Don't walk through life just playing football. Don't walk through life just being an athlete. Athletics will fade. Character and integrity and really making an impact on someone's life, that's the ultimate vision, that's the ultimate goal - bottom line.
You don't have to win it, just don't lose it.
There's no "I" on the football field. We have a total commitment to each other when we're out there. There is no doubt. It doesn't matter. The wins and losses of the game don't resonate with us. What resonates with us is "how much effort would you give for the man next to you."
Everything I did to get back, if it wasnt for my team, it was for my city. Thats one thing that I bought into from Day One. Im not just here in this city to play football, Im here to actually create real change in this city. If my effort can give you hope, faith or love, then so be it. Ill give everything I have, and today was about me giving everything that I had, showing people that no matter the circumstances that you may be going through, just push through it. If you can push through it, you will encourage somebody. Today, hopefully through what I did today, somebody was uplifted.
I already believe I am the best linebacker in the game. Now, I have to show one more thing ? that I am the most dominating, influential person in the game and the best football player to ever put on a pair of cleats.
I don't train for football; I train more for a lifestyle.
You can talk about what you see from the outside; it's hard to tell me who I am when you're just looking at me with a football uniform on. That's a totally different person. That's my job, that's it.
You never judge a person if they're going through their downs because you always stick with them when they're going through their ups. If you stay in football business long enough, you're going to have some bad games and you're going to have some bad seasons.
I like college football a lot, because it's the dream that you're chasing. The dream of one day possibly making it, with the harsh reality that only one percent make it.