OUTSIDE LINEBACKER RANDY GREGORY

(On what he knows about Head Coach Todd Bowles' defense and what attracted him to the Buccaneers)

"I actually spoke with Coach [Bowles], I remember, coming out of college during the draft and speaking with him a bunch. I loved his personality, loved his down-to-earth demeanor. [He is a] no-nonsense type of guy. I think I always thrive well when I work with coaches like that. I think ultimately, Coach [George] Edwards – I worked with him, obviously, in Dallas, so I have a relationship there. I think highly of him. I think the ability, as far as the schemes and what we do, I think I fit well there. I can play inside, outside, on third down and things like that – stand up, put my hand down in the dirt. To be able to play kind of in a 3-4, 4-3 scheme, do a couple of different things there – drop in coverage. This is all stuff I've done in Dallas and Denver and in San Francisco. For me, it was a [really] good spot to land in."

(On what kind of leadership he brings to the Buccaneers)

"I've been through a lot, I will say that. I think anyone that knows me knows my story. [I've got] definitely a lot of experience. I've won a lot of games in different uniforms. I've had playoff success in different uniforms. I've had ups and downs as far as production [and] as far as me as a player and as a person. I have a lot of experience and I can help the guys in that way. I've never been one to be a nuisance in the locker room, so I feel good as far as my influence with them. Like you said, they're young, so they'll be sponges that absorb stuff – I can learn from them, they can learn from me. I really think it's a good opportunity."

(On what kind of role he thinks he might have on Tampa Bay's defense)

"At this point in my career, I don't go in expecting or anything like that. I wouldn't say that. I expect to help and I expect to influence the team how I know I can and make plays the way I know I can. At the end of the day, it's really what you make it. I expect to come in here and keep my head down. Like I said, I know Coach [Todd] Bowles, I know what he expects, I know what Coach [George] Edwards expects. I think it's a big to have a guy that, obviously Coach [George] Edwards has worked with before. So, to be able to in that room and do things the way I know how he wants it done will be [really] easy for me. To answer your question, I don't really expect to start or anything like that. I don't go in with my mind made up about [that] stuff. I'm going to go in there every rep I have and when I'm not in there, I'm going to try to help out the guys that are in there."

(On if he knows any current Buccaneers teammates)

"No close relationships. I've been telling guys around here: Mike Evans – me and him had the same agent for a few years, coming into the league, so I've spoken with him. I know about him and his family. [He is] a great guy and a great player. Lavonte David – obviously, me going to Nebraska and him being a Nebraska legend out there, I have a lot of respect for him, coming out from the same school. There's a few guys – there are guys that are obviously not on the team anymore that I was a fan of. There were guys I played against last year with San Francisco. Obviously, Baker [Mayfield], I have a lot of respect for him as a quarterback. Rachaad White, [Tristan] Wirfs, there's a lot of guys on the team that they may not know [me], but I've always considered myself a fan before a player. I think a lot of guys have always been fans of the league. Whether guys are coming out of college or guys are obviously on other teams, I've always kept up with them. I'm excited to be able to call them teammates now."

(On playing in the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers this past year after switching teams halfway through the season)

"It's definitely not easy for me – I'm big on comfortability. To have to make that switch in the middle of the year and essentially not finish my end of the deal with Denver was tough. Obviously, going to a new spot was tough, too. My biggest thing was being able to go there and kind of integrate myself in a non-threatening way and [be] as organic as I can make it. Like I said earlier, make plays where I can and help out when I'm not out there. It was tough, but it was fun at the same time. Some of those guys are some of the best players in the league and I got a chance to play with [them]. As a kid, I always dreamed about obviously making it to the NFL and making it to the Super Bowl, so to be able to say I experienced that is big. Obviously, I wanted to get the win, but hopefully I can do that this year upcoming with Tampa Bay. I think, obviously, you guys have had success here over the past few years. We have a great team right there, set up to make another run. That's what I intend on doing – trying to help in that way."

(On how much of a 'victory' it was for him to play a full season this past year)

"As athletes, we always go in with certain goals we want to achieve, whether that be our career or the upcoming season. My biggest thing was being able to play a full season. Like you said, I haven't played a full season in the league. I've only played one full season in college. Whether it be suspensions or injuries, something played an effect. To be able to play a full year and not only that, but obviously getting to the Super Bowl – it was the most games I've played in my whole entire football career ever since I could remember. That was my biggest goal. I felt like if I could finish the year healthy and go into the next year healthy, obviously that would be good for my future. I hope I can do the same and finish out my career in a healthy way and in a winning way."

(On how much optimism he has about stepping into this role with the Buccaneers)

"A lot. I think, at the end of the day, like I said, I wanted to go somewhere I'm comfortable with and know I can play and help. A big part of that, obviously they go hand-in-hand, if our offense is doing well and can put points on the board and get the other team behind, your opportunities for pass rushes go up. Obviously, that plays into it. I'm lucky enough to be on teams where we had good offenses. I expect the same coming here. But, yeah, I don't know how else to answer your question. I'm excited, yeah. I think there's going to be a lot of opportunities for me and others to make plays in the passing game, the run game, and things like that and make a good run."

(On what he learned from his teammates over his past few stops)

"There are different ways to win. I pride myself on my athleticism and I've always done that coming up [through] the football ranks. A lot of ways, that's how I've won. One of the things I've learned, especially with a guy like Nick [Bosa], is just his approach to the preparation of things – not just being able to go out and do it in a live setting in practice or in the game, but the active preparation it takes to get to that point. Whether it be the weight room, the stretching, the training facility, diet, film – those are probably the biggest things. There's a lot of different things that some of these better players, better pass rushers have done that I've noticed. I kind of try to incorporate that into my own life and not just on the field, but off the field. I tend to do the same things. I think, at the end of the day, you've got to keep learning as an athlete, as a person. I think the day you stop doing that is the day you stop evolving and reaching the potential that you can get to. For me, like I said, I'm trying to hone those skills I do have and then incorporate some new ones and different techniques. I'm going to do the same thing with the guys here and I hope they do the same thing with me."

(On his ideal playing weight)

"I'd say I'm actually probably heavier right now. It's offseason mode. Obviously, it's the process of getting back to that weight. I think, in the past, the last couple years in Dallas or maybe my first year in Denver, I was 247 maybe, 250 max. I think in San Francisco, I was probably sitting at 258. There was a year I got to Dallas, I was probably about 261 and had to lose a few pounds there. I've never been a guy that has been extremely heavy. I've always floated in the high [240s] to mid-[250s]. I think a perfect weight for me is probably in the 255-260 range. That's probably where I'll be coming in at."

(On how he can help younger players coming into the league who may face some of the challenges he faced early in his career)

"First, for me, I've always tried to handle things myself. Growing up – and having to grow up in the league in a sense – taught me to really reach out and lean on the people that are really there to help me and to be able to filter a lot of the BS out. Coming in as a young guy, it's real easy to absorb everything you're seeing and that everyone is doing and try to do the same. I think as I've gotten older, I've learned that I'm not the same as a lot of these guys. I'm not the most outgoing guy. I tend to keep to myself, but I understand me, and I understand that that keeps me out of trouble. I think for me, with some of these younger guys, [it's] helping them understand some of the dangers of being in the league and being the person you are. And helping them understand not only the football side of things as far as on the field, but a lot of the stuff that's going on behind the scenes that a lot of guys don't think about – planning stuff out, saving money, [etc.]. There are a lot of things you can learn, but you've got to be willing to reach out and accept it. I think for a [long] time, for me, I wasn't able to do that. I've learned to do it to the point where I can handle stuff on my own. When I do struggle, I know who I can lean on. It's never bad to ask for help. I think a lot of guys should probably tap into that more and tap into therapy more. Mental health is a real thing that a majority of guys are probably dealing with and don't really realize it. If that is out of whack, your game is going to be out of whack, too. For me, I don't want to dive too deep into it with the guys – I want to be as organic as possible. There is a time and place for it, but I'm going to do what I need to do as far as making the right influence on them. I'm obviously going to be one of the older guys in the D-line room and [in] the defense in general. I think it's my duty to kind of pass on my experiences in the right way and kind of influence them the right way and lead them in the right direction the best way I know I can."

-BUCCANEERS-