Arizona Cardinals - Lunes 26/1/09

Super Bowl XLIII – Monday, January 26, 2009

QUOTES FROM ARIZONA CARDINALS PRESS CONFERENCE


HEAD COACH KEN WHISENHUNT

(on the mood of the team) “Obviously the mood is high right now. I think a lot of the guys are excited about the whole experience. It’s not often that you get to travel to a Super Bowl site, and just the way you’re treated and everything that goes with it. There are a lot of things yet to come for us, but the one thing that we don’t want to lose focus on is that we’re down here for a game, and that’s the important thing. I think that last week helped because it gave us a little bit of a taste of how this week could unfold, and yet we were still able to keep our focus and that’s what this week is going to be all about.”


(on if he talked to his team about how to handle this week) “Well, I don’t think you can talk to them about it enough. We have talked to them about it, and we will talk to them about it again. That’s something that’s very important and having been through this and understanding what’s in front of us, the only thing you can try to do is give them as much information as you can about it. Really, it comes back to the type of players that we have. They’ve done a very good job of handling it so far even though this week it steps up a notch. I don’t anticipate that there will be any issues.”


(on turning around the franchise) “I didn’t really look at it as far as history goes because I didn’t think it really had anything to do with what we were trying to get done. I looked at where the team was, what type of players they had, what type of support we were going to get from Mr. Bidwell and Michael (Bidwell), all things that I felt very good about. I think I had the great fortune of working for an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers with Mr. Rooney and working under coach Cowher which gave me an idea of what it took to be successful. I believe we brought a lot of that with us from the standpoint of how we prepare, how we practice, what we expect of our players, and we’ve just been consistent with our message. I think that really its something that takes time if you believe strongly in what you’re doing. It takes getting your team on the same page, and I think that’s what we’ve done. It obviously came to fruition for us in the playoffs this year as far as if you do it this way, it gives you a chance to be successful.”


(on WR Sean Morey) “Sean was very important for us coming into this program because he’s a player that you’ve been to battle with, that understands what it takes to be successful in this league. He’s a guy that can help in the locker room as far as selling the type of mentality that you want from the players, and he’s a very good football player. As far as giving us a stabilizing influence, the type of players that you want to build your program around, Sean Morey is all of those things. That was one of the reasons I felt very strongly about getting him here in Arizona with us.”


(on new additions to the training staff this season) “Well Brett Fischer came to us this year to help us with some of the rehab aspects of what we we’ve been trying to do. There’s nothing more important than getting your football players on the field to play games, and that’s one of the greatest things that we’ve done this year. We haven’t had a number of injuries. A lot of that goes to John Lott and our strength staff, it goes to Tom Reed and our training staff, but Brett has been a great addition to that. I had a history with Brett because both my daughter and my wife had gone to him for rehab. They’ve been in this business with me for a number of years, so they had an idea of how good he was. We were very fortunate to get Brett with us, and he’s done a tremendous job for us.”


(on what he brought in terms of attitude and preparation from Pittsburgh) “I think a good portion of it came from Pittsburgh. Some of it came from Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins. Some of it came from Dan Henning and my time with him. I think as a player I learned from Jeff Van Note a long time ago, who was an older player when I was first coming into the league, about the importance of taking notes and being aware of what’s going on around you. I think that’s all I’ve done. I’ve used some of the things that I felt were good, that I felt were important. I had a great mentor in coach Cowher as far as how you handle a team and how you deal with a lot of the things that go with it. It’s just been a collection of those things that we used as a model to go forward with this team. It’s something, and I think some of our players have said this, our coaching staff feels very strongly about doing this. This may not be the only way to do it. There are other ways to be successful in this league, but I think that we all feel very strongly about doing it the way that we are.”


(on if he considers the Steelers the gold standard of how to run a franchise) “Well, I think there is obviously a mentality that goes with being a Pittsburgh Steeler. I have great respect for that organization, for the success it has had over time. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for that organization for a number of years, and a lot of the things that I learned with that team, with that organization, have greatly benefitted us and greatly benefitted me.”


(on SS Adrian Wilson) “I think one of the biggest reasons we’ve had success this year not only defensively but as a football team is because of leadership. That’s something as a new program going forward that is always hard to get. You can’t just say ‘you’re going to be a leader’ and guys can do that. They have to earn it. Adrian has been an outstanding football player in this league for a number of years, and we talked this year about the importance of leadership from a player of his caliber, one that was held in high esteem by other players. He took that mantle of leadership and ran with it. I’ve seen him grow in that role tremendously this year. One of the biggest reasons for our success this year, especially defensively, has been because of what Adrian has done. When you have a player like him that works as hard as he does, that studies as hard as he does, that takes the time to work with the young guys like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, that takes the time to work with Antrel Rolle who is just learning that position, while still holding the standard high for his own preparation, that to me is what it takes to be successful in this league. We’re obviously very grateful for what he’s done for us.”


(on the trend of younger successful coaches) “I don’t know why it’s working. All of them have paid their dues in this league as assistant coaches and have been successful. I admire the job that Tony Sparano, that John Harbaugh, that Mike Smith have done this year, especially as first-time coaches. Obviously, coach Tomlin has done an outstanding job with the Steelers of carrying on that tradition. I can only speak for myself from the standpoint of having been with a successful program, having some unbelievable head coaches that I’ve learned a great deal from and being able to institute those beliefs. If you believe strongly in them yourself and your staff believes in them, then it really helps get that message across to your team. You have to win football games in order to be successful, and at some point that message that you give your team does involve having some success or winning some games. We were very fortunate in my first year that we won some games, especially at the end of the year, that helped propel us into this season. This year, we went through some tough times during the season but our belief in what we were doing and how we were doing it never faltered. It paid off for us ultimately at the end of the season.”


(on the decision to start QB Kurt Warner) “It was actually the Friday after we had ended camp. It was a week and a day before our first regular season game. It was that Friday night that I stayed up all night making the decision on Kurt Warner. To Matt Leinart and Kurt’s credit, they both competed very hard for that position. I really believe the reason we had success this year at the position was because of that competition. As I’ve said before, it was a very close competition. It came down to what I felt was the player that gave us the best chance to win early, to start fast. I felt looking at our schedule with five east coast trips, it was important that we started off fast, and we did exactly that with Kurt. Kurt, to his credit, worked very hard on some of the things that we asked him to do: ball security, moving in the pocket, decisions on his reads. I think a great deal of the success he’s had is because of that work he’s put in. Kurt has never been afraid to work, and obviously because of our success, I’m very excited with the way he’s played but anytime a veteran player has had great success and then not had it, it’s always something you admire, to see him come back to that level again which Kurt obviously never felt was an issue.”


(on if he dreamed about being in this game as a young child) “When I was a young boy playing football, I always envisioned myself as a pro player, which I think a lot of young boys do. I was just very fortunate that I had a number of very good role models as I was growing up, much like Billy Curry who was an outstanding role model for me as a college football player where I started out. I think my course that took me here as a head coach never could have been anticipated. My core belief is in teamwork. There is no sport like football that requires teamwork more than any other. To me that is the reason I have a passion for this sport and the reason that I enjoy doing it so much. When you see a team come together like our team has, that’s really what it’s all about.”


(on what it means to have QB Kurt Warner as a leader over the next few days) “Whenever you have a player that has Kurt’s credentials, that’s had a season like Kurt has had for us this year, it commands respect. When he talks to the team about what this experience is all about, it carries a great deal of weight. For a player that’s won the Super Bowl and also been in the Super Bowl and not won it, he can give you that perspective from both sides of it, the things that were different and what we need to do. It’s invaluable, especially with a lot of younger players and their preparation this week as far as what to expect and what you have to do.”


(on what the team learned by staying on the East Coast for a week during the regular season) “That week we didn’t have this many media around, so this is a new experience, but from the standpoint of how you stay in a hotel for a week, how you conduct meetings at the hotel, how you go to another facility to practice. A lot of times when you’re in your routine at your home facility, it’s very easy because you get on a schedule and you know when you’re going to study this tape, look at this film, what you’re going to do with your time as far as budgeting. When you get on the road and go to an off-site facility, everything changes. We have a good idea of what works for us and obviously based on the outcome of the game at the end of that week what didn’t work for us. This gives us a chance to improve upon that. This week is a lot about distractions, and this is one distraction that we’re not faced with for this first time. That’s traveling to an away city, staying for an extended period of time, working at another facility and living out of the hotel. At least we have a basis for that, and that can help us minimize the distractions which is what this week is all about.”


(on what is different coming to the Super Bowl as a head coach instead of offensive coordinator) “When you’re coming to a Super Bowl, you remember your last trip. As ironic as it is, a lot of those people, players and coaches and people in the organization, are here but they’re my opponents this time. From that standpoint, it is a little difficult emotionally. But, it’s also very exciting because of what we’ve done as a team this year. To get in the playoffs and win like we’ve won, especially when nobody thought we could, also creates a strong emotional attachment. It makes you excited about being here and excited about this opportunity.”


(on the progress of the offensive line this season) “The offensive line is a group that’s stayed together the whole year, which is very difficult to do in this league by normal standards. Right now we’re in much better shape because this line has been together for all the preseason games, all the regular season games, plus there are a number of guys that played for us last year. Communication, being able to adjust to different blitz packages, being able to work the double teams in the run game, all those things that take time to grow as a group, to grow as a unit, we’ve got great experience with that. We’re playing a team like Pittsburgh who is an outstanding defense, who can do a number of things to hurt you. The critical thing is being able to communicate our adjustments to what they’re doing. Whether it means changing our protection, whether it means changing to the schemes of our blocks in order to adjust to what they’re doing, we have 19 games now that we’ve been doing that. It does give us a basis where we can do it better, maybe do it quicker which can only help us.”


(on if there was a sting from not getting the head coaching position in Pittsburgh) “There was never any sting leaving the Steelers. I was excited about the opportunity to come coach for the Arizona Cardinals. We felt like we had a good opportunity to be successful here. I’m very grateful for my time with the Steelers, for the time I got to spend with Mr. Rooney, coach Cowher, and all the people in that organization. I still have a great number of friends in that organization and a special place in my heart for them. I’m excited for their success and looking forward to get an opportunity to play them on Sunday. I don’t have any bitter feelings or any sting of disappointment with that. Everything that was said about the heir apparent to coach Cowher was not anything that involved me. That was other people speculating on that. Once again, I was very honored to have coached for that organization and to have interviewed for the head coaching job there.”



QB KURT WARNER

(on the biggest difference between himself now and the last time he was in the Super Bowl with respect to being a competitor on the field and his confidence) “I don’t know if there’s a lot different. I’m pretty competitive in all that I do and I think the biggest thing is that with my faith, it kind of pushed me to have a spirit of excellence in everything that I do, whether it’s loving my wife or whether it’s loving my kids or whether it’s playing the game of football. I know a lot people can’t figure out how that works together, how you can be a competitor, but also love people and love your family. I think it’s a spirit of excellence that God kind of pushes us towards and he says whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability and that’s what I do. It doesn’t matter if I’m playing ping pong with my kids or a video game or taking them out and enjoying them at the park. It’s all about being the best that I can be at everything that I do and you don’t turn it on and shut it off when you show up at the facility or when you go home.”


(on his teammates talking about how they want to be the “glare” and how he feels about that) “I think along with that spirit of excellence is that you want that out of everybody around you and that’s the greatest part of this game is that it’s the ultimate team game. It’s all about 11 guys coming together and doing something as a unit. The one thing that I know is that you never get to this level unless guys are striving to be excellent. You can’t have four guys over here that decide, ‘well, I don’t want to be like that’ and the other seven (saying) it’s not going to work. You’ve got to have everybody together with that same spirit. It’s more just the idea, ‘come on, let’s be great. Let’s do this together. Let’s get on the same page. Let’s do what we have to do, whether it’s in the film room, whether it’s on the practice field. Whatever it is, let’s be great.’ Why do anything if you’re not doing it to be great? I think that’s more when he gets the glare or when my wife sees what she calls the zone at home. It’s more about discipline, wanting to do everything I can do to help everyone around me be great, but to be great myself.”


(on the advantage that he has with this being his third Super Bowl) “Unlike probably the other two, and I know definitely the first one, this one up to this point, was really kind of like business as usual, that I really felt like I was just going on a road trip and I haven’t felt the whole Super Bowl thing as of yet. I’m sure as we go through today and we get into tomorrow and media day and go out to the stadium, then I’m sure the emotions will come back a little bit. Right now, it’s more just I want to get back to work. I want to get back on the football field. I’m excited about this week and the opportunity and playing against a great team in the Steelers. You just kind of want to get to it.”


(on being older than both head coaches in the Super Bowl and on how it is to play for a head coach younger than him) “I think it’s a credit to those guys who have been working hard and have worked their way up the ranks and have done a tremendous job. I think that’s one of the things you’re seeing and why more guys are getting opportunities, because these young guys are doing a tremendous job. A lot of them will start as coordinators and do just a great job as a coordinator and make that natural step up to head coach. The two coaches in the Super Bowl have done tremendous at that. I think the bottom line when it comes to coaches, it’s about respect and it’s about players understanding these guys know what they’re doing. They bring something to the table. They inspire you to want to be better and teach you how to do that. I think that’s what makes a great coach and I don’t think it matters what age they are.”


(on if he can respect someone if he is older than them and if he knows more than them) “I don’t know if always they have to know more than you, but I think there’s a respect. Sometimes, coaches understanding that they don’t know more than you and they are open to the fact that, ‘hey, I know what I don’t know.’ And then I think there’s other times where they might not know more than you in every area but they can still bring something to your game. They can still push you to be better. They can still teach you something that you don’t know. That’s one thing I know. I’ve played this game a long time and I’m an old man as far as that goes, but I still don’t know everything. I think there’s a lot coaches out there who can help me to become more knowledgeable, get me more excited about the game, teach me more and help me progress year in and year out and that’s what makes it fun.”


(on his wife being very quiet since his days in St. Louis and on what she has been up to) “I think the one thing that was neat about our story in ‘99 was that we did it together and we did it as a family. We came on the scene and that was just a natural part of it. As we have gone through things here in Arizona, it’s never really been a football city. Until now, [Cardinals fans] were kind of sitting back and waiting and I guess there just wasn’t the opportunity to come on the scene like we did in ’99. She’s been my wife and she’s been mother to our children and she’s been doing what she does on a normal basis. I think it takes moments like this. I think in ‘99 there was so much thrown out there early on that everybody wanted to know everything about me or us and so she gained the spotlight from that. It was fun because we got to do it together. I’m sure those opportunities are going to come around as we move through this week and into the future, but I think it’s more because, so to speak, we’re back on the scene because of what we’ve accomplished as a football team this year, more than it’s been for any other reason.”


(on if his wife likes being quiet or if she likes the spotlight) “I think there are moments where you like both. I think as a player, there are parts of it that are fun, to be in a situation where you can impact people and talk to a lot of people. And then there’s other times where it becomes a pressure and there are sometimes when you just want to get to life as normal and you want to squeeze into the house and not have to worry about anybody recognizing you going out to dinner and those kinds of things. I think there are positives and negatives to both sides and I think we try to embrace both sides and use it to the best of our ability.”


(on his fan base back in Iowa and how important that is to him) “My whole family is still back in Iowa. I love the people in Iowa, they have supported me from day one and it’s been kind of fun from that standpoint. Even though I didn’t necessarily play in Iowa, especially professionally other than arena football, I have a lot of fans there. It’s fun to go back. It’s fun to have something for them to cheer for. They don’t have a professional football team so I hope that wherever I go, they adopt my team and so we pick up some fans along the way. It always means a lot when you can impact a community in any way, shape, or form. For me to be able to do that over the years and have that interaction with the people there has been tremendous.”


(on if he thinks this team is mature enough to handle this week and everything that comes along with it) “I think that’s one of the things that we all hope, but I think only time will tell. I think the bottom line is why are you here? The one thing that I know is that when you are able to put one of those rings on your finger, that it means access to a lot of parties in the future. You don’t have to go and enjoy them all this week. You can sit back and do what you came here to do and then you can enjoy all the parties for the rest of your life, because you’ll have an in from that point. I hope that’s how guys look at it, that this is something special and the game is something special. The parties will come and go, but being a part of history is something that’s special. I hope that guys embrace that and understand that and understand that all those things will be there when this week is over. (I hope) they really take this for what it is and we can go out and play our best football and Pittsburgh can come out and play their best football and may the best team win.”


(on his interactions and relationship with Cardinals ownership) “My relationship with the ownership has been great since I got here. The one thing that I commend them on is (that) since the first time that I got here, they’ve been asking me, they’ve been trying to make adjustments where they feel they need to make adjustments to get us to the point where we are at today to try to make the adjustments all across the board that are going to help us become a successful organization. I think there are always reservations coming into different places where you’re not sure or a situation like this where it seemed that the perspective from the outside is more about a losing organization. I think that’s been one of the more rewarding things is that this hasn’t just been a journey for me along this process; it’s been for my teammates, it’s been for this organization. When I came here and I know long before with the organization and the players that were here, they were trying to build this. It was one step at a time and it was a process and we’ve been working toward this since the first moment that I stepped into the building. That’s been the fun part is that everyone has been on board saying, ‘What do we need to do? How can we do it? Let’s make the strides that we need to make to become a championship football team.’ It’s exciting for me to see this ownership group, to see the Bidwell family, finally at this point, because I have seen them trying to make those steps in the process to help us get here.”



WR LARRY FITZGERALD

(on the gratification he feels in reaching the Super Bowl after a few tough years) “I think we’re all very excited to be in this position. We’re a long way from where we want to be. We’re not satisfied with just making it here. We have a big game on Sunday and that’s where our focus is.”


(on the recognition he’s received during the playoffs) “I really don’t play for that. I’ve been doing the same things since I got in the league. That’s my job and I’m going to continue to hold myself to high standards.”


(on if he feels he’s reached new levels as a player over the last month) “Not really. I’ve played well the last couple of years. I’m still trying to improve to get better every year. That’s just my focus.”


(on how he’s expanded his game) “I think one of the biggest things, I’ve lost some weight. I’ve been able to do a little better job running after the catch, down the field blocking. (Those are) some of the things I’ve been trying to work on. From an athletic standpoint, I don’t think too much has changed.”


(on how much weight he’s lost) “I played at like 228 last year. I weighed in at 213 the other day.”


(on what advice his father has given him on handling the media this week) “I don’t think he prepared me for this type of media blitz. He just told me to be myself and answer the questions truthfully and the best way I can.”


(on what he picked up from Randy Moss and Cris Carter during his time as a Vikings ball boy) “I was watching every step of the way, just their work ethic, how motivated they were. Everybody usually gets to see the players play just on Sundays. I was able to see the work ethic in terms of practice, film study, how they took care of their bodies, how they ate. Things like that are behind the scenes and you really can’t have a great appreciation for (them) just watching them on Sunday.”


(on what he specifically learned from Moss) “Moss, it’s kind of hard to emulate what he does because he’s so genetically gifted. He’s so fast. He has such great athletic ability. I remember just shooting H.O.R.S.E. with him sometimes between practice and if he wanted to play in the NBA, he probably could have done that if he put his mind to it. That’s just the kind of athlete he is. I talk to Moss all the time now. He’s a really good person and I’m really happy to see that he’s had the amount of success he’s had in New England.”


(on his father’s role as a reporter and if he wishes his dad would simply sit in the stands sometimes) “Whatever makes him happy. He’s earned the right to sit in the stands, sit in the media. Whatever he wants to do, I love him regardless. In terms of him being tough on me, he definitely is. When I’m down, he’s definitely the one to lift me. When I’m up, he’s definitely the one to keep me grounded. He’s a regular dad when he’s around, but when he’s in the media, I know he’s stoic in there. He doesn’t show too much emotion.”


(on his father criticizing him in print) “No, I don’t think he’s done that. But on the personal, face-to-face, he definitely gets on me.”


(on his speed after losing some weight) “I think I’m a little faster. I definitely sustain my speed a lot longer. My endurance is better. I can run down the field continually. I don’t get winded. I think a lot of that is a tribute to (Strength Coach) John Lott and what he’s been able to come in here and accomplish and get guys’ weight down.”


(on how closely he followed how the media handled his contract negotiations last offseason) “I had heard some rumblings, but I really don’t watch too much TV, I don’t read the papers. I kind of just detach myself from that. I wanted to be an Arizona Cardinal all along. I feel fortunate that we were able to work it out and get it done.”


(on what last offseason was like for him, considering his contract situation) “I didn’t really worry too much about it. I just kept on working out, just preparing for the season in Arizona. If they had traded me, I would have been elsewhere. I just kind of tried to live in the now and just made sure I was doing everything I could to be ready for the coming season.”


(on the mindset of his team right now) “I think everybody on this team is excited. We’re not just excited about being in the Super Bowl. We want to win. That’s the reason we’re here and that’s where our minds are.”


(on how the week the Cardinals spent on the East Coast will help them this week) “This is already different. In terms of the media and the security and all those types of things, this is a different type of week. But we know how important this week is. It’s not like a regular-season game. It’s the Super Bowl and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think guys are really focused and ready to do what it takes, no matter if it’s curfews…whatever it takes. Guys are ready and we’ll be prepared.”


(on hanging out with professional teams in Minnesota) “I went everywhere. I left when the Wild got there, but I remember going in there and meeting Mike Madano and guys like that with the North Stars. Definitely Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek and Tony Oliva and a lot of those guys with the Twins. Kevin Garnett, I still keep in touch with Kevin. He’s probably my favorite athlete of all time, just his work ethic, his passion and desire to play. His leadership is unquestioned, unmatched. That’s some of the few things I really enjoy. I remember a story, I was probably 15 or 16, I remember Kevin Garnett just played a game, scored like 30 points but they lost. After the game he talked to me for an hour by his car. Things like that, you just never forget. You’ve got a superstar, Hall of Fame player who just lost a basketball game and he takes the time out to talk to you, just a regular 16-year-old kid. That meant a lot to me and I’ll never forget about that.”


(on what he’s learned from how the different players handled themselves in the locker room) “You see the good, you see the bad, and you definitely have your own personality. I think that’s going to come out regardless. I remember sitting down and seeing Kirby Puckett doing interviews. He never turned one down. He was always available. I remember my dad taking me in the Cleveland Indians’ locker room one day and Albert Belle, he didn’t do any media and he was still able to go out there and play well. It’s different strokes for different folks. You’ve got to do what works for you. (My dad) just told me to go out there and be myself, let my personality show. That’s pretty much all he said about it.”


(on Todd Haley’s impact on him) “Todd has really helped me out tremendously in his two years here. He’s a guy who no matter what you do, it’s never good enough. That’s not because he’s being hard on you; it’s just because he wants you to be the best. He told me when I first got here that he wanted me to be the best player in the NFL, the best receiver in the NFL and was going to push me and drive me. He’s still pushing to get the best out of me and I’m willing to keep working for it because that’s what I want as well.”


(on if he believes Todd Haley would be a good head coach) “No question. Todd has such a great passion for the game. He has a great understanding, a feel for it. Not just offensively, but defensively because he can really grasp what the pulse is of the team and he can push the right buttons with guys. He knows what makes everybody tick. He knows that (Anquan Boldin) is going to respond differently than Fitz is going to respond. Kurt (Warner) is going to respond differently than Matt (Leinart) is going to respond. Reggie Wells is going to react differently than Levi Brown. He knows how to be able to gauge that and push each guy’s buttons to get the best out of them.”


(on being ‘scared to lose Haley’) “If he was to get a head coaching job, I would be ecstatic for him because he’s a great man. He has a great family, an outstanding wife and it would be a great opportunity for him. I would be happy to see him get one.”



WR ANQUAN BOLDIN

(on the trip over to Tampa) “The trip was nice, smooth flight.”


(on if he has thought about the hype surrounding the game) “Not to this point. We are trying to go about it as a team as preparing for another game. We are trying to leave all of the hype and the hoopla around it out of it, and try to prepare as much as normal as possible.”


(on what happened with OC Todd Haley during the NFC Championship game) “I answered all the questions that I was going to answer last week. At this point, it’s a non-issue. We put it behind us as a team, and we are just preparing for the Super Bowl.”


(on Coach Haley’s impact on the offense) “It’s been tremendous; he challenges everybody on the offensive side of the ball to play at a high level. We are all held accountable, on and off the field. I think that his part in being the offensive coordinator has helped elevate us as a team.”


(on what kind of head coach Haley would be) “He would be a good head coach, like I said he challenges players and he has a lot of insight about the game. He has been in coaching now for a while, it kind of runs through his family. His dad has been a coach at a very high level for some time. He knows what he is doing.”


(on what he does to challenge players) “A lot. Especially on the field, as far as knowing what to do, there is never a doubt in your mind as how you are attacking the defense from an offensive standpoint. He makes everything clear. He gets players’ input as far as how we see we can go about different ways as far as attacking defenses. Like I said, he is really into it and he takes input from the guys as well.”


(on how his hamstring is feeling) “The hamstring is fine. It’s not a problem at this point, hasn’t been a problem for the last couple of weeks. I’m fine.”


(on if he remembers anything about the injury he sustained against the Jets) “I remember everything about it.”


(on what he thought about the injury) “Just that it was an unfortunate incident. I got hit from behind, which didn’t allow me to absorb the blow from the front. As a result, I had a concussion.”


(on if he has watched the play) “I have seen it a couple of times, actually.”


(on if it unfolded the way he remembered it) “Everything that I thought happened, happened. So in watching (the replay), there was nothing new, or there wasn’t anything that I had not seen already.”


(on the challenges that playing the number one rated defense in the league will bring) “Obviously they are a good defense. They are not the number one defense in the NFL for no reason. They present a lot of different problems for different teams, their front seven is probably one of the best in the league. They do a number of things as far as blitzing, zone dropping, and sometimes they make it appear that they are blitzing when they are not, so they do a lot of things, I think the main thing for us is just to understand what they are trying to do to us, how they are trying to stop us, understand when they are blitzing and where they are blitzing from.”


(on if there are any residual effects from the injury sustained in New York ) “Nothing at all at this point.”


(on if he thought that his season was over after the injury in New York) “When it originally happened, I didn’t know. The only thing that I could go by was what the doctors told me. It was a rare injury, I have never seen anybody with that injury. You didn’t have anything to go on as far as a timetable for when to get back or anything like that. I was pretty much going off what the doctors told me, and they actually told me that it would take a lot longer than it actually did, and I was happy to get back as soon as I did.”


(on if it is more special to be in the Super Bowl after what happened) “Being in the Super Bowl is a special privilege anyways. I could have been healthy the entire season and getting here (the Super Bowl) would have definitely been a privilege. That is the reason that we play this game, to ultimately get to this stage and have the opportunity to win a championship.”


(on if he has any plates or screws in his face) “I have seven plates and forty screws.”


(on Larry Fitzgerald and what the Steelers may do to stop him) “We have done a great job as an offense as far as game planning for defenses. I think the best thing about it is, we have understood what defenses have tried to do stop us, and the coaches have done a great job countering.”


(on if he has seen the x-rays of his injury and does he feel the plates and screws) “I saw the x-ray a couple of days after having the surgery. For me, it feels like it’s not there, I don’t feel anything from it, I mean I know it’s there, but for me, I have moved on from that incident. Like I said, it was an unfortunate incident that happened. I am glad that I was able to come back from the injury and I am glad to be here.”


(on if he sets off metal detectors with the plates and screws) “Nah, they are titanium.”


(on if there was a hit following the injury that he knew that he would be fine and he was over the injury) “It was even before I got on the football field when I got headbutted by my son. I knew after that I would be ok.


(on when headbutt from his son happened) “It was about a week after the surgery. We were just playing around and he headbutted me pretty good.”


(on being a fearless receiver and where he gets it) “That has always been a part of me, it has always been the way that I have played football, always the way that I have approached the game, and that is just a part of my make-up. I played quarterback and free safety in high school, so it was definitely a part of the way that I played.”


(on what his style as a receiver would be) “Just physical. I am not the typical receiver, I don’t even consider myself a receiver, I just see myself as a football player.”


(on if there is anyone who he grew up watching who reminds him of himself) “Honestly, growing up I never watched receivers. I actually never thought that I would be a receiver. Growing up, I was always a big Walter Payton fan. I loved the way that he played the game, loved the way that he approached the game. So I never saw myself as a receiver.”


(on if he considers himself the most physical receiver in the NFL) “Probably, if you are asking me, I would have to say so.”


(on what it means that he was named captain by his teammates) “It just speaks to how your teammates view you. They see the hard work that you put in, that you prepare for each game and it’s just a testament to the way that you go out and perform. It means a lot when your teammates see you in that light.”


(on if it only matters what his teammates think) “For me, it has always been about my teammates. Those are the guys who I go to war with every week. Those are the guys I battle with, those are the guys who I sweat, bleed and prepare with every week, so definitely what they think of me means a lot to me.”


(on his relationship with Steelers WR Santonio Holmes, having come from the same area) “I really don’t know if there is a relationship there. I played a couple of years before he did. I don’t actually think that we ever played against each other. I think that it’s great that two guys from that area made it to the Super Bowl and I think it gives people back home something to look forward to.”


(on what was going through his mind laying on the stretcher in New York) “How soon will they have me out of this hospital? I felt at the time, even on the field I tried to get up and walk off, but they told me that they wanted me to go out on the stretcher for precautionary reasons. I was arguing with them that I was fine and that everything was ok. But they convinced me to be careful and go in and cooperate and take the x-rays. The only thing that was going through my mind was, ‘How long are they going to have me in here?’ ”


(on how long his hospital stay was) “Just a couple of hours.”


(on what he thinks about when he hears fans of other teams wanting him on their team) “I think that it just speaks to how you play the game, and real fans appreciate what you do on the field. That is always flattering. But as far as thinking about next year or the future, it doesn’t help me right now. My only goal is to win the Super Bowl and I am here with my teammates to do that.”


(on his future and what it holds) “The future is the future, like I said, I don’t even dwell on it. I don’t even give it a second thought. I think that if you worry about too much of the future, you miss the moment right now, and that is something that I don’t want to do.”


(on if his situation would make him a good fit in New York with Giants and if he thinks about it) “That doesn’t help me. Like I said, I am here to win a Super Bowl, and thinking about what somebody else needs or what somebody else wants doesn’t help me at all. I am here to win a Super Bowl and that’s it.”


(on the critics not giving the Cardinals a chance against the Steelers) “That is the reason why you play the game. You know Arizona didn’t have a chance against Atlanta, we didn’t have a chance against Carolina and we definitely didn’t have a chance against Philly last week, so to those people, tell them to tune in.”


(on how much he has relied on his faith this season and throughout his career) “That is the reason that I am here today. I mean my beliefs, my faith is probably the reason that I am in the NFL and the reason that I am sitting at this podium today.”


(on what Pahokee, Florida means to him) “Pahokee is home. It means everything to me. Pahokee has a lot to do with the person who I am and the way that I have gone through life. Growing up in that place, my heart is there.”


(on the football played in Pahokee) “Probably some of the best in the country, we have a lot of talented guys down there, a lot of guys who get the opportunity to go Division I, a lot of guys who play in the NFL just from that small area. If any college coach is looking for some great recruits, just make a stop down there.”



WR SEAN MOREY

(On what he makes from the fact that there’s so much of Pittsburgh in this team) “Anytime you get a coach that becomes a head coach and goes to another city and starts an organization he’s trying to put together a championship team. I think that the familiarity with the players, the coach may have an appreciation and respect for what they do. I’m really happy that that same kind of respect I have for Coach (Ken) Whisenhunt was reciprocated with him brining me here to Arizona.”


(On concerns from Arizona teammates about the new coach) “I don’t think there were really a lot of concerns. There’s always a learning curve. There’s a period in time where a lot of players and coaches have to build a mutual respect so they can build a foundation and be productive. I think Coach ‘Whis’ does an exceptional job of establishing rapport with his players, that he can communicate with them effectively and players know where he stands. I think what ‘Whis’ does so well is that he can hold players accountable and he wants to be held accountable himself. We do this together, we’re a team, and at the same time he helps guys like me, who are in roles, so that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. He takes the approach that you need to have in this league that has made me become a better player. Understanding that it’s all about the team, and just being able to accept that your role can change from week to week and you have to be prepared to play. I think that’s been fostered by Coach ‘Whis’ and a lot of the players that he’s coached, and I think that’s something he looks for in players.”


(On if Whisenhunt brought some of the Pittsburgh style with him to Arizona) “To be quite honest with you, at first you could make the argument that Arizona looked more like Pittsburgh than Pittsburgh did at one point when they made the coaching changes, when Coach (Bill) Cowher retired and Coach (Mike) Tomlin came in, judging by the atmosphere. There’s always a transition period, but I think if coaches can be consistent in their approach and the way they deal with players, and the respect they show the players, and the players respond to their styles. I think that teams can be consistent and can be successful. Both teams have shown that there have been transitions, there have been changes. And both teams have bought in and been productive.”


(On if the Steelers have an advantage by being to Super Bowls before) “I don’t think either team has an advantage. Any game you go into, each side has the opportunity to win the game if you prepare, if you practice and do all the things you’re asked to do, expected to do. Guys are going to have to step up and make plays in the game, and usually the team that makes the fewest mistakes and can limit the distractions is going to be successful on Sunday."


(On the type of teammate that Edgerrin James has been) “He’s a constant professional. He’s a great role model for all our guys in the locker room – the way he practices, the way he studies film, all the things you guys don’t get to see – we see it day in and day out. He’s the standard to which a lot of guys set themselves. He sets the bar really high. I’ve really loved the fact that he’s emerged late in the season as our go-to guy. He’s been in that role most of his career, and I think it says a lot about a man’s character and resilience when faced with adversity – he wasn’t playing as much as he’d like, but he remained a professional. Nobody else can complain about their time or role on the team if the superstar on our team has acted gracefully in that situation. He really, truly earned a lot of respect from the team. We understood that it is more about the team than any one individual. He encapsulated that lesson.”


(On if James is one of those guys that you like to see get to the Super Bowl) “I think everybody on our team is. He’s shown so much proficiency at his position, through such a consistent time at such a high level over the years that it’s just great to see him get to a point where he can win a championship, and I hope we can make that happen.”


(On if this week is just a new challenge for the team to overcome) “I think Coach ‘Whis’ actually made mention earlier of our trip to the East Coast, staying in a hotel for one week has prepared the guys for when we travel. It’s a business trip.”


(On what he did during the years he spent away from football) “I did a myriad of odd jobs. I did whatever I could to try to distance myself from starting a new career, and I did temporary jobs. I just wanted to have purpose. I was a little disenfranchised with the fact that I hadn’t made it in the NFL, and my skin was crawling. The first year I spent out of football I delivered furniture all year. The second year I stayed with my wife’s parents in Canada, and I’d build docks. In the middle of winter it’s not fun work. I worked on a fishing boat, my father’s a fisherman.”


(On when he lost that disenfranchisement with the NFL) “I don’t think you ever really lose it. There’s always a chip on your shoulder. The Turk is really lurking. Every training camp I’m fighting for my life to keep a job. That’s the reality of the league. There are so many good, quality players that are coming into the league every year. That’s what makes our game so great – every year in training camp every player has an opportunity to fulfill their dream of making a roster in the NFL.”


(On measuring Whisenhunt by his effective communication and how he goes about his work) “I think one of the common themes I see as player between Coach Cowher and Coach Whisenhunt is they have the uncanny ability to be candid, very genuine and honest with their players, and I think the players respond to that. If a coach has the ability to put things in the proper perspective at that time, then players understand where they stand as a player and a person and they can try to improve on that. That level of consistency by Coach ‘Whis’ is appreciated by his players.”


(On if the communication is something a coach can learn) “I think a coach that’s played in the league for more than a decade and has coached for equally if not more time than that, I think he understand the game. He’s been a winner his entire career. And he put together a great staff. We have a lot of good coaches on our team, both from the Bill Parcells lineage and the Bill Cowher lineage. Todd Haley is one in my mind who has really earned the respect of his players. I think he puts his heart and soul into coaching, and that’s what our entire staff has done. They’ve really done an amazing job of changing the culture of the team the last two years I’ve been here.”


(On if players who were successful make good coaches) “I think a lot of players that want to be coaches, it’s a tough transition, because there are certain things that come easy to players. But for athletes that had to study and work a little bit harder, like myself, we have to make sure that we study the game so we understand exactly what we’re trying to accomplish. I think a lot of coaches who haven’t played the game basically have to consume their lives with understanding the sport.”


(On if he could be a good coach) “I’m not sure if my wife would let me be a coach. I’m not sure I want to miss my kid’s childhood. It’s a strain on coaches. They don’t get to see their kids. I certainly appreciate the work that they do.”


(On his wife) “She’s due within the month with our third daughter. She’s going to see the doctor tomorrow to see if she can fly out here. I’m hoping she can make it. As an athlete, when athletes marry athletes, something’s got to give. Fortunately, my profession provides a little bit of financial responsibility to raise a family. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of money in women’s hockey. She sacrificed her identity, her dreams, so we could raise a family.”


(On if there was any benefit to the team staying on the East Coast earlier in the season) “I think it really helped us to understand. Well, it was a miserable trip to be honest. You have to be able to focus among those distractions and prepare like you would prepare for any other game. I think this recreates that same atmosphere. I think players are a little more prepared to handle the distractions and be able to focus on their jobs. I think the entire experience of going East earlier in the year is going to help this team.”


(On his feelings coming into Tampa Bay today) “We had training camp here in Tampa Bay when I was in NFL Europe a few years ago, and it almost felt like it was really familiar getting off the bus, and driving across the water. It’s exciting to be back here. It almost feels full circle. It’s been almost 10 years since I was back in Tampa for training camp. It’s a little bit kind of like déjà vu, but it’s exciting.”


(On what guys who have been here before can tell the younger guys about the experience) “I think every player handles situations differently. No one has the exact same routine. If you can stay consistent and try not to deviate too much from your normal routine, I think players will be able to prepare themselves going into the playoffs. Obviously, you look at distractions and I think that’s pretty tough in this environment, but, I think that as professionals that’s part of the job. During the week guys deal with other distractions that may not be as consistent as they are this week. But I’m sure guys will be able to handle the distractions, and after media day on Tuesday you can focus on the task at hand – studying and preparing for football, and then compete during the week at practice, have good days, and just show up and execute on Sunday.”


(On what the Detroit Lions can take from what the Cardinals have accomplished) “It’s so great what our game is, it’s seasonal. Every year you get new chemistry, new coaches, new players, chances to come together for one purpose. You put your egos aside and you work toward a goal. Next year the Lions, I’m not prophetic, but I’m sure they’re going to have a better season.”


(On how meaningful it his for him to be back at the Super Bowl) “It’s a blessing. It’s surreal. You work so hard. John Lott says it all the time, ‘What you do in the dark shall shine in the light.’ I’ve spent a lot of time in the dark, so to speak. I’ve never wavered. I’ve always consistently worked hard and I’m just really happy. I feel blessed and fortunate that I have another opportunity to play a meaningful game in February. I think the ability to play in a Super Bowl twice in my lifetime is just an amazing privilege. I feel blessed to be a part of this team.”


(On how familiar he is with the play that Giants ST/WR David Tyree made in last year’s Super Bowl) “I’m very familiar with David Tyree. I know he’s a heck of a player and a player that’s built a great deal of respect for himself in this league. He made a huge play at a critical time of the game. That’s the thing, as a player you’ve got to be ready at any time to come in the game and make plays. That’s the job.”


(On the similarities between the Steelers’ and the Cardinals’ getting to the Super Bowl) “I think the players in and of themselves are very consistent and hardworking players who play tough, situational football, very physical. I think that mentality of having a blue-collar work ethic is one of the things Coach ‘Whis’ and Coach (Russ) Grimm have brought here.”


(On what goes into make an special teams player All-Pro) “I think just being desperate for a job. I’ve never believed that being a special teams Pro Bowler signifies that that player is the best at his position. Special teams is so diverse and there are so many kinds of athletes – speed guys, physical guys, big guys – and you put that all together, and special teams is a lot of different qualities, understanding the schemes. There are so many players now who are deserving of that honor. I think that being able to be recognized as one of those players this year is a great honor. I think what usually helps players make the Pro Bowl is being consistent year after year.”


(On if he ever envisioned becoming the player he is now) “I thought I’d probably be catching a lot more passes, but you have to make do, and do the job you’ve been asked to do and do it the best you can. I play for my teammates. I play for the respect of my peers. I go out and try to do the job I’ve been asked to do the best that I can and try to impact the game. I was really fortunate to play with other players who helped me be a better pro. Coaches spent their time and effort to help me develop into this player, to give me a chance. I’ve been really blessed to have a lot of positive influences in my life.”



SS ADRIAN WILSON

(on what it’s like to be here after all his years as a Cardinal) “It’s a great moment. To be here, to go through all the teams, to go through all the players, it’s big for the whole organization it’s big for the players who are here right now.”


(on thinking that he might not ever make it here) “You always think that, but you never know. You never know the type of team you have and you never know the circumstances. This team and this group of guys who you have right now, I think are really special.”


(on how his friends reacted when he had the chance to leave but chose to stay) “They called me stupid, they called me crazy. But you never know. You never know if the grass is going to be greener on the other side. You just never know, you never know what the circumstances will be. Like I said before this group of guys who are here with me today, those guys who are in the locker room they deserve something like this.”


(on the people who called him stupid for re-signing with the Cardinals are saying now) “I haven’t turned my phone on. My phone has been off since we made it to the Super Bowl. I am keeping my head down and continuing to work. I think a lot of that has to do with Coach Whisenhunt because we are not here to enjoy the Super Bowl, we are here to win it.”


(on why he turned his phone off) “Keeping my head down and working hard. That is what you have to do. We want to win, we don’t want to be second best.”


(on the lowest point as a Cardinal on or off the field) “We have been through some pretty tough years. In my second year in the league we were 4-12 maybe, my first year I think we were 7-9 and we were still in the NFC East. We were moved to the NFC West and it was a shock to us. We didn’t have the talent that we have now. It took us a while to build a team. Now we have a team that can compete on every Sunday and I am just fortunate to be a part of it.”


(on defense giving up more points than any other team) “You have to be better than the other opponent on Sunday and that’s all that matters. We were better than every other opponent that we played in the playoffs and that is why we are here.”


(on how the culture around the team has changed ) “I always thought it could change. You have to believe that and you have to have confidence in the people upstairs. Re-signing a lot of the core guys and a lot of the good players that we did have, I think it was very important for us to do that. They did that early on in 2003 or 2004 when they gave Anquan Boldin a new deal. That kind of set the tone for building the core of guys that we do have. Karlos Dansby, Larry Fitzgerald and Darnell Dockett, those guys came in 2004 and really set the tone for building a core group and a group that could go together and play together for a long time. “


(on what it was like after the NFC Championship game to see grown men and fans with tears) “The misery and the pain that a lot of people have been through throughout so many losing seasons and so many times telling you that we will never get there. That’s with anything, not just football but life in general. When you accomplish something, it’s emotional. That’s what guys felt, guys felt a lot of emotion and the fans felt very emotional. It’s life, it’s not football, it’s life. It is big whenever you see fans who are into their team and really enjoy seeing us succeed. “


(on what you would say to Lions’ fans and players who have hit rock bottom) “I would say you have to keep your head down and continue to work. That is kind of the motto that we have taken on throughout the playoffs keeping our head down and working. Whenever you do that, you know good things always happen. It is not always instant-gratification like people want. It is always going to come around.”


(on relating to the Lions even though Cardinals never went 0-16) “No we weren’t but we were beat 44-7 by the Patriots and 35-13 by Minnesota, so we have had some bad stretches where we have been beaten pretty badly. Like I said, there is always hope and it all starts with hard work. If you continue to work hard and keep your head down, good things will happen.”


(on a fan or anyone else saying something to him about the team) “You always have doubts. Doubts will always stick into your mind but being the leader that I am on this team, I always I have to show guys on the team that there is always a better way. The better way is working hard, not worrying about what other people are saying and continuing to improve.”


(on the amount of fumbles forced being a big part of the success) “We work hard all the time in practice. That is just a part of it. That is a part of being an opportunistic defense. A lot of times when you force a fumble you want to be able to recover them also. That is just a part of what we do in practice. We practice on that a lot. That is something that is really taking off for us in the playoffs.”


(on the continuity of the defense under defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast) “Whenever you have guys who you can play with for a number of years, it is always easy knowing that they are going to be in the right places. That is the main thing that you want to have on any team, regardless of being on offense or defense. You want to keep that continuity. You want to keep guys in the same spot and you want to be comfortable with those guys; guys who you can move around and you can trust that they are going to be in the right place. I think that is what Clancy has with this defense. He knows he has guys who are going to be in the right place and who are going to play hard.”


(on the different roles that he has had on defense this season) “I think overall our defense has a lot of key pieces. It calls for guys not to do a lot of things, because we can move a lot of guys around and put guys in different spots and still do the same thing. It is good that we have that because we have guys we have been playing for a long time. That gives us an advantage of being able to move around on the back end and do a lot of different things.”


(on his thoughts of being drafted to Arizona coming from North Carolina State) “I didn’t know too much about Arizona coming from North Carolina. When I first went out there it was pretty hot. I saw a lot of players were walking in and taking physicals but I didn’t see in the afternoon. I was wondering what was going on and they were like, ‘They just cut those guys.’ I didn’t know anything about the league or the business. That gave me a wake up call to how the NFL is and how the NFL works.”


(on Pat Tillman and what it was like to play with him) “When I came here in 2001, I think that was Pat’s last year. Pat helped me with the play book. He helped me learn how to practice and do a lot of things that I didn’t know how to do. It was a huge credit to I think, my success because I had guys who were veterans in front of me who showed me the way. Pat Tillman was one of those guys. I think Pat eventually knew that I was going to be the guy who would take over his spot and he didn’t have any problems with that. He showed me the right way to do things.”


(on feeling Pat Tillman’s spirit this past week) “I think not only the players but the fans of Arizona really look back and wonder what this whole scene would have been like if Pat was still here. Just to have him around the stadium and around the practice field, I think says wonders about the organization, and that we are still thinking about him and that he is still here with us in spirit.”


(on proving something while being compared to Pittsburgh’s defense) “No one has given us a chance through any of the playoffs, not only with the defense, but with our team. We have taken that to heart and it will be no different on Sunday.”


(on Coach Whisenhunt) “I think he is a players’ coach, but at the same time, he is very firm in what he believes. A lot of guys take to heart what he says because he has been at the top, he has been a player and he understands what players go through during the week leading into the game. He is an understanding coach and I think that is what everyone likes about him. He is very stern. He really wants his team to be disciplined and tough. That is the way he came up. He is trying to install all of that in us right now and we are just trying to keep pushing on.”


(on week off being a good or bad thing before the Super Bowl) “I think it is a good thing because we had some injuries. We had some guys who were banged up and it gives us the chance to relax and really take in everything that has happened over the past three weeks. It gets us refocused on the Super Bowl and refocused on what we need to do.”


(on Kurt Warner being a Hall of Fame quarterback) “No doubt, his numbers alone say a lot. Having a guy who comes from where he comes from, putting up the numbers that he has put up, and played on the teams that he has played on. I think his numbers speak volumes. I think overall he is a great quarterback.”



DE BERTRAND BERRY

(on what makes head coach Ken Whisenhunt unique) “One thing that makes Coach Whisenhunt unique is the fact that he’s been there and done that before. For us, I think there are only five guys that have been on a Super Bowl team on our roster. For the majority of us, this is our first time. When you see a guy that’s been there and done that and can actually show you the hardware to prove what he’s talking about, you tend to listen a little bit.”


(on what specific things Whisenhunt does to set himself apart) “Just his preparation, for one. He’s completely prepared. Every time he steps in front of us, he knows exactly what he wants to say, how he wants to say it, and he’s very direct. [He is] a coach that has played, which also gives him a lot of credibility and knowing what we go through on a day-to-day basis. Plus, he’s just a good guy. You think about Coach Whisenhunt, he’s not an iron-fist guy. He has discipline, for sure, but he knows how to laugh, knows when to joke and has a sense of humor. He pretty much embodies everything that you could want in a head coach, and we feel very fortunate that he’s here with us. It’s apparent that it hasn’t taken him long to really establish what he wanted to do because in his second year, we’re in the Super Bowl.”


(on the matchup he’ll have lining up across from Pittsburgh T Max Starks) “Obviously, the goal is to get pressure on Ben [Roethlisberger], and that’s one of my key roles on this team, to get after the quarterback. This game is no different. When we’re an effective defense, we’re flying around, we’re fast, and we’re creating a lot of disruption in the backfield. That’s our key to winning this game. It’s not going to be any different. Starks is obviously playing very well. He’s keeping Ben pretty much free from any hits and shots from the back side. I’m going to have to work hard to try to get it done, but I feel good in our game plan. I know Coach is going to put me in some good positions to do that, so it’s just a matter of me getting back there and hopefully wanting it more than he does on a few occasions.”


(on his opinion regarding perceptions that Arizona is a finesse team) “We don’t really care about that. We care about winning a football game, and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve earned our way here. The fact of the matter is perceptions can’t help us on Sunday. Thoughts about us can’t help us on Sunday. The only thing that’s going to help us on Sunday are those guys in the locker room and the coaches in the locker room. So we don’t care what people think about us. People have said they don’t like the fact that the Cardinals are in the Super Bowl. Well, too bad. We’re here. If you don’t want to watch us, go watch something else. I’m sure there’s other programming on other channels. Good luck with that. But we’re here. We’re going to play this game. We deserve to be here. We’ve earned the right to be here, and we’re not going to make any apologies for it.”


(on his impression of the Cardinals organization before he signed with the team) “It’s obvious they struggled. I saw it as a golden opportunity to be part of a turnaround. There was no reason to think the city of Phoenix and the state of Arizona could not have a winner. It should be a hot spot. For me, I wanted to be a part of something memorable. You can always go somewhere they’re already established and just plug in and be a winner. But when you go somewhere they haven’t had success and you start to win, they’ll remember you forever. I wanted to be remembered.”


(on if being in the Super Bowl will change people’s perception of the Cardinals) “It’s not going to change. People are so used to seeing certain teams in the Super Bowl. Everybody wants to see New England, the Cowboys, the Steelers. Those are teams that people can identify with because they’ve seen them before. Change usually comes with a lot of resistance. That’s all fine and good. We’re worried about what we do as a football team. As long as those guys in that locker room believe in each other, we’re just going to continue to go to work and see if we can make people change their opinions. If we’re champions, then they can’t say much.”


(on DT Darnell Dockett) “One thing about Darnell, Darnell is really growing up. In five years, he’s grown, he matured, and he’s understood what it takes to become an elite defensive tackle in this league. That just comes with experience and having the right guys around him. He’s really embraced his role, and he’s understood what it’s taken to get to this point. I know that this is just a start for Darnell. He has a bright future ahead of him, and I’m very excited about it.”


(on the emergence of OLB Karlos Dansby) “Karlos has been an excellent player for us for a very long time. The one thing that has really helped Karlos is the fact that he’s had a national stage now. To me, he’s played at this level for the last couple years, but while we were having tough seasons it wasn’t really getting recognized because nobody really pays attention to teams that aren’t doing so well. So he’s really benefitted from us making this playoff run, and he’s taken advantage of the opportunity that was given to him. That’s the sign of a true pro. I liken what he’s done to what Darnell has done. They came in at the same time, and they’ve both matured at about the same level. He’s really come into his own, and I’m really excited for Karlos. He definitely gives us a lot of athleticism on the field, and he can cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. The sky’s the limit for Karlos. Hopefully, he’ll be a Cardinal for a very long time.”


(on the evolution of the Cardinals organization during his tenure there) “It’s awesome to think about what this organization came from. I played two years at Sun Devil [Stadium], and that was no walk in the park. It was extremely hot. It was hard to blame fans for not wanting to go out there. We were hot, too. To go from that to playing in the University of Phoenix Stadium now, which to me is one of the best stadiums in the league, shows that any team that puts forth the effort to become a great team or a great organization can do it. It starts with bringing in the right people and going from there.”


(on Roethlisberger taking a lot of sacks) “Ben’s a big guy, so even though he’s taking a lot of sacks, he still prolongs plays a lot. He likes to move around in the pocket. He’s a very mobile quarterback, deceptively so for his size. You have to make sure that you get him all the way on the ground because he’s a big, strong guy, and he can still get the ball off with guys hanging all over him. Lots of hits and actually physically tackling him is imperative for this game.”


(on how important his family has been to him) “It’s unbelievable when I think about my family, who has been there for all the good times and all the bad times. Being out of the league in 2000, they were the ones that kept me going. They kept me believing that I could do this and I could one day be in this position. I’m not sure if even they believed I could be in this position, but they knew that if I got another opportunity to play that I could do great things. So to be able to bring them down and share this with them, it’s a dream come true. I’m just very thankful, and I’m humbled by this platform, this stage and this opportunity. I just want to represent it the best that I can because I do represent my family. That’s very important to me, and my name is very important to me. I want to make sure that I do it justice while I’m here.”


(on how his faith plays a significant role in his life) “Well, you have to believe. I’ve been through a lot in my career, a lot of ups and downs. For me to be at this point at this stage in my life is truly a blessing, and I think that there’s only one explanation for that, and that’s the man upstairs. I feel very fortunate to be here, and I’m going to enjoy it. I’m going to embrace it. I can’t wait for my family to get here. It should be an awesome experience, and I can’t wait to share it with them.”


(on whether he expects a lot of Arizona fans to show up) “I believe they’re going to represent. Obviously, we haven’t been in this position before, so we’re not quite sure what to expect. I know that Pittsburgh has been there and done that. They’ve had a storied tradition of playing in these games, so I know that their fans are little more savvy as to what to do and how to get down here. We’re going to accept the guys that come down, and we’re going to go out and play just like we’re at home.”


(on if being underdogs feeds into a feeling of disrespect) “People can play that role if they want to, but we’re in the Super Bowl. If you need that kind of motivation at this point, you’re in the wrong sport. We’re playing for an opportunity that not very many people get, so we’re going to embrace this.”


(on whether he is concerned for his younger teammates with the potential distractions and temptations of the week) “It’s always a concern whether it’s a veteran team or a young team. There are a lot of distractions that come with the Super Bowl. I’ve been to a few of these, only as a visitor, but I know that there are a lot of opportunities to get into trouble. So anytime that you’re actually here and playing for something, that’s always going to be a concern. Obviously, with our team being as young as it is, you have a little more concern. But these guys have handled everything pretty well thus far, so I don’t see them going off the deep end at this point in the season, knowing what’s at stake.”