 Leonard Michael Donna Peter. How are you? I'm good. How are you doing? Thanks for having me. You got it Thanks for being on how weird has this season been for you? I mean very rarely do you see players in football traded and you would trade it and you would trade it between two teams That share the same stadium. So how strange has it been? It's been a little strange, but you know today you see trades occur more often in the football I don't think it's as rare as it used to be But I think if this is the first time the Jets and Giants have ever traded before and you know That's been kind of an easier transition for me because I've already been playing in the same stadium and all that type of stuff You know now they they work out in different places, but did you have to move? No, I didn't have to move. I was actually probably about 10 minutes Further away from the Giants Then I was with the Jets and just just the opposite direction basically So was it difficult to get dealt because there's that well a team wanted me But then there's that feeling of you know the team that drafted me traded me away So was that difficult for you to reconcile? You're getting sent away from the team that actually selected you You know, there's definitely sometimes feelings involved as much as you don't want to say that you know, it's a business and you try to keep a business and you know at the same time, you know, I was happy that the Jets brought me in and started off my career and You know, I was happy that they drafted me But at the same time like you said the Giants wanted me So, you know, there was that and in the back of my mind as well that you know clear to this team wanted me if they Went out to trade for me. So what did what were your thoughts on the Jets defense when you left up till that point? I mean, I thought the defense was great. You know, Greg Williams was you know, great defense coordinator He's one of the best coaches I've ever played for you know, I don't really have anything bad to say about him Now I'm gonna give you a little advice letter. We hardly know each other and I know you have an agent Well, you have all the leverage in your world in the world all the leverage the Giants trade it for you You're gonna be a free agent. They have to sign you otherwise. They wasted two draft picks Yeah, I mean I've been hearing talks about it at the same time, you know I still want to show them what I got and you know, so far they've been impressed with how I carry myself around the Building and you know, how well I've been fitting in with the rest of the guys on the team and you know I'm definitely trying to be one of the leaders on this on this group Eventually, you know, all right You've only been with the Giants a short time But you know the defense seems to be a bit of a work in progress difficult to get off the field on third down That's been a problem even well before you got here Are you seeing any signs of improvement coming out of this by where fans can feel a little bit better about what you're Doing on the defensive side of the ball. Yeah, I mean, I definitely a lot of promise you know, what I'm seeing is a team that's You know plays very well for the most part and there'll be like one or two plays that gets away from us and it's like a small Technique issue or you know, just a error something like that. And then the other team will convert our third down So, you know first and second downs, I think the team is doing a good job It's just getting off the same up there and downs will work on it How weird was it for you Leonard to play against the Jets? I mean so soon after you you are a team of these guys and you're playing against them Yeah, I mean it was really soon a quick turn around It was interesting for sure and to say the least You know, but at the same time, I still treated it like a game You know, I didn't I wasn't treating them like they were my friends or anything like that after the game You know, we we said hi to each other and all that type of stuff But between the whistles and you know while we're on the grass You know, we played ball. Is it true Leonard? We're talking with Leonard Williams at the Giants here on the Michael K show Is it true that you hit Sam Donald and he cursed at you? No, it was funny because I was hitting him a few times getting close to him almost got a sack on him a few times and then I finally was like dang it Sam like hold on to the ball. Like, you know, I didn't say And then that's when he said something back and we were just like laughing about it He did he we have a weekly with him every week and and he does speak quite highly of you and said he's you guys are pretty tight What's your relationship like with Sam and what have you thought about his development over the season? Oh, yeah, we've had a pretty good relationship. You know, we went to college together You know, I was a lot older and he was a red shirt at the time but you know since he came in at the Jets, you know, he's been nothing but a professional and You know, I like the way he carries himself and he's definitely getting better and better So, you know, I wish him the best of luck. What was your thoughts of Adam Gase while you had a chance to be coached by him? I mean, it was a good program. You know, I mean, you know, it was a good time there I definitely enjoyed my time at the at the Jets, but you know at the same time, I'm You know such a quick turnaround I quickly have to forget about where I was and move on to where I am and You know, that's what the Giants now. So I've been more trying to just focus on going forward You know, it's so interesting to me, you know, when people are trying to judge Leonard Williams They're talking about the lack of sacks, but then I look at it and that that's not your job Yeah, you'd like to get to the quarterback, but there are other responsibilities tying people up stopping the run So do you think that's an unfair way to look at you while he hasn't had sacks? I mean, I would say so just because You know, I try to look at, you know, other top D linemen in the league, you know Excluding Aaron Donald. He's a freak, you know, he's a little different But, um, you know, not all the tacos are getting ten plus sacks a year It's like you're getting around like six to ten if that and you know, I felt like I made it to the pro bow I've you know, I've done a lot of good things and I'm definitely getting the run game and I get a lot of quarterback hits I get a lot of pressure and you know, that causes interceptions that that causes frustration in the quarterback I think it causes a lot more problems to the offense than Then then fans realize and you know, I think it's just such a fantasy world league where Yeah, so many so many fans have a fantasy football where if the stat isn't on paper And they don't see it in the fantasy points and then they don't see you doing anything You know, I mean, I'm curious Obviously the Giants saw something that they'd like to make the deal when you got there Did they say keep doing what you're doing or did they want to tweak some things that you were doing? I mean, they haven't talked to me about tweaking anything They just told me, you know, keep being the player that I am and just keep Trying to be better, which is what we try to do every year you know, you always want to be better than than you were yesterday and You know what I like so far about what they've been doing with me They moved me around a lot and trying to put me in and in great positions to get after quarterback and just Be my best on the field now before we let you go. I'm curious It's such a violent game and you guys have to control your emotions, especially when the whistle blows What's your thoughts on what happened with Miles Garrett? Can you see why it happened? Man, you had to hit me with this tough one Had to get one. Yeah, I mean, I think it's just a really touchy subject, you know I think stuff like that has been happening In this aggressive sport Throughout time, you know, I mean it's happened since high school. It's happened since Pop Warner college but it's just more controversial when you get into the NFL because you know children and young kids and people that want to play football one day like aspire to be like us and And we're basically role models to a lot of people in the world and you know they see you do the slightest thing wrong and and It gets blown up just because you're supposed to be like a superhero kind of person You know what I mean and it's hard to hold anybody to those expectations and You know, I hope you know it gets resolved How about pouncing? In defending your teammate at that point once your quarterback has been you know hidden ahead with a helmet Do you agree with all bets being off in doing everything you can to defend your teammate? Or do you think he might have been out of bounds as well? I mean, I love the passion from him from you know That's the one thing you want from often to linemen is to protect your quarterback at all times You know, if you see your quarterback on the ground, you should be the first one over there to help pick him up and stuff like that So, I mean, I'm sure a lot of people love to see that passion and protect in somebody But I think overall there was definitely, you know, some things that were just possibly taken a little too far And that's the reason why I got you know over escalated. I notice that after pouncy went as hard as he did It didn't seem like anybody from Cleveland had any interest in messing with pouncy Is that would that be an accurate statement? I mean, I'm not sure I didn't watch the video that closely, but I mean, he's a big guy and he looked like he was going pretty hard Well, good stuff London as I told you I'm here for you I just want you to know you have the leverage every single bit of the leverage So you're gonna be able to score big big big. I'm telling you appreciate that you got it Good rest of the season. All right. Thank you