(what's your day been like so far, what time get here, etc.) MATTHEWS: I got in about two hours ago, maybe about 1 or 2, and we've just been doing administrative stuff. Getting our medical history taken care of, helmet sized up, gloves, shoes, just getting ready for this minicamp.
RAJI: Same with me. Got in around 1, went to the hotel, dropped my bags off and right over here, I shot.
(Do you know anyone on the team?) RAJI: We're with the same agency, so we know Aaron Rodgers, because he's with our same agency. MATTHEWS: Brian Brohm. RAJI: Yep. And Will Blackmon, a teammate of mine at Boston College. That's pretty much it though.
(You do know each other from your workouts in California, how nice to come in together) MATTHEWS: I had the priviledge of working out with B.J. and a couple other athletes like Donald Brown and Eric Wood, Pat White, so we definitely got a head start in the training process. And working out with B.J. you find out the type of person he is. He pushes you day-in and day-out. So I was real excited, not only being represented by the same agency but the guy that he is. He gave me a call right after I was drafted and we just shared a celebration and we're just looking forward to coming out here and meeting up again.
RAJI: When I found out Clay got drafted, I was so happy I actually called him, congratulated him. I know how hard he worked, the type of guy he is. A great guy to be around and be a teammate.
(Lance Allan thinks you guys are "Like kids at Christmas") MATTHEWS: Yeah, I'm real giddy to get going. I mean, it's been four months of just training and rumors and mock drafts and this and that, so it's nice to put all that behind us. But with all that behind us now comes a different set of pressures. I do think we're kind of kids in a candy store, we're ready to get going and start making a name for ourselves.
RAJI: Yeah, it's real exciting, playing in such a prestigious organization like the Packers. It's something you dream about. When I got the call, I was shocked, man that finally the day had come. I KNOW A LOT'S EXPECTED OF ME, AND I'M WILLING TO WORK TO GET TO WHERE I NEED TO BE TO HELP THIS TEAM WIN.
(Find out what team drafted you, Google them, what do?) RAJI: For me, the rest of that day, I was still in shock. I had a houseful of people I had to entertain, sign a bunch of autographs and stuff. But Sunday I actually sat back, actually went on the Packers' Web site, got a chance to get a feel for the organization. I actually went on Wikipedia, looked up Green Bay to see what it was like, find some interesting facts about it, so it was good.
MATTHEWS: I did the same thing. First I looked where Green Bay was on the map, to find out where I would be for the next couple years. After that, I went to Wikipedia, started looking at the coaches, looking at their backgrounds and what-not, just finding ways to familiarize myself with the team so when I came in here, it wasn't such a shock. Nevertheless, it is, obviously, but I think we're that much more prepared.
(What have your uncle and dad said about da Pack?) MATTHEWS: Just that it's a terrific organization. My uncle now works for the Texans, and he was kind of upset that I didn't land with him. But at the same time when he had heard that I went to the Packers, he couldn't think of a better program to fall into, especially with the new 3-4 that we're implementing here and my style of play. I think it fits perfectly here, and with such a historic ... everything about this program really speaks for itself. So they're excited, and my uncle was able to play with Ted Thompson; `Redman' (Dave Redding), our strength coach, he actually worked my dad out back in Cleveland. So there's a lot of ties here with my family, and I'm looking forward to it.
(Personal goals) Actually, I was talking with our D-line coach today, we were talking about where I'll be playing, I'll be playing some nose tackle, some defensive end. As far as goals, the big thing for me is getting a grasp of the defense, understanding what the defense asks me to do. I'll try to do that. And if I'm ready opening day to start, obviously I would love that opportunity. But if I'm not, I'm willing to do whatever I need to do.
MATTHEWS: My expectations are to come in here and give it all I've got, really. If that's enough to become a starter, like B.J. said, on Day One, then so be it. I'm looking forward to the opportunity. I'm going to come out here and compete, and if I can get on the field early and often, I'd love that.
(paths to GB) RAJI: We had to earn everything we got. Some guys come out of high school with the luxury of being all-American this, all-American that. Clay and myself, we had to actually work to get to our positions. And that's more gratifying for me, I'm sure it is for him, to know how hard you worked to get to this point.
MATTHEWS: That's one of the things I think they drafted us for, is the type of character that we are and how we work hard for everything and how we haven't been handed anything. We're go-getters, and that's what we plan on doing here, is getting after it.
(DE a surprise) RAJI: Honestly, it was a bit of a surprise. I played some small 5-technique in our defense in college. I stressed that to the Packers when we had our little meeting at the combine. I talked to the coach today, he doesnt' want me to just be deemed a nose tackle. He wants me to play some nose and some defensive end. So actually this week at minicamp, I'm going to be doing a little bit of that.
(How similiar is "elephant" to what you'll do as a 3-4 LB?) MATTHEWS: I think it's real similar. At SC, we ran a 4-3, however it had the principles of a 3-4 being that I was playing a stand-up d-end or elephant as we call it. And I was able to rush the passer a little bit more, drop into coverage, just provide a little versatility to the game. And I think now that I'm in a true 3-4 system, I can use the skills I learned at SC and develop them.
(Did you look at the depth chart from last year when you were doing your research?) RAJI: To be honest with you, I did not do that. But I was told today by several coaches, including coach Caperrs, that me and Clay are very fortunate in the fact that the defense and the system is new to everybody. So we're not two, three years behind guys. We have the same opportunity as they do. They may have a few months on us, being that the coaches have been here a little while, but as far as being at a disadvantage, we're not at that. So I feel that's a good thing for myself and Clay.
(Importance to have impact right away, with the new system, that this is more than jsut the run-of-the-mill dog-and-pony show for first-rounders) RAJI: I believe that attitude is altitude. And knowing Clay, I know that he has a workman's mentality as well as myself. The fact that we're both first-rounders doesn't change who we are as people. Nothing's going to change about us. Not our approach to the game, not our work ethic. So I feel that it's great for us to be in this position, being first-round draft picks, but at the end of the day, we know we have to work and earn our keep, so to speak.
MATTHEWS: There's definitely added pressure just from being a first-rounder and the expectations that you have, but I don't think it's anything we haven't experienced in our college careers. We had to work for everything, so the pressure we put on ourselves I think is more than anything the media or coaches put on us. And I think that's the pressure to be successful and be the best. That's what we're going to come in here and do -- come in here and play to our ability.
(Kevin Greene questions omitted, except for this:) I was born into a football family, so there's always been expectations of me. My parents and uncle and grandfather, everyone who's contributed in the NFL has let me know what they expect of me and what I need to accomplish. So it's nothing new. And I wouldn't expect anything less being at this level right now and knowing everything that's on the line.
(Do people have the wrong idea about your character because of the 2007 positive marijuana test and the erroneous reports about drug tests from the combine?) RAJI: To be completely honest, I believe they do. it's a shame. The positive test at BC, I mean, I'm a man. That was a mistake that I made. And it's in the past, which is the past. This is the present. But I feel like what happened, what came about with Sports Illustrated, people that know me, they knew that's not what I'm about. But for people who never met me, the first time hearing about me, that's the perception they get? That's the thing that bothered me with that. And the fact that I knew that it wasn't true, I just had to wait the time out until the real results came out. Because at that time, only two doctors had the reports, and me and Clay actually had the opportunity to talk to the doctors, and they told me that everything was cool. But you have to wait until the final results come out, and that's where I (was) with that.
MATTHEWS: The same web site actually reported that B.J. had tested positive for recreational drugs and me and my other teammate, Brian Cushing, had tested positive for steroids, which is completely false. So fortunately, in years past, people have had to wait it out and let the smoke clear, and at that time, their name's damaged. No matter if you come out clean, people are going ot think less of you as a person. So we were fortunate enough to be able to call the head administrator for the drug testing, and he let us know, `No, you didn't test positive.' So it was just a matter of shutting that down and letting people know the real story. It's unfortunate, but I guess we're in this position we are today, and it wouldn't be happening if we weren't in this position. So you learn from it and you grow from it, really.
(The story is that you went to SC weighing 161.) MATTHEWS: That weight has been exaggerated tremendously. I want to set the record straight and say I was 228 coming into SC, after camp around 220, and I just worked hard. I'd love for the writer of that article to see how I train and see a day in my shoes and he can see how I put this weight on. It's funny, I just heard the other day Aaron Curry was 195 at Wake Forest when he first checked in. So people can put on weight if they work hard. It's not that hard provided you have a workman's mentality.
(you redshirted, busted butt in weight room, and had a growth spurt?) MATTHEWS: Correct. Fortunately and I guess unfortunately Matthews are just late bloomers. Same with my dad and my uncle Bruce. We all, going into college, put on a tremendous amount of weight. Usually it's a little late in the recruiting process so you've got to walk on here or there and make a name for yourself, and that's what I had to do. You can talk to anyone in that program and they'll say I'm one of the hardest workers and not just in the weight room but on the practice field, watching film, game film, and they'll tell you the type of character I possess.
(So what were you your junior year of high school?) MATTHEWS: 166. (how tall) MATTHEWS: Probably around 6 foot, 6-1. Probably the only college guy to actually grow in height, too, throughout college.
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