After the New England Patriots beat the New York Jets last night, a few players talked about the game with the media. Here is the official transcript: (And Brady’s) Tom Brady Q: How good do you feel for Danny Amendola? It seems like he was really involved today. TB: Yeah, it was a big time play that he made there. That was a great kind of ad lib. He ran a little return route and then when he saw me scramble, broke it up field like we talk about all the time and made a great catch. Q: Scramble drill. That’s what you guys practice on Fridays. TB: Yeah, we do. And it’s one thing to practice it and then to apply it in the game, it just happens so quickly. You see the guy and boom – you squirt through and he made a phenomenal catch. Q: You guys came out and scored right away throwing to Shane Vereen. He made a pretty good catch because that ball was in the air for quite a while. TB: A long time. I threw it and then – I was like ‘Oh, he’s open’ and then the ball was just going and I said, ‘Oh my God,’ and I saw him really try to run to get it and he made a phenomenal catch. Q: Were you surprised he was that wide open? TB: Yeah, they must have blown a coverage. He was running deep and if they lose track then that’s where we’re going to throw it. Q: Without Stevan Ridley can you talk about Shane Vereen’s play tonight and how he really stepped up for you guys? TB: Yeah, he played great. Really a workhorse in all areas: he ran it, caught it, catches a long pass and then is in there trying to run it out late in the game. He was just what we needed. Q: Does it ever cease to amaze you that last year a player can get penalized for pushing a teammate on a field goal block and lose the game against the Jets in New York, and then the same player blocks a field goal the next year to beat the Jets? TB: Yeah it’s pretty ironic. Q: What are your thoughts on that? TB: Football is a great sport and you never know what you’re going to get. They’re off to a tough start this year – what are they 1-5? So now they’re 1-6. So they were 1-5 and they gave us everything we could handle. It comes down to what you put in every week and ultimately how you preform when it matters the most. They played good. They played good on offense. They played good on defense when they needed to and we didn’t – I wouldn’t say that was our – we didn’t play as well as we can. We’ll get back to work tomorrow and see what we can do better so we’re ready for Chicago. Q: What were they doing on defense? Were they dropping seven or eight most of the game to make you have to throw into tight areas? TB: I think they mixed it up pretty good. He [Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan] always does a good job of kind of spinning the dial and he did that tonight. We had some plays where we’ve got to make them to help us go a little bit, but we didn’t make them and that’s what makes it tough. And then we get into a situation where we’ve got to overcome some things late in the game. I wish we could have done better in that late, last drive to keep the defense off the field, but we’ve got to get back to work on that. Q: What happened after the quick start? It took a while to get back in sync. TB: Yeah we scored quick and then we got crushed on time of possession. We’ve got to do a better job staying on the field, making the plays, executing the plays on first down, second down, third down so we can stay on the field and keep our defense off the field. If the defense is out there as much as they were tonight, it’s going to be tough for them. We’ve got to help them out by playing a lot better offense. Q: It was a quick turnaround from Sunday to tonight, but how nice will it be to have the weekend off and some time for the body to heal and rest up a little bit? TB: Yeah we’ve played quite a few games here in a short period of time, so I think everybody will enjoy letting the body – just some of the little things – heal up. But we’re going to be grinding. It’s football season, so there’s no time off. We have a lot of things we need to do to get better and guys are going to be working hard this weekend to do those things. Q: Does it feel good to be 5-2 and play some home games coming up? TB: Yeah, I know. We started off the year 0-1, so 5-1 since is not bad considering where we’re at. Hopefully we can be a lot better. We’ve got to make the plays, got to make the improvements, got to execute it when it matters. But it feels good to be where we’re at. Q: What stopped working in the second half on offense? TB: Our execution was pretty poor, so we didn’t throw it great, we didn’t catch it great, we didn’t block great, we didn’t run it great. I think it was just bad offensive football; it’s hard to stay on the field and move it down the field and keep possession and ultimately score points. So there are a lot of things we need to better, certainly all of it would have helped. Q: Is it nice to have a little extra time here in the pocket? It seems like the offensive line has stepped up there the last few weeks. TB: Yeah, they’re doing a great job. I’ve got confidence in all those guys. They do a great job. I’ve got a lot of trust in all those guys. Q: Did you notice at all how maybe Shane Vereen and the other running backs were affected by losing Stevan Ridley and how they responded? I don’t know if you noticed it, but Shane did Ridely’s signature touchdown dance after his first score. TB: Yeah, I mean, it’s a guy in your room, it’s probably one of the guys you’re closest with on the whole team, and or him to lose someone that’s pretty close to him – Shane did and Jonas [Gray] did and Brandon Bolden did – and really a guys that’s a real leader for that group, too. Everybody has to take on some different roles with Stevan out. It’s a tough injury. Stevan will be back better than ever. If there’s one thing I know about him, it’s his mental toughness, his work ethic, how much h loves football. I know he’s going to come back stronger than ever. Danny Amendola (On returning kicks) “For me it was just trying to get involved in the game and just try to do as much as I can to create a spark and get involved in the offense. It was fun.” (On the win) “It was a good night for our whole team. We came out with a win. I almost had a heart attack at the end, but the defense came up huge with the stop and the blocked field goal. So, it was a good overall win for us.” (On if he turned completely around on his touchdown catch) “I got enough around, that’s for sure.” (On if it was satisfying to have a strong performance) “We came out on top and that’s what I’m most excited about. I’ve caught a lot of balls in a game and lost. I’ve caught a lot of balls in a game and won. I’ve caught zero balls in a game and won and zero balls in a game and lost. No matter what, to come out on top is most important. That’s when everybody is happiest and that’s when we grow as a team. We’re all excited. Good win for us.” Brandon Browner (On how the defense was able to limit the Jets’ passing game) “We’re pretty good in the passing game, but we got to fix some things in the running game. Giving up yards like that will cost us in crucial situations. We’ve got to look at the film and make these corrections.” (On playing his first regular season game as a Patriot and the rivalry with the Jets) “It was fun. It was actually fun. I was fortunate to be out there to play. Last week I had an ankle injury, so I’m just happy to be out there playing football.” (On how he felt out on the field) “I felt a little rusty. I felt like I could play better. In the first half I felt like I was pretty tired out there. I can only get better from here. We’ll look at the film and critique myself and only get better from here.” (On the penalties called against him in the secondary) “To be honest, I have to see it because I don’t think I held him on the first one and I don’t think I pushed him on the second one. He fell down and I’ve got to look at it on film. I will probably have a better answer for you after I check it out on film.” (On if there were any surprises on the field in his return to game action) “No surprises, but I was kind of tired out there, you know, I’ve got to work on my conditioning.” Jordan Devey (On if he took exception to Jets nose tackle T.J. Barnes pushing quarterback Tom Brady near the sidelines) “I don’t really remember, I’m going to have to watch the tape on that one. All I saw was Tom down, so I was trying to help him out.” (On the improvement of the offensive line over the last couple of games) “Just hard work. Everyone is working hard, trying to get better, trying to do their job better. I just think we are all on the same page. We’ve got to get better and we’re doing everything we can to do that.” (On the role offensive lineman Dan Connolly has played in the improvement of the offensive line) “He’s a leader. He’s a veteran. He’s been around the game for awhile. He’s just a leader on the offensive line and talks to us and helps us out. He’s been a great role model for all of us, especially me.” (On how much he has improved over the course of the season) “I’m still improving. Still improving and still trying to guard. It’s a long a season, as they say, so just take advantage of the practices. Take advantage of every rep we get.” Rob Gronkowski (On if you felt bad for all the adversity Danny Amendola has faced) “Definitely, but I always told him, he was going to come through, and he just has to keep working hard and stay humble and just keep rolling, keep grinding, and that’s what he does every week. He doesn’t say a word and keeps grinding, and I’m very happy for him to see him make some plays out there – very awesome.” (On if he knew Danny Amendola was a successful kickoff returner for the St. Louis Rams) “I didn’t really know that, but I saw him tonight and he was very good. He was running full speed through those holes, so he was doing a great job, so props to him.” (On if the Patriots should have pulled away from the Jets) “We got the win, that’s all that matters. They’re a good team and they got solid players and they play hard and we came away with the victory against the Jets, so it’s always great beating them, in our division especially, and it was great to come out with the victory no matter what it takes and we got the ‘W.’” (On the play of running back Shane Vereen) “It’s huge. He’s a great player and always working hard, always doing the right thing, so we always know he’s capable of making huge plays, and he made a couple big catches, two [touchdowns], and he’s very capable of going out there and being a dangerous weapon.” Chris Jones (On his overall thoughts on the game) “Honestly it’s just good to get a win. Obviously it’s always good to beat a division rival. The Jets gave us their best and we’re just glad to come out with the win.” (On his penalty last year in a similar situation vs. this year) “A few people have told me about it, so I’ve had a chance to think about it. It feels good. Like I said, that was last year and it’s just good to get a win this year. I think it really became a reality when coach Joe Judge came up and told me. I felt it then.” (On his blocked kick) “I was just trying to get as deep in the pocket as I can and get up and get my hands on it. God willing, I blocked it and that’s what happened. [Jets Kicker Nick Folk] was 50 [yards away] as far as distance, so I knew it was going to be a line drive. Like I said, I was just trying to get as deep and as high as I can. [The Jets Special Team] was pretty stout. I think it was just coming down to will at the end. We just had to see who could get the most push in the front and we ended up getting it. We just tried to rush them and get middle penetration. Obviously you have to throw your all-out block on when you’re in that situation and have the possibility of winning the game, so we have to do all that we can to block the kick.” Devin McCourty (On if the Jets’ running success was a result of Jerod Mayo’s absence) “We’ll watch it on film and after every game there’s always going to be something you can say, ‘You know it would have been better with Mayo there.’ I mean he’s one of our best players, so I think we’ll just have to watch the film and see what we can do and now focus on the guys that are out there and I’m sure, like you said, it’s not just one guy that’s being gone that hurt us in the run game. We’ll see what we got to do to fix some things – by the way they ran it today – I’m sure we’ll see some of those same plays going forward.” (On the busy schedule over the last few weeks) “We’re ready for a little break and I think what better way to go into a break, win in Sunday versus Buffalo [Bills] and then coming back and winning Thursday. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t easy, but coming into this week, we all talked about after that Buffalo win it was all about going to Buffalo and getting a win and turning the page fast and coming and getting another win, so we can go into this long weekend and be happy and be excited. It stinks going into a bye week, a long week, with a loss, so It’s good to get a win, and like I said, it’s always better to fix corrections with a win than a loss.” (Continue on for more quotes from other Patriots players) Rob Ninkovich (On Chris Jones) “He stepped up and he made up for that last year’s field goal. I think he went out there, he played well, and he got the block. It was a good way to finish the game.” (On Chris Ivory) “The guy’s a big, strong, tough back to bring down. We don’t make excuses here. Give them the credit. They played well. They had a good game plan. They were able to control the game a little bit by holding on to the ball, slow methodical drive with the running game and throwing some passes in there. Again, we’ve just got to work better on those little things and enjoy the win.” (On Geno Smith extending plays outside the pocket) “The guy is talented as far as scrambling ability. We knew that. He’s quick, he’s athletic, and he can get out of the pocket, which as a defensive end, that’s a hard part to deal with when you’re trying to get pressure on a quarterback that can either get up in the pocket or run out of the back of the pocket, and you’ve got a 310-pound guy in front of you that’s trying to hold on to you. There were definitely some times he got out, which you don’t want to have as a defensive end. But I think coming in we had a game plan to try to get some pressure on him and make him uncomfortable.” Darrelle Revis (On being a part of this rivalry on the other side) “The only thing to focus about is us getting this win today. It was a tough game for us, and it came down to the end. Good teams win these tough games like this. We stuck in there as a team and we fought strong today.” (On the rivalry bringing out the best in both teams) “Yeah, that’s what rivalries are. It doesn’t really matter what the record may be for any team. This is a historical rivalry. It’s been going on for years and years, and it’ll probably continue to keep on being a rivalry. You just never know what you’re going to get in these types of games, and they’re always tough.” (On what it’s like to see both sides of the rivalry) “It’s just football to me. It doesn’t make a difference. An away game is an away game, and a home game is a home game with a rivalry. It doesn’t matter where you play, same thing.” (On if this game was more personal) “No. A win is a win. I’m excited for this team. We’re 5-2. The main goal for us was to win this game and be first in the conference, and we accomplished that as a team.” Shane Vereen (On his thoughts on the game) “New York is a good team and that’s why it was close. We had to battle to the finish. We knew were going to have to play 60 minutes and luckily we did.” (On his first touchdown catch) “I just didn’t want that opportunity to slip by. Those are the type of breakdowns that we look for as an offense and we were able to connect.” (On Stevan Ridley’s injury) “When a brother goes down, it takes a toll on everybody, especially the running back corps [because] we’re so tight, so I just tried to play for him. I think as a whole offense, we needed to step up. You can’t replace Stevan. He’s a great player, a great runner, a great running back. I learned a lot from him and so everyone needs to step up and do their part.” (On coming off a short week) “Mentally it wasn’t too bad. It was a lot in a couple days. Physically we were able to rest and get ready to go. They had the same schedule we did, so it was pretty even.” Vince Wilfork (On tonight’s effort) “It took more than 100 percent effort tonight. We fought. It was a classic AFC game, Jets-Patriots. We knew it was going to be a grind; they knew it was going to be a grind. It’s just one of those things. Records didn’t matter; tonight it was all about playing football. Both teams gave it their all. We made a play when we needed the play at the end of the ball game. You are talking about all the way down to five seconds left in a ballgame and coming up with a play that really won the game for us with a blocked field goal. [We’re] playing well in situations, but there are some things that we can definitely do better. At the same time you can’t complain about a win, especially in the division. You can’t complain about those wins, so we are very proud to have them so let’s get that straight, but there are some things we have to do a lot better moving forward. A win is a win, I’m not going to discredit us from coming out and taking this win and having some guys come in and play some different spots that they normally don’t play or had little time to get adjusted to it with a short week and stuff, so I’m proud of this team, we fought the whole game. There were some good moments, some bad moments, and it was just up and down the whole game from their end to my end. Like I said, just a classic AFC East battle tonight and we happened to make the play when we needed it, so big play by Chris [Jones].” (On playing without Jerod Mayo) “Playing is playing. My play doesn’t change, it’s just making sure that we are on the same page and sometimes we were and sometimes we weren’t. Sometimes we tackled well, sometimes we didn’t. So, we’re going to go back and look at the film and see what the things that we did to give up over 200 yards rushing again. If I had to guess it would be a lot of missed tackles and out of position plays and one or two guys might not be where they needed to be. Things that are fixable but to be a good defense you got to be able to do those things constantly. I think we’ve made improvements, but we knew this team wanted to run the football and they ran the ball basically the whole game. You run the ball 30 or 40 times, you are going to have a little success, but at the same time there was probably some four-yarders, five-yarders, but at the same time we tackled for loss so it was some give and take but at the same time I’m very stingy when it comes down to the rush defense. That’s the one thing that I’m disappointed in [the run defense]. We will fix it, we always do and hopefully we can get this thing rolling consistently.” (On the short week) “It’ll feel good to get your body a chance to rest a little bit and take care of a few bruises and stuff like that. At the same time I think the coaching staff did a real good job with us of understanding that we were on the road a lot with short weeks and this and that. They’ve done a real good job with us but these days coming up we can really take advantage of with the extra study time at home, being off our feet and enjoying time with the families and stuff. We have to take advantage of it and do the right things and that’s taking care of your body and enjoying the time down at the same time while understanding we still have a season to play. I’m looking forward to it and like I said I’m very proud of this team the way we fought.” - Ressa
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 12:36:34 +0000
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