Projo Pats Blog

On Randy Moss’ play the last few weeks
It’s not about catches and stats. There’re times when I may only make four of five tackles, but if we win -- It’s all about wining. Coach Belichick, whether you’re a free agent, a draft pick or a guy that’s been here for five [or] eight years, he tells you [to] check your ego at the door, and that’s what Randy’s been doing.

On the pressure to win the Super Bowl
It’s a one-game season. I think you have butterflies, but I think the pressure goes away each day that you come out here, you prepare, you work hard, and you get more familiar with the New York Giants. So I think for the last eight weeks--that confidence that you’ve built with those games--you use that as confidence for the big one. I don’t feel like we feel any pressure. Not at all.

On if anyone on the team can be 100 percent healthy at this point in the year
Yeah, probably Brandon Meriweather [at] 21 years old. He’s running around like he’s 21 years old, so I think those young guys are probably 100 percent, but us old guys have got some mileage.

On if he came to New England to win a Super Bowl
I just wanted to be part of a team and I’ve said that before, to just be part of a team where the coaches wanted me, the players liked me, and I just wanted to show my ability and that was the main reason. Once I got here I understood the philosophy and I understood exactly what they were trying to accomplish, then it was easy for me to join forces because the only thing I ever wanted to do was win.

On being part of the kickoff team in the Super Bowl
It’s intense, man, because I know I‘ve been a part of that, playing on the kickoff team. You just see a million flashes and you’re just like, “Wow,” as you’re running down and, “I’m actually part of this.” I’m the same kid who watched the Chicago Bears in ’85 win the Super Bowl and I always dreamt of something like that, and the opportunity to be able to go down there and be a part of that is special.

On if he will close his eyes to avoid the flashes
No. If you close your eyes you’ll get your head knocked off.

On if the New York and Boston rivalry has intensified
Probably through the media it has. With us, it really doesn’t matter who we play. We are going to have to do what we have to do to prepare, work hard, and go out there and make plays. So I don’t think it being New York or if it was San Francisco or whatever -- It doesn’t matter. We’re just trying to do one thing and win a ball game.

On Mike Vrabel
He’s one of the brains behind the operation. [He’s] a smart, intelligent guy that just makes huge plays, makes big plays, sacks, forced fumbles. [He’s] just a tremendous leader on our team and he’s really the quarterback of our defense.

On Eli Manning
[He’s] a guy that’s composed, a guy that’s playing a heck of a lot better than what he played in the middle and the first part of the season. [He’s] a guy that just looks like a veteran quarterback, making smart decisions about turning the ball over, very accurate and just really taking the Giants offense on his shoulders and just leading them.

On advice he gives to less experience teammates
I say take care of your business here before we get on that plane and focus on one thing and that’s wining football games. You’re going to enjoy your time with your family, but parties and all the sideshows and events are not important. The only thing you want to do is focus. The worst part of the situation is going out there on Sunday and laying an egg and losing.

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