Washington Redskins new tackle, Jammal Brown
This past Thursday, the Washington Redskins’ new tackle, Jammal Brown, spoke with 106.7 The Fan radio hosts LaVar Arrington (a very popular ex-Redskin) and Chad Dukes in a very entertaining and very enlightening interview.
As I listened, I was immediately struck by how much of a team player Brown is and how enthusiastic he is – which automatically rates him high in my book. The former Saint is, by trade, a left tackle. But with the Skins having spent their first round draft pick on that position, and because Brown is versatile, he will most likely be in the right tackle position when training camp starts. In the interview, it is obvious that he is happy to be here and thinks the team has what it takes to get it done on the football field.
The best way to get the most from the exchange between the hosts and Brown is to listen to the interview but, because Brown was so impressive, I’ve brought it to print for anyone who is at work and can’t have an interview playing on their computer speakers! Or, if one doesn’t have the 15+ minutes required to listen, this can be read in about five. What I’ve written here is, for the most part, verbatim. There was nothing in the interview that I could leave out. It’s just simply that good.
The way LaVar Arrington begins the interview is ‘spot on’. With all that the team – and yep, us fans – went through last season with regard to the offensive line, he asks an interesting start-up question. The way for this first query is paved by Arrington describing the way the team has addressed the offensive line this off-season.
That being said, here it is:
Arrington: “So, what are your feelings about coming in and being considered the ‘missing link’ to this team?”
Brown: “Well, first of all, it starts up front with the offensive line whether you’re passing the ball or running the ball. Us having Trent… and me coming in at the right tackle or left tackle… because I still consider myself a left tackle because the last 4 years I played with the Saints, I made the Pro Bowl as a left tackle… But, I’m coming in to do what the Redskins want me to do and that’s play right tackle. I play both sides.
“And that’s where, if you want to win a game, it starts up front, it starts up there with the O-line, the hogs…. Being physical and being nasty. And that’s what I’m gonna bring to the table and that’s how you win games.”
Arrington: “So you gonna be a hog, Jammal? You gonna come in and be a hog?”
Brown: (chuckles) “Oh man, I’ve always been a hog. It’s time to come in there and get physical – that’s just my style of play.”
Arrington: “I know that’s right. C’mon man, don’t get me too pumped up in here!”
Dukes: “So wait a minute, Jammal… they’re asking you to play a different position and you’re not holding out and asking for a trade already? You’re okay with that? They’re asking you to do something you’re not comfortable with but you’re gonna do it because it’s better for the team? That’s really refreshing to hear around these parts.”
Brown: “This game is bigger than one person, than what one person [wants to] do. You know, like I said, you know, physically and mentally I look at myself as a left tackle. But if it’s gonna help us get to a Super Bowl — not the playoffs, ’cause, you know, playoffs ain’t nothin’ — but if it’s gonna help us get to the Super Bowl, I’ll play right tackle, guard, or whatever it takes,” (clapping in the background from the hosts) “Even though mentally I consider myself as a left tackle. This is a team game and if I need to play right tackle to make the Redskins better, that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Arrington: “Oh man, I love your mentality, I love your passion, bro. I don’t even know you but I’ve got much respect for you already, good brother. Alright, so now that you’re in, have you met McNabb and all those guys? Have you told him that you’re gonna keep him upright so that we can have a healthy quarterback for much of this season?”
Brown: “Oh yea. That’s definitely gonna happen. When I got in town, Donovan gave me a call. I talked to him. He told me he was excited. You know likewise – my feeling was the same, you know I’ll block for him – a great quarterback. You know, I had Drew Brees now I get to go block for Donovan. That’s just really exciting. You know, I just can’t wait.”
Dukes: “Jammal, you’re a Pro Bowl player. You’ve played at a high level for a while. What is it like… it must be very frustrating; A) when you get hurt, but, B) you get hurt and then your team does what the Saints did last year? I don’t want to re-open any old wounds but can you talk a little about that experience and about that Super Bowl run and what you had to go through?”
Brown: “I mean, it was real tough for me, you know, ’cause I was with the Saints through the hard times. The first couple of years [we had]: Hurricane Katrina, [we] didn’t win many games, and I was there, a part of the building process. And then, you know, by the time we got to the top of the pyramid, I had to sit out because I had those two surgeries and what-not. So that was real frustrating, just to see everything I worked for… to see my teammates go out there. You know, I was happy for them, happy for New Orleans, but of course, I helped build that so I wanted to be a part of that.
“And that’s what hurts so bad, you know, like, what really hurt is just, every game, bein’ in the locker room sitting down before the game. Because that’s an unfamiliar feeling. When you’re in the locker room before a game, you usually get prepared to play. Gettin’ taped, gettin’ mentally ready, this and that. For the first time in my life, I was in the locker room before a game just waiting, looking at my guys getting ready to play. And that was so hurtin’, so frustrating. And the biggest was being at the Super Bowl. Finally getting there, seeing everybody excited … I mean, you know, I think I cried throughout the whole first half, ’cause I was just so devastated and wanted to be a part of it so bad. But I was still excited just to be a part of that, be a part of a champion. So I know what it’s like to practice, I know what it’s like to be around guys, you know, who are winning in a championship program. And that’s what I have installed in me mentally. Coming from OU, being with Bob Stoops, and then being on that team last year … just being around that helps. You know, and it makes you more hungry for the next season.“
Arrington: “Yea, speaking of that, how are you feeling, physically, I mean, when you go through those surgeries, it takes a lot of time to come back and bounce back from those situations and you know, for you, you gotta have your legs and have them in the right condition. How are you feeling?”
Brown: “Aw man… like, I feel great. See, what a lot of people don’t know is that whole 2008 – the year I made the Pro Bowl – I was like that the whole year, with that torn labrum. And at the end of last year in the playoffs, I was ready to go. But it was the surgery that, you know, doesn’t really happen in football. I think A-Rod had it and a lot of soccer players had it but the doctors didn’t really know. Me being 230 lbs, they didn’t know how fast I’d recover. So when the playoffs came around, I was able to play. But I was on IR so I couldn’t play and that was frustrating because I actually healed faster than what everybody thought. I was back running and doing a bunch of stuff. And after I took the physical down there with Dr. Androse and came up here and [saw] the Redskins with the doctors and what-not, they were like, ‘Man, you look ready to go’ and I’ve been feeling good for the last 4 or 5 months.”
Arrington: “So it was just your shoulder. Your legs weren’t feeling too bad or anything like that. It’s just your shoulder?”
Brown: “No.. It was my hip.”
Arrington: “Your hip. Okay… Okay”
Brown: “I had a torn labrum and first they thought it was a sports hernia and then they went and did the surgery on that. And then they [saw] that my labrum was torn and they thought that was a bigger problem so they went in there and fixed that up. And then I stayed in New York and rehabbed for two months then went back to New Orleans and rehabbed and rehabbed and in the last week of the season, I was ready to go. But cause of the rules of IR they just kept me on it.”
Arrington: “Right, right… yeah, yeah… that’s horrible. Yea… That IR…”
Dukes: “Jammal, you’re a Pro Bowl left tackle – you mentioned that you see yourself as a left tackle. The Redskins have asked you to play right tackle and it’s very cool to hear to you say, ‘look, I’ll do whatever the team takes.’ Do you see yourself eventually being a left tackle for the Washington Redskins?”
Brown: “I mean, it depends on what they have in their plans. If Trent’s a great player and what-not, but if it takes some time to adjust to his position I can always move over there and hold it down. You know, like, I’m proven at the left tackle position – it ain’t gonna be no problem. I think the Redskins know that too but they have a lot invested in Trent and want to see what he can do. But, like I said, if something happens and what-not, and they need to give Trent some time, you know, hey… I will do the thing. I am a left tackle. That’s what I am. So, everybody needs to understand I am a left tackle playing right tackle. But that’s how I look at it.”
Dukes: “Wow… that’s good stuff.”
Arrington: “It is great stuff. I mean, to me, my question would lead me to believe or look at it – you haven’t had an opportunity to practice with the guys. Have you met the rest of the offensive line and, what’s your impression of the rest of the guys?”
Brown: “No I haven’t. The only person I’ve really talked to was Trent because he was up there doing the rookie stuff when I had a game and I haven’t met anybody else… just talked to Donovan. But [I] just asked around. This is a good group of guys on the o-line from Mike Williams to Dockery and those guys. It gonna be a good camaraderie. It’s a good set of guys so I’m just excited about getting in there and getting ready to play. But I haven’t met any of the guys yet besides Trent.”
Arrington: “You guys have turned into one of the biggest offensive lines in the NFL, that’s for certain. Jeez… what are ya’ll’s averages? 6’6”? Outside of Casey Rabach you guys are all what? 6’6” about, 330+, 320?”
Brown: “Yea, yea… 320 plus.”
Arrington: “Sheesh! That’s a big line! That’s a big line!”
Dukes: “Yea, ‘good’ big. Speaking of ‘fat’ big, I’ve got to ask you about Albert Haynesworth. Jammal, you got this dude and everything you’re saying sounds really good and that’s why Redskins fans are punching the air because they’re exited to hear somebody come in here and have that mentality immediately. I don’t know if you know Big Al and I’ve heard that he’s a really nice dude but, you really have to question his dedication to the team after everything that has happened. He has said that he’s going to be there at training camp…. I’m just interested to get your take on him not being there for mandatory activities and saying that he wants to trade but also saying he’s going to show up for training camp. What’s it going to be like having to interact with that guy knowing what you know now?”
Brown: “I mean, you know, that’s his own personal situation so I can only speak on myself. But I’ll tell you this, you all give me $100 million – man, I’m gonna be at everything. You won’t have to ask me to come to nothing!”
(Arrington & Dukes laugh)
Brown: “I’ll play whatever position you want me to play. And that’s just personally for me because it shows that the Redskins and what-not, put a lot into that and, you know, you can bend a little bit and personally, on my behalf, hell, you give me that type of money, I’m gonna do whatever you ask me to do… show up for voluntary workouts, no matter what, I’m there. So that’s just coming from my house. So, I don’t know Albert – he has his own situation – I’m sure he’s gonna handle it how he handles it but me personally? Man, I’m gonna be wherever they ask me to be.”
Arrington: “Now, with that being said, I played a couple of years in the league and got a little bit of time in. When you have situations like [this]… …an offensive lineman or a running back or a receiver of some sort that had [done] what‘s being done right now, [and] granted, you’re removed from the situation because your coming from another team, but, just for the sake of the rest of your teammates, do you see it getting very physical with that dude when he comes in here? I mean, you have that thing ingrained in the back of your mind that [this guy] didn’t really show to be a true teammate of the team. Sometimes it turns into one of those kinda, ‘let me see what the $100 million man is made of?’ I know for me, I got into fights just to get the practice going but there were times that I got into fights as a rookie because, ‘Oh, here comes the high-priced rookie, let’s check his chin’ and I had to fight because of that. Now in this situation,… …I’m anticipating there’s gonna be some lockups because guys are here giving it up and getting ready and getting in shape and then you got somebody who… [doesn’t] want to play a different position. They don’t want to conform to what the coaches feel is going to make this team a better team. Do you feel like that might be in your mind when he lines up on the line and you may have a pull to go clock him or something?”
Brown: “Oh yea man, no matter what the situation, no matter who it is, I’m gonna give it all I got.”
Arrington: “Anybody?“
Brown: “Whoever. I don’t let that outside stuff hinder my thoughts on… you know, ‘ok, well, this guys is doing this or… no matter what the situation is I’m gonna try to give it to you no matter if you’re a rookie or a 13-year vet or $100 million. No matter what the whole situation is. That’s just football. I don’t let that other stuff factor in to what I’m gonna do on the field.”
Dukes: “Jammal, I know you haven’t really had a chance to vibe with the team yet but you can see what we see. You got Mike Shanahan there as your head coach, Donovan McNabb, you got you and Trent on either side of the line, however that works. I mean that defense that was already pretty damn good, now you got Jim Haslett running it… you gotta like your chances. I know you were an NFC South guy but now you look at the NFC East, how do you think your new team stacks up with the rest of that division?”
Brown: “This Washington, D.C. situation is perfect. The people in D.C. should be ecstatic right now. I mean you got Donovan McNabb at the quarterback; you got Mike Shanahan who’s proven – [who’s] got a Superbowl. He’s going to be a Hall-of-Fame coach, you know? We re-intact the line. The defense is a great defense, one of the best defenses in the league last year and… it’s gonna be trouble. It’s gonna be trouble for anybody that we have to get with, you know what I’m saying? And that’s just looking from the outside in. You know, I haven’t been up there, I haven’t practiced with the guys yet, but just looking at the line-up, looking at all the puzzles that have been put in place, it’s an ingredient for success and I just can’t wait to go out there and do it.”
Arrington: “Wow.”
Dukes: “We could play this interview for the rest of the show.”
Arrington: “We could play this interview before every game! Let me tell you something… I love your passion, bro. So, you come from Texas. You’re a little bit older t than Orakpo. You didn’t play against him when he was at Texas, did you?”
Brown: “Um, no, unh uh … I was already gone.”
Arrington: “What are you gonna bring at that cat? You know, Orakpo is… that is a ridiculously gifted and strong fella. You gonna be able to hold your own in practice against him?”
Brown: (laughs) “Aw, man… (Dukes and Arrington whoop and holler)
Brown: “I know you can’t win ‘em all but I’m gonna bring it 100% on everything I do, you know what I’m saying? Like, I’m not new to the game. You know, I was down there in the NFC South with the John Abrahams and the Julius Peppers, Patrick Kerney and different things like that so, everything I see…. Nah… I’m ready to bring it. Let’s leave it at that.”
Arrington: “I know that’s right. Now, Haslett brought you in and now he’s the defensive coordinator here. Did that make this decision – and obviously it was a trade but – did it make this situation a much more comfortable transition for you knowing that the guy that had you drafted as the head coach is now on the coaching staff that you’ve come on to?”
Brown: “Yea… it was good, because I had somebody there to, you know, 100% vouch for me. Because like I said, five years ago, I was his guy and he picked me. So it makes it a more comfortable situation for me coming in cause I have some background with a coach here and there and, I know I have somebody on my side who’d gonna speak well of me.”
Come on now, admit it. After this interview, aren’t you ready for the season to just start already??
