Justin Simmons on free agency and the meetings with Falcons' players that brought him to The A

how you guys doing doing well thank you thank you do you want to take it away we're good okay yeah hey Justin could you discuss um you know how things uh evolved and uh well let's just start with the dinner on Monday with Grady and uh uh I forget who the other person yeah everybody everybody there chops or whatever yall EA pretty good oh yeah chops was uh chops is what sold it honestly um no I'm joking uh yeah so Grady uh AJ and Jesse were the players there obviously coach raw and um uh yeah coach Ra was there Terry was there and so um man it was it was just a great dinner um you know I'm familiar with uh coach raw and the defense that he runs and so you know a lot of it was kind of talking nex's and know just philosophy uh Vision uh big things like that and then um really just getting a feel for the culture and the guys there obviously um you know Jesse being acquired um you know from Cincy and then Grady playing his career here um AJ obviously being a um you know a Cornerstone in the organization and so just getting a feel from those guys like uh from the transition from their old head coach to coach raw what's the feel how's the culture what do you guys like what do you guys dislike you know those types of questions and U man it was a great dinner and I know everyone saw that clip of uh grad on good morning football talking about you know the car and this is how they treat you in Atlanta um that that did happen so uh I I will admit that did happen but uh no I'm I'm super excited to be here um this is uh what we were waiting for an opportunity like this and I can't wait to uh I can't wait for this thing to get rolling where are you at a performance wise I know coach was say you weren't in Camp but he want ramp up the right way yeah I feel great um I know that's what everyone's going to say you know when they're coming into a new spot and um big expectations but I feel great I feel um the best that I felt um strong fastest and so um I'm appreciative of them um you know kind of like easing me in and and making sure that everything's going to work smoothly cuz you know it's not about the plays that you can make here in the last couple days of Camp it's about the longevity of the season and um you know a big season we have ahead of us but um I'm super thankful for for that approach but um you know I'm ready to go and excited to get this thing rolling you're guy who had had options right um why Atlanta aside from the dinner in the car but why why yeah um I mean there there was so much to like about it and um you know for me I think uh you know the big free agent signings right like you know Kirk um you know Mooney obviously the pieces that already here with on the offensive side you got Drake bejan Kyle um and then I've always been a big fan of Jesse and um and seeing not switching to defense Jesse and seeing what he's done um I think AJ not here but just around I feel like he's one of the most underrated guys in the league and Grady's been doing at a high level and um I feel like Kaden's a great player at linebacker and um you need important linebacker play in this in this scheme and uh for me it was also being about where I could go where I feel like I'm valued and um where I know I can produce and I can get the best not only out of myself but the guys around me I feel I feel like one of the most undervalued uh things just about myself is that I when I'm coming in um it's a multiplier factor I can make I can make everyone around us better but that's the communication with Jesse with AJ um Kaden I mean if all of us can be just a little bit better it makes the group better and um that's what I'm looking forward to the most communication is a big thing for me and those guys communicate at a high level um there's just so much about it man and then we were already in talks and so when the judon trade happened yeah I pretty much called my agent and said we got to get this done um and so I'm I'm super excited to be here like I said I'm going to sound like a broken record but we are patient for a reason and um I'm so thankful for the Lord for opening this door for us because this is where we wanted to be you talk about you know having at dinner and asking questions about the culture and finding some things out from some of the main stays here a little bit yeah when it came to you leaving that dinner what do you kind of look back on it's like that's something that I learned that really made me feel like this is the place that I I could go and and be myself out yeah I think I think for me there was a there was a lot of similarities in um so I was in uh and I'm I'm not going to talk about it much cuz that you know that stuff's in the past and moving forward but I was in Denver for eight seasons and in those eight seasons five head coaches and six if you include an interim head coach and so a lot of turnover a lot of Heart Break um you know a lot of potential in some seasons and so when I was in when I was there with those guys I could see the uh it's the word I'm looking for here I can see the appreciation of of what's in front of them and what can be and how hungry they are to to chase after that and again like that was one of my top priority I don't want to go to a where um you know they they they just know they're going to like walk into the playoffs or they you know they they know they have a good team and they're just going to make things happen I mean these guys here are hungry um you know a lot of disappointing seasons in the past couple years with a lot of potential and a lot of great skill players and so when I was at that dinner man like kind of asking some of the hard questions like well how much do we want it like how much do you guys want it how much is it important to you and um I mean Grady pretty much set the tone right from there from the jump and I you guys know him better than I do um he set the tone and said this is pretty much like and not quoting him but this is pretty much the most important thing to him right now and the team right and getting back to where you know Atlanta's used to being and so uh for me man that that felt so refreshing because in eight seasons I've never been to the playoffs and um you know it's going to sound a little contradictory but I know I know what I know what winning doesn't look like so I know what it takes and in some instances to get to to get to that side of it and I played on great defenses and um no doubt that this is going to be be one of them and so that conversation right there kind of solidified it for me like these guys are hungry they want it they're talented and um when all those pieces fall fall into motivation you know the sky's a limit can you talk more to fact that you said you didn't want to go to a team that's already you know they're walking into the playoffs versus a team that's real hungry can you talk about what makes it more appellant to come to a team that's in that stage where they're about to get to the playoff they're fighting to go to the playoff yeah I just I think I think it's a mentality thing right like I and and I'm not speaking for those teams I think uh every team in their in their own way shape form and fashion like um they they have what's hungry desirable for them and they're going to go chase that right like a team that knows they're going to make the playoffs their their goal is this the Super Bowl and like man we already know we're going to make it blah blah blah but but for me man it's like each and every week is going to be so important during the season and you know the games and I know like last year just like doing a little bit of research like seven and 10 I think five of those 10 losses happened like almost like last second um you know within a touchdown of of losing the game right and you flip those five games it's not 10 losses it's five and you're in the playoffs potentially even hosting playoff games um there's just so much that goes on there right and so like seeing how close that team is here um and obviously a lot of turnover with that but seeing how close that is man it just it it fit with my Persona cuz I really want this I really want to get there and and um you know I don't like speaking in in and when I'm in doing an interview with eyes but like man this is so important to me um I haven't been there I don't know what it looks like I don't know what it feels like and uh that was like the number one thing like on my visits and talking to different teams man is like man I just want to go where obviously I'm valued and wanted but where the team has that same hunger and a bunch of guys here feel that way is that what you were talking about earlier when you said this is what we were waiting for this opportunity where you're looking for a team kind of on the cus yeah no 100% And um again too like I said you know there's that value Factor like teams are like we don't necessarily you know you're a good player we don't need you blah blah blah um you know but here like hey we we want you you can bring a lot of value and this team is hungry and we know what it looks like right from every single Cornerstone of this organization from the front office you know down to the cafeteria staff I mean you you'd be surprised like how much work you can get in and getting to know people just in like pretty much a day like it was like the a the late evening and early morning late afternoon um and just getting to meet people getting to hear their thoughts um talk about the culture here and you know everything is put forward for the players to to win and um yeah that's what it was important welcome to the humidity did you notice it today just a little bit you know uh humidity is different than altitude that's for sure um but it was good it was like it was like coming back home in a sense I grew up in South Florida so maybe take me a day or two but I it feels good glad for that your Pro Bowl experience I'm sure in the locker rooms well teams that are sending multiple players that have been in the playoffs you don't get to share in the same way uh is that part of what helped you shape your decision that if I do leave Denver I want to go to a team that has what I've been hearing about some of the other great players in the league that have stories and situations and organizations that maybe the Falcons have been able to fit for you yeah no 100% and that I mean like those types of things were kind of answered at um you know like at that dinner and um you know you you you spend the uh first part of it getting to know them you know you just talk about kids and you know where'd you go to school and where'd you grow up and those types of things but once the The Ice kind of breaks you you go into the details of okay like let's you know let's let's call it what it is you know this is what I'm looking for this is like you know what I'm feeling is that is that right is that inaccurate what's you know and all those things and so um you know it's ironic is you know have the Pro Bowl um for last season I had the chance to uh you know catch up with Jesse we have mutual friends and I've always admired his game from afar and picking his brain on different things but um you had a chance to just chop it up with them and I know it's was a tough season you know in Atlanta as from a team perspective so just you know talking to him and um you know finding things out and he's like you know I just I just hope we get this thing right right you know moving forward and so um you know it's crazy because then I asked him that later on at that dinner like kind of was just me and him like yo I don't know if you remember what we talked about but what do you think and he's like n this is right and he kind of just left it at that with your play now on the field with Jesse and with formations changing and all that kind of stuff you really aren't limited to just being a stronger weak safety you get to be both right when when uh they go trips and they move and motion and now become strong your sight is that part of what you've been developing over the past seven or eight years to where I can do anything on the field that is really needed of me yeah well I I think that's what makes um good players great is when you can not limit yourself to just any one position um I think Jesse does a good job at that um you know I've I've just getting to know the guys but um watching a little bit of ball and tape I mean um Richie is interchangeable he can do a bunch of different things I really liked what I saw um from tape on him there's a bunch of guys here got a bunch of veterans in that room already um you know Kevin King brings a bunch of experience um and there's a bunch of other guy Hamilton and so you know for for me personally like I think the more you can do and the more you know it makes it easier for you to be able to communicate adjust and um that's obviously was a big selling point for me too being able to work with someone like Jesse I was explaining um you know the one of the coaches on the field like I've played with smart players you know across from me um throughout my career Corner safety and um I think what what makes the difference is Jesse is not only smart but he'll make the game-changing play as well and um you know that that puts quarterbacks in a bind when you when you're smart enough to do that and you can disguise coverages and you're smart enough to know when pieces are moving and you can get the defense in and out of bad situations um you know the sky's the limit for you in in the secondary and obviously with our um front seven and things like that we're toward the end of training camp how do you plan to build that communication in a shorter time before week one yeah it's going to take a it's going to take a lot of work um film study work um not only here but like you know before after U maybe even some like home visits um as much as you can build that camaraderie because that's really what it comes down to is not only uh like the safeties right and the in the corner seeing seeing seeing things the same excuse me but like the linebackers right some of the edge droppers that you know every now and then are going to drop into coverage like making sure that we're going over every single detail and sometimes it's going to happen with Growing Pains you know whether it's in practice um hopefully not but sometimes in the games and um there's Growing Pains that come with with communication but it's it's it's going to take a lot of work it's going to take um obviously I haven't been here so there's things that I'm going to have to catch up on it's not like hey I've done this this way um it's a two-way street and you know me coming in here saying like this is what the room does this is what I got to know what I got to learn and um you know no ego at the door and so so uh but it's exciting at the same time because it's a bunch of guys that want to do it right Justin forgive me I know you said you didn't want to go back much into the Denver experience but I wonder if you were surprised by how that ended and how you processed the transition yeah um S surprise would wouldn't be the right word uh knew it was a possibility and um yeah I've I've uh you know spent the last eight seasons there and there was a lot of positives that came from that but um you know at the end of the day there decisions that were made and um you know it's the NFL at the end of the day like I've seen it happen when I was there from um Denver faithfuls like you know Von Miller got traded you know in the middle of the Season U Demaryius Thomas um you know got let go you know to Houston and um I mean obviously you know in my opinion a Hall of Fame receiver and um you know Emanuel Sanders you know another guy I know he's a Pittsburgh guy then he you know became a Denver guy then you know he goes around but uh there's there's other guys there right that were that were really good players that for whatever reason um you know just things happen and you get let go it's the NFL so um no hard feelings for me um I love Broncos Country always will um I love the guys there I you know I think they're doing things the right way and so um wishing them the best besides November 17th but wishing them the best you mentioned the the hunger like the dinner and everything else that you saw from guys like Grady and AJ and like you mentioned that you have in the playoffs and like kind of you have that same mentality why was that so compelling to you in choosing and why was that attractive that that kind of hunger you know that that demeanor yeah it was almost like like with or without you we're GNA we're going to get this thing done type of thing right and um you know Jesse said it like we're building something special so hop on and um you know I want to I want to be a part of that and I know you know I take all the other stuff out of it like man I know it's a one-year thing um at least for now but like you're going to get my best for this for this year and I'm all in as if this was like a you know I'm a rookie coming in for you know four years five years whatever it is man like I'm all in because I could tell the guys here are all in so it's easy to buy into to the players the coaches the culture um like I said top to bottom and I don't want to sound like a broken record but I'm literally giving you exactly what I heard at the dinner and um it it was you feel the energy and like I said you guys know these guys better than I do when you felt the energy at the dinner and you're looking at him in the eyes and having that conversation you you know it's right in your heart and you know you pray over it and you're like yeah this is the right decision and so um man I'm so thankful um you know just for the opportunity to at least you know give that a shot because I believe in it on a less serious note you and Chris Lindstrom were teammates a lot of Clemson guys here a lot of ACC guys are they going to be any Wagers that we uh you know coming up on Saturdays to support your team yeah hey you know um those haven't worked out for me in the past uh and so I have to ask I yeah you know maybe just a few I'll have to ask Chris's uh track record you know when he's been here um fun fact though uh Chris and I the next time you guys have a chance to talk with them we were actually roommates uh for a year at BC I was a senior I believe he was a sophomore um and at that time we didn't do off uh off house um living BC so you know as a senior I still lived on campus and I needed a roommate and you know Chris was like I need a roommate too so that was my guy and that's when I first got to know him um great dude obviously you guys know that being here in Atlanta but great guy and extremely happy for him and all the success that he's had is the Legacy with Matt anything at BC that uh obviously a little older but you knew obviously with with his success here in Atlanta not that that had anything to do with your decision but right Falcons have been very happy with some of the BC grads yeah no for sure there's definitely been some uh some Boston College love here I hope to uh I hope to add to that that obviously will come with u you know my play and all that other stuff but yeah Matt Ryan's been obviously a great um here and um you know a guy almost like Luke keish you know you know him at BC and then um you get a chance to meet him and they're everything that people said they were and more and U Matt's been um awesome just the little tidbits that I've gotten from him throughout the career my career and had a chance to play him once uh well really twice but I didn't really play the first time so once and then uh got to talk to him a little bit of the preseason game the Hall of Fame game Denver and Atlanta had a couple years back but um yeah Matt's awesome so you had the dinner you know Chris sounds like you have a lot of friends who are already on this roster but what was today kind of like and and maybe getting to know some of these new people and seeing maybe more of those hungry guys yeah no it was great and I mean even watching practice today uh I mean guys coming off and off day um you know after I know the starters didn't play but after you know a good amount of the team played um in Baltimore and guys flying around you know making plays the energy was high and um I think like that's what it looks like right and uh guys love being here you could tell the atmosphere and the energy like guys love coming into work love competing and um that was really cool to see and so you know for me just like finding my my my Niche my groove my routine with the with the team and with the guys and um you know also understanding that although I'm a veteran like there's already great veteran presence in the room and so I'll add when needed but you know most times these guys already know what they're doing and um you know just finding that Groove with that too but uh it was it was really cool man watching it up you know upfront and personal I can't wait to see um obviously the rest of the week but even preparing for Pittsburgh week one and you know really seeing that intensity level rise to a another deal was there any specific moment or interaction today that you kind of look back on like okay I made the right decision or like any kind of maybe thing that stuck out um I wouldn't say anything in particular I just think for me it was like the energy um obviously guys get hyped when you make a you know a big catch on offense or um you know you you get an interception on defense or you get a punch out or something like that but um for me it was just the energy level the screams the oo the A's I mean you're you know a couple months in the camp the body hurts um you know your mental shot you feel like you're you're learning something new every day install-wise and so um you know being in that room and doing it for so many years and seeing it and then you know seeing what today looked like in practice it to me it looked like you know the first day of pads instead of the whatever it was 27th day of pads right so um that to me it was was the most impressive thing not necessarily like one big thing that happened all right thanks everybody awesome thank you guys appreciate it