 I know you've talked about before, you being a veteran just kind of comes naturally. You being a leader comes naturally. Do you feel that out here especially today? Yeah, the whole day, we started at him this morning and it was a great day. A lot of good conversations, a lot of bonding, seeing guys work, and just kind of really trying to find my place amongst the team. And it just happens naturally, it feels like a glove. I love this job, it's the best job in the world. Happy to be here every day and just, it's an honor. You said you thought maybe about 60% of snaps, so you haven't been with these guys for a few months. Where do you feel you're going to be out in that cage yet? No, I think right now I'm just learning everything. And so I don't think much changes until kind of get a lot closer to see how things go. But I feel like right now it's just, I've only been here a few days. I've been coming the whole OTA period. And so for the days I've been here, I feel like I'm trying to learn to play as much as I can, really bond with the guys, you understand how the coaches want certain techniques played. And I've been around for a long time, trying to do it in a lot of different ways. And I can do it in a lot of different ways. So just kind of getting on the same page on certain techniques. But the best thing about all of this is the way the coach knows the season is the same way I like to do it, which is like a really good feeling. Athletes with your resume talk about just getting that 1% better every year. For you, what's 1% level? You know, 1% is a lot still, you know what I mean? I mean, every single day you're working on something, you know? And I mean, I always like to kind of study myself in the off-season to kind of see where I can get better. And there's a lot of room for improvement, a lot of different places. You know, you kind of go back to other years. It's like I used to do that really good. Maybe I should go back to that, you know? I used to do this a little bit better. So I mean, you know, bring back some drills and do different things. And one thing I love about Carl Nielsen though is he's really, he's really, you know, a stickler about the small details. And today, you know, I worked on a drill and I kind of did it. And I felt good about it. But then he told me, you know, to do something a little different. I felt a whole lot better. And I'm like, I like that, you know, that's really good coaching. And he can see that and help me kind of to see it and feel it myself, you know? And being, you know, my 16th year, I mean, it's, you know, I didn't really expect that too often, but that's a good feeling. Is that where you were running, seeing things the same way? And kind of like, do you think it's the same way or is it something else? Yeah, no, no, no. It's definitely a kind of stuff, you know? Like the techniques and playing the game, pass rush in, you know, in the run game, hand placement, feetwork. I mean, there's a lot of nuances that go into the, you know, the decomposition. So, you know, but I mean, there are a lot of different ways you can do things. And I feel like, you know, I mean, I've played it a lot different ways. Sometimes the ways I feel like it wasn't really best for me, just because, you know, you want to get a coach with you once and then as you evolve, you kind of put your own spin on it and stuff. But, you know, I feel like, you know, the way he's coaching it, the way he sees it is the same way that I want to do it. So it's a kind of perfect fit. Hart was telling us that, David, I'm yada, I think he's a bad dude. Oh, yeah. You know what, Mr. Uke, you can sense that in my mind. Oh, yeah. Yeah, no, he's tough. You know, he's tough as nails. And you can definitely see, you know, I mean, he's one of those dudes that I feel like, you know, you don't want to get a fight with. You know, he's got, he's got some extra juice down there. You know, he's just his strong hands, violent, explosive, you know, and he definitely has that want to, you know, I'm glad he's on my team. Obviously, you brought up the point about Ryan Nielsen and how he gave you something and you said, OK, that feels good. How often do you get that at this point in your career from a coach? Yeah, I mean, it's here and there. It does happen, but, you know, not usually at minicamps. So that's a really good feeling, you know, but, you know, I mean, he's just a great coach that goes as a testament to the small details that he puts into the setting tape and understanding the game. And, you know, I mean, he's had a lot of success, you know, in his ability and coaching really, really good players, you know, get the best out of him. So, you know, I mean, I think he's going to be great for all of us. He has a whole specialty, these young guys coming up. I mean, he's a phenomenal coach. It's always coach us. What did you do this year to kind of try and maybe keep yourself fresh or get yourself to a point where you felt like? Honestly, nothing different. And I've been doing the same thing for, you know, a couple of years now. I just feel like at this point in my career, I mean, it got me this far. I just try to continue doing the same thing and trying to get better each and every day. When you see them draft Vijon and obviously have Tyler as well, what goes through your head as somebody who, like you said, is older than I, as other guys, at a position that you're still fairly new in overall? Honestly, man, it's good. You know, I talk to Vijon, you know, he's a great player. I've been watching practice every day and just seeing him. The things he's doing out there, him and Tyler, man, and it's great. It's going to be a fun year, man. It's going to be fun. And, you know, I'm glad we got him. You know, he just bring that much to this offense. You know, we went to draft and we didn't need him at the position. So, you know, we got him and he's going to do great for us. Do you think it changes maybe how you get used? It don't change anything, man. It don't change anything. Like I said earlier, man, the way I train and everything, I'll see is the same. It don't affect me no matter if they could have drafted somebody in the first overall pit, you know, it's the same. My mind says to the same. Well, I guess what was getting out was even Arthur said today, like, you know, how you were using 21 was different than how you're being used in 22. And you and I talked about that a little bit during the last year. So I was just wondering if you felt like you had an idea of how you wanted to be used this year? Honestly, I would love to get used like I did in 21. You know, last year, you know, we had an injury at running back. So I had to stuff up at running back and play a lot of them back. I got hurt. Tyler stepped up, you know, him and Caleb, Avery, and all those guys. So it's like, it's the next man up and tell it around here. So, you know, when your neighbors call, you just got to go out there and make a play. A little while ago, you said this was going to be a really fun year on offense. What makes you think that? Honestly, just just look at that film, you know, just watching those guys and just see how much fun they having out there and competing they doing this. It's awesome, man. So I couldn't wait to get out there the day and just just having fun with those guys, man, just trying to bring the energy to the team. How good did it feel to get out there today? It felt good. You know, I felt a little old today, but not too old as, you know, some players on the team. But, you know, it was good, though. Just see everybody, you know, see all the coaches, you know, and some of the fans we had out there the day, it was great. Anyone in particular make you feel old today? I don't want to say no names, you know. Not on the first day. I can't get in trouble on the first day. So are you CP running back slash the fact or general manager of the way you recruit everybody in the league to come to the Falcons? Oh, that wasn't me. No, no, no. I think somebody be hacking my Twitter when all that stuff going on. You know, I try to stop them, but, you know, they lock me out of the Twitter and they go in recruiting all these players. I'm like, man, okay, just do what you do. Yeah, Coach Red said you'd be an amazing GM if you had an unlimited budget. Damn, tell them to hire me. I'm ready, I'm ready. You like what this team is building, though, on the series front? Honestly, man, like I said earlier, you know, watching field, you know, just seeing the offense and the defense, the way they flying around out there, man, it's good to watch. You know, as an older guy, you sit back, you know, ain't got to get beat up too many plays, you know, drafted Bijan, you know, got Tyler, you know, got a lot of young guys on the team. Everybody just competing, you know. Just decided. It will be hard to find a hole going through your defensive line and practice. Some big dudes that might be lying right now. Most definitely, man, and the things that, the things they doing on defense right now, it's amazing, man, and showing us all these different kind of looks and whatnot. So I'm excited, you know, just as an offense, I'm excited for the defense. This is a really broad question, but at this point in your career, what's the most important thing for you? Woo, God. Honestly, just trying to, I'm just trying to get another kick return, you know. They had to change some rules and whatnot, but, you know, Marquis, we talk, you know, they don't affect us at all. So we still going to be aggressive, you know, and I'm just trying to get another kick return. So lobbying for yourself to be involved in special teams. Of course, you know it. You know, if they need me to play gunner, you know, whatever they need to do, a long snap, you know, punt. I just told BP out there, if you need to take a break on the play, I could punt the ball. So just the more you can do out here. What's your biggest piece of advice to a guy like Bijon, getting drafted as high as he was? There's a running back, obviously, there's pressure, but what do you tell him? Honestly, it's not much you can tell a guy like that. He's so home with his religion and faith. It's just to the roof, man, and, you know, just a guy like that coming in and not being nervous, you know, and coming in and see all these new faces, but he didn't adapt it well. You know, he didn't learn the playbook so quick. You know, it took me a while. You know, as a rookie, you know, he's just trying to learn everything, but it seemed like he came in a couple of days and learned the playbook just that quick. And, you know, as y'all can see, you know, he's out there everywhere. You know, it's not one spot he cannot play on this field. So I'm excited to see that man go do everything he's supposed to do. Expectations that take a lot of time to get used to. You can always watch everything that you do. Honestly, man, it does come with expectations, but it's what you make of it. You know, you do what you're supposed to do, you know, and I mean, no matter what round you get in, you know, every player, they feel like they have a lot of things they should do on that football field and what not. And I know Bijan, he's gonna do great for us for a lot of years. Going into year three, you know, in terms of just like building back health-wise, that's a big part of it, but Arthur was saying a little bit about how, you know, physical attributes is one thing, but getting back the mental reps of feeling comfortable again, where do you feel like you are in that regard and how excited are you kind of to get to training camp and put the pads on and kind of get back into swinging things? At first, I kind of felt, you know, kind of was missing out, you know. I just was inside rehabbing the whole time, you know, while the guys were out here practicing, putting in work. So when I finally got to touch the field, I felt like, you know, it's been a long time coming. It may have took me a couple of days to get back into the swing all the way, but I definitely feel confident mentally going out here on the field and, you know, competing with my teammates. When you talked about what it could be for the northern events, it was pretty useful to... Who? Plug your free. Oh, Bud, just, you know, just from a get-off standpoint, like all the little technique details on the field, as well as just how you carry yourself, you know, in the locker room, how you treat your teammates, you know, pretty much everything all around. I gotta watch my language when I talk about how Arthur Smith described you here. He basically, he cleaned it up and says you're a bad dude. In a good way. When your head coach says, you know, it's better to get him away from the vision so we don't have to face that, what does that mean to you? It's a great compliment, you know, but the biggest thing is just coming here and, you know, just proving that too. Yeah, that's a big thing, because last year, last year, you just got to keep every year as a new season, it's a new year. You got to go out there and show the things you've been showing and improve on certain things as well. So I think that's a really big compliment. Yeah, when he talked to his players and said like, who are the toughest guys out there? The guys that you don't want to face every Sunday, your name kept on coming up, so let's go get them. So they did that. Not your teammates, but the guys that didn't want to face you. Does that kind of give you, you know, a sense of pride, leadership with this team? Definitely, just coming out here and getting the feel for it, getting out there with Grady as well. You know, that's probably one of the biggest things because the sky's the limit, you know, with this combination. So, you know, it's a great killer. You mentioned your relationship with Grady and how it's growing, you guys are bonded, having that culture together. What clicked, when did it click, and how things evolved between two years? It's just, from my point of view, I've been, I've known about Grady for the longest time, especially like, you have a player who had three sacks in a Super Bowl, like that's one of the greatest accomplishments for D-Tackle as well, but know what kind of player he is, know what kind of respect he commands out there, and seeing, you know, just being able to complement that as well and, you know, have hours go out there and make plays, yeah. And Kalyos is a big dude. He won't even mess with you. Yeah, Kalyos is, he's massive. He's, what, he's probably seven-foot tall, probably, yeah, so, nah, he's a great guy. He's been doing this for so long. The great thing about being in this D-Line room is getting the opportunity to learn from certain guys because you can, I feel like in this league, you could always learn something or two, if it's from someone who's been here a year or longer than you, or probably a month longer than you, but I feel in this business, you could work on improving every day, yeah. Thank you guys. I mean, when it comes to this, Arthur Smith was talking about this, and he goes, this is such a deep front in terms of just like defensive line in general. How do you think that even right now, I know y'all aren't going 110%, but how do you feel like that depth can really play into kind of even early in learning what y'all need to do together? All right, so the big thing is just learning the scheme, but then it's the rotation. The rotation is one of the greatest things. Like, we just want to keep it at the same level or going or going or going up because you don't, it's an X-man down in business, you know, so just that being the case, someone else goes in, you got, still playing the same level and that should be the expectation for us This franchise has had a few rough years and I finished above, you know, 500, getting into the playoffs. Why should fans be excited about this 2023 season? We've got something great going on here. In the locker room, in the team meetings, it's a great atmosphere and you could tell guys are, guys are catching on to the scheme and running with it. And, you know, I can't wait for training camp, to be honest. So we could actually go 100 mile an hour and get things actually get the right fits, the perfect fits and get that going. But I feel it'll be, it'll be something great to get, you know, to jump on right now before it's too late. Yeah. Bud was saying just in general about how, you know, there are so many new faces around this team, you being one of them, but he said that Grady has done a really good job of kind of taking this front under his wing a little bit. How do you see him doing that? This is his group. This is Grady's group. You know, we're just, you know, we're all here to compliment each other out there. And in the meeting room, on the field, everything, like, this is his group. Yeah. What was your perception of this team from afar, from the individual? Oh, just being on the other side, I look at it as, I really don't care about all the other things, I look at it as the next game. Josh, at least, seemed like he was everywhere a little bit. I mean, is there some sort of chemistry with you guys he's getting, he was the rookie and you were working scouting with him for so long. Yeah, there's definitely, you know, any of those times you have, you know, guys that you're together, you know, through a long period of time, whether it's his rookie year in general, or like you mentioned, you go through rookie year, which also go through scout team. And so you start to build a relationship and a connection with those guys. So I would definitely say, you know, me and Josh definitely have a connection, you know, it definitely started early on when, you know, him just playing at Kentucky, being from Blue Blue Nation, me giving him crap about all that. But no, you know, he's a great player for us. What part of the game, if any, has slowed down? Yeah, you know, obviously, we haven't played a snap a real-life football or let alone even close, you know, a lot of snaps. So, you know, we're just going through, you know, everything that we can do to get better every single day. But for us, obviously, you know, you won't feel those real bullets until the first game. Is there an anticipation for you to get some reps, some on-field reps with comp pits? Oh, yeah, definitely. Excited for him to get back. Excited to get into this off-season and kind of work with him, you know, get to him on a one-on-one level. And it's just gonna be fun. Have you used that? Yeah, we made plans. I haven't got all the way around to everyone yet, but, you know, a lot of us, I don't think are going too far. So we'll be able to get to work him. Have you seen him at all? Because you're still out there throwing the pass to him, at least, I think, at all, right? Yeah, I mean, other than, you know, whether it may be Thursday or Friday throughout the week, you know, he's on his own plan. And then, you know, once he's ready to go and he gets the green light, you know, we're all game to go. Are you curious to see when you were starting last year, you know, and CP was coming off the injury and Kyle wasn't playing. Is there some level to you of wondering what this might look like to get the full compliment? Yeah, I mean, obviously, everyone, you know, wonders what it looks like from me, you, to everyone outside. But for us, it's really about just coming out here and, you know, putting the best product on film, however that may be, but just trying to come out here and get better every day. What excites you about this team the most? One more time? What excites you about this team the most? Just knowing that, you know, that we have to fight that the team has had in the past, but just knowing that, you know, we have the players that go out there and be something great. All we have to do is put in the work every single day to go in and get better, one percent better every single day. What does that one percent look like for you? For me, it's, you know, whether it's leadership or whether it's mentally or physically, you know, whether it's in my drop or making sure that I got the game plan, you know, 100 percent down, whether it's not messing up in the huddle, at the line of scrimmage with checks, whatever it may be. Just coming out here, trying to be as clean as we can. Continue to get brought along, obviously. This is a ramp-up period for everyone, but what's been impressive to you about him? Yeah, obviously, just his size, just what he's able to do with the ball and what he's able to do without the ball. Just seeing his pure athleticism going out there and being able to make plays. Like we said earlier, we haven't, you know, gone 11 on 11, 100 percent full speed with pads. So, you know, everyone, you know, changed a little bit once those pads come on. So it'll be interesting to see, you know, what happens once we get into the camp pre-season, how it goes. You mentioned size, did it look like Clay was on the defensive line kind of for over that dude? It seems a little intimidating out there. Yeah, no, he was, he was definitely a lot more intimidating last year when he was on the Ravens, you know, and I was going against him in the freezing cold. But no, Clay is a great guy, a great leader for us. Just one of those guys that's in the locker room has been here for a while. He's gonna come out and work every single day. He's one of those guys that when they speak, everybody listens? Oh, 100 percent, 100 percent. Who have you noticed really brought along a veteran presence early so far? I'll say Matt Collins, you know, in that wide receiver room, it's a lot of young guys and Matt has done a great job of stepping up, taking those guys under, you know, whether it's in the weight room, whether it's in the film room, whatever it may be, he's one of those first guys to, you know, kind of be vocal about it and be able to go in and get everyone going and make sure that everyone's working hard and, you know, not doing just the stuff to get by, rather to make everyone better. So many new pieces. Where do you feel like the chemistry is at this point in the year? I mean, I feel like, you know, it's just on the steady incline and that's where we wanna, you know, we just wanna keep going every single day. Obviously, we got two more mini camp practices and then we go on a break in which, you know, like we said, we hope we can get, you know, a lot of one-on-one time with guys and guys spending time together. You know, that's one thing that we talk about as a team is, you know, when we're not here, we try to spend as much time as we can with the guys off the field because if we can spend time and create a culture off the field, then we can create it on the field. I know you've done that really last year you did it too, but is that something you take upon yourself to kind of organize things like that when you have time off? I wouldn't definitely say I'm the organizer, but I'd definitely say, you know, I'm pushing to get it going. You know, this past weekend had a, you know, a couple of guys, we ran a couple boats and went out on Lake Lanier, you know, anywhere from Widersevers to linebackers to running back. So just having a whole bunch of guys just being able to get together, bringing their families together and enjoying time away from football, you know, is what we feel is gonna bring us closer. Some of the changes you've seen on the post-sides of the line that some of the moves y'all made. Yeah, obviously, you know, for an offense to be successful, it obviously needs a good defense and a good special teams. And obviously, you know, we like what we see from our defense coming out of camp, coming out of OTAs, you know, the physical, aggressive, and that's what we want. You know, that's what, you know, we like to see is, you know, sitting over there on the bench and, you know, you want to see those other teams struggling. So I think our defense is gonna do a great job of that. I know all of this is really important and that the ramp-up period is incredibly important, but when you look ahead to July, how antsy are you to watch this team go full go? Yeah, I mean, I'm really excited. You know, I'm thrilled to be able to be a part of this, you know, this team, this organization. And obviously to be able to get out there and go full speed and getting full pads, you know, it's gonna be one thing going against each other, but then obviously it's another thing going in pre-season, being able to go up against another team and, you know, not me necessarily, but maybe the others be able to go out there and hit some people. Thanks, bro. Thank y'all, have a going. What's up? I mean, Yada was telling us just about the relationship, how you guys have clicked from the jump. But what about him that you like playing with and, you know, what about him? I think it's just some mutual respect over the years. You know, we've been playing each other for a long time, you know. So to be able to have the opportunity to play with each other is just, we just both, you know, really happy about it. And we met over the years, you know, just through mutual friends and respect, but to be able to bring it together, I mean, you know, I'm excited for this year. Coach was talking about his habits. He does it the right way. You see that from the jump the moment he got here? Yeah, without a doubt, man. I got to bring him to work every day. But you don't get to be the player that he is without doing that. You know what I'm saying? So definitely not surprised and glad that we definitely need that kind of work, work day in and day out to the team. Why do you build the chemistry so early with so many new pieces on this team? I think it's been a time together, you know, out here like in OTAs and, you know, trying to do stuff off the field together. But just being president, I think it's the most important. And it says a lot to have a lot of bad guys. Well, it's meant for a minicamp now, so you better be here. But during the OTA period, to have a lot of guys be able to spend time together, having a lot of new players, new coaches. So that time together is important. Obviously, this is a ramp up period and there's not a really large measuring stick for you guys right now. But what excites you about the defense and where you guys are? I mean, just an exciting time. You know, new pieces, new skiing. It's just, you know, whenever you get new, it's like fresh, you know? So whenever you got something fresh and just give you that extra boost. But I'm excited to see all come to fruition like during training camp, you know, pre-season, regular season, when we're dominating. So I'm excited for everything that's to come. Can you get a sense of how good this defense can be right now or do you have to wait until the pads are in and the bolts are flying? Man, you always gotta wait, you know what I'm saying? Everybody can be pre-season, all-stars, you know, pre-season, whatever it may be. And with us, I mean, with us being who we are, you know, when nobody's gonna crown us anything. So we gotta go put the work in day in and day out, take it day by day, but I'm confident in the work that we're putting in that's gonna put out a good product. Obviously at this point in your career, it's not like you feel a lot of fresh and new things all the time, so how good is it to feel that right now? I mean, every year is new, you know? For me, every year is new, every year is a blessing, you know what I'm saying? I always say, you know, no matter how long you sign a deal or something like that, every year in the NFL, man, it's a new year, you know what I'm saying? Every year, it's like a one-year contract, you know, whatever you do in the past, it don't matter, you know what I'm saying? So you gotta treat it with fresh, give it the right respect every year, you know? And go back to work, go back to the draw and board, find out the things you can get better at. So for me, I'm super excited to be where I'm at, taking the things that I learned, but also to hone it in and be better, you know? And try to find ways in my game where I can improve. And I still feel like my best football is ahead of me. I'm just reaching for that every day. How can Calais' presence help his defense overall? I think, you know, just one, I mean, just his mass and size, the experience that he has, the skill level that he has.