As part of the celebration of bringing back their fan-favorite, Hot Orange Chicken, Panda Express partnered with Detroit Lions star left tackle Penei Sewell for an event at their location in Livonia, Michigan on Middlebelt road. In between the pictures and questions from fans, I was able to sit down with Sewell for a few minutes to talk about the upcoming season, his early thoughts on Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, and where he stands on the cheeseburger saga that is currently taking place in the receiver room.<\/p>\n
How have you been prepping to move to the left side this offseason?<\/p>\n
\u201cJust been doing the same things, but just now I\u2019m flipping it. The training didn\u2019t change, other than technique. And putting more hours into those techniques and trying to fine-tune them and get ready for camp.\u201d<\/p>\n
Does it feel like you are going home almost?<\/p>\n
\u201cA little bit, yeah. It wasn\u2019t as uncomfortable as I thought it would be going back, but yeah, day by day, just trying to build on the foundation part and keep working.\u201d<\/p>\n
We know you are going to be playing next to someone new this year, any thoughts on that competition between Mahogany, Frazier, and Bartch?<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s still too early to really say. I haven\u2019t even seen Bartch out there yet, but once camp starts and everybody is actually out there on the field, and at the end of the day, camp tells it all.\u201d<\/p>\n
I know you are still only 25, but obviously you have been a leader in your room and the locker room for a minute–how do you think your upbringing and everything prepared you for that?<\/p>\n
\u201cMy upbringing definitely played a part. I think it was the people that I met along the way growing up. From high school, to college, and even to the league. Every step of the way gave me a piece that is important for right now. And just being myself, is ultimately the most important part of it all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last football question, any conversations with Drew Petzing?<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, he is a smart guy. He talks really fast, but you can kinda just tell that there is a lot running in there (Petzing\u2019s head), and that\u2019s a smart man. But yeah, just still trying to get time together. In camp we will all be with each other from 8 to 8, so a lot of time to spend together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shifting to a couple of food questions now: what is your favorite go-to pre-game meal?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt depends. If it\u2019s a 1 p.m. game, big breakfast, so eggs, bacon, waffle, and a smoothie. If it\u2019s a night-time game, I am doing that in the morning, and then I gotta have a burger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sewell: \u201cI haven\u2019t had Culver\u2019s, so I am going to say In-N-Out for now, but I\u2019m not really a big In-N-Out fan, so yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cannon: \u201cI want you to have Culver\u2019s then, and maybe we can circle back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eric Loves Cooking: \u201cCulver\u2019s is fire!\u201d (If you like Detroit sports, food, or Pok\u00e9mon, be sure to follow Eric\u2019s Instagram<\/a>)<\/p>\n Cannon: \u201cSee, Eric knows, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Sewell: \u201cReally? Oh I gotta try it. Maybe on the way home.\u201d<\/p>\n