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quote:It was exciting to know we were finally coming here. It's been a long week, a lot of media, a lot of distractions. As far as getting tickets for people, hotel rooms and all that stuff it's nice to be here and hopefully after tomorrow we can start focusing on football.
(What can you tell us about the situation with the team photo. How was that resolved)
It's resolved. That's the only comment I have. It's not an issue. I never felt like it was. There was nothing going on in Green Bay that could be reported on besides that.
(You've been in the same system a number of years now, what advantages does that give a quarterback What sort of things do you add from year to year )
I think we're always looking at ways to improve, not only our offense. I'm looking to improve every off season. Fortunate enough to be coached by one of the best coaches in the game, one of the best coaches I've ever been around in Tom Clements. We're daily looking at ways to improve. When we enter the off season for me now I think it's a lot of self scouting from previous seasons trying to find ways to improve every year. Tom does a great job not letting me become complacent with the way I'm playing. We scrutinize every little part of the game. Everything from every step in the drop to my play fakes, to my keeps off of a run, so fortunate to be coached by him and it helps that I've been in the system for a while. We're always looking for ways to improve.
(Week fifteen against the Steelers last year, what do you remember about that game)
I remember we lost on the last play of the game and it was frustrating but we did some good things that game. Moved the ball pretty well. Had a good fourth quarter, scored three touch downs in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately Ben was incredible that day. I think he threw for over five hundred yards and they beat us on the last play of the game.
(Anything you bring out of that game, anything you learn in that that you can take into this game)
We watched that film. A lot of preparation this week has already been done. They're a different team. Troy wasn't playing that game. Jermichael was playing for us. Different players on both sides of the ball. We're a different offense than we were last year.
(Five weeks in a row, backs up against the wall, three of those games on the road, emotionally how do you keep anything left in the tank)
Well we got a week off and this is what we do. This is our twenty fourth game of the season. Twenty four times we've had to get prepared to play and we're excited about this opportunity. This is what we started March sixteenth thinking about and talking about and at the time it looked like a long way off and a lot of hard work and there's been a lot of ups and downs in between that day and this and we're excited about being here and excited about our opportunity.
(Aaron, Staff Sargent {name indecipherable}. I met you last year. Can we get another shout out to the troops. Any short message you'd like to say to them)
Just want to say from the grandson of a World War II fighter pilot I appreciate what you guys do and I have the upmost amount of respect for you men and women allowing us to live the life that we are able to live. Thank you.
(You mentioned all the people you had to make happy this week. Is there a lot of Chico people you had to make happy. Who did you have to get here)
Who did I have to get here? You know what? The toughest word to say but the word most often used last week is no. A lot of requests but I wanted to make sure my family was here. My immediate family, my grandma and grandpa were very important to me, and some other close friends. With the number of tickets we get it's hard to get everybody you want there and then tickets are expensive too so there's a lot of friends that are going to be here that are on their own dime and are coming down here, some of them don't even have tickets yet. I helped out as many people as I could and now thankfully we can focus on football.
(What about some of the adversities you've faced through your career what's helped you get this far)
A number of things. One, I think a great coaching staff. Two, just surrounding myself with good people. Not only my close friends and family but I reached out to a number of people during those times and was able to get some great advice throughout the way. I think I tried to stay true to my character throughout that time and I was fortunate enough to be part of an organization that backed me and believed in me and gave me an opportunity.
(What was the best advice you got and who was it from)
One guy who I've gotten to know over the last couple of years who's been a great guy to rely on and lean on is Steve Young and Steve obviously went through a similar situation in San Francisco when he took over. I don't really want to share any of the conversations we had cause those are personal between Steve and I but he's been a great guy to lean on for advice
(Do you remember watching him throw those six touch down passes against the Chargers)
Oh yeah. I mean I've been a 49er fan, or I was a 49er fan growing up, and obviously being a huge Joe Montana fan, after he retired to see the way Steve played and picked up right where Joe left off, won an MVP, won a Super Bowl, It's been great.