I try to associate myself as just being myself – and being a person, an American citizen, going out there every day and just trying to be successful.
For me, a quarterback’s best friend, especially a young quarterback’s best friend, is a coach who believes in him.
You know, I started this process of being a football player and I’m going to make it to the NFL very soon and I plan on finishing that. And by ‘finishing that,’ I mean that I’m going to go out and be the best that I can be and put everything forth to make that happen.
I don’t play too much into the color game, because I don’t want to be the best African American quarterback, I want to be the best quarterback.
Man, I love the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies. Some people would say I’m weird for liking those types of movies, but they are so cool.
I don’t picture myself as a normal person when I play football, and I don’t think anyone else pictures me that way as well.
As a quarterback, obviously, you’re going to be put in the forefront whether you like it or not, and if you’re not then you’re not doing your job.
I’m a military kid, both parents in the military – Mom did 12 years, Dad did 21, served in two wars. So discipline is something that was huge.
My parents raised me to not ever look at race or color, so it doesn’t have a big part in my self-identity.
Teams are going to try to hit me because they think I can’t take a hit. I think I’ve proven over my career that I can.
That’s the goal. Just to go out and not try to prove anybody wrong but just let your talents speak for themselves.
I want to be one of the guys, but I also want to be ‘the’ guy, the guy that can go out there and they can rely on in crunch time. I’m going to be the guy that they know will show up every day, every game, every play and show up on a consistently great level.
I think if you’re a good high school player that you have the ability to be a good college football player. If you’re a good college football then you have the ability to be a great NFL player.
Every time you step on the football field in between those lines you’re putting your life, your career, every single ligament in your body in jeopardy.
It’s believable because great things don’t happen without hard work.
You don’t have to go out there and fit the mold of what a quarterback is supposed to be. Make your own mold and do the best at each role. If you can run with the best and throw with the best, you can be the best quarterback in your own version of the position.
I have no preferred team, but everyone wants to go No. 1 in the draft. Even the guy who gets picked last in the draft wants to go No. 1. But I just know that whoever picks me, I’m going to be excited to play for that team, and I can’t wait to see myself in ‘Madden’ on that team.
It’s always a lot more fun as a quarterback if you can do things you don’t normally get to do. So if I can catch a pass and make a play for the team, that’s what I’m willing to do.
People have said some really good things about my performance, and that’s what I’m happy about, what I’m excited about. I was able to go out there, and like I said, I put my best foot forward.
I know I’m the No. 1 quarterback for the Washington Redskins, and that’s all that matters in my heart. That’s all I wanted. I wanted a team that wanted me, and I found that.