Hondo's exclusive interview with LIONS CB Fernando Bryant

  

Hondo: I’m excited because you’re healthy, and when you’re healthy you’re a heck of a cornerback. 

  

Fernando: Yea, this off-season the coaches have been smart with me and they told me they know I’m getting up in age a little bit, so they’re taking an easy on me, letting my body get underneath me, and I’m just looking forward to the season.

  

Hondo: In your entire career you never had injury issues then got bit with the bug when you came to Detroit. Did you almost look over your shoulder and say, “man, what’s wrong? Is there an injury bug following me?”

  

Fernando: I mean for a minute I did, and then I realized that everything happens for a reason. I’m still here for a reason. I fit this scheme and when I’m healthy – I mean the ten games I played last year I played pretty good, so the biggest thing is like coach tells me, to play all sixteen games, so they are going to be smart with me. They will do some things during camp and during the season to make sure I make all sixteen.

  

Hondo: Fernando, I’m shocked, and you have to be. This is a completely different attitude team. I mean, I’ve never seen an off-season quite like this. Have you?

  

Fernando: Not really. But it starts from the top. Any time you have a coach that helps you as a player, as a man, and as on organization you want to play good for him, and I think that’s been lacking around here. I mean, start from the top. Everyone loves Coach Marinelli. The way he’s been trying to work things, try to get things turned around, you don’t see too often.

  

Hondo: Lastly, what’s it like now? You’re the guy. When it comes to cornerbacks, you’re the guy. I mean, this is your team, you’re the number one guy. This makes you feel good-I mean, you’re the kind of guy though that appreciates that.

  

Fernando: Yea, I know it’s been a while since I’ve been that guy. When I was in Jacksonville, when I first got there I was. And when I got here, all due respect – I mean Dre is a good corner and everything, so he deserved that. But now with the scheme we have and how they want corners to play and the way they want you to go about your business, I mean, I fit the scheme. So it means a lot. Me and Coach Marinelli sat down in the off-season and he told me what he expected from me as far as being a corner and a leader of this team, so it’s a special thing and I’m looking forward to putting this on my back and see what we can do this year.

We apologize to the great Lions fans that can’t watch this as a video which would be much better for the fans. The new recent stupid NFL rules prohibit that.  Thanks Goodell BUT MOST OF ALL, THANK THE TEAMS. GOODELL WORKS FOR THEM AND THEY ARE ALLOWING HIM TO DO THIS!