NFL Draft Press Conference -- Braylon Edwards
4/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
U-M Senior Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards
Comments Regarding the 2005 NFL Draft
Braylon Edwards sat down with the media Wednesday (April 20) to discuss the 2005 National Football League Draft which begins Saturday at noon ET at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. He is one of six players attending the draft. Following is a brief bio sketch and the transcript of Edwards' press conference:
Braylon Edwards became the most prolific wide receiver in the history of Michigan football. He capped an incredible senior season by earning consensus All-America honors and winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's outstanding receiver. The Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner as the Big Ten Most Valuable Player, Edwards set U-M season records for receptions (97) and receiving yards (1,330) while collecting 15 receiving touchdowns. He is the first player in Big Ten history and the ninth in Division I-A history to collect at least three 1,000-yard receiving seasons during his career. A two-time All-Big Ten first team selection, Edwards holds every Michigan career receiving record and is the only player in conference history to rank in the top five in each receiving category. He caught 252 passes for 3,541 yards and 39 touchdowns in 44 career games.
On his interviews and radio appearances in the past month ... "I've done a lot. I can't count, I've lost track. Everyday is just something different. Everyone wants me to do something for their radio station; it is a lot of radio stations."
On speculation about his draft position ... "It's not troubling to me. I don't really care. A lot of guys we're in a position where we are just happy to be there. The main thing is just getting the chance to be in the NFL. I'm not stressed out about the possibility of going number one or seven. Wherever I land is wherever I land. I am just enjoying the moment."
On speculating what it'd be like to be on a certain team ... "That is something I do. I see myself in different jerseys, how would one look vs. another one. Or what number is available on this team. That is more just having fun with it, that is not stressing and stuff. I do that from time to time when I am bored."
On if he enjoys the process ... "Definitely. I've done a lot of travel. I've been to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Chicago and I met a lot of great people. I had some opportunities to do a couple of TV shows. I got to meet a lot of powerful people outside of football. My family has had a lot of fun during this time. This is a chance to share our story as to who we are and where we come from. My mother is starting to get some exposure, learning to speak in front of cameras. She has to catch up to speed, because I am a professional now; Stan Edwards is a professional, so she has to step up to the plate."
On should he go number one ... "I believe I am the best player in the draft. If that happens it happens. There are so many teams out there with so much speculation going on, who knows what is going to happen. Am I the best player in the draft I believe so. I am a three-year starter. I've played at a Division I level for four years. My game has matured each year and I've continuously gotten better. I still think I have another level to get to. I have not maxed out to my potential yet. The things that I have done on the field, off the field, in the classroom, I am the complete package. As a coach, as a GM, as an owner, you want someone who is not going to give you any problems, someone who is team oriented, and someone who is going to sell out for the team, do whatever he has to do. I believe I am all that and more."
On being more prepared for pros this year rather than last year ... "I am a lot more prepared. Coming back for that last year really helped. Not necessarily in maturity, but just having the same things come at me as last year and being able to deal with those, seeing them first hand. Then going through this season and being under the microscope the whole season. It groomed me more and prepared me more for this situation. I feel like I have some experience now and I can be more laid back. I'm very calm about things, and I let things happen. I kind of go with the flow."
On draft day ... "I'm wondering what it'll be like. You sit in the green room with your family, you are suited to a 'T', you have a million microphones and cameras in there watching your every move. You're waiting to here your named called and you might not hear your name called when you think it will. So now you can't have yourself on camera looking in dismay. You can never show people that you are flustered. You have to remain calm, cool and collected at all times. The main thing for me is to have fun, smile a lot, crack some jokes with whoever is in the green room with me and make a run at it."
On signing a contract quickly and not holding out ... "It is very important. One thing San Francisco asked me about is, do I see myself playing at mini-camp. It is very important because the thing about it is the faster you get in camp, the more you are around the team, the more the older guys see that this young guy wants to do something, wants to help out. A lot of times guys just want to make the NFL, however they can get there, they just want to be there to say I made it. Coming here early, getting that contract out of the way, is important because it shows people, even in the administration and the coaches, that this guy was not just giving us a bunch of BS when we interviewed him. He was really serious. Also, it helps you from a standpoint that you start to learn the plays faster. The faster that you learn the plays and get their program into your head, the faster you can contribute. Really football isn't about speed it is about what you know. The more you know, the faster you play. You can be the fastest guy in the world, if you don't know what you are doing you aren't going to be on the field."
On his shot at being top overall pick of 49ers ... "I think I have a legitimate shot, I don't see why not. They need help at receiver, but they definitely need some help at the quarterback spot too. It becomes a situation where you want to pick the best available guy. When you go over your draft board with Mike Nolan and Jay Sullivan and everybody in their administration, you say 'this is our first pick of our staff, we don't want people to look back at us 20 years from now and have it be the laughing stock of the draft' whether it be myself or Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, or whoever, you don't want to look back and say I know we should have drafted this guy or I know we should have drafted this guy, so it is a very tough decision."
On how his life has changed as a soon to be multimillionaire ... "There are a lot more people around you, that's all. If you are still a smart person and watch out for everybody and are not just passive with everything that goes on, lots of people they are just are excited to have money, so they hire people to take care of bills and stuff like that. They end up getting screwed because they don't watch their money. I keep my eye on everything."
On if he has heard from other star receivers ... "Steve Largent did the Biletnikoff ceremony with me down in Tallahassee. We talked a lot. I sat right next to him. He cracked some jokes. The main thing is he is a very influential person. He's very smart and is an honest guy. He gave me some advice for this upcoming process and I can really appreciate that. Jerry Rice, I met him when I was 12. I haven't had any contact with him since then. In terms of those two people they work extremely hard on the field and off the field to be the best players that they can be. They are two of the best receivers to ever play the game. They were never satisfied. A lot of guys they achieve a Pro Bowl or a little bit of greatness and that is it for them. But these guys continue to strive for it. Every year they wanted to get better and at the end of the day, off the field is definitely what draws you to them as well. You never here about Jerry Rice's name mixed up with any nonsense, and the same with Steve Largent. These guys are two very good role models for someone such as myself."
On his professional approach ... "At the end of the day, GMs and coaches, when they are interviewing college players, the stereotypical way they see them is that they play ball, they may be smart, but they may not be business savvy. It is one thing to be smart, but it is another thing to be business savvy. My parents have always instilled that in me, saying whatever you do, approach it like a business meeting. Make sure you are presentable, make sure you are professional, and make sure you are well spoken. Make sure you have your points together. Whatever you want to say make sure you aren't searching around for an answer. Make sure it is something that flows off your tongue naturally. Being able to have these things given to me at a young age really has helped. Also being around you guys helps. I've had millions of opportunities to speak to you, and be in front of a microphone. This is the place where I honed my skills. I continue to get better and I believe that teams are surprised by guys like myself, that can speak well and be exactly what they want, it is surprising."
On current NFL players he can talk to ... "Jerome Bettis is like my big brother. I talked to him last night about coming to the draft. He gives me advice in terms of a guy who has been there and is still there. He has given me constant advice. He's never let me let my guard down. He'll give me advice on interviews. He'll critique my game on the football field, whatever I need. Right now he's the guy who is helping me make this a smooth transition."
On where he met Jerome Bettis ... "I met him at a camp that I attended while I was younger. It was the Reggie McKenzie Camp. He was helping out. My father had known him when he was still in high school, coaching his skills at this very camp. He grew up, went to Notre Dame, then went to the NFL, and then started doing the camp, so we bonded. Then he took over the camp. Now it is the Jerome Bettis Camp. We just talk all the time about the times I was younger. He remembers when I was just a knucklehead kid running around, and my dad knows when Jerome was just a knucklehead kid running around. Now who is going to be the next knucklehead kid that I have to watch and help out. That is what it is all about."
On charity ... "That is definitely important. Charity is very important to me regardless of what charity it is. That is another thing that Jerome taught me, if you make it, give it back, because there are a lot of people that need it. I have enough. I am in a situation where I can help. I can't save the world but I can make a start. Also starting a foundation is important. Getting a charity that is mine, getting into a cause. Obviously there are so many different causes that you can give too. The main thing you can do if you establish a foundation or your own charity is you can decide what you relate to so it is not fake. You can easily say I want to help out, like say with single mothers. That could be my goal, my focus. Well, I didn't have a single mother. She was married when I came out, and she was married shortly after that. So my whole life she's been married. So I can't do single mothers, I don't understand that concept. The main thing is doing something that you can relate too."
On whether he'll stay close to Michigan ... "Definitely, Michigan has done a lot for me. I'd be a fool not to stay close to this university. All the things they have helped me do, from the coaches to the academic staff and the administration, there are a lot of people that I owe a lot to at this school. Obviously I put a lot of work in terms of academics, a lot of long hours studying, but there were people there that helped along the way, telling me what courses to take, and get me tutors if I needed it. Whatever you need they put in front of you. Then it was on you to make it happen. Then on the football field it was the same thing. The coaches stayed on me and turned me into the player that I was at Michigan. Obviously, I was a good player but it's far more than being a good player its about honing your skills and learning when to this and its about the team aspect of it. I love the people on this team and those associated with this program. Marlin (Jackson) and I went out last night and talked about how much we loved each other and how much we appreciate each other. It was kind of heartfelt. Last night we have a big team event and it really hit me that this is it. This is it for me in terms of hanging out with my teammates and coaches. I've had a lot of great memories up here and I would not trade for anything in the world."
Media Contacts: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
