Transcripts of interviews with Jets players following Monday's afternoon training camp practice:
T D'BRICKASHAW FERGUSON
On learning from 18-year pro Lomas Brown…
Lomas is an excellent player, he's been to a lot of Pro Bowls and he's a good person to learn from given the fact that he was in a similar position. He was an individual that used great technique to achieve his goals and whenever you can learn from an individual like that it's very beneficial.
On his diet now compared to last season…
We actually have great meals over here at the facility. I just try to take a couple extra portions and stay consistent, really.
On Coach Mangini and eating …
He's lost a lot of weight, he's training hard. I'm trying to eat with him, so whenever we can meet a common ground it's always good.
On when Brown was in his prime and learning from him…
I think whenever you can be a part of [learning from] an individual such as Lomas Brown, who has gone to a lot of Pro Bowls and had a lot of success, watching him on tape and seeing how fluid he is and the types of techniques he uses is great. As a young player to look at that and say, 'This is a guy who's done it, let me try to pattern myself after him.' You look at all the great left tackles in the league and you try to pull from all of the good things they do to incorporate into your own skill.
On his strength this year compared to last year…
You can feel it differently in the play, but that will really come during season time when you get a chance to go against opponents. You can see how different things feel versus how a prior year might have felt.
On if too much emphasis is put on size at the tackle position…
I think it's a question that is often asked just like speed, agility and technique is a necessity. It's one of many tools that is necessary.
On his weight helping him as a run blocker…
I think it's a great tool coupled with other tools. It will be a good grouping and it'll bring me great success hopefully.
On becoming worn out toward the end of last season…
Last year was a long season. We tried to work as a group and individually as hard as we could, and we put our best effort forward. It's a long season, you get nice opponents. Obviously, playoff time they stepped it up, but it's just a matter of going out there, trying to execute and doing your best.
On blocking schemes changing with Thomas Jones being a part of the team…
Thomas Jones is a great back and we hope to pull from his experiences and hope to implement that in this team.
On Leon Washington compared to Thomas Jones…
I just block for whomever is behind me. Whether it is Leon or Thomas [Jones], I'm going to block my hardest.
On this year being a breakthrough year…
I think every year you set goals for yourself and again you try to improve upon previous things. My goal is to be better, work on the small things that might have gone under the radar for me personally and to work on the things the team needs. We're all trying to improve as a team and that has to start with me improving my skills.
On last year's season taking a toll on him or taking him by surprise…
It was a long season. You work through it, but I think everyone knows it's a long season so you do the things necessary. A lot of the veterans will say to keep your body right, get massages and use the hot and cold tubs. It's not like you don't use things to help ease that time down. I feel we had ample time to see that, prepare for it and when it came we dealt with it accordingly.
On whether or not he's ever lost weight in his career…
I think you eat and you may fluctuate - different points heavier, different points lighter, but I think that's just natural.
On mental and physical adjustments of playing games every week last year…
You just prepare for it.
On coming from Virginia and having a similar background with Thomas Jones…
Yes. We're good teammates; we talk. The locker room is a real good locker room. There's nobody in the locker room that doesn't speak with anybody. It's real cool.
G PETE KENDALL
On his reason for not participating in practice…
It's a leg. I'm not allowed to talk about it.
On if there is any update in the contract situation…
No. It's pretty much status quo.
On if he has been approached about discipline…
Like I said, they haven't addressed me about it.
On if he feels the Jets are concerned that Miami will pick him up…
I'm not sure what their concern is. I was surprised that I was even here to be around for all of the install. But, you know my feeling, I've already expressed it. I think that it's just a matter of time. Maybe it's not, I don't know.
On how he'll approach the season if he stays on the team…
I don't know. That's a good question, but I don't really have an answer for you right now.
On if he's been asked to extend or further talk about his contract…
No, they haven't said anything. I'm actually a little surprised that we're still talking about it. Things haven't changed since I don't know when. There's really nothing new.
On his meeting with general manager Mike Tannenbaum …
We had a conversation, but I don't think it changed anything. He has his position and I have mine. It's unfortunate that they're so opposite of each other, but that's the way they are.
On whether he feels his situation has changed at all…
I haven't read too much into that. I've tried to in relaying to you guys. With the situations, I've tried to as best I can to keep any judgments out of it. I've tried to lay out the course of events as I recall them. I understand in the long run that this is business. Maybe that's why nothing has come to it as of yet.
On if he feels that his teammates have been alienated…
I don't know if any of my teammates have a problem with me for the stance that I've taken. As you would expect, whether it be me or anyone else, usually players, teammates are supportive of somebody in this situation. That's certainly the case here.
On how Neil Schwartz is dealing with his situation, as well as Darrelle Revis' contract…
He sounds like he's not even anywhere close to the ledge yet. He seems to be doing just fine. It's just part of the business.
On whether he has any thoughts on Revis' holdout…
I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on him. I certainly have lots of thoughts, but at this point that's really between Neil and Mike and Revis.
On the similar appearance of Andrew Wicker and Nick Mangold…
When I first showed up here in June I had to do a double-take. I have bad lamps anyway, but he really looks a lot like Nick.
C NICK MANGOLD
On the acquisition of Adrien Clarke…
It's exciting. He's a great person and a great player. I knew he was going to come in here and work hard and live up to his ability. He keeps his head down and keeps working. It's nice having another familiar face from the hometown up here with us in New York.
On Clarke compared to Pete Kendall…
Adrien is Adrien and Pete is Pete. Both are hard workers and Adrien has really been learning as much as he can because it's a new system for him. He's putting it out there and getting after it and working hard.
On starting together with Clarke at Ohio State…
My freshman year was vague; I don't really remember it too much. Just as last year was pretty vague, I don't really remember that too much. Everything happened so fast, but I know sophomore year I started next to him.
On using terminology from college with Clarke in the NFL…
Not really. You just have a connection, which is something we try building with the rest of the offensive line. You have a connection so you can say something which might not be the exact correct term, but you know it will get the job done. Unfortunately, with the amount of information that they put in here, my head has kind of pushed everything else out so I don't really remember too much from the Ohio State playbook.
On Ohio State's success during his one season with Clarke…
We did well. We almost went to the national championship. We went to the Fiesta Bowl. I forget the exact record, though. (It was 11-2].
