Rosevelt Colvin Q&A

FOXBOROUGH – Outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin spoke with reporters this morning at Gillette Stadium and touched on his return to the Patriots. He will wear No. 95.

Some of the Q&A:

How does it feel to be back here?
“It’s mixed emotions. It’s a good opportunity to come back and see people I have some history with, a good chance to run around, play football for a couple games. I have some personal situations I’m dealing with, but it’s what I’ve known in my life for the last 14 years. Like I said, either way I would have been fine, not getting an opportunity or getting an opportunity. I’m thankful for it, so hopefully I can produce and some good things will come out of it.”

Was it expected?
“No, again, I wasn’t sitting around searching for an opportunity. I always said, if the opportunity presented itself, I’d review it with my wife and we’d go from there. A.D. [Adalius Thomas], his inability to play a couple of weeks ago sort of triggered something in my mind that it may be a possibility. I guess the situation has come here for me, and I stand before you today.”

Did you get other calls?
“I’ve gotten a couple calls, but nothing serious. I’ve said for a long time that I am content, and I have been content with who I am, who I was and who I continue to be as a football player. The luxuries I had being a player here for five years, winning championships. I would say that I didn’t necessarily have something to prove, so it wasn’t like I was scratching walls trying to get back into the game. But it’s definitely a benefit and a plus to have the opportunity, and I look forward to getting myself ready to go for practice today.”

Did the time away help your foot heal?
“I was ready to go when training camp started in the offseason. Obviously, with the rest, your body is able to recuperate. I don’t know how beneficial being off the last two or three months has helped me from not being off the last nine years. I feel fine.”

What kind of shape are you in?
“I am in great shape to wake up in the morning, to do my daughter’s hair, to run up and down the stairs and get their clothes and prep them for school, take them to school, come back home, enjoy the day with my wife, go to the UPS Store, and come home and eat diner. I guess I was in good enough shape that they felt comfortable bringing me on, so we’ll see what happens.”

Richard Seymour said that if Ty Law can get in shape, anyone can…
“He’s definitely unique in his own way. I think he looked like he had been running, so hopefully I will look like the guy that finished training camp in Houston.”

Were you doing an exercise regimen that one would do if he was planning on going back to the NFL?
“I did what I felt was necessary for what my challenge was the next day.”

Was it more than just a retired player trying to stay in shape?
“I think that’s really up to the discretion of the player. I think if you have a lineman, his choice of workout regimen would be different than that of a wide receiver or [defensive back]. I’ll leave that up in the air. I had a backyard and it was accessible.”

As a player not with a team, though, there is often a difference between staying in shape and being in shape with the idea that the phone might ring.
“It’s what your priorities are. Like I said, I was at peace. This is not something that I was nervous about, or had anxiety of who is going to call or when they are going to call. I was enjoying myself being a father.”

Still moving the lawn?
“Still mowing the lawn. The grass has stopped growing in Houston, so I’m picking up the leaves and putting those away. Same old guy.”

You have a different spot here in the locker room.
“I have my good friend Billy [Yates] on one side and Nick [Kaczur] on the other, so again, I have history with everybody, the guys who were here when I was here. It’s not a big deal to me. It’s just buying time and hopefully that time will extend past this weekend and continue to go.”

Are you anticipating that adrenaline rush when you rush the quarterback for the first time?
“Yeah, obviously rushing the quarterback is my love, a lot of reasons why I watch the game. Everyone has their deal, and for me, that’s it. I look forward to the opportunities, I just have to knock some of the rust off.”

Have you asked Gary Guyton about No. 59 yet?
"No. From what I've seen him from afar, he seems like a young kid who is trying to make a name for himself and is doing a decent job if playing. To limit who I am just because of a number; I would love to play in 59, but I think he's started his career as a football player; his story is behind that. I would not challenge him as saying I need that to move forward in something I'm trying to do over four or five games. I'm excited about the opportunity to play, regardless of what number, just like I went down to Houston and switched numbers. Once you put the jersey on, you can't see the number. Ninety-five is going to be it -- the alter ego."