Giants tight end harnesses family-driven talent as possible post-football career…
A: Just being somebody that isn’t caught up in the results or the outcomes … just somebody that’s there that loves you as the person that you are, the human being that you are, no matter what happens in the day-to-day, or what happens in the course of the season, and it’s definitely a blessing.
A: I’m a one-play-at-a-time kind of guy. I’m a one-day-at-a-time kind of guy in life, in how I’ve kind of had to change the course of my life. So I’m more so just like whatever plays right in front of me that need to be made, I’m going to make it, and I have confidence in myself to make as many plays as opportunities that I get. I’m a calm guy. I’m loose, calm, like, not overly intense, not overly emotional and kind of up and down. I’m just like somebody that people know that I’m going to be right in the middle the whole day. But definitely somebody that’s going to be make a play when given an opportunity to give us a spark.
A: I step onto the field and hold myself to a standard that is very high, because I know that I’ve done that, and when I’m on the field, I do that when opportunities are presented.
A: Not really all that volatile, man. I’ve been through seasons where it’s like I’ve been hurt and then you feel like something’s just wrong you because you are not healthy, and then you start to like … you feel like you’re failing as a human being. So now I’m not as emotionally involved. I accept the situation for what it is. I recognize the fact that it’s frustrating for not only me but for who knows how many people. But I’m not wearing that s–t as like there’s something wrong with me or like I’m a failure, or like those things that I’d do in the past. And it’s easy to fall into that trap, because you have so many people that are critiquing you and have an opinion of you, and that is what it is. But this year it’s been a lot more even-keeled for me and just being focused on what I can control. You gotta accept life as it happens, because the more you fight it, the more frustrated you’re going to be, the more exhausted you’re going to be, and I just play the cards I’m dealt and try to keep moving and do the best I can.
A: Fierce. Competitive. But over the years grown into a calmer presence, more centered presence, unflappable.
A: Just being somebody that is an impactful person. Whether it be if people are inspired by the way I play, or whether it’s my story or things I’ve been through in life or things that I may say when I speak. Just trying to be a person that makes the world a better place, makes people feel better, feel stronger, feel like more inspired or even just safe like from being around me … being somebody that when given the opportunity is gonna impact somebody’s life in a positive way whether I know it or not.
A: If you just look at alcoholism and addiction, there’s not many people that are able to turn their lives around, to remain sober, and not only to remain sober but turn into a source of hope or inspiration for a lot of people like that. It’s just not a common thing. You can look at all types of statistics at the lives of people and see that, so I recognize that I’m kind of playing with house money as far as life is concerned. I never thought I’d be in this position. I never thought I’d be in the league period, much less eight years, or having years where I was very successful … very grateful to be here, bro (laugh).
A: Music is definitely in my blood from my great grandfather [Fats Waller]. My parents had me play the piano when I was like a toddler, and I was in like band as a kid growing up through like middle school. After middle school I didn’t do anything musically until probably after college, which was like when I really learned about who my great grandfather was and his impact and kind of realizing like I am musically inclined, and I wanted to just kind of figure out what my own journey was in that.
A: I’m recording, I’m making beats, I’m singing. I’ll have new stuff that I’m releasing in January and into February. So I’m just continuing to create, continuing to enjoy the process because it’s my favorite thing to do.
A: It just brings me immense joy. Not many things can in this life. When I create, when I’m coming up with an idea, when a song is coming together, there aren’t very many better feelings for me in my life than when it comes to that, so I just do it because I love it (laugh).
A: I go to a studio in Hudson Yards. Friday nights are usually my night. It’s not every Friday, once at least every couple of weeks I’ll be over there, but as far as making beats, as long as I got my laptop, I can make beats anywhere on God’s green earth. Ideas are always coming to me at random times, random places. It’s a continuous process.