Source: Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com [ Full Article ]
What are your thoughts on joining the Saints?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "I am very excited. I feel like this is a team that has the opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl and they made great strides in just one year. I'm looking forward to coming in and fitting in with the team and contributing. I feel like the Saints are on the right track and have a very clear vision what type of players they want and what their expectations are. After my visit to the Saints about one week ago, I felt it was a great fit for me, but being that this was really my first experience with free agency, I followed the advice to see what else was out there and I felt that I would short-change myself if I didn't go through the visitation process. But in my mind, I felt very confident that I would most likely end up as a Saint."
There were quite a few teams that were interested in signing you, but you took your time throughout the free agent process. Can you talk about the things that you were looking for when it was time to make your decision?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "The first thing was making sure that I was going to find a team that I thought had a chance to win. There aren't any guarantees in the league, as we all know. A team can rise up quickly with the addition of a few key players, but for the most part, you have a sense for what teams you really feel have a winning attitude and approach. The second thing was talking to the coaching staffs and finding out how you would fit in and what sort of role they envisioned. The third thing was finding a city that we, as a family, felt comfortable in and has the things that are important to us, like safe neighborhoods, good schools and friendly people. So after factoring in those things, we felt great as a family making the decision to make the move to New Orleans."
You have earned the reputation as one of the best coverage safety's in the NFL. What are some of the intricacies involved in coverage when you aren't on the line of scrimmage and having to pick up receivers who are running full speed by the time they get to where you?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "My experiences in the Arena Football League were incredibly valuable. You really learn about reading and reacting and about defending pass routes when you have the element of the high motion receiver sprinting at you before the ball is even snapped. You learn quickly how to play on your toes and react to the different things receivers, backs and tight ends are trying to do. I also think that having experience playing cornerback has been a big help to me throughout my career. Playing slot receivers can be pretty tricky because they have so much room to operate, but you have to understand how offenses operate and what the different down and distance tendencies might be. All that work comes during the week, then on game days it's taking the knowledge and incorporating and going out there and trying to make plays."
You have played in a variety of different roles throughout your career, lining up at both safety positions, as well as playing cornerback, as a nickel-back and being sent on blitzes. Obviously having the ability to do all of those things is a positive, but how did you get to be so versatile?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "I think that versatility comes through never setting limitations on yourself. Each year I set a new goal for something I want to improve on and take something that you might perceive as a weakness and find a way to turn it into strength. There are always going to be people that say or think you can't do something. But I think you have to not worry about those things and work on improving and getting better. There is always going to be periods of transition throughout a career, and it's how you react and deal with the transitions that determine how successful you are going to be."
Your road to the NFL was rather unconventional, starting with coming out of a NCAA Division II school. Not many players have been able to make that jump. What were the challenges for you as you moved to the Arena League, then to the XFL and finally to the NFL?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "The first challenge was to gain the confidence that I was good enough to play. Any time you are making a drastic jump from Division II to the NFL, you are going to be curious as whether of not you are good enough to be out there competing and making plays. But I persevered and tried to make the most of every opportunity I had, whether it was in the Arena League, the XFL or finally the NFL. All I wanted was the opportunity to show people that I could play. Some people didn't want to give me the shot, but I kept working at it and I knew in my heart that I had the talent to play on this level. I don't take it for granted and show up to work every single day knowing that hard work got me into the NFL and it's what is going to keep me here, coupled with the talents I possess."
The road you took is obviously not the easiest one to the NFL. Has your journey given you a better appreciation for how difficult it is to play on the highest level?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "The road has had a few bumps in it, but nothing I ever considered was a major roadblock. I think the vast majority of the players in the NFL realize what an awesome experience it is to play in this league and they don't take it for granted. There are guys that might take it for granted, but they learn very quickly, and some have to learn it the hard way, that you better approach this job very seriously. It's a unique and great job."
Your father was born in Thailand and immigrated to the United States. What does he do for a living and can you talk about your family life growing up?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "My father (Mongkol Kaesviharn) was born in Thailand and came to the United States. He's a guy that has worked hard, often times holding down multiple jobs at the same time, to provide for his family. He was always very supportive of my brothers in all of activities and really encouraged us to have a balance between athletics and academics. Both he and my mother (Rena) made it very clear that without performance in the classroom, there wouldn't be the opportunity to compete in sports. They knew how much my brothers and I liked playing sports, so we had to do our part to be able to play. But my parents have been very supportive throughout my career."
Brian Simmons, who you know well from your days in Cincy, signed pretty quickly with the Saints. How would you describe the type of player he is and what sort of things he brings to a locker room?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "Brian is a really smart player. He's a great guy and a leader. He really has a great understanding of the game and he's as athletically gifted as they come. He moves exceptionally well and can really sting guys when he tackles them. We had out struggles as a team earlier in our careers in Cincinnati, but I can tell you that he has been a guy that has been overlooked a lot throughout his career because we struggled. But he's a great guy and he played a part in my decision to come here because I know how much he wants to win and how competitive he is. He is all business when it comes to football and those are the guys you want to play alongside of because they take it personally."
You were quoted as saying you really enjoyed your visit with Sean Payton. What were your conversations like and what sort of role did he tell you that he envisioned for you here in New Orleans?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "The first thing that struck me about him was how personable he is. From the moment I met him, I knew how excited he was about this team and this city. He has a real passion that and it was evident immediately. He talked about the energy that is in the organization and how the foundation for the program here is built on hard work and accountability. We also talked about our Arena Football League days and how they played a part in my career. He shared with me a story that goes back a few years that I found really interesting."
Can you tell us about it?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "Sure. He was telling me that there was a scout with the New York Giants that came to him and was talking about me and telling him that he liked me. Sean said that he followed my career and remembers when I signed with Iowa of the Arena League, then in the XFL and then with the Bengals. He said I was a player who he had kind of just followed and watched how I developed and remembered what the scout had said to him. I had no idea, obviously, but it told me that he knew about me and I think it gave me an indication that he was a coach that I would like playing for. He spoke a lot of how important it is to have guys on the team who are willing to sacrifice and want what is best for the team. That is a principle that I have heard when I was first starting to play sports and I fully believe in and that I've tried to follow throughout my career. When you get a team that follows the lead of a coach and checks the egos at the door, you know you are capable of accomplishing some great things."
Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis have put a real emphasis on bringing guys with high character and reliability to the team. How important was it for you when making your decision to come to a team that obviously has placed a premium on being a model citizen and a dependable teammate?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "I sensed it right away. That is something that you assume teams do, and that is doing their homework on the types of guys they are bringing in. I know the importance of having high-character players on a team because you can rely on them and count on them. It goes both ways, obviously and I don't want to get into the things I experienced when guys are distracted by negative situations. We all know the stories, but I definitely believe that high character guys have a better chance of succeeding because you can trust them in the big situations and know that they will be there."
You had an outstanding game against the Saints during the 2006 season. You also knew that you were going to be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Did the thought ever cross your mind shortly after that game that you may one day be a Saint?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "I never thought about it. I was so focused on our season and what we needed to do to try to get into the playoffs that I just blocked everything like that out. Football has a business side to it, as we all know, and I wanted to leave all of that until the end of the season and address that when the time was right. If you are worrying about things like that, chances are that you aren't going to be focused on what is really important and that is always about getting ready to play the next game."
I read somewhere that you may have had a few concerns about the city of New Orleans before your visit. What were your impressions after you spent a little time here?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "Well, my perception of New Orleans was pretty much through the reports I saw on television. Everyone knows about the damage Hurricane Katrina did and everyone in the NFL knew about the Saints in 2005 and then the amazing return to New Orleans last season. But I wanted to see for myself what the city was like. I know that there is still work to be done, but I loved the sense of community pride that I experienced when I visited and my concerns were put to rest. It was somewhere where I certainly felt welcome and I was excited seeing the passion and energy the people have, especially for the Saints and I am looking forward to experiencing it again."
I have read that you enjoy hunting and fishing and playing golf. All of those hobbies are certainly big parts of the Louisiana landscape. Any thoughts to what you may try to tackle here first?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "I think right now my focus needs to be on figuring out how to get to work at the training facility and finding my way around town. We need to find a place to live, and we are going to start that process pretty soon. Then I will try to make some time to play a little golf and try my hand at fishing. I enjoy hunting but I would say it is third on my list of hobbies."
Besides Brian Simmons, do you know any players on the Saints or have you spoken to any of your new teammates since you made your decision?
Kevin Kaesviharn: "The only other guy who I really know well at all, besides Brian, is Mike McKenzie. I was signed by Green Bay in 2001 and spent about four months with the Packers and Mike was really helpful to me and was a great teammate. I am looking forward to catching up with him and playing alongside of him."
Getting To Know: Saints Safety Kevin Kaesviharn 
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