Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009

Colts president Bill Polian, quoted on blogs.nfl.com addressing the fan reaction to his team pulling their starters in the second half of last Sunday's game against the Jets: "In truth I am, because I had thought we had made it very plain that 16-0 was not a goal for us. Apparently, I, and others in the organization didn't do as good a job of that as we should have. What we've said — it seems repeatedly, since Halloween almost — is that 16-0, we did not feel like was a historic achievement. What was important to us, and what we tried very hard to do on a short week against Jacksonville after we had wrapped up the home-field advantage was to set two records — one for the most consecutive regular-season games won. We were tied with New England prior to that, and we now hold that record ourselves. And secondly, for the most games won in this decade. And I don't believe that anybody can catch us now, no matter what happens this week. We felt those were extremely historical milestones that were worth going out there and risking everything for. Having achieved those two, which again are very important to us, not apparently to some of the media and some of the fans here in Indianapolis, but to us … we felt prudence, then, should dictate what we do from there on in. We've been very public, and very open with that. I'm a little surprised that people didn't register that. But obviously we didn't do a good enough job of making ourselves clear."

Eagles S Quintin Mikell is excited about the Eagles' six-game winning streak, as quoted on readingeagle.com: "I mean, obviously there's always stuff we can get better at, but you know, we're high right now. I think we feel like we can win any game and as long as we keep playing together and keep playing with fire and energy, we should hang with anybody; we can beat anybody."

Broncos CB Champ Bailey, quoted in The Denver Post discussing the first Pro Bowl nomination of teammate Elvis Dumervil: "Pro Bowl? He should be defensive player of the year. No question. That's the type of year he's had. The guy has been consistently great. It's not like he's had four sacks in this game, five sacks in this game. Every week, he's constantly in the quarterback's face."

Giants legend and Hall of Famer Harry Carson, defending the comments he made following Sunday's final game at Giants Stadium regarding a lack of pride by Giants players, as quoted on NYDailyNews.com: "I don't make any kind of personal attacks on the players, but I stand by what I said. I really didn't see a whole lot of pride. There were 78,000 people there that I think saw the same thing I saw. When you're closing up your stadium in front of your fans and a team comes in and gangster-slaps you in front of your fans, you should be angry. I didn't see that in these guys. And I was disappointed."

Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009

Bears QB Jay Cutler, quoted on TwinCities.com following his team's 36-30 overtime victory over the Vikings Monday night, in which Cutler threw four TDs: "Through all the ups and downs of this season, the tough plays, the turnovers, and the way the offense hasn't performed, this type of win is good for the team and good for morale. Going out there, putting up points, answering the bell … we had to do it."

Falcons QB Matt Ryan, discussing the importance of putting together consecutive winning seasons for the first time in franchise history, as quoted in the Sporting News: "Whether it's hard to grasp or whatever, it is what it is. We want to be the first team and we want to set it straight with the organization that we're going to have back-to-back winning seasons here and hopefully for a long time." Ryan added: "Coach Smith preaches to us all the time that there is a lot to learn week to week. I learned a lot this year and will as much against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I feel that if I can end the season a better quarterback than I started, then it will be a successful year."

Chiefs first-year head coach Todd Haley, quoted in the Sporting News describing his first season in Kansas City: "This was a very difficult transition, and it has not been easy in any way, shape or form. We're finding a little bit of an identity, and I think that's very important for players. … We've got a long ways to go, but I think there has been progress. And I think the guys feel that and they're feeling better about themselves each and every week."

Saints ORT Jon Stinchcomb, explaining the mood in the locker room after dropping the last two, as quoted on NOLA.com: "Nobody's hitting the panic button in this locker room. It's about just putting in the hard work that got us to the point that we were 13 games in and 13-0. Coming off this two-game skid, I think it tests your mettle a little bit. I know what we've got in this locker room, and the best way to rebound off that is to put in a good work week and go out against a Carolina team that's playing some really good football right now. We need to get something going heading into the playoffs. That's well understood in this locker room."

Monday, Dec. 28, 2009

Seahawks WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, quoted in the Seattle-Tacoma News comparing his current situation to his eight years in Cincinnati: "We're not putting that type of pressure on teams, and that's why I say it's different because in Cincinnati we were known for our offense. And so teams knew at any time we could make up a lead. And so they played things safe. And I don't know what we're known for here. And that's why I say it's different."

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew, disappointed after his club dropped its third game in a row, to the Patriots Sunday, making any chance at the playoffs very unlikely, as quoted in the Florida Times-Union: "I'm frustrated, angry, sad, whatever you want to call it, whatever emotions go with that, definitely it hurts. We were in the front seat for the playoffs and we fell apart. I don't understand how we as players can do that."

Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad, quoted in the Charlotte Observer when asked if QB Matt Moore has put himself in position to be the starter in 2010: "I don't see why anybody would say anything different. … He's made some really, really good throws — deep balls, crossing routes, everything the coaching staff has asked him to do."

Saints PK Garrett Hartley, explaining what went wrong on his botched 37-yard field-goal attempt as time expired Sunday that would have clinched the first seed in the NFC playoffs, as quoted on 2theadvocate.com: "I felt great going out there just to have an opportunity to help my team win another game and make us have home-field advantage in the playoffs. I kind of rushed myself a little bit and kind of hit just not a good ball in general. It was all me. The snap and the hold were great. I rushed myself, kind of picked my head up, and that was the result."

Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth, quoted in the Washington Times regarding the comments he made about defensive coordinator Greg Blache last week: "I talked to Blache, and we're all great — everything's fine. We're grown men. We can disagree. We don't hate each other. We're still the same."