VaqueroTD
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 8,106
- Reaction score
- 16,513
Two guys you don't always hear from much in interviews. Norm did Hooker so much more serious interview. LOL
MALIK HOOKER
MALIK HOOKER
- I feel best I have in a while physically. And emotionally too, injuries are rough. Where I am today, I have nothing to complain about.
- I'm human, I had expectations of myself being first round draft pick. I was heavy on it when young but not anymore.
- In HS, I wanted to stay a wide receiver. But I saw how much they were getting hit in college. Do I want to get hit or do the hitting? I decided I wanted to do the hitting.
- I thought I could have played next level in basketball. But 6'6' average height now of point guard. No brainer for me.
- I was thankful for Cowboys giving me an option. I had a couple of calls. Dallas showed the most interest. They brought me to Dallas twice, after the rehab too.
- After going through significant injuries year after year, there were thoughts that maybe it wasn't for me. But I'm scrappy. I shake the self-pity. Injuries last thing I worry about right now. I've had every injury you can think of.
- Dallas was best fit because of their interaction. Felt like home. Knew some of the guys on roster already. I knew the talent they had. Dogs and professionals and would do what's good for team.
- This last year, we were a bunch of guys who were hungry to show their worth. We still don't think we get the credit we're worth, but it was a big jump last year. We know how to work with each other now having played a year together. I know where JK will be, DLaw I know what he'll bring to table. I know my teammates and they will fight.
- Yes, Cowboys first time since sophomore year of college I was a second teamer. But I was just grateful. For me to finally get a healthy season under my belt, I felt it was a big step. And now coming into year fully healthy for first time, I feel we can keep it rolling.
- Yeah, I feel me, JK and Donovan making safety position proud. We all do different things, we're all physical. We all know game.
- College championship. We went on a nice run. Lot of guys on that team that went into NFL draft. Joey Bosa, Zeke, Eli Apple, Thomas, Miller, etc. To rally like we did, you don't see that often after losing a few games.
- For Dallas to give me so many opportunities at so many positions, was best I could ask for going into another contract.
- My tattoos? Fear don't live here. Don't matter what the adversity, high level expected of me at all times. This is a religious tattoo.
- I got c-word in January this year. Avoided all year and finally got it. First time I had it was 2020. Got hit pretty hard.
- No, I wouldn't put an NFL alumni sticker on my car. (Freaking Ticket
) Last thing I want people to know is who I am. - I have no plan after football other than stay at home dad. I'm a gamer. I envision me driving the kids off and playing games all day.
- I have Saturday night game night with my boys back home on Discord. Utah. It's how we still stay in touch. If you run into us on Fortnite, sorry, you're going to get beat.
- I deleted all my social medias a while ago. I don't see the contract news. I'm good at compartmentalizing. I've never been a guy who talks about another man's money. It's awkward for me.
- I can still go to the store and no one knows who the hell I am which is great. But I'll still get texts, emails and death threats from fantasy football fans who had me.
- Travel in offseason - Vegas, Nashville, Chicago, Miami, Salt Lake City, LA. Kids did not come. Just me and the wife. Took a month off from the kids. My daughter can't fly because of anxiety.
- No, I didn't know John Ridgeway lettered in high school in bass fishing. Yes, I had to sing as a rookie too like him. Harder in my day. Now they get lyrics and music. I sang Roses by Outkast. That was a fan favorite. They didn't make me sing again.
- Yes, I built my wife's computer this year. She plays games with me too. I have a hard time playing solo games. 2 or more.
- No, I don't know what Jerry Jones was talking about with "secret sauce" and "djenny" and "mojo." I love McCarthy's mojo moments. Always been the NBC NFL music, only showed Austin Powers on Hard Knocks.
- Playing for Cowboys is a little like Hard Knocks all the time. There's always a camera. We hear from guys who leave, you don't understand it until you leave.
- Fiber is awesome. I can stream instantly. Our house was only one on street that didn't have it. Took me a year and a half of complaining to get it. I could only get a business line which was too much at $1,500 a month. They finally put it on our street.
- I don't have excessive screens at home. I'm an athlete. You do realize how many things I have to look at once.
- If you ever see a guy on TV taking a knee on sideline near bench, even though open seats. And then you see him spray a water bottle. He's covering up that he had to take a pee on sidelines. Sometimes you get caught in other facilities and nothing closer.
