Tim Jernigan couldn't help but flash his smile full of golden teeth that reflected the sunlight peeking through a NovaCare Complex window on Friday afternoon.
After being traded to the Eagles earlier this week, for the first time in the 24-year-old's football career, he's in a scheme that actually wants him to be aggressive. After years of two-gapping and reading before reacting, in 2017, Jernigan will actually be told to "go" for the first time.
Will it take some getting used to?
"Not me," he said, cutting off the question. "It ain't going to take no getting used to. I'm just ready to put that helmet on and prove my point."
Jernigan -- whose birth name is actually Timmy, but said he's fine with being called Tim -- was shipped to the Eagles from Baltimore on Tuesday in exchange for 25 spots in the third round of the upcoming NFL draft.
The former 2014 second-round pick out of Florida State knew there was a good chance 2017 was going to be his last year in Baltimore after the Ravens signed fellow defensive lineman Brandon Williams to a five-year, $52 million deal in March.
But Jernigan thought he would finish out the fourth and final year of his rookie contract before walking in free agency in 2018, not be traded this week.
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"I was mind-blown," he said.
Jernigan admitted this has been a "hectic" week since he awoke from a nap on Tuesday afternoon to texts on his phone about the trade.
Three days later, had the shock of being traded worn off?
"It really don't matter, honestly," he said. "I'm an Eagle now. This green and black is the only thing on my mind, it's all that I care about. I gotta do whatever I gotta do to help take this defense to the next level and help us win football games. That's the only thing that's important."
He's already had a chance to meet with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who didn't do anything to temper Jernigan's expectations or excitement about the upcoming season.
"He told me it's going to be a big year for me," he said. "He has plans for me. We'll see, man."
And then, there's the chance to play next to Fletcher Cox, who is considered one of the better defensive linemen in the league, one who often warrants double-teams. "He's a dog," said Jernigan, who thinks he'll be able to beat single blockers whenever Cox is doubled.
Jernigan admitted when Williams signed his big deal in Baltimore that he had an idea 2017 would be his last season there. Now, he comes to a team that has already allocated a lot of money along the defensive line, starting with the mega contract handed to Cox last summer. Jernigan is cheap this season -- he gets paid just over $1 million -- but could warrant a payday if he's productive with the Eagles.
Next year, the Eagles have $36.4 million tied up in cap space between three players on the D-line -- Cox, Vinny Curry and Brandon Graham -- so it's possible they won't choose to pay yet another lineman.
This could be a one-and-done for Jernigan in Philly.
"I haven't even thought that far," he said. "I understand the situation. Right now, my mind is on football and winning football games."
This will be a contract year for Jernigan. He said that will be on the back of his mind, but he can't let it control him. Instead, he just has to play his game and focus on football.
"The money part, that stuff will figure itself out," said Jernigan, sporting a mouth full of golden Chiclets, a look that appears to have grown from his time in Baltimore. "I'm not worried about that. I feel like I'm doing pretty good in my life. I've seen more now than I've ever seen. I'm fine, I'm not thinking about it. I want to play football. I just want to prove my point. I want to prove that I'm one of the best."
Last year was a career season for Jernigan, who picked up five sacks in 16 games (15 starts). But questions have arisen about his motor during 2016. He didn't really have an answer, aside from a lingering shoulder injury, for why he had five sacks in the first nine games last year but didn't take down a quarterback in the last seven games.
He did, however, have a response for anyone who dared to question his motor.
"Everybody I've ever played with knows I go hard," he said. "I go hard. I'm going to prove my point when I get here too. Everybody in this organization will know, 'that kid, he's a dog.' I don't stop."
