Head Coach Scott Linehan and Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Billy Devaney
Press Conference No. 3
April 27, 2008
(On draft pick WR Keenan Burton)
Billy Devaney: “We just made a trade with Green Bay. We swapped picks and gave up our 7th round pick, not the compensatory, we couldn’t trade our own pick in the 7th round and we used that Green Bay pick to take Keenan Burton, a wide receiver from Kentucky. This is a guy who has good size. He is a little bit over 6’ and a half and 200 pounds with good speed and return ability. Probably the reason why Burton dropped to this point is because he battled some injuries in the early part of his career and he was hampered by some minor ones this year. He had a sprained ankle and I think a hamstring this year that he fought through. He has got really good hands, runs great routes and he is a really smart guy. He fits the mold we have been stressing. Now we have some depth at wide out and it has put us in a position where there is going to be great competition once we get to training camp. Burton will be in the mix and get his chance as wide out and kick returner.”
(On deciding to draft Burton)
BD: “When we get to this point when the board is rapidly falling apart, there are just a few guys up there right now that we have really good feelings about. There are some guys we might take a shot at who have real projections. There are only a few up there that we think are real viable prospects and Burton was at the top of that list so we figured why not go get a guy that everybody has a conviction about rather than run the risk of losing him if we just stayed put.”
(On Burton’s assets)
Scott Linehan: “The speed is a huge factor. You have got to be productive. I’ve said this about every other position and they have to be smart guys and passionate to have production. Then we get into this profile with the position. This guy is a little over 6-foot tall, about 200 pounds, ran a 4.4, he has a great change in direction. He and (Donnie) Avery were one of the top five in the Combine in the three cone, which is a test. But this is a change of direction I think very relevant for the receiver position because it shows change of direction, get in and out, cut, things like that. The production part to me is very important. I think you like to see their body of work. Throughout his career, he had a great junior year. Senior year, he wasn’t as productive although he played injured and played through it so this shows this kid’s toughness. He played with a lot of true injuries that a lot of guys might not try to go so he adds that dimension. I like this kid’s ability though because he’s got very good hands but also good stretch of the field as well. I think my biggest goal personally and as an organization that we talked about was adding speed to our team. I really felt if we could put some speed at our receiver it would really help our system because it’s built on that. This kid is a good route runner. He makes tough catches and goes over the middle a lot like Donnie and it’s going to really put a lot of competition on that receiver position as well.”
(On how Burton and second-round choice Donnie Avery are similar)
SL: “The one thing you see in Donnie, because I set up a lot of things for him and their system because they catch a lot of bubble screens and receiver screens. The thing you have got to see Keenan do is catch the ball on those intermediate routes and run with it. He is tough, he looks fearless about going to the ball and attacks the football with his hands and does run with it very well.”
(On competition with Dante Hall)
SL: “I think kick-off returns. I think we are going to have a very interesting battle there. We start Dante, he is probably still pretty good at that too. So we have options there. We have Derek Stanley still who showed some promise at the end of the year last year. Dante, before he got injured last year, was doing a really nice job for us. That is one area I think will be fun keeping an eye on.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rams WR Keenan Burton
Conference Call
April 27, 2008
(On if he has ever been to St. Louis)
“No, I am looking forward to it.”
(On how excited he is about coming to St. Louis)
“I am definitely looking forward to it. I am very excited and very thankful for the opportunity.”
(On his expectations)
“I didn’t have any expectations. My expectations were to wait out and see what happens and see where God will put me.”
(On if he feels like he has recovered from the injuries from his college career)
“I definitely do. I feel like I have done everything that has been asked of me. I feel like I have proved myself to everybody and I think I have proved that no matter what you go through, that if you work hard and be persistent, your dreams can become possible and a reality.”
(On what injuries he had last year)
“I had a torn meniscus, a strained right MCL, and a high ankle sprain. It was a tough year for me, obviously.”
(On if he missed any games last year due to injury)
“I missed one game.”
(On if he got his meniscus operated on)
“Yes, I got my meniscus operated on.”
(On if the operation was after the season)
“Yes, right after the season. I had the operation on January 3rd. I had a couple of weeks after to get ready for the combine.”
(On if he played through the injuries, including the torn meniscus)
“Yes sir. I did.”
(On when he tore his meniscus)
“I think it was mid-season.”
(On whether that shows his toughness and determination)
“I hope so, because that is what I tried to show. I think that is one of the biggest assets of my game is how tough I am.”
(On if his injuries affected his performance at the combine and at his pro day)
“I was okay by then so they did not.”
(On how he can help the Rams)
“I feel that it is important to come in and do what is asked of you and take care of yourself first. Then, hopefully, contribute as the team wants you to. I am just looking forward to the opportunity and I am very thankful to have it.”
(On looking to his head coach at Kentucky, Rich Brooks, who was also the Rams first head coach in St. Louis, for advice)
“I am going to go to him and see what he thinks and I know he has a lot of things to say. Basically, I need to ask him what I should expect and how I should approach the NFL game.”
(On himself as a receiver)
“I bring toughness. I bring a great confidence and a great work ethic. I am somebody who is going to be very well prepared for games and for practice and I am going to practice like I play.”
(On how Steve Ortmayer, special teams coach at Kentucky, helped him with his returns)
“He helped me a great deal. Coach Ortmayer has a great mind and he is the reason I was as successful as I was in the return game.”
(On if he prefers kickoff returns to punt returns)
“No, I will do both of them.”
(On the benefit of playing in the Southeastern conference)
“It gets you prepared for the games the week after this one, because it like the playoffs week in and week out. It is really fortunate that we get a chance to play against the best competition. There is a reason we say (the SEC) is the best conference, because we have all of the best players.”
(On his excitement to get a chance to play for ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’)
“I’m excited and I can’t wait. I know I will have to get separation and get open and things like that, but I am very excited.”
(On if he watched Rams WR Torry Holt)
“I’m just excited to be able to come in and look at the guys who were before me. I know there was a trade happening with one of them with San Francisco, but I am so happy to the have the opportunity.”
(On the Rams wanting him pretty badly to move up in the draft to select him)
“Yes, they did.”
(On what he is doing right now)
“I am with my family watching highlights of the draft.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rams DE Chris Long
Press Conference
April 27, 2008
(On being a St. Louis Ram)
I’m extremely excited to be here. It’s been a long weekend and the God’s honest truth is that I wouldn’t rather be anywhere but St. Louis. That’s where I was hoping to go. I just want to thank the entire organization for believing in me and picking me. I intend on proving that I am worth the pick, if that’s possible. I’m really excited to work for Coach Linehan and the entire organization. I look forward to getting to know the people in the city as well. I can’t wait to get back to football and get back to doing what I do best and that’s not being an NFL draft prospect, it’s being a football player. I’m very excited.
(On why St. Louis is where Long wanted to go)
I think schematically, the coaching staff, everything I’ve heard about the city and the organization. The combination of those things and the people that I have met here and obviously their position in the draft. It all made sense to me that this would be the place for me to be. I wouldn’t rather have it any other way.
(On what the last 24 hours have been like)
I haven’t slept as a St. Louis Ram. It’s been crazy. We flew out early this morning from New York City. I got a chance to spend time with my family and friends that came to New York and that was a lot of fun. That made the whole day worth while even more. To have them around is awesome and I’m excited to be here. I can’t wait to go back. I will be leaving today to go back to Charlottesville, but I’ll be back soon.
(On how many interview Long has had today)
Thousands. I have not kept count. There has been a lot of questions and a lot of the same answers, but now I can tell everyone the truth, which is that I want to be a Ram and it couldn’t have gone any better this weekend. It was awesome.
(On how much help he will seek from DE Leonard Little)
The first thing I want to do here is learn from the veterans and establish myself in the locker room because I’m not a guy who takes anything for granted and I know I have a lot to learn. Any guy like that, Leonard Little, La’Roi Glover, Adam (Carriker), any of those guys that are willing to help me, I would love to be helped. I need help. I’m a young guy. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve got a lot to learn. I can’t wait to work with guys like that. Whatever they are willing to do, I’m receptive to that.
(On being better suited than most rookies because of his experience being around the NFL)
Maybe so. I think that because of the fact that there is more pressure in my situation growing up that it has probably given me a bit of a mental edge. But at this point we are all equal as rookies. We have all been through college football for four or five years, so I don’t have any advantage over the guys now. I think the game has changed a lot since my dad played and since I grew up around that game. I’m new to it, just like he is new to the process as well.
(On how many colleges recruited Long and his choice of Virginia)
Not too many. I committed early just to try to get the process over. I’m not one for the process. I kind of like to get to work. The interesting thing with this is that you don’t have a choice. You do have to wait until draft day. I committed my junior year to Virginia. Coach Al Grow with his NFL background, the academics, I’m still working to get my degree there and that’s going to mean a lot to me and the city of Charlottesville is where I’m from, my family is close by. That was a perfect fit for me and I really enjoy it.
(On what his degree will be in)
Sociology.
(On not a lot of colleges recruiting Long and if it was because he wasn’t initially highly-ranked and because he committed early)
Yeah, I think it was a little bit of both. The fact that I don’t think people thought I was very good and it caught on a little late. With recruiting in high school, at times they wait for someone to offer and then everybody starts offering. That’s kind of where it went. UVA was the first offer and I took it on the spot. I knew what I wanted to do, so I figured, why play the game?
(On whether Long wanted to prove himself to those who passed on him)
Not really. I wasn’t out to prove other colleges wrong. I just wanted to get the people who I thought didn’t pay much attention to me to respect me. I think a lot of people looked at me for my last name and not who I was. I was just happy to be able to forge a great career at UVA with a bunch of great teammates. Everything happens for a reason.
(On Long’s ability to be a leader in the locker room)
I think you are who you are throughout this whole process. As a teammate and a player, passion is not something that you can contrive and neither is leadership. I think these things come naturally to some people. I don’t think of myself as a leader or anybody out of the ordinary. I just do what comes naturally to me as a person and as a teammate and subsequently as a player. If I’m able to be a leader, great, but I’m going to come in and try to be the same guy everyday.
(On if Long knows any current Rams)
I know Marques (Hagans) real well. I was very excited for the fact that we will be reunited here. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. Marc Bulger called me yesterday and I had about a five minute conversation with him. It was really encouraging to just hear how cool he was. He’s like ‘Hey you can crash at my place if you need a place to stay in the mean time. Any questions you have, I can answer them.’ And that’s a relief. It speaks volumes for this organization. He is the face of this franchise and the leader. I also talked to La’Roi Glover as well. Someone that I grew up watching back when I was a kid and now I’m going to hopefully be able to learn a lot from him.
(On being touted as one of the most polished DE’s to ever come out of the draft and what Long needs to work on)
I need to work on everything. My technique might be good relative to some guys but I don’t think technically the college game, especially with defensive lineman, is too high of a level. I really have to step my game up in some of these phases. I mean the press conference would go on for hours if I talked about what I need to get better at.
(On the feeling from the Long got from the Rams during the pro day)
It was good to see a lot of Rams personnel there. They were more heavily represented than any organization at my pro day, so I got the sense that they were interested. Still, that was early. That was so long ago that I can’t even remember. This process was crazy. It goes day to day and up and down. Any of us waiting in New York last night, I believe could be wearing any jersey. I think it just comes down to need and consensus that is in the building on the day of the draft. I just feel so lucky to be here.
(On wanting to visit the Arch)
I still want to visit the arch. It was foggy when I was here before, but now I saw it when I flew in this morning. I woke up to see the Arch.
(On Howie Long being coached by Jim Haslett)
My dad has nothing but great things to say about Coach Haslett. It’s another thing that I feel very comfortable about. I really like this coaching staff. Anywhere I go, I’m receptive to anything that they want me to do or what they want me to learn. I’m the player, they are the coach. Here, I have a lot of background with these coaches and I’m excited to play for them.
(On Long checking out high draft team’s personnel)
I think there were different needs for each team and I think that was made clear by the so called experts and prognosticators, but you really don’t know what’s going on inside the building. I just feel like they felt that I was the best player that they could pick and I feel lucky to be that guy. I don’t know if it’s a need or what, but I just excited to be that guy.
(On Long’s versatility)
Versatility is something that I feel that I can bring to a team. I think it’s fun to play a number of different spots. To have a number of different responsibilities is something that I did at Virginia. Obviously that’s the college level and this is the pro level. I think really what I have to do is get just good enough to get on the field and do one thing well. I’m willing to do anything that coach wants me to do. I can’t wait to lineup anywhere on the field.
(On not having championships at Virginia, but still having talented pros)
Coach Groh runs a pro style organization. I think it’s hard to win championships at UVA because they really do hold you to a superior academic standard. Not only do you have to meet not only NCAA regulations but you have to meet UVA regulations, which are tough. As hard as you have to work as a football player, you have to work as hard in the classroom. Still, the guys who get through are better equipped than 95 percent of college kids because Coach Groh conditions us to be so.
(On the prospect that the St. Louis Cardinals draft Long’s brother Kyle Long)
I called him (Kyle) yesterday on my way back from the draft and I said ‘Play for the Cardinals, man?’ We’re in an awesome sports city and I know baseball is big here and it’s pretty cool. I mean, who knows? (laughing) Wouldn’t that be cool?
(On his Rams number preference)
I thought about it a little bit. I just really have to talk to my family and see what they want. I couldn’t really care less. I hope that I can make that number worth something. Obviously, my college number, Leonard (little) has it, but that’s in the past. It’s a new chapter in my life and just as I changed my number in college, I will wear a new number here.
(On if it would be a distraction wearing 75 like his dad)
Yeah it would. I think that I am cool with the pressure, but there is no need to shovel it on myself.
Press Conference No. 3
April 27, 2008
(On draft pick WR Keenan Burton)
Billy Devaney: “We just made a trade with Green Bay. We swapped picks and gave up our 7th round pick, not the compensatory, we couldn’t trade our own pick in the 7th round and we used that Green Bay pick to take Keenan Burton, a wide receiver from Kentucky. This is a guy who has good size. He is a little bit over 6’ and a half and 200 pounds with good speed and return ability. Probably the reason why Burton dropped to this point is because he battled some injuries in the early part of his career and he was hampered by some minor ones this year. He had a sprained ankle and I think a hamstring this year that he fought through. He has got really good hands, runs great routes and he is a really smart guy. He fits the mold we have been stressing. Now we have some depth at wide out and it has put us in a position where there is going to be great competition once we get to training camp. Burton will be in the mix and get his chance as wide out and kick returner.”
(On deciding to draft Burton)
BD: “When we get to this point when the board is rapidly falling apart, there are just a few guys up there right now that we have really good feelings about. There are some guys we might take a shot at who have real projections. There are only a few up there that we think are real viable prospects and Burton was at the top of that list so we figured why not go get a guy that everybody has a conviction about rather than run the risk of losing him if we just stayed put.”
(On Burton’s assets)
Scott Linehan: “The speed is a huge factor. You have got to be productive. I’ve said this about every other position and they have to be smart guys and passionate to have production. Then we get into this profile with the position. This guy is a little over 6-foot tall, about 200 pounds, ran a 4.4, he has a great change in direction. He and (Donnie) Avery were one of the top five in the Combine in the three cone, which is a test. But this is a change of direction I think very relevant for the receiver position because it shows change of direction, get in and out, cut, things like that. The production part to me is very important. I think you like to see their body of work. Throughout his career, he had a great junior year. Senior year, he wasn’t as productive although he played injured and played through it so this shows this kid’s toughness. He played with a lot of true injuries that a lot of guys might not try to go so he adds that dimension. I like this kid’s ability though because he’s got very good hands but also good stretch of the field as well. I think my biggest goal personally and as an organization that we talked about was adding speed to our team. I really felt if we could put some speed at our receiver it would really help our system because it’s built on that. This kid is a good route runner. He makes tough catches and goes over the middle a lot like Donnie and it’s going to really put a lot of competition on that receiver position as well.”
(On how Burton and second-round choice Donnie Avery are similar)
SL: “The one thing you see in Donnie, because I set up a lot of things for him and their system because they catch a lot of bubble screens and receiver screens. The thing you have got to see Keenan do is catch the ball on those intermediate routes and run with it. He is tough, he looks fearless about going to the ball and attacks the football with his hands and does run with it very well.”
(On competition with Dante Hall)
SL: “I think kick-off returns. I think we are going to have a very interesting battle there. We start Dante, he is probably still pretty good at that too. So we have options there. We have Derek Stanley still who showed some promise at the end of the year last year. Dante, before he got injured last year, was doing a really nice job for us. That is one area I think will be fun keeping an eye on.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rams WR Keenan Burton
Conference Call
April 27, 2008
(On if he has ever been to St. Louis)
“No, I am looking forward to it.”
(On how excited he is about coming to St. Louis)
“I am definitely looking forward to it. I am very excited and very thankful for the opportunity.”
(On his expectations)
“I didn’t have any expectations. My expectations were to wait out and see what happens and see where God will put me.”
(On if he feels like he has recovered from the injuries from his college career)
“I definitely do. I feel like I have done everything that has been asked of me. I feel like I have proved myself to everybody and I think I have proved that no matter what you go through, that if you work hard and be persistent, your dreams can become possible and a reality.”
(On what injuries he had last year)
“I had a torn meniscus, a strained right MCL, and a high ankle sprain. It was a tough year for me, obviously.”
(On if he missed any games last year due to injury)
“I missed one game.”
(On if he got his meniscus operated on)
“Yes, I got my meniscus operated on.”
(On if the operation was after the season)
“Yes, right after the season. I had the operation on January 3rd. I had a couple of weeks after to get ready for the combine.”
(On if he played through the injuries, including the torn meniscus)
“Yes sir. I did.”
(On when he tore his meniscus)
“I think it was mid-season.”
(On whether that shows his toughness and determination)
“I hope so, because that is what I tried to show. I think that is one of the biggest assets of my game is how tough I am.”
(On if his injuries affected his performance at the combine and at his pro day)
“I was okay by then so they did not.”
(On how he can help the Rams)
“I feel that it is important to come in and do what is asked of you and take care of yourself first. Then, hopefully, contribute as the team wants you to. I am just looking forward to the opportunity and I am very thankful to have it.”
(On looking to his head coach at Kentucky, Rich Brooks, who was also the Rams first head coach in St. Louis, for advice)
“I am going to go to him and see what he thinks and I know he has a lot of things to say. Basically, I need to ask him what I should expect and how I should approach the NFL game.”
(On himself as a receiver)
“I bring toughness. I bring a great confidence and a great work ethic. I am somebody who is going to be very well prepared for games and for practice and I am going to practice like I play.”
(On how Steve Ortmayer, special teams coach at Kentucky, helped him with his returns)
“He helped me a great deal. Coach Ortmayer has a great mind and he is the reason I was as successful as I was in the return game.”
(On if he prefers kickoff returns to punt returns)
“No, I will do both of them.”
(On the benefit of playing in the Southeastern conference)
“It gets you prepared for the games the week after this one, because it like the playoffs week in and week out. It is really fortunate that we get a chance to play against the best competition. There is a reason we say (the SEC) is the best conference, because we have all of the best players.”
(On his excitement to get a chance to play for ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’)
“I’m excited and I can’t wait. I know I will have to get separation and get open and things like that, but I am very excited.”
(On if he watched Rams WR Torry Holt)
“I’m just excited to be able to come in and look at the guys who were before me. I know there was a trade happening with one of them with San Francisco, but I am so happy to the have the opportunity.”
(On the Rams wanting him pretty badly to move up in the draft to select him)
“Yes, they did.”
(On what he is doing right now)
“I am with my family watching highlights of the draft.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rams DE Chris Long
Press Conference
April 27, 2008
(On being a St. Louis Ram)
I’m extremely excited to be here. It’s been a long weekend and the God’s honest truth is that I wouldn’t rather be anywhere but St. Louis. That’s where I was hoping to go. I just want to thank the entire organization for believing in me and picking me. I intend on proving that I am worth the pick, if that’s possible. I’m really excited to work for Coach Linehan and the entire organization. I look forward to getting to know the people in the city as well. I can’t wait to get back to football and get back to doing what I do best and that’s not being an NFL draft prospect, it’s being a football player. I’m very excited.
(On why St. Louis is where Long wanted to go)
I think schematically, the coaching staff, everything I’ve heard about the city and the organization. The combination of those things and the people that I have met here and obviously their position in the draft. It all made sense to me that this would be the place for me to be. I wouldn’t rather have it any other way.
(On what the last 24 hours have been like)
I haven’t slept as a St. Louis Ram. It’s been crazy. We flew out early this morning from New York City. I got a chance to spend time with my family and friends that came to New York and that was a lot of fun. That made the whole day worth while even more. To have them around is awesome and I’m excited to be here. I can’t wait to go back. I will be leaving today to go back to Charlottesville, but I’ll be back soon.
(On how many interview Long has had today)
Thousands. I have not kept count. There has been a lot of questions and a lot of the same answers, but now I can tell everyone the truth, which is that I want to be a Ram and it couldn’t have gone any better this weekend. It was awesome.
(On how much help he will seek from DE Leonard Little)
The first thing I want to do here is learn from the veterans and establish myself in the locker room because I’m not a guy who takes anything for granted and I know I have a lot to learn. Any guy like that, Leonard Little, La’Roi Glover, Adam (Carriker), any of those guys that are willing to help me, I would love to be helped. I need help. I’m a young guy. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve got a lot to learn. I can’t wait to work with guys like that. Whatever they are willing to do, I’m receptive to that.
(On being better suited than most rookies because of his experience being around the NFL)
Maybe so. I think that because of the fact that there is more pressure in my situation growing up that it has probably given me a bit of a mental edge. But at this point we are all equal as rookies. We have all been through college football for four or five years, so I don’t have any advantage over the guys now. I think the game has changed a lot since my dad played and since I grew up around that game. I’m new to it, just like he is new to the process as well.
(On how many colleges recruited Long and his choice of Virginia)
Not too many. I committed early just to try to get the process over. I’m not one for the process. I kind of like to get to work. The interesting thing with this is that you don’t have a choice. You do have to wait until draft day. I committed my junior year to Virginia. Coach Al Grow with his NFL background, the academics, I’m still working to get my degree there and that’s going to mean a lot to me and the city of Charlottesville is where I’m from, my family is close by. That was a perfect fit for me and I really enjoy it.
(On what his degree will be in)
Sociology.
(On not a lot of colleges recruiting Long and if it was because he wasn’t initially highly-ranked and because he committed early)
Yeah, I think it was a little bit of both. The fact that I don’t think people thought I was very good and it caught on a little late. With recruiting in high school, at times they wait for someone to offer and then everybody starts offering. That’s kind of where it went. UVA was the first offer and I took it on the spot. I knew what I wanted to do, so I figured, why play the game?
(On whether Long wanted to prove himself to those who passed on him)
Not really. I wasn’t out to prove other colleges wrong. I just wanted to get the people who I thought didn’t pay much attention to me to respect me. I think a lot of people looked at me for my last name and not who I was. I was just happy to be able to forge a great career at UVA with a bunch of great teammates. Everything happens for a reason.
(On Long’s ability to be a leader in the locker room)
I think you are who you are throughout this whole process. As a teammate and a player, passion is not something that you can contrive and neither is leadership. I think these things come naturally to some people. I don’t think of myself as a leader or anybody out of the ordinary. I just do what comes naturally to me as a person and as a teammate and subsequently as a player. If I’m able to be a leader, great, but I’m going to come in and try to be the same guy everyday.
(On if Long knows any current Rams)
I know Marques (Hagans) real well. I was very excited for the fact that we will be reunited here. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. Marc Bulger called me yesterday and I had about a five minute conversation with him. It was really encouraging to just hear how cool he was. He’s like ‘Hey you can crash at my place if you need a place to stay in the mean time. Any questions you have, I can answer them.’ And that’s a relief. It speaks volumes for this organization. He is the face of this franchise and the leader. I also talked to La’Roi Glover as well. Someone that I grew up watching back when I was a kid and now I’m going to hopefully be able to learn a lot from him.
(On being touted as one of the most polished DE’s to ever come out of the draft and what Long needs to work on)
I need to work on everything. My technique might be good relative to some guys but I don’t think technically the college game, especially with defensive lineman, is too high of a level. I really have to step my game up in some of these phases. I mean the press conference would go on for hours if I talked about what I need to get better at.
(On the feeling from the Long got from the Rams during the pro day)
It was good to see a lot of Rams personnel there. They were more heavily represented than any organization at my pro day, so I got the sense that they were interested. Still, that was early. That was so long ago that I can’t even remember. This process was crazy. It goes day to day and up and down. Any of us waiting in New York last night, I believe could be wearing any jersey. I think it just comes down to need and consensus that is in the building on the day of the draft. I just feel so lucky to be here.
(On wanting to visit the Arch)
I still want to visit the arch. It was foggy when I was here before, but now I saw it when I flew in this morning. I woke up to see the Arch.
(On Howie Long being coached by Jim Haslett)
My dad has nothing but great things to say about Coach Haslett. It’s another thing that I feel very comfortable about. I really like this coaching staff. Anywhere I go, I’m receptive to anything that they want me to do or what they want me to learn. I’m the player, they are the coach. Here, I have a lot of background with these coaches and I’m excited to play for them.
(On Long checking out high draft team’s personnel)
I think there were different needs for each team and I think that was made clear by the so called experts and prognosticators, but you really don’t know what’s going on inside the building. I just feel like they felt that I was the best player that they could pick and I feel lucky to be that guy. I don’t know if it’s a need or what, but I just excited to be that guy.
(On Long’s versatility)
Versatility is something that I feel that I can bring to a team. I think it’s fun to play a number of different spots. To have a number of different responsibilities is something that I did at Virginia. Obviously that’s the college level and this is the pro level. I think really what I have to do is get just good enough to get on the field and do one thing well. I’m willing to do anything that coach wants me to do. I can’t wait to lineup anywhere on the field.
(On not having championships at Virginia, but still having talented pros)
Coach Groh runs a pro style organization. I think it’s hard to win championships at UVA because they really do hold you to a superior academic standard. Not only do you have to meet not only NCAA regulations but you have to meet UVA regulations, which are tough. As hard as you have to work as a football player, you have to work as hard in the classroom. Still, the guys who get through are better equipped than 95 percent of college kids because Coach Groh conditions us to be so.
(On the prospect that the St. Louis Cardinals draft Long’s brother Kyle Long)
I called him (Kyle) yesterday on my way back from the draft and I said ‘Play for the Cardinals, man?’ We’re in an awesome sports city and I know baseball is big here and it’s pretty cool. I mean, who knows? (laughing) Wouldn’t that be cool?
(On his Rams number preference)
I thought about it a little bit. I just really have to talk to my family and see what they want. I couldn’t really care less. I hope that I can make that number worth something. Obviously, my college number, Leonard (little) has it, but that’s in the past. It’s a new chapter in my life and just as I changed my number in college, I will wear a new number here.
(On if it would be a distraction wearing 75 like his dad)
Yeah it would. I think that I am cool with the pressure, but there is no need to shovel it on myself.