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Green Bay vs. Buffalo - Post Game Quotes - Green Bay
Preseason - Packers Win 35-5
HEAD COACH MIKE HOLMGREN:
- On 'having' to be pleased with the performance: "I think the guys played
hard. And, for this preseason game on our schedule, it was a game to kind
of see what we could do in some areas...And I was pleased. I haven't seen
the film yet, of course, but the effort was good...There were some great
individual efforts, I thought."
- On the performance of rookie Darren Sharper on punt returns (106 yards on
5 returns): "We had expected, or at least Darren was competing to be our
punt return man. And, you know, Derrick Mayes has done it. Darren hadn't
gotten a lot of chances, so he had a lot of chances tonight.
"He learned from the first one (on which Sharper lost a fumble upon being
tackled) and he got better as the game went along. So it's just a matter
of him doing it a number of times, and I think he'll be a good one."
- On whether Sharper will be the punt returner: "I don't know...We have
another week to determine that...Actually, two weeks...so. But he didn't
hurt himself, I don't think. I think he had a pretty good game."
- On Bono's Thumb Injury: "He got it smashed -- he got it smashed on the
turf, and it was sore. he could have played, but why?...Doug (Pederson)
played."
- On the quality of the defense: "We have the potential to play real fine
defense...we really do. You know, they have a good feeling about
themselves. They were a good defensive team last year and we have basically
the same guys back. If we can get a little luck with injuries, there's no
reason to think they couldn't have another great defensive year...they
should."
- On the training camp situation: "We're breaking camp for the most part
tomorrow and then we'll bring the whole operation back over to
'Lambeau'...And we're going to practice a little different. It'll be more
like an in-season tune-up. So we'll be getting prepared for that type of
week this coming week. And there's always stuff to work on. This
film...there'll be a whole bunch of stuff to work on."
- On the Packers' dominance against Buffalo: "In the preseason, scores can
be misleading at times. Everyone has their own way of approaching the
preseason. Marv (Buffalo head coach Marv Levy) didn't play his guys very
long...Only the first quarter. And we played ours just a little bit longer.
But, you know, I was pleased with what happened. It was good to score some
points...And our defense (played well)."
- On the American Bowl: "Speaking for the Green Bay Packers, we enjoyed the
couple days tremendously. Toronto's a wonderful city. We were treated so
well -- people were nice and friendly. And the stadium's a beautiful
stadium. And the whole thing was a big thing for us."
- On Robert Brooks' return to action: "He looked great and that was a big
test for us -- a big test for Robert. He got smacked a couple times, made a
couple plays. I thought he had a catch in the end zone. That would have
been great if he had gotten that one. But I think he feels good about his
first action."
- On Derrick Mayes' injury "He hurt his shoulder a little bit...He hurt it
on the touchdown, where he tried to spike the ball. So he'll be sore
tomorrow, and I hope he's not too bad."
- On whether Doug Pederson has a chance to become the No. 2 quarterback:
"They're both very capable. I have confidence in Doug Pederson. But we got
Steve Bono to be our backup and he's our backup right now. And I'm very
proud of the way Doug has handled the situation, and the way he has played.
He's a good player in his own right and I have a lot of confidence in him."
- On Jerald Sowell's injury: "Sowell hurt his ribs in the last ball game
(at Oakland). And, during the week, he aggravated it. And, really, they're
very painful. I don't think he could have hurt it any more, but he couldn't
function very well."
- On having had success with Dorsey Levens running to the right: "I'm
happy any time we gain yards rushing. For years, they said I didn't like to
do that, but I do like to do that. I think it's a great thing when we gain
yards rushing."
- On Brett Conway's pending return: "I would think he has a real good
chance of kicking against the Giants next week. But I'm not going take any
chances. If it's sore, I'll wait and kick him in the opener. He's going to
be okay. I just don't want to aggravate it any more if I can help it."
- On the team's goals: "Expectations are high. Our goals are high. You talk
to any one of my players, or any one of my coaches, and they would like to
go back to the Super Bowl...And that's where we're pointing.
"Now, every season is a new season. No one hands you anything. So we had
the joy of the wonderful moment we had last year of winning the Super
Bowl...And all of a sudden, you're in training camp and realize that you're
one of 30 teams trying to get there again. So you've got to start all over
again. But there's no added pressure -- we always put pressure on
ourselves. Our goals are high."
THE PLAYER PERSPECTIVE:
- Antonio Freeman (on whether he expected the Packers to move the ball
against the Bills as well as they did): "We practice against the number one
defense in the NFL every day. Anything is possible, and anything can
happen, with this offense."
- What Robert Brooks' return does for the team: "It uplifts
us...emotionally and physically. Of course, everybody knows what Robert
can do on the field. Just his emotional and verbal leadership out there. It
really peps us up. Because when I heard them announcing his name during
the starting lineups, and I saw him jump up in the air, I knew he was
back...So I kind of got a kick out of it."
- On how close the offense is to where it should be: "We're close...We're
not there yet, but we're close. We're doing some things a lot better than
we started off in the preseason. And, hopefully, next week we can have the
total package together."
- On whether the fact that it had been 'a national game' had made the
Packers 'sharpen up:' "No...We try to approach every game the same. You
know, a lot of guys out there are fighting for their lives. And we just go
to go out and set a tempo with the first team. We just try to go out and
set a tempo that, hopefully, that the others can come in an carry the
momentum."
- Robert Brooks (on his return experience): "I have one comment and one
comment only -- Don't start doubting God."
- Bernardo Harris (on being named the starting middle linebacker, ahead of
recent addition Seth Joyner): "Competition will always be there. If it
wasn't Seth, it would be someone else. They're not going to just give you
a job. I haven't had any experience and I have to go out and gain their
confidence."
- On the pressure that faces a Super Bowl champion: "There's pressure for
us to win every time we go out on the field. We know every time we step on
the field, we're going to receive a hard challenge because we're Super Bowl
champions."
- Rookie Darren Sharper (on his punt return efforts -- 106 yards on 5
runbacks against the Bills): "Well, if I am the guy, I'm going to work on
everything I can and do my best. Our blocking schemes are so good, it
makes it easy to catch the ball and hit the opening. They do it so well,
it's a tribute to them."
- On his two opportunities with one man to beat: "Once I break through the
hole I need to get downfield as quickly as I can. I can't slow down to make
that extra move."
- Second-year pro John Michels (on his progress): "I still have a long ways
to go and a long season ahead of me, but God willing I'll come out of this
season as one of the best left tackles in the league."
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