03 : NFL Pro Interview : Carlton Powell
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[UPDATED INTERVIEW AS OF 8/10/2011]
Strauss : How is camp going so far?
Powell : So far so good. I’m liking the atmosphere. Great coaches. Great teammates.
Strauss : What do you think of the Jets DL coach, Mark Carrier?
Powell : He’s awesome. He has a lot of experience. He’s played in the league before. It’s great to have him out there coaching us and helping us out.
Powell : What is something you are trying to get out of camp?
Right now, I’m just learning the system. I’m trying to take advantage of the reps I get and make sure they’re quality reps. I’m trying to show the coaches what I can do.
Strauss : On something, besides quickness, that he wants to work on during camp?
Powell : I definitely want to work on reading blocking schemes and getting off of blocks, and getting to the quarterback.
Strauss : What role do you see for yourself this year with the Jets?
Powell : Well, right now I’m just playing the support role. I’m doing what can to help the team out. If things change, I’m ready for any position that they want to put me in. I definitely want to help this team out. This is definitely a Championship caliber team, and I just want to be part of it.
[OLD INTERVIEW as of 04/09/2010]
Strauss : Who was your childhood star?
Powell : My childhood star was Mr. Brett Favre himself.
Strauss : If you could meet anyone in the world, who you have not met before, who would it be?
Powell : If I could meet anyone in the world it would be Alicia Keys, no reason necessary. LOL.
Strauss : Why do you make it important to connect to the fans?
Powell : I feel like in some cases I still am a fan so it’s not hard to relate to people when you are able to see where they are coming from.
Strauss : What was your favorite NFL team growing up?
Powell : Hands down, my favorite NFL team growing up the Green Bay Packers.
Strauss : What is your favorite movie of all time?
Powell : My Favorite Movie of all time is a toss up between Coming to America and Life.
Strauss : What is your favorite TV-Show?
Powell : My Favorite TV Show is King of Queens.
Strauss : What is your favorite snack food?
Powell : My Favorite Snack Food is Andy Capps Hotfries.
Strauss : What is your favorite meal?
Powell : My favorite meal is pretty basic. A Porterhouse [Steak] Medium-Well, baked sweet potato, fried asparagus, and Strawberry cheesecake.
Strauss : What is your favorite video game?
Powell : Favorite Games: For Xbox 360- Call Of Duty Modern Warfare II and for PS3- Assassins Creed II and for Wii- Mario Kart
Strauss : How long have you played football?
Powell : I have been playing football since the 6th grade.
Strauss : Did you play any other sports in high school?
Powell : In high school, I participated in track (indoor and outdoor), wrestling, and basketball.
Strauss : What is your favorite sport to play other than football?
Powell : My favorite sport to play besides football would have to be basketball. My most memorable moment would be the first time I beat my dad, thought I was the man then.
Strauss : At what age, did you realize that you were going to play football in college and in the NFL?
Powell : I was probably around 13 [years old] when my Dad’s friend started asking me what college team and NFL team I would play for, that’s when I spoke it into being and so far so good.
Strauss : If you weren’t playing in the NFL (or after retirement), what would you want to do?
Powell : My other career choices were becoming a pharmacist or physical therapist. But now, I’m getting into technology and want to do software engineering.
Strauss : When did you see your first live NFL game? Who played? Who won?
Powell : My first live NFL game was when the Denver Broncos played the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. Denver won 24-20 and I just remembered how weird it felt watching Matt Ryan out there because I played a lot of crucial games against him when he was at Boston College.
Strauss : What is your favorite memory from your attending college at Virginia Tech?
Powell : There are soo many good memories but 2 really stick out in my mind.
First, would be my first game I played in my red-shirt freshman year, against southern california (USC), a night game on Fed-Ex Field. It was amazing. Goosebumps the entire time, me, Chris Ellis, Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi, Duane Brown, Kory Robertson, Barry Booker, David Clowney, and Josh Hyman. It was an epic night, I forced Leinhart to throw some bad passes and chased reggie bush around.
And secondly, our inaugural season in the ACC when we won the championship in Miami. Celebrated for at least an hour on the field, running up and down with the flags, Beamer had to come get us before the busses left.
Strauss : For someone aspiring to play football in the NFL, what’s the best advice for them?
Powell : Anyone aspiring to play D1 or in the NFL should first know that there is no such thing as working too hard, and must believe in themselves as well as have a good support network that will encourage them to be great.
Strauss : Thank you for your time.
Powell : Thank You, I hope this was informative to all the fans out there, Be Blessed…
86 : NFL Pro Interview : Corey Peters
Corey Peters played college football at the University of Kentucky. While he was there, he totaled 146 tackles and 11 sacks. He entered the 2010 NFL Draft, and was drafted in the 3rd round by the Atlanta Falcons. Since he came into the NFL, he has totaled 59 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 pass deflections, and 1 interception.
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81 : NFL Pro Interview : Stylez White
Stylez White played college football at University of Minnesota. He entered the 2002 NFL Draft, and was drafted in the 7th round. He played for the Texans, Buccaneers, Falcons, Titans, Saints, Redskins, and Bears early in his carer. He then played in the AFL, and was the Defensive Player of the Year. After that, from 2007 to 2010 he played for the Buccaneers and totaled 137 tackles and 24 sacks.
53 : NFL Pro Interview : Erik Coleman
Follow Erik Coleman on twitter at http://twitter.com/ErikColeman26
Strauss : Why do you use twitter?
Coleman : Twitter allows me to have closer interactions with our fans… It lets them see another side of me they don’t get to see watching the games on Sundays.
Strauss : What was your plan if football never worked out for you?
Coleman : I went to college thinking I was going to be an FBI agent, but if I wouldn’t have earned a scholarship to college I would definitely be a marine!
Strauss : Who was your childhood star?
Coleman : Jerry Rice! I was born in northern California and San Francisco was winning super bowls when j got into football, so it was a natural fit. Why?
Strauss : What is your favorite TV Show?
Coleman : My wife and I have a couple if favorites, “Modern Family and “The Gates”. I love comedy and vampires!
Strauss : What is your favorite type of pie?
Coleman : Coconut Cream Pie.
Strauss : What would your last meal on earth be?
Coleman : My wife’s pasta, a porterhouse steak and a glass of red wine. And, dessert would be my grandmother’s German chocolate cake.
Strauss : How long have you played football?
Coleman : I started playing flag football in the 3rd grade…
Strauss : Did you play any other sports in high school?
Coleman : In high school I played basketball, baseball and as a senior I ran track…
Strauss : What is a memory you share with a sport besides football?
Coleman : Playing basketball I got the opportunity to play against a lot of now NBA players
Strauss : What was the most important thing you learned at Washington State that has helped you in the NFL?
Coleman : I played against the best competition in the country! Shout out to the PAC-10!
Strauss : Who was your best buddy from Washington State?
Coleman : My best friend at Washington State was and is currently the Arizona Cardinals safety, Hamza Abdullah…
Strauss : What was the best memory you had with that player?
Coleman : Winning two PAC 10 titles and definitely playing in the Rose Bowl!
Strauss : What is your favorite memory from Washington State?
Coleman : Winning the PAC 10 title during my junior year was huge. But, I have a lot of great memories from playing at Wazzu!!
Strauss : What was your draft day experience like?
Coleman : It was nerve-racking and very exciting!
Strauss : When were you expecting to get drafted?
Coleman : I was expected to be a 4th or 5th round pick.
Strauss : What was going through your mind when you were drafted?
Coleman : I was drafted in the 5th round and it was amazing! A dream come true!!
Strauss : What is your favorite memory of the NFL?
Coleman : How excited I was for my first game!
Strauss : What is your favorite memory from the Jets?
Coleman : Beating San Diego in the playoffs my rookie year. It was first taste of post season play and a huge win.
Strauss : What was the hardest part of the transition between the Jets to the Falcons?
Coleman : I would say finding your fit within the team. I spent four years in New York playing a certain role and I had to re-establish myself in Atlanta… It’s been great though.
Strauss : What is your favorite memory from the Falcons?
Coleman : My favorite memory as a Falcon was surprising everyone outside our organization and making the playoffs.
Strauss : Do you have a nickname?
Coleman : I have several; EC, E Cole, Eazy, and my favorite Hubby (from my wife of course). I get a new nickname on every team I go to.
Strauss : What is your favorite charity?
Coleman : After School All Stars. They help keep kids out of trouble, while teaching them responsibility and things they can use when they are adults.
Strauss : Why should people donate?
Coleman : The kids are the future… You should always donate, if not money, time. There is always someone who is worse off than you.
Strauss : If you could describe yourself as any ice cream flavor, what would you be and why?
Coleman : Rocky Road! I’m as smooth as chocolate,I’m little nuts, but I have a soft side to me. Lol
Strauss : What is your favorite quote?
Coleman : “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”
Strauss : For someone aspiring to play in the NFL, what’s the best advice you can give?
Coleman : First of all, always believe in yourself. Outwork everyone and have a back up plan… That’s advice for whatever you want to do in life.
Strauss : Is there anything you want to tell your fans that I have not asked?
Coleman : I am living a dream! I am truly blessed and I love my family!!
Strauss : Thank you for your time!!
Coleman : The pleasure was all mine! Good luck bro!
46 : NFL Pro Interview : Mike Vick
Follow @MikeVick Follow @ProInterviews
Strauss : Why do you make it important to connect to your fans?
Vick : Without the fans, there would be no Mike Vick.
Strauss : If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?
Vick : Martin Luther King because he was amazing.
Strauss : Who was your childhood star? Why?
Vick : Joe Montana – He was the man.
Strauss : What was your favorite NFL team growing up?
Vick : San Francisco 49ers.
Strauss : It’s time for personal questions. What is your favorite song to listen to before a game?
Vick : This year, the song is going to be, “Miss Me” by Drake and Lil’ Wayne.
Strauss : What is your favorite movie of all time?
Vick : North Dallas Forty, my high school coached co-starred in it back in the day
Strauss : What is your favorite snack food?
Vick : Starbursts.
Strauss : What is your favorite type of pie?
Vick : Sweet-Potato Pie.
Strauss : What is your favorite Ice cream flavor?
Vick : Vanilla Ice Cream.
Strauss : What is your favorite TV-Show?
Vick : Sports Center.
Strauss : What is your favorite meal?
Vick : Lasagna.
Strauss : What is your favorite video game?
Vick : Madden or Tiger Woods Golf.
Strauss : What was it like to be an NFL Madden cover athlete?
Vick : I grew up loving video games, so being on the cover of the hottest game out was crazy.
Strauss : Who is your favorite superhero?
Vick : Superman.
Strauss : What is the one thing you can’t leave your house without?
Vick : My iPhone.
Strauss : How long have you played football?
Vick : Since I was eight years old.
Strauss : Did you play any other sports in high school?
Vick : I also played basketball.
Strauss : When did you realize that you were going to play football as a career?
Vick : Either when I was fourteen or fifteen, but sometime when I was in the 9th grade.
Strauss : What is a non-traditional sport you play?
Vick : I love playing golf.
Strauss : What impact did your high school coach have on your college and professional career?
Vick : I wouldn’t be here, today, if it was not for Coach Tommy Reamon, he single-handedly change my life.
Strauss : If you weren’t playing in the NFL, what would you want to do?
Vick : I would play in the NBA.
Strauss : Why do you wear the number 7?
Vick : Because of John Elway, he was great.
Strauss : What is a favorite memory from Virginia Tech?
Vick : All the love the fans gave me.
Strauss : What did you learn from playing football at Virginia Tech?
Vick : How to read a defense.
Strauss : What was the hardest challenge you faced in college?
Vick : The entire Florida State defense. They were always tough.
Strauss : What impact did your college coach have on your pro career?
Vick : They got me ready for the next level.
Strauss : What was it like to be the first overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft?
Vick : It was a dream come true.
Strauss : What was your draft day experience like?
Vick : It was phenomenal. However, I actually knew for a while that I was going number one overall.
Strauss : When did you see your first live NFL game?
Vick : My first NFL game I saw was my first pre-season game.
Strauss : What is it like to be the first QB in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and set an NFL record 8.4 yards per carry?
Vick : It was pretty sweet to make history and also to accomplish that.
Strauss : What was your favorite memory as a Falcon?
Vick : Definitely beating the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs.
Strauss : What was it like to be given another chance by the Eagles?
Vick : It was like God answering my prayers
Strauss : What is your favorite memory as an Eagle?
Vick : I am just excited and very thankful for a second chance.
Strauss : What is the important thing you developed throughout your career?
Vick : The ability to stay humble, and to learn from my mistakes.
Strauss : What was the best award you’ve received throughout your entire career?
Vick : Super Bowl Trophy coming this year!
Strauss : What do you want your career be remembered for?
Vick : A guy who made some mistakes, but bounced back better than ever.
Strauss : What was the best advice you received from your cousin, Aaron Brooks while you were growing up?
Vick : He basically just helped me by giving me a heads up on mostly everything.
Strauss : What is your nickname? Why?
Vick : “Ook” my aunt gave it to me when I was 5, its stuck ever since
Strauss : What is your favorite charity?
Vick : I like all charities that benefit people who need it.
Strauss : What is an experience that changed your life?
Vick : That’s easy, the whole dog fighting situation, but I’ve become a much better man because of it.
Strauss : What is your favorite quote?
Vick : “I’ll be floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.”
Strauss : Is there anything you want to tell your fans that I have not asked?
Vick : I just wanted to say, I let you all down once, but it will not happen again. Thank you to all the fans who still support me.
Strauss : For someone aspiring to play football in the NFL, do you have any advice for them?
Vick : Practice and polish your skills. Improve in weak areas, and work harder than ever. And, don’t let anyone stand in your way.
Strauss : Thank you so much for your time.
Vick : Thanks Max, and Go Eagles!
Max Strauss
