I can play linebacker, that's all, ... We all have our own individual jobs to do and, right now, we all have to get better at doing them. |
I couldn't let how the team was doing affect my mindset on my rehabilitation because I sort of believe I had to take it upon myself that my rehabilitation and getting myself 100 percent healthy had to be first and foremost, before the team, in my mind, |
I couldn't let how the team was doing affect my mindset on my rehabilitation, |
I couldn't let Rodney (Harrison) getting hurt affect it. I couldn't let any type of loss affect it because what I was doing was so important to me and because there was no way I was going to be able to help them anyway if I wasn't able to perform the way I felt I was capable. |
I don't want to be a distraction, ... That's why I want to stress to you that all I am is a linebacker. There's only so much I can do. ... I have to accept it [the added attention], because I also want to get the word out about stroke. ... In the time we've been talking, someone has had a stroke. A stroke happens to someone in this country every 45 seconds. ... There is life after a stroke, and I'm getting on with my life. |
I feel I can play linebacker. That's all that I can do, ... I can't play cornerback. I can't play safety. I can't play offensive line. |
I guess there are some unicorns out there, somewhere. |
I had a good amount of nerves. If you haven't done something in a long time, you always have some nerves the first time back. I had some good reads and had some bad reads. All of that comes with (this) being the first day (back). |
I have no type of reservations, ... I think I've done ... everything that I had to do to make sure that my confidence level is high for when I need to stick my face in there. I'm going to stick it in and I'm going to stick it in hard. |
I just kept getting better, |
I just look at it as a process, ... Emotions are emotions and I felt them all, but really, it's just about what I'm going to do today, how well did I do yesterday ... and just focus on playing football. |
I just think (it was) my rehabilitation process, ... I just kept getting better - I kept getting stronger. Workouts improved. Just every day the progress that I made just continued to get better and better, and all of a sudden I came to the point where ... they tell me I can play, I feel like I can play, shoot I know I can play, so lets just play. |
I made some progress out there. I feel good with my conditioning level. It's where it needs to be, I think. Game shape is another thing, but we'll cross that road when we come to it. |
I think Steve would agree that it's been a long road for him and me to get back. To be recognized for it is an honor and you don't want to get this type of award every year. |
I think the true football fan will have plenty to watch on Super Bowl Sunday. The chance to see two quality defenses go at it is a part of football. |