Pittsburgh Steelers -3- Martes 27/1/09

Super Bowl XLIII – Tuesday, January 27, 2009

QUOTES FROM PITTSBURGH STEELERS MEDIA DAY


RB MEWELDE MOORE

(on how his extensive education has impacted his development as a player) “I think if you start off early, and you focus on trying to retain knowledge and gather information your entire life, a lot of things fall into place as far as understanding things and developing a little quicker than some people. I just work hard, whether it’s academically off the field, on the field or with my charities and things like that. I think the bottom line is that it comes down to discipline; if you discipline yourself to focus on achieving your goals and dreams, once that’s intact, everything else will fall into place.”


(on the importance of his involvement with his charity) “It’s really the most important thing because to me, me being on this stage is God’s work; this didn’t happen by me alone. I’m so excited because with my charity, it’s about helping underprivileged kids in education and sport development. This is our second year, we’ve been able to do some things with football camps, and charity giveaways that allow these kids to have something like Christmas, because I think that means a lot to a kid and it instills hope. Those are the kinds of things we’re developing and we’re continuously researching and we’re trying to figure out more ways to develop things through grants and stuff to help develop our community and build it back up.”


(on how he thinks players can go about avoiding distractions during Super Bowl week) “I think the most important thing is to have your purpose. If you have a purpose about everything that you’re doing, it helps you focus. My purpose is definitely to not only tell people that God has been good to me, but also show people that God has been good to me by my actions, by my words and by the things that I do. I think I’ve developed that within myself and you see that on the field when I’m picking up blitzes, God lives in me and his power is shown out there on the field. That’s one of the things that really helped me continuously stay focused because you get success that way and success follows you all of the time.”


(on his advice to kids who may be going through tough times in their lives) “My whole motto my entire life has been ‘PGF.’ I wrote it on my back, I wrote it on my gloves, I wrote it on everything and now it is embedded in my heart and it means ‘Put God First.’ If you put God first and you stay focused on him, he’s going to lead you and guide you out of your hardships. I grew up in a tough neighborhood, and there were times I had to find ways to get food and eat and I still managed to persevere. I still managed to get my workouts in, I was still able to study, and God helped me persevere through those things and he’ll help you.”


(on what his first season in Pittsburgh has been like for him) “It’s been great, I’ve been having a lot of fun and this season actually just flew by for me. Coming in from Minnesota and being able to come into Pittsburgh, where things are laid out on the table and there is a higher demand of prestige and excellence and performance, and you step up to that plate, your year goes by so fast. I believed in my abilities and I knew what I was being asked to do, so I knew that I could deliver. Being blessed with the opportunities to deliver, it’s been a really great experience for me and I’m just really happy about this year.”


(on if he feels good about what he accomplished this season) “I definitely feel good about it all, but we’ve still got a game to play and this is the most important game. At the end of the day, everything that has happened during the year has led to this one, and this is the most important game and this is the game that you live for and that you dream about. I’m just so happy to be able to have the opportunity to have this game as a way of finalizing our season.”


(on how his college career at Tulane helped prepare him for the NFL) “Tulane has cultivated me into making me a better player and helping to make me into the pro that I am today. Being that we were in a multi-purpose offense, that allowed me to line up in the I-formation, in the slot, out wide, running routes, reading coverages and defenses, all of those things at Tulane helped me develop. Not only that, but the coaches being so open to understanding my abilities and seeing that, it helped me be a better player and a better person. I am just so excited because I’m not sure how many Green Waves have been in a Super Bowl, but I get a lot of calls from everybody wishing me good luck.”


(on whether or not he keeps in touch with former Tulane and current Chicago Bears running back Matt Forté) “All the time. I talked to him before he got into the league, I talked to him as he was playing and progressing in the league, and also just giving him information and letting him best apply it to his situation. That’s what we do, we stick together, and anything and everything I can do to help him, I am definitely there for him. He’s a starter and I’m so happy for him, because that’s his place, being a starter. I prepare to be a starter, but right now I’m a third-down guy, return guy, that’s what I do, that’s my niche and that’s what I do well. That’s the thing, you’ve got to know your roles and know exactly what is asked of you and don’t get outside of that. Those are the types of things that we talk about, and I’m so happy for him that he did well this year and he’ll do well again next year.”


(on what it has been like to play in the football culture of Pittsburgh) “This is football. The way the fans approach the game, it helps us, they’re traveling with us, they’re coming with us everywhere, and I feel like I’m in high school again. The game has been recreated in my mind in reminding me of how much fun it can be and I feel like I’m in the backyard again playing catch with my brother and my dad.”


(on the appreciation he has gained for Steelers fans) “I appreciate them because of the way they approach the game, the way they cheer you on, and the way they believe in the people who truly are football players. It makes you open up more and allows you to play a freer game. It allows your true football side to come out and play and have that much more fun; it has been a thrill, and it has been fun.”


(on making the most of his opportunities) “The one thing about my style of play is that I play hard, I run my feet and I look to finish every play. I want to maximize each play, whether it’s a five yard gain or a short cloud of dust one-yard gain or a long run. No matter what, I’m always dissecting film, looking at everything so I can maximize each play and get the most out of every play.”


(on the importance of establishing and maintaining an effective running game in the Super Bowl) “The most important thing in the playoffs or in a playoff situation is sticking with the run game. You want to have possession of the ball, and try to matriculate the ball down the field by having guys pushing other guys. And then when it’s necessary, you go out and pass the ball and take a little of the pressure off of Ben (Roethlisberger). That’s been our formula, and that’s something that we’re going to definitely stick with and that’s what has been working for us.”


(on what his emotions will be like in the moments leading up to the Super Bowl) “I’m definitely going to be a big kid out there. I’m always a kid, but it’s going to be a surreal moment. I’m definitely going to have chills, I will probably lose a little bit of my lunch and I am going to have big butterflies in my stomach.”


(on how good it feels to have been able to make significant contributions this season) “It has been a blessing. Being able to have the opportunity to step in and make plays when called upon and to take on roles and different challenges throughout the season. I think to me that’s the challenge that I embrace and I enjoy, and you have to be able to embrace and to enjoy those types of things. I’m just really happy that I’ve been blessed to be able to come in and be the starter, play the third down role, and to also be involved in the return game and to do those things successfully. I thank God for it and it’s something that has not only been helpful to our team, but also a blessing for me in what has been an exciting year in my life.”


(on how he remembers players reacting to Mike Tomlin’s arrival as defensive coordinator in Minnesota) “They reacted instantly. They responded the day he stepped in, in the way he took control of our defense and the way he spoke to them and addressed them. The standards that he held the defense to in Minnesota, is exactly the same as how he conducts his business here as the head coach in Pittsburgh. I think that’s so important because guys respect that and guys respond to that.”



RB WILLIE PARKER

(on the difference between playing under Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin) “The thing about Coach Tomlin is he does things his own way. Everything Coach Cowher did in his era, Coach Tomlin kind of oversees that and kind of goes his way with it and he’s not changing his mind. Coach Tomlin is his own coach.”


(on the Arizona Cardinals defense) “They’re great, they’re great. They definitely wouldn’t be playing in the Super Bowl if they weren’t playing well together at this point. It’s all about postseason ball and they are doing a great job handling their business every Sunday.”


(on if there is additional pressure being a favorite) “It’s not about being favorites or anything. Both teams have to show up and both teams have to play. It’s not about being an underdog or a favorite, we still have to suit up this week and be ready to play.”


(on being undefeated in the postseason as a player) “I’ve been around a great group of guys. It’s not all about me. I’m definitely undefeated in the postseason thought, and I can definitely brag about it with my teammates but the thing about it is that when they lost last year, I lost. As a starter I haven’t lost a game yet, but every time we lose, whether I’m a part of it or not, I take the defeat too.”


(on how the team’s approach to reaching the Super Bowl is different from 2005) “We know what to expect. Our first time coming to the Super Bowl it was like ‘expect the unexpected’. We didn’t know what to expect. We were kind of jittery and stuff like that, but now we know what to expect. When we play now and we won the AFC and won the conference we were happy but we didn’t take it overboard like we would have a few years back.”


(on why he gave his first Super Bowl ring to his father) “My dad means a lot to me. My mom means a lot to me too, she’s just not too into sports, so my dad kind of pushed me out to play when I was younger and he always motivated me. He always said the things that you do to get your kids to get up and go workout, so I thought that would be a great gift for him.”


(on what impresses him about Cardinals RB Edgerrin James) “Edgerrin James is a great runner and I always looked up to Edgerrin. He’s definitely got great balance, he sees the hole, and he’s a patient runner. He definitely gets the job done, he’s been doing it for a long time.”


(on his excitement to get out and play the game) “I’m ready to get at it. We’ve been practicing and practicing. Now it’s time to play. We’ve got another week under our belt this week, so we just have to prepare and get ready for this game on Sunday.”


(on what things he learned in his previous Super Bowl experience that he has carried over to this year) “The thing about it is that we know what to expect (this year). It’s a different team on both sides of the ball, so we just have to go out there and just have fun and just play the game. It’s not about what you did in the last game. It’s about this game. It’s a different task.”


(on how much of a role faith plays in his life) “Faith plays a major part in my life. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the man up above. He blessed me with this opportunity, blessed me with this chance, and he blessed me with this dream. I wouldn’t be on this podium if it wasn’t for faith.”


(on how the offensive line has come along during the season) “They are coming along, and we are still learning. It’s funny because we’re at the Super Bowl, but we’re still finding each others’ niches. I think they’ll play well this Sunday.”


(on the advantage of having a of number players that have played in a Super Bowl) “It’s not an advantage. You guys make a big deal of disadvantages and advantages. It’s really not an advantage, we just know what to expect. They don’t know what to expect right now. Coach (Whisenhunt) knows what to expect, but once you get on that field all those advantages, disadvantages, underdogs, and all that stuff go out the window. It’s time to play ball.”


(on what the Cardinals have done in the playoffs to improve their run defense) “They’re playing very well together and they get up on teams so much where teams can’t run the ball on them, so teams have to go to the pass. Their offense has really been a major part of their success and we want to go out there and make it a great game, one where we can run and pass the ball.”


(on what he thinks the Cardinals will do to try and stop the Steelers’ running game) “I don’t know what they are going to do. I’m pretty sure they are going to do something to stop it, try and get us out of the run and force us to pass.”


(on if he is surprised that the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl) “I’m not surprised at all. They’ve been playing very well lately, and they deserve to be here just like we deserve to be here.”


(on if the Steelers will have to make a lot of changes against the Cardinals) “I don’t see many changes. Our defense has been faced with all types of challenges this year. We played against the Cowboys, and played against the Eagles. They have great passing attacks. We’ve faced passing attacks, running attacks and everything. I speak very highly of my defense and they are ready for the challenge.”


(on if the Steelers are looking forward to getting on the practice field and preparing) “We’re looking forward to practice. During the season you don’t say that but we’re kind of looking forward to it.”


(on how beneficial having a week off between the AFC Championship and Super Bowl has been) “It helped us out. We definitely came off the Baltimore game a little bit banged up, so the week definitely helps you out and helps you get ready for the big game.”


(on if he thinks players should embrace the Super Bowl frenzy or tune it out) “You have to embrace it. The younger guys, we have to embrace the moment, and the older guys probably have to tune it out. I’m embracing every moment I have at the Super Bowl because you don’t know when you’re going to be back. I don’t know when I’m going to come back here, so I have to embrace it and have fun while I’m here.”


(on his health now compared to the end of the regular season) “I feel great right now and I’m back healthy. What more can you ask for? I prayed all throughout the season when I was banged up that one day I would get back to being myself, and get back to 100 percent, get back to full speed, and God blessed me with it.”


(on having to face Coach Ken Whisenhunt in the Super Bowl) “Coach (Whisenhunt) is a great guy and it’s a big congratulations to him and what he did for that organization. To be facing him is crazy. But at the same time he’s done a great job over there and if we were not to win the Super Bowl, I would love for him to win it. There wouldn’t be any other guy.”



K JEFF REED

(on whether he is able to enjoy the Super Bowl experience) “Yes. It definitely helps that I was in the Super Bowl three years ago with this team. At first I didn’t know what to expect. I was like, ‘Man I have to go do media stuff.’ Now you know what’s going on, you know it’s coming. You have to enjoy these days because if you complain about (Media Day), then you’re complaining about being in the Super Bowl. I’m not complaining at all.”


(on being more comfortable at his second Super Bowl appearance) “Yes. We start our work week tomorrow. It will be a normal week. The times will be different with practices and meetings, but we have media back at home. Our Pittsburgh media is crazy. It’s not like we don’t do this, it’s just to a bigger extent.”


(on what is behind the dyed blond hair) “I told my teammates if we make the playoffs this year, which we made, that I would dye my hair blonde and that’s what I did. I fit in with Florida and the sunshine and a little bit better than Pittsburgh and the snow.”


(on Sunday’s expectations) “Hopefully a Steelers win. It will be a great game. Their (Arizona’s) coaching staff was on the staff when I won the Super Bowl three years ago with this team. They know how to win. I’ve had people say, ‘It won’t even be a game.’ I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ They didn’t make it here walking over teams, they dominated the NFC. I don’t care what their record was. I don’t care what people say about them, they’re a great team or they wouldn’t be in the Super Bowl otherwise.”


(on what he does in the locker room to keep the team loose) “As a kicker you can be an outcast like a lot of guys, or you can just do your job and hang out with the holder, punter, snapper, the trainers and the equipment guys, or you can join right in. They selected me as a team captain which showed their respect for me. I almost teared up when they said that the first week of the season. I always joke around. When I work, I work. I’m a perfectionist, so if I miss one I’m miserable. In a game you have to get over it because you have to go in and kick another one. They know I work really hard. I’m in the weight room with them. I run with them. I work out just as much as anybody on the team. That’s the way to earn respect. At this level I don’t have to do that because I know how to kick, but I think it’s better to do that because you know the guys on and off the field. We go to dinners together and functions. This team is really close. That’s why we’re successful.”


(on wearing a lot of Tar Heel paraphernalia) “I have a lot of school pride, ACC pride, but more importantly school pride. I became a Big East fan because we share a facility with Pitt (University of Pittsburgh). I understand when I was going through USF’s (University of South Florida) complex yesterday, it hit home. I saw Big East teams, but I bleed Carolina Blue. Every sport there is good and the weakest sport that was there was the football team and they’re climbing out so that’s good.”


(on whether he is surprised North Carolina men’s basketball has lost two games) “Yes and no. I think they’re so good they need to lose, so it’s a good thing. Two-in-three games surprised me, especially since I told everyone in the locker room that North Carolina would be No. 1 all year. In the end it will come down to us. We’ll be alright.”


(on whether he would like to experience an Adam Vinatieri moment and kick the game-winning field goal) “I respect him a lot. Not because he’s a good kicker, but because he’s a great person. He’s a guy who will tell you the tricks of the trade in a heartbeat, he and John Carney. Hats off to both of those guys. When he walks onto the field you don’t even watch because you know he’s going to make it. I want to be that guy. I don’t need to be a household name. I just want everyone to know, and my teammates are getting to a point where they know, when I go onto the field they can just trust me to make it and come through for the team. You live for game winners and a stage like this, of course you do. At the same time, I’d much rather win by 20 points and be partying on the sideline. If it comes down to me and the camera is in my face kicking into the kicking net, then I’ll be ready.”


(on the weather in Tampa) ‘When you play at Heinz Field, this is calm. There is grass, it’s green, there is sun and it’s hot. I like it. If I complain here then there is something wrong with me. I complain enough in Pittsburgh. I shouldn’t because I love it there and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I don’t think there is a non-windy stadium unless you’re in a dome and even sometimes there is a breeze inside, believe it or not. Only kickers would know that.”


(on whether he hopes the game comes down to him kicking the game-winning field goal) “Hope it comes down to? No, not necessarily. If it comes down to it I would love it. I carry that burden on my shoulders as a kicker. You’re either a hero or a goat. There is nobody in Pittsburgh that is going to say, ‘I kind of like him.’ They either love me or hate me. That just comes with the job. They want to win as bad as we do. If people knew how hard I worked, if I ever missed a field goal in a game, they would understand. I’m a perfectionist and that’s what I expect out of myself. If I miss one I’m miserable. During the game I shake it off, but in practice or after the game, I’m miserable, even if we win. I like to be perfect. In a game-win situation, I would love it.”


(on whether he can view the Super Bowl as a normal game) “Yes you can look at it as a normal football game once it starts. All the hoopla leading up to it you’re like, ‘Man we’re at the Super Bowl.’ Sometimes you forget because you go through a normal work week. When you go through days like this (Media Day) you realize what’s going on. When you get back to the hotel you’re just hanging out. You’re not at the hotel for five days before a game during the season. You’re there for one night. I think it helps having done this before. Media Day before I was like, ‘Wow.’ Now I’m like, ‘bring ‘em.’ I hear guys complaining about this day at times, but this team has learned that there is no reason to complain about this because if you’re complaining about it then you don’t want to be at the Super Bowl. It’s just a part of it. We relish this opportunity. We have guys on this team who have great personalities, great answers and are smart. They speak the truth. They’re not sugar coating their answers for the media.”


(on trying out for the Steelers) “It goes back seven years ago. I had a tryout. I came in Week 10. It was four guys. We all kicked about the same. We all were just above average. It was nothing spectacular. It was sleeting. It was a nasty day. They picked me out of those four. I didn’t know why. I think it was because I was having a good time out there. I knew it was going to be really tough at Heinz Field. It is a place that most kickers hate. The other guys were complaining, slipping and falling. I was too, but I wasn’t complaining. I think that had something to do with it.”


(on whether he is a Bruce Springsteen fan) “Yes I am. Maybe I’ll sneak out early (during halftime). When coach is talking to the team I usually sneak out and go kick anyways, so maybe I’ll go watch him.”


(on whether he would prefer his mother’s cooking or another Super Bowl ring) “That’s hard to throw mama under the bus, but I’m going to say a second Super Bowl ring because I can always have her cooking, but you can’t always be in the Super Bowl.”



PRESIDENT ART ROONEY II

(on giving United States President Barak Obama the AFC Championship game ball) “We sure did. Dad took it down to him. He admits that he is a Chicago Bears fan, but he is a Steelers fan on the AFC side.”


(on Commander Mike Fink declaring the International Space Station Steelers Country) “I saw that. That is great. We enjoyed seeing that.”


(on how the pageantry of the Super Bowl has changed since the first one he attended with the Steelers) “There is no question that it has gotten bigger every time. When we went in 1974 it seemed like a big event at the time, looking back on it now, it might be like a college bowl game these days. We worry about the players making it through all of this, but I think they will be fine.”


(on making it to the Super Bowl six times, including most recently in 2005) “It never gets old that’s for sure. We will take as many as we can get. We will be ready to go each time we get here.”


(on his memories of Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley as a child) “I remember Todd very well. I was fairly close to his father. His father used to bring Todd to training camp. Todd would work as a ball boy for us during training camp. His dad would tell me that Todd wanted to grow up and be a professional baseball player, but somewhere along the line he decided to get into the football business.”


(on the difference between Todd Haley’s personality and his father’s) “His dad was pretty much a quite guy. He just kind of kept to himself. When his dad played for us he was a feisty little guy. We are proud of Todd and it is great to see the success that he is having.”


(on being surprised of Haley’s success) “I am not surprised of his success. He comes from a football family, so I am not surprised with his success.”


(on his first trip to the Super Bowl in 1974) “I was 22 years old and finishing up college. I was working part-time for the team. It was a very memorable occasion that’s for sure.”



CHAIRMAN DAN ROONEY

(on why the city of Pittsburgh is so devoted to the Steelers) “Well there are really a lot of reasons. Success has had something to do with it. The fact that they have had difficult times. They have had difficult times in Pittsburgh and we sort of filled the void- they could have something for their pride. That has something to do with it. You know they moved. Everybody sees that when we go to Arizona there are a billion Steeler fans out there. So it is one of those things.”


(on if it is also that the football reflects the city in terms of how they play) “The city has changed as far as that. There are still great workers, and there are still steel mills, but it has really become a college. We have great colleges; we have seven colleges in the city of Pittsburgh. We have great medical facilities, education. They are doing some marvelous things as far as some of the robotics and things like that. Pittsburgh is really a great city. A number of people lost their jobs and had to move and things like that, so that has had something to do with it.”


(on if he is happy for the Bill Bidwell family after all the frustration they have gone through) “Yeah, I think it’s great what he has done. One of the old Card-Pitt’s too. It is terrific. They have a fine football team, and they are a good team. They deserve to be here for how they have played.”


(on if the 1944 Card-Pitt’s team was the only Steelers team to go winless) “They had four head coaches. That shows you when you have too many what happens.”


(on how the Card-Pitt’s merger came about) “You needed players. So with the Eagles the year before who had a lot of Navy guys, it was a similar situation there. In Pittsburgh the people we had were workers and they built the ships. They turned out the steel for tanks and things like that, but it was a different situation because they had to work long, long hours. It was a lot different than getting people to play football on the weekends.”


(on if the NFL mandated that the two franchises get together) “No. My father and Charlie Bidwell were really the ones that got together. Just the same the year before with the Eagles, that they put it together that way. Elmer Layden was the commissioner then and he worked really hard to try to get the government to say like they did with baseball- that it was something good to do. He never really did come out and say that, but yet it was still a plus that way as far as providing entertainment. As they say in Pittsburgh, they worked hard so they needed an outlet.”


(on how good of a team there would be if they merged the current Steelers and Cardinals) “It’d be pretty good. It’d be pretty good for sure.”


(on if the 1944 team is considered part of Steelers history or if there is an asterisk because it was part Cardinals as well) “Nah, we admit to it, and I think they do. The Eagles were a little bit tougher. They didn’t want to say it, and they had a good team. That was a good team the Steagles.”


(on what the genesis of the “Rooney Rule” was) “The idea was to give an opportunity to African-Americans or other minorities to meet with owners and be interviewed and see what they could do. Now we tried other things prior to that. We used to bring them down to our seminar. All coaches could come down, all assistant coaches, and talk to them. I talked to them often. But then we got this idea that we should do more and so we came up with the rule that a team, if they were hiring a new coach, had to interview at least one minority. It’s really worked. I have had the opportunity and met with owners and it worked out well.”


(on if he met any resistance with the ‘Rooney Rule’) “A little, a little. But we got it together and it came along and they were satisfied, they were pleased with it after it happened.”


(on if he thinks that it would have passed as easily if it had been another owner with the idea) “I don’t know that I have that much clout to be honest. There were plenty of others that could have done it.”


(on Steelers fans) “Our fans are great. Our fans are tremendous fans. We had a pep rally before we came down here, and it was terrific. It’s all young people, so you can see that the next generation is going to be there too. It was just great. I talked to many of them, and they look at Ben [Roethlisberger] and Hines [Ward] and all these great players that we have and they relate to them so it is a terrific thing.”


(on Super Bowl XXII MVP QB Doug Williams saying that one of the reasons he respects him is that he buys what he sells and he bought in on the Rooney Rule with the hiring of Mike Tomlin) “Let me say this, Mike Tomlin was not part of the Rooney Rule. We had already interviewed Ron Rivera, and so that fulfilled the obligation. We went on, had heard about Mike, called him in and talked to him. He was very impressive. We got him back and talked to him on the phone often and he just showed that he was going to be a terrific coach, which I think is coming to bear. But, he was not part of the Rooney Rule.”



T MAX STARKS

(on if he wants to see the Super Bowl played in his hometown of Orlando) “Of course, you have to have one in Orlando. That would be my ultimate dream. You have the Citrus Bowl there, and so many great high schools and collegiate games have been played there. You have to. You have to honor the fact that Orlando is a big football city that a lot of people look over. It would be great to have the Super Bowl there in the shadows of Jones High School. My first high school game was at the Citrus Bowl.”


(on being back in his hometown area for the Super Bowl) “When you play in sports, the one thing you look to do is to play at the top of your sport. Playing for a championship and having the opportunity to do it for a second time is truly a blessing. To be back in the state of Florida makes it even more special to me.”


(on if he has received a lot of messages from friends and family in the area) “I have a lot of friends who are looking for tickets. That’s just one of the things that come with the Super Bowl. Everyone wants to be there, be a part of this and support you. That’s a great thing. It’s a good thing because you have your friends and family around you, but it can be a distraction. I welcome the distraction because it’s a distraction that a lot of people do not get to have. It will be a fun week.”


(on his favorite memory while playing at the University of Florida) “I would have to say beating Florida State at home in ‘The Swamp’ during my sophomore year. My second memory would be always beating Tennessee each year at their place.”


(on if he won any SEC titles while in college) “Yes. We won by beating Auburn during my freshman year in 2000. We then went to the Sugar Bowl and played the University of Miami.”


(on how important it is to have played in a previous Super Bowl) “I would think that it is very important to have a veteran squad and a majority of guys who have been in this situation. Having been a first-timer before and coming back a second time around, we have a new appreciation and understanding about how to go about things. People can get caught up, and it’s our job as veterans who have been here before to lead the younger guys and keep them focused on our goal. This Media Day is a great day, as are the events and opportunities that are afforded to you because you are at the Super Bowl. There are a lot of distractions, but you have to realize that we are the ones who have to take the field on Sunday and are competing for the ultimate prize in this sport, the Vince Lombardi Trophy. You have to be mindful of that and respect that aspect of it as you go about the week.”


(on how often he thinks about his future) “I haven’t allowed myself to think past my future in the league because you never know what the future holds. You can’t get too caught up in the future. The biggest thing is having this opportunity to play and hopefully bring a sixth championship to the city of Pittsburgh.”


(on if you can replace Joey Porter on Super Bowl Media Day) “There is no replacing the ultimate showman. You can’t beat Joey Porter on any media day or camera. He is a special guy. You always look forward to what he is going to say and backing him up on it.”


(on if there is someone on the team who has replaced him) “I think there are a multitude of guys who have taken his place. I don’t think one person can take his place because no one individual can possess those qualities ever again. Our defense definitely backs up what they say. I think their style of play and their attitude alone is Joey Porter-esque, and that’s one of the great things about our defense. We don’t have specifically one talker, but we have a lot of doers. I think if anything else, when the queen is gone the worker bees will keep going. If he were here he would be calling out Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and saying they would not get any catches. He would say he was going to personally make sure Kurt Warner didn’t have any time. He would give you all these fantastic views about how the game should play out in his head.”


(on if he is going to be able to make it to his charitable foundation’s party this week) “No. When Doug and Crawford asked me about doing charity work, I wanted it to benefit children in Orlando because it was my hometown. It was one of those things where I plan it, and if I go I’m going to be bitter if I’m not in the Super Bowl. So then it turns out we’re in the Super Bowl and I can’t go anyway. The biggest deal about that party is for everyone to know that it’s for charity and it’s going toward a good cause. We are helping inner city youth and my charity, the Max Starks Charitable Fund, is benefiting because we are able to go and implement programs working in the community with literacy and education.”


(on how blocking for Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich differs from Ben Roethlisberger) “Byron is different from Ben because Byron will come into the huddle and say ‘Listen here. I’m going to line up five yards from center, between the guards. You guys keep them between the lines and in three seconds the ball will be gone.’ Ben will just come into the huddle and say ‘Let’s make a play.’ You don’t know where Ben is going to be. He may line up between the guards, he may run to the left or right, or he may just tuck the ball and run. He is so unpredictable, even for us blocking for him.”


(on if he keeps up with the Orlando Magic) “I have to. I have a heart for the Magic. Basketball was my first love. As a kid I literally grew up three blocks from the TD Waterhouse Center. I remember the first game I went to when they came into the NBA in 1988. It was an amazing experience. This was back with players like Scot Skiles, Horace Grant, Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson. Later on, they brought in Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. I’ve always been a fan. To see players like Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson now makes me proud to see what they are doing and how they have turned that franchise around.”



CB IKE TAYLOR

(on what the Steelers defense will have to do to stop the Cardinals passing attack) “Regardless of what anyone says about your front seven it really comes down to the secondary. If your secondary is having a bad day, it’s going to be a long day for the defense. If the secondary is having a good day it helps your offense and gets your defense off the field. Our mentality as a defense, how we go into the games, is that it’s all on us.”


(on getting back to the Super Bowl) “It means a lot. Two (Super Bowls) in four years, it’s tough. There are a lot of guys who play 15, 13, 10 years who don’t even make it, and I’m fortunate enough to be on a team, in an organization, that is a contender year in and year out.”


(on working to become a leader on the Steelers’ defense) “Learning the defense itself, trying to win the coaches over, I know when Coach (Dick) LeBeau took over I wasn’t one of his draft picks or one of Coach Ray’s (Horton) draft picks and I had to win them over. I think I kind of did that so far. I’ve got nothing but respect for Coach LeBeau and Coach Horton.”


(on playing for Steelers’ defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau) “We play for a lot, we play for our fans, we play for the organization, you play for yourself. But this defense, if you ask anybody on this defense, we play for Coach LeBeau. All because of his character, from a Pro Bowler to a free agent guy, he treats us all the same, and that’s why we respect him.”


(on facing Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald) “Coach always stressed to us as a secondary to have a ‘don’t blink’ mentality, which means don’t worry about anything that you can’t control. Going into the game I don’t think about anyone, I just think about playing good football.”


(on if Larry Fitzgerald is the most dominant receiver in the NFL) “Right now, yeah, but you all need to understand that Fitzgerald has been doing this since college. It’s just now that we are on the biggest stage, people are starting to see what he can do. This is nothing new to me. I’ve been seeing Fitzgerald do this since his college days.”


(on what impressed him about Larry Fitzgerald) “The way he catches the ball. He’s got unbelievable hands. I think we’ve seen one drop, or I’ve seen one drop in out of like 19 games that I watched. That speaks volumes right there.”


(on how much video of Larry Fitzgerald he’s watched in the past week) “A whole lot, but they’ve got three 1,000-yard receivers, that’s tough to manage as a defense. You really can’t stop them, but you can try to contain them, and hopefully we can do that on Sunday.”


(on if the Steelers will use man-to-man coverage on Larry Fitzgerald deep down the field) “We get that like three times a game, if you watch from game one all the way to this game right here. Every defense gets that it’s just his rebound skills, his high point skills, and like you said he’s been coming down with the ball every time.”



HEAD COACH MIKE TOMLIN

(on what his personal faith means to him) “Football is what we do. Faith is who we are. Of course, that’s first and foremost in my life. It is the reason that I am who I am, and it’s so much bigger than the game.”


(on what he learned from Tony Dungy) “The biggest thing is his unwavering belief in his message and in the men. It was on display all the time through the good and the bad. He was extremely consistent, and that’s probably the number one thing that I took from my time with him.”


(on what he has taken from his coaching journey) “I’ve been blessed that I have worked with some great people, people who took a stake in my development. And really, I pull from all of it on a day-to-day basis – lessons learned from leadership. It’s about people. It’s about taking care of the troops. It’s about putting them first. I’ve learned that if you are going to lead, you try to lead with a servant’s heart. I try to do that – try to take care of my men and give them what they need to be great.”


(on meeting Barack Obama before he became president) “It was an awesome experience, but for me the awesome part was to watch my sons meet him and interact with him. I was caught up in the moment, because it is one of those moments they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. My boys are eight and seven, and they really took it in, and I really got lost in the moment watching those guys interact with him.”


(on what it would be like to be the first NFL team to go to the White House in the Obama administration) “It would be special. It would be awesome.”


(on embracing the Super Bowl experience) “I’ve talked to the guys about embracing all that comes with the game, even this (media day). It’s a lot of work to get to this moment, and we are not going to fight this. We are going to embrace and enjoy this. It’s part of the game, and we are going to treat it as such. Ultimately, we know that on Sunday, the ball is going to be kicked off and we have to play. We are going to do what we need to do, between now and then, to make sure we are at our best.”


(on what he wants his children to take away from Super Bowl week) “I want them to appreciate it for what it is. I understand that they take it for granted. They think we go to the Super Bowl every year, that’s just them. I want them to appreciate it because they made sacrifices as well. There have been moments where I haven’t been home for bedtime, and things of that nature. They understand that, too. I appreciate that.”


(on how Ben Roethlisberger has changed since last year) “I think he is going through the maturation process that quarterbacks go through, that players go through. He is becoming a seasoned veteran, becoming comfortable in his shoes and what it means to be the quarterback of this football team. If there is a word I can use to describe him, it’s comfortable. He is very comfortable in what his job and his job description is.”


(on the Steelers fan following) “Our fans are unlike any other. You hear about it, and appreciate it from afar. But at the same time, you don’t get an understanding of it until you are a part of it. It’s what makes this organization different. It’s what makes us special. Our fan following is second to none.”


(on his first coaching experience at Virginia Military) “It was pure. I didn’t have anything else going on in my life, truth be known. I was single, I was broke, I didn’t have cable or long distance calling, and so there was nothing else to do other than immerse yourself in the game. I was with a bunch of guys who were like-minded, and we had a great time.”


(on how close law school was as an option for him) “For me, it wasn’t an option. It was something that was talked about. It was what you were supposed to do, not what you wanted to do. And I’ve always been somebody who did what I wanted to do.”


(on coming back to Tampa) “It is special. I didn’t realize it until I wanted to eat dinner last night, and I knew the options. It’s good to see old friends, familiar faces, and to mix that with the spectacle that is the Super Bowl is very special. It’s been special thus far.”


(on walking into Raymond James Stadium) “It’s surreal, really. We were in the locker room a few minutes ago. I’ve been in that locker room many times. It’s just really something that I am taking in, something that I am enjoying, and it is special.”


(on if he will coach this game any differently) “We are in the process of formulating our strategy in regards to the game. One thing that we won’t do is coach scared or play scared. That didn’t get us here. We are going to be the Pittsburgh Steelers and maintain our personality in that regard. We are going to do what we feel is necessary for us to win.”


(on interviewing with the Steelers, and coaching against Ken Whisenhunt) “The process for me was very refreshing. It really was. To sit down with Dan and Art Rooney, talk football, philosophy and the things that were important to me as a coach and as a man – to have them listen was refreshing. I was inspired by the interview process, I really was. Thankfully, I was a guy who they were looking for. In regards to coaching against Ken, he is an awesome competitor who has a great football team. I look forward to that. Yes, he does have insight in regards to who we are, how we are built, some of our players and so forth. The game is going to be decided on by those who play it on the field.”


(on if he reflects about making the Super Bowl) “No. I’m like the 31 other guys. Every year, we all go to training camp with one goal in mind, and that’s to be the team. Everything that we do along the way is geared toward that. I’m blessed to be one of the two teams left standing in this. One of us is going to be champion, and I try to keep it in that perspective. That’s the goal every year to be in all of it. Because we are here, it doesn’t give just due to the process that we’ve been through. It’s been a lot of personal sacrifice. A lot of people have put a lot of personal things aside and done what they have needed to do for us to be here, and I appreciate that element of it.”


(on what he learned from players like Ronde Barber when he with the Buccaneers) “Ronde specifically, and guys like him … Players learn from coaches, and that’s well documented. Coaches learn from players. I think good coaches do. His unwavering belief in himself, his unwavering belief in the fact that a team can get a job done, is inspiring. He is a guy who doesn’t blink in the face of adversity. I gain strength from that. I learn from that. He is probably a bigger reason than anybody why I do what I do today.”


(on his relationship with his players because of his age) “On a day-to-day basis, it’s a job. It’s about substance. I think it’s a story because we have a job to do. I do my job, and they do their job. There is mutual respect involved. That’s what it is about for us. That’s what it is about for me. My age, and all of those things, is interesting to talk about on days like today. But on a day-to-day basis, it’s a non-factor in terms of what it is we need to do.”


(on the Buccaneers decision to hire Raheem Morris as head coach) “I’ve got a great deal of belief in Raheem Morris. I think that the Bucs are in great hands under his leadership. He is a natural leader, and it oozes out of his pores. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for them. I can’t wait to see what Buccaneer football looks like.”


(on what makes James Harrison special) “James is physically talented, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to him, it’s not about his ability; it’s about what he’s willing to do. The guy has a ridiculous work ethic. The personal sacrifices he makes to be who he is as a player is as spectacular as his play. He’s committed. He’s committed to this team. He’s committed to be the best he can be, and that’s why he is who he is.”


(on who inspired him to be a coach) “My mom inspired me. She is a special lady, she really is. The personal sacrifices she made for my brother and me, allowed us to do what it is we desire to do. In the midst of it all, we had a tough upbringing like everybody. But never once did we think that there was something we couldn’t do. She trained us that way, she raised us that way. She’s as big a reason as any why I do what I do today.”



MORE WR HINES WARD

(on Whisenhunt’s offense against defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s defense) “We had our battles. Just as much as Whis knows us, we know Whis as well. It was very competitive when Whis was here and going against Coach (Dick) LeBeau. Coach LeBeau has done it a long time. He’s a mastermind. I’m pretty sure he is going to make sure our defensive guys are in the right position to go out there and make plays. I’m sure he knows what Coach LeBeau’s tendencies are as well. It’s going to be like a chess match. Both of those guys are going to be playing chess and see who can get checkmate.”


(on what a young coach like Mike Tomlin does to earn the respect of his players) “When he first got here last year, following a coach like Coach Cowher, he came in and was a hard-nosed guy. He came in and laid down the law and the rules. He wanted to make sure the guys knew it was his team. It’s not what we used to do when Coach Cowher was here. He’s not here. Coach Tomlin was the new sheriff in town and you were going to do it his way or no way. If you didn’t want to abide by his beliefs and what he was saying then more than likely you weren’t going to be on the team. It’s almost like night and day. Going into his second year, he understands guys. He’s played with us a whole year. He’s giving guys a little leeway from time-to-time. He gives some of the veteran guys time off on Wednesdays so they can go out and be fresh on Sundays. I like that personally. He’s a great coach. He still emphasizes playing hard and winning ballgames.”


(on whether Whisenhunt or LeBeau has the upper hand) “It’s really hard to say because both are great coaches. Coach LeBeau has been doing this a long time. Whis and LeBeau had their battles in practice. We tried to make up some plays. It’s really down the line. It’s 50-50. Of course I’m going to be biased because I love Coach LeBeau. He’s our coach for here. I’m pretty sure Coach LeBeau is going to have something in store to get ready for Whis’ offense. Hopefully we can contain their explosive plays and try to create some turnovers.”


(on the Steelers offense) “You want to be physical, but we’re not worried about how many yards. You can get 3 yards by passing the ball. It can still be a ball-controlled offense by passing the ball. We understand that in order for us to get to where we want to go we still have to run the ball. We have a great running back in Willie Parker. Some of the offensive line have been criticized for their play throughout the whole year, but it’s the Super Bowl. I’m pretty sure those guys know there’s no tomorrow. They are going to put it together. We’re going to be balanced. If we can have more of a balanced attack and not turn the ball over then we should have a great opportunity to win this ball game.”


(on what he tells the young receivers in preparation for this game) “Just make plays when plays present themselves. You never know when your number is going to get called and that’s a good thing. Looking back on the Super Bowl, there were some catches, plays and routes that I wished I would have done better. I always say, ‘You don’t want to leave this game saying I could have done this or I could have done that.’ When you’re playing in the Super Bowl that’s how you make a name for yourself. You never know when there’s going to be a given play when your number is being called and the ball is going to come your way. You have to come up and make big plays in the Super Bowl.”


(on why the Steelers have had success over a long period of time) “Continuity. It all starts with the owners. We’re not big on change. We’ve only had three coaches in the last 40 years. When you look around you see the coaching carousel go around, but it’s rare that you will see that in Pittsburgh. We do a great job with our recruiting, our scouts and drafting within. This team is built through the Draft. We’re not big on going out and making a splash in free agency. I think Jerome Bettis was the last signee that we had from free agency and that was ages ago. They just aren’t big on change. They like to keep the veteran guys with a mixture of new faces with younger guys. Hopefully the older guys take the younger guys under their wings and try to teach them what it takes to be great ball players not only on the field, but off the field as well.”


(on Pittsburgh Steelers fans) “They go hand-in-hand. It’s a blue-collar town. They go out and work hard. It’s hard to get tickets in the city of Pittsburgh and at Heinz field. The tickets are passed down from generation to generation. When you’re born you come out with a ‘terrible towel’ in your hand. It’s a love between the city and their team. When the Super Bowl is over with, they can’t wait until training camp. They look forward to who we’re going to draft, who’s going to be the next up- and-coming guy. You appreciate that. Playing there, this is my 11th year. I’m pretty sure if I’m ever hungry I can knock on somebody’s door and they’ll welcome me with open arms and I can eat good anytime. It’s a close-knitted family. It’s a great family city. We’re role models in our communities and they support us so much.”



WR NATE WASHINGTON

(on when he thought he had a chance to go to the NFL from Tiffin University) “We didn’t really have any big names, and I was a smaller guy too, so not until the end of my senior year. I saw the scouts come in and talked to them, but it really didn’t dawn on me until the end of my senior year. I think that helped me out a lot. It allowed me to focus more on playing football instead of worrying about playing in the NFL.”


(on the Cardinals wideouts getting all the attention this week) “We feel good about our group. I keep telling the media it’s not a competition with those guys. We’re not competing against their receiving corps. Their individual success and success as a group, that doesn’t matter to us. People can say they are better than our receiving corps, but that’s not what we’re worried about. We’re worried about coming out and getting a ring.”


(on the Steelers group of receivers) “Hines Ward is a great competitor, a hard fighting guy. Santonio (Holmes) is a big playmaker, everybody knows I just want to run all day. You have one complete receiver in three guys, and we complement each other.”


(on the influence of Hines Ward) “Hines has been like a big brother to me in my career. He’s brought me up in a way that a guy wanting to succeed in this league should be brought up. I tip my hat to him, and I tell everyone that without him, I don’t think I’d be at the point I’m at today. I’m glad and fortunate to be in this situation, this opportunity to be with the Pittsburgh Steelers from day one and have him by my side.”


(on the possibility of making a big play in the Super Bowl) “You never know when your chance is going to come. You just have to stay prepared and stay focused. Take it all in and keep fighting.”


(on being in the Super Bowl for a second time in four seasons) “We have a big game this weekend, but that thought hasn’t touched my brain. This is such a big game, such a big moment in everyone’s life, so the game is the only thing on my mind.”



LB LaMARR WOODLEY

(on Steelers Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau being considerably older than his players ) “He just has that young attitude. He doesn’t look at it as age. Over time, things change, different guys come in, and he’s just one of those coaches who adjust to that. I’ve heard a lot about Coach LeBeau going back to his playing days, all of the interceptions that he had, the kind of player that he was and the whole attitude that he had.”


(on to what he attributes his current success) “I think I’m playing so well because of the guys who are around me. You can’t go out there and do it by yourself. We’ve got a lot of experienced guys on our defense and I’m by far the youngest guy. You look at the guys who surround us, they’re playing great. You’ve got James Harrison on the other side who’s drawing a lot of attention and opening up a lot of stuff for me. You’ve got those three big guys in the middle who are not allowing quarterbacks to step up (in the pocket) and give us (linebackers) the opportunity to come off the edge and make big time plays. So I think the reason that I’ve been having a lot of success is just because of the group of guys and this team that I’m on.”


(on what he likes to do away from the football field) “I watch a lot of TV. Sometimes in the offseason I try to play a little basketball but I just can’t keep up with those guys anymore.”


(on his impressions of the Pittsburgh defense) “I’m not amazed by some of the things we do. We’ve been doing it all year long and we’ve been doing it for a number of years. This team was built on the defense. This defense does a good job of bonding. We’re always hanging around each other and we’re always talking to each other. Coach LeBeau’s always joking with us in the meeting room. When you’ve got that feeling with each other, you want to go out there and play for each other.”


(on if Media Day is the most exciting part of Super Bowl week thus far) “You know, today is an exciting day. It’s hot…I’ll tell you that. I’m not used to this weather. But being on the plane ride down here was exciting. Every guy on there has a video camera. Everybody’s talking and throwing pillows on the plane. I think that was definitely one of the most exciting moments for me so far.”


(on if it’s an advantage for a lot of Steelers who have gone through the Super Bowl experience before) “Being as it’s my second year, we’ve got a lot of experienced guys who have been here before. They tell us young guys how to handle it and not to get overwhelmed by these kinds of things. You still have to go out and get ready for the game on Sunday.”


(on how beneficial it is for him to have James Harrison on the other side) “That’s big time. Coming into the season, that’s all I was thinking about. I knew a lot of teams were going to respect James Harrison because of the kind of season he was coming off and him being a Pro Bowl guy. I knew it was up to me to step up and take a little bit of that pressure off of him.”


(on difference between Harrison and himself as players) “He’s faster and I’m bigger. That’s by far the biggest difference. He goes out there and plays aggressively each and every day. That’s his attitude when he comes into the building. Our defense feeds off James because he’s one of those guys who just hates to lose.”


(on how you handle opposing quarterbacks who try to avoid the rush by getting rid of the ball quickly) “Sometimes it’s kind of hard to get sacks when you’ve got some quarterbacks doing three-step drops. You’re not going to be able to get back there to the quarterback so it doesn’t really give you a chance. But you can’t do three-step drops the whole game. Eventually you have to hold the ball for a while and that gives us time to get back there and get some pressure on the quarterback.”


(on his arm tattoos) “I went to Michigan and that’s why I got the Wolverine. And that’s what I turn into when I’m on the field. The other one is a Chinese dragon. I also have a flame and ‘Sag’ which is short for Saginaw, MI (his hometown).”


(on key to slowing Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner) “The key is putting pressure on him and not allowing him to step up in the pocket. James (Harrison) and I need to come off the edge and apply pressure. I think I’m going to be rushing more this game and James will be dropping back more.”


(more on Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau) “Coach LeBeau has been running this defense for a long time. And usually every year, we’re on top as one of the best defenses in the league. That all starts with Coach LeBeau with the plays that he’s put in and his play-calling. He’s one of the guys who created the 3-4 defense so you’ve got to call a guy like that a genius.”


(on what kind of team you’d have if you melded the Steelers and the Cardinals into one team) “We’d be an unstoppable team. That team would be winning the Super Bowl for years. I’d be playing outside linebacker still but we’d definitely have to work some of our 3-4 defense in there somewhere.”


(on if warm weather affects the Steelers) “I guess a lot of people would think that it wouldn’t work for us because we’ve been playing in the cold weather since November. So they feel like we need to get adapted to this a little bit, but I think that being down here a week before the Super Bowl…well, it just doesn’t get any better than this.”