Q: How does it feel to be out there today?
LB: It felt good.
Q: What was it like being out here and having to spectate for the first couple of days?
LB: You want to be there. You want to be there for sure. It's just the process of getting better. You've got to do everything that you have to do to get there and get out to the field and be out there and go through the grind with your teammates.
Q: What was it that kept you out for the first couple of days?
LB: I don't know.
Q: Does that time off motivate you once you do get back out here?
LB: Winning motivates me, so I want to go back out there and get better for me and for my team. I want to go out there and just do everything I can to make sure I'm productive and make sure I'm doing whatever they need me to do to be good here.
Q: Now that you're cleared and back on the field, do you feel ready to go?
LB: I'm just going to continue to go out there and try to get better. It doesn't matter what time of the year it is. That's the plan is to always get better and make sure that I'm doing everything that I can do and make sure I'm doing it to the best of my capabilities when they're asking me to do it.
Q: What did it feel like to be out there with the first team and with Tom Brady? Being out here today, is it hitting you that it's back to football?
LB: No, football season is basically year-round. We train when we're off. We practice and play when we're here. You've just got to stay with it and get better as much as you can.
Q: This is the first time the pads have been on since the Super Bowl. That's got to be a good feeling.
LB: Yeah, always. It feels good to come out here and get better and get with my teammates. The brotherhood around here is amazing, so yeah, for sure.
Q: Did you do anything different in the offseason in terms of your training?
LB: No, I worked out and tried to do everything I could to make sure I was good to go.
Q: You looked quicker. You really had a good burst. Was it maybe just a little pent up frustration?
LB: No, I'm just doing whatever I need to do to make sure that I can maximize my abilities.
Q: Does it feel like you get pigeonholed in terms of your running style? You're physical and like to try to run through tackles, but do you feel like there's another part of your game that we don't get to see as much – side stepping, juking guys?
LB: No, you guys have been watching me run for a while, so everything that you guys have seen, that's what I can do. I try to add as much as I can when I have a chance to. I'm going to get better at the things that I'm weak at, and hopefully I can go out there and contribute as much as I can.
Q: Do you feel like a better running back the more touches you get?
LB: I feel like I'm good whenever – from the first carry to the last.
Q: Rumor has it you didn't pass the conditioning test. If you're training year-round how is it you weren't prepared for the start of the season?
LB: I was out here. The first day of camp I was out here.
Q: What exactly does the conditioning test entail?
LB: Conditioning. It's a test. It's a conditioning test.
Q: You just didn't have a helmet on for the first couple of days. That's all.
LB: That's all.
Q: How excited are you just for this season?
LB: You can't look too far into the future. You don't know what the future holds, but I'm going to continue to try to come out here and get better and continue to maximize my opportunities.
Q: It seems like there's a pretty good opportunity here for you on this team heading into camp.
LB: The job is open. There are a bunch of good running backs here. All of our running backs are pretty good, and at some point they played really well in their career. It's an open job. Everybody's got to fight for that position.
Q: Physically, do you think you can handle a season with over 200 carries this year?
LB: I'm going to try to get better and see if I can. However many touches they want me to have, I'm sure I'm going to get them and I'm going to do whatever I can with them.
Q: As you grow older, do you try to look for ways to keep your body ready and productive for the whole season?
LB: I just concentrate on making sure I can do whatever they need me to do, so whatever they tell me to do, I'm going to make sure I'm good enough and train enough to be able to do that.
Q: How do you feel now that this deflategate thing has dragged on? How do you go about supporting your quarterback?
LB: Right now, I'm focused on me and trying to do what I can to be prepared for whatever.
Q: You've seen Brady and know how hard he works. Does it bother you how he's been characterized?
LB: I'm worried about myself. I'm not worried about any rumors or anything else happening outside of here. I'm just worried about myself so I don't miss any steps.
Q: Does there have to be an added focus with you guys?
LB: I can't speak for anybody else. I can just speak on what I'm doing, and that's focusing on me. I'm just focusing on me. I'm focusing on what I can do to contribute to what they want me to do and getting better. Anything that they ask me to do, I'm going to make sure that I'm going to be able to do it.
Q: Do you have to prepare any differently knowing that the suspensions are coming through?
LB: Stay focused and grind.
