Trent Cole: A Mock B/R Interview

You'd be hard pressed to find a single player on the Eagles' roster with a motor like that of defensive end Trent Cole. Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2005 draft, Cole has played with a chip on his shoulder. Experts said he was undersized, so he got bigger. 

The experts also questioned whether he could perform consistently for an entire season. Cole again silenced the critics by having one of the best seasons as an Eagles defensive end since Hugh Douglas' 12-sack performance of 2002. 

Now, Cole will be looked upon to be one of the leaders on an already talented Eagles defense.

His motor and leadership intrigued me to choose him as my mock interviewee. 

Here are my 10 burning questions for Mr. Cole:

1. Trent, you came into the NFL with a lot of naysayers. With your performance over the past three years, do you think that you've silenced those doubters?
2. Among your 34-and-a-half sacks, which one stands out the most?
3. You play in the league's most physically tough division. Does playing against that level of competition six times a year prepare you more for the playoffs or add some wear and tear?
4. In past training camps, you have gone head to head with Tra Thomas, an elite left tackle. Now you will be facing Jason Peters, arguably the best tackle in the game today. How does this prepare you for the regular season where you will face dominant players like Chris Samuels and Jordan Gross?
5. You played your collegiate ball at Cincinnati for a mediocre Bearcats team. Is there a sense of pride regarding the fact that your alma mater is now one of the elite teams in Division I football?
6. Growing up, was there an elite pass rusher that you looked up to? Do you model your playing style after that player?
7. Until the 2008 season, you carried the load as the team's premier pass rusher. With the amount of talent that Andy and Jim have added at defensive end, do you feel that there is less pressure on you to set the tone for the front four from a pass rushing standpoint?
8. With Jim Johnson taking a leave of absence for a second run of chemotherapy, do you think there will be any change in the dynamic of the defensive play calling by Sean McDermott?
9. Asante Samuel previously guaranteed a Super Bowl Championship season. What is your opinion of players playing Nostradamus two months prior to training camp?
10. With the amount of depth at each position, how does this defense compare to that of 2008 in your opinion?