Antonio Gibson | Washington Commanders RB

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For important information, visit Principle dot com slash disclosures. Washington running back Antonio Gibson. And it's timely, right, because of the narrative around running backs this off season.

But I got to start with something that's not quite so deep. I asked him, what are the emotions as you finally get closer and week one kickoff draws near? Man, super excited, you know, finally put together at that long OTA training camp where we, you know, we finally work for to finally put that to work.

We want to try to do you get tired of seeing your own teammates and going to get your own teammates day after day for weeks? No, I feel like we go against one of the best defenses every day. So, you know, that's just getting us ready for whoever we got to go. But that might be me being a little biased, but I believe that. How critical will that defensive line be for your success this season?

You're right. Oh, I feel like, you know, offensive line gets the best of the best every day. So, you know, that's just that just gives them a step ahead when, you know, we got to go out and, you know, compete against somebody else. Not saying that those guys aren't going to know everybody get paid.

But I feel like we go against some of the best guys every day. So that just gives us the upper hand, even as you get ready to kick off the season. I saw some cool photos on your Twitter where you were taking pictures with fans and signing items for kids. Why is that important to you to do to connect with fans? Just to give back. That was something I did.

I didn't get a chance to do growing up. And, you know, a lot of guys from my area, like people didn't come back and give back. So I always take time out to those who, you know, probably won't be able to get that moment every every now and then. So, you know, they come out to support us. So why not show a little bit of love? Oh, my gosh, I think you made their life. They were so happy.

Some of these kiddos in the photos. That's awesome, Antonio. So we've had a major conversation around the commander's offense this year with Eric B enemy. So I want to know what's different with him as your offensive coordinator. Oh, just the mentality, the expectations, the details. You know, what he expects from us is just greatness.

So, you know, he picks at everything. And, you know, for some, it might be a little annoying, but it's what you need from a coach. And, you know, you have to take that coach and you got to be able to. He's been on the team that has seen success. And, you know, they made it to where we want to be. So, you know, I feel like it's what we need. And I feel like everybody's been accepting it. And, you know, that's that's why we where we are, where we are now. And, you know, we feel good about going into the season. Yeah. How much does it matter that he comes from a Chiefs organization that has hosted five straight AFC championships and has been to three Super Bowls in five years?

Doesn't matter too much. It's just the fact that, you know, he knows what it takes. So, you know, you know, it's kind of like what he says, you know, it's like, hey, man, kind of listen.

Like, you know, he's been there before. So you just want to listen. But at the end of the day, we still have to put in the work to get where we need to be. So, you know, it matters to the standpoint of, you know, trusting the guy, you know, like this, you know, taking his word for a lot of things. But on the other hand, at the end of the day, we got to put in the work and we got to do our part to get there. I always appreciated when a coach pushed me or when a coach challenged me. It made me feel like he expected or she expected more of me.

Exactly. So let's talk about your quarterback to Antonio, because somehow there's a lot of buzz around him. We've been hearing about it from Coach Rivera and others throughout the offseason OTAs in camp. What tells you that he's ready for this job? Just the confidence he walks around with and what he plays with. He's comfortable in the huddle. He gets guys where they need to be. He's not in the huddle panicking, fumbling words or, you know, telling guys the wrong things. And when you see that and when a guy who can sit back in that pocket, step up, go through all his reads and hit that last check down, go through all his reads and feel comfortable enough to sit in the pocket, I feel like that's when you know a guy's ready. You know, we were rocking with him and I can't wait for him to prove a lot of people wrong. Yeah.

Excited to see what happens. We're spending a few minutes with Antonio Gibson from the commanders running back position. It's after hours here on CBS Sports Radio. Of course, every running back in the league has been part of this narrative over the last month or so with running backs not getting paid or being franchise tagged. So I want to ask you, because you're in it every day, Antonio, how valuable are running backs in the NFL? I feel like very valuable. We're in a position to where we take blows every every play.

I know a lot of people saying running back, but I feel like every position out there, like people got families. Man, we're risking our lives to play a game that we love. So, you know, I feel like, you know, pay the guys, especially the guys that, you know, who this mainly evolves around. Like, I mean, those guys deserve it right now. So, you know, give those guys what they deserve. They've been some of the top backs in the league for for a minute now. And they proven that like they work for that.

So why not pay them? You know what I'm saying? So that's just a tough situation. But I mean, I'm not in that position right now. So hopefully when that time comes, you know, they show love. But, you know, I feel like everybody deserves to get paid and not just us.

I feel like everybody should get paid. Right. It's not like the NFL is hurting for cash.

Exactly. So, Antonio, you mentioned the pounding. Your position takes a ton of hits. How do you try to stay healthy and try to stay fresh over the course of what's a really long season? You just have to have a routine.

It could be from massage to having, you know, somebody outside of the, you know, to get extra work on when when the guys in the facility can. So I feel like just having that routine that you used to and that you're comfortable with, you know, throughout the week, throughout the season, you got to maintain that. That's how you maintain throughout that long season. I keep seeing a lot of fantasy football buzz about you. Hey, draft Antonio in this round or that round. He's going to be a sleeper in fantasy. Do you play fantasy? I am. So honestly, I could care less about fantasy.

It is a nice compliment, though. Make sure you grab Antonio Gibson. Now, you and you and Brian Robinson ended up splitting carries at the end of last year.

His story is incredible, of course. But how much does that help when you have someone else that you can share the load with? Oh, just being able to stay fresh and knowing that, you know, when not to wish this on anybody, but when one guy goes down, you know, the next guy is up. But when one guy gets by, you know, you got somebody who can come in and do the same thing. So that's just, you know, to be able to compliment off each other. And that helps the team to know that you got, you know, a couple running backs who can all run the ball and do what they need to do for the team.

So got a lot of that. I hear about the fans in Washington, the passion, certainly the fact that they will be vocal and they'll express themselves. How much fun is it to have a fan base that cares so much like the commanders fans?

Just to get the positive feedback now, you know, instead of the negative. So this is something, you know, hopefully we get that support throughout the whole season. You know, they'll come out for all the games and get it back to what it used to be. Not like I'm telling you anything you don't know, but the commanders, the only team in the division not to make the playoffs last year. How tough is the NFC East?

Oh, very tough. I feel like on the defensive side, some of the best, best defensive teams in the league, if you ask me. So, you know, that's tough for offense. But I feel like this year, we're going to put it together with this new system.

You know, we're going to get it going. But, you know, we got to take it day by day, game by game. So we start with week one. How much does it prepare you, though, when you go up against division games and division opponents that are so tough? Just, you know, throughout the season, you know, we played those guys five years. So, you know, when we see those other guys, you know, we're already on edge because, you know, we play against some of the best as it is. So I feel like, you know, once we once we play against those guys, you know, it kind of gives us an up or we're already coming into the game. You know, you know, we're looking at. So I feel like it gives us the edge. What I love is that in division rivalries, teams are not intimidated by the crowds, by the atmosphere and certainly by the opponent.

Yeah. As I said, at the end of the day, they bleed like we bleed, they breathe like we breathe, they walk like we walk. So I feel like it's just a matter of who comes out there and perform that day.

You know, I don't feel like any NFL team is sorry. So, you know, they just come to perform that day. And, you know, you have to be the best on that day.

Antonio Gibson with us here after hours, CBS Sports Radio looking ahead to week one. What do you need to do to come out of the gate strong? Just set the tone. You can't you can't have those, you know, come out slow and then try to pick it up the second half. You got to come out swinging and you got to keep it there. So so that's the game plan. You want to come out hard and finish strong. You don't want to have those start strong.

And then second have you kind of fall off or start slow and then second half, try to pick it up. You you got to have that fight throughout the whole four quarters. And that's the plan. All right. Well, I'll be looking for that as we watch the commanders open up the season. A lot of promise there, a lot of buzz, as you point out.

Antonio, stay healthy, first of all. And thanks so much for a couple of minutes. All right.

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