Quotes from Leonard Peters

About how it was good for him not to be drafted, since he got to pick the right team for him, Peters said:
"For me, the free-agent market worked. I took a cut on the signing bonus, but I had people calling me, and that was better for me." (HSB)


About why he picked the Jets over a number of other offers including Pitt, Arizona, Chicago, and Tampa Bay, Peters said:
"I got a good feeling from them. When we talked it wasn't about football. They wanted to know about my tattoos and my Hawaii background. And I know Coach (Rich Miano) got his shot there years ago when he went there." (HSB)


Giving some good advice about New York to Peters, Rich Miano (who played his first 5 years in the NFL with the Jets) said:
"He's a country boy, but he just has to do what he's always done. He's so grounded, and people can't help liking him. I think he'll be a Pied Piper, cult hero and role model. I'll just tell him that in New York you're never as good as they tell you you are and you're never as bad as they tell you you are." (HSB)


About how Kahuku High was tied with 5 other high schools for most NFL players in 2006 (and with the current draft/free agents might be #1 by itself in 2007), Peters said:
"It speaks for itself. We've had great coaches and it's a great community. Who knew a little part of an island could produce so much? We didn't have any facilities, we just did what we could do with what we had. A lot of people were willing to sacrifice a lot." (HSB)


About how Kahuku/UH player Louis Santiago was one of the coaches who inspired him the most, Peters said:
"He's still a mentor for me and a force in my life. I just had dinner with him last night." (HSB)


Happy that he's now the healthiest he's been since high school, Peters said:
"It's the greatest feeling. It helps so much to feel free to lift the way you want, work out the way you want. When I was on the mainland getting ready for the combine it was all technique stuff for the tests." (HSB)