- 7 weeks ago
Kevin Byard signed with the Patriots in the offseason, and he joined the show today for Patriots Monday and talked with the guys about what to expect this season, being a leader on the team, Christian Gonzalez’ contract situation, and more.
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00:00Kevin, thanks for joining us, man. Really appreciate it.
00:02Oh, absolutely. Thanks for having me.
00:04Kevin, were you shocked not to play at all in the preseason,
00:08much like all of the other starters this year?
00:11No, I wouldn't say I was shocked.
00:13I think, you know, obviously been in the league for a while.
00:17You know, I've had training camps where, you know,
00:19I've played in every preseason I've had where we've played in one game,
00:22two games, none.
00:24So I also think that, you know, with the head coach
00:27and kind of his thoughts of, you know, obviously he's spoken with,
00:30he's kind of said what he said about depth, where it may be,
00:32but I also think what kind of played into it possibly was, you know,
00:35the short, you know, us playing, you know, on Wednesday,
00:37probably earlier in the season.
00:38So, no, I'm not necessarily concerned about it at all.
00:41You know, this NFL season is 17 games.
00:44It's more about a marathon. It's not a sprint.
00:45So I'm kind of just happy that we're able to have everybody kind of healthy
00:49and ready to go for week one.
00:50Yeah, Kevin, what was his explanation of Rabel
00:52when you found out that you weren't going to be playing a single snap
00:56and neither were any of the starters?
00:58Yeah, I mean, he didn't necessarily give us an explanation.
01:01I don't think he really needed to.
01:03You know what I mean?
01:03I'm just thinking just based on just being in the league for a while,
01:06that could possibly have been, you know, his thought process.
01:09But, you know, obviously the head coach makes decisions,
01:11and, you know, I think we got a lot of good work in those joint practices
01:16with Indianapolis and also Philly.
01:18But there are numerous teams around the league
01:20who didn't play their starters in the preseason.
01:22So I don't think this is something like unprecedented
01:24and it's something that we've never seen before.
01:27Hey, Kevin, obviously you know Mike Rabel so well,
01:29playing for him before in Tennessee.
01:30How has he changed as a coach?
01:32How's Mike Rabel 1.0 versus now what you got now, 2.0?
01:36No, I don't think he's changed very much.
01:39I think that, no, truth be told, he's still the same super detailed coach
01:45that's always kind of hammering on the details,
01:47especially with the younger guys as they come into this program
01:50because that's what he's all about.
01:51That's kind of how you win football games.
01:53You try to establish a coach that's going to be here for the long term.
01:56You establish that culture with being detailed, guys working hard,
02:00you know, busting their tails.
02:02You know, I've been in certain places where, you know, veterans, you know,
02:05during special teams meets, veterans are kind of walking around the facility
02:08getting snacks or, you know, doing their recovery stuff.
02:11Like, no, the vets, we're meeting with our coaches as well.
02:13So it's like if one group in the building, the special team guys are meeting
02:17and they're working and we're working too.
02:19So, no, Vrabel's been the same.
02:21It's almost mirrored to the program that he had in Tennessee.
02:25So that's kind of refreshing for me because, obviously, I've been a part of it.
02:28So I kind of am able to come in and blend in pretty well
02:31with what's already been established here.
02:33Well, it sounds like, you know, with Vrabel,
02:35I know that you've said part of your job here is leadership.
02:38And, you know, I've always wanted to know, like,
02:40how do you actually lead guys without becoming like the hard-o,
02:44constantly telling everyone how things should be done?
02:47Like, how is that done without being, like, overbearing and almost, like, too much?
02:53Yeah, I mean, I think just for myself personally, like, you know,
02:56first and foremost, I think no matter what your resume is coming in to our organization,
03:01whether it's myself, whether it's Vrabel, whoever it is,
03:04I think you first come in and you try to establish the respect of the guys that's here.
03:08You know what I mean?
03:08By how I come in every single day, my attitude,
03:11coming in with a great positive attitude, ready to work, you know,
03:14how I am in the meeting rooms, on the field, in the locker room,
03:19just being a guy that people can basically can trust.
03:22You know what I mean?
03:22They trust that I can depend on this guy every single day.
03:24And then at that point, you know, just being yourself, you know what I mean?
03:27I'll kind of look at myself like I'm kind of naturally a natural-born leader in a way.
03:32So I think guys kind of naturally gravitate towards me.
03:34And then I can kind of use my experience and kind of things that I feel like I'm an expert
03:39in,
03:40whether it's taking the ball away or, you know, obviously seeing a lot of football,
03:43that I'm kind of come in and add those things to the group of the younger guys that's here,
03:48like whether it's Craig Woodson, Dale Pettis, and all the other guys we got, you know, in our room.
03:52So I just try to gain the respect of the guys here.
03:55And then at that point, you know, just be myself.
03:58So, Kevin, obviously you're coming off a great season at the age of 32.
04:02Not everybody in the league can maintain that level of play.
04:05How are you playing some of the best football of your career this late in your career?
04:10You know, I think it's a lot of this, you know, first is just having, you know, God-given ability.
04:15And then I think the second part of it is just being able to take care of my body.
04:18I think the preparation year to year, I wouldn't say it changes,
04:23but I'm always adding things to my recovery process during the season.
04:27But then also, you know, in the off-season as well.
04:29You know, I know, you know, some guys in the off-season take a couple months off
04:33and kind of hang out with family.
04:34I'll do that as well, but I don't take too much time off.
04:37Maybe a month or so that I'm right back in, you know,
04:40that if I'm doing Pilates in January once the off-season starts,
04:43then I kind of get into my program.
04:44So I'm always working in some capacity to make sure I'm maintaining, you know,
04:49my athletic ability and those things.
04:51So, you know, obviously Father Tom is undefeated, you know what I mean?
04:55But at the same time, I think a lot of it is more of, you know,
04:59if you don't use it, you're going to lose it.
05:00You know what I mean?
05:01So I'm always trying to make sure I'm maintaining my body so I can prolong,
05:05you know, my career.
05:05And I've always wanted to have a long career.
05:07Are you going to be like Brady and eat all that weird food and stuff
05:10that doesn't seem like any fun to last as long as you have?
05:14No, man.
05:15I think everything in moderation is good.
05:19And I think too much of anything is a bad thing.
05:21You know what I mean?
05:21You know, that's just kind of how I see it.
05:23You know, it's very hard, at least for me,
05:25to maintain an extreme eating schedule, kind of probably how Brady did.
05:29You know, I have three kids, man.
05:31So, you know, our pantry is always loaded with snacks.
05:33So it's going to be very hard for me in the off season
05:35to just try to eat super healthy.
05:37Like I said, I just try to maintain a certain level of moderation.
05:40And I think, you know, I should be fine.
05:42Sure, you're just trying to crush a handful of goldfish or something,
05:45stealing from the kids' lunchbox.
05:46That's, you know, that always seems tempting.
05:49Yeah, 100%.
05:50You know, they don't always clean their place.
05:52Sometimes I assist them with that.
05:54Speaking of Brady, Kevin, you were part of the team
05:57that ended Brady's Patriots career in 2019, coming into Foxborough, right?
06:00I mean, what do you remember about that night?
06:02And did you know coming in you were going to make it a long night for him?
06:06No, that was a special time.
06:07You know, that was, you know, honestly,
06:09that was probably one of my all-time favorite football seasons.
06:12You know, that was the year that, you know,
06:13honestly going into the playoffs, like we weren't looked at
06:16to be one of the teams that can make a run or anything like that.
06:19We kind of caught fire there towards the end of the season,
06:22and we made a run all the way to the AFC Championship.
06:24And, you know, obviously we ran into Mahomes,
06:26but, you know, Derrick Henry had a historic, like,
06:29two or three-game run.
06:30He ran for, like, almost 800-something yards in the playoffs.
06:32But it was awesome.
06:34You know, I've had some very fun and legendary games here in Gillette Stadium,
06:40you know, two of them being playoff games.
06:42But to be able to – my guy, Logan Ryan, who I played with in Tennessee,
06:46obviously he's a former Patriot as well, to pick that ball off.
06:49He still brags about that to this day.
06:50I think he'll go down.
06:52And, you know, I think on his tombstone, it's for sure going to say,
06:56you know, I ended Brady's career in the way I think there's something to be proud of.
07:00Right.
07:01I mean, it's the one thing – it's bragging rights forever.
07:03It doesn't get much better than that as a defensive player, no question.
07:07100%.
07:07All right, so there's – speaking of defensive players and you guys,
07:11so obviously very publicly Christian Gonzalez is, you know,
07:16trying to get a contract extension with the Patriots,
07:18and they're going back and forth.
07:19If for some reason Christian Gonzalez decides to sit out for games
07:23due to his contract not getting extended,
07:25how do you think that would be received in the locker room, Kevin?
07:29Man, listen, I think that's – you know, contract negotiations is one thing
07:33that I think just around the league, you know, with everybody.
07:36And I can't speak for every single person,
07:38but I would just think the mentality around the league is that that's one thing
07:41that you kind of stay out of.
07:42Because the reason being is that, obviously,
07:44we want Christian Gonzalez out there every single game,
07:47regardless if he has a contract, no contract.
07:49You know, he's one of the best cornerbacks in this league.
07:51So to get to where we want to get to, we need him on the field.
07:55But at the same time, like, there's a human aspect to this.
07:57You know what I mean?
07:58Like, we're talking about a guy, you know, anybody in the league
08:02who's been working their whole entire life to get to a point
08:03where they can become one of the best guys in their position.
08:06They're trying to take care of their families, you know,
08:08retire their parents or whatever it may be.
08:10So how a guy goes about his business is kind of on a personal level,
08:15individual level.
08:16Now, I think Christian has done probably as good as I've ever seen a player
08:21that's – especially at his level – handle a contract situation.
08:25He's practiced all through training camp.
08:26He hasn't sat out any practices or anything like that for that particular reason.
08:30I know he had an ankle injury and he missed some days during training camp.
08:34But, I mean, I think he's handling it fairly well.
08:36So however he goes about doing that during the season is fairly up to him.
08:40Would I be disappointed a little bit?
08:42Of course I would because I wanted to be out there.
08:43But at the same time, I kind of respect that just from a personal level
08:46and as a player level.
08:47It's like, hey, you know, guys got to do what they have to do to get their money.
08:50But I would expect them to be out there.
08:52But if he doesn't, if he's not, then at the end of the day,
08:55I can't do nothing but respect it, you know.
08:57Yeah, Kevin, put in perspective because, I mean, he's obviously so good.
09:00Like, how much tougher is it out there without him
09:04and his massive talent on the field with you guys?
09:07Yeah, I mean, it's one of those deals where, you know,
09:10when Christian's out there, you know, it can change up how we play defense.
09:13You know what I mean?
09:13When you talk about the days of Revis and, you know,
09:16him basically having his own island, you can kind of shift the coverage another way.
09:20And then obviously just the chemistry we've built up until this point,
09:23just playing together, the communication, hearing the same voices,
09:27and stuff like that.
09:28So, yeah, it's huge to have a guy like him out there.
09:31I mean, I think when you look at premium positions around this league,
09:34cornerbacks is definitely up there.
09:36So to not have one, you know, it would definitely be a lot more challenging.
09:40I think it would just put a lot more on the other 10 guys that's on the field
09:44to try to play up to a higher standard.
09:46All right.
09:47Now, I know you're still trying to get to know these guys,
09:49your new teammates here, Kevin.
09:50But if you had to let one babysit your kids for a night, who would it be?
09:54Who do you trust on that defense to let them in?
09:56To babysit my kids?
09:57Okay.
09:58So on defense or offense?
10:00Defense.
10:01Okay.
10:02So on defense.
10:02So I would definitely have to pick somebody that already has kids.
10:06I don't trust anybody that doesn't have kids to watch my children.
10:09I would probably say, so it's either Harold Landry or Marcus Jones.
10:18Marcus Jones has a son.
10:20And he's become, like, one of my, you know, favorite friends on the team.
10:22He's very mature.
10:24And then probably Harold Landry.
10:26You know, we spent a lot of time together at Tennessee.
10:27He has a few kids.
10:28So I would probably pick those two.
10:31And honestly, if Craig, you know, I know Craig doesn't have any kids,
10:34but I might trust Craig.
10:35He's very mature for a second-year player.
10:37So I would probably add him as, like, an honorable mention
10:39that those two were unavailable and didn't pick up the phone for me.
10:43Sure.
10:43Yeah.
10:44It seems wise beyond his years.
10:46For sure.
10:48All right.
10:49Well, Kevin Byard, listen, this is going to be a – we're really looking forward
10:53to this season.
10:53And you've got to be glad that the preseason's over,
10:55and here comes some real football, right?
10:58Definitely, man.
10:59You know, I do enjoy the process of everything, you know,
11:02going from the spring to, you know, training camp.
11:06I kind of – you know, being an older veteran,
11:07I kind of try to appreciate every little moment.
11:09But it becomes a point where, you know, you get a couple weeks in the training camp,
11:13it's like, okay, it's time for some live ball.
11:14I'm ready to go hit some people and get ready to really play some games.
11:17You know what I mean?
11:18So, yeah, it's starting to get exciting where, you know, you kind of have this
11:22little off week where it's like, you know, you're kind of getting extra practices.
11:25It is not truly game week just yet.
11:27So I'm trying to make sure that I'm not, you know, getting too amped up about it.
11:30But, you know, obviously as we get further into this week, the energy level,
11:35the urgency is definitely going to pick up a lot more from myself,
11:37but then also just the guys around on the team and also, you know,
11:41obviously around the league as we get closer to week one.
11:43Well, good luck, man, because you guys got the gauntlet right out of the box.
11:48It's like several games, man.
11:49They got you working, Kevin.
11:51Yeah, I mean, but that's what you want to be in.
11:53You know, you want to be in a position where you're playing, you know,
11:56great teams and playing really good football early.
11:58You know, like I said before, this is a marathon, but at the same time,
12:01you want to be able to jump out the gate and stack some wins early
12:04because obviously we know historically the numbers and when you start, you know,
12:08with as many losses early as you want to be able to start out on fire.
12:11But what better way to do it than to get some of the best talent in the league,
12:15the best teams in the league.
12:16So it'll be fun.
12:17I'm super excited for this year.
12:19And like I said, hopefully we can, you know, make this organization,
12:22make the team, make the city, make everybody proud of, you know,
12:24how we go out there and play.
12:25Sounds great, Kevin.
12:26Well, thanks for coming on with us.
12:27We really appreciate it.
12:28And good luck with the season, man.
12:30This should be a fun one.
12:31Thanks, Kevin.
12:31No, I appreciate you guys, man.
12:32Thanks for having me.