Dexter Lawrence Thankful for Pro Bowl Recognition

New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence just earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl berth, thanks largely to the votes of his peers and coaches around the league.

It would not be surprising if All-Pro honors are in his future as well, as one year into his four-year, $90 million contract extension, Lawrence continues to play at the top of his game, even while dealing with a hamstring injury that has put him on a pitch count these last few weeks.

Whatever comes his way, Lawrence appreciates that he's earned the respect around the league given the hard work he puts into his craft every day.

"It’s a special time," he said Thursday. "I’m excited to get this award again. It just shows the hard work and respect I’m earning around the league."

But if anyone thinks Lawrence is about to rest on his laurels, think again. The 26-year-old still said he still has parts of his game that he feels he can improve, which will be among his off-season goals.

"There are things that now I get all this attention, it’s different things that I’ve got to learn how to play through and different schemes I’ve got to learn how to play through, stuff like that," he said when asked what his goals are. "All I can do is just keep going out there and giving everything I’ve got every time I step on the field, and that’s what I’m going to do."

Another year under the tutelage of defensive line coach Andre Patterson should certainly help Lawrence close whatever gaps he sees in his game. The 63-year-old Patterson has a track record dating back to his time with the Vikings of developing top-notch defensive line talent, resulting in pupils earning Pro Bowl berths in seven of the last nine seasons.

"He’s helped me craft things that I didn’t know I had or knew how to use," Lawrence said, praising Patterson. "He helped me get into positions that usually, when I get in, I get stuck or something. He’s been a big help. That’s my guy. He’s just a coach of coaches, honestly. A ton of respect to him and how he just gets me to play and the whole d-line to play. He just knows how to relate to his players and gets us to go."

As the attention and accolades stack up, Lawrence said he feels no extra pressure to accelerate his continued development before taking those next steps.

"Like I said, before camp, you get to thinking like, 'Okay, I’ve got to outperform.' But honestly, I’ve just got to continue to be myself. Whatever happens with me doing that is the result, and I’m happy with that. I know how hard I work. I’m confident in my work. I know who I am as a player, so I’m confident in that. All that goes a long way."

"When I get back, I’m still confident in who I am as a player and a person, and that just continues to show, and that’s going to continue to show as long as I can do it," Lawrence concluded.