Super Bowl XLVI – Tuesday, January 31, 2012(on whether he was frustrated after being undrafted after playing college football at SMU) “It wasn’t, frustrating because with the injuries that I had, I kind of knew it was going to be like that. I’m confident in what I can do and I was just hoping for a shot. I felt like if I could get on a team, then they would like my ability.”
(on defending Victor Cruz in the slot position) “You’ve got to be smart and do your assignment. That’s the big thing: just trying to do your assignment against a guy like that. Know where your help is at and use it.”
(on the Patriots being known for giving overlooked players a chance) “We have a great scouting department, and if they see something in a guy that can help their team, they use him.”
(on what went through his mind when he made the play on Lee Evans in the AFC Championship) “What went through my mind was, I’m glad I didn’t lose the game for us. It was actually a couple seconds later (that he knew he made the play), because even after swiping I swiped again. I didn’t know I hit the ball. I thought he had scored the touchdown and I thought we had lost. So it was a couple seconds later when I saw the ball on the ground.”
(on the influence of SMU secondary coach Derrick Odum) “Coach Odum has had a big influence. He’s told me from day one ‘if you continue to play the way that I see you play, you won’t have to worry, people are going to like you. You can play everything. You can play zone, you can play man.’ He’s always pushing me and still is. He texts me all the time. When I missed a tackle last game he texted me. He’s played a big part in my life. He told me; Great play (on Lee Evans), but he tends to focus on the negatives a little more than the positives.”
(on whether he thinks one reason the team is here is because of the play on Lee Evans) “I don’t think about it. I think there’s a lot of plays that helped us get here. (Brandon) Spikes’ interception and the way Vince (Wilfork) played that game; I’m just glad I had an opportunity to make a play.”
(on his interesting journey to the NFL) “It’s been a roller coaster. I just try not to think about it right now, especially with this game Sunday. It’ll be something I’ll think about definitely after the season and kind of reflect on how I got here. But now I’m just looking forward to the Giants.”
(on what Bill Belichick might do if someone were to say the wrong thing) “I don’t know, and I don’t want to find out, so it won’t be me.”
(on the matchup with the Giants wide receivers) “Matchup-wise, I don’t know. They’re all great receivers and are guys that can run after the catch. Catches are going to be made throughout the game, so the big thing is to tackle them after those catches are made and not allow them to turn into big plays.”
(on whether he’s surprised at Bill Belichick’s relaxed demeanor with the media) “A little bit, it’s kind of catching me off guard. I definitely thought he’d be a little more strict in his interviews. I’m glad to see that he’s loose, because I think that reflects on us.”
(on what he’s learned about the Patriots’ culture this season) “Just come and do your job. Don’t cause or create distractions and don’t feed into distractions. It’s all business.”
(on going from a Best Buy employee to the Super Bowl) “It was about four years ago I was working at Best Buy and playing junior college football at the same time. Four years have gone by fast. It’s been a long road and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
(on the inspiration of having MHK on their jerseys for owner Robert Kraft’s late wife) “It’s a huge inspiration. Mr. Kraft is such a great guy for giving everybody here an opportunity. He’s had a lot of pain this year so we want to go out there and definitely put a smile on his face. “
(on what was going through his mind after being cut by Oakland) “I was just hoping I’d get another opportunity. I called (SMU) Coach (June) Jones as soon as I got cut and he told me not to worry about it and that I was good enough to play in this league. I’m sure he put some calls out, which has something to do with me being here. All I needed was an opportunity.”
(on whether he was surprised the Patriots were the team that offered him a practice squad spot) “I was definitely surprised, especially with them being all the way on the East Coast. I had a good preseason but I didn’t know what they had seen. So I was just hoping for an opportunity.”
(on there being a lot of paperwork after being cut and signed multiple times) “Definitley a lot of paperwork and a lot of signing different papers. It’s all worth it in the end.”
(on whether he understands that the play on Lee Evans will go down in Patriots’ lore) “I don’t think I understand. Everybody else is tweeting me and texting me that I’m going to go down in history for that play. But we have another big game on Sunday, so if I came out here and screw this game up it means nothing.”
(on being ready to make a play on special teams) “There’s always a play on special teams (waiting to happen). We just hope we’re on the good end of that.”
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