Ken Washington: Player Spotlight Of The Week
Yesterday I got to speak with defensive linemen and captain Kendrick Washington. Here is what he had to say about the season and the coming up championship!
Thomas Amster
Great game this weekend, congrats on that touchdown. I remember we talked earlier in the season. I believe in Carolina, and you said, that'd be one of your favorite things to do on the field to score touchdowns congratulations on that. So, going into this final week of the season, thankfully going to the championship, how has practice been this week?
Ken Washington
Today will be the first day so we're probably just gonna watch a little film and you know try to rest up as much as we can. We know at the end of the day we're professionals and we know it's football so we know we got to tackle, we know we got to block we know what we've got to do. So today we're probably just gonna take a lot of time and watch film and hang out as a team, as opposed to going out there trying to beat up body.
Thomas Amster
So this season had a lot of highs but also some lows. Mainly just the two losses and some injuries here and there but how do you feel about this coming game, now that we are approaching the end?
Ken Washington
They (Albany) called us early for the first game of the season, they called us four days before the game that you know, you guys got to play this weekend. Then the second game (against Albany), we beat ourselves we shot ourselves in the foot. And I'd take nothing away from them. They're a good team, but I know if we don't beat ourselves we could do better. And coach preaches that every game then as a captain I try to preach it to the defense or what not. But we can't shoot our own self in the foot you can't take your own gun and shoot yourself in the foot and if you do that, of course, like it's gonna cause you pain and it's gonna hurt so if we don't shoot ourselves in the foot I like our chances of coming out on top.
Thomas Amster
Great, so, what is one thing that you feel like you have gotten better with on the field this year?
Ken Washington
I want to say just simply playing hard even though I'm one of the older guys, so now I am just showing and trying to teach it. Show the younger guys the game or let them understand different things, or watching film and how easy this game will be if you know where the offense is trying to go or what someone is trying to do. But more on the field I just got better at just bringing energy and trying to keep up with the young guys.
Thomas Amster
Awesome. Your skills best match what famous football player? If you had to compare yourself to one who would it be?
Ken Washington
I will probably say Julius Peppers, I was a Julius Peppers guy growing up. Big athletic guy and I can make plays that I'm not supposed to make so I'll say Julius Peppers.
Thomas Amster
You mentioned you were at the school this morning. What do you do outside of football?
Ken Washington
Outside of football, I'm a special education teacher. And then I also work at the Boys and Girls Club.
Thomas Amster
That's awesome. So you would say that giving back to community and children are important to you?
Ken Washington
Yes, it's definitely important giving someone something that I didn't get a chance to get on. Or when I did get the chance, then knowing the way it helped me. And hopefully I can help someone else or inspire someone else to stay on the right track.
Thomas Amster
That is fantastic. So, who is a teammate you respect or admire and why, if you had to choose only one?
Ken Washington
Man, if I had to choose one. I don't know, a lot of people know his backstory but I would probably say Kewan Alfred just understanding his backstory, you know, six, seven months ago. His life almost was taken away from him, from something senseless from somebody shooting him. And him fighting back from that to being able to walk on the field but also him basically being told he was paralyzed, doctors told him he was paralyzed and he wouldn't walk or play the game of football again and to see his passion and stuff, day in and day out. I would say that is something that is admirable. Even though, like I say, I'm one of the older guys but he's younger and you can always learn from somebody and draw from their stories and stuff like that but I would say (Kewan) Alfred would probably be the one. His story... if you understood his story a lot of people will understand where I am coming from.
Thomas Amster
That is incredible. And then finally how do you feel about the game this weekend and what's your prediction?
Ken Washington
I wouldn't give a prediction right now, like I said earlier, as long as we do what we're supposed to do as lions and we don't shoot ourselves in the foot and we don't hurt ourselves. I would like our chances. I know the guys we have in the locker room so I am excited.
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