New Jets security Andre Cisco, a Queens native who signed with Gang Inexperienced this offseason after 4 seasons with the Jaguars, tackles some coaching camp Q&A with Put up columnist Steve Serby.
Q: Describe Aaron Glenn’s type of accountability.
A: Simply making this program — and once I say program, just like the conferences, the walkthroughs, the lifts, the apply schedule — making it powerful on you, and giving you numerous to deal with. And for me that’s necessary for accountability, as a result of it’s saying, “Are you ready? Are you going to be prepared? Are you going to come to work every single day?” If not, you’re going to be uncovered, clearly. You’re not going to get what you need out of this 12 months, this sport usually. Consequently, ask plenty of your teammates. You’re within the locker room, we anticipate lots out of one another — there’s simply no excuses. I admire the best way he’s constructing this out. It doesn’t require plenty of speaking exterior of it as a result of it’s type of specified by entrance of you — that is what we’re doing, that is what we’re making an attempt to get completed, he’s instructed us precisely how camp’s going to construct up.
Q: How does he command a room?
A: He simply will get to his level, like he doesn’t beat across the bush, he’s direct. And he retains a superb relationship with guys exterior of the assembly room, in order that when he’s up there you’re speaking to the identical man you talked to on the sideline immediately or within the hallway.
Q: What resonated with you after he spoke initially of coaching camp?
A: Understanding from a participant’s perspective of how we now have to construct this coaching camp out. It’s going to be onerous, however we’re additionally not going to be silly. I admire the old-school mentalities, but in addition perceive, like, let’s be good.
Q: When coaching camp ends, what’s going to the character of this soccer group be?
A: I feel very powerful, gritty, and good’s going to be an enormous one as properly. This league has develop into a type of conditions the place the higher your gamers can adapt to conditions, the extra alternatives you need to win video games. Somebody confirmed us the variety of video games which are one-score on this league. … So for those who can win 12 video games due to guys being conscious, situationally good and rise up-to-the-minute, you’re going to be in a great place on the finish of the 12 months. … Good is an enormous one, powerful is a large one — working the ball, having a fantastic working assault, having a fantastic protection. I feel that’s going to be our mentality.
Q: Inform me why these should not the Similar Outdated Jets.
A: I can’t say an excessive amount of about that, and truthfully that’s in all probability the narrative I hate probably the most now that I’m across the group and listening to that, like, that Similar Outdated Jets discuss.
Q: What’s it going to be like enjoying on the large New York stage in your hometown.
A: It’s unbelievable, man. … I do know that by the point we get to MetLife, it’s going to be much more surreal for me. However I’m taking all of it in day-after-day. I feel even immediately I had a second when coach was speaking, and I simply regarded over and it mentioned, New York Jets coaching camp, and simply needed to proceed to soak all of it in. As a result of these alternatives come and go, and I can’t identify anybody who’s had the chance that I do know.
Q: What are your favourite Lengthy Island or New York issues?
A: I just like the highways, like a Southern State or a Northern State. It’s very nostalgic for me. Like as soon as I get again to Lengthy Island, I identical to driving on the freeway. I’m like, ahhh, this was my route to highschool. … It simply brings again plenty of reminiscences. New York factor is strolling the Brooklyn Bridge. My mother lived in Valley Stream, my dad lived in Brooklyn, so I used to be forwards and backwards. And so the Brooklyn Bridge was like a pastime for us.
Q: How devastating was shedding your father, Chris, two years in the past?
A: It was actually devastating, and being again right here, I really feel like had he made it so far, he would have been extraordinarily excited. He’s Brooklyn all through, he was born and raised in Brooklyn, you couldn’t drag him out of Brooklyn for those who tried. He already instructed all people I performed for the Jags, and all people he met he would let ’em know, but when he would have recognized I play for the Jets, he would have been trippin.’ … However fortunately really our first recreation is on his birthday. That’ll be a big day.
Q: How about No. 8 for the Jets intercepting No. 8 for the Steelers, Aaron Rodgers?
A: That additionally can be very particular (smile).
Q: Why did you select No. 8?
Q: I all the time needed 8 with the Jags, nevertheless it’s retired, [Mark] Brunell.
Q: Describe your father.
A: Very adventurous. A singular character, simply understood find out how to convey folks collectively. He was a little bit bit just like the glue for my household — particularly by way of my cousins, my aunts, my uncles. He’s the explanation we’re all linked now. He’s the explanation we go to the seaside, the explanation we grill, the explanation we go to the pool. All of our reminiscences are type of linked to him not directly or one other. For everybody else, he was Uncle Chris. He was identical to a dad for lots of my cousins as properly, as a result of households aren’t excellent.
Q: Give me a scouting report on you.
A: I might say bodily on the level of assault … quarterback must know the place I’m at on the sector, the chance to take the ball away at any second.
Q: No matter involves thoughts: Sauce Gardner.
A: Good … humorous … explosive.
Q: Garrett Wilson.
A: He’s constantly doing issues which are identical to actually additional atypical.
Q: Justin Fields.
A: Exact … clearly harmful within the run recreation as properly … and composed, very composed.
Q: Tyrod Taylor.
A: Additionally composed … savvy … and makes the fitting choices.
Q: Steve Wilks.
A: Energetic … all the way down to earth … very relatable.
Q: Did you go to Knicks video games?
A: I went to 1 Knick recreation as a child. I wish to say that is the Raymond Felton, Carmelo Anthony Period. This was positively earlier than the renovated Backyard.
Q: What did you suppose when Tom Thibodeau was fired?
A: As a Knick fan, I assumed it was time. Though we bought far final 12 months, it’s onerous to proceed to observe the identical factor. It’s simply not a really sustainable mannequin by way of how we select to win. It’s good to drag video games out, however you wish to have a little bit bit extra of a recipe for achievement extra so than, how we feeling tonight? Is [Jalen Brunson] scorching? Is somebody coming off the bench giving us assist? I feel the Pacers and the Thunder have a really sustainable mannequin simply by way of how Thibs has selected to win video games over time. I wasn’t essentially mad at it, however I’m additionally very grateful for it.
Q: You didn’t like the best way he used his bench?
A: I wouldn’t say the bench as a lot as like getting extra artistic and being extra revolutionary … doing one thing that’s going to permit your guys to be contemporary, permit Jalen to not really feel like he needs to be 40, triple-double to win video games. I’m hoping that Mike Brown brings a little bit one thing totally different.
Q: What’s particular to you about Jalen Brunson?
A: He’s genuinely cold-blooded. It’s onerous to seek out guys that may do it evening in and evening out the best way he has, with the strain of the New York market. I feel some guys simply fall into that spell of loving the lights and all the pieces it comes with. Listening to how he studied the Derek Jeters of the world to know find out how to deal with the New York market and didn’t fall into the entice of regardless of the entice is alongside the traces of being a celebrity right here.
Q: Who did you root for on the Jets?
A: The Darrelle Revises, I bear in mind Santonio Holmes and Brandon Marshall after they had been right here.
Q: Did you go to Jets video games?
A: Yeah, I went to plenty of Jet video games … Mark Sanchez, clearly that period … Nick Mangold, the [D’Brickashaw] Fergusons of the world, these are a few of my favorites.
Q: Are you cold-blooded?
A: I bought that gene, and I hope to proceed to develop it. It’s a type of issues that you need to work on in apply and be put in these conditions in order that within the recreation it doesn’t really feel any totally different. I’ve had alternatives to make performs in clutch moments, however positively have much more within the tank.
Q: How would you describe your on-field mentality?
A: I’m very composed. I’m enthusiastic, however I preserve myself collectively. I’m high-energy however I attempt to simply give attention to my job and pour all I can into executing and ending performs.
Q: Describe tearing your ACL in pregame warmups at Syracuse in 2020.
A: That was a troublesome one. Moving into my junior 12 months, it was the third recreation of the season, I had an interception within the first recreation, a superb second recreation, everybody was constructing me as much as be a first-round choose — it was what I pictured since I got here in as a freshman. I’m warming up and I am going up for a ball, and my teammate, he was working routes, he got here from the opposite aspect, so we collided whereas I used to be within the air, he bumped into my aspect. I hit the bottom actually onerous. I bought up, and I may see that one thing was mistaken with me. By the point I bought into the coaching room was simply hysterical crying as a result of I knew one thing was up, and I by no means had a knee harm, so I couldn’t inform what it was. As soon as he shook my knee a couple of occasions, instructed me what he thought it was, I began shedding it. However there have been plenty of indicators that that was type of ordained by way of how issues performed out — me going to Jacksonville, nonetheless with the ability to get drafted excessive [third round], the Mix was canceled that 12 months, so it clearly helps my draft inventory ’trigger I’m not taking part. Various things like that that type of aligned for me.
Q: What’s your 4 favourite Tommy DeVito story?
A: My freshman 12 months, his redshirt freshman season, I feel Eric Dungey bought damage within the North Carolina recreation, and he led us to a double-overtime victory. He threw the game-winning landing. … It was cold-blooded, like he simply got here within the recreation, simply began slinging it.
Q: He turned Tommy Cutlets.
A: I beloved watching the story unfold for him as a result of we all the time knew he was such a fantastic expertise. At Syracuse it didn’t work out, find yourself going to Illinois and placing it collectively a little bit bit. However I used to be tremendous glad that it ended up taking place for him right here.
Q: Will your mom, Myriam, come to the video games?
A: We’ve migrated a little bit bit, my household lives a little bit bit extra south now, partially nonetheless some up right here, however she lives nearer to the place we had been in Jacksonville. However she’ll be up right here for certain.
Q: What drives you?
A: My religion is a large driver for me day in and time out. … It retains me very balanced, by way of not changing into too consumed with what I’m very enthusiastic about.
Q: You’re a standup comic?
A: I bought a little bit bit in me (smile). I’m not knowledgeable comic, however I’ve completed it one time. It was in New Orleans on the time. It was like a signup, get on stage type of factor.
Q: Would you try this right here in entrance of the blokes?
A; Would I do it in entrance of the blokes? I don’t know if I’m that humorous. The folks I used to be in entrance of, they had been in all probability a little bit little bit of a neater crowd. Writing jokes is de facto onerous.
Q: Your quote on Twitter was, “I’m professionally funny.”
A: I’m technically — primarily based off that evening, sure (snicker).
Q: Describe your trend type.
A: Rising up in New York, I attempt to be myself as a lot as potential. Typically I’m simply excited to be tremendous chill, typically I’m excited to do one thing off the wall. However I positively don’t observe the developments, I might say. I’m not like tremendous reverse of the development, however I like what I like.
Q: Are you able to compete with Tyrod Taylor?
A: No sir. He can’t not look fly. He simply has it collectively on a regular basis.
Q: You’re an enormous pickleball man?
A: Yeah, I really lately received a event for $20,000. Me and Micah Parsons had been companions in opposition to different skilled athletes.
Q: What’s your favourite reminiscence as a working again with the Valley Stream Inexperienced Hornets?
A: I received a Tremendous Bowl one 12 months.
Q: You had been how previous?
A: I feel I used to be 11 that 12 months. My first recreation I had two touchdowns in opposition to Oyster Bay, dwelling recreation.
Q: Three dinner company?
A: Jesus, Kanye West, Michelle Obama.
Q: Favourite film?
A: “The Blind Side.”
Q: Favourite actor?
A: Liam Neeson.
Q: Favourite actress?
A: Priyanka Chopra.
Q: Favourite rapper/entertainer?
A: Rexx Life Raj.
Q: Favourite meal?
A: Any type of rice and protein, I’m cool.
Q: Favourite New York pizza or restaurant?
A: I’ve a deli in Brooklyn — Farmer within the Deli — a pleasant chilly sandwich from there’s good. I bought a pleasant bagel spot over right here, A&B Bagels. I had Parsippany’s Greatest Pizza, which is sweet round right here, however I haven’t had plenty of pizza since I’ve been again.
Q: You’re conscious that the Jets haven’t made the playoffs in 14 straight years. What are your ideas on that?
A: I bear in mind the final time. My ideas on that? I feel it’s straightforward to truly imagine folks after they say like there’s a curse. And I feel that’s like the very first thing we now have to type of nip within the bud, like there’s nothing stopping us from attending to the playoffs. We simply need to do what we now have to do — do the sensible issues, win your division, win your private home video games, and by the top of the season, you look again, you’ll be in place to get within the playoffs.
Q: What’s your message to Jets followers?
A: I might say I’m one among you guys by way of like simply wanting the group to win from a common perspective and understanding what it could do for the tri-state space, simply the morale and the general … simply all the pieces that the sports activities groups do for the economic system, all that type of stuff. Being a Knicks fan this previous season we noticed a little bit little bit of that, proper? Individuals taking up MSG and Occasions Sq., and the way folks can get collectively round sports activities.
