CSC Interview: Second Year Study With Saints Cornerback Johnny Patrick (Part Two)

Recently, I was given the opportunity to interview two members of the New Orleans Saints defense who are entering their second year with the team: DE Martez Wilson and CB Johnny Patrick. (For those alert readers noticing something different here, I was unable to get the Nate Bussey interview scheduled before camp started - d'oh!)

Coincidentally, these players are sitting with a CSC scribe for their second round of interviews (Dave interviewed both of them right after the 2011 Draft, too), so I am calling this series of interviews my Second Year Study. Time will tell if we are fortunate enough to be around with these guys for a Third Year Review: Super Bowl Champs Edition series of interviews. (fingers crossed!!)

The second part of the second installment, with Johnny Patrick, is right here, right now, and it features mostly personal and/or non-Saints related football questions. The Saints-related section of the interview appeared earlier today.

In case you are interested, here is Part One and here is Part Two of Dave's 2011 interview with him.

Before you make the jump for the goods, please join me in thanking Johnny for taking the time to speak with me...

How was the DBs fishing trip you tweeted about last week?

Aw, it was great. It was kind of funny, actually, because me and Malcolm Jenkins are always trying to compete in stuff. He didn't catch any fish and I caught two, and even though our trip got cut short by the rain, I had a fun time doing that.

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Who organized the trip?

Malcolm Jenkins organized that trip. We do it every year. Last year it wasn't a good experience for me, because I got seasick. This year, we stayed in the shallow water and everything was good after that.

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I live in Louisville, watch a lot of Cardinals football, and must admit I was excited when the Saints picked you. How much do you follow the Cardinals football program now? How do you think they'll do in 2012?

Aw, man. I'm watching them a lot. Right now they got a good young quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. He's young and very talented, and he's going to do good things for that team. I still follow them. I'm a big fan of Coach (Charlie) Strong, so I'm excited for their program this year.

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What was your college experience like, both on and off the field?

It was a good experience. I had fun at the University of Louisville. I had good teammates. I came in with guys that I felt I couldn't play receiver, so actually, I moved over to corner. But the city, the atmosphere, the Kentucky Derby, and all that experience, everything was great.

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When did you first realize that you had a legitimate shot at being a professional football player? How did you come to this realization?

Football runs in my family. My whole family's talented, though, but I was the only one blessed and put in the opportunity to make it to the college level, graduate, and get into the NFL. My family has been all talented people, all put in situations. Going down from my Dad, I just felt like I've always wanted to play football, ever since I got it in my hands. Like I said, I've been playing since I was six, and it ran from me since then.

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Did you do anything big with money from your first NFL check or after you signed your first contract?

I didn't do anything huge. I'm saving up. I'm trying to take care of my responsibilities. Beyond that, this is not guaranteed money, it's a business, and everyone's got do what's right for them, so right now I'm being very careful with my situation that I'm in, and I'm just looking forward to that next big contract.

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What NFL player did you most admire/follow as a child?

Michael Vick and Devin Hester. Those are my favorite players that I always watched. I like Michael Vick because he's an athlete, and the same thing with Devin Hester. They can make plays and do everything. Every time you watch those players, something exciting is going to happen, and they're very talented. That's what I feel about myself. Even though I play defense, I feel like I could play offense, I feel like I can do whatever I need to do to help my team win. That's how I feel about those guys, and that's how I categorize myself. Not that I'm labelling myself after them, I just feel like they're very good athletes, and that's how I consider myself.

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Did you play any other sports growing up?

Yeah, I played basketball, and I ran track.

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Which one of those did you like better?

Track. I like running. I had more success running track. I had more exposure running track. I led the district in the 100 meters with a 10.5, and the 200 meters with a 21.7, and it took off for me. It was exciting. I love running, I love competing, and I feel like in an individual sport, there's nothing better than track, where you can really show what you can do.

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If you weren't playing football what do you think you'd be doing?

That's a good question. You know what, I'd probably be trying to coach football.

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Do you have any hobbies? How do you like to spend your free time?

Fishing, bowling, and playing video games. That's about it. Oh, I watch a TON of movies. I'm a big movie guy. That's what I enjoy doing also.

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What non-sports figure do you most admire? Why?

It's probably my Dad. My Dad helped me through a lot, and with him going through things, and just basically raising me on his own, because I didn't have my Mom in my life, I admire him a lot. Not many Dads do you hear in this world that do that. I admire him a lot, and I feel like for my success that I'm going through right now, it wouldn't be anything if it wasn't for him, because he helped me keep my head on my shoulders.

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This will appear on a website called Canal Street Chronicles - have you ever read it?

Yes. I picked it up maybe a few times last year. I peeked at it, but didn't really go through it and read everything on it, but I saw some things on it about the team, and pictures and stuff.

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Do you read stuff in the sports/news media about your team or you as an individual?

I try to stay away from that stuff, because some things can lead to other things, so I try to stay away from that.

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Is there anything you'd like to say to all the Saints fans?

Right now, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING, because we have the same goal in mind that we had last year. We are trying to win a Super Bowl. There's just a little adversity right now and we will get over that. We are still fighting for the big goal.

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...And thus ends the second part of the second installment of Second Year Study. I hope you enjoyed it, and I would certainly like to hear from you in the comment section.