NewOrleansSaints.com is giving fans an opportunity to submit their questions for their favorite players. Throughout training camp, the Saints will announce a selected player via the team's Twitter account (@Saints) and fans will be able to reply with questions.
On Saturday, fans were able to submit questions for T Jermon Bushrod.
Bushrod was drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Saints. He is the only player that the club has drafted from Towson. Bushrod has started since 2009 and his progression culminated in 2011 where he blocked for Drew Brees' blindside as part of an offensive unit that recorded an NFL-record 7,474 total net yards. The offensive line allowed only 24 sacks which was tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. Bushrod was selected to the first Pro Bowl of his NFL career.
What is it like having a new baby back at home?
"It's good. It is honestly one of the greatest feelings I have ever had. The good thing is that while we are here in New Orleans, we are not too far from my house so I get to see them. I try to see them every day. I try to at least hug and kiss them a couple of times and spend a little time with them. Obviously, this is my first one. It is awesome."
How does it feel to be the father of the coolest baby on Twitter?
"He probably has like more than 300 followers which is pretty sweet. He probably won't be able to run it himself till he is 10 years old. He will have like the oldest followers in Twitter history. It will be cool. It was honestly a joke at first and a lot of people follow it. It is all in fun."
How has Ben Grubbs fit in?
"He is a good dude. The nice thing about the Saints bringing in Ben is that I knew Ben back when we came out. We got drafted in the same year and we trained together down in Atlanta. I was already familiar with him. I had seen him a few times in a couple of offseasons. When they brought him here, it was just like playing with somebody I already knew. I didn't have to get used to him too much."
Who is the hardest person to guard on the Saints defensive line?
"I would have to say the person I have been going against for the past five year, Will Smith. Since day one I have been going up against him. When you go up against somebody who has been in the league for a while, who works on their craft well, you tend to fight to get better. You don't want to continue to get beat by him. He is a very good player. He has made a few Pro Bowls. I would have to say Will because I see him every day."
What are the differences that you have seen in the defensive scheme?
"They bring it. I was definitely excited about Spags (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) coming in because when we played his defense last year against the Rams, they gave us fits. And he had a great defense in New York. For him to bring his defense over, that is a good feeling for our team. If we can have an even better defense and an even better offense and better special teams then we will be in a better position."
What did it mean to be named to the Pro Bowl last year? How do you look to improve on your 2011?
"Tremendous honor. It was a tremendous honor for me to go there and represent the Saints in Hawaii. Obviously, our team goal is to get to the Super Bowl every year. Pro Bowl is not something I work towards but it something that comes when the team does well. When you have a potent offense like we had last year, guys get recognized. It was truly an honor but hats off to the rest of the offense, defense, and special teams for putting us in position to make those big plays that we can make."
What tips would you have for a tackle trying to make it to the NFL?
"Continue to strengthen your weaknesses and try to strengthen your strengths. Try to be as smart as you can on that field because at the end of the day you could have all of the ability in the world but if you don't know what you are doing when you are out there than you can't be accountable. I would say to hit the books, know what you are doing, and fight to get better every day. You have to treat every day as a sprint not a marathon. You have to work on something every single day just to get a little bit better and you hope that it will help the team."
What is your favorite restaurant here in New Orleans?
"There are too many to name because there are so many good places you can go. If you want a good steak, you have to hit Mr. John's or La Boca. If you want good New Orleans cuisine, I love Emeril's and I love K-Paul's. Mother's is very good. Honestly, there are too many good places to name. Obviously I am a fan of food, I am 325 pounds so I don't really have a favorite when it comes to restaurants."
What kind of music do you listen to before a game?
"I listen to a lot of Gospel at first. Then, I go and get myself amped up and listen to hip-hop before we take the field."
What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?
"The people. I love this team. I have to say this team first because they gave me the opportunity to continue to play. They believed in me and were very patient with me. I would have to say this organization. With the way that the fans embrace their team and embrace their city and the way we feed off each other. I would have to say the fans and this organization. And meeting my future wife and having my son here."
