10 Questions with Primetime - Thaddeus Fitzgerald

by tikobrown | 7 years ago | 0 Comments

Prime: Back once again, RZ Nation. It’s ya boy Prime. I’m in Dawg Pound Country with the #3 pick in the RZ Draft. One of the best MLBs in Ole Miss History. Mr. Thaddeus Fitzgerald. Hey man.

TF: Sup Prime.

Prime: You know how this works, my man. 10 questions. You ready?

TF: Yeah, I was born ready, and you know this.

Prime: Yeeeaa boy! Ok. So we saw who went before you. Another LB out of The U. Were you the best LB in the Draft?

TF: I was the best LB in the draft and when it's all said and done, my stats will reflect that. But Skinner is doing his thing in Dallas.

Prime: So you been compared to Ole Miss great, Patrick Willis. Do you feel the comparison is justified?

TF: Wow, PW is my man. I've had a chance to get to know him when he would visit Ole Miss. He is such a motivator, and that has stuck with me. If I can get anywhere near the type of player and with the reputation he had during his professional career then I'll be a happy and blessed man.

Prime: You're 5’11. And some said too short to play the Middle. Does that affect the way you play?

TF: I love hearing that type of ish from the naysayers. I wasn't fast enough, I wasn't smart enough. But yet, here I am, selected 3rd overall all. And I'm proving my abilities on the field. I love that chip on my shoulder, thanks naysayers.

Prime: You guys got a lotta young talent on this Defense. Who is the Alpha Dawg on this team?

TF: That's a toss-up, because we all want to show out and prove ourselves. And none of us are ashamed to speak our minds. But I'd say we're all following the lead of Jamie Collins Sr. I mean this man has got a ring, and he just brings it every day at practice and during the games. He shows us what it takes to get that ring.

Prime: You hafta tackle Isaiah Crowell in practice every day. Currently the best RB in the AFC. Has that helped you on Game Day? And how, man?

TF: Isaiah is one tough dude. When I first saw him on the field, I was like, "I'm a smash this dude." Next thing I know I'm juked out my practice shorts. What a degrading experience for a rook.  But yeah, he prepares us for every type of back we see. Whether they’re speedy, shifty, or powerful. He has all those tools too.  Nothing better than practicing against the best to prepare you for game day.

Prime: Ok, what gets you pumped to play the game? What motivates you?

TF: My family is my motivation. The sacrifices my mother has made for me to get to this point is undeniable. My father worked three jobs so that he could pay for me to go to football camps growing up.  I do this for them and along the way I've realized I'm doing this for me too. I want to succeed and be the best. I want kids wearing my jersey. I want my name mentioned in households not only on Sundays, but at the dinner table.  When I'm out pre-gaming, stretching, I'm listening to..., and everyone might not believe it, but I'm rocking with Rage Against The Machine. It's just hard stuff and the music alone get's my heart pumping. "Killing In The Name Of", whew! Nothing better.

Prime: I hear you breed dogs, man. What kinda Dawgs you got? Lil Dawgs or Big Dawgs?

TF: I love breeding Siberian Huskies. They can be anywhere from 50 lbs to 65 lbs on average, but I've had ones that have weighed 105 pounds. They're the lead dawgs, my favorite. When all these pups are born, they're all the same size generally. And then one day, the lead dawg just becomes bigger, stronger, and braver than every other one.  I've also started a non-kill Siberian Husky retreat right outside of Cleveland. They aren't the easiest of dogs to care for. So for any Husky that is put up for adoption or not wanted, we bring them to the retreat, train them to pull sleds since they are work dogs, and give them a great life.

Prime: What’s it like playing for a city like Cleveland? With so much history and fire. Especially knowing the past years have been tough to get wins.

TF: I absolutely love Cleveland. The fire and passion of the Cleveland football fan is real, and that fire has been burning a long time. And it's just waiting to explode into full blaze. Lebron brought the most recent championship to this city, and the baseball team has been great. But we're expecting to do big things here in the next 1 to 3 seasons for the football fanbase.

Prime: What can we expect outta T Fitz and the Cleveland Browns going forward, man?

TF: I can't promise a championship, although I want to. But this is a team sport, 22 starters, 31 bench players, 10 practice squad guys. If we can make it all come together and with a little luck, because luck is involved in every sport, we might just do the unthinkable. Bring the big one home real soon. Right now with Myles hurt for a few more weeks, a bit of uncertainty at the QB spot, I can't say we'll make much more noise this year. But following this upcoming off-season and the draft, expect the Browns to be in the playoffs from here on out.

Prime: Alright, man. And my customary Last Question, man. Did you buy yo mama a house, man? How big?

TF: Of course I did. That was priority numero uno.  In fact, she got two residents. The real big one with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 car garage, indoor/outdoor pool is down in Biloxi, Mississippi. And I got her a nice condo here in Cleveland so she can stay here when she visits me and comes to the games.  Big Boys do Big Things. 

Prime: This young man is going places. Thanks, T Fitz. You are a great talent and a great young man. Good luck this season and in your career!

TF: Thanks for this opportunity Prime, much love and respect.