September 30, 2011 | Kareem Copeland | greenbaypressgazette.com
Desmond Bishop (55) tries to grab a fumble against the New Orleans Saints Sept. 8 at Lambeau Field. Corey Wilson/Press-Gazette
Desmond Bishop has arrived — so it seems. He ranked No. 2 on the Packers with 121 tackles last season after being named a starter when Nick Barnett was lost for the season with a wrist injury. Bishop started 12 games, put up strong numbers, was a huge contributor to the Super Bowl run and was rewarded with a contract extension.
Still, the fifth-year linebacker never opened an NFL season as a starter until four weeks ago. He’s shaken the “Mr. August” tag, but still has much to achieve — on and off the field.
Bishop, who turned 27 last month, sat down for a chat with the Green Bay Press-Gazette to discuss this new stage of his life and career.
Three games into your first full season as a starter, how’s it all feel?
Bishop: I feel good. I definitely feel like I’m better. A lot of it now is really just getting smarter and keep stacking games and getting that experience. I think I’m just trying to get smarter. Physically, I’m playing good. I’m pretty productive. But I just want to keep getting smarter and smarter and put myself in position to make bigger plays.
Starting now, from Day 1, is it everything you thought it’d be?
Bishop: It is. It’s definitely more responsibility. But it’s good. It’s good responsibility. It’s the kind of responsibility that you want. Every game, every whole aspect — from the mental standpoint of starting to the physical actually being out there — it’s definitely what I expected. It’s something that I’ve been wanting. I’m really happy.
The biggest challenge?
Bishop: The biggest challenge for me is really the challenge I put upon myself and my individual expectations every time I take the field. My goals, I set them so high it’s hard to obtain them every time. I think just the challenge within myself is the biggest challenge.
Did we see some clothing line gear the other day?
Bishop: Yeah, my clothing line has been out for a little bit.
What is it now?
Bishop: It’s just a symbol — DB, my initials. It’s just shirts. I’ve got hoodies and it’s got like a bishop piece with No. 55 inside the bishop piece, chessboard. So, I’ve got a little something. DesmondBishop55.com.
How’d that get started?
Bishop: My marketing team just brought me the idea and I kind of brought them the bishop piece idea. Actually, my little brother, me and my brothers and my cousins we got this bishop piece tattoo. It’s kind of like a family crest — all my cousins and brothers, we all have it. We put it on a shirt and I wore it and my marketing team said, ‘You know what, you could sell shirts like that.’ I just kind of started selling them.
Who was the first to get the tattoo?
Bishop: The first one to get it? I actually think it was my little brother. My little brother and my cousin got it first. Then we all just kind of got it. All my cousins, we all got it. Just like a family crest. Even the older generation, my dad and my uncles were like, hey, we might need to get one. The younger generation of Bishop boys, we all got this.
Everyone get them in the same place?
Bishop: Everybody got them on their left forearm.
What’s it mean to you, you obviously take pride in it?
Bishop: Yeah, I do. It says “Family first.” Family to me is really important. At the end of the day, no matter what, your family’s going to be there. It’s just a family crest. Wherever we go, wherever we’re at, it’s an unspoken bond. We’ve got each other’s back no matter what.
So do you all actually play chess?
Bishop: Yeah, we do.
Everybody?
Bishop: Not everybody. Most of the older generation. My dad, he’s second to the youngest. He and his older brother always got into these big epic games, these chess battles when we had family get-togethers. I get in it, too — me and my older brother like to play a little bit.
Learn from your dad?
Bishop: Yeah, Dad taught me. I kind of learned from them. They used to always play for hours, no talking, just straight focus. Then it just kind of rubbed off on me and my older brother.
So has any of that mental approach to chess crept into your football game?
Bishop: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. We’re out there and it’s a chess game. I feel like I’m the bishop out there. I think Dom Capers, he’s kind of moving the pieces and he’s playing against the offensive coordinator. So, when I’m down there on the field, I’m playing against the offensive coordinator, too. Actually, it’s funny. I was thinking about chess late in the last game when they motioned (Matt) Forte out of the backfield and did the little route. I was thinking like, oh this is a chess game. I know the guy upstairs knew we were in man and he knew they were coming at me. It was just a chess game. That’s what was going through my head when he motioned out — man, this is chess right here. It’s always a chess game, for sure.
There’s just something special about making a play with your mind. Outthinking someone…
Bishop: That’s like the ultimate. When you make a play with your mind, it almost feels better than instinctively making a play. Everybody can make a play physically. But being smart, that’s the biggest thing. That’s why, going back to what I was saying earlier, I’m trying to be smarter. Not necessarily harder, just smarter. To get that Charles Woodson anticipation to make plays.
We know you love to read. What’s the last book you’ve read?
Bishop: I just finished “Kill Me if You Can,” by James Patterson. Yeah, I just read that. The guy, Sandford (John Sandford). Somebody recommended for me to read one of his books. So that’s the next book I’m going to check out. Probably tonight.
Still writing?
Bishop: Yeah, a little bit. I haven’t written in awhile. I don’t really have time to write. It’s hard to get in that writing mode. You’ve kind of got to be in the mode. You’ve got to be locked away somewhere. I really haven’t had time.
You’re getting up there now (Bishop is 27), starting to think about a wife and kids?
Bishop: Potentially. Potentially. Yeah. I think so.
Is that something that’s important to you? Have you gotten to that stage of life and career?
Bishop: For sure, I am. Mostly after the season. Something might be growing for postseason. Right now, I’m just taking it slow and focusing on football.
No little Bishops on the way we don’t know about?
Bishop: Nah, nah, nah. Not yet.
One day?
Bishop: One day for sure.
Ever think of that day when you’re a family man and what life will be like?
Bishop: Yeah, yeah, I do. I think about it often, actually. It’s coming. I’ll be ready for it. I’ll be ready for it for sure.
One last thing, any new personal goals for the season?
Bishop: I just want to get the opportunity to make more big plays. You know, when I’m in coverage. You want to be careful about what you wish for, so I don’t want to overstep my boundaries. But I just want, sometimes when I’m in coverage, throw it to my man so I can potentially get an interception. I can potentially get the ball caught on me, but if he doesn’t throw it, I won’t even have the chance for the interception. So, make more big plays. Get interceptions and when I get the opportunity to blitz, show my blitzing skills. In the league, it’s about making big plays. What bigger play is there than getting a sack or getting a turnover? That’s what I want to show.
