Transcript provided by the St. Louis Rams
Post Practice 1 – Rams wide receiver Mardy Gilyard – July 29, 2010
(On the first practice of camp)
“It was pretty good, knocking the rust off like always. First practices seem to be a little rough, but all in all we got a lot of work done. We got a chance to bring in and soak in some plays in the play book today and I didn’t think we did too bad.”
(On the pressure to catch every ball and make every play during practice)
“As a wide receiver you want to catch every all, but being realistic you know you can’t catch them all. But in the same token, you try to go out there and catch the point of the ball and try to finish and that’s all were trying to do.”
(On preparing for camp during the offseason)
“There’s pretty much nothing that can mimic football, I mean, actual football. You can do all the running you can do in the world; you can catch all the balls you catch out of the jugs or from another quarterback’s hand, but there’s nothing that you can do to mimic what we do out here. It’s literally something that you have to be out here to do.”
(On the hot weather)
“The heat is what it is. It feels like its Florida all over again. Feels like I’m back on the beach, another day on the beach. “
(On where Gilyard feels he is with the offense)
“I think I’m pretty good. I did a lot of studying on my break and my time away from the team. I’m pretty caught up. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m still caught up.”
(On being able to focus with the hot weather)
“The heat is a mind player because the hotter it gets, the more it plays on the mind. It takes a strong player to come out and really focus when the elements are against you. (That’s the) best way I can put it. It’s pretty hard to come out here in the heat and to remember all those plays - it seems like we have a million plays - but in the same token you just have to lock down and pay attention to everything that coach (Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo) has been showing you throughout the spring and summer and up until now.”
(On waiting for QB Sam Bradford to get here)
“That’s cowboy’s (Bradford) business and hopefully we get him out here as soon as possible, but all in all that’s his business and we don’t tend to lean towards that stuff. He always wears cowboy boots so I call him ‘Cowboy.’”
(On his opportunity)
“I have all the opportunity in the world to just come in and help the best way I can with the team and try my hardest to be a contributor, whether it’s special teams or in the offensive game. But I’m just trying my hardest to contribute the best way that I can.”
(On potentially being a starter)
“It’s something that as a rookie coming in the league, everybody wants to play and have the opportunity to be able to showcase your skills. It’s every kid’s dream in the league, but again, I’m just trying to work hard to contribute in any why I can, whether it’s severing Gatorade to the vets or being a starting receiver. I’m just trying to contribute the best way I can.”
(On carrying the veterans pads)
“I’m okay with carrying the pads, combing hair, tying the shoes, whatever it takes. I know my role, I’m a rookie and I know I can’t say too much. Actions speak louder than words and in the words of my momma, ‘I can show you better than I can tell you.’ I’m cool with anything, that’s my role as a rookie. You’ve got to be able to respect the vets because I’m a guy that respects the history of the game. Without the vets there wouldn’t be any rookies because those are the guys that are teaching us how to be vets. The (LB James) Laurinaitis’ that we have on the team, the (QB) A.J. Feeley’s that we have on team, so with that in mind, again, just playing your role as a rookie. You almost have to be a yes man. Whatever it takes. ‘Hey rook, go pick my shoes up.’ I don’t care if their shoes are way on the other side of the field, you have to go get them. That’s just the lay of the land.”
