I've talked to him at length about some different things, ... And the thing about it is, Patrick is old enough and he's mature enough and professional enough not to really need a whole lot of [advice]. I'm just there as a friend to support him and to be there for him when he does want to vent and talk about whatever he wants to talk about. |
In the first two preseason games, it wasn't that I was uncomfortable, ... I just didn't feel the same as I had in previous years. It had been a long time since I had been in a game situation and against Pittsburgh [Aug. 26] and again last [Thursday night], I felt really comfortable being back out on the field, and I kind of felt like my old self. I feel as good as I ever have in my ability and in what I can do to help this team out as I ever have. |
It definitely is flashbacks of that year, except I think we can be so much better because we have, I think, better character of guys, for when things get rough. |
It is a first for me. |
It sure feels great to have a win, ... and it was a hard one. They're a good defensive front, so we're happy with a win in this one. |
It was exciting because it was my rookie year. We obviously had a terrific season and won the division and things seemed to be going real well. Just to have things fall apart like that in the second half, you realize to some extent what home-field advantage means. |
It was good to see that side of him. It's probably an indication of how much stress we've all been under, having to answer all the questions about, 'Is it still a rivalry if you can't win?' Blah, blah, blah. I think if you go down to Dallas this morning and ask anybody about that game, I think the rivalry is still there. |
It's a lot like that year, |
It's a violent game, a violent place to play. |
It's a work in progress. There are still a lot of things we need to keep working on. |
It's been real hard. There's been a lot of changes, a lot of turmoil, personally and professionally. So it's very gratifying to come out of all that. |
It's definitely made a huge difference, especially in times of trouble. We didn't necessarily have a couple good series in Dallas, and it would have been easy to point the finger and blame it on something. But having the camaraderie that we do and knowing where everybody is going to be, we were able to fight through it and have a great fourth quarter. |
It's going to be huge. |
It's not that big a deal, ... When I get out to practice, the doc is pretty much going to be able to put a cast on there any way I want, so it's not going to affect me that much. I've still got use of the other four [fingers]. |
Mark was smart to bat the ball out of the end zone and give us a chance to still be in there at the end. |