Q. Going into the break for you guys, do you want your players to get a little bit of break, relax a little bit or would you like them to stay...
DOUG PEDERSON: Yes and no. You know, definitely want them to get away and relax and enjoy this last, you know, little bit of summer before we start.
But at the same time, the message is to continue to work out, continue to run, continue to review the information that we gave them this off-season, so that when they come back they come back ready, come back in shape, mentally and physically ready to go for training camp.
Q. Minicamp today, how have you felt about the young players being able to take advantage of a few extra reps with coaches?
DOUG PEDERSON: Good. Yeah, good.
Q. When you look at Brian Thomas' situation where he's got somebody like Christian, Gabe, how much do you feel -- just from your experiences with other receivers who come in as rookies and maybe are highly touted -- how much do you think that helps make the process go so much better for them if there are guys, not only veterans, but willing to be really good mentors?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think it's a good transition to have the veteran leadership in those rooms, especially in this situation with Brian being the draft pick and being in that room as well.
I think it makes his life a little bit easier from the standpoint of just the comfort of the guys around him. Not saying life on the field is going to be easy, but I think just that transition from college to the NFL, what it looks like to be a pro with guys like Gabe and Christian in that room.
Even a guy like Tim Jones who has been around for a few years now. There is another guy that has great leadership ability and understands when it takes. He's been a guy that has to work every year and fight and scratch and claw to make the 53.
I think for Brian to be able to see all that maybe puts his mind at ease just a little bit as he transitions now to camp, which ramps up even more.
Q. Gabe got the same benefit when he in Buffalo. (Indiscernible) and Beasley was there. We all know that receiver -- if there is any position in the NFL that's had a reputation as kind of diva-ish, it's been receiver over the years. It seems like you've got a room where that is not...
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I don't feel like we have that type of room. You know, guys are unselfish. They compete. They cheer for each other and it's not an I need a football, I need ever target mentality in that room at all.
And that's a good thing, because he comes into a room like that and gives him a lot of confidence just to go out and perform and do what he can do.
Q. In years past you may have given second year guys off, whether that was Travon and Devin, this mandatory minicamp they were part of the veterans. Why the decision to across the board have all the second year guys back, including from Anton on down this week?
DOUG PEDERSON: Anton, a lot of the vets that are here being, in Anton's case, the injury. So they're not medically cleared to leave yet. You know, until they get medically cleared that's why those guys are here. Guys like Devon Hamilton and Anton and Darnell Savage, Gabe, all these guys are still here this week. Roy is here.
Otherwise they would've been the guys probably on the surfboards right now.
But, yeah, and then, too, second year players who maybe didn't play a lot last year and coming into their own a little bit. So just wanted to give another three days of just development and growth.
Q. What have you seen from Darnell this week? Seems like he's getting closer and closer to being back.
DOUG PEDERSON: He is. He's getting a lot stronger. Getting more reps with the defense. He's showing a lot of good things out there, and just he's in a good position now. I think when he comes back for camp he'll be ready to go.
Q. You've had an off-season now with Mac Jones. Overall impressions of how he's embraced his early time here?
DOUG PEDERSON: Done a nice job. Came in, came in early, and he's one of those guys that wanted to be in the building and just learn. You know, just another good piece to add to our roster, especially to that room. He's done a nice job.
He's obviously the only quarterback this week that we have, and it's good for him. He can get all the reps that he can and put himself in a position to really compete during camp.
Q. There is a report that Hakeem Butler is going to work out with you guys this week. Is that accurate? Do you know about that?
DOUG PEDERSON: We've talked about him. We're down obviously couple receivers with David going down last week. We're definitely looking to fill you couple spots before we head into camp.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports