University of Tennessee Athletics
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April 26, 2003
Eddie Moore Conference Call Transcript
April 26, 2003
Q. Can you talk a little bit about getting picked? Did you expect to go this early in the draft and did you know the Dolphins had interest in you?
A. "No not really. I really didn't expect to go this early in the draft. I was just there and the phone rings. So I picked up the phone and I was pretty amazed."
Q. Did you have a draft party today?
A. "No sir."
Q. Where are you Eddie?
A. "I'm just sitting with some close family members and just watching in my apartment in Knoxville."
Q. When did you think you would drafted?
A. "Somewhere around the third round is what I've been hearing the most and I was just sitting, waiting patiently to tell you the truth."
Q. Can you talk about the Dolphins. Did you interview with them? Did you work out for them?
A. "I had to work out for them and also I talked to them at the combine. I knew they were kind of interested."
Q. You did not run at the combine. Correct? What was the nature of your injury at that time?
A. "I was just coming off a knee scope at the combine and I was right about 80% and I didn't want to go out there at 80% when I knew I could do a little bit better."
Q. Exactly what happened with your knee? Did you have cartilage damage? What was it exactly?
A. "They went in to clean it up a little bit. I think I had some loose bodies in there."
Q. Did it happen in the game or was it just something that progressed over time?
A. "It was over progressive time."
Q. Did you have the feeling that any team was looking at you stronger than another?
A. "I thought I had a feeling that Cleveland was looking at me real strong. Cleveland and Dallas but I didn't realize that Miami was."
Q. Where are you at physically right now? Are you back to full health?
A. "I'm at 100% now."
Q. What do you think you can contribute immediately. Do you think you are ready to play at this level and what do you see your role being?
A. "My role is coming in and doing the best I can, as far as learning from other guys that are there. And coming in to play. I'm not coming in to try to sit on the sidelines and be a spectator by any means."
Q. Do you view yourself as a weakside linebacker in the pros? Some of the reports on you said be a DB or strong safety. Where do you see yourself at this level?
A. "I sure don't see my self as a strong safety. A lot of people say a weakside linebacker. I kind of fit that mold."
Q. You're coming to a team that has Junior Seau and Zach Thomas. Is that a linebackers dream?
A. "It is a lot of experience in there. They're legendary linebackers. I could learn a lot from them."
Q. Who was your favorite player growing up and who do you base your style after?
A. "I really don't base my style after anybody. I really didn't have a favorite player."
Q. Is there a particular type of scheme that you think might fit you best at this level?
A. "At the moment I can fit anything to tell you the truth."
Q. What will you do now for the rest of the day?
A. "I guess eat with my family for the moment. Talk to friends. I've been having a lot of calls on the other phone and just talk to them and basically enjoy it."
Q. Al Wilson is a name that you've been compared to. Do you see the comparison?
A. "As far heart and all the rest. Al's a great linebacker. He's like me and all the other linebackers in the nation trying to get to that level of Al Wilson."
Q. What are some of your interests outside of football?
A. "I like plants. I do a lot of messing with marine fish tanks. That's kind of a hobby, keeping the fish alive and plants alive. But I'll have to pick up some new hobbies because I'm not doing that too well lately."
Q. Are the fish dying on you?
A. "Sometimes when I went off to train."
Q. Are you still in school?
A. "No sir, not this semester."
Q. What did you major in?
A. "Sociology with a minor business."
Q. Are you close to finishing?
A. "I have six hours left."
Q. Are you shocked? Is that a good way to put this?
A. "If you add another level to shocked then that's me. I'm just ready to get off the phone and start running down the street."
Q. Did you think some friend might have been playing a joke on you when they called you and said this is the Dolphins?
A. "I had to check the number at first. But I had a couple of friends calling me. So I looked at the number and went ahead and answered."
Q. Who was on the other line?
A. "It was Rick Spielman."
Q. What did he say?
A. "He called me to talk on the phone. And I'm shocked on the other end. He was calling to find out if anybody else has been calling me. He was talking normally, about how the days been going and said we're about to turn in the card with your name. And I was like, really!"
