Alonzo Jackson: “Farrior taught me more of the X’s and O’s. Aaron, well, my locker was next to his. He was a great guy and a mentor on just how to live life. I don’t think he even knew how much of a mentor he was too people.”
Doug Whaley: “The one I think I was most excited about was getting James Farrior from the Jets. When he first got here it took time for him to transfer his skills from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense. When I saw him in the first couple of practices, I was like…oooh no… Then, once he clicked, he was great. When we recruited him he came in and I think he really liked the guys in the locker room and the team chemistry.”
Kevin Spencer: “Heck, I had to throw Farrior off of special teams. He didn’t want to leave – he was indignant when I took him off.”
Clark Haggans: “After the Super Bowl win in Detroit Butler went to his hotel room with his wife – I think they got ice cream sundaes. They just wanted to celebrate with a quiet night in the hotel. Well, we were walking around with the robes and cigars. Farrior got the linebackers and knocked on his door. He said it was 3 am – it was more like a cool 1:30 am! He was mad about that. I told him I’d tell his wife that it wasn’t right how he treated us. I liked to tease him about that. That he beat us with rulers when we watched film. He told us she’d never believe it – but he always gave us that look when his family was around. you know – that “You better not!” look.”
Ronald Stanley: “That week Foote and Farrior were both hurt, so me and Rian Wallace – both of us rookies – we practiced with the ones all week. I knew the playbook from camp so I wasn’t very worried about that. We went through the walk-through that Saturday thinking we would start – that this could be the turning point in our careers. Then on Sunday right before the game Foote and Farrior both said they were ready to go. Those two jokers both suited up – they got out of practice all week and played.”
Kendrell Bell: “Who knew who would do what – me and Farrior would blitz and be in perfect rhythm. I could feel the flow of the offensive linemen when we did firezone blitzes and time it perfectly. If I saw a lineman leaning hard I’d let Farrior go first – stuff like that.”
Deshea Townsend: “One game James Farrior had a big play – in the huddle after the play I told him he needed to do my show on Tuesday. He said ok, and during the week I reminded him about doing it. He didn’t recall answering me during the game and saying yes. Those are some of the things that happen between the lines that people don’t know about. Things happen so fast in a game.”
Charlie Batch::“James Farrior was the number one leader – he was a vocal leader. Others weren’t as vocal.”
Stevenson Sylvester: “I think it was when I was a rookie – or maybe my second season – we’d have club night on Wednesdays. After the bigger defensive unit meetings, we’d break out into our positional meetings – we’d go to the linebacker room and on Wednesdays it was club night! Woodley was at the door handling security, Foote would be in back pretending he was making out with someone, Farrior and Harrison were dancing on the tables, and Fox was flickering the lights like they were strobe lights! It was so funny. The locker room was just awesome.”
Rian Wallace: “Farrior was my locker mate – he showed me how to be a better pro”
Chris Hope: “Black or white, it didn’t matter. We all hung out together. Then we’d go to Farrior’s house and play poker and watch Monday Night Football after working out. And we worked out because we wanted to.”
Dezmond Sherrod: “Troy, James Farrior, Ben and many others were very proactive in helping the younger guys learn the rules. “