A.J. Brown, Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson & Corey Durden Address the Media — Press Conference

[0:00] afternoon what was your reaction your thoughts when and who told you that you [0:07] had been traded to the Patriots my agent my agent my reaction was you know super [0:17] excited to play with play play for my childhood team and yeah Mike told us [0:27] that when the Titans drafted you you told him I wish the Patriots drafted me can you just sort [0:32] of walk us through your fandom and that night yeah it was a tough night it was it was a tough [0:39] night I joked about it earlier I said the Patriots been breaking my heart you know over the years but [0:44] you know that night was uh I was looking forward to getting picked you know going in the first round [0:48] I was rejected the first round pick you know obviously things can go out another way and [0:52] you know the 32nd pick it took another receiver as soon as soon as the pick came in I was already [1:02] like in my car head leaving the leaving my drop party and you know I went back to my room and you [1:07] know I went in the closet and just kind of try to gather myself you know because I was just [1:10] disappointed you know it's something that um I wanted to I where I wanted to be you know obviously [1:15] I want to play with Tom so um you know that didn't happen but you know everything happens for a reason [1:20] so I think you said that Sunday was like Christmas Eve or at one point did you know that you would be [1:27] coming to the Patriots uh I didn't know until like the day the day of honestly it was uh it was [1:34] always touch and go you didn't know you know I let my agent kind of handle that I was staying focused [1:39] with my my family and trying to be with my feet where you know and let him do his job AJ did you [1:44] had great success in Philadelphia went to a couple Super Bowls won a Super Bowl four straight 1,000 yard [1:50] seasons but it felt like and from the reporting of it that maybe there was some dissatisfaction there at [1:54] the end that helped sort of speed this up can you kind of walk us through what happened that led [1:59] you to be out the door there and in here um I won't get into like uh details about it but you [2:06] know uh you know I'm excited for this opportunity you know uh you know I'm here now not to get into [2:12] details none of that stuff matters you know uh what's done is done and we're here and we're moving [2:17] forward can you talk about keep using the word excitement yeah and now that it's happening it's [2:23] real I mean this has been talked about forever yeah so so can you explain that level of excitement [2:28] now that it's really happening here just talking to my mom and I was like man I'm still in awe you [2:34] know I'm uh trying to adjust and you know walking up the hill um with the with the uniform on I was [2:40] like man this is uh this is this is this is this is this is real you know and um caught myself one [2:49] point in the practice wasn't paying attention because I was like dang I'm a patriot you know [2:53] you know and uh just trying to take it all in as much as I can you know obviously you know you [3:00] know I got back to work quickly but it's just it's levels to it and I'm like I said I'm enjoying it [3:05] it's it's obviously I know this ain't heaven but you know it's close to it when you guys had that [3:10] huddle at the end that Mike always does and you were listening to his voice again did you kind of [3:15] put your head down like was it a little surreal for you no that was this morning that was the morning [3:20] when Bray was uh getting on Will Campbell and he was getting on him and he was uh he was saying [3:26] um he was like don't leave I'm about to get to my best part and I was like I've been around you a [3:31] million times I knew what you about to do to him you know and so uh that's when it kind of just started [3:36] to set in and I'm around Bray you know so where did this passion come from for the Patriots [3:41] oh man what do you say to the fans now that you're here that are going to be watching you [3:45] every week passion came from uh wanting to be like my big cousin he was a big Patriots fan [3:50] and I want to you know like I said I want to be like him and as far as I can remember you know [3:55] I was a Patriots fan and and uh to the fans you know it's time you know better late than never we [4:01] right on time and I'm so excited I know I can't wait to get out there in Gillette Stadium and you [4:06] know hit a crowd and make plays and have fun what excites you about playing with Drake everything man [4:11] you know I was watching him today you know obviously you know I'm learning the plays and you [4:15] know out there with him you know he can make any throw he's very poised like today in the meeting [4:19] I would say he kind of took over to me you know Joshua speaking and he you know kind of [4:24] cut Josh off not in a rude way but you know he just kind of took over you know and that's [4:28] it says so much from a young guy you know to to to know uh what he's talking about number one [4:33] and to lead you know and to be the voice of this team so when I heard that I was like wow [4:39] I was that was impressive you know obviously I heard great things about him but that part [4:44] along tells me a lot about him and how how much he loves his job and you know he studies [4:48] and everything so yeah first welcome to New England um but with Drake specifically a lot [4:55] of people talk about your abilities as a deep ball receiver and a lot of people talk about [5:00] his skills as a deep ball passer um just how do you feel like your games can complement [5:04] one another obviously you know that that component of it yeah we want to grow in that part but [5:08] also we want to grow in our areas you know we want to try to uh attack the three three [5:13] levels three three three levels on the field you know um short media man long so what do [5:17] you remember about your first impression of Mike Rabel and how is your relationship my first [5:22] impression oh I I did not like him yeah I mean I can say that you know but uh what I've grown [5:29] into uh man he's a he's a great guy he's a great guy and uh he coaches hard he holds guys [5:34] accountable you know and I don't I'm not saying that lightly he really does you know and he leads [5:39] just leads this group lead the team you know and honestly I believe that he's daring somebody [5:44] to challenge him so he can show you you know he still thinks he can play so uh yeah [5:49] how familiar were you with Josh how familiar were you with Josh McDaniels before you got here and [5:53] what do you think of his offense and also your affinity specifically how he likes to move pieces [5:57] around um just from the short time short little period that we talk you know I'm excited you [6:02] know uh he's giving me a whole bunch of ideas he I've been around brave long enough to [6:06] not get into skiing so I can't get you nuts but I'm I'm I'm excited you know uh so [6:12] what does your role have to be to be for you to feel fulfilled here what does your role have to be [6:19] I'm fulfilled now but on the field when the season goes when when they when the magic of being a [6:26] patriot wears off a little bit and you get into the season what do you have to do for you to feel [6:32] like or what what do I have to do yeah or to or what is the your kind of percentage or role of the [6:39] offense have to be to feel like that you're you're fulfilling what you feel like you want to be [6:44] uh I'm just gonna work hard and let things let the chips fall where they may you know [6:48] go out there and make plays and you know help my teammates that's all so [6:51] how do you temper your demanding nature with gotta go go along to get along here too as you join a new [7:12] team also I think first off you gotta learn the guys you know you just can't come in demanding you [7:18] know uh like today they they wanted me to get up in the front I'm like nah I gotta earn that you know [7:23] and he was like you know it's a respect there I'm like I gotta earn that first you know and I [7:27] want to earn that I want to earn those guys respect you know but obviously it's about getting to know [7:31] them first and obviously you can see how far you can push them because you know I just want to serve [7:35] guys and help guys as much as I can you know uh on the field off the field you know whatever I can do [7:39] so AJ you mentioned having followed the Patriots and we've heard Josh McDaniels will show [7:44] clips of you know past teams older players throughout your NFL career are there any former Patriots you've [7:50] modeled your game after guys you've built a relationship that you've gotten [7:53] advice from other than the obvious time but uh but nobody uh nobody yeah we had Randy Moss here [8:07] or something like there is Randy Moss you're saying they asked you to stand in front of the whole team [8:12] and you were like no no no no it was uh it was uh on a stretch they wanted me to lead the line so I [8:19] was just like you know I'm cool you know let me earn that for you first you just let us know kind of how [8:26] your knee is feeling any updates with that um because I know sometimes like the injury has come [8:31] up uh no injury nothing uh to worry about you know I think uh this whole little you gotta understand [8:41] where I came from so any any conversation about anything is gonna come up you know so uh uh maybe in [8:49] what four years I've missed one game from shot to the shot to the knee so that's nothing to worry about [8:58] I'm good I'm ready to go you know so so AJ you talked about being mindful of your role today and [9:04] easing your way in yeah Mike talked about coach we talked about your leadership that you're a humble guy [9:10] but you also are gonna want to lead so eventually that's gonna just how's that gonna play you know you [9:17] let that happen organically I don't want to come in and try to force anything you know like I said I [9:21] want to earn earn my respect for my teammates you know about how hard I work how I show up you know [9:26] uh that's it so why did you pick a number one instead of number 11 yeah uh one Julie Edelman you [9:37] know obviously he gave me his grace to to to wear 11 but you know uh I got so much respect and so [9:43] much love for him you know uh I'm gonna let him I'm gonna let that be you know and I'm gonna create [9:47] my own legacy here you know and uh just get back to my roots you know um I was number one all the way [9:53] up until I got to the league you know and I tried to get number one in Tennessee and I could you know [9:58] because of Warren Moon but uh and even Philly has tried to get number one but Jalen just changed to [10:03] one you know from two so um you know it's a match made of heaven going back to my roots you [10:08] know and it feels good so that's not crazy how much do you feel you have left in the tank how much [10:13] where you're at in your in your career you'll see thank y'all hello everybody good how are y'all good [10:26] what's your reaction when you saw the news about AJ Brown on the field today man it's pretty cool uh to [10:33] have a you know another great player adding to our offense and you know he's obviously been able to do [10:40] some incredible things in this league so we're more than excited to have him what was the biggest [10:46] takeaway for you from your rookie year whether it's a lesson whether what's what's the one thing you took [10:51] yeah I mean you learn a lot you learn something new each week it's kind of hard to you know pinpoint [10:59] one specific thing uh obviously you know the length of a season is something that rookies have to get used [11:05] to uh and navigating through injury and things like that but you know you learn something new each week [11:11] based on who you're playing and you know schematically and things like that do you view AJ's [11:16] kind of final piece of the offseason puzzle and what do you see him doing for the offense in totality [11:21] yeah I mean I think you know whenever you can bring a player like that and you know it obviously elevates [11:27] everybody around him and uh like I said I think it's only going to help us I think Caleb said that [11:33] you reached out to him as soon as he was drafted what was that exchange like and what do you think of [11:38] him so far yeah he's been awesome I'm super excited to have him here and uh you know continue to get [11:42] to know him uh but you know last year or the year before whenever I got drafted you know Morgan [11:48] reached out to me uh and you know it's obviously you know feels good whenever guys on the team reach [11:53] out so I wanted to you know reciprocate that you know plan on me and him being here for a while [11:58] together so starting a relationship as soon as possible was something that I wanted to do and [12:03] yeah and I'm super excited for the future with him something along the lines of you having a chip [12:08] on your shoulder uh this offseason where does that come from and what do you hope to prove [12:11] I'm just trying to do my job for the team uh you know yeah what was it like for you after the super [12:19] bowl coming down and thinking back and looking back on the roof here and physically how what was your [12:25] time like and now getting to where you want to be now going forward yeah I mean after the season my [12:31] my number one goal was just you know obviously you know take a couple days away and you know just [12:38] kind of assess everything with you know the coaches and things like that you know pinpoint down what we [12:45] feel like I do really well and then things that I need to get better at and uh you know getting back [12:51] healthy and I did PT five days a week the entire offseason until we got back basically uh just trying [12:58] to you know rebuild you know the strength in my knee to get it back to where it was previously uh [13:04] and I feel like I did a good job with that and uh yeah just just working training uh you know trying [13:09] to put myself in the best position possible to come back in the best shape I can uh and things like [13:14] that. How much do you think you can help Caleb since your rookie season's so fresh in your mind? [13:19] Yeah I I think you know not only me but there's a lot of guys in the room that can help him [13:24] uh I mean me Morgan obviously you know it's it's nice whenever you have a guy and it's gonna sound [13:31] as old as Morgan uh but you know he's so he has so much knowledge and you know he wants to share it [13:39] with everybody and you know that's what part of him you know making him such a good teammate is he [13:44] wants to help everybody around him so I think it's awesome you know for me to be able to you know tell [13:50] Caleb some things and you know Morgan you know tell him more because Morgan's seen it all. [13:57] There was a job in year two as being the area for improvement what are some of the biggest areas [14:04] where you look at specifically and see you know that you have growth potential? [14:09] You're saying like what does doing my job mean? [14:12] Basically in your view yeah yeah like what are the areas you feel like you can [14:15] where you can get better? [14:18] Everywhere I mean nobody's a finished product um it's not you know one specific thing [14:23] that I'm gonna you know nail that I work at everything every day uh you know like I said [14:30] before to say I'm 22 so I'm a long way from where I'm gonna be you know in the future so [14:35] it's not like I'm great at everything and here's one little thing I'm building everything every day [14:42] and trying to make everything as a whole better and by doing my job is doing what the coaches teach [14:50] and what they're asking us to do on the specific play at hand. [14:54] To your softball skills I mean third in the home run derby you had some nice plays there what do you? [15:03] Yeah I mean I think I got the worst of the pitching in the home run derby [15:07] and I think it might have been a little different story but [15:11] yeah it was fun I'm uh I was a little sore after it's been a minute since I swung a baseball bat [15:17] but yeah it was fun I was super excited to be out there it was great turnout and uh I think [15:22] everybody had a good time. [15:23] I went through the injury last season and um you have the full offseason to recover [15:30] how see-wise do you feel like you're 100% back? [15:33] Yeah I feel good I feel good. [15:35] Thank you. [15:36] Maybe your reaction when you heard about AJ? [15:45] Yeah I mean great news shoot I know I'm glad everyone's glad um to have him here [15:50] you know that's a a huge pickup for this offense and for the team. [15:55] Trivion Josh says he was he's a big man. [15:58] Were you surprised how big AJ is in person? [16:01] Oh yeah he I mean that's a big receiver yeah he's really talented man I really I really love [16:05] his game you know I really uh respect the the way that he carried himself off the field um [16:11] but yeah I'm I'm really excited to have him here. [16:13] Trivion but he's played an awful lot field are you limited in any way health-wise and what's [16:24] your level of optimism maybe going into 20-2016? [16:26] Yeah I'm not limited in any way obviously it's been um two really long seasons and um it can [16:32] be hard sometimes like mentally physically it can definitely take a toll on you um but [16:38] the biggest thing man I really try to lean on my faith to just continue to give me strength [16:42] to to come out here with a clear mind and just try to give it my best to really help [16:45] the team and so um but it's it's it's hard at times you know it can definitely be difficult [16:49] at times. [16:51] Do you think AJ's be kind of the last piece of the puzzle for this group um and what [16:57] does he bring in your view offensively? [16:58] Um I'm not sure to be honest I mean I let the coaches decide how many puzzles how many [17:04] more puzzles we need and things like that but um you know I know he he's going to help out [17:08] this offense a lot you know um great route runner catch the ball really well and um you [17:15] know he's proving himself time and time again and so yeah a lot is made of the year two [17:21] jump are there any things that you specifically focused on this offseason to kind of help you [17:24] make that leap? [17:25] Yeah um the biggest thing you know I want to continue to develop and um blocking and just [17:32] during this time continue to run rocks out the backfield catching the ball out the backfield [17:35] uh this is a time where we can really just continue to enhance those skills and so uh specifically [17:40] those two things um I definitely want to continue to develop and enhance those skills. [17:44] A little bit of excitement when a guy like AJ seven-year veteran pro bowl or super bowl [17:51] winner comes into your locker room. [17:52] Yeah I mean I think the biggest thing too is just uh it helps the leader leadership out [17:57] on this team although we have great leaders now on offense and defense and overall on this [18:01] whole team but um with AJ playing that many years and having the experience that he has I [18:06] think it it brings it brings great leadership onto this team. [18:09] Trevion you made some news off the field in over the course of the offseason with an [18:13] instagram post that drew a lot of attention. Mike said he had you know he was going to have [18:17] a chance to speak with you about it. [18:18] What was your experience like going through that process and where do you stand now? [18:22] Um you know I think the biggest thing I know the cost uh that it comes with when you know [18:27] I share my faith in Jesus Christ and um you know my heart is I come at it you know I have [18:32] love for everyone uh but my love may not look like the world's love. [18:35] I try to love people through a biblical lens um with just grace and truth um but I know [18:40] a lot of people may be offended by it um but I think the biggest thing is just we we look [18:47] at life um at two two different lens. [18:50] I look at it one way someone looks at it another and so um yeah I think the biggest thing you [18:56] know I'm not going to stop sharing my faith you know I'll continue to share my faith and [18:59] reach people uh and just let the Lord use me to reach people with love and truth um but [19:04] yeah you know coach rapes you know we've we've had a great conversation and you know [19:08] he was very respectful just about my beliefs um he expressed that a lot on his team and [19:12] so I really appreciate coach for that. [19:13] How is your relationship with Ramon? [19:16] I mean you had a you know rookie season working with him but now an entire offseason to get [19:20] to know each other how is that relationship just going to show on the field this season [19:24] even more than we saw last year? [19:26] Yeah I mean it's great um Andre has been such a great vet in the room um I respect him a lot [19:32] just his game but also just uh the way that she when I first came here he welcomed me in [19:37] with open arms man and you know he he teaches me a lot you know just continue to teach me [19:41] the ropes especially going into my second year um you know I just want to continue to really [19:45] help out this team and so he's been really helpful um in my life and just as a teammate. [19:51] When you said the cost that comes with sharing that message you just mean the criticism or [19:54] is it another cost you mean? [19:56] I mean um it can come with a it can come with a lot to be honest um it can come with [20:03] a lot but I mean at the end of the day you know they they criticize you know a perfect [20:06] man a man who never did any wrong and so how much more they criticize me you know I'm not [20:11] a perfect man I'm a man uh that makes mistakes as well but I just try to continue to lean on [20:15] the Lord to help him uh to allow him to help me to become the best person uh that he calls [20:20] me to be and so you know I'm not a perfect person I go through things just like everyone [20:24] else that's why I'm really just open about my struggles and the things that I once went [20:28] through uh before I met Christ but I think this world you know we need we need hope and [20:33] um I just try to point people to the to the only one who can really give us true hope. [20:37] What have you seen from Drake this year that you might not have seen from him at this time [20:42] last year? [20:43] Um you know I think Drake he's such a hard worker um he's always looking to get better always [20:48] looking to help out the offense and his team and just and just lead the guys around him [20:52] and uh push them to get better and so you know I have so much uh respect for Drake um [20:57] he's such a great leader to this team you know he's definitely he's pushing me all the [21:00] time pushing the guys around him and so I really appreciate that. [21:02] Thank you guys. [21:04] Thank y'all so much. [21:05] Thank you. [21:10] Hello how's everybody doing? [21:11] Good how are you? [21:12] I'm great let's go first. [21:16] We'll be back. [21:16] I guess let's begin with the position of AJ how excited were you to hear that? [21:20] Uh very excited you know um obviously you know he's a big time playmaker he's been an established [21:25] player in this league um and you know it just kind of shows us you know how serious our coaches [21:29] are about winning just going to get a guy like that considering you know we went to [21:33] Super Bowl last year I think that that's the same expectation this year. [21:37] Corey were you sort of watching when he walked up the backfield there at practice did you [21:41] take in that moment with your fellow defensive line? [21:44] You know everybody's watching you know obviously a new guy on the team but the new guy being [21:48] you know all pro receiver so it's pretty exciting to have a guy like that in the building. [21:53] When you look at the opportunities for you this year what do you see? [21:56] Um me taking that next step um you know obviously you know going into this year being the nose [22:02] tackle one just taking that next step you know whether that's you know making the Pro Bowl [22:07] or whatever it is I feel like you know the sky's the limit now so. [22:12] What do you have to do to make the most of your opportunities? [22:15] Do what I'll keep doing just keep working you know I'm not putting I mean I played good [22:19] football last year so you know the expect I'm not putting too many expectations on myself [22:23] I just want to do my job and you know be a good teammate. [22:25] How much confidence did last season give you going into this? [22:28] All the confidence in the world. [22:30] I mean you know the team I started in all the playoff games you know they kind of rode with me [22:34] that told me a lot so you know that my confidence is probably the highest it's been since I've been in the league. [22:38] You mentioned um you just you know you made a Super Bowl and you want to get a guy like AJ [22:42] but besides that what have you noticed about this team and like the coaching staff [22:46] and the players who are returning from last season just that transition from being in the Super Bowl [22:51] to now preparing for the next season? [22:53] There's no nobody's lackadaisical right now. [22:57] You know obviously you know teams come back and they have the hangover [22:59] whether you want to lose from the Super Bowl that's not the case. [23:02] You know we hit the ground running day one you know Braves kind of set the [23:04] we have a standard set you know our leaders uphold the standard so [23:07] that was exciting to see how hands on everybody was when we got back and how ready to work everybody was [23:12] so. [23:12] Did you have to do anything different this off season to prepare to play more [23:16] this season? [23:18] No I mean I trained in Florida. [23:20] I mean being from Florida you know I'm kind of so staying in shape is really my biggest thing [23:23] just training in the heat and keeping my weight under control. [23:27] Was there anything that you learned about yourself in your game last season that you feel like [23:31] you're carrying and as you said stepping into the nose tackle? [23:32] Yeah you know obviously my first couple years in the league it's been up and down you know [23:36] I've played a little last year I learned that I'm a good pro like I'm a very good pro in this league [23:39] I have like you know the ability to be a dominant pro in this league and I learned that about myself [23:43] and it was I don't want to say I surprised myself but I did you know last year was my first time [23:47] we played out 21 football games last year so that's the most games I've played in my life [23:51] and you know I showed up in every game so. [23:53] How good is that entire unit on the D-line with the Barmore and what do you think you guys [23:59] can accomplish as a group? [24:00] How important is it to have that chemistry as a group? [24:04] It's extremely important you know obviously us three we have we played a lot of football [24:09] last year together. [24:10] I feel like we were the best position group on the team last year the D-tackles so I feel [24:14] like that's the expectation this year we want to be the we're going into this year feeling [24:17] like we're going to be the best position on the on the team and you know one of the better [24:20] D-tackle rooms in the league we want to be the number one D-tackle room in the league but [24:23] I feel like we're going to be one of the best D-tackle rooms in the NFL this year so. [24:26] What's the identity of that defensive tackle room that made it one of like the you know the best [24:31] room in the team or one of the best in the league? [24:33] Just the passion that everybody plays with we had some real passionate guys in our room last year [24:37] um you know whether that was good passion or bad passion it was just you know it was we have a [24:43] very passionate group and sometimes we did have to get it under control but that was that was the [24:47] identity you know just playing with energy playing with passion just being dominant so. [24:54] What is it like to have Josh back Eric back from injury and and how are they sort of [24:59] progressed as as younger players? [25:01] Um it's obviously good to have everybody back um it's it's cool to watch them progress you know [25:05] being with them as rookies and watching them get better and get ready to take the next [25:10] step so you know it's it's exciting to see the young guys get better and get more opportunities. [25:15] No defensive tackle is drafted by the Pats last or this year but you know they signed two young [25:20] guys do you view that as sort of a vote of confidence that they didn't feel like they [25:24] needed to draft? [25:25] One thousand percent you know um you see every the teams I've been in in the past you know [25:29] they've drafted two three D-tackles every year I was there so you know just to have a team [25:33] not drafting the D-tackles it kind of says a lot they have confidence in our room so. [25:36] What's up with the uh the brace? [25:41] Uh it's a preventative thing I don't have anything wrong with my elbow it's kind of I [25:45] hyper extended it my first year in the league so I just wear it so that I don't you know. [25:49] A fashion statement you know? [25:53] No. [25:54] Starting a new trend? [25:55] This thing doesn't fit inside but it's too big so. [25:57] Thanks Carter. [25:59] Thank you guys y'all have a good one. [26:00] Thanks. [26:01] Cheers. [26:01] Cheers.