We need a deal because the competitive balance that exists in this league is directly related to the fact that we have a salary cap. For the long-term future and health of the league, it would be great to have a deal. |
We presumed after such a long time in New England and two franchise designations that they'd reach a long-term agreement and he'd go finish his career there. I don't think very many people around the league had heard anything to suggest the contrary. |
We re-signed Dominic knowing full well that he could contribute at a high level. Dominic Rhodes is our starting running back. Whoever we add is going to be a contributor. He's going to have to go through something to beat Dominic. If he beats out Dominic, we got a heck of a player. |
We traded up to get him because Tony, because we all knew what he could be, ... We all understand the blueprint now. It's not hard. It's fun. |
We'll either sign (Wayne) to a long-term deal or we'll franchise him, but he's not going anywhere. |
We're 15 weeks into a 17-week season, and nothing has been decided yet. These guys have heard me say since June that this is going 17 weeks, and that's what it's going to do. It doesn't matter what you did today. If you won, enjoy it, but then it's back to the grindstone tomorrow. That's where the AFC is at this year. |
We're not playing fantasy football here. |
We've got to find out from the powers-that-be . . . where he is with respect to the program and with respect to the progress he's made in the program. If he's made significant progress, he's a guy we'd like to have back. If he hasn't, he won't be back. |
What we've tried to do is minimize the damage (from) a system which at its core is designed to penalize good drafting teams. I think we've minimized the damage as much as we can. |
When you draft a guy and you see him develop and you watch him grow and he becomes a really good player, you clearly don't want to let him go. But that's the system. |
You need to take the emotion out of it, which I'm not quite ready to do just yet. |
You wouldn't expect a rookie to step into a team like this ... a team that has been winning big. You'd expect him to play some but not have to carry the whole load. We've been spoiled here. We see this as a two-man position now. |