and going on visits maybe, and trying to stay in the best shape I can.

Do you have any team workouts scheduled as of now?

Yes.

Do you want to say who they are?

No, I’d rather not.

All right, fair enough. Ben, thanks a lot for talking to us today. I appreciate it.

All right.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com

Post from: Patriots Daily

Q&A With Auburn RB Ben Tate
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Tyrone McKenzie at South Florida

New England drafted Tyrone McKenzie in the third round, looking to add youth and depth to the linebacker corps. The South Florida grad (who also played at Michigan State and Iowa State) ended up missing the season due to a knee injury sustained in rookie camp last spring.

Despite that setback – or maybe because of it – McKenzie sounded excited about getting back on the field to show what he can do. After only a few minutes talking to PD, it became easy to see why Coach Bill Belichick spoke so highly of him. Judging by McKenzie’s answers, it seems that the young man has been listening to his coach – both on and off the field.

I think the question on everyone’s mind is: how are you feeling? And how’s it been the last few months?

Oh, I’m feeling great. Feeling great. The last few months have been great. I mean, I just keep making strides to get where I want to be to get a chance to get back on that field, you know, to get out there with my teammates.

Where have you been since the injury? Did you stick around Foxboro for a while or did you go home after a little bit?

Oh, I stayed up there in Foxboro. I didn’t go anywhere. You know, that was the best place for me because we have such a great pro training staff. And going into the weight room staff, Harold Nash and Mike Woicik, along with (the staff) in the training room… So, I mean, I stayed around there, had surgery with Dr. (Thomas) Gill, one of the best in the nation, and then went off into training and rehab with the best training staff and recovery staff in the nation.

And have you been at Foxboro the whole time?

Yeah, I stayed in Foxboro the entire time, just stayed up there all through the season. Meetings, learning the defense, and just getting acclimated to the way things are run during the season.

How far ahead do you think you’ll be (at) this coming camp as opposed to last year?

Oh, yeah, it helped me out huge, just to be around the facility and being in meeting rooms and (being) with the guys, and just getting ready for a game every week. Every week I sat there and prepared myself as if I was going to play in a game. I mean, I didn’t get a chance to play, obviously, because of my injury, but I just got myself together and learned everything, week-by-week, to get ready for the season.

Are there any particular players that you talked to?

I talked to all the guys. You know, I talked to all the guys. All the guys in veteran leadership have done a great job with the younger class, the rookie class from last year when we came in. Just showing us the way things are run over there. The coaches have done a great job. You know, that’s one thing that they make clear when you first get there: they show you how they want it done, and you do your best to get it done. And that’s what we all do.

I’ve been interviewing a lot of NFL prospects. What was that process like for you?

The process was long. I mean, it was a long process. I had a lot of fun, meeting with different teams, and getting a chance to play at the Senior Bowl, and starting at the Senior Bowl, and going to the combine. And getting a chance to meet with teams and doing what I got to do. You know, it was tough when I went to the combine. I hurt my hamstring, so I didn’t get a chance to do any of the running events. I hurt my hamstring running the 40, and that lingered on going into pro day, when I hurt my hamstring again at pro day. So that was the toughest part for me because I trained so hard in getting ready for it. I never got a chance to put my best foot forward.

What do you think your optimal 40 time was?

Oh, I was running – I could run high 4.5s all day, so high 4.5s was the optimal time I was shooting for. I was in medium 4.5s… 4.55, 4.56, that range.

Do you think – now that you’ve had a year of NFL coaching under your belt, how important is the 40 time to your position?

I mean, I’m not scouting anybody, not recruiting anybody, so, every team looks at things differently. Then again, you know, tape doesn’t lie. A player’s a player, and that’s what it comes down to: somebody that’s fired up, logging in his time, and playing football.

Yeah, how important is it, in terms of preparation, for how you play? Because it seems like there are a lot of players who might have a lot of athleticism but just aren’t quite sure where to be at the right time?

Oh, geez, I mean, that’s huge. That’s what I said before… about playing football. There’s players, and there’s number guys, and a lot of success comes in the NFL from guys who want to lead by just doing as well as they can, getting better each day, and just keep going. That’s something I’m trying to do.

Was it a surprise when you were drafted by the Patriots?

No, it wasn’t a surprise. I always wanted the Patriots to draft me when I was in that process, so when I got that phone call I was just excited to be here.

What set New England apart?

Oh, you know, every team’s different… But, you know, the Patriots – just like every other team in the league – they do such a great job getting ready to prepare, to win each week, and that helps the win columns.

Now, coming out of high school, you, like a lot of other linebackers I’ve talked to, were a very good running back. Why the switch to defense?

Well, when I went to college, I was a running-back-slash-linebacker. I decided to play linebacker instead of running back because I just wanted to give hits instead of taking them. Running back is great and all, but I felt like I could succeed at linebacker.

Do you feel like there’s a different mentality to linebacker than running back?

There is. You’ve got to lead the defense. At linebacker, you’ve got to be a leader: you’ve got to lead by example and be a vocal leader. You’ve got to know the defense. You’re the quarterback of the defense in some aspect.

Do you feel like, at running back you maybe don’t need to know as much about the offense as a linebacker needs to know about the defense?

Oh, I can’t answer that question, because I played running back in high school, and there’s a major difference between a running back in high school and in the NFL.

So, when is your first day of practice?

I don’t know the first day of mini-camps. You know, I’m just worried about getting ready for tomorrow, and just going out there and keep going through the steps to get better each day.

And what types of things are you doing for training now?

You know, I’m just like every other guy around the league. Just ready to go at it, 110 percent. Go at it during the off-season and just work hard getting ready for the season. So, you know, going from strength, to speed, to agility, you’ve got to look at every aspect to get better at it. You can’t ever just feel like you’re better at one thing so, “I’m going to stop doing something.” You’ve got to perfect every aspect of your game.

This is kind of a difficult question, but I’m curious if at any point someone from the Patriots came to you and asked that you – that you’re maybe a little, let’s say, reclusive in terms of talking about your injury. Is that true? Or can you answer that?

My injury from last year? Is that the injury you’re talking about?

Yes.

Yeah, you know, I’m leaving that in the past. What happened in the past, happened in the past. I’m looking to the future. This is a whole other year. I’m putting the past behind me. I’m just looking forward to this season, ready for the future.

I’ve heard this type of thing, where a rookie gets injured early, being like a redshirt year. Does that make any sense to you?

Yeah, I mean, going back to college, when you redshirt, you just try and learn everything you can and just be there mentally, even though you can’t be there physically. So, I think it’s about the same thing.

What kind of defense did you play in South Florida?

We ran a 4-3. I played Mike, Will and Sam. I played all three positions throughout the season, so I’m pretty versatile.

And in a 3-4, are you still a Mike?

You know, right now I’m just worried about being there, going out there and performing.

So you’re not exactly sure where you would play, or you just maybe don’t want to share that?

Don’t want to share.

There you go.

I just want to go out there. You know, Coach might have me playing one position – I’m not the coach, I’m just a player.

Well, I wanted to talk to you a little bit about your college experience. How beneficial was it to play in a few different systems in college? Do you think that helped you learn about defenses overall?

Yeah, it did. Being around different coaches in college helped me appreciate how coaches coach differently and so forth. It was huge for me, and I got a chance to get my hand in a little bit of everything. So it was a great opportunity. I had fun, and now I’m just looking toward the future.

(During) your first couple of days last year, what did you notice about differences in playing? Was there a big difference in speed or in difficulty of the defenses, or do you think you fit right in?

I feel that I’m just getting ready for the everyday, to go out there and compete. I mean, in this aspect of the game, I’m confident in my playing ability and I know I can fit in. Last year, in just the few days I got to practice, it was great. A great opportunity for me, going out there and just playing a bunch of guys that all have the same mentality… It’s huge, and I’m just excited for it.

One thing that really caught fans’ eyes was, in the press conference talking about drafting you, Coach Belichick talked about you in very high regard. Was that a pleasant surprise for you, or is that something where you felt those positive vibes when you had talked to the Patriots?

Oh, you know, Coach Belichick’s angle was huge. He made me feel welcome coming to the organization. I’ve got to just go out there and show the Patriots that they made the right choice by drafting me. So that’s why I’ve got to go out there, get better each day, train hard, and practice hard on the field.

Tyrone, I’m going to tell you, I think you’re going to be in New England for a long time.

(Laughs.) Thanks. Thanks.

Thanks a lot for talking to us today, and we wish you a lot of luck this year.

All right, thank you. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com

Post from: Patriots Daily

Q&A With Patriots LB Tyrone McKenzie
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Last year at this time, Darius Butler was a highly-ranked cornerback unsatisfied with his combine performance. After improving his 40-time at UConn’s pro day, most draftniks figured he’d maintained his first-round status.

Though getting drafted in the second round (41^st overall) may have been disappointing for Butler, New England fans could not have been happier. The rookie’s playing time increased throughout his rookie year, leading to three interceptions – including a 91-yard TD pick-six in the final regular-season contest (see the highlight on his NFL player page).

One year later, Butler reminisced with PD about his pre-draft experience and rookie year, all while demonstrating the confidence of a player who understands the high expectations of him in 2010.

We’ve been interviewing a lot of NFL prospects, and I was wondering if you could talk about how you felt at this time last year compared to how you’re feeling now.

At this time last year, I was – I mean, obviously, everything was focused on the draft. I’d just finished the combine, so I was taking a little break for a couple days, and then went into pro day preparation. At the combine, I didn’t run the 40 time that I wanted to, so I was preparing to run the 40 and do my drills again, and I did those things at my pro day.

Were you nervous, or did you feel pretty confident about what you were going to be able to do?

I was pretty confident about it. One of the mistakes I made at the combine when it came to running the 40 was a little nerves involved, and you know, just going there and thinking too much and not just running. Besides that, I performed pretty well at the combine with all the physical things and workout aspects of it, so I wasn’t nervous at this point. I was pretty confident going into my pro day, just excited, and tired of waiting at this point.

In terms of draft day, what teams did you think had an eye on you? Or were there any teams in particular?

Well, I mean, going through the process, I met a lot of teams that had a lot of interest. A lot of teams had seen film, a lot of teams had been at the combine and pro day, so I thought a lot of different teams had interest. But in particular, there was a (draft) range where I had been projected, like in the 20s, and I think 22, the Vikings had a pick, then the Patriots had the 23^rd pick, Falcons at 24 and Dolphins at 25. So, I thought I’d land somewhere between those four teams.

It must have been kind of disappointing to see your name not get called in the first round. What were people telling you, or how were you feeling about that?

Well, like I said, going into it, you know, you can’t really take what coaches and what scouts and what anybody really tells you going into it, because one pick can change the whole draft… A lot of people were telling me – a lot of people had projected going a certain place in the draft, and once I fell past that spot, you know, I was just anxious to get called, anxious to hear my name called. And when it happened, I was really excited.

What kind of vibe did you get from the Patriots when you met with them before the draft, and then how did it feel to meet with them again afterward?

Oh, I got good vibes from them. They were one of the teams that was real positive, and there were a couple of other teams and I met with them. They pretty much – they worked me out at my pro day. Coach Belichick was there, and Nick (Caserio) worked me out, and Coach (Dean) Pees, so I met all those guys during that time. There were pretty good vibes from them: they liked me, and I liked them, obviously. You know, once I got that call from Coach Belichick and Mr. Kraft, like I said, I was overjoyed… that I was going to an organization like the Patriots.

When you arrived at camp, was it overwhelming at first?

Not really. By the time camp came around I was so anxious to get back on the field and start playing football again. Since January, you know, you’re just training and running, taking these tests, everything else except football. By the time July came, I was ready to get out there and compete, and, you know, it was obviously a big jump. You go out there competing at a college level, to where they come out with Randy Moss, Tom Brady, Wes Welker, guys like that. So it was crazy, but I was definitely excited the Patriots got me.

What did you think of the Patriots defense? We like to think of the defense as being really complicated, but what did you think when you first came to New England?

Ah, well, actually, it was good for me. It wasn’t a huge transition, because my coaches at UConn took a lot of things from the Patriots and tried to run a lot of things that they did. It’s funny, a lot of the schemes were pretty much the same, it was just different terminology. So it was just learning the terminology and trying to forget the old one. You know, instead of calling something (what) you did in college, it was the same thing, you just call it something else. So it wasn’t too hard to transition from UConn to the Patriots.

And how do you feel about your progress this past year? Do you feel positive about it?

Oh, yeah, it’s all positive. I got some good experience. I mean, you can practice and have meetings all day, but until you actually get in there and get game reps, you know, those are the best things and the best way to learn. I got a lot on the field – passing snaps – for my first season, so I’m going to try to go forward to build on that.

Where do you think you saw the most improvement? Would it be at the beginning of the season, at the middle, or is it sort of a consistent, inch-by-inch thing?

I don’t know. I can’t say one point or another, because there were times I played well and times that I struggled during different parts of the season, so it went back and forth.

When you struggled, did you feel like it was a lack of preparation, or was it just (from) being in such a new situation?

It wasn’t a lack of preparation, because I did a good job myself and the coaching staff around me did a good job preparing me. It was just a matter of playing against other great athletes, other great players. So, sometimes you line up there and get beat. Sometimes it’s not going to be your day. That happened a couple times, and I’m young so I learned from it. Like I said, you just want to go forward – learn from it, first and foremost – and build on it.

Who do you think is the best receiver you went against last year?

I don’t know, it’s hard to say. I went against a lot of top-flight receivers last year: Reggie Wayne, Steve Smith, Andre Johnson. So, I don’t know, I couldn’t say which one’s better out of all of them. But yeah, they’re all pretty good.

It probably doesn’t hurt to practice against Randy Moss every day.

Oh, no, not at all. It’s a great thing for me as a young guy, getting to practice and learn so much from a veteran like that.

What are you looking forward to this year? Do you think you’ll be a bigger part of the defense? Do you feel like you understand it more?

Oh, yeah, definitely. Getting the off-season under my belt can only help, going in there and learning everything I’ve got to learn off the field… Learning how to be a pro off the field, and working out and getting my body in shape through the end of that long season. I just want to build on my last season and do some great things this year.

How much time have you spent in Foxboro this off-season?

Not much at all. I don’t spend too much time in Foxboro away from work. I live down in south Florida, so I’ve been here, spending some time with my family. They’ve got a great training facility and a trainer down here that I work out with, so I’ve been spending most of my time down here in south Florida.

Now, I was surprised to learn that you didn’t start playing football until your junior year in high school. What other sports were you involved in before then?

Basketball. Basketball was always my sport growing up, up until my junior year, and I still played, actually. I still played in college – not on the team, but intramurals, stuff like that. So it was pretty much basketball and I ran a little track in high school, but that was pretty much it.

What made you decide to play football?

Well, my coach… I went to a new high school. The football team was new, and the coaches decided to talk me into coming out and playing for the team. So I came out and did it. They told me it was pretty much my best chance of going to college, and that’s what I did. I got a free education out of it, and went and did some good things at UConn.

So, I noticed that you played option quarterback in high school. Are we going to see you running the Wildcat in New England?

I don’t know. (Laughs.) That’s up to Coach Belichick. That’s up to Coach Belichick. I’m going to do whatever helps the team, and if that’s something, I’d be more than glad to do it. But for right now, as far as I know, I’m focused 100 percent on playing cornerback.

You returned a couple of kicks last year.

Yup.

Has there been any talk about you continuing that?

Oh, I haven’t – like I said, I haven’t been in Foxboro too much. I go back (this) week. So up until now, like I said, I’m focused on cornerback, and any other job they give me, I’m more than happy to do it.

Well, Darius, good luck. I’m certainly going to be rooting for you, and hope to see you out on the field soon.

All right. Thank you.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com

Post from: Patriots Daily

Q&A With Patriots CB Darius Butler
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NFL coaches want their defenders to have size, speed and intelligence. They can tell that cornerback Myron Lewis has the first quality just by looking at him. The 6-foot-2 Vanderbilt product showcased the other two attributes at the combine and in college. Now, he’s hoping he’s impressed those same NFL coaches enough to call his name early in the draft.

In the following interview, Lewis talked to PD about athletics, academics, and the type of music that helps him study.

I wanted to open up by talking about the combine. How do you think your performance was?

Overall, I feel I did pretty good. I ran real well on my 40. Doing the position drills I felt really confident, and doing everything out there, everything felt good.

Talk about the weekend a little bit. Were there any surprises, or do you think you were prepared for the pace of the whole thing?

I think I was well-prepared, but the one thing – the only thing – that was a surprise was just waking up early every day, and you better get your sleep.

How did the interviews go? What teams did you talk to?

I talked to pretty much every team, but as far as private meetings, I talked to the Bucs, the Panthers, the Bears, the Chiefs, the 49ers, and the Steelers.

You’re 6-2. Do some people think that’s a little big to play corner? There’s been a little bit of talk about you maybe switching to safety. How do you feel about that?

I don’t really think that’s a (concern), me being a little too big to play corner. Nowadays, you’ve got 6-5 receivers, 6-6 and whatnot, and you need tall people to match up with them.

In terms of your performance in the drills (at the combine)… do you think you’ll participate in Vandy’s pro day?

I was satisfied with my performance, but you know, you can always do better. I was feeling – I was pretty nervous and excited at the same time. But I left everything in God’s hands, and He led the way for me.

What made you decide on Vanderbilt, coming out of Florida?

Just the academics, and trying to play in the best conference. You know, my parents were big on academics, I was big on academics, and that was the best fit.

In terms of academics – maybe because of the requirements – Vanderbilt doesn’t always match up well against other SEC teams. What’s it like to be a team that maybe is good on a national level but doesn’t always do so well in the SEC?

Oh, I wouldn’t say we don’t match up well. You know, we can match up with any team. It’s just all about going out there and executing as a team. And sometimes we execute, and sometimes we don’t.

Yeah, it seems like Vanderbilt always has players that go into the NFL, but they may not do so well every week. Do you feel like, when you go up against a team like Florida or Alabama, that you guys have a good shot?

Oh, yeah. Their athletes put on their pads the same way I put on my pads, and we just go out there and battle.

How would you describe the defense at Vanderbilt?

We’re like sharks. When we’re all, “It’s us against the ball,” and everybody’s playing defense, we’re all in. Our defense was fierce.

What do you think you’d have to pick up in terms of transitioning to an NFL-style defense?

Just learning their system. Whatever team picks me, I’ll just be able to go in there and learn their system. You know, I feel I’m a smart football player, and whatever system I fall into, I’ll be able to study the defensive playbook as well as I can to be able to go out there and help the defense.

Did any teams talk to you about making a switch from cornerback to safety? Or, did they talk about different aspects of their defenses?

All the teams that I talked to, they made me specifically talk about corner, and talk about defensive plays that I ran at Vanderbilt. And they just, you know, they sat me down and they wanted to know if I understood playing football, and defense.

What were some other schools that you had to choose from coming out of high school?

I had fifteen offers. I had Florida South, Florida State, (Florida Atlantic), (Florida International), Iowa, Iowa State, Duke, Colorado, Michigan State. Those are just a few.

And at your high school, you did a little bit of everything on your team, didn’t you?

Oh, yeah. I played tight end, played receiver, played cornerback. I was the punter, I kicked off. I did a little of everything.

How did you end up being the punter?

One day, it was after practice, and I was just playing around with some teammates, and I was kicking the ball. And then the coach was like, “You’re going to be the punter for the team.”

And you also played basketball, didn’t you?

Oh, yeah. I averaged a double-double in basketball. I had some very successful seasons playing basketball throughout my years of high school.

What position did you play?

I played forward.

Do you think it’s an easy transition from basketball to football?

Yeah, I would say so. I would use my athletic ability, and I was out there playing to have fun.

Now, what was your major at Vanderbilt?

Human and Organizational Development.

What types of things did you study?

Basically, the major is a business HR major. That means organizational theories and learning about business skills and people skills.

And you got some academic awards, didn’t you?

Yeah, I was a Student-Athlete (of the Month), academic honor roll for Vanderbilt.

If you were recruiting somebody to go to Vanderbilt, how would you recruit (him)? What would you say?

Basically, I would tell them – coming out of high school – they’re getting their grades. That’s the first thing. And, you know, be a humble person. You’ve got to pace yourself, and don’t be around out partying or drinking. And just go out there, and whatever sport they’re playing, just have fun. You know, just do what you do best, and everything will follow through God’s hands.

Yeah, to balance your studies and football, it seems like you had a pretty rigorous schedule for yourself. Did you figure that out right away, or did it take some time in college to line that up?

I basically figured it out right away. I knew that I wanted to. I studied a certain amount of hours. I made sure I was in the right classes so I could stay on pace to graduate.

Speaking of studying, tell me what kind of effect Barry Manilow has on you.

Oh, Barry Manilow? (Laughs.) Oh, man, you know, I listen to music to keep me focused more on studying.

And that helps you focus as you study?

Yeah. I just listen to music.

(Laughs.) I’m impressed that you know who he is.

(Laughs.)

Well, Myron, I just wanted to say thanks for talking to us tonight. What are you going to be up to until the draft?

Right now, I’m back in Nashville. I’m staying for my pro day. I’m just getting ready for pro day on March 19, (staying available) so if any teams call me in for private workouts, or if they want to come visit.

I’m sorry, was it March 19?

Yes, sir.

Okay. Myron, thank you very much for talking today, and I wish you a lot of luck.

Thank you, no problem.

Take care.

You, too.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com.

Post from: Patriots Daily

Q&A With Vanderbilt CB Myron Lewis
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Leigh Bodden is now signed through 2013

The Patriots took care of another piece of offseason business this afternoon, coming to terms with top cornerback Leigh Bodden on what his agent is calling a four year contract.

At a position in which the Patriots haven’t exactly been stable at over the last few years, getting this done is a big deal. We’ve seen Ty Law and Asante Samuel leave for more money elsewhere, while the Patriots tried to sign guys like Chad Scott, Fernando Bryant and Deltha O’Neal as replacements.

When the Patriots signed Bodden last year, they had tried to work out a multi-year deal with the former Brown and Lion, but ended up on a one-year contract so that both sides could gauge the fit. Bodden played well last season, and for a while it seemed he was headed the route of Law and Samuel, chasing more money elsewhere.

But in the end it worked out, and I for one think this is a very important signing. Keeping some continuity at the cornerback spot is important, and we can hope that Bodden and Darius Butler can make a formidable tandem for opposing receivers. With Shawn Springs and Jonathan Wilhite also still around the position seems to have a little depth, allowing the team to perhaps focus on other positions in the draft.

Also today, Vince Wilfork was in town to officially sign his new contract, and spoke with Patriots.com about being able to call New England home for the next five years. Tomorrow he is slated to meet the media and also appear on WEEI’s Dale and Holley program.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was a guest on WEEI’s Big Show this afternoon, and during that session, he also stated that linebacker Marques Murrell has also agreed to sign with the Patriots. Murrell has been a special teams player in his time with the New York Jets, but was a pass rushing specialist in college.

You can keep track of all the Patriots offseason moves on our constantly updated Patriots Moves/Transactions page. Bookmark it and keep checking back for the latest!

Post from: Patriots Daily

Bodden Back In The Fold
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Scott Sicko is a pass-catching tight end from UNH who caught 160 passes for the Wildcats during his career, including 22 touchdowns. He was a FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) All-American this year helping UNH to the semi-finals in the FCS Playoffs, before losing to eventual champion Villanova. Scott has a chance to be drafted and would be a good fit with the Patriots given their needs at tight end, his great hands, good speed and size (6′4″ 252) and the ability to go in motion. He’ll be performing for NFL scouts at UNH’s pro day on March 10th. He was kind enough to take a break from his preparation and grant Patriots Daily an interview:

Hi Scott, where did you grow up and how did you end up at UNH? They had a successful program while you were there, what was that like?

I grew up in Stillwater, NY where I attended Stillwater public schools until junior year. I transferred to LaSalle Institute in Troy, NY for my junior and senior year of high school. While in high school at LaSalle I had already been looking into UNH before I had been approached by any schools to play football. I really like the state of New Hampshire and I thought that the school would be a good fit academically. When the UNH program approached me about playing football I was very excited. When I visited UNH and learned about the football program I saw that they had something special that I would want to be a part of. While at UNH I had an amazing experience. Being a part of the team here is one of the best experiences of my life. I love this program and everyone in it. It is more than just a team, it is a family of people who are dedicated to each other. It is more than a place where you just learn about football, it also teaches you important things like responsibility, respect, and work ethic that you will take with you the rest of your life.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

In high school I primarily played football and basketball. Senior year I also ran track. I ran the 200, 100 and threw the shot and discus.

Who was your favorite NFL team growing up?

I liked multiple NFL teams when I was growing up but, my father was and still is a Raiders fan so by default that is who I ended up liking the most. (Laughs.)

As a tight end you caught a lot of passes. Is that your strength? How is your blocking?

If I had to pick one thing I would probably say that my strength is pass catching. My blocking has been something that I have been working on a lot during my career here at UNH. I know it has improved a lot since I first got here thanks to the coaches, but I still know that I have a lot to improve upon in my blocking game.

What kind of offense did you run at UNH?

We primarily ran a no-huddle spread offense.

Do you think you could play both a “move” tight end like an H-back as well as an in-line tight end? What about fullback?

I don’t really like to put labels on myself like that. The only reason for that is because it doesn’t matter to me. I would just like to be part of a team. I will be more than happy at any of those positions and which ever one I am at, I will give it my best effort to perform well.

Do you think you could bulk up any to prepare for NFL play?

Actually, since the end of the season I have added weight. I am currently 252lbs. I have been working hard to make sure that it is all good weight too.

What kind of work do you do to improve your hands?

I try to get together with a couple players and throw a ball around while running routes at least once a week. I also try and take advantage of down time. I will usually be sitting on the couch watching TV with a tennis ball or something and either bounce it off the wall or just throw it up to myself. I just try to keep my hands and hand eye coordination as active as possible.

What is your 40 speed? Will you run at your pro day?

I am not sure what my 40 speed is. I will be running at my pro day and I am hoping to run in the 4.6s.

What have you been doing to train for your pro day?

Once I went back home for winter break I started training with my trainer back home, Matt Phelps. I actually came back to school early in January to start training with Mike Boyle in Massachusetts. I have been training there ever since.

How hard do you think it’ll be to adjust from college to an NFL style offense?

(Laughs.) I can only imagine. I know it was a big change from high school to college. So I expect that at the least it will be as big as that change. I am just going to work as hard as I can to not only learn the offense, but understand it.

Have you played much special teams? Do you enjoy it?

While at UNH I have been second string long snapper and first team short snapper at some points. Anything that lets you be on the field a little bit longer, even if it is only one play longer, is always fun in my book.

Have you followed the success of the New England Patriots in the last decade or so? Any thoughts on them?

I have a deep respect for the Patriots. I think they are not only an amazing team, but a really good organization. I think the thing that I respect most about them is their work ethic. It reminds me a lot of UNH.

Have you talked to any teams yet? Do you know which ones will be at your pro day?

My agent has been in contact with some teams. I hope that we get a decent amount of scouts at our pro day at UNH, but it only takes one. All I can do is hope that people will be interested enough to come and give it my best effort to perform to the best of my ability.

Thanks Scott. Best of luck in your pro day and career.

Thank you again. I really feel honored that you have followed me and that you would want to interview me.

Post from: Patriots Daily

Q&A With UNH TE Scott Sicko
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While most football coaches preach the importance of special teams, Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer practices for success. Hokies punter Brent Bowden reaped the rewards, earning All-ACC honors and an invite to the NFL combine.

Bowden was just about to hop on a flight when PD caught up with him. He took the time to discuss the imperfect art of punting, the combine from a special-team perspective, and an upcoming meeting with a certain NFL club.

So, where are you headed today?

I’m headed to Tampa. My kicking coach goes on vacation to Tampa for the whole month of March every year, so I’m just going down there to work with him.

Now, in terms of your kicking, what was your combine experience like? It seems like a punter might have a different experience than most other players.

Oh, man. It was definitely cool. It was cool to be there. It’s only a one-time thing that you ever get to do in your life, so, I mean, I had a blast even though it was kind of long and a little grueling with the schedule. But, overall, my experience was pretty much the same as the other positions, other than the fact that we didn’t have to do the 40s and all that stuff if we didn’t want to. But it was great, just meeting new people and getting to talk to all the teams and stuff, getting, like, a real taste of the NFL.

What teams did you talk to?

The main teams I talked to were the Patriots, the Packers, Jacksonville, Miami, Denver, the Giants and the Browns.

All right, I’m intrigued. What was the meeting with the Patriots like?

Oh, you know, it was just a general interview with Coach (Scott) O’Brien. I talked to him – well, first it was just like a general interview, and the second time was to set up an individual workout with him. He actually called me the other day to finalize a workout, told me he thought I did a good job at the combine, so it was good to hear that from him.

And during the workout – you don’t have to get specific if you don’t want to – but what were the types of things that he had you do?

Well, the individual workout with him is coming up in the next couple of weeks, but for the combine, it was just 14 punts. Eight of them were just regular field punts. We could do whatever with them: go down the middle, right, left. I just did right, left, because that’s what the NFL does. And then the last six were just pooch punts, going right and going left.

How do you think you did?

I think I did good, but not what I know I can do. I’m kind of itching to go out and go kick again because I know I didn’t do as well as I was hoping. It was good enough, I think.

When you’re punting, what’s uppermost on your mind during a game – or does it change depending on the situation?

Oh, man. See, what I usually do, I have a routine that I go through. It’s just – I think about what I’m doing only when I’m out there on the field. So when I get out there, I kind of scan and see what the situation is, and where we are and what side (of the 50) we’re on, and I kind of go from there. I visualize what I want the punt to look like, what I want my form to look like, and kind of just clear my mind and just go. Then, say I hit a punt that wasn’t really what I like, then I may go to the sideline and do some adjustments on the sideline, “All right, next time I want to do this.” And I’ll work on that a little bit, if it’s something with my drop or something like that.

Yeah, take us through the process of punting… It’s something that happens so quickly and it looks pretty easy, but what do you think are the most important aspects of doing that?

There’s two main parts to a punt: there’s the drop, and there’s the leg swing. The leg swing is, you got your two steps and you’re swinging straight through the ball. And then, the drive’s just making sure you’ve got a flat drive, making solid contact with your foot. And there’s a lot more technicality that goes with it, a little more precision than people realize. Just like how far outside to hold the ball, how much to turn the nose in, just stuff like that. And then, you know, with your leg swing, you want to make sure you’re swinging straight through it towards where you’re going to, and you want to make sure your body’s facing that way, too, with your swing. So, I mean, there’s definitely a lot more than people realize. It’s a little more complicated.

I’ve heard that punting is like golf in that, no matter how much you practice, you can always mess up. Do you think that’s true?

Oh, that’s definitely true. I mean, it’s just like a golf swing, because with a golf swing, you’re off by inches and, you know, you’re in the trees instead of in the fairway. It’s the same exact thing with punting. If the ball’s just a little too far outside, that’s the difference between a 50-yarder and a 30-yarder. It is literally a game of inches when it comes to punting and kicking.

You have always been a punter, is that right? I’ve seen a lot of players who played different positions in high school, but you were a punter through high school. Is that correct?

Yeah, all throughout high school. I mean, that’s all I ever wanted to be. I came into (Westfield) high school (in Virginia), and our high school, you have to realize, is huge. About 3,500 kids. Our starting – this is our offense – our starting quarterback was Sean Glennon, he used to play for Tech. Then you’ve got Eddie Royal who was our receiver, with the Broncos now, and then our running back Evan Royster (now at Penn State) is going to be one of the top running backs in the draft next year. That’s kind of the caliber of players that go to our high school. So, I mean, I’d love to play another position, but I always did want to be the punter, and we had some high-caliber people on our team already.

Did you play sports in junior high?

Yeah, I mean, I played sports since I was little, up until high school. High school is when I exclusively just played football for the school. I still played basketball, house league, and I can still play golf all the time. But leading up to high school I was playing soccer, baseball, basketball. You know, pretty much everything under the sun.

And was your brother a punter?

Yeah, my older brother was a two-year starter for Florida State back in ’04 and ’05. He’s the reason that I got into punting to begin with.

What was it about watching him punt that made you want to do it?

When he was punting in high school, he would just take me out to practice with him, and I’d catch balls or through snaps to him or something. I don’t know, he just started teaching me how to do it, and I loved doing it, so I just kind of stuck with it. After watching him get recruited to the big-time schools, I was like, man, I kind of want to do that, too, so I just punted and stuck with it.

Where were you recruited?

The main schools that I was recruited to were Tech, Penn State, Maryland, West Virginia, Southern Cal and Mississippi.

And besides the obvious reasons, what brought you to Tech?

I mean, I just love the atmosphere. You know, it’s kind of a small town, but all the people there were really, really nice. And I just had a great time when I went there for my visit, just hanging, meeting people and hanging out with them and everything. I thought Coach Beamer was a great guy, and I loved the system he runs down there. You know, he ran a pro style punt team, and they really emphasize the special teams and they practice them every day, so I knew I was going to get some respect if I went there. So, it was my obvious first choice, no matter what.

Could you tell during the recruiting process that Virginia Tech seems to pay a little more attention to special teams than other schools?

Yeah, I mean, they always talk about it on TV and stuff, how we pay attention more on special teams, and, I mean, you could definitely tell, because – just the way Coach Beamer was talking about special teams, and what he was going to do in regards to competition when I came in and stuff like that. He knew what he was talking about. That’s kind of what set him apart from the rest of the colleges, just that he kind of had more knowledge than anybody else, and I knew he was going to be a little more, I guess, forgiving and understanding of what I do. And he would be a lot more helpful, I think.

And how was your experience at Tech overall?

Oh, it was great. I mean, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love Tech, and I’m glad I went there, for sure.

It might be a little difficult for team scouts to get a good handle on the type of player you are. What do you think they should know about (you) that they might not see on film?

That I’m a really – I think I’m a really unselfish player, really humble, and I work hard. I think I work harder than anybody else at what I do. And you can’t really see that on film. You can see, kind of, the results of it, but there’s a lot of time, a lot of patience, a lot of hard work that went into it, and even now I still know I’m not even close to being as good as I feel I can be. So, it’s going to keep going. And I don’t think they see the passion that I have; they’ll only see that when they actually meet me in person and get to talk to me.

You were a holder too, weren’t you?

Yeah. Did it in high school. I backed up the first three years, then I did it at Tech my last two.

And what are the keys to being a good holder?

It’s just all about repetition. I mean, you kicker’s got to trust you to begin with… so you need to do a lot of work with him and just practice. Once you practice, it’s kind of like riding a bike: you can just kind of do it without thinking. But, I mean, it takes a while to get used to it. It’s kind of an awkward position, and catching and spinning and everything, it’s a lot more complicated than people realize. But once you get it down, it’s just another way to get on the field, and you know, I love doing it.

Well, Brent, I wish you good luck, and thanks a lot for talking to us.

Yeah, no problem.

All right, take care.

All right, you, too.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com.

Post from: Patriots Daily

Q&A With Virginia Tech P Brent Bowden
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Yesterday marked the beginning of the new league year, and with it, the start of free agency – the first in an uncapped system since the early 1990’s.

While big splashes were made by some teams around the league (Chicago, Detroit, both New York teams), the Patriots mostly stayed at home yesterday, choosing to finalize deals with three of their own free agents.

The team reportedly did dip their toes into the free agent pursuit of Julius Peppers, and engaged in trade talks involving Auquan Boldin, but it didn’t seem either was a top priority.

By mid- afternoon, (early morning for some) the natives began to get restless, wondering at the lack of signings or activity by the Patriots.

As the day went on, a few items began to trickle out of Foxborough. First the team announced that they had signed linebacker Tully Banta-Cain to the three year contract. The Herald reported that the team was still in talks with Kevin Faulk. Then, around dinnertime, the big news dropped.

Vince Wilfork and his wife – on vacation somewhere – confirmed the news that Wilfork and the Patriots had agreed on a five-year, $40 million contract -the largest ever for a 3-4 nose tackle.

A little while later, Patriots Football Weekly also reported that the team had also re-signed Stephen Neal to a two year contract.

Now, you might remember I had written previously about whether the team should devote significant resources to a player that only played about 64% of the defensive snaps. My concerns laid out in that article remain, but I do have to say I’m happy that the big lug is sticking around for a few more years.

The whole attitude around the team up until training camp will be different now. Without this deal, the biggest story around every passing camp, mini-camp or whatever would be Wilfork and his holdout. We’d hear more screaming from talk show hosts about how cheap the Patriots are and that they won’t pay their guys. That’s all gone now. The focus can be on the team now. (Until they start obsessing over Tom Brady’s status)

That may not be worth $40 million, but it is priceless in its own way. Plus, we know that Wilfork is a high-character guy, who performs on the field. The Patriots need to keep the ones that they have remaining.

Now that the Patriots have solidified their own house, hopefully now they can focus on adding to the talent on the roster.

Post from: Patriots Daily

Old Home Day in Foxborough
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More NFL teams have switched to a 3-4 defense this year, which puts hybrid end/outside linebacker types at a premium. Good thing for James Ruffin.

The Northern Iowa stalwart earned FCS All-American honors last season, leading the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 10.5 in sacks. In his PD interview, he discussed his position flexibility and how he looks forward to making an impact on the field.

Let’s start out by talking about the East West Shrine Game and your experience for that week. How did that go?

It was a great experience. I mean, getting the opportunity to play against better talent and guys from bigger schools, and showcasing your talent against guys like that, it was a great opportunity. I felt like it was a good week for me. It started out – it started kind of iffy, but I think it ended up pretty good, and the game went really good for me. So I really enjoyed the opportunity and the experience.

When you say it started out iffy, what do you mean by that?

I would say, just being out of pads for so long, getting used to that. That was probably the only thing, just adjusting to pads, and then once you got back in the feel for it, I mean, it took off from there.

And do you think you did well against that level of competition?

Yeah, I think I did really well, actually. I mean, I can play with those guys. I don’t know other people’s opinions – (they) really don’t matter – but I know I matched up great against those guys and I played against them every day of the week. So, as far as that goes, I know I can play with those guys.

Any particular opponents who really stuck out in your mind?

Yeah, I thought that (Rodger Saffold III,) the tackle from Indiana was pretty good, and (Chris Scott,) the tackle from Tennessee was pretty good, and Marshall Newhouse (from TCU) was pretty good, too. Those three guys kind of stick out in my mind right now.

You had a sack in the game, didn’t you?

Yeah, I did.

Could you talk a little bit about that, about how you felt on that particular play?

Well, I just remember, you know, not getting many snaps in the first half. We were rotating series, and our group kept getting three-and-outs. And I saw some D-ends making plays, and I was just like, when I go out there, I’m just going to get off on the ball as fast as I can, and quick as I can. So pre-snap, I noticed the guy was in pass set, so I just keyed the ball and got a good jump on him. He kicked back pretty fast and I just had to shake him one time, went around him and got the sack. And then after that, I just – I kept getting pressure after that.

So, in terms of moving up to the NFL, do you see yourself as a pass-rushing defensive end, or have you started thinking about the transition to linebacker?

Both. I mean, I can do both, which is a good thing going into the draft. If that means me gaining weight to play D-end, or being the linebacker weight and staying at this size, being able to drop and cover tight ends and taking on blockers, I can do that too. It’s pretty much the same thing, it’s just (if you’re) standing up or if you’re not. But as far as the NFL goes, I mean, as a defensive end, I think of my field as a pass rusher. And as a linebacker, more of a “Sam,” right over the tight end.

And about what’s your weight right now, James?

Two hundred and sixty pounds.

And you feel comfortable with that, if you were asked to drop (that)?

Oh, yeah. I can do that easily. I can gain or lose. My weight fluctuates a lot. I’m really just maintaining weight now, just to see where I end up, and adjust to where I go.

Speaking of that, where are you now, and what kind of workout regimen are you on?

Right now, I’m actually training at school. Working out five days – six days a week, actually. I was out in Atlanta before the Shrine Game, prepping myself to play defensive end. And then I just got back from California last week, training with Charles Dimry’s facility out there, training up speed and agilities, 40s, stuff like that.

And how do you feel about all that?

It’s all going pretty good. I know that the (40) time that’s down for me, right now, is a slow time, and I’m going to run way faster than that. And my L (3-cone) drill and (shuttle), I’m still working on right now, so I think I’m going to test well and open some eyes as far as that goes. I know that’s a big question mark on me right now.

When is your (pro) day? Is Northern Iowa going to have a (pro) day, or are you going somewhere else?

Northern Iowa’s pro day is on the 31^st of March. And I’m doing Minnesota’s pro day next week, on the 10^th. I’m doing two.

What kind of numbers do you think you’ll put up?

Oh, I mean, I’ll be shocked if I run over a 4.7 (in the 40). I’m pushing for high 4.6’s, low 4.7 range. I know I can get a 4.75, but I’m looking to be faster than that. As far as the bench goes, I’m around 26 reps, and by the time of my pro day I should be around 28, that range. Vertical’s around 33 (inches). L-drill and (shuttle), I’m not sure yet. I’m still working on technique on that, so I really couldn’t tell you my numbers for those.

Coming out of high school, what were some of the schools that you were looking at? You went to high school in Minnesota, is that right?

Yeah, I did… After high school, I thought I was going to Iowa, because I went to the camp and they really liked me there, that was my sophomore year. The guy was pretty much telling me, “We’re going to have a scholarship for you,” and he showed me the facility, pulled me out of the group of all the guys and showed me around. After that, I had my eyes set on going to Iowa. And then – it was a lot of schools, I really can’t name them all, but a lot of the Big Ten schools, and then Ball State came along. Those are the teams that recruited me, and then, going into my senior year, I was playing summer league basketball and I tore my meniscus. The doctor was telling me I needed to get it repaired, and I’d miss four games, so I was telling all the guys who were calling me that I would miss the beginning of the year due to injury, and they pretty much backed out. But I didn’t end up missing any games because it was just a little partial (tear). I didn’t miss any games my senior year, and then I got an offer from Ball State. I turned it down because Northern Iowa was a better fit for me.

What made Northern Iowa such a good fit?

Their recruiting style. I mean, they weren’t as pushy as Ball State. I was going to commit to Ball State, and other teams knew that, but then Northern Iowa came in, actually, really late. Their approach was more laid-back, it was more of a family type of atmosphere. And then being close to home, playing in the dome, I don’t know, it just fit. And I knew that, going to Ball State, I would be an H-back. I just wanted to be able to adjust where I should in college, and it happened to be at linebacker when I came here. And then I put on a few pounds and moved to defensive end, but it all worked itself out, though.

So, in high school, you played linebacker and fullback?

Actually, I only played two games at linebacker. All throughout high school I played fullback and running back.

Fullback and running back? Tell me about the transition to defense.

Well, actually, the tape that got sent here was a game where I’d played both ways. We had a lot of kids at our high school, so that – I mean, nobody ever did that. But (on) the tape that was sent here, I played linebacker. So the first day I came to Northern Iowa, I went to the running back room and they were like, “No, you’re not in here, you’re with the defense.” So I’d go in at linebacker, playing that first day. I was at inside linebacker… I was doing pretty good, and then coach called me into his office, telling me he wanted to move me to outside linebacker because they were considering playing me. I was there all throughout my redshirt freshman (year), I didn’t want to burn a year backing up someone, so I just redshirted, and I ended up gaining 35 pounds or something like that. Then in the spring, they got me at defensive end.

So when people talk about you making a transition, it’s almost like you’re transitioning back to your old position.

Yeah, exactly. Actually, now I can play the run better at outside linebacker, so that won’t be a problem for me.

Now, you played basketball in high school, too. Is that right?

Yeah, I did. I played on a pretty good 5A team in the Lake Conference in Minnesota. State finals my junior year, and I was All-Conference both years, so I had a pretty good basketball career as well in high school.

And what position did you play?

Small forward. We had a big team, so I was one of the smaller guys, I guess.

Looking at a lot of guys in the NFL, it seems like there’s a pretty strong case to be made for basketball players being able to play football. Why do you think that is? What is it about those sports that makes it… a doable transition to football?

Oh, I think a lot of basketball players play football as well. They just go hand-in-hand. I mean, you play basketball, you have no choice but to get quicker on your feet. Being explosive and being able to run and jump and do athletic things, it just transitions into playing football. You know, playing basketball, I was one of the better defenders, and that’s part of shuffling and moving your feet – playing football, that’s just second nature, when you’re going to the football field. Bringing the physical and mental nature (of basketball) to football, it just works.

Going back to the East West Shrine (Game), did you get to talk to any NFL teams?

Yeah, I interviewed with nine teams.

Were the Patriots one of them?

No, actually, I didn’t see the Patriots there. I didn’t interview with them, no.

Well, for any scouts who may have overlooked you coming from a smaller school, what do you think they need to know about you?

Well, first of all, I plan on making them regret it, actually. I just feel like I’m being overlooked and underrated. It’s the same situation from high school, what I’m dealing with again. So I think they need to know that they’re going to get a very quality football player, and a guy who’s motivated, and a guy who’s going to play in the NFL a long time. I know I will. I was meant to play this game, and I’m going to work at it. I’m going to work to be the best. As soon as I get into camp, I’m going to find their star defensive player and follow him around, figure out what he’s doing, and work to be better than him. I think that’s what they need to know, and I plan on proving myself once I get the opportunity.

That sounds great. James, thanks a lot for talking with us today.

Okay, thanks.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com

Post from: Patriots Daily

Q&A With UNI DE James Ruffin
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