Both up at the Official Site though here are my highlights. First, Jordan Palmer:
Q: Do you want to break free from being known as Carson Palmer's younger brother?
A: "Oh yeah. I feel like I'm starting to come into my own. I'm ready to step out of his shadow. I understand that I have a long way to go and I have a lot of work to do. I've never been scared of hard work. I'm ready to compete and contribute, in any way possible. I'm very excited to be a part of this franchise. I think the Redskins are a great fit for me."
You never expect to hear a player say "I don't really like to work very hard." Then again, it never hurts to have reassurance.
A: "Oh yeah. I feel like I'm starting to come into my own. I'm ready to step out of his shadow. I understand that I have a long way to go and I have a lot of work to do. I've never been scared of hard work. I'm ready to compete and contribute, in any way possible. I'm very excited to be a part of this franchise. I think the Redskins are a great fit for me."
Q: Did you have an idea that the Redskins would draft you?
A: "I talked to Coach [Bill] Lazor on Saturday. He was the only coach who took the time to call me, so I definitely appreciated that. There were some things going on with other teams, but in the back of my mind, I was hoping it would be Washington. When I was younger, I met Mark Brunell--that'll make him feel really old--and I've always looked up to him and admired him as a person and as a player. My older brother Robert and his wife live in Baltimore, and that's pretty close to Washington, D.C. So I was hoping that I would get a call from Coach [Joe] Gibbs, and I did."
He'll get ripped for that comment. The proximity to his brother is a huge plus as that will help him get established in the area more quickly. If he ends up making the team, the longer he plants himself in Washington the more likely it is that he will play for less cheddar in D.C. than elsewhere for more. That's a longshot though you also like having players who enjoy the area, as they dig right into the local scene with charities, events, etc. Fans eat it up. Anyways, what about Mark Brunell?
A: "I talked to Coach [Bill] Lazor on Saturday. He was the only coach who took the time to call me, so I definitely appreciated that. There were some things going on with other teams, but in the back of my mind, I was hoping it would be Washington. When I was younger, I met Mark Brunell--that'll make him feel really old--and I've always looked up to him and admired him as a person and as a player. My older brother Robert and his wife live in Baltimore, and that's pretty close to Washington, D.C. So I was hoping that I would get a call from Coach [Joe] Gibbs, and I did."
Q: I have to ask, how do you know Mark Brunell?
A: "Well, in high school, my brother Carson was dating his high school sweetheart, and her sister was married to [former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman] Tony Boselli. So I know the Boselli family. [Brunell played for the Jaguars from 1995-2003.] I also know [former Jaguars and Redskins quarterback] Rob Johnson--I throw with Rob Johnson's dad, he was my high school coach. So I guess I'm in the Mark Brunell-Rob Johnson-Tony Boselli triangle. I know Rob very well. I've only met Mark a couple times, so he may not remember me."
He also knows some rookie teammates:
A: "Well, in high school, my brother Carson was dating his high school sweetheart, and her sister was married to [former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman] Tony Boselli. So I know the Boselli family. [Brunell played for the Jaguars from 1995-2003.] I also know [former Jaguars and Redskins quarterback] Rob Johnson--I throw with Rob Johnson's dad, he was my high school coach. So I guess I'm in the Mark Brunell-Rob Johnson-Tony Boselli triangle. I know Rob very well. I've only met Mark a couple times, so he may not remember me."
Q: What do you feel are some of your best attributes?
A: "I feel like leadership is one of my best attributes. I've loved being a teammate and the camaraderie that comes with that. I think I did a good job of that in college. I actually know H.B. Blades pretty well and I know Dallas Sartz, so this draft class coming in should be a lot of fun. H.B. and I have the same agent and we played in the Senior Bowl together. Dallas played at USC where my brother played. But obviously, I'm going to have to come in there and learn the offense--and then play well when I get the opportunity. I think I can make all the throws and I think I'm intuitive enough to take in the instruction from the coaches."
Dallas Sartz does his best to put down concerns over his prior injury history:
A: "I feel like leadership is one of my best attributes. I've loved being a teammate and the camaraderie that comes with that. I think I did a good job of that in college. I actually know H.B. Blades pretty well and I know Dallas Sartz, so this draft class coming in should be a lot of fun. H.B. and I have the same agent and we played in the Senior Bowl together. Dallas played at USC where my brother played. But obviously, I'm going to have to come in there and learn the offense--and then play well when I get the opportunity. I think I can make all the throws and I think I'm intuitive enough to take in the instruction from the coaches."
Q: You had a shoulder injury back in 2005. Are you fully recovered from that?
A: "It's perfect. It's 100 percent healthy."
That's totally unambiguous. So let's go ahead and ask him the same thing differently:
A: "It's perfect. It's 100 percent healthy."
Q: Did that injury prohibit you at all from bulking up for your senior season?
A: "No, not at all. Once the [2006] season started, it was 100 percent. It never hindered me at all."
Did someone say sacks?
A: "No, not at all. Once the [2006] season started, it was 100 percent. It never hindered me at all."
Q: In your senior season at USC, your sack totals jumped up. What do you think was the big difference that year?
A: "I was just going out there and working hard at practice every day. I worked with my linebackers coach and I did as much as I could to get better and improve my skills."
And tell us exactly what we want to hear...
A: "I was just going out there and working hard at practice every day. I worked with my linebackers coach and I did as much as I could to get better and improve my skills."
Q: As you enter the NFL, are you looking at special teams as an area where you can make your mark?
A: "I know that special teams will be a big part of my career, for however long they want me there. I am definitely going to try and go play some linebacker, but I know I am going to be a special teams guy for quite a while. I'm okay with that and that will be a big part of my role as a rookie linebacker. I am looking forward to that."
Excellent.
A: "I know that special teams will be a big part of my career, for however long they want me there. I am definitely going to try and go play some linebacker, but I know I am going to be a special teams guy for quite a while. I'm okay with that and that will be a big part of my role as a rookie linebacker. I am looking forward to that."