“I just played my position, played my role in the Saints organization,” he said. “Just came to work every day, worked hard. I knew my opportunity was going to come, just didn’t know when. I just had to be ready for the right time and the right moment, and take care of my position and do my job. At the end of the day, I’ve got to be a professional and I’ve got to go handle business.
“I wouldn’t say it was frustrating, (because) I still was learning from the other guys ahead of me. It definitely was a process. You’ve got to be mentally ready and support your teammates. So I was just waiting my time and doing my part on special teams, and playing a big role in that. Whenever the time was going to come, I was going to be ready for it.”
“Ready” has looked like this: Granderson has sacks in four games, at least two quarterback hits in three games, at least two tackles for loss in two games and at least four tackles in five games.
The sacks, he barely takes credit for.
“Honestly, it’s been a team effort,” he said. “It hasn’t been individual. Most of my sacks have been as a group, so working together with the guys. Keep playing hard.
“I want everybody to eat up front, I want us to lead the NFL in sacks. We’ve got some work to do and we’re going to keep working as a team.”
It’s that approach that has made him treasured in the locker room.
“He’s a pleasure to be around because when he comes in the building, he’s always happy, he makes you feel good,” Woods said. “And when he gets on the field, he’s always playing like it’s game day.”
