CoMoChief
06-15-2005, 06:17 PM
Q&A WR AZ HAKIM
Jun 15, 2005, 3:10:23 PM
Q: Was it an easy decision to come to Kansas City?
HAKIM: “No, I wouldn’t say it was easy. I just took my time and weighed my options. I wanted it to be the right situation. I thought I fit well here.”
Q: I heard that you had offers from other teams but what was so attractive about this?
HAKIM: “Mainly for one offensively and scheme-wise and what they do and how my routes are already developed for this type of offense Coach Saunders and Dick Vermeil run. Offensively their type of structure for me is right so I thought it would be an ideal situation.
Who the hell in the media is asking these questions. How many times can our reporters possibly ask the same question over and over and over again?!?!
Q: Coach Vermeil said nothing was guaranteed, you must compete like everyone else, what is your outlook?
HAKIM: “Yes, absolutely nothing is guaranteed and that is just the nature of this business. I have to go out there and compete just like everyone else. There are no guarantees but I am going to go out there and leave everything on the field. ”
Q: Are you healthy because I know in Detroit you had your injuries here and there?
HAKIM: “Absolutely, I am healthy. I had a dislocated hip in 2002. I have been playing ever since then and haven’t had any problems with my hip. I had a loose body part as far as my knee concerned. You are going to get your nicks and injuries in a place football of your career. I came back from my hip injury and I feel really good right now as far as my body movement. I have been working real hard this off-season. I feel good about my decision and where I am at.”
Q: Coach Vermeil said if you are anything close to what you are in 2000 you will help this team out a lot, how close are you to your performance back in the Super Bowl year?
HAKIM: “I feel like I am really close. I don’t know because I haven’t been in the system. At the same time I feel like I can do the same things like I did over the years especially with the way this offense is structured. The way they work offensively. They have some weapons starting with the offensive line. You have a pro bowl quarterback throwing you the ball. You have Tony Gonzalez and Eddie Kennison who are great receivers.”
Q: Do you feel that you could maybe be put in the a better situation here knowing your not the guy like they tried to do in Detroit?
HAKIM: “Yes, being in this style of offense helps me out tremendously. This offense is so evenly spread. Here you have a good running game and they pass the ball so well. I am excited. I could play a spot role and I could play a regular role.”
Q: Do you have to prove yourself since you signed a one year deal?
HAKIM: “Every year you step on the field you have to prove yourself. Even when you go out and get a new defensive back or a new defensive coordinator a new stadium I feel the challenge is to prove yourself. Every time I step on the grass if it’s somewhere new I feel like I have never been here before. I am going to come out here and take care of business. This is a great opportunity and I definitely want to take advantage of this to the best of my ability.”
Q: Even though Trent Green was hurt in St. Louis, what is your relationship with him?
HAKIM: “I had a few snaps with Trent Green before he went down. He is a great quarterback and it’s great to be back with him. He delivers the ball real well and throws it before you make your break. Everything is timing with this offense. He does an excellent job as far as being a distributor.”
Q: Do you wish you would have signed here a couple years ago instead of with Detroit?
HAKIM: “Everything happens for a reason. I couldn’t necessarily say I had that option but I played my cards the way they were dealt. I am still playing and I am going on year eight so I am very blessed for that. I thank God and Dick Vermeil for giving me another shot.”
Q: Did you think you were going to sign here a couple years ago?
HAKIM: “I have no clue. Things happen and the situation is right where I need to be. That is why we are here today. I am thankful for the opportunity.”
Q: Coach Vermeil has a reputation of well deserved former players especially the ‘99 Rams, was that the biggest factor in coming here?
HAKIM: “Coach Vermeil is a loyal coach. From my understanding he loves to surround himself with great guys on his team. If he feels you’re a good guy regardless if you’re a winner of player or not. If you come in with a great character and have a work ethic as far as winning is concerned your going to be a Dick Vermeil guy. I was blessed and fortunate enough to respect to his style.”
Q: He said the way you make this team is to be what you were now, are you what you were now?
HAKIM: “I feel that I am. Every year is different but you can’t go back and put me back on the Rams team again. I am out here feeling really good and only time will tell. I have to come out here everyday and handle my responsibilities and job.”
Q: Did you hear from the outside that your career might be over?
HAKIM: “People don’t know my position. People don’t speak with me every day. I am not one to rush anything. I was trying to wait to be in the right situation so I wasn’t trying to rush anything. You have guys that don’t know the logistics and between the lines and how this game works. I had a good idea I would end up somewhere. I knew my days weren’t done. I was training hard and worked to the best of my ability to land somewhere.”
Q: Did you get up and work out and then wait to hear from your agent?
HAKIM: “Every morning at 6:30 a.m I woke up to work out. I wasn’t really concerned about what my agent had to say. My agent was the least of my concern. As long as I was Az Hakim and was attending to camp with a team.”
Q: People judge what you did in Detroit, do you feel like you have something to prove?
HAKIM: “I have something to prove every time I step on the field, regardless where I was last year. This is about where I am today. I don’t look back at what I did. I can’t go back to the Super Bowl and tell you what I did or the playoff games or in the season that I have. I can’t give you my statistics. I am not a statistic type of guy. I just come to play football and this is what I love to do.”
Jun 15, 2005, 3:10:23 PM
Q: Was it an easy decision to come to Kansas City?
HAKIM: “No, I wouldn’t say it was easy. I just took my time and weighed my options. I wanted it to be the right situation. I thought I fit well here.”
Q: I heard that you had offers from other teams but what was so attractive about this?
HAKIM: “Mainly for one offensively and scheme-wise and what they do and how my routes are already developed for this type of offense Coach Saunders and Dick Vermeil run. Offensively their type of structure for me is right so I thought it would be an ideal situation.
Who the hell in the media is asking these questions. How many times can our reporters possibly ask the same question over and over and over again?!?!
Q: Coach Vermeil said nothing was guaranteed, you must compete like everyone else, what is your outlook?
HAKIM: “Yes, absolutely nothing is guaranteed and that is just the nature of this business. I have to go out there and compete just like everyone else. There are no guarantees but I am going to go out there and leave everything on the field. ”
Q: Are you healthy because I know in Detroit you had your injuries here and there?
HAKIM: “Absolutely, I am healthy. I had a dislocated hip in 2002. I have been playing ever since then and haven’t had any problems with my hip. I had a loose body part as far as my knee concerned. You are going to get your nicks and injuries in a place football of your career. I came back from my hip injury and I feel really good right now as far as my body movement. I have been working real hard this off-season. I feel good about my decision and where I am at.”
Q: Coach Vermeil said if you are anything close to what you are in 2000 you will help this team out a lot, how close are you to your performance back in the Super Bowl year?
HAKIM: “I feel like I am really close. I don’t know because I haven’t been in the system. At the same time I feel like I can do the same things like I did over the years especially with the way this offense is structured. The way they work offensively. They have some weapons starting with the offensive line. You have a pro bowl quarterback throwing you the ball. You have Tony Gonzalez and Eddie Kennison who are great receivers.”
Q: Do you feel that you could maybe be put in the a better situation here knowing your not the guy like they tried to do in Detroit?
HAKIM: “Yes, being in this style of offense helps me out tremendously. This offense is so evenly spread. Here you have a good running game and they pass the ball so well. I am excited. I could play a spot role and I could play a regular role.”
Q: Do you have to prove yourself since you signed a one year deal?
HAKIM: “Every year you step on the field you have to prove yourself. Even when you go out and get a new defensive back or a new defensive coordinator a new stadium I feel the challenge is to prove yourself. Every time I step on the grass if it’s somewhere new I feel like I have never been here before. I am going to come out here and take care of business. This is a great opportunity and I definitely want to take advantage of this to the best of my ability.”
Q: Even though Trent Green was hurt in St. Louis, what is your relationship with him?
HAKIM: “I had a few snaps with Trent Green before he went down. He is a great quarterback and it’s great to be back with him. He delivers the ball real well and throws it before you make your break. Everything is timing with this offense. He does an excellent job as far as being a distributor.”
Q: Do you wish you would have signed here a couple years ago instead of with Detroit?
HAKIM: “Everything happens for a reason. I couldn’t necessarily say I had that option but I played my cards the way they were dealt. I am still playing and I am going on year eight so I am very blessed for that. I thank God and Dick Vermeil for giving me another shot.”
Q: Did you think you were going to sign here a couple years ago?
HAKIM: “I have no clue. Things happen and the situation is right where I need to be. That is why we are here today. I am thankful for the opportunity.”
Q: Coach Vermeil has a reputation of well deserved former players especially the ‘99 Rams, was that the biggest factor in coming here?
HAKIM: “Coach Vermeil is a loyal coach. From my understanding he loves to surround himself with great guys on his team. If he feels you’re a good guy regardless if you’re a winner of player or not. If you come in with a great character and have a work ethic as far as winning is concerned your going to be a Dick Vermeil guy. I was blessed and fortunate enough to respect to his style.”
Q: He said the way you make this team is to be what you were now, are you what you were now?
HAKIM: “I feel that I am. Every year is different but you can’t go back and put me back on the Rams team again. I am out here feeling really good and only time will tell. I have to come out here everyday and handle my responsibilities and job.”
Q: Did you hear from the outside that your career might be over?
HAKIM: “People don’t know my position. People don’t speak with me every day. I am not one to rush anything. I was trying to wait to be in the right situation so I wasn’t trying to rush anything. You have guys that don’t know the logistics and between the lines and how this game works. I had a good idea I would end up somewhere. I knew my days weren’t done. I was training hard and worked to the best of my ability to land somewhere.”
Q: Did you get up and work out and then wait to hear from your agent?
HAKIM: “Every morning at 6:30 a.m I woke up to work out. I wasn’t really concerned about what my agent had to say. My agent was the least of my concern. As long as I was Az Hakim and was attending to camp with a team.”
Q: People judge what you did in Detroit, do you feel like you have something to prove?
HAKIM: “I have something to prove every time I step on the field, regardless where I was last year. This is about where I am today. I don’t look back at what I did. I can’t go back to the Super Bowl and tell you what I did or the playoff games or in the season that I have. I can’t give you my statistics. I am not a statistic type of guy. I just come to play football and this is what I love to do.”