On if he was always confident a long-term deal would get done: "Both parties were very respectful and we had an understanding with each other. When things didn't work out we went back to the drawing board. I respect those guys. Patience. Patience was the biggest thing, and here we are today."
On getting the deal done before offseason workouts: "We didn't put a time on it. The communication was unbelievable and we came to an agreement. We didn't set a time for getting it done then or getting it done now. It just happened at the right time and it's a blessing."
On committing to Carolina: "These guys took a chance on me in 2013. I had a lot of knocks coming out of college. These guys took a chance and I never looked back. I took advantage."
On why he wanted to stay: "From Day One, they believed in me. From the NFL Combine, to the private workouts, to having conversations with people on this staff before I was drafted. I just felt at home. … To commit to somebody who committed to me, you can't ask for anything better."
On goals for the next five years: "To be the best. When you start something, you don't want to downgrade. The whole goal is to get better each and every day. I'm going to be working for the Pro Bowl every year and getting this team a ring.
"You have your personal goals that you want to accomplish and you hold yourself to a higher standard to complete those goals that you set."
On the defensive line entering 2017: "It's scary just thinking about it. We can be really good the way we put our minds together. It's going to be a good year if we stay focused and stay positive."
