Everything S Ryan Neal said in his introductory press conference

“It’s funny – it’s not really a welcome. I’ve been telling people, I’ve been down here for the past four to five years – I train down here. It’s like home, part two, to me. This is a sweet opportunity, for real. I couldn’t pass it up – I could not pass it up. Like I said, what better place to be than Tampa? I love it down here, love the energy and the familiarity. I’m glad to be here.”

“It definitely caught me off guard. It’s kind of been a funky, funny process these past couple of months – it’s been really emotional, really, but I’ve got nothing but love for them over there. Sometimes you just may not be part of the future plans and that’s just the way the business goes. Like I said, I’m glad to be here – the opportunity to come here, you couldn’t say no to it. I see there is a need and like my dad always raised me up, it’s not usually going to the best team but where you’re needed. It’s a blessing to be here and all I plan on doing is bringing my piece to the table and trying to find a way to enhance this team, this defense – whatever I’m asked to do, just find a way to make it better. I’m excited to be here and glad to do that.”

“That was definitely appealing. My goal was just to show the league that I’m a legit starter. I’ve been in Seattle the past couple of years [and] had my chances to go and flash and show [people]. Last year was really big and this year I just want to make that set in stone – set the statement: I’m a starting safety. I want to come here and add value to the defense – I never want to take away from a room, you always want to add to it. I can’t wait to meet my teammates, the rest of my coaches – anywhere I can add value, that’s my whole goal this year.”

“Oh, absolutely. Even game-to-game, we’ll watch tape on them for the teams we would be playing and stuff like that – one thing about [Todd Bowles] is he’s a mastermind. He never ran the same thing so it was kind of hard trying to figure out what was going on. It was like, who’s doing what? You don’t know who’s doing what, who’s going where. I think it’ll be really cool for me. I’ve done a lot of different things in our defense for the past four years – been in multiple positions. It’ll be cool to see how [versatile] I can be. I’m looking forward to the challenge, man. I’m always looking to see if I can affect the game anywhere – that’s always been a goal of mine. I’m excited to play for Coach [Bowles] – it’ll definitely be exciting.”

“I just like playing football – that’s the way I look at it. You can put a position on it but the way our game is changing now, there’s just X’s – there are no more positions. You just see a lot of guys who do a lot of different things – a bunch of hybrids. You can see that’s the way the game is going. If you’re a football player, you love it because you get to do anything and everything. For me, I’m comfortable with anything – I just like playing. Being on the field is fun, so wherever I’m at, I’m always cool with that.”

“It’s everything you’ve been working for. My first three years were, ‘Ok, can I scratch a roster?’ I’m trying to make a roster, I’m trying to make a team. You finally make a team then you get your role on special teams and it was like, ‘Alright, let me just do my role here, ball out here, make noise, affect the game.’ When push comes to shove, you start getting little opportunities. It’s definitely great to finally get a chance to try and put it all together – all the things that I’ve learned and all the things that I’ve been through: grinding it out, undrafted, all of that. I’ve been through kind of the roughest way to get here to this point. It makes you grateful, but it also sets you apart and I understand that. I wear that with a badge of pride. Just being able to come here and finally get the chance, it’s an opportunity – it’s what I was looking for and I found it. It’s time to take advantage of it.”

“I’ve been watching my brother since he played football – from high school, being on the sidelines as a little kid, when he went to Purdue I was still at all the games, Green Bay… I call him my mentor for a reason – he’s been in my ear all the way [since] high school to college to now. He’s out here so it’s kind of cool. My brother was everything to me – he was a super hero to me – first generation millionaire in my family, first Super Bowl champion in my family. Seeing all of that, you really soak it up. You really soak it up and it’s like, ‘Oh God, I’ve got to do this now. I have to do it.’ He definitely inspired me, he’s probably my biggest inspiration for football and everything. Definitely glad to be out in the backyard with him – it’s going to be fun. I’m excited.”

“They’re real pros. One thing about the defense – they’re fast. They fly around. The linebackers are extremely fast. Play to play, they are just A-to-B like nothing. But [they’re a] really professional team, well prepared of course – everything executed great. That Germany trip was already a hassle – you all did it the best way, I’m not going to lie. It was fun but boy it was a long trip for us. Playing in that game, the atmosphere was awesome. Just to have the chance to play against ‘12’ (Tom Brady) and a Super Bowl winning team, it’s always a good thing to do. I had fun doing it and playing against the caliber of players here. Finally being a part of it is dope – I’m really looking forward to that, man. I love all the pieces that they have and like I said a moment ago, how can I add mine and make us even better? I’m looking forward to playing with everybody.”

“[Deadrin] Senat – I was in Atlanta with him my rookie year. Last year – a lot of guys are gone – but  I played with [Keanu Neal], Julio [Jones], all those types of guys. But it’ll be kind of new for me here. It’s a new team and I’m really excited to know them. I’m big on brotherhood, really. I just like being a part of the group – I hate being new. I’m like, ‘Just get me up to speed – I hate being new, being the new kid on the block.’ One thing I do love is being on a team full of guys who just care about going and balling – that’s fun to me and that’s what it’s been my entire career, no matter where I’ve been.”

“Oh yeah he’s got game, I love his game. In the post he’s a dog, anywhere you put him he’s a dog. But I just love the way he hits, he’s physical, he goes after the ball, [and] he can do everything you ask him to do. So, I’m excited to pair up with him, I can’t wait to reach out to him and say what’s up and build this chemistry up. I’m looking forward to it and trying to get this thing rolling so, I’m excited to play with him.”

“A dude who just plays with will and plays with desperation. That’s the best way I can describe it. I just play fast, I give it everything I’ve got and that’s kind of how I’ve been. Like I said, my journey’s based off that so it shows when I play. Just the passion of it, the desperation of it, trying to get from ‘point A’ to ‘point B’ as fast as you can, and just really trying to be consistent. I think that is the one thing that I pride myself on is just being consistent. You never want to be great one day and then terrible the next time or terrible all the time, you just want to be consistently great at all times. So, I think what you’re going to get out of me is just a consistently good football player who is just going to leave everything out there on the field every time he plays. That’s just how I base it.”

“No, it’s a new chapter now. I actually had a conversation with one of my closest friends the other day and I was just talking to him about the scars that I’ve been through and everything. He was like, ‘Well you do understand one day you’re not that guy anymore.’ You’ve got to move on because if you stay back there you can’t grow. You have to understand, yeah that was you but now it’s a different time. Being here just starts a new chapter for me. So, the underdog mentality is cool but now it’s not that anymore. It’s time to step into what you need to step into and go ahead. So, new page, new day.”

“I haven’t seen Canales, man I need to see him, my boy. God, I need to see him. I’m like ‘Where [is] he at?’ I’ve sure been looking for him. In fact, me and [Special Teams Coach] Keith Armstrong, he was with me in Atlanta too, crazy [guy] – [he] got me right though, I appreciate him. I can’t wait to join the staff with Dave and [Wide Receivers Coach] Brad [Idzik], he’s here too, I’m excited to be with him too, so it’s cool.”

“Yeah, I’ve been down here for the past four years. At the time it was ASPI (Applied Science & Performance Institute), I was over there pre-draft, [I’ve] been training there. Then I was over at Saddlebrook for two-three years and I train down in Sarasota now but I’m really familiar with the area. It’s a second home for me, I’ve been jet-skiing in Siesta Key and I’ve done everything so it’s going to be cool, I’m excited. Like I said, it’s like a second home for me so coming here the opportunity was great. Being able to come here and get the familiarities that is one less thing I’ve got to worry about. It just helps me focus on the task at hand which is football.”

“The guy at the helm, if you believe in yourself, that’s all we need. It doesn’t matter about the name [or] what has been done. If you see [Seattle quarterback] Geno [Smith], [he’s] been in the league for 10-11 years, been a backup the majority of it and finally gets his chance. I look at a guy like myself, you take three-four years to scratch a roster, you finally get it, [and] you’re making stuff happen. So, it’s never something to be worried about it’s just, ‘Is the quarterback confident in himself?’ And then if he’s confident in himself it’s going to bleed through the whole team. Then he’s going to get the confidence from us and after that, you just ride out. That’s kind of just what it was this past year with Seattle. I was like, ‘He’s confident, he believes, we believe too. We’re just going to believe, we’re riding with you, you’re the guy.’ So we’re riding with you right or wrong and he definitely felt that love. Whoever’s up to bat for the quarterback [spot] here, it’s going to be the same thing and it’s the same thing for me. Earn your keep, earn your respect among your teammates, earn the confidence from your teammates and we’re riding out. So, it’s nothing to be scared of it’s just change is inevitable. You’ve just got to roll with it. So, heck yeah.”

“I’m hitting that thing tonight if they give it to me if they give it to me, seriously. Like I said, [I] hate being new I’d rather be caught up to speed as fast as possible so as soon as they hand me the playbook I’m going to be at home going, ‘ok, let me get this right’ because I’m trying to figure this out so I play fast and just be the best I can be for the team. As soon as I get it I’m on it.”

“I don’t know, I hope so. I want it. I want 26 bad but if I’ve got to change the number, it’ll be [the] fourth different number in four years. So, hopefully, I can get 26.”