Giants cornerback Deonte Banks will sit down with Washington Post columnist Steve Selby for a Q&A about training camp.
Q: Who do you think is the best cornerback in football right now?
A: I haven’t seen him yet, but this year it’s Tay Banks. But so far I really like Pat Surtin…his technique, his footwork…I like him.
Q: What about Sauce Gardner?
A: I like sauce too. I love sauce.
Q: Will it be on the same topic as The Source and Sartin?
A: I don’t really like comparing myself to other people, but I plan on being one of the best cornerbacks in the league.
Q: Best one or ***** *****of The best?
A: The best, one of the best, whatever you want to call it, because different people have different rankings.
Q: Do you see great things happening in your future?
A: Yes, 100% (laughs)… I won’t lie.
Q: Has it always been like that?
A: Yes. When I was younger, people would say I was really ahead of my time.
Q: What is this about?
A: When I was younger, I was focused on going to the NFL.
Q: Where do you think that drive comes from?
A: I think it was my parents. They always worked hard. They always told me, “You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it.” I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to the NFL. I always had it in my mind. It was always in my head.
Q: Tell us about yourself off the field.
A: Confident, silly, goofy, funny, lively, energetic. …these are just a few.
Q: Give us an example of something stupid.
A: I like to laugh a lot, so that’s what I do.
Q: Do you like comedians?
A: Oh, I love Kevin Hart (laughs).
Q: If you weren’t a football player, would you ever want to be a comedian?
A: No, I’m not a stand-up comedian.
Q: I’ve heard some of your teammates describe you as “stupid” or “idiot.” Why is that?
A: I’m a really energetic person. I like to laugh and I like to be really cool. … I don’t think there’s much point in being serious or angry, you know? There’s no point in being stiff.
Q: Were you ever angry as a child?
A: No. I’ve always been like this (laughs). I’ve been like this my whole life.
Q: But on the field, there’s no room for goofy or stupid behavior.
A: Oh, no, no, no. But you can have fun outside. That’s not it.
Q: So how would you describe your mentality on the field?
A: The person in front of me can’t really embarrass me. You have to be better than me or show me how good you are.
Q: Are you good at swearing?
A: I don’t think there’s anything good or bad about badmouthing others. I just think it’s important to know how to say it.
Q: Who is the most talkative man?
A: DK was the one who talked the most. [Metcalf].
Q: Does that motivate you?
A: I’m not too excited about it, because it’s part of the game and it’s part of me, so I’m not too excited about it, that’s who I am.
Q: The guys you’ll be facing in the first seven weeks of the season are Justin Jefferson, Terry McLaurin, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, DK Metcalf, Ja’Marr Chase and AJ Brown. What do you think about this lineup?
A: There are four players who have already played: DK, CeeDee, AJ and Terry McLaurin.
Q: That’s an amazing lineup.
A: Well, I guess you could say that. For me it’s not a big deal. I just play football and do my thing.
Q: Do you like the challenge?
A: Yes.
Q: Who was your favorite cornerback when you made the transition from receiver in high school?
A: I loved Patrick Peterson. When he first came on, I really fell in love with the punt return. It’s one of the most exciting plays in football.
Q: Were you a punt returner?
A: Yes, in high school. The kid I took in got called back.
Q: Have you ever said to Coach Daboll, “Hey…”
A: I told him, “Please use me for the kickoff.”
Q: Were you a punt returner or a kickoff returner?
A: I did both.
Q: Which one did you like better?
A: I prefer kickoff returns because there’s a blocker in front of me (laughs).
Q: Have you seen “Hard Knocks”?
A: I watched two episodes.
Q: What did you think?
A: That’s cool. I like it. It kind of shows how the front office guys think.
Q: Giants coach Brian Daboll is skinny, but can he run the 40-yard dash in under seven seconds?
A: I think you can. It’s my dog, so I think you can!
Q: What do you like about playing in New York?
A: I just love this city. I love it here and I love the people here. I love it here.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the city?
A: Shopping and going to restaurants a lot.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant?
A: I really love Brooklyn Chop House and I also love Hunt and Fish Club.
Q: Can you imagine what it would be like to be a star in New York?
A: Yes, that’s what I’m planning on doing this year.
Q: What do you think that would be like?
A: I mean, I’m thinking about it, but I haven’t really thought too hard about it. But I know it’s coming soon.
Q: What kind of impact can Malik Neighbors make as a rookie?
A: A big one. A big one.
Q: What is he like off the field?
A: He’s really competitive. … We both hate to lose, I’m not gonna lie (laughs). I even have a mini basketball hoop at home.
Q: How tall is the mini hoop?
A: Probably about five or six feet.
Q: So you play one-on-one in softball.
A: Just the jump shot.
Q: Who has the best jump shot?
A: He hit me the other day. To be honest, I’m still upset about it (laughs).
Q: Tell us about Wan’Dale Robinson.
A: He’s really quick. He knows how to get to this place, how to get to that place quickly.
Q: Jalyn Hyatt.
A: Speed guy.
Q: What’s it like playing behind Brian Barnes, Kayvon Thibodeau and Dexter Lawrence?
A: That’s cool. I’ve never played behind them like that before.
Q: How would you describe Sexy Dixie’s dance?
A: I’m not a big fan of the dancing. I mean, when he dances, of course I love it, but I don’t dance (laughs). I definitely don’t dance!
Q: What can you tell us about new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen?
A: He’s a really cool guy.
Q: How does the new system affect you?
A: It doesn’t have any particular impact on me.
Q: Bobby Okereke.
A: Bobby and I became close right away. He knew how hard I worked and I knew how hard he worked, so we just clicked right away.
Q: What do you think about using Saquon Barkley twice a year?
A: That’s the reality. He’s a member of the Eagles. He’s on schedule.
Q: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told Giants fans, “We got the best player.”
A: Honestly, I don’t care what the masses say. It’s not my thing. People can say what they want and they will say anything.
Q: What did you think about Xavier McKinney going to the Packers?
A: I was hurt when he left. I was really close to him.
Q: What do you think about rookie safety Tyler Nubin?
A: I’m willing to learn. We even had a little handshake (laughs).
Q: If you could test your skills against any receiver in NFL history, who would you choose?
A: Hands down, the greatest of all time is said to be Jerry Rice.
Q: Have you had more interceptions than any quarterback in NFL history?
A: Tom Brady. Easy (laughs).
Q: You were selected twice last year. What are your goals for this year?
A: Yes, but I don’t like talking about my goals. I like to keep them personal.
Q: What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome?
A: I [left] Shoulder surgery at university [Maryland]I had never been through anything this hard before. My junior year, I got injured in the second game and missed the rest of the season.
Q: What was it like emotionally?
A: It was a really dark time for me, because I had never been away from football. I was in a really dark place. But I got through it. … Sometimes you don’t really know how much you need something until you lose it.
Q: When did you get the number 3 tattooed on your left arm?
A: It was during OTA. … My birthday is March 3rd. I was born on the third day of the month, in the third month of the year.
Q: Are you one of the most stylish people on the team?
A: I think so. From a natural fashion point of view, I think so. For me, some of these things are not flattering. To tell you the truth, I don’t like things that are very fitted.
Q: How would you describe your fashion style?
A: I mix a little bit of everything, but I always stay true to myself. I never leave my body.
Q: Where is your favorite place to shop?
A: I shop everywhere, but in New York, it’s a store called “Patron of the New York.”
Q: Are there three dinner guests?
A: Deion [Sanders], [Le]Bron [James] Stephen Curry.
Q: Why Dion?
A: He’s the greatest player to ever play our position, so… I’d like to hear a little bit about him.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: “Friday.” Every Friday.
Q: Who is your favorite actor?
A: Ice cubes.
Q: Who is your favorite rapper?
A: Lil Baby and Gunna.
Q: What’s your favorite meal?
A: I love anything chicken related…like chicken alfredo.
Q: What did last year’s loss feel like for you?
A: It was a bit tough. I’m not the type to show my emotions very much… Of course I do, but I always have a positive attitude towards everything. [Baltimore]I don’t take this for granted at all because I’m not even supposed to be here.
Q: Why shouldn’t you be here?
A: Because some people my age aren’t going to live to be 18, 19, 20. A lot of the people I played football with are either dead, in prison, or not playing the sport anymore. A lot of them are on the streets. So I’m just blessed to be here and I’m going to keep doing what I do every day.
Q: Have you lost a close friend?
A: A few people have passed away. Kylie Jackson and Isaiah Hazell both passed away. [in a July 6 car crash in Upper Marlboro, Md.]There were three of us. [also Anthony Lytton Jr.].
Q: What was your immediate reaction?
A: It was a shock. I had a barbecue on the Fourth of July. They came to my barbecue.
Q: Are you proud of yourself?
A: 100 percent.
Q: Please tell me the reason.
A: I could have been easily distracted. I could have done this next thing or I could have easily been distracted, but I was focused.
Q: Who was your biggest influence growing up?
A: My parents, my father. [Jamal] Yeah. … He held me accountable for a lot of the things I was doing. … I came home with a bad report card one time. [10th grade]I was taking difficult classes and I just couldn’t finish them. … He was just like, ‘If you’re going to college or a DI school, you shouldn’t be doing this.’ He wasn’t mad, he was just disappointed in me.
Q: What was the class like?
A: Trigonometry… (laughs) …Come on!
Q: How many points did you get?
A: I think he probably got a D. You barely get a C, so I think it was a shock to him.
Q: How did you feel when you stood on stage to receive your degree in Family Science?
A: I wanted to do it for my grandma. [Yvonne Banks].
Q: Was she at the ceremony?
A: Yes.
Q: What message do you have for Giants fans about Tay Banks?
A: They’re going to get players who are going to play relentlessly and want to win. They’re not going to lose. That’s not what I’m trying to do. They’re going to get the next contender, the challenger. … I’m going to play relentlessly.
Q: What message do you have for this year’s team?
A: We’re going to go as far as we want, it’s our responsibility to do so.
