I want to be the best, but it comes with a lot of work. And it can be pressure if you put it on yourself in that way. But if I keep going the way I'm going, and with the good Lord guiding me the way he's been guiding me, and the way I let him take control of my life, the sky is the limit.
Ever since I was a kid, I knew I could play in the NFL because I had a knack for the game. But I can't play this game forever. When I'm finished, maybe I'll become a motivational speaker, maybe a preacher. But children need to know that life may be hard, but you can always overcome.
Everyone has their own greatness. Whether you reach your own greatness depends on your environment, your structure, the company you keep and your attitude.
Just being from Louisiana, being from the southern part of Louisiana, Metairie, close to New Orleans and growing up in St. Rose. There are a lot of things to overcome.
We are human and regular people at the end of the day. We're not immune from the trials and tribulations that go on through life.
There will be good and bad, right and wrong. Your reaction of choice, good or bad, has consequences that affect you and those around you.
The game takes a toll on your body.
Everybody in the world knows that plans tend to change.
You have to be coachable.
You've got to be smart about tackling.
When you've been playing the game for so long and sports for so long, it can take a toll on your body, and that's what we're putting on the line, and that's what our argument is as players when we're doing negotiations and stuff like that.
We tend to want to stay here in Louisiana as Louisiana people. We've just got to be mindful that there are other things out there, and we really need to open our kids' minds to get them to go to college. Get them to get away. Then come back and help the next ones behind us.
Coming out of college, I wasn't considered the fastest, the biggest or the smartest. There was no way around that.
Working out is a part of life.
To be playing in my first Super Bowl in New Orleans, it's special.
We need more of our young youth graduating from college trying to get their education, and trying to be contributing members, positive contributing members to the community.
I always said I wanted to become a master of my game, like Bruce Lee. I mastered my art of football, because that's what it truly is when you understand it.
We had a great staff in college, so after I got to the league, I'd already seen stuff I knew. Then it was enhanced, playing the game with great guys like Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Chris McAlister.
You know mental illness is one of the biggest problems in our world.
I know the hustle that is in Louisiana. Knowing where you are from, really where you're from, helps you to help the community. That's every city, but New Orleans is just different. We have big hearts, but it's just a matter of us having the information, having the people to push you along like I had.
