Lorenzo Mauldin Speaks to the Press

Jets third round pick Lorenzo Mauldin spoke to the media last night. Here is what he had to say.

On what he thinks his biggest strengths are as a player and how he will fit in to the Jets 3-4 …

As an edge rush guy, I have been working my butt off to do what I have to do to get to the quarterback. I don’t care what I have to do, I take coaching and I take what I have to do to help my defense out. Mainly with the Jets I know…I am at a loss for words right now. I can’t even think right now. I more than welcome being with the Jets. I know that I can help that defense, no matter what.

On whether he had much contact with the Jets leading into the draft…

Actually, no. I’ve talked to them at the combine. I haven’t had any workouts with them, I haven’t met with them other than that. I met with them at the combine.  I had a great visit with them at the combine and they asked me all the personal information. They asked everything about me and I told them everything about me truthfully and honestly and I just gave them my all verbally at the combine.

On what this moment is like, how long he has thought about this, and what his emotions are…

I’ve been thinking about this ever since I was playing Pop Warner football as a wide receiver, like I’m thinking I might be playing wide receiver at the league. My emotions right now, as I told you, I’m speechless. I can’t even think right now, man. I’ve been working my butt off since I can remember, since I can remember. And now that I have a chance to show an NFL team what I got, I’m going to show them what I got and I’m going to show them more than what I’ve got. I’m ready. I’m ready to do this. I’m going to shut up all the critics, I’m going to shut up everybody that have ever doubted me. I’m going to do what I got to do to get where I need to be in the NFL and beyond.  This is my chance. This is my chance to show everybody. This is my chance to show everybody that I can do what I do and I’m going to do it beyond what I can. I’m going to work hard. Work harder than hard, no matter what (anybody) is saying.