Are the coaches harder on you at the NFL level?
"They're not actually. ... They are trying to get everybody better and they know you're trying to get better. They encourage you. The older guys are always encouraging, too."

What's head coach Romeo Crennel like?
"My head coach is a real smart, unique person. He's in the practice, he's not one of those coaches who rides around on the cart all day. He checks out the practices. He corrects players during practice. For instance, the other day there was something I didn't do right and he pulls me aside and tells me how to do it better. He doesn't even have a cart, he wants to make sure everything's going smoothly."

What are some different strategies you picked up for defending passes that you hadn't learned in college?
"We play a different type of technique here. We play the bail technique - we're not square like we were in college. [In the bail technique the cornerback is half turned towards the inside of the field and retreats sideways]. We're almost doing the same thing but ... I play off the ball more than I usually did."

The bail technique helps you from being beat deep?
"Not just that but it keeps you visual to the offense so you can see everything on the field."

Why didn't you use this technique at Fresno State?
[Squaring] is just the technique that coach Randy Stewart liked. ... We bailed but only bailed on certain calls... To be honest with you, I played square to the line so much I'm comfortable with that, but bailing was not a big adjustment for me. I like playing both."

Who is the most talented DB on your team? Do you go to him for advice?
Our two starters [second-year players Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright] are very talented and young. ... They're very athletic and skilled people. ...
I do [ask them questions] all the time. They help me out and make sure that we do know the calls because if we don't know the calls we won't play. I go to them all the time. The thing about NFL people is, they've been in the league a long time so they know what they're doing and understand the tricks of the trade to stay in the league. They understand things that need to be done. ... I add them to the things I do to make myself better."

Who's the most talented receiver on your team? Braylon Edwards?
Edwards - Yeah, Braylon. [Edwards caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Browns last season. Only tight end Kellen Winslow caught more passes (82). Edwards led the team in receiving yards and touchdown receptions.] He's got me a few times. Going against all the receivers you have to bring your hard hat. You have to go out there and hold your own when you go against them. All the receivers are different. ... With Braylon's size, you think he can just catch the deep ball but he can run all the routes."

Has your family moved out to Cleveland? Where do they live?
My family hasn't moved out here. We're not going to do that unless I make the team.

Do you get to talk to your daughter [2 ½ year-old Jaelyn] often?
I call every day to talk to her.

Is it hard to be away from her?
It's hard being away from my family period. I'm all the way in Cleveland. Most important is my daughter. Being away from her is crazy. She's getting bigger. Every day she does something new and I don't get to see her because I'm out here. But I have a job to do. I have to provide for her future. She's a unique individual at the age of 2. I miss that. I wish I could be there. I wish she could be here with me. Being a father is one of the best feelings a man can have, especially having a daughter -- a beautiful daughter like I have."