2009 Draft

Steelers Joe Burnett Fifth Round Pick Interview

Here is the media interview of Steelers fifth round draft pick Joe Burnett after being selected 168th overall in the 2009 NFL draft.

http://io2.steelers.com/MediaContent/2009/04/26/12/090426_001_105076.mp3

Joe Burnett:

Do you see yourself coming here to return punts and kicks or to play cornerback?

I see myself coming in to play a little bit of nickel, return punts and kicks and kickoff as well. Whatever it takes, I’m going to do it.

[The Steelers] already drafted a cornerback in the third round. Does that hurt your chances?

I don’t think it hurts my chances at all because now that the draft is over, from the first slots to the seventh round, every guy has to come in and compete and work for a position. I feel like it is a draft, but now we are at the moment where we have to go in and work for a job. It doesn’t end right here. That’s how I feel about it. I went in the fifth round [at] such-and-such pick, but I feel like I’m in the same boat as the third-round pick at cornerback. Me and him are competing now for the job. And I want the job.

How do you think your style fits in with the way that the Steelers want their corners to play?

I think I fit in real well with it. Me and the coach [Ray Horton] talked about a lot of stuff and he told me he wanted me to come in and contribute at nickel and at special teams during my visit. And I think I fit in real well with playing in the quarters. I played quarters actually and playing a press guy over all positions. I think I fit in real well with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s actually where I wanted to be.

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