New Detroit Lions cornerback Bill Bentley held a conference call with the media after he was picked 85th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. The transcript of the call, via the Lions, is below.
On if ‘Bill' is his middle name or nickname: "It's one nickname. They gave me the name Bill when I was in middle school from the cartoon show ‘Little Bill' and it stuck with me. So I ran off with it and just kept the name Bill."
On the cartoon he got the name from: "'Little Bill', the Cosby show."
On if he felt the Senior Bowl boosted his stock: "Oh, yeah, definitely, I felt like it boosted my stock. Went out there and got an opportunity to compete with some of the better schools in the country. I just went out there with a chip on my shoulder to show that I can play and I can compete with the best out there and I just went out there and just tried to handle business to my best ability."
On how aware he is of the opportunity he'll have to compete at cornerback: "I spoke with them at the Senior Bowl and I had spoke with everybody at the Senior Bowl so I kind of figured that out that I would have a great opportunity to play with those guys. Glad to be with Detroit and just got to make the best of it."
On if what was going through his mind when he started to see corners going off the board: "I wasn't worried. God has plans for me - it's what was planned for me. He wanted me to be in Detroit and my career will be there hopefully forever and just enjoy it. I can't knock anybody else - those other corners getting picked before me, I congratulate those guys and wish those guys the best. I'm with a team now, now I'm trying to compete at my best ability and be the best."
On what it was about the ‘Little Bill' character that reminded people of him: "Before I had dreadlocks, I had a low cut and I looked like Little Bill."
On if he's underestimated because of his size: "My size don't mean that. Darrell Green was one of the smallest players to ever play in the NFL; he played 20 years - Hall of Famer. It's not about size, it's about what you have on the inside of you; about what you do week-in and week-out to make yourself and go out and compete with the best."
On what sets him apart as a cornerback: "My instincts. I want to win every play. Not wanting to get beat."
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