Super Bowl XLIV – Tuesday, February 2, 2010
QUOTES FROM INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PRESS CONFERENCE
WR REGGIE WAYNE
(On whether Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in history) “I don’t know. That’s up to you all. The only thing I can do is help build that foundation. He’s definitely one of the best, in my mind. He puts in so much heart and hard work and preparation. He just wants to be a winner and whenever you have a quarterback that wants to win and do whatever it takes to win, you want him on your team. So I’ll let you all decide if he’s the best and what his legacy is but I guarantee you if we win Sunday it would make it a lot easier for the critics to say who is.”
(On how many Super Bowls he wants to win) “The more the merrier. One thing about winning one is that you have to figure out a way to win another. It’s kind of like tattoos, it gets a little contagious after a while. In this case, two is better than one, and after you get this one, three is better than two. It never stops. It works for infinity, so hopefully we can get this job done because we understand it’s not easy.”
(On whether he has talked to his former University of Miami teammates that are on the Saints) “I haven’t talked to them yet. I’m sure I’m going to get a lot from them soon, but those are my brothers at arms and I’m looking forward to playing against them this Sunday. May the best team win.”
(On what has changed without WR Marvin Harrison) “It has changed, simply because now more attention is keyed on me. Now I’m seeing a lot more double coverage. I guess the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Every receiver wants to be the No. 1, but it comes with a lot of heartache, I must say. But I learned a lot from him and hopefully I can take that with me in this game on Sunday.”
(On the Saints defense) “They’re a scrappy bunch. They play with a lot of intensity. Those guys seem like they always find a knack for punching the ball out and creating turnovers. A lot of that is on momentum with the offense. The offense really gets those guys fired up, so you really have to do a good job of disguising coverages, changing things around. Hopefully we can do what we’ve been doing, and that’s make plays. The more plays we can make with them doing all the disguising, hopefully that can keep them sane a little bit and we can go from there.”
(On if he’s still a Saints fan) “Deep down inside I’m still a Saints fan. Growing up in New Orleans, it’s like you really have no choice. I’ve seen a lot of brown paper bags in my lifetime and just to see those guys where they are today is just outstanding, the things that they’re doing for that city. A lot of times, coming home from church with my mom and sitting down with my dad, the game was blacked out and we had to listen to the game on the radio. I’ve seen Bobby Heber, I’ve seen John Fourcade. I’ve seen so many names come through there. I remember Saturday night, getting ready for the game, wanting to see Eric Martin have a big game. So I’m a huge fan of the Saints. I always have been. It’s going to be tough to take that away from them, but just to see what those guys are doing this year and the years prior to this, keeping that city together, keeping that city on the map, it’s outstanding.”
(On the Saints having no experience of playing in the Super Bowl) “It’s been three years for us, so I guess you could say we don’t have much experience either, so that’s the beauty of it. With this game, it changes. No never know who’s going to be there, so when you do get the opportunity to be there, you have to take advantage of it and hopefully it works out to your advantage.”
(On his mentors) “I’ve got plenty of them. To be honest with you, my mentor at UM [University of Miami] is now the receivers coach for the Saints. He was my receiver coach in college, Curtis Johnson. He’s taught me a lot. He’s pretty much taught me everything I know and I’ll do my best to not let him down.”
(On the Colts’ rookies) “They’ve been big for us. They’ve been stepping up to the plate all year, making things happen. They work so hard. They want to do well. Every time you see them in meetings, they’re taking notes and doing whatever it takes to be good. That’s all you can ask for, guys that take the time out of their busy schedule and put all the focus into watching film and going on the field and making things happen. They’ve showed up for us. One thing about them is they’ve been pretty healthy all year and they’ve been able to have an opportunity to make thing happen, so we’re going to need them one more time this year. They’ve been playing big for us. After like Week 6, we told them you’re not a rookie anymore. You got your feet wet and we’re going to need you to really focus in on the task at hand and make things happen and they’ve done that all year.”
(On WR Pierre Garcon playing well despite the earthquake in Haiti) “I think that goes to show you that even in the midst of what was going on that he’s able to focus in and still play football. That’s an opportunity for him to get away from all of that stuff. You know it’s hard on him. He’s doing a good job of just maintaining and staying focused and hopefully we can be there for him at the end. We felt like if we go ahead and get this job done Sunday, then it will be a lift off his shoulders.”
(On many of his friends and family being Saints fans) “Unfortunately, that’s kind of how it is. I got a lot of ticket requests, but I’ve got to do it. I’ve got to go to work. This is how I find out who my real friends are, but it’s going to be fun. I’m glad it is this way, so a lot of my friends who don’t get a chance to see me much on TV can see me play, and at the same time, see their favorite team play. They have to make a decision. There’s no going into the game wearing a half Saints jersey, half Colts jersey. I want to see either/or.”
(On whether there are any distractions this week) “The only distraction I see is that we’ve got the guys that haven’t had this experience yet. We’ve got a young team, so we’ve got to get those guys to understand that this is a business trip, not a vacation. Hopefully we can just continue to instill in their system that Miami is going to be Miami. It will always be the same way. You’ll be even a bigger rock star if you win this game.”
(On if he’s looking forward to the game) “I am. I really feel like it’s going to be a good one for me. I’m playing a childhood team, playing in my own backyard from school. Looking at the crystal ball, it looks really bright for me.”
(On if he would root for the Saints to win the Super Bowl if the Colts weren’t in it) “Whenever I’m not in the Super Bowl, it really doesn’t matter. I do want them to win. I probably would go for the Saints. I feel like they deserve it. I really do. This is the only time of the whole year I felt like they didn’t deserve it, but those guys have done a great job putting that city together, giving everybody something to be happy about. They do a great job in the community, getting everybody together and going out and lending a hand to help out everybody. Maybe next year, or the year after that, or whenever I retire.”
(On the keys for the offense on Sunday) “Turnovers are always key. Normally the team that has the most turnovers is the team that loses. We understand that you have to take care of the ball, no matter what the situation is. You want to score as much as possible, as fast as possible and just hope that you don’t lose that turnover battle.”
(On the best part of Super Bowl XLI) “Winning. Winning, winning, winning. That was the beauty of it. It was two weeks of a bunch of media. I remember after the game was over, I’m celebrating with my teammates and it’s 15 minutes after the game and I’m still seeing Chicago Bears walking off the field. That’s a feeling that you understand is not easy to handle, so the best way to not experience that is to win the game. That’s what our focus is and hopefully we can get it done.”
martes, 2 de febrero de 2010
PRESS CONFERENCE COLTS - TE DALLAS CLARK - Ingles
Super Bowl XLIV – Tuesday, February 2, 2010
QUOTES FROM INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PRESS CONFERENCE
TE DALLAS CLARK
(on the tight end position) “The thing about being a tight end, you can line up in a lot of different positions, you can do a lot of different things, especially in this offense. I can be in the backfield. I can be out wide and try to act like a receiver sometimes and be in with the big guys (offensive line) and try to block big defensive ends. I just love the versatility of the position and being able to do different things. Each week you do different things and that’s what I enjoy the most about the position.”
(on the evolution of the tight end position) “It’s changed a lot, even before I got here. The position has gone in a direction where it has given people like me – I’m not 270 (pounds) or a glorified tackle. It’s one of those things that gives a guy like me who probably can’t block every play. I’m not going to be blowing any defensive end off the line of scrimmage or driving anyone back. It just gives us a chance to give the offense a different option and defenses and different thing to try to defend.”
(on how the tight end position has changed) “It’s been accelerated even before I got here. (Antonio) Gates and (Tony) Gonzalez really opened up the gates. Jason Witten and the guys have done a good job of taking advantage of an opportunity. Offensive coordinators have done a great job of trying to utilize tight ends. The last few years, tight ends’ productivity has gone up a lot. Offenses are trying to incorporate them as much as possible, especially when you have guys like Gonzales and Gates. Those guys have done a great job of helping their offense with another weapon.”
(on whether he has improved on blocking) “It’s gotten better. It’s a consistent improvement. I’m trying to get as good as I can get.”
(on using good technique to play the tight end position) “That’s one of the things we harp on as a team and at the position. A guy like me – I have to have good techniques and fundamentals because I’m not bigger than any guy out there. You have to use that a lot. It’s a constant challenge, but it’s a good challenge to have.”
(on what he remembers about facing the Dolphins earlier this season) “A lot has happened since then. We have gone through a lot of different changes as a team. We’ve experienced a lot of things as a team. That’s what we needed to do. We needed to grow and mature as a team and get that bond. Week two was way too early to have any idea of what the team was made of and what we were about. We learned a lot about ourselves. We had a lot of close games. We had games where we had to come back. We had games that the defense won for us, that the offense won for us, specials teams. Everyone contributed. That’s what’s special about this team. The fact that we’ve been able to win different ways has been an important season by having to depend on everyone. We weren’t banking on one phase to win games. We had everyone contributing. That’s a solid thing.
(on whether anything is different this year as opposed to the last time the Colts were in the Super Bowl) “Nothing really, I think our maturity level is higher. Going to the hotel, it’s not new anymore. We’ve done this. It’s been a real easy transition from going to working out in Indy then coming down here – being in the same hotel and pretty much doing the same thing. It’s been a real nice transition. Last time we came down here everything was new. Having experienced this, you adapt a little bit easier. It definitely helps the guys who have been here. Hopefully the rookies, Pierre (Garcon) and Austin (Collie) take this all in because this is what it’s about. It’s a special day.”
(on what he likes about Super Bowl week) “Take it day-by-day and enjoy every event and every little thing, but don’t get too involved with it. Take it for what it’s worth and keep focused on the game and your job. The more you can do that the better.”
(on wide receiver Austin Collie) “It’s one of those things that each year it is going to be something new for him. He has done a good job of taking every new experience and situation as a true professional. Both him and Pierre (Garcon) have done a great job of having a huge playoff game and staying humble, aggressive and wanting to learn more and get better. The great thing about those guys is that they know that they don’t have it figured out. They’re still learning. That’s a sign of a good, humble athlete that’s going to keep working hard, not let the attention get to them and think that they’ve arrived and that they can take a couple of days off. They’re still hungry and trying to get better as a player.”
(on how much he has to be aware of Saints safety Darren Sharper) “He has a good nose for the ball. He is a physical player. A lot of those guys back there have done a great job of finding the ball. When they have a chance to make a play, they’ve made it. They’ve done a great job for the defense to make plays. Those are the biggest things that you have to pay attention to. You have to fight like crazy to get open. They are good physical coverage guys and they definitely know how to cause pressure.”
(on the chemistry of the Colts and the overall organization) “It’s a lot of things. It’s a good chemistry of a bunch of great guys. Everyone in the locker room gets along. Everyone is a phenomenal teammate. Everyone has the right focus, the frame of mind and goals in life. When you combine all of that with competitive and athletic players, it’s been a good chemistry. The guys have done a great job of trying to improve every day. Collectively, we’ve been getting better as a team. Mix that with coaches who have been around and seen any and everything. They know each other really well. You can go even higher with coach (Jim) Caldwell and our owner Mr. (Jim) Irsay, everyone is on the same page and is there for the same purpose. It’s a really good chemistry that we have. The players have done a great job. The leaders have done a great job of leading. The young guys have done a great job of learning their role as a player.”
(on head coach Jim Caldwell) “Coach Caldwell is a very strong Christian. It’s one of those things that Coach (Tony) Dungy had more opportunities to express his faith, but Coach Caldwell has done a great job of continuing that within the team.”
(on whether teams are shying away from running the ball) “Teams strive for balance. The most successful team is the team that can beat you both ways. Passing is more glorified, but sometimes those five yard runs are just as effective as 30 yard runs. There are different ways to move the ball. New Orleans offense can be effective running the ball as easily as passing it. They’re more of a threat than a one dimensional team. The more you can be multi-dimensional as an offense the tougher you are for defenses.”
(on the Colts offense lacking a balance) “We don’t run the ball as well as we throw the ball, but we run the ball good enough that it makes defenses have to respect us. You have to respect (running backs) Joe (Joseph) Addai and Donald Brown. Those guys have done a phenomenal job. They’re not getting the carries that other (running) backs on some other teams are getting. The chances they get, they’re getting a first down, they’re running hard, they’re hitting defenders and being physical backs and doing everything the team has called them to do.”
(on former Colts running back Edgerrin James being an honorary captain for the AFC title game) “That was the first time that we’ve seen him. He’s been down here with his family. It was phenomenal to see him. He is such an important part of this team. He has done so much for the organization and is such a great guy. For him to come back and be a captain, it meant a lot to the guys in the locker room and especially Indianapolis. Everyone was excited to see him. He’s a true professional. He did so many great things for the city of Indianapolis.”
(on this year’s media day) “We’re inside, but it’s a very similar environment – the craziness of all the questions. Experiencing it a few years ago makes it a little bit easier. Last time it was pretty impressive to see all those people. Once you see it once you kind of get used to it. The shock factor has gone down a little bit experiencing it the second time.”
(on whether he enjoys Media Day) “It’s fun, as long as you don’t have to talk about Peyton (Manning) all the time. Obviously that’s one of the popular questions, but this is what you have to enjoy. It’s crazy. All these people here for us and New Orleans. It’s part of this week-long process that makes this week a special week.”
(on playing his second Super Bowl in Miami) “It’s a great place to have this event. It’s a beautiful stadium and beautiful weather, minus the rain. It’s very similar. Hopefully everything will be the same, minus the rain. It’s been a great place to come back to.”
(on Head Coach Jim Caldwell’s first year as a head coach) “I think he did a great job of sitting back, when he got the job, and seeing things that worked and things that he wanted to change. He didn’t come in and clean the closet and say, ‘This is how I’m going to do things. This is how things are going to be run.’ He did a great job of tweaking this here and there. We had success the past few years so he didn’t really want to go crazy and change a lot of things. He did a great job of changing a few things here and there. He made it an easier transition of a new coach for the players. That was the most important part. The guys have done a great job of cooperating and meeting him halfway. It’s one of the best transitions possible, if you’re going to change the head coach.”
(on how his role changes) “It changes in different ways. For the Jets game we were hoping to run a few more routes, but I ended up blocking a lot of the game. A lot of things change as the game continues as we figure out how teams try to defend us. We can go in with a certain game plan, thinking we’re going to do this or feature this, and then all of a sudden teams do this or have a little wrinkle and we have to adjust. You never know. Hopefully we don’t have to adjust so I have to protect more, but you never know.”
(on whether he can see himself with eight-plus catches on Sunday) “That would be nice. I would enjoy that, but we just see what they do and adjust from there. We see what kind of game they want it to be.”
(on his purpose in life) “To have an impact on people and have a positive influence on as many people as possible.”
(on Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon) “They’ve had a huge impact and have done a great job of handling the complexity of the offense. They have handled the pressure of stepping in and making plays. They’ve done a great job of that all year. It’s impressive to see that from young players because it takes a couple of years to feel comfortable. The good thing about them is that they know they have a lot more to learn and a lot more to feel comfortable with, but they’ve done a great job of handling every situation and adapting the offense. It’s special to see them having a huge game as a playoff game. They fully deserve that for all the hard work they put in.”
(on whether he babies Collie and Garcon) “I wouldn’t say ‘baby.’ I don’t think they would respect that word too much, but mentor and help out a little bit. (Wide receiver) Reggie (Wayne) has done a phenomenal job with those guys and has helped them with questions. Any questions that they come to ask us, we’re going to be there to help because we’re teammates. The more they get it, the quicker they respond, the better they’ll be. Everyone has done a great job of expecting a lot out of them. In return they have done a lot.”
QUOTES FROM INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PRESS CONFERENCE
TE DALLAS CLARK
(on the tight end position) “The thing about being a tight end, you can line up in a lot of different positions, you can do a lot of different things, especially in this offense. I can be in the backfield. I can be out wide and try to act like a receiver sometimes and be in with the big guys (offensive line) and try to block big defensive ends. I just love the versatility of the position and being able to do different things. Each week you do different things and that’s what I enjoy the most about the position.”
(on the evolution of the tight end position) “It’s changed a lot, even before I got here. The position has gone in a direction where it has given people like me – I’m not 270 (pounds) or a glorified tackle. It’s one of those things that gives a guy like me who probably can’t block every play. I’m not going to be blowing any defensive end off the line of scrimmage or driving anyone back. It just gives us a chance to give the offense a different option and defenses and different thing to try to defend.”
(on how the tight end position has changed) “It’s been accelerated even before I got here. (Antonio) Gates and (Tony) Gonzalez really opened up the gates. Jason Witten and the guys have done a good job of taking advantage of an opportunity. Offensive coordinators have done a great job of trying to utilize tight ends. The last few years, tight ends’ productivity has gone up a lot. Offenses are trying to incorporate them as much as possible, especially when you have guys like Gonzales and Gates. Those guys have done a great job of helping their offense with another weapon.”
(on whether he has improved on blocking) “It’s gotten better. It’s a consistent improvement. I’m trying to get as good as I can get.”
(on using good technique to play the tight end position) “That’s one of the things we harp on as a team and at the position. A guy like me – I have to have good techniques and fundamentals because I’m not bigger than any guy out there. You have to use that a lot. It’s a constant challenge, but it’s a good challenge to have.”
(on what he remembers about facing the Dolphins earlier this season) “A lot has happened since then. We have gone through a lot of different changes as a team. We’ve experienced a lot of things as a team. That’s what we needed to do. We needed to grow and mature as a team and get that bond. Week two was way too early to have any idea of what the team was made of and what we were about. We learned a lot about ourselves. We had a lot of close games. We had games where we had to come back. We had games that the defense won for us, that the offense won for us, specials teams. Everyone contributed. That’s what’s special about this team. The fact that we’ve been able to win different ways has been an important season by having to depend on everyone. We weren’t banking on one phase to win games. We had everyone contributing. That’s a solid thing.
(on whether anything is different this year as opposed to the last time the Colts were in the Super Bowl) “Nothing really, I think our maturity level is higher. Going to the hotel, it’s not new anymore. We’ve done this. It’s been a real easy transition from going to working out in Indy then coming down here – being in the same hotel and pretty much doing the same thing. It’s been a real nice transition. Last time we came down here everything was new. Having experienced this, you adapt a little bit easier. It definitely helps the guys who have been here. Hopefully the rookies, Pierre (Garcon) and Austin (Collie) take this all in because this is what it’s about. It’s a special day.”
(on what he likes about Super Bowl week) “Take it day-by-day and enjoy every event and every little thing, but don’t get too involved with it. Take it for what it’s worth and keep focused on the game and your job. The more you can do that the better.”
(on wide receiver Austin Collie) “It’s one of those things that each year it is going to be something new for him. He has done a good job of taking every new experience and situation as a true professional. Both him and Pierre (Garcon) have done a great job of having a huge playoff game and staying humble, aggressive and wanting to learn more and get better. The great thing about those guys is that they know that they don’t have it figured out. They’re still learning. That’s a sign of a good, humble athlete that’s going to keep working hard, not let the attention get to them and think that they’ve arrived and that they can take a couple of days off. They’re still hungry and trying to get better as a player.”
(on how much he has to be aware of Saints safety Darren Sharper) “He has a good nose for the ball. He is a physical player. A lot of those guys back there have done a great job of finding the ball. When they have a chance to make a play, they’ve made it. They’ve done a great job for the defense to make plays. Those are the biggest things that you have to pay attention to. You have to fight like crazy to get open. They are good physical coverage guys and they definitely know how to cause pressure.”
(on the chemistry of the Colts and the overall organization) “It’s a lot of things. It’s a good chemistry of a bunch of great guys. Everyone in the locker room gets along. Everyone is a phenomenal teammate. Everyone has the right focus, the frame of mind and goals in life. When you combine all of that with competitive and athletic players, it’s been a good chemistry. The guys have done a great job of trying to improve every day. Collectively, we’ve been getting better as a team. Mix that with coaches who have been around and seen any and everything. They know each other really well. You can go even higher with coach (Jim) Caldwell and our owner Mr. (Jim) Irsay, everyone is on the same page and is there for the same purpose. It’s a really good chemistry that we have. The players have done a great job. The leaders have done a great job of leading. The young guys have done a great job of learning their role as a player.”
(on head coach Jim Caldwell) “Coach Caldwell is a very strong Christian. It’s one of those things that Coach (Tony) Dungy had more opportunities to express his faith, but Coach Caldwell has done a great job of continuing that within the team.”
(on whether teams are shying away from running the ball) “Teams strive for balance. The most successful team is the team that can beat you both ways. Passing is more glorified, but sometimes those five yard runs are just as effective as 30 yard runs. There are different ways to move the ball. New Orleans offense can be effective running the ball as easily as passing it. They’re more of a threat than a one dimensional team. The more you can be multi-dimensional as an offense the tougher you are for defenses.”
(on the Colts offense lacking a balance) “We don’t run the ball as well as we throw the ball, but we run the ball good enough that it makes defenses have to respect us. You have to respect (running backs) Joe (Joseph) Addai and Donald Brown. Those guys have done a phenomenal job. They’re not getting the carries that other (running) backs on some other teams are getting. The chances they get, they’re getting a first down, they’re running hard, they’re hitting defenders and being physical backs and doing everything the team has called them to do.”
(on former Colts running back Edgerrin James being an honorary captain for the AFC title game) “That was the first time that we’ve seen him. He’s been down here with his family. It was phenomenal to see him. He is such an important part of this team. He has done so much for the organization and is such a great guy. For him to come back and be a captain, it meant a lot to the guys in the locker room and especially Indianapolis. Everyone was excited to see him. He’s a true professional. He did so many great things for the city of Indianapolis.”
(on this year’s media day) “We’re inside, but it’s a very similar environment – the craziness of all the questions. Experiencing it a few years ago makes it a little bit easier. Last time it was pretty impressive to see all those people. Once you see it once you kind of get used to it. The shock factor has gone down a little bit experiencing it the second time.”
(on whether he enjoys Media Day) “It’s fun, as long as you don’t have to talk about Peyton (Manning) all the time. Obviously that’s one of the popular questions, but this is what you have to enjoy. It’s crazy. All these people here for us and New Orleans. It’s part of this week-long process that makes this week a special week.”
(on playing his second Super Bowl in Miami) “It’s a great place to have this event. It’s a beautiful stadium and beautiful weather, minus the rain. It’s very similar. Hopefully everything will be the same, minus the rain. It’s been a great place to come back to.”
(on Head Coach Jim Caldwell’s first year as a head coach) “I think he did a great job of sitting back, when he got the job, and seeing things that worked and things that he wanted to change. He didn’t come in and clean the closet and say, ‘This is how I’m going to do things. This is how things are going to be run.’ He did a great job of tweaking this here and there. We had success the past few years so he didn’t really want to go crazy and change a lot of things. He did a great job of changing a few things here and there. He made it an easier transition of a new coach for the players. That was the most important part. The guys have done a great job of cooperating and meeting him halfway. It’s one of the best transitions possible, if you’re going to change the head coach.”
(on how his role changes) “It changes in different ways. For the Jets game we were hoping to run a few more routes, but I ended up blocking a lot of the game. A lot of things change as the game continues as we figure out how teams try to defend us. We can go in with a certain game plan, thinking we’re going to do this or feature this, and then all of a sudden teams do this or have a little wrinkle and we have to adjust. You never know. Hopefully we don’t have to adjust so I have to protect more, but you never know.”
(on whether he can see himself with eight-plus catches on Sunday) “That would be nice. I would enjoy that, but we just see what they do and adjust from there. We see what kind of game they want it to be.”
(on his purpose in life) “To have an impact on people and have a positive influence on as many people as possible.”
(on Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon) “They’ve had a huge impact and have done a great job of handling the complexity of the offense. They have handled the pressure of stepping in and making plays. They’ve done a great job of that all year. It’s impressive to see that from young players because it takes a couple of years to feel comfortable. The good thing about them is that they know they have a lot more to learn and a lot more to feel comfortable with, but they’ve done a great job of handling every situation and adapting the offense. It’s special to see them having a huge game as a playoff game. They fully deserve that for all the hard work they put in.”
(on whether he babies Collie and Garcon) “I wouldn’t say ‘baby.’ I don’t think they would respect that word too much, but mentor and help out a little bit. (Wide receiver) Reggie (Wayne) has done a phenomenal job with those guys and has helped them with questions. Any questions that they come to ask us, we’re going to be there to help because we’re teammates. The more they get it, the quicker they respond, the better they’ll be. Everyone has done a great job of expecting a lot out of them. In return they have done a lot.”
PRESS CONFERENCE SAINTS - RB REGGIE BUSH - Ingles
Super Bowl XLIV – Monday, February 1, 2010
QUOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRESS CONFERENCE
RB REGGIE BUSH
(on the biggest game he has played in up until this game) “I think all the games this season were pretty big, but I would have to say the last game is the biggest I have played in. The game was so up and down. It was a rollercoaster game. Playing against Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson and that defense made it pretty big. It was a tough game for us. I think everyone who watched that game saw a hard-fought game for 60 minutes.”
(on the changes to the schedule today and arriving at the Super Bowl) “The rain put a damper on some of our plans. It rains a lot in New Orleans, too, so it is something that we are used to. I don’t think the weather is going to be too big of a deal for us. But getting here today has been a lot of fun. It is nice to get this thing on the road. We got situated in our hotel rooms so that was nice.”
(on if DE Dwight Freeney did not play this week and the impact it would have) “We have heard stories about him playing and not playing. We are just going to prepare as if he is going to play. We don’t know for sure, but it is the Super Bowl and it is all on the line. You never know what goes on in a guy’s head. You never know what they are going to do. We are going to prepare as if he is playing. He is one of their best players on defense. It starts with him and (Robert) Mathis up front on their defense. We will prepare as if both of those guys are playing, and if we get to the game and they don’t, then so be it.”
(on the how the community of New Orleans has shown appreciation for making it to the Super Bowl) “Since I have gotten to New Orleans their support level has been through the roof. They love the Saints. They are behind us. It is almost a live-and-die situation with the Saints. That is special to me. Growing up in southern California, I always heard how big football is in Texas and Florida and I never got to experience that. But coming to New Orleans is my first time experiencing something like that. It is very much appreciated. Everything we do is for the city of New Orleans.”
(on the Super Bowl coming back to New Orleans in a couple of years) “We would love nothing more than to bring a Super Bowl trophy to New Orleans. As far as the Super Bowl coming to New Orleans in 2012, it will be huge. It will be great for the city. They have been through so much down there and every time we have events like that there it just helps that city become even stronger. It is a continuing effort, not just by us, but by everyone. The people are trying to rebuild New Orleans and it is going to take a while.”
(on being a different running back now than he was a rookie) “I definitely am. I looked at the film the first time we played the Colts, and it was hard for me to watch. I just saw things I should have done better. I should have made that cut or that cut. It was just hard for me to watch. This is a learning process. This is a faster level of play. The guys are faster, smarter and stronger. I just have to continue to learn. I feel that I have learned so much already the past few years. I have dealt with injuries the last couple of years, so I have learned to deal with that. It is just a learning process. I am excited about where we are as a team and where I am at personally. I feel like we will only get better from here.”
(on the coin flip in overtime of the Conference Championship game) “That might have been the slowest coin toss I have ever seen. It took forever for that coin to come down and hit the ground. I was just praying that we won the toss. You had to be prepared for whatever the outcome may be and prepare accordingly. You didn’t know what was going to happen that game, so you didn’t want to look ahead. Winning the coin toss was a huge sigh of relief. The rules are what they are and you have to play by them.”
(on what he expects to hear from Sean Payton every day this week) “During the week he is a normal guy, but on game day he is a different person. It is almost like he is bi-polar. He is absolutely intense on game days. You don’t want to approach him because you don’t know if he is going to snap on you. That is just him.”
(on what Sean Payton has brought to his game) “He just gives me the ability to have mismatches. He creates problems for defenses every week. You cannot ask for more than that. He reminds me a lot of the offense we ran at USC. It was a wide-open offense that created a lot of mismatches, not just with me, but with Marques Colston and Devery Henderson. He gives those guys a chance to be successful on every play. Since the day he got here, you have seen an explosive offense. It is all a testament to Sean Payton.”
(on first-time organizations in the Super Bowl and their results) “It is what it is. This is a tough team we are playing against. Everyone knows what we are up against. Peyton Manning is a great quarterback. Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney and Mathis are talented players. They have so many players on their team that are talented. You can never overlook one guy. As much as everyone is talking about Peyton Manning, there are 52 other guys on that team that can beat you. Peyton is the leader of that team, but he is not their only player. We are just going to do the best we can. We are going to go in with the mentality that we can win. That is the approach we have to take. I know this is the Super Bowl and it is exciting to be here, but we still have a game to play.”
(on playing in big games in college) “I think experience in general helps you. I think coming from a program that I felt prepared me for the NFL definitely helps. These are the types of games you live for. They are the types of games you love to play in. The more experience you have the better.”
(on being drafted by the Saints and did he have any trepidation that he couldn’t win) “When I was first drafted by the Saints, I am not going to lie, I was pretty scared. I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. It was a year after Hurricane Katrina, and they didn’t even know if they were going to have a home field to play on. I didn’t know what to expect. Drew Brees called me the night I was drafted and told me he was excited to play with me. He told me how he got to play with LaDainian Tomlinson and he was looking forward to playing with me. That changed my entire view on what I was going into. It also eased my mind. I had a chance to watch Drew play when he was with the Chargers, so for a guy like Drew to call me says a lot about him. It eased my emotions about what I was getting into. Having the chance to come right in and be a difference maker for the organization is a blessing. For us to be able to change the face of this organization from Day One is a testament to the hard work we have put in, the character of the guys on this team and the coaches. You have seen that from Day One. From the first time Sean Payton, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston stepped on the field, you saw a difference. We have been trying to bring that every day since then.”
(on if the doubters disappeared after the win over New England) “I don’t know. I feel like we have not been picked to win a game all year. I feel like we have faced the criticism head on this year. I think the critics just push you to play harder. I think when we signed Mike McKenzie and he came in and helped us beat the Patriots the way we did, it spoke loudly to a lot of people across the league. It was a chance for us to show we were a legit team. I think people were straddling the fence on if we were a solid team or not because of the teams we had beaten. To beat Tom Brady, who is one of the best quarterbacks to play the game, in the fashion that we did, spoke loudly to a lot of people across the league.”
(on being able to contribute by running the ball, catching the ball and returning the ball) “I love doing them all. I like getting the ball in my hands. Why stop at just being a running back? You should try to be the best at all three of them. It gives me a chance to be more versatile. It creates mismatches for defenses. It continues to create nightmares for defensive coordinators.”
QUOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRESS CONFERENCE
RB REGGIE BUSH
(on the biggest game he has played in up until this game) “I think all the games this season were pretty big, but I would have to say the last game is the biggest I have played in. The game was so up and down. It was a rollercoaster game. Playing against Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson and that defense made it pretty big. It was a tough game for us. I think everyone who watched that game saw a hard-fought game for 60 minutes.”
(on the changes to the schedule today and arriving at the Super Bowl) “The rain put a damper on some of our plans. It rains a lot in New Orleans, too, so it is something that we are used to. I don’t think the weather is going to be too big of a deal for us. But getting here today has been a lot of fun. It is nice to get this thing on the road. We got situated in our hotel rooms so that was nice.”
(on if DE Dwight Freeney did not play this week and the impact it would have) “We have heard stories about him playing and not playing. We are just going to prepare as if he is going to play. We don’t know for sure, but it is the Super Bowl and it is all on the line. You never know what goes on in a guy’s head. You never know what they are going to do. We are going to prepare as if he is playing. He is one of their best players on defense. It starts with him and (Robert) Mathis up front on their defense. We will prepare as if both of those guys are playing, and if we get to the game and they don’t, then so be it.”
(on the how the community of New Orleans has shown appreciation for making it to the Super Bowl) “Since I have gotten to New Orleans their support level has been through the roof. They love the Saints. They are behind us. It is almost a live-and-die situation with the Saints. That is special to me. Growing up in southern California, I always heard how big football is in Texas and Florida and I never got to experience that. But coming to New Orleans is my first time experiencing something like that. It is very much appreciated. Everything we do is for the city of New Orleans.”
(on the Super Bowl coming back to New Orleans in a couple of years) “We would love nothing more than to bring a Super Bowl trophy to New Orleans. As far as the Super Bowl coming to New Orleans in 2012, it will be huge. It will be great for the city. They have been through so much down there and every time we have events like that there it just helps that city become even stronger. It is a continuing effort, not just by us, but by everyone. The people are trying to rebuild New Orleans and it is going to take a while.”
(on being a different running back now than he was a rookie) “I definitely am. I looked at the film the first time we played the Colts, and it was hard for me to watch. I just saw things I should have done better. I should have made that cut or that cut. It was just hard for me to watch. This is a learning process. This is a faster level of play. The guys are faster, smarter and stronger. I just have to continue to learn. I feel that I have learned so much already the past few years. I have dealt with injuries the last couple of years, so I have learned to deal with that. It is just a learning process. I am excited about where we are as a team and where I am at personally. I feel like we will only get better from here.”
(on the coin flip in overtime of the Conference Championship game) “That might have been the slowest coin toss I have ever seen. It took forever for that coin to come down and hit the ground. I was just praying that we won the toss. You had to be prepared for whatever the outcome may be and prepare accordingly. You didn’t know what was going to happen that game, so you didn’t want to look ahead. Winning the coin toss was a huge sigh of relief. The rules are what they are and you have to play by them.”
(on what he expects to hear from Sean Payton every day this week) “During the week he is a normal guy, but on game day he is a different person. It is almost like he is bi-polar. He is absolutely intense on game days. You don’t want to approach him because you don’t know if he is going to snap on you. That is just him.”
(on what Sean Payton has brought to his game) “He just gives me the ability to have mismatches. He creates problems for defenses every week. You cannot ask for more than that. He reminds me a lot of the offense we ran at USC. It was a wide-open offense that created a lot of mismatches, not just with me, but with Marques Colston and Devery Henderson. He gives those guys a chance to be successful on every play. Since the day he got here, you have seen an explosive offense. It is all a testament to Sean Payton.”
(on first-time organizations in the Super Bowl and their results) “It is what it is. This is a tough team we are playing against. Everyone knows what we are up against. Peyton Manning is a great quarterback. Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney and Mathis are talented players. They have so many players on their team that are talented. You can never overlook one guy. As much as everyone is talking about Peyton Manning, there are 52 other guys on that team that can beat you. Peyton is the leader of that team, but he is not their only player. We are just going to do the best we can. We are going to go in with the mentality that we can win. That is the approach we have to take. I know this is the Super Bowl and it is exciting to be here, but we still have a game to play.”
(on playing in big games in college) “I think experience in general helps you. I think coming from a program that I felt prepared me for the NFL definitely helps. These are the types of games you live for. They are the types of games you love to play in. The more experience you have the better.”
(on being drafted by the Saints and did he have any trepidation that he couldn’t win) “When I was first drafted by the Saints, I am not going to lie, I was pretty scared. I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. It was a year after Hurricane Katrina, and they didn’t even know if they were going to have a home field to play on. I didn’t know what to expect. Drew Brees called me the night I was drafted and told me he was excited to play with me. He told me how he got to play with LaDainian Tomlinson and he was looking forward to playing with me. That changed my entire view on what I was going into. It also eased my mind. I had a chance to watch Drew play when he was with the Chargers, so for a guy like Drew to call me says a lot about him. It eased my emotions about what I was getting into. Having the chance to come right in and be a difference maker for the organization is a blessing. For us to be able to change the face of this organization from Day One is a testament to the hard work we have put in, the character of the guys on this team and the coaches. You have seen that from Day One. From the first time Sean Payton, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston stepped on the field, you saw a difference. We have been trying to bring that every day since then.”
(on if the doubters disappeared after the win over New England) “I don’t know. I feel like we have not been picked to win a game all year. I feel like we have faced the criticism head on this year. I think the critics just push you to play harder. I think when we signed Mike McKenzie and he came in and helped us beat the Patriots the way we did, it spoke loudly to a lot of people across the league. It was a chance for us to show we were a legit team. I think people were straddling the fence on if we were a solid team or not because of the teams we had beaten. To beat Tom Brady, who is one of the best quarterbacks to play the game, in the fashion that we did, spoke loudly to a lot of people across the league.”
(on being able to contribute by running the ball, catching the ball and returning the ball) “I love doing them all. I like getting the ball in my hands. Why stop at just being a running back? You should try to be the best at all three of them. It gives me a chance to be more versatile. It creates mismatches for defenses. It continues to create nightmares for defensive coordinators.”
PRESS CONFERENCE SAINTS - QB DREW BREES - Ingles
Super Bowl XLIV – Monday, February 1, 2010
QUOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRESS CONFERENCE
QB DREW BREES
(on Saints Pro Bowlers greeting their team dressed as bellhops) “It was (Saints LB) Jon (Vilma)’s idea. Initially, it was just going to be Jon, but the fact that all the Pro Bowl guys were at the hotel anyways, and then we were planning on being out there to greet the team as they came in, he asked us if we’d join in. We were happy to do it.”
(on if the Pro Bowlers took ice bags to the Saints’ hotel rooms) “It didn’t go that far. It was really just the appearance of us kind of standing on the curb, waiting ready to serve.”
(on how the Super Bowl changes if Colts DE Dwight Freeney does not play due to injury) “They still will do a lot of the same things. Obviously, he is a tremendous player and one of the best, if not the best pass rusher in this league, as is the guy on the other side, (Colts DE Robert) Mathis. Really, I think their style is one that they have played for a long time. They’re getting a little bit more pressure now than they have in the past, but still it’s very much the same philosophy of ‘we’re going to get after you with our front four, we’re going to make you throw it underneath, we’re not going to give up big plays (and) we’re going to do a great job of rallying and tackling.’ Every guy on that defense is a good tackler. They know how to strip and get the ball out.”
(on avoiding making assumptions about Freeney’s status based on the Colts’ injury report) “The fact is it’s the Super Bowl. I know any player would do as much as they could to get on that field. Obviously, he’s a competitor and a guy who… We’re expecting him to play. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. Certainly, I feel like they’re coming into this game with all of their ammo.”
(on comparing the Super Bowl hype to that of the Saints’ Week 12 game against the New England Patriots) “I would draw the similarity from the type of organization we were playing then and the type of organization we’re playing now. One (similarity) is it is really a model organization. The Colts have won 12 or more games in the last seven seasons and won a Super Bowl just a few years ago. They are a perennial playoff contender, a championship contender that has a great quarterback, head coach, management and a bunch of very talented players—guys that they know how to win. They know what it takes to win, and they play disciplined football. Anytime you go up against an organization like that, a team like that, you just understand that your mistakes all of the sudden get magnified. You need to be that much more disciplined with what you’re doing, and execution becomes critical.”
(on his relationship with Saints QB Mark Brunell) “Mark has been awesome. Mark Brunell has been tremendous for me as a mentor (and) as a guy who has played a lot of football at a very high level. You’re talking about a guy who has been to three Pro Bowls (and) led those teams in Jacksonville to two AFC Championship games. He’s played in a ton of big games, big atmospheres. He’s a true professional. There are certainly a lot of things I have been able to gain from him over the last few years.”
(on competing against Colts QB Peyton Manning) “That’s exactly the trap that I’m not going to fall into, which is trying to keep up with Petyon. I know that Peyton is going to make his plays, and he is going to be Peyton. That just means that I need to be me. Certainly, this is a game that very well could be back and forth or one team could get out to a lead and then all of the sudden the other team closes the gap. I think we’ve both shown the ability to come back from big deficits. The game is always within reach no matter what the situation. It’s me and my offense against their defense and vice versa. Certainly, I have a lot of respect for Peyton and what he has been able to accomplish and what their team has been able to accomplish, but it’s not me against Petyon Manning.”
(on this Super Bowl’s impact on New Orleans considering the effects of Hurricane Katrina) “(It is important for) not only the people in New Orleans, but I think the people around the country because you do understand how much it means to that community and what they’ve been through. Our success as a team over the last four years, but especially this year, has been tremendous just in regards to giving so many of the members of that community hope and lifting their spirits. There is still a lot of work to be done there in regards to the rebuilding and the recovery post-Katrina. There are still a lot of people in some pretty dire straits. For us to be able to have the success we’re having, it just does so much for that community as far as bringing everyone together. There’s a bond that we have with our fans—between our organization and our fans—that’s truly special. This has been, obviously, a storybook season for all of us—a 13-0 start (and) a lot of firsts. (It was) our first time to host an NFC Championship game (and the) first Super Bowl appearance in the 42-year history of the organization, so we have a lot to play for. We don’t look at it as extra pressure. We look at it as a sense of responsibility, and we really gain strength from our fans from the ‘Who Dat?’ nation (and) from the people of New Orleans, just knowing that their spirit is with us.”
(on the rainy weather affecting the Saints’ Monday itinerary) “It is what it is. ‘Weather the storm.’ We know how to do that. This (walk-through) is something that we wanted to do today. We got here early for a reason. Our team jumped right on the buses to the practice field. We got a good sweat in (and) got a good workout in. I think it has just really set the tone for us and our mindset for this week. It’s all business.”
(on Vilma’s idea to dress as bellhops helping the Saints keep their usual mentality) “You could very easily get to this week and all of the sudden want to put too much pressure on yourself and feel the pressure and the hype of the media and all that stuff. I think that’s one of Jon’s great strengths is his ability to constantly have a finger on the pulse of the team and know when it’s time to work and when it’s time to joke and have a good time. Obviously, when the guys pulled up, he thought that would be a good way to welcome everybody in, and it was.”
(on being in the Dolphins’ practice facility after considering signing with Miami as a free agent in 2006) “It’s kind of interesting, I guess. The (Dolphins’ practice) bubble wasn’t built yet, but it was under construction, so it’s not like I set foot in there. Just kind of walking around the facility and the weight room, obviously, to get in here brought back the memories of that free-agency period back in 2006, which was really a defining moment in my career and probably my life just the way that things worked out. Obviously, I’m where I belong.”
(on serving as a leader in the New Orleans community) “I know that I have been blessed with a lot of opportunities in my life—the opportunity to go to a great university, Purdue University, play in the Big Ten, the opportunity I had out in San Diego and the opportunity I’ve had here in New Orleans. (I have had) so many great coaches and mentors around me. I just feel like it’s a big responsibility for me. I feel like I’ve been given a platform to really make a difference in a lot of people’s lives, especially those who are less fortunate and those who might not have the opportunities otherwise. I’ve embraced the community of New Orleans just because it is a special place, and they’ve embraced me and my wife in a way that I can’t even describe. There is nothing more that I want for them than a championship.”
(on attempting passes to the back shoulder of his receivers) “It’s a simple philosophy. It’s throw it to our guy away from their guy. Just because your guy is running right next to one of their guys doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place where you can throw that ball where only your guy can get it. That’s the point of the back-shoulder throw or any throw where… Maybe it looks like a really low throw or a really high throw, but you’re taking your receiver and kind of using it to their strengths where you can throw that ball, where you know they can get it and nobody else can.”
(on his rapport with his receivers) “That takes time. That’s chemistry. That’s working at it. (Saints WR) Marques Colston and I have had four years together, and (I’ve had) the same with (Saints WR) Devery Henderson. (Saints WR) Lance Moore is in his third year. All of these guys, even (Saints TE Jeremy) Shockey, the difference from last year to this year… (There are) so many guys where you just build that rapport over time.”
(on the Saints’ offensive personnel) “We have an arsenal. We have a lot of guys who can do a lot of great things, great athletes. What we try to do within our offense is put everybody in position to succeed according to their strengths.”
(on if former Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban contacted him at 12:01 a.m. on the first morning of free agency in 2006) “He probably called me before that (laughter). The fact of the matter is I went to New Orleans and I came to Miami as free-agent possibilities. I had great visits at both places. I have a lot of respect for both organizations, but in the end I felt like New Orleans was my calling. That’s where I belonged, not only to help rebuild that organization and get it back on the right track, but also to help rebuild a community and a region and to do something special.”
(on previously mentioning that everything happens for a reason in 2006) “I do believe everything happens for a reason despite the fact that the (shoulder) injury is what caused me to leave San Diego. At the time, I was picturing myself as being the San Diego Chargers’ quarterback for my entire career. That was my dream. That was my goal at the time. For that to be kind of taken away and all of the sudden you are in limbo, (I was wondering) not only what other team am I going go to, but am I ever going to be able to play at the level that I know I can play at ever again because of this serious shoulder injury? God puts you in a position for a reason, and it goes way beyond football, I think.”
(on what continues to drive him considering all of his success) “I think you’re always driven by the opportunity to be the best. I am blessed to be able to play in this league. How many people would only dream to be able to play quarterback in the NFL and to take it one step further and have the opportunity to play for a Super Bowl Championship, a world championship, especially for a city like New Orleans and an organization like the New Orleans Saints and for a coach like (Saints Head Coach) Sean Payton and a general manager like (Saints GM) Mickey Loomis and an owner like (Saints Owner) Tom Benson, who really believed in me when nobody else did. They had as much confidence in me as I did in myself. That’s meant the world to me. I want to win it for them, just like I want to win it for all my teammates and my city.”
(on what he spoke to Manning about at the Pro Bowl) “I’ve known Peyton (Manning) for a long time since I was at Purdue and he was at Indy. I used to go to games. I went to a few games when I was at Purdue as a student. I think he was always very good to me when I was a college quarterback. To think, here we are 10 years later, and it’s gone by fast, that we’d be playing in the Super Bowl against one another, at least our teams... (It’s) pretty crazy how things work out.”
(on staying focused after not playing a game in two weeks) “From the time that we won the NFC Championship, it was kind of 24 hours of celebrating a little bit and also starting to think about what the plans were going to be like for the next two weeks and really kind of coming up with a plan and a routine and a process for last week and this week, just understanding the hype and the media and the potential distractions and all of those things and just trying to kind of manage all of those things. I talked to a lot of my mentors. I talked to a lot of former quarterbacks who have been to this game before and just got a gauge for just how I wanted to handle this week so that I could get all of my preparation in and be as ready to play and win this game as I could.”
(on Saints RB Reggie Bush’s potential) “I think the sky is the limit for Reggie Bush. I think he could continue to get a lot better and continue to… Just like any young running back in this league, there’s that time period or that learning curve where you’re just continuing to develop and continuing to learn how to be a pro and kind of honing in on your skills. Obviously, he’s one of the most talented players in the NFL, but to see him in that Arizona game have the game that was very complete—probably one of the most impressive performances since I’ve seen from him since he’s been here—I think he just needs to continue to build upon that (and) continue to fulfill his role. He can really help us win if he does that.”
QUOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRESS CONFERENCE
QB DREW BREES
(on Saints Pro Bowlers greeting their team dressed as bellhops) “It was (Saints LB) Jon (Vilma)’s idea. Initially, it was just going to be Jon, but the fact that all the Pro Bowl guys were at the hotel anyways, and then we were planning on being out there to greet the team as they came in, he asked us if we’d join in. We were happy to do it.”
(on if the Pro Bowlers took ice bags to the Saints’ hotel rooms) “It didn’t go that far. It was really just the appearance of us kind of standing on the curb, waiting ready to serve.”
(on how the Super Bowl changes if Colts DE Dwight Freeney does not play due to injury) “They still will do a lot of the same things. Obviously, he is a tremendous player and one of the best, if not the best pass rusher in this league, as is the guy on the other side, (Colts DE Robert) Mathis. Really, I think their style is one that they have played for a long time. They’re getting a little bit more pressure now than they have in the past, but still it’s very much the same philosophy of ‘we’re going to get after you with our front four, we’re going to make you throw it underneath, we’re not going to give up big plays (and) we’re going to do a great job of rallying and tackling.’ Every guy on that defense is a good tackler. They know how to strip and get the ball out.”
(on avoiding making assumptions about Freeney’s status based on the Colts’ injury report) “The fact is it’s the Super Bowl. I know any player would do as much as they could to get on that field. Obviously, he’s a competitor and a guy who… We’re expecting him to play. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. Certainly, I feel like they’re coming into this game with all of their ammo.”
(on comparing the Super Bowl hype to that of the Saints’ Week 12 game against the New England Patriots) “I would draw the similarity from the type of organization we were playing then and the type of organization we’re playing now. One (similarity) is it is really a model organization. The Colts have won 12 or more games in the last seven seasons and won a Super Bowl just a few years ago. They are a perennial playoff contender, a championship contender that has a great quarterback, head coach, management and a bunch of very talented players—guys that they know how to win. They know what it takes to win, and they play disciplined football. Anytime you go up against an organization like that, a team like that, you just understand that your mistakes all of the sudden get magnified. You need to be that much more disciplined with what you’re doing, and execution becomes critical.”
(on his relationship with Saints QB Mark Brunell) “Mark has been awesome. Mark Brunell has been tremendous for me as a mentor (and) as a guy who has played a lot of football at a very high level. You’re talking about a guy who has been to three Pro Bowls (and) led those teams in Jacksonville to two AFC Championship games. He’s played in a ton of big games, big atmospheres. He’s a true professional. There are certainly a lot of things I have been able to gain from him over the last few years.”
(on competing against Colts QB Peyton Manning) “That’s exactly the trap that I’m not going to fall into, which is trying to keep up with Petyon. I know that Peyton is going to make his plays, and he is going to be Peyton. That just means that I need to be me. Certainly, this is a game that very well could be back and forth or one team could get out to a lead and then all of the sudden the other team closes the gap. I think we’ve both shown the ability to come back from big deficits. The game is always within reach no matter what the situation. It’s me and my offense against their defense and vice versa. Certainly, I have a lot of respect for Peyton and what he has been able to accomplish and what their team has been able to accomplish, but it’s not me against Petyon Manning.”
(on this Super Bowl’s impact on New Orleans considering the effects of Hurricane Katrina) “(It is important for) not only the people in New Orleans, but I think the people around the country because you do understand how much it means to that community and what they’ve been through. Our success as a team over the last four years, but especially this year, has been tremendous just in regards to giving so many of the members of that community hope and lifting their spirits. There is still a lot of work to be done there in regards to the rebuilding and the recovery post-Katrina. There are still a lot of people in some pretty dire straits. For us to be able to have the success we’re having, it just does so much for that community as far as bringing everyone together. There’s a bond that we have with our fans—between our organization and our fans—that’s truly special. This has been, obviously, a storybook season for all of us—a 13-0 start (and) a lot of firsts. (It was) our first time to host an NFC Championship game (and the) first Super Bowl appearance in the 42-year history of the organization, so we have a lot to play for. We don’t look at it as extra pressure. We look at it as a sense of responsibility, and we really gain strength from our fans from the ‘Who Dat?’ nation (and) from the people of New Orleans, just knowing that their spirit is with us.”
(on the rainy weather affecting the Saints’ Monday itinerary) “It is what it is. ‘Weather the storm.’ We know how to do that. This (walk-through) is something that we wanted to do today. We got here early for a reason. Our team jumped right on the buses to the practice field. We got a good sweat in (and) got a good workout in. I think it has just really set the tone for us and our mindset for this week. It’s all business.”
(on Vilma’s idea to dress as bellhops helping the Saints keep their usual mentality) “You could very easily get to this week and all of the sudden want to put too much pressure on yourself and feel the pressure and the hype of the media and all that stuff. I think that’s one of Jon’s great strengths is his ability to constantly have a finger on the pulse of the team and know when it’s time to work and when it’s time to joke and have a good time. Obviously, when the guys pulled up, he thought that would be a good way to welcome everybody in, and it was.”
(on being in the Dolphins’ practice facility after considering signing with Miami as a free agent in 2006) “It’s kind of interesting, I guess. The (Dolphins’ practice) bubble wasn’t built yet, but it was under construction, so it’s not like I set foot in there. Just kind of walking around the facility and the weight room, obviously, to get in here brought back the memories of that free-agency period back in 2006, which was really a defining moment in my career and probably my life just the way that things worked out. Obviously, I’m where I belong.”
(on serving as a leader in the New Orleans community) “I know that I have been blessed with a lot of opportunities in my life—the opportunity to go to a great university, Purdue University, play in the Big Ten, the opportunity I had out in San Diego and the opportunity I’ve had here in New Orleans. (I have had) so many great coaches and mentors around me. I just feel like it’s a big responsibility for me. I feel like I’ve been given a platform to really make a difference in a lot of people’s lives, especially those who are less fortunate and those who might not have the opportunities otherwise. I’ve embraced the community of New Orleans just because it is a special place, and they’ve embraced me and my wife in a way that I can’t even describe. There is nothing more that I want for them than a championship.”
(on attempting passes to the back shoulder of his receivers) “It’s a simple philosophy. It’s throw it to our guy away from their guy. Just because your guy is running right next to one of their guys doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place where you can throw that ball where only your guy can get it. That’s the point of the back-shoulder throw or any throw where… Maybe it looks like a really low throw or a really high throw, but you’re taking your receiver and kind of using it to their strengths where you can throw that ball, where you know they can get it and nobody else can.”
(on his rapport with his receivers) “That takes time. That’s chemistry. That’s working at it. (Saints WR) Marques Colston and I have had four years together, and (I’ve had) the same with (Saints WR) Devery Henderson. (Saints WR) Lance Moore is in his third year. All of these guys, even (Saints TE Jeremy) Shockey, the difference from last year to this year… (There are) so many guys where you just build that rapport over time.”
(on the Saints’ offensive personnel) “We have an arsenal. We have a lot of guys who can do a lot of great things, great athletes. What we try to do within our offense is put everybody in position to succeed according to their strengths.”
(on if former Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban contacted him at 12:01 a.m. on the first morning of free agency in 2006) “He probably called me before that (laughter). The fact of the matter is I went to New Orleans and I came to Miami as free-agent possibilities. I had great visits at both places. I have a lot of respect for both organizations, but in the end I felt like New Orleans was my calling. That’s where I belonged, not only to help rebuild that organization and get it back on the right track, but also to help rebuild a community and a region and to do something special.”
(on previously mentioning that everything happens for a reason in 2006) “I do believe everything happens for a reason despite the fact that the (shoulder) injury is what caused me to leave San Diego. At the time, I was picturing myself as being the San Diego Chargers’ quarterback for my entire career. That was my dream. That was my goal at the time. For that to be kind of taken away and all of the sudden you are in limbo, (I was wondering) not only what other team am I going go to, but am I ever going to be able to play at the level that I know I can play at ever again because of this serious shoulder injury? God puts you in a position for a reason, and it goes way beyond football, I think.”
(on what continues to drive him considering all of his success) “I think you’re always driven by the opportunity to be the best. I am blessed to be able to play in this league. How many people would only dream to be able to play quarterback in the NFL and to take it one step further and have the opportunity to play for a Super Bowl Championship, a world championship, especially for a city like New Orleans and an organization like the New Orleans Saints and for a coach like (Saints Head Coach) Sean Payton and a general manager like (Saints GM) Mickey Loomis and an owner like (Saints Owner) Tom Benson, who really believed in me when nobody else did. They had as much confidence in me as I did in myself. That’s meant the world to me. I want to win it for them, just like I want to win it for all my teammates and my city.”
(on what he spoke to Manning about at the Pro Bowl) “I’ve known Peyton (Manning) for a long time since I was at Purdue and he was at Indy. I used to go to games. I went to a few games when I was at Purdue as a student. I think he was always very good to me when I was a college quarterback. To think, here we are 10 years later, and it’s gone by fast, that we’d be playing in the Super Bowl against one another, at least our teams... (It’s) pretty crazy how things work out.”
(on staying focused after not playing a game in two weeks) “From the time that we won the NFC Championship, it was kind of 24 hours of celebrating a little bit and also starting to think about what the plans were going to be like for the next two weeks and really kind of coming up with a plan and a routine and a process for last week and this week, just understanding the hype and the media and the potential distractions and all of those things and just trying to kind of manage all of those things. I talked to a lot of my mentors. I talked to a lot of former quarterbacks who have been to this game before and just got a gauge for just how I wanted to handle this week so that I could get all of my preparation in and be as ready to play and win this game as I could.”
(on Saints RB Reggie Bush’s potential) “I think the sky is the limit for Reggie Bush. I think he could continue to get a lot better and continue to… Just like any young running back in this league, there’s that time period or that learning curve where you’re just continuing to develop and continuing to learn how to be a pro and kind of honing in on your skills. Obviously, he’s one of the most talented players in the NFL, but to see him in that Arizona game have the game that was very complete—probably one of the most impressive performances since I’ve seen from him since he’s been here—I think he just needs to continue to build upon that (and) continue to fulfill his role. He can really help us win if he does that.”
PRESS CONFERENCE SAINTS - HEAD COACH SEAN PAYTON - ingles
Super Bowl XLIV – Monday, February 1, 2010
QUOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRESS CONFERENCE
HEAD COACH SEAN PAYTON
(Opening statement) “We just had a real brief practice. We came up here to the indoor facility, and got some good work in. Tomorrow will be Media Day for our guys, and then we will get into our routine on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and a walkthrough on Saturday. I think the schedule and the practice times have been posted.”
(on how the Saints’ day went) “Today went pretty smooth. The flight coming here wasn’t pretty long. We were able to get everyone into the hotel and get over to the University of Miami’s locker room to get the lay of the land. Guys got changed there, and we bused up here to get our practice in. We wanted to get a workout in today. We felt that was important. Overall, it went pretty good.”
(on how the club’s travel logistics went) “Actually, it was pretty smooth. When you get the itinerary down and the players are adaptable, it just involved us busing up here to practice. We knew going in this week that this would be the rain plan. The weather forecast for the balance of the week, after tomorrow, is pretty good, so these fields will dry up well. It was good that we had the (Dolphins’ indoor) bubble to use today.”
(on if the Saints will use the Dolphins’ indoor facility again) “The league has a schedule for both teams in the event of rain. This provides you the ability to practice and get your work done.”
(on how injury to DE Dwight Freeney affects the Saints game plan) “I wouldn’t be able to comment on a potential injury to someone on the other team. The focus for us is just getting a good week’s work done, and I wouldn’t want to speculate.”
(on taking the New Orleans job after working with both the Giants and Cowboys that have a lot of history) “In the early stages, what’s important is the message and the time spent with (General Manager) Mickey Loomis and ownership in regards to their commitment level. When you take over and get a new job, more often than not, it’s because they’ve had trouble in the past. I think what’s important is trying to quickly identify what’s kept the team from being successful. I’ve said this before, it’s also important to be able to identify who is having success. You’ve heard me talk about the Patriots, and paying close attention in our industry to organizations or teams like New England, and really studying closely the reason they were successful. It’s pretty good business practice to do that. You start with the team aspect of it, of trying to get players who put the team ahead of their own accomplishments, their own itineraries. That’s easier said than done. With that being said, that’s where we started in 2006 in trying to build this the right way. In the beginning, it had a lot to do with the people in the interview process, of feeling confident that there was a willingness to take the steps needed, the commitment needed to be successful. You trust your gut that way, and you start working.”
(on the Saints’ Pro Bowl players dressing as bellhops when the team arrived at the hotel) “We had a group of players come down early. The Pro Bowl players came down yesterday for last night’s game, and the league did a real good job of working through the logistics and getting the players there. It’s unique in that they’re arriving ahead of the team. You never lose track of the job you have. For about a half-hour today, those Pro Bowl players earned some pretty good tips with our players getting off the bus and handling the luggage. They did a good job. We’re always one to steal a pretty good idea. I think Bill Walsh a long time ago had a pretty good idea, and we just took it like one of his offensive plays and ran with it.”
(on what he identified from Anthony Hargrove from the DVD he sent out) “I think it started with the face-to-face interview. People in all walks of life, at times, can hit rock bottom or maybe exhaust their opportunities. There is part of us that wants to make sure you give someone a second chance, and it starts with evaluating the sincerity of someone eye-to-eye and having the belief or having the same confidence in that person that you would want for him to have in himself. Starting with the visit and laying out the structure for him, what we would expect and our expectation level. To his credit, daily he lives that. Daily he recognizes this opportunity. When that happens, there’s more of a reward or gratification in what you do than the second-round pick who comes into the league. In other words, it’s a good story, and it gives you confidence in the human spirit and what someone can change in their life despite the mistakes they’ve made prior. It’s easy to be proud of a guy like that. He’s had to battle and fight, and I think it’s a good message.”
(on what makes Drew Brees such an ideal person for the Saints and how much he means to the community) “He is an unselfish player. He’s extremely committed to his line of work. It’s hard in a 15-minute press conference to talk about his work ethic and the way he prepares. For the fans, the persons who live and eat New Orleans Saints football, for them to have someone like that as the quarterback of their team, who is also very talented, a very good athlete and very successful, they appreciate that, and they respect that. There is a combination of character and toughness, hard work and athleticism. All of those things that would draw somebody to a player like Drew Brees, and I think it’s unique.”
(on relationship between Drew Brees and Mark Brunell, and what was the Saints’ thinking in signing Brunell) “The one thing we were looking for was someone who could still play. It’s one thing to say that we want to have a mentor, and yet our job as coaches is to make sure we are providing that. So it started with the question: Do we feel like we have a vision for the player in Mark Brunell? We felt like his arm strength was still solid. There is a confidence level about him in the huddle and in practice that is somewhat contagious. That’s a good trait to have when you are someone who could be called upon at any time. Outside of the evaluation process, the other things were things we felt good about. He has been someone who has been a key figure on this team and has a key role. He still works and prepares just like you would expect for any one of your players each week. I had to get over the fact he was left-handed – there are some twists that go along with that. Behind him, we have a young guy named Chase Daniel, who is intriguing and has done some good things. We have a pretty good mixture of some experience as well as youth. It came down to skill set first in regards to Mark. We looked closely at it, and we were able to get him signed. He’s provided us leadership in regards to that, even as a No. 2.”
(on if they will bring back Brunell next season) “Next year seems like five years from now.”
(on if he’s concerned that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ comments have become bulletin-board material) “No. Listen, I paid close attention to what was said. I think that I said this last week: Given the nature of Super Bowl week, I think that one of the first things you try to do defensively is try to hurry the quarterback, pressure the quarterback or disrupt the timing of the quarterback. I think it’s fairly common sense with defensive football. In looking at it, I don’t really pay much attention to that.”
(on if he uses that example to tell players that they have to be careful in what they say) “Any more, the regular season provides that as well as the Super Bowl. In other words, the weekly media availability, the weekly press conferences, divisional round, NFC championship round, Super Bowl – this game is covered more than ever before. I think the players and coaches understand that – how to conduct themselves and to be humble. Certainly when you look at a team like Indianapolis, who we are getting ready to play, we have all of the respect in the world for what they have accomplished. As the season was unfolding, this was a team along with us, that hadn’t lost a game. Each week, whether they fell behind and came back and won, or whether they jumped out to a lead and won, you really measure the body of work. You look at what they’ve accomplished, and it’s been rare. It’s unique, and it provides a great challenge for us this weekend.”
(on how much he has changed the playbook each season) “Each year takes on a shape of its own based on your personnel. If you go back in 2006, we had players like Terrance Copper and Jamal Jones. They were receivers you wouldn’t be able to pull up right now. Each year based on what you are seeing in the offseason and in training camp, you evolve with your personnel. It’s important as anything to have flexibility as a coach to really look at who you have and who gives you the best chance to move the football. Deuce (McAllister) played extremely well in 2006, and I thought we played a pretty good brand of complimentary football offensively and defensively, and had success. In 2007 and 2008, we were not as successful, and this year we found more balance in the running game, and we are doing a better job of taking the ball away on defense. It’s just important to pay attention to the parts. In a guy like Robert Meachem’s development after he was selected and his emergence, those are all things. Some guys, it happens quicker, and with other guys, maybe it takes a little more time. You want to have some flexibility in regards to what you are asking those guys to do based on who is doing it.”
(on if he thinks having common opponents with the Colts, like the Jets, Patriots and Dolphins, help at all with this week) “I don’t know if that’s real significant. I do think it’s fair to say that having a full season of tape study and being able to reference formations, how they played offense against certain teams, all of that goes into a good game plan. The common-opponent aspect of it, I don’t know if it is as important. In other words, most importantly are looking closely at the cut-ups. When teams get to this point in time, all of us have tendencies and things that you do well. Just because you are now at this stage, or this portion of the season, the mistake sometimes is trying to change too much. There is a reason you’ve had success, and I think it’s important in this type of atmosphere that you give your players the things they do well and the things they are able to draw on in a game like this.”
QUOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRESS CONFERENCE
HEAD COACH SEAN PAYTON
(Opening statement) “We just had a real brief practice. We came up here to the indoor facility, and got some good work in. Tomorrow will be Media Day for our guys, and then we will get into our routine on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and a walkthrough on Saturday. I think the schedule and the practice times have been posted.”
(on how the Saints’ day went) “Today went pretty smooth. The flight coming here wasn’t pretty long. We were able to get everyone into the hotel and get over to the University of Miami’s locker room to get the lay of the land. Guys got changed there, and we bused up here to get our practice in. We wanted to get a workout in today. We felt that was important. Overall, it went pretty good.”
(on how the club’s travel logistics went) “Actually, it was pretty smooth. When you get the itinerary down and the players are adaptable, it just involved us busing up here to practice. We knew going in this week that this would be the rain plan. The weather forecast for the balance of the week, after tomorrow, is pretty good, so these fields will dry up well. It was good that we had the (Dolphins’ indoor) bubble to use today.”
(on if the Saints will use the Dolphins’ indoor facility again) “The league has a schedule for both teams in the event of rain. This provides you the ability to practice and get your work done.”
(on how injury to DE Dwight Freeney affects the Saints game plan) “I wouldn’t be able to comment on a potential injury to someone on the other team. The focus for us is just getting a good week’s work done, and I wouldn’t want to speculate.”
(on taking the New Orleans job after working with both the Giants and Cowboys that have a lot of history) “In the early stages, what’s important is the message and the time spent with (General Manager) Mickey Loomis and ownership in regards to their commitment level. When you take over and get a new job, more often than not, it’s because they’ve had trouble in the past. I think what’s important is trying to quickly identify what’s kept the team from being successful. I’ve said this before, it’s also important to be able to identify who is having success. You’ve heard me talk about the Patriots, and paying close attention in our industry to organizations or teams like New England, and really studying closely the reason they were successful. It’s pretty good business practice to do that. You start with the team aspect of it, of trying to get players who put the team ahead of their own accomplishments, their own itineraries. That’s easier said than done. With that being said, that’s where we started in 2006 in trying to build this the right way. In the beginning, it had a lot to do with the people in the interview process, of feeling confident that there was a willingness to take the steps needed, the commitment needed to be successful. You trust your gut that way, and you start working.”
(on the Saints’ Pro Bowl players dressing as bellhops when the team arrived at the hotel) “We had a group of players come down early. The Pro Bowl players came down yesterday for last night’s game, and the league did a real good job of working through the logistics and getting the players there. It’s unique in that they’re arriving ahead of the team. You never lose track of the job you have. For about a half-hour today, those Pro Bowl players earned some pretty good tips with our players getting off the bus and handling the luggage. They did a good job. We’re always one to steal a pretty good idea. I think Bill Walsh a long time ago had a pretty good idea, and we just took it like one of his offensive plays and ran with it.”
(on what he identified from Anthony Hargrove from the DVD he sent out) “I think it started with the face-to-face interview. People in all walks of life, at times, can hit rock bottom or maybe exhaust their opportunities. There is part of us that wants to make sure you give someone a second chance, and it starts with evaluating the sincerity of someone eye-to-eye and having the belief or having the same confidence in that person that you would want for him to have in himself. Starting with the visit and laying out the structure for him, what we would expect and our expectation level. To his credit, daily he lives that. Daily he recognizes this opportunity. When that happens, there’s more of a reward or gratification in what you do than the second-round pick who comes into the league. In other words, it’s a good story, and it gives you confidence in the human spirit and what someone can change in their life despite the mistakes they’ve made prior. It’s easy to be proud of a guy like that. He’s had to battle and fight, and I think it’s a good message.”
(on what makes Drew Brees such an ideal person for the Saints and how much he means to the community) “He is an unselfish player. He’s extremely committed to his line of work. It’s hard in a 15-minute press conference to talk about his work ethic and the way he prepares. For the fans, the persons who live and eat New Orleans Saints football, for them to have someone like that as the quarterback of their team, who is also very talented, a very good athlete and very successful, they appreciate that, and they respect that. There is a combination of character and toughness, hard work and athleticism. All of those things that would draw somebody to a player like Drew Brees, and I think it’s unique.”
(on relationship between Drew Brees and Mark Brunell, and what was the Saints’ thinking in signing Brunell) “The one thing we were looking for was someone who could still play. It’s one thing to say that we want to have a mentor, and yet our job as coaches is to make sure we are providing that. So it started with the question: Do we feel like we have a vision for the player in Mark Brunell? We felt like his arm strength was still solid. There is a confidence level about him in the huddle and in practice that is somewhat contagious. That’s a good trait to have when you are someone who could be called upon at any time. Outside of the evaluation process, the other things were things we felt good about. He has been someone who has been a key figure on this team and has a key role. He still works and prepares just like you would expect for any one of your players each week. I had to get over the fact he was left-handed – there are some twists that go along with that. Behind him, we have a young guy named Chase Daniel, who is intriguing and has done some good things. We have a pretty good mixture of some experience as well as youth. It came down to skill set first in regards to Mark. We looked closely at it, and we were able to get him signed. He’s provided us leadership in regards to that, even as a No. 2.”
(on if they will bring back Brunell next season) “Next year seems like five years from now.”
(on if he’s concerned that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ comments have become bulletin-board material) “No. Listen, I paid close attention to what was said. I think that I said this last week: Given the nature of Super Bowl week, I think that one of the first things you try to do defensively is try to hurry the quarterback, pressure the quarterback or disrupt the timing of the quarterback. I think it’s fairly common sense with defensive football. In looking at it, I don’t really pay much attention to that.”
(on if he uses that example to tell players that they have to be careful in what they say) “Any more, the regular season provides that as well as the Super Bowl. In other words, the weekly media availability, the weekly press conferences, divisional round, NFC championship round, Super Bowl – this game is covered more than ever before. I think the players and coaches understand that – how to conduct themselves and to be humble. Certainly when you look at a team like Indianapolis, who we are getting ready to play, we have all of the respect in the world for what they have accomplished. As the season was unfolding, this was a team along with us, that hadn’t lost a game. Each week, whether they fell behind and came back and won, or whether they jumped out to a lead and won, you really measure the body of work. You look at what they’ve accomplished, and it’s been rare. It’s unique, and it provides a great challenge for us this weekend.”
(on how much he has changed the playbook each season) “Each year takes on a shape of its own based on your personnel. If you go back in 2006, we had players like Terrance Copper and Jamal Jones. They were receivers you wouldn’t be able to pull up right now. Each year based on what you are seeing in the offseason and in training camp, you evolve with your personnel. It’s important as anything to have flexibility as a coach to really look at who you have and who gives you the best chance to move the football. Deuce (McAllister) played extremely well in 2006, and I thought we played a pretty good brand of complimentary football offensively and defensively, and had success. In 2007 and 2008, we were not as successful, and this year we found more balance in the running game, and we are doing a better job of taking the ball away on defense. It’s just important to pay attention to the parts. In a guy like Robert Meachem’s development after he was selected and his emergence, those are all things. Some guys, it happens quicker, and with other guys, maybe it takes a little more time. You want to have some flexibility in regards to what you are asking those guys to do based on who is doing it.”
(on if he thinks having common opponents with the Colts, like the Jets, Patriots and Dolphins, help at all with this week) “I don’t know if that’s real significant. I do think it’s fair to say that having a full season of tape study and being able to reference formations, how they played offense against certain teams, all of that goes into a good game plan. The common-opponent aspect of it, I don’t know if it is as important. In other words, most importantly are looking closely at the cut-ups. When teams get to this point in time, all of us have tendencies and things that you do well. Just because you are now at this stage, or this portion of the season, the mistake sometimes is trying to change too much. There is a reason you’ve had success, and I think it’s important in this type of atmosphere that you give your players the things they do well and the things they are able to draw on in a game like this.”
PRESS CONFERENCE COLTS - RB JOSEPH ADDAI - ingles
Super Bowl XLIV – Tuesday, February 1, 2010
QUOTES FROM INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PRESS CONFERENCE
RB JOSEPH ADDAI
(on the Saints’ comment about hitting Peyton Manning and getting into his head) “I haven’t heard it, so I really don’t know. With us, regardless of who’s playing, it’s really about what we can do. That’s what’s been the biggest key as far as us winning this year. It’s what we can do, how can we play different guys. It’s not about how we can adjust to them, it’s always about us. Always giving credit to the other team, because they do play hard. As far as the comment, I can’t really make any comment on that because I haven’t heard it.”
(on why Manning is so good at avoiding the rush) “Peyton has been doing it for a long time. It comes with experience, I think [he’s in] his twelfth season. I’ve been able to play with him for four years, and each year he’s been able to get that much smarter. It’s more of a feel thing in football. It’s not too much thinking, and that’s what Peyton’s been doing.”
(on the success of the running game against the Jets last week) “It’s always good when you get the running game going so you don’t always have to rely on the pass. Whenever [the] coaches call our number - when I say our, I mean the running back group, we do pretty well as far as answering it. You have a great player in Peyton Manning, so you want him to make a lot of decisions. He does a great job of making a lot of good decisions. It comes down to trying to get that ‘W,’ and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
(on how he handles the criticism of the running game as the starting running back) “I’m human, but at the same time, you have a chance every Sunday to go prove yourself. Do I feel like I bring something to the table? Yes, I feel like I bring something to the table. Numbers? The numbers are not where we want them, but I think when we do run the ball, we do have a good chance of making yardage or making something happen. That’s kind of how I look at it.”
(on if the Jets’ blitzing style allowed for the run game to be more successful last week) “ Not only with the Jets, but I think all year, we really just take advantage of what they give us. It’s just about taking what they give us. I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing. Me, Donald [Brown], Mike [Hart], Chad [Simpson], all of us have been taking advantage when we do get those opportunities. I feel like we will need the running game in this game coming up. It’s a huge game and we know they will bring their ‘A’ game, so we’ll be on top of our keys as far as running the ball.”
(on if he can imagine the team without offensive line coach Howard Mudd) “I haven’t looked that far, honestly. I know what Howard Mudd brings to the table, but I haven’t honestly looked that far. Right now we’re obviously focused on the Super Bowl, and that’s what we’re trying to win. When we get that far ahead, I think we kind of lose focus. Not having him, he would be missed because he brings a lot to the offensive line.”
(on what it would mean for the team to send Mudd out with a win) “Not only him, we want to play hard for all of the coaches. He’s been a guy, when he played, he played well. When he coached, he coached his guys well. This being his last game, you want to send him out the right way by going hard out there in the game, so I think regardless, it will still be the same each week. Stay with the game plan, but understand that we want to send our coach out with a bang.”
(on the difference between this Super Bowl and his first one three years ago) “I really can’t say, this is the first day down here. In [20]06, that was a long season, I was a rookie that time. This time, I’m older and it’s going faster. I think as you get older in life, things start going fast and you start to understand the concepts of it. Now, the first day here, today [compared to the] first day four years ago, I feel like I’m more comfortable right now.”
(on if he feels the running game doesn’t get the respect it deserves because of the dominance of the passing game) “I don’t know. It’s really how you look at it. If you just watch the game, and you say, ‘that’s a nice run, that’s a nice run,’ but you look on paper and you see something different. It’s really how you look at it and what we have to work with. Like I was saying earlier, you have a great player in Peyton Manning, so you want him to make a lot of decisions, and he does a great job. It always comes down to getting that ‘W,’ and that’s what we’ve been doing all year.”
(on the Saints defense’s ability to force turnovers and strip the ball) “If you watch the Saints all year, that’s what they try to do, get the ball out, knock the ball out. As far as us, we’re just trying to be aware, but not trying to change too many things. I think if we start focusing on one small part of the game, it throws us off. I think we’ve been doing a great job as far as protecting the ball and not giving the ball to the opponents. If we just understand what they bring to the table, then we’ll be fine. Not trying to press, not trying to make more things happen than usual.”
(on the importance of TE Dallas Clark to the offense) “Dallas is a team player. As good as he is, he’s a team player. He practices the way he plays in games. Just having him blocking, even him running routes, you have a lot of defenses scared of that, so it can open up the run game. You have to look at it in so many ways. Dallas is a valuable player, he’s a threat on offense. I think he brings a lot to the table.”
(on if he is staying in the same hotel room at the hotel a she did three years ago) “No I’m not. Last time, I was next to Cato [June], with the little door that you could open inside [the adjoining room]. I don’t have that door this time, so I’m not in the same room.”
(on if the game feels like a road trip, as the Colts played at Miami earlier in the season and at the same site for the Super Bowl in 2006) “It seems like it, but I know a lot of guys from the Saints have been to Miami before too [they played in Miami earlier this season], so I won’t say we have an advantage [just] because we played here in 2006. I feel like we don’t have to get used to what’s going on. I feel like that wouldn’t give us a edge as far as the game.”
(on if his stellar performance in the 2006 can carry over to this game) “Not really. That was ’06, that’s over with. The time that I’ll really talk about ’06 is when I retire. Regardless of what happened in ’06, if we lose this, we’ll feel bad. As far as ’06, yeah we won it, but I want another one. Me myself, I won’t think about it until I’m done with football.”
(on if it was difficult to get used to Manning’s audibles) “Honestly, I think him doing all that is easier than him being in the huddle, because when he gets in the huddle, he gives you about two or three plays that you have to remember. When he just calls out plays, there’s only one play. If you can understand that part, you have the play rather than try to get this long sentence. It’s a little bit easier as far as if you can get the gist of what’s going on, you’ll be fine.”
(on how much Manning actually changes the play, and how often he is bluffing) “95% of the time, it’s real, 95% of the time.”
(on how much pass protection he has done this year as compared to previous seasons) “I think more now. I remember one game where I probably had to block a linebacker 13 times or something. I think that’s one of my strengths. I won’t say I like it, but I think I do that pretty well. Like it or not, I don’t want to hit those guys, they’re too big [laughter]. This year I feel like I did more. I don’t complain about it, it’s just part of the game.”
(on playing in his second Super Bowl in four seasons) “I’m really blessed. I’m happy about it because a lot of people don’t get a chance. A lot of people go through their career and don’t get tot play in one Super Bowl, and me, I get a chance to play in my second Super Bowl. I’m happy about the situation that we’re in. Regardless, it’s still another game, that’s how we’re looking at it. We have a lot of distractions, we have a lot going on, but we still have a game, so we still, have to go out there and do what we’ve been doing.”
QUOTES FROM INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PRESS CONFERENCE
RB JOSEPH ADDAI
(on the Saints’ comment about hitting Peyton Manning and getting into his head) “I haven’t heard it, so I really don’t know. With us, regardless of who’s playing, it’s really about what we can do. That’s what’s been the biggest key as far as us winning this year. It’s what we can do, how can we play different guys. It’s not about how we can adjust to them, it’s always about us. Always giving credit to the other team, because they do play hard. As far as the comment, I can’t really make any comment on that because I haven’t heard it.”
(on why Manning is so good at avoiding the rush) “Peyton has been doing it for a long time. It comes with experience, I think [he’s in] his twelfth season. I’ve been able to play with him for four years, and each year he’s been able to get that much smarter. It’s more of a feel thing in football. It’s not too much thinking, and that’s what Peyton’s been doing.”
(on the success of the running game against the Jets last week) “It’s always good when you get the running game going so you don’t always have to rely on the pass. Whenever [the] coaches call our number - when I say our, I mean the running back group, we do pretty well as far as answering it. You have a great player in Peyton Manning, so you want him to make a lot of decisions. He does a great job of making a lot of good decisions. It comes down to trying to get that ‘W,’ and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
(on how he handles the criticism of the running game as the starting running back) “I’m human, but at the same time, you have a chance every Sunday to go prove yourself. Do I feel like I bring something to the table? Yes, I feel like I bring something to the table. Numbers? The numbers are not where we want them, but I think when we do run the ball, we do have a good chance of making yardage or making something happen. That’s kind of how I look at it.”
(on if the Jets’ blitzing style allowed for the run game to be more successful last week) “ Not only with the Jets, but I think all year, we really just take advantage of what they give us. It’s just about taking what they give us. I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing. Me, Donald [Brown], Mike [Hart], Chad [Simpson], all of us have been taking advantage when we do get those opportunities. I feel like we will need the running game in this game coming up. It’s a huge game and we know they will bring their ‘A’ game, so we’ll be on top of our keys as far as running the ball.”
(on if he can imagine the team without offensive line coach Howard Mudd) “I haven’t looked that far, honestly. I know what Howard Mudd brings to the table, but I haven’t honestly looked that far. Right now we’re obviously focused on the Super Bowl, and that’s what we’re trying to win. When we get that far ahead, I think we kind of lose focus. Not having him, he would be missed because he brings a lot to the offensive line.”
(on what it would mean for the team to send Mudd out with a win) “Not only him, we want to play hard for all of the coaches. He’s been a guy, when he played, he played well. When he coached, he coached his guys well. This being his last game, you want to send him out the right way by going hard out there in the game, so I think regardless, it will still be the same each week. Stay with the game plan, but understand that we want to send our coach out with a bang.”
(on the difference between this Super Bowl and his first one three years ago) “I really can’t say, this is the first day down here. In [20]06, that was a long season, I was a rookie that time. This time, I’m older and it’s going faster. I think as you get older in life, things start going fast and you start to understand the concepts of it. Now, the first day here, today [compared to the] first day four years ago, I feel like I’m more comfortable right now.”
(on if he feels the running game doesn’t get the respect it deserves because of the dominance of the passing game) “I don’t know. It’s really how you look at it. If you just watch the game, and you say, ‘that’s a nice run, that’s a nice run,’ but you look on paper and you see something different. It’s really how you look at it and what we have to work with. Like I was saying earlier, you have a great player in Peyton Manning, so you want him to make a lot of decisions, and he does a great job. It always comes down to getting that ‘W,’ and that’s what we’ve been doing all year.”
(on the Saints defense’s ability to force turnovers and strip the ball) “If you watch the Saints all year, that’s what they try to do, get the ball out, knock the ball out. As far as us, we’re just trying to be aware, but not trying to change too many things. I think if we start focusing on one small part of the game, it throws us off. I think we’ve been doing a great job as far as protecting the ball and not giving the ball to the opponents. If we just understand what they bring to the table, then we’ll be fine. Not trying to press, not trying to make more things happen than usual.”
(on the importance of TE Dallas Clark to the offense) “Dallas is a team player. As good as he is, he’s a team player. He practices the way he plays in games. Just having him blocking, even him running routes, you have a lot of defenses scared of that, so it can open up the run game. You have to look at it in so many ways. Dallas is a valuable player, he’s a threat on offense. I think he brings a lot to the table.”
(on if he is staying in the same hotel room at the hotel a she did three years ago) “No I’m not. Last time, I was next to Cato [June], with the little door that you could open inside [the adjoining room]. I don’t have that door this time, so I’m not in the same room.”
(on if the game feels like a road trip, as the Colts played at Miami earlier in the season and at the same site for the Super Bowl in 2006) “It seems like it, but I know a lot of guys from the Saints have been to Miami before too [they played in Miami earlier this season], so I won’t say we have an advantage [just] because we played here in 2006. I feel like we don’t have to get used to what’s going on. I feel like that wouldn’t give us a edge as far as the game.”
(on if his stellar performance in the 2006 can carry over to this game) “Not really. That was ’06, that’s over with. The time that I’ll really talk about ’06 is when I retire. Regardless of what happened in ’06, if we lose this, we’ll feel bad. As far as ’06, yeah we won it, but I want another one. Me myself, I won’t think about it until I’m done with football.”
(on if it was difficult to get used to Manning’s audibles) “Honestly, I think him doing all that is easier than him being in the huddle, because when he gets in the huddle, he gives you about two or three plays that you have to remember. When he just calls out plays, there’s only one play. If you can understand that part, you have the play rather than try to get this long sentence. It’s a little bit easier as far as if you can get the gist of what’s going on, you’ll be fine.”
(on how much Manning actually changes the play, and how often he is bluffing) “95% of the time, it’s real, 95% of the time.”
(on how much pass protection he has done this year as compared to previous seasons) “I think more now. I remember one game where I probably had to block a linebacker 13 times or something. I think that’s one of my strengths. I won’t say I like it, but I think I do that pretty well. Like it or not, I don’t want to hit those guys, they’re too big [laughter]. This year I feel like I did more. I don’t complain about it, it’s just part of the game.”
(on playing in his second Super Bowl in four seasons) “I’m really blessed. I’m happy about it because a lot of people don’t get a chance. A lot of people go through their career and don’t get tot play in one Super Bowl, and me, I get a chance to play in my second Super Bowl. I’m happy about the situation that we’re in. Regardless, it’s still another game, that’s how we’re looking at it. We have a lot of distractions, we have a lot going on, but we still have a game, so we still, have to go out there and do what we’ve been doing.”
PRESS CONFERENCE COLTS - QB PEYTON MANNING - Ingles
Super Bowl XLIV – Monday, February 1, 2010
QUOTES FROM INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PRESS CONFERENCE
QB PEYTON MANNING
(on developing an offensive rhythm with new wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie) “Well those guys have done a great job improving throughout the season and they have had a lot of help. Our receivers Coach Clyde Christensen has done a great job developing those players. Reggie Wayne’s been an excellent veteran leader for them in the wide receivers room. Those guys, as individuals, have improved. Pierre, I think, utilized his year last year, kind of a redshirt year if you will, and got comfortable with the offense, so he was ready to go when called upon this year. And Austin, for a rookie, utilized his time in mini camps and in our summer school sessions and training camp and was ready to play. But you never know how a guy is going to respond when the lights come on. Both those guys just have a confident look in their eyes. The game has never appeared too big for them, never overwhelmed them. And certainly the timing that I have with those guys has improved through the season through repetition.”
(on the difficulty for those receivers in learning the offense) “Well I think repetitions and experience have become your best teacher. The fact that those guys were starters and playing a ton of snaps, really started with Week 2 after Anthony Gonzalez was injured. That has just paid great dividends for them.”
(on his admiration for what Brees has meant to the New Orleans community) “What Drew, and really the entire Saints team have meant to that community, has been extremely impressive. Being a fellow New Orleanian, I certainly appreciate it. Eli appreciates that. Eli and I both give back, charity-wise to New Orleans. The players that live there, guys that aren’t from there, Drew’s from Texas, other players from all over the United States, that they now play for the Saints have adopted that city as their hometown. Those guys do a lot of things for that city, a lot of community activities. Sean Payton is great that way. You certainly appreciate that, people kind of adopting a city as their hometown, putting their monies and efforts behind it. Drew has spearheaded that. Has been the leader of that team on the field and off the field and I certainly appreciate that. And certainly the city of New Orleans appreciates it.”
(on being a student of the game and what in-game adjustments he makes between possessions) “Well the one thing, since we don’t huddle on the field, we are a no huddle offense, we have to use that time on the sidelines to communicate. And really what I try to do is gain information from Reggie and Pierre, Austin, Dallas, talk to them. I really think it is important for those guys to be assertive and communicate. Tell me what is going on out there. Make suggestions, and real suggestions. Not just ‘hey, I’m open. Throw it to me every time.’ Which is what most receivers say. But, ‘hey, this is a route I can beat this guy on. Don’t call this route, he is covering this one well.’ It has been healthy communication. I can’t tell you how many times we have used a conversation in the second quarter, that comes back up in the third or fourth quarter for a critical play. But you are constantly adjusting. Defenses are constantly doing different things so you better be on your toes. But the main thing is being on the same page with your wide receivers.”
(on the possibility of satisfying critics by winning a second Super Bowl) “I certainly don’t feel that way, don’t get into that. Our team is excited to be here. We certainly want to win this game. Our experience down here three years ago was a memorable one because we were fortunate to win the game. We feel fortunate to be back in this game. I have the same excitement that I had three years ago and just feel fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to play. Your question had a lot of “I’s” phrased in it. I really think of it as a “we.” This is our opportunity to be here as a team. And I feel fortunate to have a number of guys on my team that you would love to go into any type of battle or game with. That is kind of my approach to it and I am sticking with that.”
(on having so many things be the same for the Colts on this Super Bowl trip) “The same weather it certainly appears to be true. I don’t know what that is, the Colts bringing rain down to Miami. People have asked does this give you an advantage staying at the same hotel or practicing at the same field. I certainly don’t think it does. I don’t think staying in the same hotel helps you stop Drew Brees’ offense or figure out where Darren Sharper is going to be. It still has a different feel. It is a new year because we have a new team, we have a new head coach. We have a number of new players. There are 25 guys that were on our team three years ago. Because we are so young, it makes the older guys like myself and Jeff Saturday get excited about being down here. This is not a bad place to have to come back three years later for a Super Bowl. It is a great venue, great football history here, so we are proud to be a part of it. That is kind of how we look at it. We are excited.”
(on not traveling with the team today to Miami) “I think like we have done all year, we have dealt with circumstances in a positive way. We were told what the expectations were for coming to the Pro Bowl. I got to fly on a private plane with six of my best friends and teammates. We had Ruth Chris Steakhouse food on the plane, took a private escort right into Miami, shook a few hands, had to wave, did one interview and made $45,000. I can think of some worse things to put yourself through. I will say, if it was just one guy, if it was just Jeff alone or Reggie by himself, I don’t think that guy would have. The fact that we were together, we felt like we had a team. We got to eat dinner after that. We enjoyed it, made it a positive. But we are glad everybody is here now and we are ready to go.”
(on if winning a second Super Bowl makes the Colts a dynasty) “I don’t view it that way. I don’t analyze it that way. I really analyze it kind of like the previous question, on a year-to-year basis and on a team basis. I have certainly enjoyed this season, playing on this particular team. As I mentioned, so many young players. We got a new head coach. It is exciting to learn more about him as a head coach in a leadership role throughout the season. We are hoping to finish off this season on a high note and make this team a special team. It is a different team than three years ago. It is a different team than last year. I think that is how football is today with the draft, with free agents. Every team has its own unique identity as this team does. It has been a fun ride so far this year.”
(on his initial reaction to New Orleans Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams’ comments last week) “I don’t have one. I didn’t hear it. I guess I have been playing long enough that I don’t have any reaction to a comment like that.”
(on if the Colts offense is itself when Dwight Freeney does not play) “I certainly am not ready to speculate on his situation. I am very hopeful that he will play. Dwight is a guy I have great confidence in since he has been here. He has special characteristics about him and I am counting on those this week. I think in order to win this game, if we are going to have a chance, it has got to be a team effort. Both offense, defense. Special teams have to do their job. We always feel as an offense, responsible and accountable to do our job. You hope Freeney and (Robert) Mathis make a play or Gary (Brackett) or Kelvin Hayden make a play. But at the same time we know we are on offense and we can control what we can control and that will be our philosophy on Sunday against just an excellent New Orleans Saints team.
(on the possibility of the game being a shootout if Freeney does not play) “I don’t know if it would be exciting for me because certainly when you watch the New Orleans Saints’ defense on film all year, one of the things you do notice is the scoreboard. You see every change of possession, you see the New Orleans Saints with seven more points, seven more points. It is not the best feeling and you understand just how explosive their offense can be. I think you have to be careful trying to get out of your rhythm in order to keep up with them. You still have to go play offense the way we have played all year, trying to be efficient. We have been excellent on third down. Been good in the redzone. Those things will be important this year. And for the most part we have protected the ball which might be the most important factor in this game. Like I said, I am not ready to do these ‘what if a guy can’t play’ questions at this point, but I do know that we are going to have to score points in this game if we are going to have a chance to win. But it is a tough task because their defense is unbelievably active. If there is a tipped ball, the ball is going to go in their hands, it is not going to hit the ground. They are around the ball.”
QUOTES FROM INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PRESS CONFERENCE
QB PEYTON MANNING
(on developing an offensive rhythm with new wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie) “Well those guys have done a great job improving throughout the season and they have had a lot of help. Our receivers Coach Clyde Christensen has done a great job developing those players. Reggie Wayne’s been an excellent veteran leader for them in the wide receivers room. Those guys, as individuals, have improved. Pierre, I think, utilized his year last year, kind of a redshirt year if you will, and got comfortable with the offense, so he was ready to go when called upon this year. And Austin, for a rookie, utilized his time in mini camps and in our summer school sessions and training camp and was ready to play. But you never know how a guy is going to respond when the lights come on. Both those guys just have a confident look in their eyes. The game has never appeared too big for them, never overwhelmed them. And certainly the timing that I have with those guys has improved through the season through repetition.”
(on the difficulty for those receivers in learning the offense) “Well I think repetitions and experience have become your best teacher. The fact that those guys were starters and playing a ton of snaps, really started with Week 2 after Anthony Gonzalez was injured. That has just paid great dividends for them.”
(on his admiration for what Brees has meant to the New Orleans community) “What Drew, and really the entire Saints team have meant to that community, has been extremely impressive. Being a fellow New Orleanian, I certainly appreciate it. Eli appreciates that. Eli and I both give back, charity-wise to New Orleans. The players that live there, guys that aren’t from there, Drew’s from Texas, other players from all over the United States, that they now play for the Saints have adopted that city as their hometown. Those guys do a lot of things for that city, a lot of community activities. Sean Payton is great that way. You certainly appreciate that, people kind of adopting a city as their hometown, putting their monies and efforts behind it. Drew has spearheaded that. Has been the leader of that team on the field and off the field and I certainly appreciate that. And certainly the city of New Orleans appreciates it.”
(on being a student of the game and what in-game adjustments he makes between possessions) “Well the one thing, since we don’t huddle on the field, we are a no huddle offense, we have to use that time on the sidelines to communicate. And really what I try to do is gain information from Reggie and Pierre, Austin, Dallas, talk to them. I really think it is important for those guys to be assertive and communicate. Tell me what is going on out there. Make suggestions, and real suggestions. Not just ‘hey, I’m open. Throw it to me every time.’ Which is what most receivers say. But, ‘hey, this is a route I can beat this guy on. Don’t call this route, he is covering this one well.’ It has been healthy communication. I can’t tell you how many times we have used a conversation in the second quarter, that comes back up in the third or fourth quarter for a critical play. But you are constantly adjusting. Defenses are constantly doing different things so you better be on your toes. But the main thing is being on the same page with your wide receivers.”
(on the possibility of satisfying critics by winning a second Super Bowl) “I certainly don’t feel that way, don’t get into that. Our team is excited to be here. We certainly want to win this game. Our experience down here three years ago was a memorable one because we were fortunate to win the game. We feel fortunate to be back in this game. I have the same excitement that I had three years ago and just feel fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to play. Your question had a lot of “I’s” phrased in it. I really think of it as a “we.” This is our opportunity to be here as a team. And I feel fortunate to have a number of guys on my team that you would love to go into any type of battle or game with. That is kind of my approach to it and I am sticking with that.”
(on having so many things be the same for the Colts on this Super Bowl trip) “The same weather it certainly appears to be true. I don’t know what that is, the Colts bringing rain down to Miami. People have asked does this give you an advantage staying at the same hotel or practicing at the same field. I certainly don’t think it does. I don’t think staying in the same hotel helps you stop Drew Brees’ offense or figure out where Darren Sharper is going to be. It still has a different feel. It is a new year because we have a new team, we have a new head coach. We have a number of new players. There are 25 guys that were on our team three years ago. Because we are so young, it makes the older guys like myself and Jeff Saturday get excited about being down here. This is not a bad place to have to come back three years later for a Super Bowl. It is a great venue, great football history here, so we are proud to be a part of it. That is kind of how we look at it. We are excited.”
(on not traveling with the team today to Miami) “I think like we have done all year, we have dealt with circumstances in a positive way. We were told what the expectations were for coming to the Pro Bowl. I got to fly on a private plane with six of my best friends and teammates. We had Ruth Chris Steakhouse food on the plane, took a private escort right into Miami, shook a few hands, had to wave, did one interview and made $45,000. I can think of some worse things to put yourself through. I will say, if it was just one guy, if it was just Jeff alone or Reggie by himself, I don’t think that guy would have. The fact that we were together, we felt like we had a team. We got to eat dinner after that. We enjoyed it, made it a positive. But we are glad everybody is here now and we are ready to go.”
(on if winning a second Super Bowl makes the Colts a dynasty) “I don’t view it that way. I don’t analyze it that way. I really analyze it kind of like the previous question, on a year-to-year basis and on a team basis. I have certainly enjoyed this season, playing on this particular team. As I mentioned, so many young players. We got a new head coach. It is exciting to learn more about him as a head coach in a leadership role throughout the season. We are hoping to finish off this season on a high note and make this team a special team. It is a different team than three years ago. It is a different team than last year. I think that is how football is today with the draft, with free agents. Every team has its own unique identity as this team does. It has been a fun ride so far this year.”
(on his initial reaction to New Orleans Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams’ comments last week) “I don’t have one. I didn’t hear it. I guess I have been playing long enough that I don’t have any reaction to a comment like that.”
(on if the Colts offense is itself when Dwight Freeney does not play) “I certainly am not ready to speculate on his situation. I am very hopeful that he will play. Dwight is a guy I have great confidence in since he has been here. He has special characteristics about him and I am counting on those this week. I think in order to win this game, if we are going to have a chance, it has got to be a team effort. Both offense, defense. Special teams have to do their job. We always feel as an offense, responsible and accountable to do our job. You hope Freeney and (Robert) Mathis make a play or Gary (Brackett) or Kelvin Hayden make a play. But at the same time we know we are on offense and we can control what we can control and that will be our philosophy on Sunday against just an excellent New Orleans Saints team.
(on the possibility of the game being a shootout if Freeney does not play) “I don’t know if it would be exciting for me because certainly when you watch the New Orleans Saints’ defense on film all year, one of the things you do notice is the scoreboard. You see every change of possession, you see the New Orleans Saints with seven more points, seven more points. It is not the best feeling and you understand just how explosive their offense can be. I think you have to be careful trying to get out of your rhythm in order to keep up with them. You still have to go play offense the way we have played all year, trying to be efficient. We have been excellent on third down. Been good in the redzone. Those things will be important this year. And for the most part we have protected the ball which might be the most important factor in this game. Like I said, I am not ready to do these ‘what if a guy can’t play’ questions at this point, but I do know that we are going to have to score points in this game if we are going to have a chance to win. But it is a tough task because their defense is unbelievably active. If there is a tipped ball, the ball is going to go in their hands, it is not going to hit the ground. They are around the ball.”
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