| Wendell Bryant recently performed spectacularly in front of scouts at the
University of Wisconsin’s pro timing day, displaying remarkable quickness by running
the 40-yard dash in 4.77 seconds. One of the top prospects in this year’s draft
class, the soft-spoken, well-mannered defensive lineman answered questions at the NFL
Scouting Combine in Indianapolis about how betrayed he felt when his native St. Louis
Cardinals relocated to Arizona, taking his family with him to the city who drafts him and
what kind of financial advice he would offer investors after serving an internship at
Merrill Lynch last summer. Q: Are you the best defensive tackle here?
A: No, I don’t think so. I just go and play. Whatever people perceive me as,
that’s a pleasure and I appreciate all the kudos and everything, but I’m just a
football player. I just came ready to show my talents with everyone else.
Q: What are you going to bring to a team?
A: I’m going to bring a hard-working individual who is going to give you 100
percent every time I step on the field. Whatever a team or organization needs me to do,
that’s what I’ll do — I’ll sell peanuts, it doesn’t matter.
Q: In the transition from college to the NFL, the offensive linemen are a lot bigger
…
A: Bigger, uglier. (He laughs)
Q: Can you talk about what you can do to continue your success at that level?
A: I think, as every player needs to do, you have to get stronger, you have to get
faster, because it’s a much faster game. It’s a much faster pace. But I think
I’m very willing, I’m very adaptable to catch up to the speed and I’m
looking forward to it very much.
Q: Do you feel you could step in and play right away?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: No question?
A: No question.
Q: Who is the best blocker you have ever faced?
A: Steve Hutchinson from the University of Michigan.
Q: How did you do against him?
A: I couldn’t rate myself. I think I had a pretty good game. I’m not really
very good at publicizing myself so you would have to ask coach.
Q: Do you think you are going to face a Steve Hutchinson every week in the pros?
A: Yes sir. Even better than that, I’m hoping.
Q: You exude some real inner confidence. Where does that come from?
A: My family. I have come from so little and for me to be at this point right here, to
be on this podium, to even be invited to the combine is a privilege to me. I never thought
that I would ever have the chance to play pro football. When I was younger, I didn’t
think I would be able to do something like that.
Q: What did you think you would be doing?
A: I thought I was going to be a regular guy and have a regular job. I was going to
finish up college and use my degree and just go out into the workforce like everyone else.
Q: So when did professional football become a tangible goal? At what point did it
manifest itself?
A: Not until about January after my senior season and people were like, ‘Well, you
have a chance.’ I just play for the love of the game. That’s the only reason
anybody should play.
Q: Can you point to any games or situations this year that you think elevated
yourself? Were there some memorable performances this year that took you from a
"regular guy" to first-round potential?
A: If I had to pick one out myself, I would probably have to say my Penn State game. It
was a game of revenge, a game of emotion. It was one of those games that you write down in
your book. It’s Penn State. It’s the Big Ten. It’s Happy Valley.
There’s nothing better than that as far as college football goes.
Q: When you were Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten last year, you
didn’t consider coming out?
A: I wasn’t Defensive Player of the Year, I was Defensive Lineman of the Year. But
no, I didn’t consider coming out. There was no reason to. There was no reason to
leave college. It’s a special thing being able to come back for your senior year and
being able to play that year. If you play all three years and you go through all the blood
and sweat with everybody, that’s something that you earn — to be a senior, to be
able to walk out on the field for the last time and get that senior ring and be able to be
with the guys that you love for the last time. Those are the things that you always
remember.
Q: Did you graduate already?
A: No, after this semester, I will need 12 credits.
Q: What did you study?
A: Personal finance.
Q: What did you think you would be doing with that degree when you said you would be
just a "regular guy"?
A: I thought I would finish up my degree and be a personal finance manager and
hopefully work for maybe Merrill Lynch or Proctor & Gamble or something like that. I
never thought I would be doing this.
Q: Did you have an internship doing that? What was that like?
A: Yes, over this past summer. It was wonderful, just setting up portfolios and helping
people diversify their funds, whether they are moderate or aggressive with their stocks or
bonds and different things like that.
Q: Would you recommend Enron?
A: No, I would not recommend Enron.
Q: So can you be your own financial advisor now?
A: Well, I’m not experienced in the game yet. It’s a whole different game.
It’s different — the books and actually being in the field is a totally
different game, so I will get a financial manager.
Q: Do you have any good advice for us?
A: If I had to say one thing, I would say don’t put all your money in stocks. I
told people that last year and they were like, "Oh, no." And I said,
"Yeah." Don’t put all of your money in stocks, if I had to say anything.
Try mutual funds and try IRAs. Try to just chip in a little bit at a time and don’t
touch it because after about 10 years, you will be sitting on about $2 mil.
Q: Do you feel in some respects that you are a stock right now for the NFL?
A: I couldn’t say that. I still just think I’m a football player. When it
comes down to it, that’s all I do. I don’t do anything special. I’m not
Superman. I don’t lift buildings. I don’t save lives. I’m not a doctor or
anything like that. That’s all I do is play football, but the people of the NFL seem
to see something else. I appreciate that.
Q: Does being here with so many big-name NFL coaches and college players blow you
away?
A: (Laughs) It is actually blowing me away a little bit, just to be with all of this
stuff, but I look at it as a privilege. A lot of people don’t get invited to such a
venue like this with everybody around them from around the country coming to see you.
That’s a heck of an experience to be able to tell somebody. "I went to the NFL
Combine."
Q: What position do you expect to play in the NFL?
A: Defensive tackle, three-technique.
Q: Any particular teams showing any extra interest?
A: Not that I know of. I have talked to a few teams. A lot of teams have talked to me.
Q: Being a St. Louis guy, would that be appealing to you, staying home with the
Rams?
A: It would be good, but wherever I go, I think I am going to bring my family with me
anyway.
Q: Have you talked to the Colts? Would it be appealing to come here — they are
sort of building a defense?
A: I did talk to them the other day. It’s a perfect situation with a defensive
mind like Coach Dungy. Who wouldn’t want to play like a guy like that?
Q: Were you a Rams fan when you were watching their run for the Super Bowl the last
few years?
A: I didn’t become a Rams’ fan — I’m a Rams’ supporter, not a
Rams’ fan. I wasn’t there for the early years. I was a (St. Louis)
Cardinals’ fan. When I was a little kid, I wanted to go see Jackie Slater. When I was
starting college, he was just starting to play for the Rams.
Q: Have you bought a car yet or are you still walking around campus?
A: I’m still walking.
Q: When you were a freshman, your defensive line coach said you were hesitant to
lose your redshirt year and you had to bring your mom in there and meet with you — is
there any reason why you were hesitant about playing initially?
A: I didn’t think I could play. (Laughs) I had to ask coach, "Do you really
think I could play?" And he said, "Yeah." So I followed his advice and my
mother said, "You should take a shot." So I took a shot and it has worked out
ever since.
Q: Where did you develop your work ethic?
A: With my mother, grandmother and grandfather.
Q: What was it about them that triggered the thought that you should be working
hard?
A: I realized all the time, and all the blood and sweat that they put into raising me,
and that sort of just carried over. I realized all they had done for me and it made me
want to do more for them.
Q: You said wherever you go, you’re going to take your family with you. Who
does that consist of? Who are you taking with you?
A: Mom’s coming with me. Mom runs the show. I’ll let you know that right now.
If you are going to talk to anybody. Mom runs the show. When you talk to me, mom will be
standing right there. (Laughs). She’s not my agent, but she pretty much is. She runs
the show. Everything goes through her.
Q: Did you live with your grandparents?
A: I lived with them for about three years. My mother had to actually come to Indiana
to get work because she got laid off by General Motors back in St. Louis. She came up here
with my stepfather and I lived with my grandparents for about three years. During that
time, I learned all the values that I hold true today.
Q: How old were you then?
A: I was about 11, 12 years old. So when I was a little kid, I was thinking, "OK,
I’m living with my grandparents. I’m not going to be able to hang around with my
friends anymore or run around and do things like that." During that time period, it
just taught me to be a man, to take responsibility for all of my actions.
Q: There weren’t too many Cardinals fans back then, were there? Were you alone?
Not too many people were Cardinals football fans.
A: My grandfather and I, we were alone a lot. We supported them and then they up and
left so we were kind of steamed about that.
Q: (Arizona Cardinals owner) Bill Bidwell is walking around here. I’ve seen
him. Have you seen him? You ought to give him a little piece of your mind.
A: Ah, I don’t think I want to talk to Bill. (Laughs) I still remember that day he
said they just up and left. I was a little shocked and hurt as a kid about that.
Q: You seem pretty humble. Is that a trait you acquired from your grandparents?
A: That’s pretty much from them — be appreciative of what you have. The fact
that you get to walk the earth is something not a lot of people get to do.
Q: Is there anybody here that has blown you away the most, like a coach or
something?
A: Vermeil, Dungy, Slater, Mean Joe Greene — Wow. Everybody pretty much.
Q: What did Vermeil do? How did he blow you away?
A: I remember I was still in St. Louis when they won that championship. I had just
left, so it’s like, "Wow, that’s the guy who coached the Rams to the Super
Bowl." Then I saw his ring, and I was like, "Uhhhhhhhhh."
Q: Did they give you some indication that that’s a position of their need?
A: They didn’t say "need."
Q: When you talked to Dungy, did they talk about needs?
A: They really didn’t give me any indication that they have a "need" or
anything but they said they were looking for a defensive player, that they just
didn’t know which way they were going to go.
Q: How did Dungy approach you?
A: He just approached me as a calm, cool, regular person. He’s a great guy. I
think he’s going to do wonders for this city. They’re really lucky to have him.
Q: If the Cardinals selected you, could you cash checks signed by Bill Bidwell?
A: Yeeaaaahhhhhh, (Laughs) I think I can get over it. Me and Bill might have to
reconcile. I think I could get over it. I would have to shake his hand after that.
Q: Do you consider yourself a pass-rushing tackle?
A: I think I’m an in-the-middle type of guy. I don’t think I do one thing
well. I try to do everything well. I don’t try to be the best pass-rusher because
then your run-stopping lags. I don’t try to be the best run-stopper because then
you’re pass rush lags. I just try to do everything as well as I possibly can.
Q: How much have double-teams hindered your production this past season?
A: You see a lot of double-teams and things like that. People draw attention to you and
it gets frustrating at times, but you always have to mind of or keep focus of that you
have to keep fighting through it, because it’s a privilege to be out there. Just that
people are showing you that much attention — that’s a tribute to your ability.
Q: How difficult was last season?
A: It was hard going through that season. We were losing. We were winning. Up and down.
Going to beat Ohio State and then losing to Michigan State at home. It was a trying year.
I think I just learned the value of being humble still, just trying to be a good leader.
Q: Especially after two Rose Bowls and such a good defense and then having a
struggling defense?
A: Exactly. The defense was the struggling part and me being on the defensive side,
that hurt me more than anything. We were sitting around, scratching our heads as to what
was going on. You take things in stride. It just taught me to be a better leader. I went
through that whole time just trying to keep everybody’s heads up.
Q: (Wisconsin defensive coordinator Kevin) Cosgrove said you can’t be blocked.
Would you agree with that assessment?
A: I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t sit up here and put myself out on First
Street like that. I just go out and play football and if that’s what Coach Cos said.
"Hey Cos, thanks. I love you to death for that." But I just go out and play
football. I will say that I’m going to give whatever team that takes me whatever they
need, whenever they need it.
Q: How is your relationship with (Wisconsin head coach) Barry Alvarez?
A: He’s a great guy. He’s a great coach. He’s always been like a father
figure for all of us. He’s always tried to lead us the right way. Everything he tells
us is going to be for our benefit, whether it helps us or hurts us at the time, he is
saying it for our own good, and I think we all know that and respect that.
Q: Did you get your physical already? How was that?
A: Yes, I did. Phewww. It was like, "This young buck right here." (Laughs).
You stand up there and everybody is looking at you and there’s like, "6-3"
and everybody’s out there writing it all down really fast. And you’re up there,
you feel like the 10-year-old at the school dance when you are dancing with the girls. You
get used to it after a while.
Q: Where will you be for the draft?
A: I don’t know that just yet. I might be up at Wisconsin at my position
coach’s house.
Wendell Bryant feature: Leaving a
legacy
To Scouting Combine main page |
