Super Bowl XLVI – Tuesday, January 31, 2012(on making it to the Super Bowl) “I think all of us realize what we’re here to do and what we’re playing this game for and how hard we had to work to get to this point, and part of that was coach Tom Coughlin. Throughout the ups and downs of this season with people getting injured, he has always kept the boat going in the right direction, and he is a constant guy whose preparation and his life is all around this game, and it is no coincidence that the way that he’s preparing us, the way that we practice, the mentality we have going into things, it’s a direct correlation with the way that coach has really rallied us together as a football team. You know, you sit here and talk about all those things. I think everybody gets so emotional in this game, and it’s so about emotions, and I think everybody knows the Gatorade toss and all that stuff, but there are no plans or anything. The most important thing we’re here for is to compete, make sure we have great practices like we have had, and most importantly, we’re going to come out here and play our best football.”
(on the re-match of Super Bowl XLII) “It pays no dividends in what happens this weekend in Super Bowl XLVI. This isn’t Super Bowl XLII. I think you are looking at two completely different football teams that are going out there and competing, so we are approaching this one as hard as we can and with the intensity that we are going to do whatever we have to do this week to make sure we go into this game and play our best football, because we are playing a good team.”
(on whether Tom Coughlin is more beloved or respected) “I think it is both. From the time that he first got here, you know, you’ve got a lot of different rules, a lot of different strategies, and the way he approaches the game and five minutes early and all of his different rules, at first I think it caught people off guard, but I think you have to respect the man for how he does things because he does things professionally. He does things the right way, and his main goal is to win football games just like us. So, I think he shows that in the way that he acts and the way that he presents himself, and he is who he is, he doesn’t change for anybody, and you have got to respect that from the man.”
(on the difference from last year to this year) “I think just the collective group of the team. I think when things were tough and when our backs were against the wall, it was an us against the world mentality, because the only way you can fight back and get yourself out of a hole is if you believe in one another. Most importantly, this game is all about accountability. If you believe in one another, sell out for one another, and I think you’ve heard us all talk about being all in. Everything on the outside, the distractions, the possible distractions, put everything aside. We are here to play football, and we are here to accomplish a mission. You’ve seen all three phases win games. It’s not just the offense winning the games or the defense winning the games, and it is special teams coming up with key onside kicks, getting recoveries. That is how you win football games in this league especially in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. It is going to take all three phases of our team to win this game.”
(on the Patriots big defensive line) “They are huge up front, and that is the way they’ve been successful, is penetrating gaps, making two offensive linemen double team on them to let their linebackers flow, and that is something that we’ve watched from them. We’ve broken it down going into this game, and running the football has got to be a success for us because that’s the way you win against a good football team. You want to control the time of possession, you want to be able to take shots down field and get your play action going, but also we understand the type of offense that they have on the other side, we have to do our best to keep them off the field, but most important for us, we know if we keep our defense fresh, we get our D-line and that rotation going, they can wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, so running the football is going to be a crucial point in this game.”
(on Eli Manning’s toughness) “Yeah, he is definitely a tough guy. People don’t think about that because he’s got that same even-keel demeanor, but he is one of us. He is a warrior; he fights through injuries; he is a guy we want to be the best quarterback on the field and he is a guy that wants to be out there each and every time, and you have seen him grow as a player and is a competitor, but everybody on the outside doesn’t see that intense guy that says he we need to get it right, gets everybody on the sideline. I think that’s the thing that’s been so good for us and has been so awesome to see him do that. The audibles, the adjustments he makes, the changes in the blocking schemes, his study and his preparation allow him to go out there and play free and play loose, and I think that is what we see in Eli.”
(on having played the Patriots this season already, and the rematch of Super Bowl XLVI) “Everybody keeps talking about the Super Bowl, and yes you are going to have that about the rematch, but you are looking at two completely different football teams, and I think that most importantly, you are looking at two better football teams then we faced during the regular season, I think both teams have made improvement and I think both teams are playing their best football and we believe we are preparing for an unbelievable game this Sunday.”
(on the experience of the Super Bowl) “This is an unbelievable experience, and I think we all understand how precious this is and here I am in my ninth year, playing in my second Super Bowl, and I know that I may never have this opportunity again, so I know I am doing everything possible, breaking down film, watching things, doing whatever I can that way you have no regrets come Sunday.”
(on how San Francisco got pressure on Eli Manning last week) “We threw the ball 61 times, I mean we are going up against one of the best defenses in the NFL and we are out there scratching and clawing, he is a tough guy and it is going to be very important to us is making sure we take care of Eli.”
(on how Eli is a leader for this football team) “I think most importantly is attitude and how he approaches the game. I have never been around anybody that watches as much film, studies as many things, and has the knowledge that he does. He knows what is going on with the defensive line, stunts other things that other quarterbacks don’t pay attention to and I think that has helped him evolve his game to where it is now, like I said, his blitz recognition, his audibles, he is able to adjust the line blocking, getting his wide receivers on the same page, that credit goes to Eli, he is the guy that is taking the time out of it. He is the guy that was leading all the wide receivers during the lockout time doing all those work outs. And for us that confidence was always there because we knew he was selling out, and doing everything he could to be the best quarterback out on the field and we are the guys that see that, and see the even keeled guy that when things are going well he has the same demeanor. But when he means to ratchet it up, his leadership role has stepped up tremendously, and when he says something, people believe it because it is coming from the heart.
(on being happy Eli is getting national respect now) “Absolutely, because he deserves it and earned it. It wasn’t given to him, and everybody knows how tough it is to have that last name in New York City. He has never let that bother him and he has made sure he does his work and prepares. He has earned everything he has got.”
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