Highlights from FOX NFL – Divisional Round

CHARISSA THOMPSON’S ONE-ON-ONE WITH COLE BEASLEY

Thompson: What’s up, man?

Beasley: “How you doing?”

Thompson: I’m good. How are you? Are those noise-canceling headphones? Because I feel like you’ve got a good way of quieting the critics.

Beasley: “Yeah, that’s something that I had to learn and get better at through the years. I didn’t do it as well as I should have early in my career. I feel like I’ve become so much better.”

Thompson: You always felt like an underdog?

Beasley: “Oh, yeah. From day one I had people telling me what I wasn’t going to do. And public perception is big on stat and they — they let that determine how good you are as a player. You just worry about beating your man every play. And everybody sees you winning on film, that’s when the people who matter are going to know. Buffalo saw it and they got me here and now I’m doing everything that I always wanted to do.”

Thompson: You’ve had a front row seat to the Josh Allen show the last couple of years. How much fun is it to be on the receiving end of those passes?

Beasley: “I knew when I was coming here, that he had the ability to be where he’s at now. And you never know if they’re going to actually get to that point or not. It all came down to just experience and having confidence. And once he just played enough games to see everything and feel what it feels like, he just took off.”

Thompson: Cole, are you having fun?

Beasley: “Oh, yeah, for sure. This is the most fun I’ve had playing football since high school. Play a game that I love with a bunch of my best friends.”

Thompson: Well, it’s an incredible backdrop. The city of Buffalo embraced you and it seems like you’ve embraced them.

Beasley: “Oh, for sure. And not just me. More importantly, my family did as well. It’s really going to be hard to get them to leave this place when it’s all said and done, whenever that may be. I’ll probably be there as long as they let me, until they kick me out the door.”

Thompson: First playoff win for you guys for this city of Buffalo in 25 years.

Beasley: “Yeah, I know it’s crazy. Even before we got to the playoffs, just winning the division, you should have seen how many fans were there waiting at the airport for us.”

Thompson: Stefon Diggs, this guy is a beast. What is it like having a front row seat to the show that is Stefon Diggs?

Beasley: “It’s awesome. Everything he does he does for the guys next to him. He’s my favorite number one receiver I’ve ever played with.”

Thompson: You can hear it in your voice, how genuine you are. I don’t think it’s any coincidence you guys continue to have success, collectively.

Beasley: “He makes it way easier to line up in there. The way he pushes his body through things, he makes you want to do the same  and not let him down.”

Thompson: You have my dream life. You play in the NFL. You’ve got incredible hair and you’re a rapper. You’ve got a new single out. It’s called “Sometimes.” What’s the meaning behind it, “Sometimes?”

Beasley: “The time I made this song I was definitely feeling kind of how I was expressing the song. That’s what music is for me. It’s an outlet.”

Thompson: Are we listening to it in the locker room? Do the guys put it on, support you?

Beasley: “They listen to everything I make. I probably have about 30 songs I haven’t released.”

Thompson: Well, it’s only fair they get a first look. You’ve got to  give America a little hint of what’s to come.

Beasley: “I’ll save that for after the season. I’ve got football to focus on right now.”

KRISTINA PINK’S ONE-ON-ONE WITH CAM AKERS

Pink: Welcome to Green Bay, my friend.

Akers: “Is that snow I see in the window back there?”

Pink: Look, we’ve got snow and everything.

Akers: “Oh, man.”

Pink: Cam, I’ve got to look back at the season you’ve had so far because the first half was a bit of a challenge for you, right? Now you have shined since becoming the fulltime starter. What has made you such an effective runner, especially what you’ve done as of late?

Akers: “First you start with the O-line. Nothing goes without those guys. But my success doesn’t happen, you know, alone. It’s a group effort, the other 10 guys on the field, receivers, tight ends, everybody blocking. I just wanted to come in, earn the respect of the team, earn the respect of the league. Just want to build my own legacy.”

Pink: You have this record-setting performance in your debut in the postseason as a rookie. I see that confidence coming from you right now. How much more confident are you now headed into your second postseason game?

Akers: “I’m very, very confident, not because of the performance that I had last game. Just in the preparation that makes, that allows me to have confidence in the team and myself, and ultimately going and winning games. When they starting to wear down, it’s time for me to hit the gas. If they’re letting off the gas, it’s time for me to hit the gas. That’s the whole purpose of wearing them down, so you can strike when that time comes.”

Pink: All gas, no brakes?

Akers: “At all.”

Pink: There’s no secret. When it’s cold, when it’s windy, you’ve got to rely on the running game. Is this your moment?

Akers: “I look at every moment like it could be my moment, but cold game, everybody knows you got to keep the ball on the ground. More, now than ever, this could be the moment. And now, actually to be here, I’m going to go out and try to make the most of it and take advantage of it.”

Pink: Sean McVay told us before that game in Seattle that you don’t have to get ready if you stay ready. You stay ready at all times.

Akers: “Always, always.”

Pink: You seem like a pretty quiet guy, very humble. Then I saw you’re mic’ed up in Seattle. You know what I’m talking about. You’re talking. You’re trash talking, saying this is easy.

Akers: “My offensive line made it easy. It was real easy. It was a breeze.”

Pink: What’s the difference in the Cam that we see sitting down here and the Cam that takes over on game day?

Akers: “This is the in-front-of-the-camera Cam. I’m on the field, I get to be myself all the time, every play, you see me let loose, have fun, play football and enjoy the game.”

Pink: You go into a place like Lambeau; it’s historic, it’s got a great atmosphere. What are your thoughts stepping inside of that building?

Akers: “It’s a lot of legends and people that played in the building, just to be able to be a kid, and dream about that. And now actually to be here is a blessing. We’ll go out and try to make the most of it, take advantage of it.”

Pink: We’re ready to see you shine in Green Bay.

Akers: “I got you.”

TONY GONZALEZ’S ONE-ON-ONE WITH ZA’DARIUS SMITH AND PRESTON SMITH

Gonzalez: I saw the Christmas gift you gave Preston. What was that about? What prompted you to give him a car?

Za’arius Smith: “To tell you the truth, man, I didn’t really get it for him. It was all a joke.”

Gonzalez: It was a joke?

Za’Darius Smith: “But it was a good one. Preston was just talking about this car. I told him, we got to the car, I just recorded it and acted like I bought it for him. I know the world’s been thinking I really got it for him, but I didn’t.”

Preston Smith: “We love each other. Not that much to give each other a car. We give each other a lot of good gifts, and it’s just like the type of family feel we have around here.”

Gonzalez: I was going to say in my 17 years, I’ve seen good gifts, but I’ve never seen another player give another player a car.

Za’Darius Smith: “What was it, $80,000 car? No way. No way.”

Gonzalez: You guys have the second-most sacks over the last two years for a duo. Do you guys feel you run under the radar a little bit?

Za’Darius Smith: “A little bit. But that adds fuel to the fire; that just keeps us going. We really don’t want to be considered as one of the best. We want to be the best.”

Preston Smith: “Great answer, Z.”

Gonzalez: You’ve got Aaron Donald and (Jalen) Ramsey on the other side. I remember when I used to go against someone like Shannon Sharpe or Antonio Gates, for me in my mind, I was like, okay, it’s time, I’m going to show — you guys think they’re good; I’m going to show you how good I am. Do you feel that coming into this game?

Preston Smith: “It’s definitely something you think about, but it’s all or nothing right now. It’s win or go home. We know they’ve got some great players on their team who do a lot of great things to help them out, but we’ve got to do a lot of great things to help our team out.”

Za’Darius Smith: “Great answer, P.”

Gonzalez: Not only are you guys good with the sack dances, but you had a hell of a touchdown dance against the Bears. You guys rehearse this stuff? Where does that come from?

Preston Smith: “A lot of times we choreograph, sometimes we might be on the fly, or we just might be doing some stuff throughout the week. We might be, ‘We like that. Let’s do that.’ Guys come together and we come up with a celebration and we do something fun.”

Gonzalez: You got something special this weekend, Za’Darius, up your shirt? On your shirt? Anything good for us?

Za’Darius Smith: “Yes, sir. We’ve got something very special for you all, and that’s the defense, too, for turnovers. We’ve got something very special as a group, yes. It’s going to be real nice and fun. We know the world is watching, man, so we can’t wait.”

JAY GLAZER’S ONE-ON-ONE WITH MATT LAFLEUR AND SEAN MCVAY

Glazer: Ready to rock and roll?

LaFleur: “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Glazer: I’m going to talk to Sean [McVay] after you.

LaFleur: “I just talked to him yesterday. He’s heard all I’ve got to say. I’m saying no more.”

Glazer: Do you ever have moments where you’re sitting there like, I’m at Lambeau Field; I’ve got Aaron Rodgers out there; still feeling like you’re waiting to wake up in fifth grade and none of this really happened?

LaFleur: “That’s every day for me, Jay. It is a really special place. And it’s so fun. You have those moments every now and again when you’re walking back. It takes your breath away.”

Glazer: You have 27 wins in your first two years. Your offense is unstoppable. Aaron’s had the best year. Do you understand the magnitude of where you are and what you’re doing, and does it even surprise you, the job that you have done?

LaFleur: “Well, it’s not the job I’ve done. It’s the job we’ve done. And for me, when I look around our locker room and I see Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Za’Darius Smith, you know, that calms me because I’ve got great confidence in those guys and their ability to go out there and execute and win a football game.”

Glazer: How wild is it that you’re going to be coaching in the NFL playoffs against one of your best friends? It’s just not normal.

LaFleur: “Yeah. He’s (McVay) like a brother to me, and we’re super close and just really blessed to be in this situation, to be honest with you.”

Glazer: Well, Matt, hold on. I’ve actually got McVay chiming in now, too.

McVay: “All right. Looking sharp, man.”

Glazer: Thank you for noticing.

McVay: “It’s weird. Matt’s always been a good bit older than me, so he’s like my big brother. I think we’ve shared similar philosophies for a long time, but you know what, he’s not too good of a friend to try to get after his ass pretty good, man.”

Glazer: What’s the biggest thing you learned from Sean?

LaFleur: “There are so many things I learned, but I just think that his ability to be who he is. You’ve got to be genuine to who you really are. I thought he’s done that better than anybody I’ve ever been around.”

Glazer: Is there anything you’ve learned from him?

McVay: “Yeah, what I would say, Jay, is just his consistent, relentless attention to detail. I think that’s why you’ve seen every place he’s gone with the quarterback position, they’re playing at a high level. Aaron’s been doing it his whole career, but I think those two have really done a great job of working together and you see why they’re the best offense in the league.”

Glazer: Oh, I just happen to have a little picture here from the 2010 Washington Football Team. Check this out. Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur. Who do you think has aged better?

LaFleur: “Oh, definitely me. No doubt about it.”

McVay: “Definitely him, because I look — I feel like — that’s my fourth year. I look like it’s been 40 years.”

LaFleur: “He’s been a head coach longer, so he’s got more gray hair.”

Glazer: Okay. Who do you think has spent more on hair gel?

LaFleur: “Oh, Sean, without a doubt.”

McVay: “That would be without a doubt me. I mean, look at him. I talked to him the other night. Just like he used to do in Washington, he was cutting his own hair last night when we talked. What you can say about Matt, even though he’s rich now, he’s still cheap.”