During Tuesday’s media availability with select Miami Dolphins players, linebacker Jaelan Phillips let it slip that left tackle Patrick Paul, often seen as a quiet individual off the field, is a “s***-talker” on the field. Paul, entering his second year in the league and his first as the team’s starting left tackle, was a second-round pick by Miami last year, seeing playing time when Terron Armstead was unable to play. Paul assumes the starting role this year after Armstead’s retirement, and it seems like he is ready to run with the opportunity.
On Wednesday, Paul met with the media and was immediately asked about his trash talking on the field. “I think it makes it fun,” Paul explained. “One of my favorite athletes growing up was [UFC fighter] Conor McGregor and I liked his approach to it. He beat people before he even went up against them, just purely off of getting in their head. It depends on the person, depends on the day they are having and also their approach. But it is easy to get under someone’s skin, it doesn’t even have to be something crazy. Just something minute, like a laughter when you are locking somebody up, that will get them, I’m not going to lie. It depends on the person, and you just have to have fun with it.”
“I think it makes it fun”
Asked specifically if he is chirping at Phillips when he wins a battle, Paul replied, “That’s a true statement. He doesn’t like that, but it is just competing at the same thing. That’s my brother, we are actually neighbors, so we’re real close. It’s all love.
“You do [have to back up the trash talking],” he continued. “If you are going to do it, you must win. That’s the other aspect to it that makes you go harder.”
“If you are going to do it, you must win.“
Asked how deep he goes with the trash-talking, Paul replied, “I’ll stay pretty surface level. I’m not going to do deep like [talking about eighth-grade girlfriends]. I’ll stick to like the laughter, the little annoying things to do to somebody. I’m not going to get deep with it, not at all.”
Turning toward the Dolphins upcoming joint practice with and preseason game against the Chicago Bears, Paul explained his feelings toward being able to hit someone no on the Dolphins’ roster. “I’m excited,” he said. “I’m excited to finally get to go over there, get out of this heat. We are going to be flying around.”
“To whoop up on them.“
When asked about what his goal is for the practice with the Bears, Paul immediately responded, “To whoop up on them.”
You can check out the entire media availability from Paul, including his discussion of getting better as an individual and an offensive line unit, here:
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