Expectations and performance are two different things. We expect to go to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Every team will tell you that. But realistically, we have a young team, we have a team starting a rookie quarterback, it’s going to be a difficult year.
It’s going to be a year where getting to the playoffs is going to take great play by everyone, but especially the defense. We understand that. I expect the defense to be great, and for us to make the playoffs, we have to be a top-five defense.
To see the faces of people the Monday after a loss, they’re all like, “Tough game. Real disappointing. I was at my house throwing chairs in the living room, tipping over TVs.” Stuff like that. It’s in Starbucks, walking around in Target, filling up the gas tank. People roll by: “What happened on Sunday?” Drive off.
I don’t say I’m going to work. I say I’m going to go play football. It’s really cool. I don’t think I could ever have a 9-to-5.
My parents were my heroes. My mom was a single mother for a long time and worked hard to make sure we had what we needed.
My dad worked in a foundry. Still does, actually. Started when he was 18. Now he’s 51. Still working. That’s hard work. He has all these burns. Cut his finger off when he was younger.
My mom and dad were divorced when I was 2 years old in Florida. My mom and my dad kept a strong relationship for me. I spent time with both sets of parents. My dad remarried first, then my mom remarried. I moved out to Arizona with my mom and my stepfather.
The crazy thing is, both sets of parents still have dinner with each other, even when I’m not there.
They always taught me the right thing to do, and if I didn’t do the right thing, I got punished. It became ingrained in me to do the right thing.
I got the belt a lot when I was younger. My father’s black and my mother’s white. My stepfather is Jewish. There was a Web site that said I was a Jewish football player. I celebrated Hannukah. I’m culturally advanced. I don’t get caught up in appearances or what people do. I just talk to people.
When you come in as a freshman, it’s already expected that you’re going to come in, work hard, and Nebraska is going to stay on the same path — a team that’s going to get 9-10 wins a year.
Obviously things have changed at Nebraska, so that’s out the window.
Phone rings. I’m not even thinking about it, and my mom (whispers), “It’s the Chicago Bears.” They had me on the phone in silence for 10 minutes. I talked to Vance Bedford.(1) He said, “We’re thinking about drafting you; hang tight for a little bit.” I’m sitting in silence on the phone for about 10 minutes. Really. Honestly. Ten minutes.
They probably had three or four guys they’re thinking about drafting, and right before it was announced on ESPN, they came on the phone and said, “Congratulations, you’re going to be a Chicago Bear.” I’m in a different room, and then they announce it on the TV and the whole family goes wild. It was a pretty special day.
That season (2) was so magical — 13-3, the city was on fire.
It’s hard to talk about how you talk trash because it comes off the top of your head. Playing T.O. one time, he dropped the ball. I was like, “Man, you sure do drop a lot of balls.” He just looked at me and said, “I’m the best thing you’ve ever seen. I can drop a couple; I’m still the best you’ve ever seen.”
The toughest part (3) is being on the sidelines during the game. I liked when they went away and I could just watch it on TV. I was a fan.
After watching the game on TV, I would come back into the locker room and talk to guys. “What were you doing out there?” They’re like, “You don’t even know what coverage we’re in. You don’t even know what defense we’re in. Have you ever played the game before?”
When I was a rookie, Clyde Simmons told me a good defense is one that always communicates. Someone has to be talking out there always, even if it’s wrong.
It’s hard to talk about myself, but what I think I bring is someone that’s consistent. I pretty much play the same every game. The coaches trust me to be out there.
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1 – Bears defensive backfield coach.
2 – 2001
3 – When he was injured last season
