Mark Grau: Hey guys, thanks for attending, I now open the floor to any and all questions!
Eric Clark: Hi Mark, Eric Clark of Top Notch Entertainment Magazine, I was wondering who would you say you've gotten closest to in the yeti locker room?
MG: Well I've been spending the majority of my time with the new rookie receiving sensation Howard Miller, as well as second year stud Dwayne Allen. We've been pushing each other in terms of perfecting everything about our game from hands to routes. It's been healthy competition and a great chance to learn and grow.
I've also spent a lot of time with our new starting quarter back Ryan Applehort getting timing down on routes as well as taking time to watch game film on the season 6 defenses to better our football IQ.
Lastly me and fellow rookie Desta Danger have been doing a lot of one on ones. Don't let him fool you, I've been getting up on him a few times! Laughs But really he's a great competitor and I think it's been good to go against him.
EC: What's been the biggest surprise since being drafted?
MG: Well it's the next step up. I would say that the biggest difference, not surprise, would be just how much more effort the guys up here. I don't mean to talk down on past teammates, they go hard in Portland too, but you can certainly see a new level of intensity. It makes sense, the game is faster in the NSFL and you need to be on the ball.
EC: How do you think you'll fit into the gameplan once you're called up next season?
MG: Well that's for the coaches to decide. Howard and Dwayne are an incredible duo and I think we're going to form an unstoppable 1, 2, 3 passing attack. Add in Carlito and I don't know how teams are going to defend us.
EC: How important is it to win an Ultimini before you join the NSFL full time? And that will be my last question, thanks for your time.
MG: Thanks Eric. Well it's obviously very important, I love Portland and want to take the trophy home this year, but next season I am committed to the NSFL.
Dan DiClemente: Hi Mark, Dan from Wild West Sports with a few questions. Are there any aspects of your game that you pride yourself on in particular?
MG: I feel that my strength is my route running ability. I can run every route in the tree due to my ability to make quick cuts, ability to fight for jump balls, ability to take hits across the middle, and ability to get past cornerbacks. I feel that my route running adds a great diversity to the types of plays that can be called.
DD: How do you differentiate yourself from other receivers in the league?
MG: I'd say my quality as a receiver, but there is so much talent in the NSFL that I would be hard pressed to say that currently. I'm a good receiver first, but I think the one thing that really sets me apart is my openness with the league and fans, for better and sometimes for worse.
DD: What do you think your biggest challenge as a player will be?
MG: Most definitely trying to become the top WR in the league. It's tough with so much talent in the NSFL, but I'm going to put in 100% effort and make it happen.
DD: Do you think that playing in the DSFL is the easy way out?
MG: Not in the least. It's a matter of Colorado already has a stacked WR roster for this year and I wouldn't have a spot unfortunately. That's okay, I'll be better prepared next year to jump into that third spot and roll with Yeti to the playoffs. Also, the DSFL is in no way easy, there's lots of talent there, a lot of great new guys and great return players. It's not going to be easy.
Freddie Beans: Ayo Mark, how do you feel about that embarrassing tantrum on draft night?
MG: Well that's one way to put it, but it's something that I've discussed and it's something that I've moved past and so has the Yeti organization.
FB: Who do you see been offensive rookie of the year and defensive rookie of the year?
MG: Easily my boys Howard Miller and Desta Danger.
Sam Lamar: Where are you on the "hot dog is a sandwich" spectrum?
MG: A hot dog is a sandwich, just don't put ketchup on it.
SL: Is a poptart a sandwich?
MG: Nah, that's a pre-packaged pastry.
SL: Why did you choose the WR position and your specific archetype?
MG: The position just feels natural to me, that doesn't mean I don't put in effort, but it feels right to me. And I've always been great at routes so I just worked on that more and more.
SL: Who is your favorite teammate on the Pythons?
MG: My boy Cole McCoy! We bonded immediately and it's going to be great to play with him one more year before we part ways in the NSFL.
SL: Which QB in the Nsfl would it be a dream to catch a TD from?
MG: Mike Boss, he's such a tremendous talent, I mean 5,500+ yards and 41 touchdowns? That's ridiculous!
SL: Which DB in the Nsfl would you want to go 1 on 1 with?
MG: Delacour from Baltimore. I'm not afraid of him. He's a dominate player, but I am too.
Sam Slev: Hi Mark, Sam from Bartop Media group, who is your most handsomest teammate?
MG: The mirror because it shows me! Just kidding, check out the smile on that Applehort guy. Can't not like him.
SS: Predictions for the pythons this season?
MG: Well we have new management, sort of, but I fully trust PFTN McCoy and the rest of my teammates to come and win that Ultimini. That's my prediction, Ultimini and I feel very confident in that.
SS: If you could've been claimed by anywhere but Portland last season, where would you have preferred and why?
MG: Portland is my DSFL team, I wouldn't want to have played anywhere else. Well that's it for the day guys, thanks!
(1,055 words, ready to be graded)
Eric Clark: Hi Mark, Eric Clark of Top Notch Entertainment Magazine, I was wondering who would you say you've gotten closest to in the yeti locker room?
MG: Well I've been spending the majority of my time with the new rookie receiving sensation Howard Miller, as well as second year stud Dwayne Allen. We've been pushing each other in terms of perfecting everything about our game from hands to routes. It's been healthy competition and a great chance to learn and grow.
I've also spent a lot of time with our new starting quarter back Ryan Applehort getting timing down on routes as well as taking time to watch game film on the season 6 defenses to better our football IQ.
Lastly me and fellow rookie Desta Danger have been doing a lot of one on ones. Don't let him fool you, I've been getting up on him a few times! Laughs But really he's a great competitor and I think it's been good to go against him.
EC: What's been the biggest surprise since being drafted?
MG: Well it's the next step up. I would say that the biggest difference, not surprise, would be just how much more effort the guys up here. I don't mean to talk down on past teammates, they go hard in Portland too, but you can certainly see a new level of intensity. It makes sense, the game is faster in the NSFL and you need to be on the ball.
EC: How do you think you'll fit into the gameplan once you're called up next season?
MG: Well that's for the coaches to decide. Howard and Dwayne are an incredible duo and I think we're going to form an unstoppable 1, 2, 3 passing attack. Add in Carlito and I don't know how teams are going to defend us.
EC: How important is it to win an Ultimini before you join the NSFL full time? And that will be my last question, thanks for your time.
MG: Thanks Eric. Well it's obviously very important, I love Portland and want to take the trophy home this year, but next season I am committed to the NSFL.
Dan DiClemente: Hi Mark, Dan from Wild West Sports with a few questions. Are there any aspects of your game that you pride yourself on in particular?
MG: I feel that my strength is my route running ability. I can run every route in the tree due to my ability to make quick cuts, ability to fight for jump balls, ability to take hits across the middle, and ability to get past cornerbacks. I feel that my route running adds a great diversity to the types of plays that can be called.
DD: How do you differentiate yourself from other receivers in the league?
MG: I'd say my quality as a receiver, but there is so much talent in the NSFL that I would be hard pressed to say that currently. I'm a good receiver first, but I think the one thing that really sets me apart is my openness with the league and fans, for better and sometimes for worse.
DD: What do you think your biggest challenge as a player will be?
MG: Most definitely trying to become the top WR in the league. It's tough with so much talent in the NSFL, but I'm going to put in 100% effort and make it happen.
DD: Do you think that playing in the DSFL is the easy way out?
MG: Not in the least. It's a matter of Colorado already has a stacked WR roster for this year and I wouldn't have a spot unfortunately. That's okay, I'll be better prepared next year to jump into that third spot and roll with Yeti to the playoffs. Also, the DSFL is in no way easy, there's lots of talent there, a lot of great new guys and great return players. It's not going to be easy.
Freddie Beans: Ayo Mark, how do you feel about that embarrassing tantrum on draft night?
MG: Well that's one way to put it, but it's something that I've discussed and it's something that I've moved past and so has the Yeti organization.
FB: Who do you see been offensive rookie of the year and defensive rookie of the year?
MG: Easily my boys Howard Miller and Desta Danger.
Sam Lamar: Where are you on the "hot dog is a sandwich" spectrum?
MG: A hot dog is a sandwich, just don't put ketchup on it.
SL: Is a poptart a sandwich?
MG: Nah, that's a pre-packaged pastry.
SL: Why did you choose the WR position and your specific archetype?
MG: The position just feels natural to me, that doesn't mean I don't put in effort, but it feels right to me. And I've always been great at routes so I just worked on that more and more.
SL: Who is your favorite teammate on the Pythons?
MG: My boy Cole McCoy! We bonded immediately and it's going to be great to play with him one more year before we part ways in the NSFL.
SL: Which QB in the Nsfl would it be a dream to catch a TD from?
MG: Mike Boss, he's such a tremendous talent, I mean 5,500+ yards and 41 touchdowns? That's ridiculous!
SL: Which DB in the Nsfl would you want to go 1 on 1 with?
MG: Delacour from Baltimore. I'm not afraid of him. He's a dominate player, but I am too.
Sam Slev: Hi Mark, Sam from Bartop Media group, who is your most handsomest teammate?
MG: The mirror because it shows me! Just kidding, check out the smile on that Applehort guy. Can't not like him.
SS: Predictions for the pythons this season?
MG: Well we have new management, sort of, but I fully trust PFTN McCoy and the rest of my teammates to come and win that Ultimini. That's my prediction, Ultimini and I feel very confident in that.
SS: If you could've been claimed by anywhere but Portland last season, where would you have preferred and why?
MG: Portland is my DSFL team, I wouldn't want to have played anywhere else. Well that's it for the day guys, thanks!
(1,055 words, ready to be graded)
WR/RB | Portland Pythons | Colorado Yeti Star RB | Awards Committee Member