Q. What was your interaction with the Eagles pre-draft, and what do you know about this team coming in?
SYDNEY BROWN: Well, the one thing I do know is that it's a championship program. Definitely prestigious. It's definitely prestigious to be a part of such an organization, one. But again, going into the process, I didn't know too much. I met with them once in Indy, had a little meeting with them at the Senior Bowl, and that's all I heard.
They were kind of on my radar going into the third round, and I'm beyond blessed to have them pick me.
Q. I know you have a love of boxing, actually took part in some of it, as well. How do you use that boxing acumen into your game, and what was your record when you were boxing?
SYDNEY BROWN: So when I was a kid I boxed until I was about 14, and I was undefeated here in Canada, so I don't know if that's impressive to anybody, but I use it to cross train. I use it to cross train a little bit. I think the one thing it really taught me was just a sense of fluency. Definitely I know when you strike, also moving targets when you're catching a receiver or eyeing down on a tackle. I think it's just kind of taught me to punch on the move and be on the fly.
Yeah, boxing was something I took when I was younger. It was really my first love before I got into football.
Q. The Eagles said that the Senior Bowl really helped them complete their evaluation of you, getting to see you in some different situations. What was that week like for you, and did you feel like that really helped your draft stock, as well?
SYDNEY BROWN: Yeah, absolutely. You get two opportunities during the process. It was the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. I definitely went in the mindset at the Senior Bowl to say, hey, if I'm better at the end of day three than I was day one, then I'm going to be in a good spot by the end of it, and I was just trying to be the best version of myself each and every day. I just kind of manifested that mentality throughout the entire week, and it kind of came to my favor.
But I know my ability, I'm confident in what I do. I know what I do well, and I know what I need to work on.
It was definitely a week that propelled my draft stock, and again, it was just a unique opportunity when you have all the NFL stuff in front of you. But I'm glad that the Eagles got their eye on me.
Q. To further that, the Eagles said yesterday, getting to see you play more in the post, as a post safety, rather than in the box really solidified their thought process when it came to your projection at the next level. How comfortable are you playing single high or away from the line of scrimmage?
SYDNEY BROWN: Well, I came from a system that was mainly man coverage. Ryan Walters definitely instilled a lot of man pressures and zero blitzes, which distilled a post safety. It just wasn't my role at Illinois. I know I can do it well. I know I can be dominant playing the post, but it's all about repetition, one, but I'm confident that if they put me back there that I'll be able to produce any way I can.
Q. I might have waited my whole life to ask a football draftee, are you a hockey fan? But being that you're from Ontario, Canada, are you a hockey fan or are you a Flyer fan? Secondly -- are you?
SYDNEY BROWN: I'm a hockey fan. I'm from Ontario, Toronto. Definitely a Toronto Maple Leafs guy. But with the love of the city and the opportunity Philadelphia has provided me, I'll definitely look at the Flyers a little bit more. I have to say that.
Q. Your NFL 360 story that came out recently is just remarkable. Obviously you can't sum all that up in one question, but can you talk a little bit about your motivation and how what you've been through has helped you to reach this stage?
SYDNEY BROWN: Yeah, well, the journey is just beginning of something that really pushed me brother and I. I think the relationship that my brother and I shared really propelled us into the position that I am now. Definitely coming from the background we did, it gave us a reason to push harder, especially with the family that I am coming from and what they did to sacrifice to put me in the position that I am now.
I guess you kind of look at it and you look at the story and where we came from and you can say, yeah, it wasn't probable that they'd be successful or make a mark at the NFL, especially being from Canada, but I think after we went to Florida and we were really around some amazing people that helped change our lives, not only from like a mental standpoint but just routine based, I think the habits that you produce and live by day-to-day basis really lead into who you are and how productive you are as a person.
But again, like I don't think anybody is surprised by where we are and what we're doing. I'm definitely not -- I live my routine. I live football. It's definitely a unique opportunity. I am so blessed to be sitting here now saying that I am a Philadelphia Eagle.
Q. Building on your journey at Illinois, you played -- came in under Lovie and stayed on with Brett and Ryan, who you mentioned. What was that like going through different staffs and putting yourself in the position that you did this past year to get this opportunity to be drafted?
SYDNEY BROWN: Yeah, well, I was definitely blessed that Lovie Smith brought me in, and being versatile and knowing different systems, you learn football. I came into college only knowing how to play cover one, and that was the only thing I knew. I learned a lot from Lovie Smith, and obviously with the transition with Coach B and Coach Walters, it really just instilled confidence into our entire defense.
That was the difference. Guys were playing fast, guys weren't thinking, they were just reacting, and I think that was special and I think that's why we did the things we did this year. It's a testament to the work the coaches put in with us. But yeah.
Q. You've made a few references on this call to Canada. What type of pride do you take in your Canadian heritage, especially reaching the NFL?
SYDNEY BROWN: Well, it's funny, watching the draft today and I saw a couple other Canadians get drafted - hopefully my brother here in a little bit. I was actually watching him here before I hopped on the call.
But it's definitely something to take pride in. There's not a lot of Canadians that have experienced this opportunity before. There's definitely some guys ahead of me, like John Metchie and Jesse Luketa and a plethora of other Canadians have done it before me. If you really look into this year, there's a big group of us that have made that step into pursuing the NFL and having an opportunity to get drafted.
I hope it's just something that inspires the younger generation here, not only in London, Ontario, but all of Canada, and kind of gives them a sense of purpose and guidance to say, yeah, I can do it, and it's possible to do it from Canada.
Q. What role does the NFL have or the popularity of the NFL in Canada, or is it more the CFL that you followed as a kid?
SYDNEY BROWN: Listen, I didn't even watch football. I'll be honest. When I was in college, I thought that Alabama and South Dakota were on the same level. I thought they were playing in the same conference. I was very naïve to the entire thing of football.
I was a big boxing fan growing up. But there's definitely a solid environment around the CFL, but I'd say the NFL definitely takes priority up here.
Q. I'm sure there's probably not enough time here to go into detail about your childhood and maybe some of the challenges that you and your brother and your mother went through, but can you describe the moment when you heard your name and you hugged your mother and thinking about how you guys have overcome, what were your feelings at that moment?
SYDNEY BROWN: Oh, I didn't know what to think. I was sitting there all night kind of projecting in my mind where I was going to go. I had a great surrounding family around me watching the event with me. Words really can't explain that moment. I kind of would describe it like it's a drug that you get once and you're never able to take it again because it's the best feeling in the world.
It was something that it was just special. You think about the journey that me and my brother have had and what we've been through, and it just kind of marks the start of something new. It's the start to a new journey. Getting to the NFL is one thing, but sustaining and being a productive player and helping a team win games is another thing.
I guess that's kind of where my mind is now. The goal was to get drafted and go to the NFL, and that's done, so it's always about what's next, and that's about helping the Philadelphia Eagles be productive and compete.
Q. Sydney, six interceptions last year, 10 in your career. What's the secret sauce there? Why so effective there?
SYDNEY BROWN: I mean, I just took advantage of my opportunities. I feel like I could have had -- but I took advantage when I saw the ball. It's always about capitalizing when you see it, and I did exactly so. But that means nothing. What I did in college means nothing. It's all about what I do now, and I'm going to be productive. I want to be a great teammate, I want to be a leader in the locker room and do anything I can to be productive for this football team.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports