University of Oregon defensive end/outside linebacker DION JORDAN
As recorded by azcardinals.com’s Darren Urban and transcribed by ESPNWisconsin.com’s Jason Wilde



(talking about his shoulder as Darren arrives) … I’m going to have surgery as soon as I leave here.
I’m doing everything I can to make sure I can compete with these guys coming Monday.


(what been able to do? Carry all your Nike gear?) Light weight. I’ve done different things, I’ve worked
out hard. Modified weight. I’ve done everything I can to make sure I can weigh in. I weighed
in pretty big today, I feel light at 248.


(What did you measure again? I mean, what numbers would you give if you called into Dan Patrick’s show?)
My height was 6-6 1 /2 and my weight was 248.


(Is that your playing weight, or did you have lunch at Shapiro’s Deli weigh you down) my playing weight
was close to 240 at the university.


(You started your career on offense, were you that horrendous that they put you on defense? We you pissed?)
Not at all. I understood that that was the best opportunity for me to get on the football field, so I took it.
Coach Kelly and my position coach, Coach (Jerry) Azzinaro, they had a plan for me and I stuck with it.
And things worked out for the best for me.


(A lot of guys go to Oregon because they love the offense and because you get to wear 1,001 Nike jerseys) Man, I imagined
myself running down the field, catching the ball from Darron Thomas or Mariota but things don’t work out that
way. You’ve got to adjust. I adjusted and I took the opportunity and ran with it.


(do you look back now and see yourself as a natural defensive player) Yeah, I would rather do the
hitting than get hit. It’s a lot better.


(you’ve lined up everywhere, you’ve had your hand in the dirt, you’ve covered slot receivers, you’ve done
everything except transcribe your own press conference. What do you bring to the NFL?) Pass rush. I feel
like me lining up all over the field on defense shows my athleticism, shows that I understand the game and
that I did a lot for the university. But my whole thing is getting after the quarterback, so pass rush would be my No. 1.


(Would you like to play for Chip again in Philly or would that media corps with Domo and Lester be too tough on you?)
If that happens, then I’d be glad to show up in Philly and do my best there. But I’m not in control of that.


(C’mon, just go to Philly! The people are nice, according to Jason Wilde – except those pricks at the cheesesteak
place that sprayed au jus all over his nice pink dress shirt in 2003) It would be somewhat of an advantage, but
I’m still stepping into a whole new system, a whole new ground. I’m dealing with another level of football. I’m
going to have to step up and be a professional no matter where I end up.


(People said you were a different kind of athlete, much like old veteran Mike O’Hara is a different kind of reporter.
What the hell does that mean, ya think?) I think it just shows that I have the ability to, I understand the game,
I understand defenses because I played on the offensive side of the ball, I understand a lot of the offensive
schemes also. So it plays to my abilities, just understanding a lot of little things and just my size, a 6-7
outside linebacker is kind of unique, I feel like.


(Dion, you can’t be “kind of unique” because “unique” means “one of a kind.” Don’t they teach you anything at
Oregon? And by the way, was your wingspan unique?) I can’t remember. I can’t remember.


(when is your surgery) Next week I’m getting my shoulder taken care of. In Los Angeles at the Kerlan-Jobe center.


(what are you looking at coming out of that surgery) Give me about 3-4 months as far as my rehab. I’m going to
attack my rehab after the surgery as hard as I did before, just to make sure I’m able to show up to camp and
compete with all the other guys.


(is it your labrum? Your rotator cuff? Tattoo removal?) It’s a labrum. A labrum injury.


(how’d you hurt it) No, it wasn’t the 2-point conversion. I hurt myself the middle of our season, Colorado game,
and it was just an unfortunate event. I went and made a tackle the wrong way. They say you shouldn’t arm tackle
and I got the worst of it. But you know, I’ve dealt with it, I only missed one game last season, I dealt with it,
and I feel like it shows my toughness, that I finished the season, I stayed true to my team and I made sure as a
leader, as a senior of our team, it shows I’m willing to win and do what it takes to compete.


(More on Chip’s offense needing a good defensive coordinator since he doesn’t know shit from shinola about
defense … by the way, what is shinola exactly?) In the NFL, it takes good defense to win. You know? You can have
the best offense and all the talent you want on the offensive side of the ball, but it takes good defense to win.
Somebody’s got to stop the guys on the other side. I understand that, I understood that at our level, the college
level. We ahd to have a good defense and we developed and we got much better and we supported coach Kelly’s
offense and I’m pretty sure he understands that now.


(No, really, he doesn’t know diddly-poo about defense, right?) Coach Kelly, he’s a head coach in the National
Football League. He understands a lot. He’s a genius.


(What’s it like to practice against that offensive tempo in practice? Make you need a nap like McClain on the radio?)
It’s unique. As a defensive player, keeping up with guys like a Kenjon Barner, chasing him down the field, or
LaMichael James or even a DeAnthony Thomas, those guys are very special. As a defensive player, being able to
keep up with those guys Monday through Friday, when we get to the game on Saturday, it’s pretty easy
for us as far as the game speed.

I’m used to that type of tempo.


(Do you think Chip has a prayer in the NFL with that gimmicky stuff?) I believe so. It’s all up to the personnel,
the type of guys that you have. You’re going to have to get guys on the offensive side of the ball that understand
what it takes to play at that type of tempo, just smart guys. Because it’s fast-paced. So everybody has to be on the same page.


(Can you spell Jerry Azzinaro and what was he like to play for?) Coach Azz is the best. He’s not only a good coach
but a good teacher. He teaches, taught us everything about life, about how to be a professional – that’s what I took
from it. A professional at a different level, at the college level. It was a blessing, like I said, to be able to
move over to his side, I listened to everything that he said and he got me to this point as far as my football
abilities, football IQ.


(Professional, huh? Well, Oregon does pay you in Nike money, no? By the way, it’s going to suck to wear only two unis
a year after wearing different ones basically every week – or even in the first and second half of games, right?)
It’ll be much better. I won’t have to deal with a lot of questions about what’s your favorite uniform.


(I love O’Hara, man. He’s the best. “So what was your favorite uniform?”) I enjoyed the throwback uniforms.
Something different. It was always unique.


(3-4 teams more interested in you or what?) I get a lot of talk from 3-4 defenses, mainly because that’s what
I played at the college level and it’s the best spot to utilize my athleticism.


(potential as a pass-rusher) It shows my athleticism. It shows that like I said I can line up all over the field
and get after the quarterback, it shows that I understand defense, just adjusting to the defense on the fly, and
just my speed. Just having the speed to come off the edge every play. I never came off the field.
I was all three downs, even four downs if you needed.


(Can’t hear question) The thing I feel like I have to improve is my strength, getting to the next level, it’s
a big-boy game, so … (coughing, choking) Damn, sorry. ... I understand that that’s not only me but everybody
that’s getting to this point. Strength is key. I feel like it plays a lot into the longevity of playing
in the National Football League.


(Something about covering receivers, I’m sorry I can’t hear exactly the question) it makes it a lot easier
for me because I know the quarterback is going to throw the ball.


(weight now, need to weigh, go on Biggest Loser?) Around 250. That’s what I weighed in at today, 248 pounds,
and it’s weight I feel like I could put on easy. I have the frame to add as much as possible. I’m going
to get stronger and continue to get healthy.


(work out) I’m doing everything here except the bench press and I’m going to do whatever I have to do to
compete and show the teams what I have.


(have you seen Chip?) I have not seen Chip yet.