Arizona Cardinals -3- Martes 27/1/09

Super Bowl XLIII – Tuesday, January 27, 2009

QUOTES FROM ARIZONA CARDINALS MEDIA DAY


WR ANQUAN BOLDIN

(on what happened on the sidelines during the NFC Championship with offensive coordinator Todd Haley) “Well for me, I wanted to be in the game. I think any competitor would have wanted to be. That was the only thing I was thinking of.”


(on what the reasons were for the altercation on the sidelines) “At the beginning of the season, I put all the talk of a new contract on the back burner. I came out and played football through all the injuries and through all the ups and downs throughout the season that we had. It was truly about wanting to be in the game at that time. A game of that magnitude and a drive of that magnitude which could possibly get to this point [playing in the Super Bowl], I wanted to be in the game.”


(on what the Cardinals have to do to win Super Bowl XLIII) “We have to play solid football. I think that is the thing we have been doing throughout the playoffs. We have been able to run the ball effectively and counter with our passing game. What I think we have been able to do is understand what defenses have been trying to do to stop us. We have had a lot of teams come in and try to blitz us and Kurt [Warner] has done a great job picking up the blitzes and getting the ball to open receivers. And we haven’t turned the ball over. So, I think that is going to be key for us.”


(on how he would handle the situation in the Super Bowl if he’s not in the game at an important point) “In this game? I don’t think that is going to happen.”


(on what it is like playing with a quarterback like Kurt Warner) “Playing with Kurt has been great, both on and off the field. He is the ultimate professional on how he goes about preparing for the game as well as dealing with off-the-field issues. He’s done a great job and has been a great example to everybody in our locker room and it has been a pleasure to be around him.”


(on if Larry Fitzgerald can be an even better receiver) “I think the sky is the limit for Larry. He’s still young and still learning about this game. I don’t think he’s reached his full potential yet.”


(on why the state of Florida has turned out so many great NFL players) “When it comes to football, this state has been blessed with a lot of talent. There are a lot of standout players in both the colleges and in the NFL. The state of Florida has truly been blessed with a lot of great football players.”


(on if it has sunk in yet that he’s playing in the Super Bowl) “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I know we are playing in the Super Bowl, but for me, it hasn’t really sunk in yet. The thing we are trying to do as a team is keep the week to as close as normal as possible. I know that might be difficult, with all the extra attention and added things that we have to do. We are trying to make it a business trip. We are down here for one reason and one reason only.”


(on what he thinks when he hears that the economic benefits for the city of Tampa will be approximately $300 million) “This is a great event as you can see with all the media coverage that is down here. You mean to say that they put $300 million into the city—all I can say is wow! It is probably one of the better events of the year, but for us we can’t look at this as an event. We still have to view it as a football game because, trust me, it will be a sad site for us to lose this game and go home.”


(on how his faith helped him through his injury this season) “No matter what goes on in my life—surgeries, injuries, hard times whatever—I’m a man of faith. I believe that is one of the reasons I’m here today. My faith means a lot to me. I think it is the thing that keeps me grounded and keeps me focused. Throughout life, you are going to go through a lot of ups and downs and some hardships, but being grounded in my faith is truly the reason why I’m here.”


(on what he thinks of all the hoopla going on today at Media Day) “It is crazy. I’ve been in a national championship game and they had media days, but this is twenty times that. There are a lot of media members out here. Yesterday, they told us there are something like 500 media outlets and 7,000 media members out here. Again, that just speaks to the level that this game is on and just how big the Super Bowl is.”


(on what it was like during the years the Cardinals weren’t having successful seasons) “I would honestly have to say my first couple of years with the Cardinals were very frustrating. All my life I had been part of winning programs—in high school, in college—and then coming over to a franchise that was pretty much known as a stepping stone in this league was pretty frustrating to me. It was also motivating. Early in my career, I said I wanted to be one of the guys who helped change this organization around and help change this franchise around. I went out and recruited players—Edgerrin James was one of them—and tried to get other guys to come to Arizona to help us win. It’s gratifying to see the changes that have been made in Arizona.”


(on how aware are he has to be of Steelers’ safety Ryan Clark when he goes over the middle) “I think you have to be aware of Pittsburgh’s defense period. They do a lot of moving around, not only Ryan Clark but [Troy] Polamalu. You see that guy [Polamalu] all over the field making plays and always around the ball. It is going to be important for us to have a recognition of what they are trying to do to us.”


(on how it feels to carry on the tradition of being another Florida State player playing in the Super Bowl) “It is honestly a privilege to be in the Super Bowl. We [Florida State] have had a number of guys who have played in Super Bowls and performed well and hopefully I can live up to that.”


(on if he has gotten advice from other players who have played in the Super Bowl) “I’ve talked to a couple of guys and what they have told me and given me advice about is being myself. Make it as normal a week as possible. Go out and prepare the same way that you would any other week of the season and just come out and play football.”


(on how he feels about playing in his home state for the Super Bowl) “I think it is neat that I’m playing in my home state for the Super Bowl. I’m a Florida guy who played high school football here and college football here and to get to Florida to play in the biggest game of them all is such a pleasure. I’ve been fortunate at every level to play in championship games and this moment and this time is one that I’m really going to cherish and it is something I am really going to make the most of.”


(on where he would be if he didn’t have football) “That is a good question. I think football has allowed me numerous opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t participated in and played football. A lot of what I have been able to do as far as helping in my community and helping in the Phoenix area, meeting different people and seeing different places, has a lot to do with playing football because football has afforded me a lot of opportunities.”


(on what it was like growing up in a tough area) “I was lucky enough to be one of the guys to get to the next level. Where I’m from, there aren’t a lot of opportunites and the opportunities you do have you have to make the most of. When I was younger, my mom and dad used to take us out to the corn fields and have us pick corn and do a lot of odd jobs. It was just to show us what we didn’t want to do for a living. And trust me that was something I didn’t want to do for a living.”


(on what it is like to play in the Cardinals’ offense) “It has been a pleasure to play in this offense. I think when you have a lot of guys who can make plays you are able to open the playbook up a lot more. We have a number of guys on our team who can make a play at any given time, not just myself and Larry [Fitzgerald], but you also have guys like Steve Breaston, Tim Hightower, Edgerrin James, Leonard Pope—you name it, I think we have guys at every position who can make plays.”



WR STEVE BREASTON

(on his first impression of Media Day) “It’s crazy. I wouldn’t say overwhelming, but it’s different. Even during the course of the season the media has been out there, but during the playoffs it’s been picking up and it just seems like it gets bigger every week.”


(on having an experienced QB in Kurt Warner) “It helps us out a lot. He’s been there before. He’s been in the fire. It’s been helping me out the whole year. Just knowing what Kurt’s been through and how he’s been able to bounce back, he’s been fighting adversity. He’s been here, he knows how to play this game and you look at him, you try to lean on his shoulder and you just try to ride him out.”


(on not letting big hits deter you from crossing the middle) “I mean, you look at Anquan and especially Larry, they’re big for receivers, and I don’t think they’re intimidated by anything. But this is the game of football, you’re going to get hit. I get hit on punt returns too. It’s going to be a physical game, but you’ve just got get up and keep pushing.”


(on if he thought he’d get to a Super Bowl this early in his career) “No, I really couldn’t say that. But when I first got to Arizona you could tell how everything was changing, as far as the new coach and everything. We were working towards getting that winning attitude. Just getting out there and understanding that we were going to make it there somehow and some way. But it’s a blessing.”


(on playing against LaMarr Woodley) “I hung out with him the other day. We always talked throughout the course of the season and we never knew we were going to get this far, but we’re here now and I just wish the best for him.”


(on if he has to make himself dislike Woodley on gameday) “No, I don’t have to make myself dislike him. I know he’s going to dislike me on game day. He’s going to try to chase me around. He’s got to run me down, but I don’t have to make myself dislike him. He’s a competitor. I know we’re going to go out there and compete. I guess, when we go on the field, I think that friendship is over for that 60 minutes until after the game.”


(on his brothers and mom) “She’s doing wonderful. Her and my dad are just so proud of me and even my brothers are so proud of me. My brother, Michael, he’s a big Steelers fan, but he’s going to root for us, he’s going to root for his little brother.”


(on being in an offense with Warner, Boldin and Fitzgerald) “It’s been fun. It’s so much attention that Anquan (Boldin) and Larry (Fitzgerald) draws. It helps me out a lot, but I do the same for them also. Everybody complements each other. The biggest thing is, I’ve got to be ready whenever opportunities come my way, I’ve just got to be ready. I think I’ve gained that trust in Kurt through the whole year and I just want to continue to make plays.”


(on if he thought he’d make it to the Super Bowl in high school) “You never know. When I went off to college it was kind of rough. I did some good things at college and when I got into my rookie year I played against the Steelers back then. It’s fun, the experiences you have, and it’s just been great. Now I’m here and it’s probably one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, so it’s been a blessing.”


(on overcoming expectations) “It was tough, but I think the biggest thing with me is that I’m going to always work hard. I’m always going to believe in myself. My family supports me a lot. I really felt that, coming out of the draft, I wasn’t the player who they thought I was. I just kept my head down, kept working hard, and when I finally figured it out was being with these guys – Larry (Fitzgerald) and Anquan (Boldin) and them, just seeing what they work on. They taught me a lot and then I carried that into the offseason. I just kept working hard and I’m blessed that good things have happened.”


(on using his QB experience for possible gadget plays) “Oh, everybody’s played quarterback in this league, or at least they think they do. But, you never know.”


(on his Steelers upbringing) “I know my family has been big Steelers fans growing up. I’ve watched a lot of games with them. It’s every Sunday. My dad is cooking wings and everybody is sitting around the TV. I understand what type of tradition Pittsburgh has. They’re a great organization and they’re a great team even this year. It’s just a privilege to play against them.”


(on having a comfortable transition to WR since high school) “As you grow up, you learn and you get more comfortable with things. This comes with the territory. I’m just excited to be here, that’s the biggest thing. It’s a blessing to be in front of you all. It’s a blessing to be out here and it’s been great.”


(on the attention during Media Day) “It’s good, but after this you’ve got to get back to work. You take it for what it is and then you go back and you’ve still got a game left. I think that’s the biggest thing. We’re here to go out here and win this game, so we’ve just got to take this for what it is, go back and work hard.”


(on if he expects to be nervous before the Super Bowl) “This is the big game. It’s probably one of the biggest games of your life. You’re going to be nervous, but it’s football. This is what you’ve been doing all year. This is what you’ve been working for, so once that first hit is out of the system, you’re going to go out there and play your game.”



WR EARLY DOUCET

(on whether he thinks about the possibility of winning the Super Bowl the year after he won a college national championship) “Yeah, sometimes. My family always tells me there are some things that have never been done, and you have a chance to be a part of history. It’s a great feeling. But, at the same time, we’ve still got to win the game. It’s a great thought, and if I can accomplish that goal it would be tremendous. Hopefully, I might have to write a book about it one day, but I’m just glad to be here and be a part of this.”


(on being part of a position group with so many standout players and what he’s learning from the experience) “You can learn so much, just the way they approach every day in practice, how they approach the games. Being around those guys, I just try to pick their brains and ask them what they think about this or that. They’ve given me so much great advice. I think it’s just going to make me a better football player and a better wide receiver.”


(on working with wide receivers coach Mike Miller) “He’s a great guy. He just makes the game so much easier for you. He’ll break down the game plan and have it to a point where you understand it, understand the whole overall concept and where everybody needs to be. That makes it a lot easier as a player, especially as a young player coming in. It gives you an opportunity to go in there without any worries and not think too much, just go out there and play football.”


(on what they expect to see from Pittsburgh’s physical defense) “Oh, it’s going to be a tough football game. It’s not going to be an easy game. They’re going to bring their ‘A’ game, and they have a lot of guys with Super Bowl experience. They know what’s expected and how to prepare for this type of game, so we’re just going to come out here and play our game. I think if we play our game, stick together, stay fundamentally sound, have no turnovers and just play an overall great game of football, it’ll be a good game.”


(on how you try to beat a guy like Steelers S Troy Polamalu) “I think we have a great receiving corps where there’s not just one guy you can focus on. It’s a group of guys. I think it’ll make his job a little tougher when you have more than one guy to worry about – Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban. It’s just a great group of guys, so I think it’ll make his job a little tough.”


(on always knowing where Polamalu is) “You’ve got to always know where he’s at. He’s like the quarterback of the defense, so you’ve definitely got to know where he is at all times.”


(on Steelers OLB James Harrison’s ability to create havoc) “He’s a tremendous football player. He’s a hard worker. You’ve got everybody who was saying he was undersized, and that’s the kind of guy who uses that as motivation and just goes out there every week and leaves it all on the football field. It’s paying off for him right now.”


(on how being at a big-time college program like LSU prepared him to play on this stage) “It definitely helped a lot because you know how to handle certain situations. Being up here for a week is just like being at the national championship game, being there for a week and not going out, understanding you’re here for one thing only and that’s to win the game. You can celebrate all you want after you win the game, and that’s the whole goal. That’s the whole mindset of our football team. We’re going to handle our obligations, but at the same time we’re here to do one thing and that’s to win a Super Bowl.”


(on having a quarterback with the Super Bowl experience Kurt Warner has) “It’s great to have an experienced leader, somebody like Kurt that can come in and manage the game. Guys can look to him. If you have confidence in your leader, that makes everybody else more comfortable and willing to go out there and fight.”


(on the offensive line’s role in the passing game) “In any offense, the offensive line is very key. Without a good offensive line, it doesn’t matter who’s at quarterback. They won’t be successful. You’ve got to be able to give your quarterback time to make his reads and make the throws that he needs to make in order for the team to be successful.”



WR LARRY FITZGERALD

(on what his father thinks of him playing in the Super Bowl) “We haven’t really had a chance to talk about this game yet. Last week I was taking care of a lot of logistical stuff for the family. I know this week we will be staying at the same hotel so he will probably give me an earful like he usually does.”


(on what he will do to prepare himself for the Super Bowl) “I will prepare the same way I always do – get plenty of rest and make sure you are eating the same types of food, just stay in your routine and don’t change anything. It’s a bigger game, but it really is the same game I have been playing since I was seven years old in Martin Luther King Park back in Minneapolis growing up. The field is the same size, there are still 11 men on the field and the rules are still the same, but the implications are just a lot bigger.”


(on what it was like to be the son of a sportswriter) “It gave me a lot of opportunities to be around professional athletes as a youth. I remember going into the [Minnesota] Twins locker room and meeting Ken Griffey, Jr., meeting Mark McGwire, meeting Jose Canseco. I got a lot of baseballs signed. I met Michael Jordan and Kevin Garnett and remember having conversations with Mike Modano after Northstars games. I lived the dream as a child being around some of my heroes. It gave me a greater appreciation as a youth being able to see what you wanted to do. I remember being at Vikings’ training camp and watching Cris Carter and Randy Moss and Jake Reed and saying this would be a dream come true to be an NFL player. I think everything I did in terms of my preparation as a youth to get here has paid off for me. I mean, I didn’t go out and I didn’t drink or smoke. I didn’t do a lot of the things other kids in my neighborhood were doing just because my dad gave me the opportunity to see what NFL players what were doing and the sacrifices they had to make.”


(on whether he is living a dream this week) “If I am able to hoist that Vince Lombardi trophy on Sunday, then I will definitely be living the dream, no question. There are very few people in life who get to do exactly what I do. And I’m able to do that. Every day I wake up and thank God for the opportunity he has given me and for the health he has given me and for putting me in this position because it is truly a blessing and an honor to be here. Playing with friends like Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin and being able to experience and live this dream is amazing.”


(on if he ever became close to any Steelers while he played in college at the University of Pittsburgh) “I used to go over there all the time and try to bum free lunches out of their cafeteria. They had great food over there. I use to see Mr. Rooney all the time. From the very top guy in the organization, Mr. Rooney, to my buddy Todd who worked at the reception desk, they were all class over there. Everybody in that organization is first class.”


(on how he ended up playing at the University of Pittsburgh) “It was a funny story of how I ended up there. I was always a big Penn State fan as a child. I always liked the Big 10 being from Minnesota, but the Gophers were terrible when I was growing up. I played linebacker too and I always liked [former Penn State linebackers] LaVar Arrington and Brandon Short and I always wanted to be a Penn State linebacker. So, on our way driving to visit Penn State it was raining really hard and the visibility wasn’t good enough so we spent the night in Pittsburgh. My high school coach told me that Tony Dorsett and Dan Marino and Mike Ditka went there and that there were a lot of great players who went there. So, we went over to their facility and their coaches didn’t know we were coming. I met the coaches and we gave them my tape and that was how the relationship was started.”


(on what it has been like for the Cardinals to finally make it to the Super Bowl) “We have been through some really tough years here and for us to finally get it turned around in the right direction feels so good. But we aren’t satisfied with just making it to this point. Obviously, this is unchartered territory for us, but if we don’t win it means nothing.”


(on whether he worries about being injured) “It is the sad part of this game. Football is a physical game and I think every player who steps on the field understands that risk, but I don’t think anyone of us would change anything. This is just football. This is a man’s game and I know that every time I go up for a pass there is a possibility that I could be knocked out and I’m willing to take that risk because I love what I do and you play for the love of the game.”


(on what quarterback Kurt Warner has brought to the team) “He’s an amazing leader and the best teammate you could ever ask for and a consummate professional. I remember my second year in the NFL and Kurt’s first with the Cardinals, we played against Houston and he injured his knee. It ended his season and he was put on the injured reserve list. At the same time, his wife had a medical issue and he still had five kids to take care of at home, but I remember him coming to work every day dealing with all of those issues and he didn’t change one bit. He was still the same guy and that’s a tribute to him. I’m looking forward to seeing his bust in Canton [at the Pro Football Hall of Fame] one day.”


(on what he thinks is the strength of the Cardinals’ team) “I think the strongest part of our team is our team. Collectively, offensively, defensively and on special teams I think the guys have bought into each other and really support each other. I think the thing that makes us so powerful is that we are a humble team. The leaders on this team hold each other accountable.”


(on whether he has had time to reflect on this season) “This is not the time to reflect right now. We are on the cusp of playing in the biggest game of our lives, all of our lives. We have never been in this position and this isn’t guaranteed to ever happen to us again. So, I want to make sure all of my attention is focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense and how I can go out there and play well.”



P BEN GRAHAM

(on being released from the Jets in September 2008) “I have some long-standing friends in the Jets organization. Coach (Eric) Mangini, I’ve had a relationship with for over 10 years and I wish him all the best in Cleveland. But it’s part of the business. I realize that. I honestly believed that I’d be punting for the Jets throughout my entire career, like I played my entire career with Geelong in Australia. But you look around and almost every player on this team has been somewhere else. I’m hoping that I’ll come back reinvented. I feel refreshed. This last eight weeks has been an amazing journey.”


(on the circumstances of his final release from the Jets) “We’d had a meeting after we beat the Cardinals, after Week 4. I was walking towards the locker room to get changed for the team photo and I got a tap on the shoulder. I went upstairs, was told I was being released, so I actually left the building walking past my teammates getting their photo taken as a team. So I never had a chance to say goodbye to them a second time. That was tough. That was the difficult part of that, especially after the first time I was released, I had had a great sit-down meeting with Coach Mangini and Mike Tannenbaum. But that’s all part of it. I had to move on quickly and get ready for the next opportunity.”


(on how he and his family came to the decision to move to the United States to pursue a football career) “I was first approached in 1997, so by the time we moved over in 2004, there was a lot of discussion and a lot of debate. But the moment came where we had to make a decision, because Geelong had to make an extra roster spot going into free agency—the trade period—and then the draft. So I was 50-50 for a week. She (my wife Katie) actually said to me, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s go. Let’s do this as a family.’ And I said, ‘You know what? This is a great opportunity. I don’t want to grow old wondering what would happen. Let’s go.’ So I’ve had her support from day one. You know, we’ve had our ups and downs; when I’m up, she’s down, and when I’m down, she brings me up. She’s been my rock and I can’t thank her enough for her support, because we are here for my football. We’re trying to enjoy the experience as best we can. My girls, Sophie and Rosie, are nine and seven. They’re in school getting the best education they can. And my son Jack, he’s only 14 months old. He was born in New York, so we have now officially some ties to the US.”


(on why he thinks his wife was willing to move) “Well, growing up in Geelong and living in Geelong, it’s been known as a fishbowl community. We wanted to get out. We wanted to experience the big wide world. This was a great opportunity for it. This is just one of those opportunities and an amazing journey for us. This is the ultimate.”


(on whether he thinks there will be more Australian players who come to the NFL) “I definitely think there will be. I think there are some organizations that are improving young punters, helping with the path to the NFL. I always say, ‘It’s a lot harder than people think.’ Just because you have the ability and you have the desire to make it, it’s a process: getting visas, the sacrifices, the money that you need just to be able to support yourself before you make a team. It’s important. I’ve got no doubt that the American system—whether it be the NFL or college—will look to Australia. I know there are a lot of punters in the college system already: Matt McBriar, with the Dallas Cowboys, who went to the Pro Bowl last year, came through the college system, through the University of Hawaii. I’m sure there’ll be more interest, and this creates that interest. I can’t say whether there’ll be another Australian through the NFL, but I’m sure there’ll be more interest in it.”


(on how much technical work he needed to do in order to be prepared to play in the NFL) “Well, I’d only really kicked an NFL ball for fun before 2005, so I had two weeks at a punting camp over here, which showed me what I needed to do to make a team in the NFL. The way it was given to me was, I had great form, I had great hang time and great distance, but my get-off was too slow. The scouts would just turn the page and look to the next punter. That was something that you just have to work on day after day—consistency, stepping and punting, your drop—everything has to be done within that period of time to get the job done. So it took a couple weeks, and then it took a couple of months to earn the trust of then-Coach Westhoff, who ultimately would have the final decision on whether I made the team.”


(on whether NFL punting will affect Australian football) “I think it has an effect, or will have an effect, in goal-kicking. But in Australian Rules Football, you can kick the ball a hundred different ways. Here, it’s the same way every time. I introduced here the drop punt, which is a slightly different technique, but it’s natural to me…It’s very consistent (in terms of) hang time and the ability to pin the opposition deep in their own territory. If I ever get the opportunity to coach or advise in some way back in Australia, it’s something that I will translate back into goal kicking.”


(on whether he was under the impression that Coach Westhoff wanted him to stay with the Jets) “You’d have to ask Mike. He’s been through his own journey. He retired as a coach, (and) we had a new special teams coordinator brought in, Kevin O’Dea, who was more of a punting specialist. I thought I worked well with him. I thought I had a great offseason and preseason. Coach Westhoff was re-signed three days before the Miami game, and it really wasn’t the same. I can’t comment on what went on behind closed doors, but I’ve got great respect for Coach Westhoff. He’s been in the league a long time. He was a great guy to work for. I don’t think I’ll play for anyone as hard as he is, or with greater expectations. I’ll take that with me for the rest of my career.”



GENERAL MANAGER ROD GRAVES

(on young quarterbacks that have impressed him in this league)
“Obviously Ben Roethlisberger has really done an outstanding job. When you take the fact that he came from a small school and he’s developed in such a fantastic way, his leadership skills and so forth have really come forth in such a big way. Of the young quarterbacks, he’d be the most impressive.”


(on WR Anquan Boldin’s future with the franchise)
“At this point we are going to evaluate where we are with Anquan after the season. We still consider him a core member of our football team and we’ll tackle those issues with him in a meeting after the season is over. He’s a great football player and a core member of our football team.”


(on if WR Anquan Boldin is happy here)
“I think you’d have to ask him that. I know that Anquan loves football. He loves his teammates. He’s one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever been around. It would be my belief that he would like to continue here in Arizona, but again, we’ll sit down with him after the season and evaluate where he is and where we are as well.”


(on Martin Mayhew and taking the Lions and building them to getting to the Super Bowl)
“When you have guys like Martin Mayhew at the helm, you can trust that good decisions will be made. I’ve known Martin for quite a few years. I think he’s a good, solid guy and I know quite a few of the scouts. I just think that once he determines the direction that they need to go, set a plan and stick to it regardless how bumpy the road may be and I think Martin’s that kind of guy. I believe he’ll eventually get it turned around. I have known Martin for 15 years or more. He’s very well respected. I’m very happy that he was given an opportunity to as general manager and I think he’ll do a fine job.”


(on Martin Mayhew dealing with doubt while on the job)
“He has the opportunity to exert his thoughts and ideas. Obviously he’s been there. He understands the system. He knows how to navigate through the political waters and I think that’s an asset. I think he’s looked over what they’ve done the last 10 years or more and been able to intelligently evaluate the way what needs to happen and what need to change. I think that he’s in a good position to do that.”


(on the No. 1 thing he had to do upon arriving in Arizona)
“We had so many challenges when I first started. One thing that we certainly had to do was focus our attention on keeping our core players; the guys that were most important to us in terms of our success. Beyond that we had to do a better job of drafting and evaluating our players and putting ourselves in position where we could attract quality free agents. We had a lot of challenges. We stuck to it, the Bidwells’ believed in what we were doing, and I have to say that largely led to our success and where we are today.”


(on his philosophy towards the salary cap)
“We try to make wise decisions about our salary cap. We are also if not the lowest, one of the lower numbers with respect to dead cap money. I think one of the reasons why is that we don’t throw a lot of good money after bad. We don’t just eat up salary cap and overpay players because we have cap room. We try to put our money in the places where we feel like it will best serve us and give ourselves a chance to evaluate our players on a yearly basis as to whether or not we want to put more money into them. I think that has led to seemingly a great deal of cap room after every year but I think we have a chance to evaluate where we want to spend that money and by the time the season starts we’re not sitting there with larger amounts of cap. We’ve eaten it up. We approach our cap a little bit differently than some teams because we don’t throw a lot of guaranteed money at players.”


(on draft smartly in a salary cap environment)
“It’s no question. Drafting becomes even more important. The development of players becomes more important. I give a lot of credit to the outstanding work that our scouting department has done which is led by Steve Keim and the outstanding job that Ken Whisenhunt and our coaches have done. We’ve been able to draft players, develop those guys, get them on the field and Ken has not been bashful about that. I think all of those things integrate into a successful mix when you’re trying to build a football team.”


(on his management style)
“I have many people to be thankful to. Carl Peterson gave me my first opportunity in the USFL. Bill Tobin, who was previously with the Bears, gave me a great opportunity and I learned quite a bit, but obviously no one has had a greater impact on me than father Jackie Graves. My dad was a scout with the Philadelphia Eagles back in the 70’s and had been with the Eagles for quite a long time. I learned a great deal from him. He paved the way and I was able to latch onto his coat tails and swing along and learn a few things about the business.”


(on evaluating players and re-signing players)
“We’ve got some challenges ahead, but we set our sites on trying to keep this football team together, focusing first on our core players. I realize that we have four to five core guys that are extremely important in trying to get resigned. Those guys have expressed an interest in remaining here. We want those guys to remain with us. I think we have a good opportunity to sit down and get something done with those guys after the season.”


(on the price of players going up upon making a Super Bowl)
“There’s no question about it. I anticipate challenges for many reasons. Obviously the value of players or the perceived value of those players will be a factor that we have to contend with but eventually we’ll have a meeting of the minds. The one thing that I feel like is an asset when you get to this point is that the players enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy the coaching staff and we hope that those factors will also play into their decision when it comes to evaluating opportunities they may have.”


(on some players asking for more money and out of Arizona)
“If you ask any one of them about how they feel about the team, about the direction of the team, about Ken Whisenhunt and the coaching staff, their teammates, I think they feel all very positive. We live in the era where everyone’s focused on more money and everyone feels like you have to get it while you can. I’m certainly not surprised by that. It’s something that we have to deal with and we’ll get it sorted out after the season.”


(on describing his experiences in the NFL)
“It certainly comes through a lot of hard work and support. I’ve taken the time to study successful organizations like the Steelers and the way that they have managed the football team. We took a good hard look at teams like Indianapolis and New England and tried to model some of our approaches to how those teams were built and the types of personal decisions that they made in the off-season. We tried to look at our tools and mold a plan that allows us to do very much what those teams have done. They drafted well. They integrated veteran free agents to their system. They’ve been able to do it quickly and get those players out of the field with outstanding coaching and those are the things we recognized that we had to be able to do and we’ve been able to get that done with Ken Whisenhunt and his staff.”


(on what he sees in the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise)
“The Steelers are very well respected. One is the outstanding job that Kevin Colbert has done in drafting players. They have been able to sacrifice or make tough decisions about their free agents and quickly integrate new talent in there and keep rolling. They’ve lost coaches and have been able to hire new guys and keep rolling. They have an outstanding foundation when you look at it. When I think about how successful they have drafted and how well they coach, that’s the kind of successful team that we’d like to be. The other aspect of it is they are a physical team, they’re tough, and have a mentality about them. It’s very much like what we had in Chicago in those early years in the 80’s. We’d like to develop that kind of mentality on our football team. Ken Whisenhunt has worked in that system and he understands the importance of it. He brought a lot of that to us in terms of expressing that to the players and guiding our players. He’s an excellent teacher. I think he was able to pick up on a lot of things through his past experiences and much of it from Pittsburgh.”


(on bringing in older veterans and how they would contribute)
“It was stability primarily. With a number of those guys, like Brian Robinson, Clark Haggans, a few of those types of players, have been in successful programs before. We are a young team. We needed that kind of stability in our locker room. Even if they were role players, even if they weren’t starters, they came in with a certain attitude and a certain maturity that I think was good for our locker room and has really paid big dividends for us.”


(on wondering if he’d ever be able to turn it around a few years ago)
“No question there have been some days where the nights were long and the days were even longer. You wondered whether or not we would be able to get over the hump. But we never lost sight of trying to improve our team each year. We hit a home run with Ken Whisenhunt. He’s brought tremendous focus. He has done an outstanding job of assembling an excellent staff which I credit for the development of our players. Todd Haley and Clancy Pendergast have done a great job. We have so many various aspects of our football team right now that are positive and I think serve to build a strong foundation for us. Those days that you are referring to even though I remember them quite well, came so long ago. We’re excited to be where we are right now and I think it’s largely because we’re an organization of talented people.”


(on the quarterback position, Kurt Warner’s play and Matt Leinart)
“The one thing we determined as an organization that we were not going to allow the draft situation or money to dictate who was going to start for our football team. I think what Ken (Whisenhunt) did was the right thing to do. He opened it up for competition and Kurt (Warner) did an outstanding job of rising to the top. We wanted to do what was best for our football team, and we wanted a guy at the helm who would give us the best chance to succeed and even though Matt (Leinart) ended up being the second quarterback, we were always prepared to go with Matt. I think Ken Whisenhunt would have been very comfortable with that decision had he surfaced as the top choice. We strongly believe that eventually Matt will take over our football team do an excellent job and be an outstanding NFL quarterback.”


(on QB Kurt Warner and his career)
“I think you have to understand what makes him tick. When you do that, you understand why he’s as successful as he is today. You can’t count him out. He’s just a tremendous character guy and just a great competitor. He will not quit. That’s the thing that I think has been a tremendous example for our young players. He’s just been a huge asset for our program.”



Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley

(on Steelers defense being fundamentally different than the Eagles) “Yeah, at least in their regular personnel groups when they are in a true 3-4. That’s a totally different scheme, but in the Sub you see some similar pressures. But they’ve got some unique things they do, and with as many unique players as they have around, to really do some special things to create problems.”


(on attacking empty zones against Philadelphia) “I think in general we executed last week. We had a good plan and I thought the players executed, at least for three quarters – the first, second and fourth – as well as you could execute. When you can play that way, you have a chance to compete.”


(on being aware of but not allowing players like Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu dictate the game) “I think that’s football. We’ve had to deal with that every week, and every week there has been somebody that you have to be aware of. Brian Dawkins last week, he’s a physical, intimidating, bully-type player. The first game on Thanksgiving we really got bullied, and I thought the difference in the game last week was that we played much more physically offensively and were able to go toe-to-toe, which gave us a chance to win the game. Each week there’s a different set of problems, but no greater than what we are seeing this week. The area of the field that Troy is able to cover and the instincts that he plays with, he’s just a phenomenal physical athlete who can really play. He’s someone you have to know where he is at all times. You definitely have to be aware.”


(on not playing football and going from playing baseball to being a coordinator at the Super Bowl ) “I guess I am blessed first and foremost, but I have to say, to grow up in a household with someone like my father who again, I think is the absolute best at what he does. That’s unbiased speaking from a professional standpoint now that I’ve been around a lot of football people. To go to bowl games with him on a yearly basis, to go to training camp with him and do all of those things, I think there is some osmosis involved. You are talking about someone who was great at what he did. I get paid to coach. I don’t get paid to play. If playing were a criteria to being a great coach, I think you would eliminate a lot of great coaches out of the Hall of Fame. It’s in my blood; it’s part of my personality. I think coaching is life. Whatever business you are in, you have to be able to lead and you have to be able to get the most out of people, and that’s what I’d like to think I’ve been able to do over my career, or learned to be able to do, and have success wherever I’ve been and in whatever position I’m coaching. You either are or you aren’t, and I was grateful enough to be in the position to take advantage of my opportunities.”


(on Sunday’s challenge against the Steelers defense) “I think it will be our biggest challenge of the year, without a doubt, on the biggest stage which just adds to it. I’m really happy that we were able to play the way we did last week against a really good defense. This is a totally different defense that is the number one ranked defense. They have a lot of unique players who make it great, and this will be the best challenge yet. But, it’s really what it is all about to me and I wouldn’t choose it any other way.”


(on what he saw in the Titans game against the Steelers) “I think the Titans were able to protect the quarterback and they were able to give Kerry Collins a bunch of time, the receivers were able to get open and they executed. They played a very good game, and it didn’t appear to me that it was the Steelers best defensive game. You have up and down weeks. We know that as well as anyone. I think they were able to protect and control the line of scrimmage and that was key.”


(on his fiery personality and the number of sideline exchanges he’s had with receivers over the years) “The other night they were showing clips of Bill Parcells in the Giants day, and I didn’t feel so bad because I’m like, ‘There’s my guy and he’s getting after Phil Simms and getting after the defense.’ So, it’s the way I am. There are a lot of great coaches who are quiet leaders, and there are a lot of great coaches who are more emotional guys and I just happen to fit into the emotional, fiery side I guess.”


(on how defensive coordinators Jim Johnson and Dick LeBeau differ in their approach and how he plans to counter ) “I think this group presents a whole different set of problems, even schematically with the 3-4. That’s difficult, especially when you aren’t seeing it all of the time, although we are fortunate enough because our defense plays it some. We have a lot of live competitive periods where we get to see it and practice against it. We played a few 3-4 teams this year and last year, which I think will help prepare us for it. But, they are totally different, at least in the base package stuff. Like I said, they have some unique players who play their positions very well and make it even more difficult, so it will be a great challenge for us.”


(on what running back Edgerrin James has done differently to have success in the playoffs) “I don’t know that it was something he wasn’t doing. Earlier in the year we were running the ball pretty well, and we had a young guy (Tim Hightower) who was really showing some explosiveness. He was helping us more and more, and we gave him a shot to play and it happened that he had a real good game in the first St. Louis game, where he ran for over 100 yards and did a real good job. We thought that was the direction to go, and as it turned out, we struggled for a lot of different reasons. We didn’t have a tight end healthy and we didn’t know who we were going to have, and when we did have one, they were beat up pretty good, even so much that we were signing guys like Stephen Spach off the street midseason. There were a lot of different reasons that we got away from Edge and the run game in general. Spach helped us a bunch, and he obviously got hurt, but Ben Patrick and Leonard Pope stepped in last week and they are both finally healthy, I think, and they played really well for us. Edge obviously has a lot to prove. He’s a prideful guy who has never lost the confidence in his abilities, and I’m proud of him for that. He sat and waited his turn quietly. He’s one of our quiet leaders on the team who guys gravitate towards, so when he got the chance to come back in and play, he’s had a lot to prove. It’s worked out well.”


(on the public perception of James’ relationship being strained with Tim Hightower) “I’m really, really proud of Edge, and I’m really, really happy for him. He went through a very adverse, difficult time. He’s a guy who has always started, and he was told he couldn’t start. That’s a hard thing to handle. I don’t think he was ever a distraction. I think our running backs coach Mo [Maurice] Carthon did a very good job of keeping him involved and keeping that group together, because there was never a rocky time with them. They just kept going about their business. That’s the way Mo coaches, and he had them ready for when their number was called. I don’t know Edge’s relationship with Tim, but they appear close, and I think that Edge has gone out of his way to help a young player. I can’t say enough about Edge.”


(on the incident with wide receiver Anquan Boldin and if he has regrets) “I am who I am. I think that is yesterday’s news. I think we are past that. It goes on all of the time. Keyshawn Johnson, I heard him quoted the other day saying, ‘I’ve been in a 150 of those with Todd Haley.’ That one just happened to get caught on tape during that drive, so I think a lot was made about it, but I try not to have any regrets.”


(on staying calm throughout this process) “These two weeks, it’s really about that. It’s not peaking too fast, not getting in that game mode for two weeks straight. You’ve got to stay balanced. You’ve got to stay calm, and I do think you’ve got to work at it. I think that this week is a lot about that. The team that comes out on top is the group of guys who can do that the best.”


(on what makes Kurt Warner different from other quarterbacks) “I think that number one, his preparation is second to none. I don’t know who could prepare more than him. He’s into it. He obviously has great ability to throw the football. I think if you had to say one thing that separates him, he’s got unbelievable vision and anticipation and he’s probably one of the better progression passers as far as getting through his complete read. That’s why a guy like Steve Breaston gets 1,000-yards out of nowhere, because of Kurt’s ability to find the open guy. He’s got a lot of great skills as a quarterback and he knows how to use them.”



CB RODERICK HOOD

(on giving advice from his first appearance in the Super Bowl) “I just tell them to go out there, have fun and enjoy yourself. It is a football game with a lot of attention around it but you have been doing this since you were six or seven years old, since you were a kid. I tell them to just come out here and enjoy yourself. Enjoy the festivities but when it is time to play and practice, get focused.”


(on choosing Arizona) “I just prayed about it. I felt good about it when I entered the facility. With Coach Whisenhunt and knowing what this team had, I had a good warm feeling about it. I decided to go here.”


(on how the culture has changed during his two years here) “I think mentally that was the big part. Coach Whisenhunt came in with his system and what he wanted to implement and I think guys just bought into it. I think now it is one of those things where as you play and as you win, you get more confidence and that is contagious. I think this team is confident, not overly confident but confident in our play. Those things can get contagious, like the winning attitude and I think Coach Whisenhunt brought that with his mentality and his system.”


(on the biggest challenges going against the Steelers) “They have a great defense. Offensively Ben Roethlisberger does some great things with getting out of the pocket, breaking tackles and making throws that normally people won’t make because of his arm strength. So it is one of those things where we have to stay in coverage and make plays with the opportunities.”


(on being in the League for six years and being in two Super Bowls) “I just thank God, it is a blessing. To play in two Super Bowls in six seasons, it is unbelievable. I played a lot in the last Super Bowl but to be able to actually start, it is unbelievable and I am very thankful and blessed to be able to play in my second one.”


(on doing anything differently for his second time in the Super Bowl) “I think the first time I got here I really enjoyed it. It was kind of overwhelming, it was my second year. This is my second time, I am definitely enjoying it, but I have seen it before so it is not overwhelming. You have the same feeling from being here again, but you know you have to go out here and handle business on Sunday in order to enjoy yourself to the maximum.”


(on being overlooked versus the Steelers’ defense) “You have to definitely respect those guys over there. Their defense has been playing great for years. They hold almost number one in every category so you have to respect them, but I think we are playing great ball right now as a defensive unit. We are young and playing really well and I think that we have a lot of continuity on our side, offensively and defensively. We just play with confidence. We don’t play worry about their side of the ball. We just go out there and just try to be great.”


(on being ready to be finished with the media and being ready to hit someone) “You know I am just taking Kurt’s advice and just enjoying every moment of it. I’m not really fast to leave, I am just trying to enjoy being here.”


(on what it means to him to finish strong) “It is one of those things where, when you start something you want to finish it. You don’t want to leave your name as someone who is a quitter, didn’t play or didn’t give his all with any aspect. It could be your last time here or your last time in anything that you do you want to leave your mark. I think that is what we are trying to do right now. It is the last game, the biggest game on the stage right now, and we want to leave our mark.”


(on being such a big underdog against the Panthers) “You know what, we believe in each other in that locker room. Everyone counted us out pretty much the whole year, ‘oh they are the same old Cardinals.’ We believe in each other. We work out with each other in the offseason and we knew what we wanted to accomplish this year. To be able to go out here and accomplish it and be one step away from the ultimate goal, I think it is great. We don’t get caught up in the critics and what they think because we understand ourselves that we have a good team.”



WR SEAN MOREY

(on his message to the fans in Arizona) “We hope they yell as loud as they can from Arizona. We will hear you. Hopefully, we can give everyone a lot to cheer about on Sunday.”


(on the similarities of playing in a Super Bowl as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and now with the Arizona Cardinals) “I think it is really similar. You just have to understand what your job is and execute. You have to do your part, believing that the guy next to you is going to do his job. It is like every other regular season game. The team who makes the fewest mistakes and the team who makes plays in critical situations is going to win the game. I don’t think that I am nervous. I think it is more that I am excited and ready for this opportunity. You have a job to do and you have to go ahead and do it. I think my first Super Bowl was a little bit of a blur. I think that I now have a chance to take it in and appreciate it.”


(on playing in Super Bowl XLIII) “I am looking forward to playing the game. It is an easy answer. I am just excited to be out there and to compete against some of my best friends, guys who I played with in Pittsburgh. I am sure there is going to be a lot of talk. I am going to enjoy the game and do whatever I can in my power to make a play and help my team win the game.”


(on the opportunity of becoming Super Bowl champions) “This is our goal. Nobody set a goal and said, ‘We want to go out and just get to the Super Bowl.’ We want to win the Super Bowl. We put ourselves in a great position to be here and we are all playing our best football. I feel like Pittsburgh is going to create some problems, and it is going to be a great challenge. They have a number of tough and physical players, especially on their special teams unit. It is going to be a great challenge, and hopefully we can pull it off.”


(on participating in Super Bowl XLIII) “I am going to enjoy it and play the game as hard as I can. I am going to do whatever I can to make a play, and naturally, that is what everybody would like to do. You need to do your job and execute. We have to do everything we can to put our team in the best position to win the game.”


(on if there is an advantage of playing his former team) “I don’t think so. It is a different team than they were a couple of years ago and last season when we played them. I don’t think there is any real advantage either way. You have to approach this game like it is its own entity. We have to be willing to prepare and work this week to try and go out there and play our best football.”


(on wide receiver Santonio Holmes) “He is tough. He is a great returner and a great player. It is going to be a great challenge for our team.”


(on the successful teams he has played for during his career) “I think it is all about people. I have been very fortunate to be involved with very successful organizations. I have been with teams who have had very passionate fan bases with great support from their cities. I have had some great coaches: Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, Andy Reid, Bill Cowher and now Coach (Ken) Whisenhunt. I had some great coaches in NFL Europe, starting with Jack Bicknell and Sam Rutigliano.”


(on Steelers defensive back Anthony Madison) “When Anthony came in as a rookie, you could definitely identify him as a young player who was going to have a bright future in this league. He was very physical and fast. He gave me a lot of headaches in practice. He was tough, physical and aggressive on the coverage teams. He has been very successful for the Steelers covering kicks this season. He makes a lot of big plays for them and I have a lot of respect for him.”


(on his role with the Arizona Cardinals) “Coach Whisenhunt does a very good job of holding players accountable. He helped me understand my role on this team and where he wanted me to play. You have to be a pro. You have to be willing to accept your role. You have to understand it is about the team. You have to understand your role and be willing to adjust if your role should change. Coach Whisenhunt has really helped me become a better pro. I have learned how to take a better approach to the game.”



G REGGIE WELLS

(on the challenge of facing the Steelers) “It’s a tremendous challenge. They’re number one in the league for a reason. They play well together, they’re very unselfish and they have a lot of talented guys over there. We have to make sure we come out and come with the execution we have been the last few weeks and just doing it on a full-time basis. We can’t wait and get behind and let them grind things out, or else we’re going to be behind for a little bit. You couldn’t ask for a better challenge for this group.


(on where his family of Pittsburgh Steelers fans allegiances are this week) “No question about it, they’re all Cardinals, they’ve been Cardinals since I was drafted way back when and they’re going to stay that way as long as I’m here. There’s no division there. Everybody in my entourage is all Cardinals.


(on dealing with the pre-Super Bowl week) “Just taking it all in. You’ve kind of got to sit back and relax and let everything happen. Sunday is going to be an eternity away and this is just really one step in that journey. So, it’s a special time. You really just want to sit back and take it in with your guys and go from there.


(on playing the Steelers) “You couldn’t have written a better story. I have tremendous respect for them as an organization and what they’ve done for the city of Pittsburgh and those fans over there. You want that kind of game to win it all.


(on what his father taught him as a coach) “His preparation level. The way he goes about getting himself mentally prepared, not only for a coach, but I’ve had a chance to compete with him in basketball games and things like that. You can’t put a price on that. Teaching what it really takes to be a competitor, not only in this league, but in this world.


(on making the jump from college to the NFL) “I didn’t really think about more than I could handle at that point. To me, it was just about becoming the best player I could be and really just working and working and it worked out. I think a lot of people who do go to smaller schools off the bat sometimes lose track of those things that got them there, but anything is possible. You don’t have to go to Pitt or Penn State or Florida State to make it in this league and I’ve been able to show that.


(on facing the Steelers’ defensive line and what makes them so good) “They’re always on the same page. They know what they have to do in order to make the guy next to them successful. Anytime you get a team like that, it’s going to be a great challenge. It doesn’t matter what kind of season they’re having, whether they’re in a Super Bowl or not even a playoff team, we know that their defense is going to come ready to play and that’s the thing that’s made them who they are today. We just have to make sure we’re all together. The fight is coming, obviously, we know that.


(on accounting for their blitzing) “I think ultimately with that, you just want to make sure you get your big guys on their major pass rushers – (James) Harrison and (LaMarr) Woodley and guys like that – you just want to make sure that you don’t continually give those guys up to the back and the tight ends. We’ve been working on that and we’ve seen that the first time we played them. So,` we need to really just go back and look at some film and see what we did right that game and see what we did wrong.


(on the soft spot of the Pittsburgh defense) “I don’t know if you would use ‘soft’ in anything that you’d talk about with the Steelers, but we just have to try to go out and execute how we’ve been executing. They have weapons – we have weapons too, so we’re not going to let them being good take away from what we want to do. We’re just going to go out and battle the way that we’ve been battling. We’ll use our guys – Fitz (Larry Fitzgerald), Anquan (Boldin), Edge (Edgerrin James) and whoever else need be – and we’ll just go at it.”


(on if Ken Whisenhunt’s insight of Ben Roethlisberger has helped the team prepare) “Hopefully he does. Hopefully he’s helped Clancy (Pendergast) and those guys on that side of the ball decipher some of the things they want to do offensively. But we played them last year, obviously we’re both two different teams, but we felt confident in the game last year and we feel confident in this game too. It’s going to be two good teams going at it.”


(on if he could have imagined being in the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season) “Oh, without a doubt. I don’t think any team thinks that far ahead, as saying, ‘hey, we’re going to the Super Bowl this year,’ but we knew we had talent. We knew we had a great group of guys and a group that was willing to do what it took to work hard and win. At that point, it’s just a matter of executing early and executing often.”


(on rebounding from struggles in December) “Just going back to the basics, man. It was a point where we’d already clinched the playoffs. Not many guys on this team have been in that position. Had the guys started to slack? No, I don’t think so, but whenever you kind of know that you’re already in, maybe that sense of complacency already set in there. We really just had to go back to the drawing board. We went back to hitting heavy and that’s ultimately the kind of mindset we came into the playoffs with.”


(on being an underdog) “It’s something that this team has embraced. We were underdogs against Atlanta too. It’s just something that we’ve embraced as a unit. We don’t let that interfere with what we’re doing. We’re no strangers to negativity out in Arizona. This group has finally, I think, found the recipe of not letting that bring us down as a unit and going out there and showing how we play ball.”



S ADRIAN WILSON

(on the late Pat Tillman) “It is a great sense of pride to be playing in the Super Bowl. Pat (Tillman) did a lot for this team and this organization. For us to be here, it took a lot of people to get us to this point. It was not only the people here but the players and coaches who have been here in the past. It gives everyone a great sense of pride.”


(on sharing his Super Bowl memories) “As a kid, I always dreamt about the big stage and I did not realize how big and exciting it was going to be. It is kind of overwhelming, but it is exciting to be playing on this stage with my teammates.”


(on what he does to relax during Super Bowl week) “We have not had much time to relax. We have been able to get into the film room and prepare for the game. Our focus the past week has been continuing to get ready for Pittsburgh.”


(on Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald) “I think Larry (Fitzgerald) has gotten better with the people who he grew up with – Cris Carter and Randy Moss really helped him as a youngster. Larry plays and practices very hard and really gets the most out of his ability. He does a great job in practice and it all starts in practice.”


(on Cardinals QB Kurt Warner) “He has great character about him. He keeps things in perspective. Overall, he does a great job and sets a great example of how we should play the game. He does a great job and is a leader. He has been a great help to the younger guys on our team.”


(on the Cardinals defense flying under the radar and the offense receiving all the attention) “We don’t make that a concern. We just want to go out and play. Our offense deserves a lot of the credit for the position that we are in right now.”


(on the Cardinals defense) “We got back to basics. We got back to being who we were – being an aggressive defense and not afraid to take any chances.”


(on Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger) “It all starts with Ben (Roethlisberger). He creates a lot of different opportunities down the field when he gets out of the pocket. We just have to be disciplined.”


(on Warner’s leadership) “He has been a great help to the young guys. He is very polished. But like Coach (Ken) Whisenhunt said: ‘It is not about one person. It is just not Kurt’s responsibility because the whole team has to take responsibility and be leaders.”


(on participating in Super Bowl XLIII) “We have been doing this during the whole postseason. We have just had a great opportunity and are very thankful. It took a lot of hard work and people to get to this position. It is not only the current players, but the former players and the front office staff who helped build this team.”


(on Steelers S Troy Polamalu) “I really idolize the way that he plays on the field. I think he stand outs more than any of the other safeties who are playing. He really gets a tremendous amount of my respect and he really deserves a great deal of credit. He is very deserving.”


(on playing in Super Bowl XLIII) “It feels great. It is a great sense of pride. It is very humbling. If you stay humble, good things will happen to you. We are just going to keep working and stay focused.”


(on the postseason run) “We got back to the basics. We got back to putting the pads on for Wednesday and Thursday, and that is something that NFL teams just don’t do. We needed those practices. We needed that wake up call to get us going. We were riding high and had the (NFC West) division wrapped up early, so many of those games brought us back down to earth. We went back to practicing in pads and it made a huge difference in what we did.”


(on being a veteran and having the opportunity to play in a Super Bowl) “I have been here for eight years and Edgerrin (James) has been in the NFL for 10 seasons. Edgerrin James is a great player and we had to wait a long time. Now that it is here, we have to cherish the moment.”


(on the Cardinals defense) “I have always said that we had a great 2004 Draft when we selected Antonio Smith, Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby. We drafted Antrel Rolle in 2005 and we were able to help out the defense and those players really have helped us evolve and get to this point. We were then able to sign Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor and were able to transform our defense.”


(on the team’s attitude) “I think the attitude has changed because we understand that we have the talent to beat anyone. I think each week we know that we have the guys and the ability to win.”


(on Super Bowl XLIII Media Day) “This is great because this really gives us the opportunity to talk about our team. It is a great platform to showcase our team. It gives us a platform to talk about a lot of the guys and what they have done. For me, it is all about them. It is not about talking about me, it is really about having the opportunity to talk about my teammates.”


(on his eight seasons with the Cardinals) “It has been a great journey, because the guys on this team are a very special group. There have been a lot of guys in the past who have paved the way for us, not only as players, but they helped us as people in general. Pat (Tillman) taught me the playbook and the ins and outs of the game. He showed me what I needed to do in order to be successful.”


(on joining the Cardinals in 2001) “I came in with a group of veteran guys and I was very thankful. I had guys like Rob McKinnon, Corey Chavous, Kwamie Lassiter and Tom Knight. I had a lot of veteran guys who took me under their wings and showed me how to become a better football player.”