WIDE RECEIVER MICHAEL CRABTREE

(on what motivated him this season) “I wanted to be that guy. I wanted to be the number one receiver in the league. It takes a lot of hard work.”

 

(on one of his main goals as a wide receiver) “To take the offense to another level. Around here it’s more like everyone is talking about our defense. We really just took on that role, getting better and trying to make our offense number one.”

 

(on which receivers he looked up to growing up) “I had all type of guys like Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Michael Irvin. There were a lot of people. I looked up to running backs and quarterbacks. I played quarterback my whole life. I didn’t play receiver until I got to college. I just like football.”

 

(on which wide receiver best resembles his style) “I used to just try and put everybody together to create my own identity. That’s probably the beauty of football.”

 

(on the greatest receiver of all time) “I would say as a playmaker, Randy Moss.”

 

(on what he thought of Randy Moss joining the 49ers) “Whatever it takes to help the team. I had Isaac Bruce when I first came in the league. It’s always good to have one of those legendary guys around you. It’s not going to do anything but better your game.”

 

(on the offensive weapons that the 49ers possess) “There’s a lot. I could go on talking about the talent that we have around here. On the tight ends, running backs, you have to remember we have three people injured that played a major part in our offense. But I would say that with all of these weapons, I don’t think that you can go wrong.”

 

(on the team’s quarterback change during the season) “It was a process, but I think that with practice where the quarterbacks are getting so many reps we would go with (Colin Kaepernick), (Scott) Tolzien and we would go with Alex (Smith). I’m sure that it’s not way far off, but it worked.”

 

(on Alex Smith) “He’s a football player. Guys like that, you can’t faze them too much. We still have that one goal in mind and that’s to win.”

 

(on thinking of his linemen as weapons) “Yes, that’s football. Offensive linemen and defensive linemen, that’s NFL football, high school football, college football, they run the whole team. Without a great offensive line I don’t think that too many wide receivers or running backs would be making plays like that. So that’s good for us.”

 

(on the camaraderie with his linemen) “I enjoy them a lot, I talk to them every day and I mess with them every day. We have fun. They’re big, goofy guys; big people are usually the funniest people. They are my friends.”

 

(on what practice is like with Kaepernick) “We just really have fun at practice and try to get better every day. We talk a lot. He talks to everybody. I think that he’s getting better with the tight ends, he’s getting better with the running backs, not just with me. I feel like the offense as a whole that the sky’s the limit for us so we’re just trying to get better every day.”

 

(on what the team hopes to accomplish today during practice) “What we’re trying to accomplish? We’re trying win. We’re taking practice as we always take it – step-by-step, going over our play, and watching film. Just really trying to get the win.”

 

 

(on Coach Jim Harbaugh being fired up for this week) “I guess that’s just his lingo. That’s how he talks, but I would say that everybody is fired up. Everybody  is ready to play. It’s something that you dream of when you’re a little kid so now that you’re here you’ve got to take on the opportunity and come out with the win.”

 

(on Vernon Davis and the other team’s tight ends) “He’s a tight end. That’s what tight ends do; they block and they catch passes. I think that he’s doing his job. I wouldn’t say he’s unselfish, I’d say that he’s really a professional at his position. So is (TE) Delanie Walker, those guys can do both catch and block. Delanie does a lot. I would say that he’s like a fullback at tight end and he can run after the catch. I’d say that everyone as a whole in the offense is getting better with Kaepernick. All of us are together as one trying to make plays for each other.”

 

(on the quarterback Colin Kaepernick) “A lot of people say timing, but I guess the timing was him coming in the game. It’s really just him throwing the ball and giving us a chance and really pushing us with his arm. The guy can throw so hard, so far – it really just makes you step up – your speed, your focus. It brings the best out of all of us.”

 

(on if the change in the offense’s production factored into the QB change to Kapernick) “No, I don’t. I don’t really make any decisions and I really don’t know how it works out, but you know the story. As Alex (Smith) got hurt and Kap came in, he had the hot hand. Same story.”

 

(on Kaepernick’s throwing style) “He’s like a pitcher. The guy’s got a cannon. You just have to focus all the time on his ball.”

 

(on if Kaepernick throws the hardest football he’s ever caught) “Yes, probably. Him and Troy Smith. Troy Smith – he had a cannon too.”

 

(on if he’s having fun this week) “Yes it’s cool. It’s a little early (in the morning) right now, but it’s cool.”

 

(on if he feels that his game was taken to another level this year and what went into that process) “I think each year I got better each year. I started out a little slow, then the next year they gave me more opportunities, more targets. I did the best I could do. And this year I got more targets and I’m feeling like I’m on my way.”

 

(on what goes into trying to be the best receiver in the game) “It’s a lot of stuff. For a receiver, you need a quarterback, you need targets and then you also need to take advantage of all of your opportunities. Like I said, I’m on my way and I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing and keep critiquing myself and really just trying to be the best.”

 

(on if at any point if he thought that he might be drafted by the New York Jets) “No. Not at all.”

 

(on playing with Randy Moss) “Randy’s like my older brother. An older brother you would have that’s been through a lot that you just can learn from just talking to him, watching him. You just can learn a lot of stuff. He’s a legend and I hope he’ll be here next year. That’s my guy and every day we’re just going through the motions trying to make something happen.

 

TACKLE JOE STALEY

(on Head Coach Jim Harbaugh saying the offensive line should be considered a weapon) “I think we are a physical weapon, a blunt-force object. It’s one of our strengths, all five of us, and we’re playing at a pretty high level this year. We take a lot of pride in what we do, so I feel honored that he’d call the ‘big uglies’ up front a weapon.”

 

(on the amount of credit the offensive line should get for helping the team transition to Colin Kaepernick) “We don’t really care where the credit goes. We just want to win football games. I think that this whole entire team has really taken it in stride and is doing a great job of making it seamless, really buckling down, getting in the playbook and making sure everybody is on the same page.”

 

(on what Vernon Davis means to the 49ers) “A ton, he means a lot and he does a lot of stuff. Everybody sees his stats and his numbers. He had a huge game last week. His numbers were down towards the end of the year, but his contribution to the football team is huge. He does so much for us. We watch him in the run game when we watch film, he does a lot of different things. I was happy to see him get his opportunities last week because he has been working extremely hard and it’s been a great year for him.”

 

(on players from Central Michigan being able to adapt to new positions) “I think they recruit a lot of guys who are underdeveloped when they go to college because it’s a smaller school. I only had one scholarship offer, which was (from) Central (Michigan). I think (current Central Michigan tackle) Eric [Fisher], only had one or two (offers). J.J. Watt, I think he only had one scholarship offer initially out of high school.’ They convert them like they did with me and Eric. They tried to do it with J.J., but he left. He didn’t want to play offensive line.”

 

(on the other offensive linemen describing him as having a wild personality) “I don’t know. I’m just myself. I think we all are. We don’t try to force our personalities. The way we play football is the way we are in our life. I’m wild and I love having a good time. I play football the same way.”

 

(on crying after he was moved from tight end to offensive line at Central Michigan) “I was a freshman and you have no idea how much I just did not want to play offensive line. When I was freshman in college, I was the liability in the run game as the tight end. I was the guy you did not want to have out there blocking everybody. I was terrible. I hated blocking. I just wanted to go run downfield and catch passes. Then they (said), ‘You’re just going to block everybody for the rest of your life,’ and I (thought) ‘Awww, no.’ I (said) ‘Okay.’ I remember leaving. I got out of earshot of the coaches office and (started crying). Then I go over to my ex-girlfriend’s dorm. I show up and I have tears in my eyes. She said, ‘What happened?’ I (said), ‘They’re putting me at offensive line, I want to leave (crying).’”

 

(on how he found a love for blocking) “It came about slowly. I really enjoyed the camaraderie and the team within the team of the offensive line when I first started playing – that whole concept of working together with and being accountable for those five guys, and just the work. I always had a really strong work ethic. That comes from my parents and my high school coach. I always just really enjoyed working and I was really challenged by our strength coach to get big and do it the right way. I gained about 20 pounds a year (in college). My first year (stunk). I was probably the most miserable offensive tackle in the history of football.”

 

(on how his hands were in college) “They were really good when I was in high school, but when I got to college they kind of (stunk). I fumbled three times my freshman year. I dropped one pass against Central Florida that went for an interception. To say I was average was a (heck) of a rating for myself.”

 

(on whether there are a lot of fun personalities on the 49ers offensive line) “There are. I think we fit well together. We enjoy each other. (With) the amount of time we spend together, it would be torturous if we all hated each other. So we’re really fortunate that we all get along. It’s like a group of brothers, basically. We get along for the most part (and) there are squabbles and fights every once in a while, but Goody (Jonathan Goodwin), he’s the father figure in there and he sets us in line. Goody is like the old dad. He’s just old and he’s ‘dadly.’ He’s the mature, has his (stuff) together kind of guy. Then we have AD (Anthony Davis). I’d describe him as the quiet assassin. He’s a quiet, kind of keeps to himself kind of dude, but you put down that tape and he’s really physical. Mike (Iupati) is just goofy. He loves to have fun. He’s like a big kid, the biggest kid you’ll ever see. (Alex) Boone, he wishes he was on this riser. He loves the spotlight and I do as well.”

 

(on the difference between blocking for Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith) “We don’t really think about that way, to be completely honest. The quarterback still requires a clean pocket and it’s our job to do that for them. It’s the same as the difference between Frank Gore and LaMichael James. You don’t think of it as players and this is what they need. You think about it as what the play-call calls for, how can we best do our job and try to create lanes for them.”

 

(on the motivation from last year’s loss in the NFC Championship game) “It was something we talked about. We noticed all the talent that we had on the football team. It was motivating for us going into the season to not waste the opportunity because we essentially came back with the same team that we had last year. We knew that these opportunities don’t come very often, so (we knew we had) to take advantage of the opportunity. Once the season started, we realized it was a new season and you plant your own motivation throughout the season. It was something we talked about during the offseason, but as the season played out, we had new challenges to overcome and new games to win.”

 

(on what the team learned from their game against 6-16 loss at Baltimore last Thanksgiving) “Last year was last year. They’re a different football team than they were last year and we’re a different football team than we were. We had a short week. It was a lot of things. I think going in, we’re familiar with the personnel they have now. It was the first time a lot of us had gone against them. We have a better idea of what to expect.”

 

(on what his ranking was coming out of high school) “I was a two-star (recruit). The sad thing was on one site I was actually ranked, but I was the absolute last-ranked tight end. They didn’t even get to look at me, so I could have said, ‘Yeah, they just didn’t get to look at me, so I would have been ranked higher.’ I was ranked and I was the worst.”

 

(on his ‘fun-loving’ personality) “I have no personality (joking). I hate ‘fun and loving.’ I think it comes from my dad and my mom, too. I grew up in a household that never stopped laughing, so I had two great examples.”

 

(on whether the 3-26 loss against the Giants this season helped the offense grow) “That was part of the game where we performed the worst as a football team, especially on offense. We just weren’t on in that game. I think it was a learning experience. We moved forward. It was still early in the season. We were still kind of trying to get an identity as an offense of who we were. It was a game that we kind of put to bed really quickly. It seems like a long time ago. I don’t really remember exactly where we moved on from them. Throughout the whole season, we’ve learned a whole lot from out wins and losses and have done a good job of trying to work to this moment and peak. At this moment, I think we’re doing that.”

 

(on Alex Boone) “He’s been here the second-longest as far as offensive linemen, it’s just his first year starting. We’ve been very comfortable with Alex. We saw the progress he made from when he was a rookie to now and he’s done a terrific job of improving year after year in becoming the player he is right now.”

HEAD COACH JIM HARBAUGH

(on his first impressions of the Saints’ facility) “It went well. A great facility over there. Saints personnel, coaches, owner, everybody, the staff has been extremely hospitable. Looking forward to a great day. As Brian Jennings said earlier this morning, we’ve been anticipating this day for three days. Everything here at the hotel has been wonderful, wonderful. Kind of like it is here, it’s a beaver dam being built over in the coaches offices just downstairs. Very excited. Everybody is attacking this day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. Every coaching room is aglow with video on from earlier this morning. Was really fired up when I walked by the running backs room this morning at 7 a.m. Tom Rathman was in there teaching and coaching football to Frank Gore, LaMichael James, Bruce Miller, Anthony Dixon was in there. I was inspired. There’s a lot going on. Brad Seely, his room was going strong. Just fires me up. I’m very fired up this morning to get over there to the Saints facility with our team and practice. So many good stories along those lines.”

 

(on the challenge to keep today’s practice as close to a normal Wednesday as possible) “I don’t know that it has to be a normal one. It can be an exceptional one. It can be an extraordinary Wednesday for us. That would be our intent, and really our expectation, to make this the best Wednesday of the entire season.”

 

(on the conversation he had with his brother about Vic Fangio when he was in search of a defensive coordinator at Stanford) “The history of that? When I first met Vic through the Ravens, I was just so impressed by just talking football with him. So every time I visited, it was great to talk football with Vic. I’m sure that two years before we got Vic, when we were looking for a defensive coordinator, I asked Vic if he’d come to Stanford and be the defensive coordinator and he declined. The following year he declined again. As soon as Vic became available, then we offered him the position and he ended up taking it. That’s the truth of how it happened.”

 

(on whether he has to monitor Colin Kaepernick’s competitiveness and intensity on gamedays) “No, I’ve never seen anything where he’s rubbed anyone the wrong way. Everybody, in my eyes, watches him back it up. He does it in an all-football manner.”

 

(on what he saw in Colin Kaepernick’s first start that convinced him to stick with him) “What we all saw. Very good play, very poised beyond his years. He’s continued that in every game that he’s played.”

 

(on how the rest of the offense has adjusted since the quarterback change) “Everybody has done extremely well. Michael Crabtree continues to catch and catch and catch the football. Does a tremendous job running after the catch, very knowledgeable with his assignments and what people are doing around him. Randy (Moss) has been outstanding. Vernon Davis, as well. All of the offensive weapons have been extremely good. I’d like to talk a little bit about our offensive line, if that’s OK. That’s been a phenomenal group for us, and I’d call them offensive weapons as well. Joe Staley, a very talented player. Tremendous leadership within the group. How exciting for Jonathan Goodwin, being back at the Saints facility yesterday. Memories had to be thick for him. I know he visited with Sean Payton and some of the staff there. What he’s meant to our football team when he first arrived here, we were void at the center position. Jonathan Goodwin has stepped in and started every game, been a great player for us. Anthony Davis’ emergence at right tackle from a toughness standpoint, from a strength standpoint, and just the way he continues to grow and grow and grow as a player. Also, Mike Iupati has gone to the board as one of the top guards in the National Football League. Really excited for Alex Boone as an ascending player, as a tough player, as a leader on our football team. Finally, just the way they have all stayed healthy. They’ve all played well together. It’s really been a strength and a center for our football team. Also, Leonard Davis and what he’s brought to us along with Daniel Kilgore as the sixth and seventh linemen. They’ve been instrumental all year in our extra O-Linemen packages, contributions on special teams. The way they have plugged in at guard, tight end and at the extra tight end position has been huge for us.”

 

(on how well his defense has forced turnovers and whether the defense gave him an honorary wristband) “No I have not gotten one of the honorary wristbands. Our defense has been exceptional for us. One of the top teams in the league. There’s always a feeling when our defense is on the field that they can will a turnover, that they can make it happen. You’ll watch it and you can anticipate it, I know our offensive units do. I know our defensive guys believe that they can get the ball back for the offense. I know every drive isn’t going to end in a turnover but it’s been something that has fueled us this season and in the past.”

 

(on whether he understands if Alex Smith needs to be a starter again in the NFL) “The way we’ve described it also is that we have a left arm and we have a right arm. That’s something that is very good for our football team. Of course you understand the desire to play and to start. Alex, we expect that and we talk about that and he has provided that. He goes into every game with that mentality, preparing like a starter and ready to play. Before every game I talk to him about it, ‘Be ready to go today.’ It’s obvious through his preparation during the week that he’s ready to go.”

 

(on if he had a conversation with Colin Kaepernick regarding being thrust into the spotlight) “It’s just natural that this guy can handle this. There was no conversation about his life changing. He’s a great kid. Well, he’s a fully-grown man now. He’s got a lot of talents from mom, dad and God. He’s been raised really well. No, complete confidence in how he handles himself.”

 

(on how important Alex Smith’s attitude has been) “It’s been exceptional. He’s been a role model in team sports, especially for high school and youth sports. I think the proof there is when you hear Scott Tolzien talk about what kind of role model Alex has been in the quarterback room. When you hear (Quarterbacks Coach) Geep Chryst talk about contributions that Alex has made, and (Offensive Coordinator) Greg Roman talk about his contributions to the game plan. Nothing has changed. And to hear Colin talk about what Alex has meant to him through this process. It’s been a tremendous example.”

 

(on how important it is that Colin Kaepernick has had two weeks to prepare for the Ravens) “What’s gone on in those two weeks were we have had good preparation so far. Very excited for today’s practice. Feel the enthusiasm, feel the energy from our coaches, from our players. We’re up early; we’re walking around the coaches offices. We’re meeting with coaches and getting amped up for today. I’m very excited about that.”

 

(on the factors that elevated Michael Crabtree’s play this season) “He’s always been a great player. That’s always been our world view of it. What we see in practice and what we see in games, he’s always been a great contributor to our football team. But talent, character and a great desire to be good; very high level of willingness to compete. He has contact courage and toughness. He’s a football player. That’s probably the best way you can say it. Michael Crabtree is a football player.”

 

(on the offensive and defensive lines being strengths of the team) “That’s what our football team wants to be about. Talking about our offensive line, talking about our defensive line, I think on a football team that’s the character of your football team. There’s no statistical agenda with those guys. They’re about playing the game, playing it tough, playing it strong, playing for a win and playing for a level of respect. That’s what drives our football team. It’s also evidenced by what you see in the Baltimore Ravens—how they play, what they stand for. It’s evident on the film and the tape. We want to be about that.”

 

(on whether he believes the read-option and the pistol will be in the NFL for a while) “It’s possible that it is here to stay; don’t make any predictions on that. I think that it’s been successful for us because of the players that we have executing it. I think they’re extremely good at it. Also from a schematic standpoint, I think Greg Roman has done a job that is revolutionary in football. I think the way he’s mixed the trap, the power, the wham plays into the pistol offense and into the conventional offense has been revolutionary in many ways. I think it would be a combination of those two things.”

 

(on if he ever convinced his dad to pass the ball at Western Kentucky) “I think there was one time where he called a pass when I was at one of his games and it did work. It went for a touchdown.”

 

(on if his dad influenced his play-calling at USD) “Yes. He very much influenced play-calling at USD when he was our running backs coach there. It was toward the power, it was toward the running game and the toss sweep. It was very effective. We had a back there by the name of Evan Harney who excelled under Jack Harbaugh’s tutelage.”

 

(on whether he shared play-calling duties with his at USD) “Yeah, there were times when he’d jump in there and get a run call, absolutely.”

NEW ORLEANS — After toppling two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks on their way to their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, the Ravens defense now faces a different challenge entirely.

As unconventional as an offense comes in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers reinvented themselves in the second half of the season, utilizing the pistol read-option attack behind second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick. A once-conservative offense that relied heavily on the shoulders of running back Frank Gore has now become a dynamic one, scoring a combined 73 points in playoff wins over Green Bay and Atlanta to give the 49ers their first Super Bowl berth in 18 years.

Whether the pistol formation is the latest flavor of the month or not is irrelevant as it pertains to Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, but coach John Harbaugh sees lasting appeal in the possibilities the formation provides. The Ravens certainly aren’t treating it like a gimmick after falling to a similar attack that was run by the Washington Redskins in Week 14.

“You can run your whole offense on it. You aren’t limited to an option type attack out of it,” Harbaugh said. “Not just the entire run game but the entire pass game as well. The backs get position to protect. You can run all your drop back stuff, you can run power run game inside and outside, and you can run read option, triple option. So it’s just a very versatile-type offense and it forces you to defend a lot of different elements of the offensive attack.”

The Ravens struggled against the Redskins’ version of the pistol formation, which featured Robert Griffin III, a shiftier runner than the bigger Kaepernick who relies more on his impressive straight-line speed. In the 31-28 overtime loss on Dec. 9, the Ravens allowed 179 rushing yards on 35 carries but were playing without linebackers Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Dannell Ellerbe.

San Francisco’s preference for getting Kaepernick to the edge will provide a challenge to Lewis, who struggles when trying to play outside the tackles, but the 37-year-old’s cerebral presence should offer a boost in trying to accomplish what opposing defenses have failed to do against Kaepernick since he took over for former Alex Smith in the middle of the season.

“A lot of people who played against them just never communicated at all,” linebacker Ray Lewis said. “I believe that’s one of the advantages of what we have as a defense. We do a job of communicating real very well, whether you have the dive, whether you have the quarterback. It’s really hard to play that type of package as individuals. You have to play it as a group. The only way to slow it down is to play it as a group. Make sure before the ball is snapped, everybody is on the same page.”

A major key echoed by numerous defensive players has been patience in believing in individual assignments and carrying out jobs within the defense. Against Washington, the Ravens used unblocked defenders largely to attack the backfield, but staying under control and reacting to Kaepernick by forcing him to either hand off to the back or to keep the ball himself inside will be the wisest choice.

It’s a fine balance between being too aggressive and getting caught on your heels against a physical offensive line and talented running backs Gore and LaMichael James. The blocking angles and hand-offs from the pistol formation simply provide looks defenders aren’t familiar in dealing with on a weekly basis. Of course, an extra week of preparation will be beneficial to a Baltimore defense that was on the field extensively in its three playoff wins prior to Sunday’s Super Bowl.

“You can’t force it. You’ve got to be patient,” linebacker Albert McClellan said. “You can’t be too patient though, so you have to kind of be on the edge. You’ve just got to have good eyes. Do your job — don’t try to do somebody else’s job. Once you miss your assignment, that’s when the triple-option and the pistol pretty much take advantage of you. You do your job and everybody’s assigned a man, things will work out.”

Defensive coordinator Dean Pees will rely on rush linebacker Terrell Suggs and the combination of Courtney Upshaw, Paul Kruger, and Albert McClellan at the strongside linebacker position to maintain the edges, coaxing Kaepernick to settle for inside hand-offs to Gore and preventing the mobile quarterback from getting free into open space to utilize his great speed. The 49ers prefer to run behind left tackle Joe Staley when they aren’t rushing up the middle, which will put pressure on Suggs to make plays against the run like he did in the Denver game when he finished with 10 solo tackles.

Forcing Kaepernick to settle for the inside hand-off will put plenty of responsibility on the Baltimore defensive line, a unit that struggled much of the season due to injuries but has played well in the postseason. The Ravens contained a strong Denver running game and put pressure on Peyton Manning in the divisional round and hounded Tom Brady in the second half of the AFC Championship.

The combination of Ma’ake Kemoeatu and Terrence Cody at the nose tackle position will have a major chore in controlling the line of scrimmage and allowing Lewis and Ellerbe to clean up against Gore’s inside runs.

“Assignment football. Being where you are supposed to be without failure,” defensive line coach Clarence Brooks said. “Right gap, right responsibility on the run, right foot on the blocking schemes, disciplined pass-rushing lanes. Assignment football, being where you’re supposed to be and doing your job. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”

Even if the Ravens play their assignments to perfection, Kaepernick’s big-play ability may not be completely avoidable as he has proven to be a prolific passer, utilizing tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree with great effectiveness. Still, the second-year signal-caller’s legs are the biggest concern after the Ravens were able to handle two top — but also one-dimensional — passers in their last two wins.

“You get through it and everybody knows what to do, and then all of a sudden, the guy pulls the ball and is gone,” defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “You can’t really replicate that in practice as much as you would like to. That’s always a concern.”

As confident as the Baltimore defense is, the unit is preparing for an unfamiliar look. The similarities are there with Washington’s offensive attack, but the 49ers have a dangerous set of receivers in the passing game and a quarterback reaching an unparalleled level of success with only a half-season of starts under his belt.

The San Francisco offense may not strike fear into opponents’ hearts in the same way the Patriots and Broncos did this season, but the sight of Kaepernick escaping to the outside, looking to run or throw is a scary proposition standing in the way of the Ravens’ second Super Bowl title.

“If he runs, you’ve got to hit him,” safety Bernard Pollard said. “He’s basically a running back who can throw the ball very well. He’s showing people that he’s capable of playing in this league. He’s able to win.”

 

QUOTES FROM JACK AND JACKIE HARBAUGH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

Opening statement:

Jack: “Before we open up for questions, I’d like to tell a quick story. Back in 1957, Jackie and I were freshmen at Bowling Green State University. One of the great college coaches, his name was Doyt Perry. He’s a Hall of Famer, he was our college coach there. Our second year there, he held a class. It was Football 101. There were 35 guys in the class, all purporting to be coaches. That’s what they wanted to do, high school coaches and possibly college coaches. On the first day of the class, Doyt stood up and he said ‘How many of you here want to be coaches?’ and of course 35 hands went up. And he said ‘To start the class, I’m going to tell you the three things that are going to be necessary for you to be a coach. Number three, you have to have a love and passion for the game of football. Number two, you needed to outwork the people that you were coaching against.’ He said, ‘The reason I say that, I’ve been around you for about a year and there’s not many of you here that are going to outsmart anybody so you had better be prepared to outwork them.’ And he said ‘Number one on the list, if you want to be a coach someday, marry wisely.’ I guarantee the only advice that I know I listened and followed from the great coach Doyt Perry was the marry wisely part. Jackie Harbaugh is the foundation of this Harbaugh family. She is the rock of our family. She’s the one that moved us 17 times in a 43 year coaching career. She sold houses at every stop and she bought houses at every stop. She took them in to school and out of school. She went to school when things didn’t go well. This is my hero right here, Jackie Harbaugh. You’re going to ask us how we feel on this historic day? Jackie, who has it better than us? Nobody!”

 

(on when the last time they watched a Super Bowl together was)

Jack: “I would say every sporting event, every big sporting event was a big occasion at our house. I can remember back when we were watching the Boston Bruins play in a hockey game way back where Bobby Orr had that great shot where he flew across the net and knocked it in. John, to this day, still holds us responsible because he was on a refreshment run. He was about halfway up the steps when Orr knocked that puck into the goal and he has never forgiven us for not seeing that. They had no replays in those days, so I don’t know if he ever did see the shot.”

Jackie: “No, not really because I don’t think back in the 70s, it wasn’t as big of as an event as it is today. We kind of took every day as it came. So, no Super Bowl parties.”

 

(on where Jim and John got their colorful animated demeanors from)

Jack: “I think anyone that knows the family and knows Jackie and myself, and I think John and Jim would be the first to describe the emotion, passion and love comes from Jackie.”

Jackie: “I think we both feel strongly about certain things in life. We’re so excited for John and Jim to be in this situation but we’re also really excited for the players and their families. This is a huge event for them and I just am thrilled that some of them, this is their first time in this situation, so I can imagine how all those mothers and fathers feel about their sons being in this situation.

 

(on if there was ever a time where they talked to their sons about toning it down)

Jackie: “No.”

Jack: “The one thing that we watch and take great pride in is that both of them are themselves. We were around Bo Schembechler for a long time and there were a lot of coaches that tried to emulate him. The first time you weren’t yourself, you were exposed and somewhat of a fraud. So, always be who you are and not follow anyone else.”

 

(on whether all of the ‘J’ names are on purpose)

Jackie: “No, we aren’t very creative. John for Jack, because his given name is John. So John is after Jack. Jim is actually after my doctor. Dr. Frasier in Perrysburg, Ohio. They came in and said ‘What are you going to name this baby?’ and I said that I liked the name Jim. Joanie Marie is after my mother’s middle name and Jack’s mother’s first name.”

 

 

 

 

-more-

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

MORE QUOTES FROM JACK AND JACKIE HARBAUGH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

(on when Jim and John understood that Jack was a football coach)

Jack: “Again, I have to point to Jackie. In coaching, a lot of times I left before the sun came up and came home after the sun went down. Jackie has a great philosophy and that is that she wanted her children to know what their father did. She wanted them to understand who he was and what he did. I can remember when they could just barely walk, John and Jim, that she’d bring them out to the practice field. We’d be practicing and they’d be around jumping on the dummies and then they learned they could throw the ball around. Then they learned they could get into the locker room and meet the players and those kinds of things. We would invite our players at Iowa and Michigan when they were growing up to come to the house on Thursday. That was the day we had off. Jackie would cook a great meal for them and then pretty soon they were wrestling on the floor. Jackie always involved our children in the job that we were involved with.”

 

(on whether Jack sees his own coaching style in his sons)

Jack: “I really believe they’re both who they are. I don’t think you have to watch very long or be a psychologist just to watch and see who they are. The beauty of it, they allow themselves to be who they are. I think Jackie and I are most proud of that.”

 

(on whether John picked on Jim)

Jackie: “I think that brothers both do this and so do sisters. So everyone out there that has a brother or sister, you all have had your little ins and outs with one another. So that’s not unusual.”

 

(on if either son has called to ask what the other has said about leading up to the Super Bowl)

Jack: “Bo Schembechler had two great sayings. One was, ‘if you’re going to play in the North Atlantic, you have to practice in the North Atlantic.’ The other was ‘loose lips sink ships.’ They both have subscribed to that philosophy, so no one talks to anyone. Jim is very quiet and guarded and John is very quiet and guarded. That’s exactly the way we want it.”

Jackie: “And so are we.”

 

(on how much Jim and John consult with Jack regarding football questions)

Jack: “The story that’s been told is on draft day in 2011 after the first day of drafts was over, Jim called on his way home and he asked what I thought about the draft. We didn’t have much to talk about as it relates to the draft, but he had not expressed to me who they were thinking about drafting at the quarterback position so I said ‘Jim, tomorrow in the second round, surely you’re going to draft a quarterback, but which one is it going to be?’ and it was dead silent. He said ‘are you talking to anybody?’ and I said ‘I swear I’m not talking to anyone.’ He said ‘we’re drafting Colin Kaepernick. Do I not only think that he’s the best quarterback in the draft, I think he’s the best football player in the draft and we’re going with Colin Kaepernick.’ And I thought to myself, ‘wise decision.’”

 

(on where this Super Bowl ranks amongst all Harbaugh moments)

Jackie: “I would honestly have to say that the birth of our own children and then the birth of our grandchildren are the most important to me and this is like frosting on the cake for our whole family, our extended family which includes a lot of relatives. I might take this time, if I may, to thank all those friends and families and all those ex-football players that have called us to congratulate John and Jim. They’re so excited for this because they feel they’re part of this, too. It’s fun hearing from them and sharing this moment with them.”

Jack: “All those millions of people that are parents out there, this is just a fantastic, fantastic experience and really no one has it better than us. But when you’re in the process of going through parenting, the day that they made the junior high school football team, they said we made our high school team. You have that feeling of being thrilled for your children. They go to high school and they make the high school team. Then they are lucky enough to get a college scholarship. Then every one of those stops along the tremendous journey. The thrill that you feel, I know this is on a big stage, but in parenting, those don’t rank any differently.”

 

 

 

 

-more-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

MORE QUOTES FROM JACK AND JACKIE HARBAUGH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

(on if they have any apprehension about after the game)

Jack: “For me, I jump in there—the one thing that I do think about is after the game. There is going to be one winner and there is going to be one that is going to be totally disappointed. My thoughts go to that one that will not experience the thrill of victory. That’s where our thoughts will be. We had a little bit of a dry run on this last year with Thanksgiving. We watched the game and I know this has been reported before, but we watched the game in an office in the Ravens stadium. They were so kind to give us that privacy. During the three hours and 15 minutes, this lady was comatose. There was no expression. Her face was totally lifeless. Her eyes were glazed over watching the game. Then the game was over and you just dropped your head and we went down an elevator and opened the door to the Ravens locker room—I mean, the excitement of victory. We’ve all experienced that excitement of victory—guys jumping up and down, the smile on John’s face. They were just ecstatic and that thrill of victory, there is nothing like it. Victory, the thrill of victory. Then you realize that you’re not needed here. They had so much going on for them. You walk across the hall, and you went into the 49ers locker room and you walked and you saw the players walking about. That look in their eyes, that look of not being successful and coming up short. We opened up a couple doors and finally saw Jim all by himself in this room, just a table and a chair. He was still in his coaching outfit. His head down in his hands and you looked into his eyes and you realized that this where you’re needed as a parent. Every single parent can identify with that. That thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. On Sunday night, we’re going to experience both of those great emotions. Our thoughts will be with the one that comes up a little short.”

 

(on if they are worried that their feelings for the son that loses will diminish the thrill for the son that wins)

Jackie: “No, I don’t think so because we will see both of them after the game. We’re going to hug both of them and tell them how proud we are of them and their teams because those teams are going to prepare well for this game. All of the players are going to prepare well. It’s going to be a cleanly played game. It’s going to be a fairly officiated game. That’s, to me, what we’re looking forward to in watching this game.”

Jack: “We’ll have plenty of time after, to tell them how thrilled and excited we are for them.”

 

(on what Jack remembers about giving John his first job as a GA in 1982)

Jack: “It was one of the joys of my life. John lived at home with us. He wasn’t making any money I don’t think. He was getting a scholarship to get his master’s degree, which he did from Western Michigan University. I don’t think he had a car. It was just John and myself. Every morning, we’d wake up and jump in the car and had a half hour drive to work. We had a chance to talk football and talk about strategy and talk about all the things that a father and son would talk about. We worked all day and sometimes things went well; sometimes they didn’t. After work, around 10 o’clock, 10:30 at night, we’d jump in the car and drive home. For like two years! Finally, I think we were able to give him enough money where he got a car of some kind and eventually moved out on us. Those years that we were with John were really a joy for us.”

 

(on what kind of coaching John did for him)

Jack: “Let me tell you a story about how he got into coaching. Political science, a good student, a three-plus plus student. He was right around a 3.5 student at a great academic school. Political science and possibly going into law school and all those different kinds of things. Jackie was so excited about it. She loves political science and loves politics. He came home one day and we’re sitting around the table and we’re having dinner. Jackie says, ‘John, what law school will it be?’ John said, ‘Mom, I think I want to try coaching.’ Which Jackie, I’m embellishing this story a trifle, to which Jackie went facedown into the mashed potatoes. She said, ‘What? Coaching? You’ve got to reconsider this!’ He decided to get into coaching and to come to Western (Kentucky). Our thought was one year he was on the offensive side of the ball. The next year, he was on the defensive side of the ball, so he could experience both sides of the ball. Then he was off to the University of Pittsburgh, where he worked with Mike Godfried at Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant.”

 

(on what Jackie thought about John becoming a coach)

Jackie: “Yes, may I tell the truth? There were no mashed potatoes and that’s what we thought John probably was going to do, but then when he came home and talked about it and I saw that look in his eyes, my feeling was you have to do what you want to do. If you want to try this and see where it takes you, that would be great.”

 

-more-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

MORE QUOTES FROM JACK AND JACKIE HARBAUGH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

(on if he thinks John will pull any tricks on Jim)

Jackie: “No.”

Jack: “One more thing about this Thanksgiving game in Baltimore between San Francisco and Baltimore. Looking at that game in retrospect and watching it playback a couple of times, I thought that was one of the finest played football games that I had ever been a part of. I’m not just talking about the way it was played strategy-wise and the intensity of the offense and defense and special teams. I’m talking about the players. The players—that’s what it’s all about. Those guys, on that particular night, they played this game the way it’s supposed to be played: blocking and tackling and running and chasing. A great, great display of football. I believe that’s what we’re going to see on Sunday night.”

 

(on the family vacation at Gettysburg a few years ago and if they talked about the brother vs. brother scenario back then)

Jack: “We did a little bit because we knew the game, the Thanksgiving game was scheduled. We knew that was on the schedule, so we talked about it a little bit, but it was such on plowed ground. We had never experienced it and wouldn’t know how we would feel. I’m sure John and Jim wouldn’t realize how they would feel. So we really didn’t have any kind of a blueprint for what it was going to be like. Now, we’ve seen a little bit and so we have a little bit more of an understanding about how to handle it emotionally.”

 

(on what plans do they have for a potential rematch next year in New York City)

Jackie: “One game at a time.”

Jack: “If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard her say that, I want you to know that I would be rich.”

 

(on the differences in personality between John and Jim)

Jack: “I refuse to go to that ground, to that particular place. I’ve heard John and Jim both explain this and I think it’s a philosophy that we have in our family, anytime you compare, you have a tendency to demean with any kind of question like that. So we try to stay as far away from those kinds of comparison as we can.”

Jackie: “Really, they’re more similar than they are different. The media and people out there, they may have judgments about their personalities because of how the media might focus on them during a game and catch them in a moment of jubilation or sadness. That’s where the outside people get this feeling about the differences in them. They are more similar because they are both very caring individuals. They are both very good fathers. They love their children very much. That really makes us proud, to see them with their own children. They are very caring because they have done a lot of community work in every city that they’ve ever been in. A lot of work that really is unrecognized and that’s the way they want it. For us, that’s what we’re proud of. They are very caring individuals.”

Jack: “Just a quick follow up on that is for the game last week, the Ravens and the Patriots game, the picture on my mind right of that game is pregame, when the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ was being played. John was there and his daughter Alison, she does some work with him on the sideline there. She runs some photographs, I guess to the coaches. Alison was on the field and he had his arm draped around her shoulders and they were cheek-to-cheek. He had his hand over his heart as the national anthem was being played. For me, that’s moment of that game that I’m just going to remember forever. Family and country, how beautiful that message was. For Jim, it was a little bit different. About an hour and a half after the game, Jim calls on the telephone and he’s going, ‘Dad, tell me what’s going on. I’m getting on the airplane. I have no idea what’s happening.’ I said, ‘Well, they just fumbled. The Patriots just fumbled!’ Two plays later, ‘Touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin! We have a two-score game here.’ He says, ‘Dad, do you realize where this thing is headed?’ I said, ‘I think I do.’ He said, ‘Oh, by the way, I wanted to tell you Jack,’ we all know Jack, baby Jack, the four-month old. I think we’ve talked about him over the last couple days, big-headed Jack. He said, ‘Jack, you won’t believe this, but he cut his first tooth on the field in Atlanta.’ He said, ‘We noticed after the game he opened his mouth and there was first tooth.’ Now, can you imagine, not talking about he and John going to the Super Bowl, but talking about Jack cutting his first tooth. Family, family, family.”

 

 

 

 

 

-more-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

MORE QUOTES FROM JACK AND JACKIE HARBAUGH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

(on if this is going to be the longest three and a half hours for both of them)

Jackie: “I think that the NFL changed that rule. I think if it ends in a tie, then it will be a tie.”

Jack: “There are no emotions during the game. Last year at Thanksgiving, it was emotionless. There wasn’t any cheering. There wasn’t any emotion. It was just watching the game. Archie Manning, before the game last year at Thanksgiving time on Tuesday, he called and I can’t tell you how thrilled we were to receive the call. He just called out of the clear blue and he said, ‘My wife and I are just sitting here talking and we’re talking about how this going to be for you on Thursday. For us, it’s a little bit different. When Peyton is on offense, we root for the offense. When Eli is on offense, we root for the offense. He said, I can’t imagine how it’s going to be for you and Jackie when the head coaches are in charge of the game on both sides.’ He said, ‘I’m going to give you a piece of advice.’ He said, ‘Listen to me, a piece of advice.’ I’m thinking this is really going to be something profound, right? The advice was this, ‘This will be over on Friday. I promise you it will be over on Friday,’ and sure enough it was great advice and that’s exactly how it happened.”

 

(on if the anticipation of the game to be over is most difficult)

Jack: “I think so. I never really thought about it, but I think so. You wait for the end. You’re waiting for the end.”

Jackie: “Really, I guess, we can’t tell how we’re going to feel because we’re not in that situation yet. It’s like a football game. You really can’t predict who is going to win because in a football game, the situations change and they go back and forth. It’s not perfect. Even the video game of football isn’t perfect.”

Jack: “The one thing that both John and Jim have told us, this is over the past week. We haven’t talked anything about football. We haven’t talked strategy, but both of them have shared this with us. ‘Mom and Dad, please promise us that you will enjoy this. Enjoy this experience. That’s all we’re asking. Please, please enjoy this experience.’ We’re trying. I promise you we’ll try.”

Jackie: “I was going to say, they’re telling their teams the same things. Enjoy this moment. Really, truly enjoy it. They’re going to prepare but they’re going to take it all in, as they should.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-more-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

MORE QUOTES FROM JACK AND JACKIE HARBAUGH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

(on Jack’s relationship with Muhammad Ali)

Jack: “That’s a fantastic thing. I go back to the ‘70s, and my dad was a big fight fan, and in those days we had a fight on Monday night, we had a fight on Wednesday night, we had a fight on Friday night, the Gillette fights and the Pabst Blue Ribbon fights. (St.) Nicholas Arena, I think it was, in New York and my dad and I would sit at nine o’clock at night and watch fights, so boxing was something that we kind of grew up with. Muhammad Ali was such a hero for me, and a lot of things in the ‘70s I really didn’t understand, and then it kind of all came together. Muhammad Ali used boxing as a platform for love, especially with children, and especially with downtrodden people who were at a little bit of a disadvantage and he became my hero.  It started about 10 to 12 years ago with our teams talking about Muhammad Ali and Ernie Terrell and that fight. I had a chance to express it with John’s team and Jim’s team and Tom Crean’s team, anybody who had a team I was there to talk about Muhammad Ali. This year for the Bengal came, Muhammad Ali is coming to Baltimore. John had put this whole thing together that I would once again tell the Baltimore Ravens this Muhammad Ali story, but they were going to drive Muhammad Ali out (to the team), and as I was telling the story he would be there for the story. And you can just imagine the thrill of being in his presence, and the story of how we grew up with Muhammad Ali in boxing. Then, about two weeks later I go to San Francisco, and practice is over and Jim says, ‘Dad, let’s take a ride. Let’s go home and have some dinner with the family and then I will come back to work and you can stay with the family.’ And I said, ‘OK, great.’ So we are in a truck, we’re driving down, I recognize where we’re going, we’re going every which way, and all at once we make a turn and I say, ‘Jim, where are we going?’ and he says, ‘Well, it’s a little shortcut.’ So we went a little bit and all at once we come up to this house and we pull on into the driveway and he says, ‘There’s somebody here we have to stop and see.’ So we go to the front door, and we knock on the door, and they say come on in. And we walk and we follow into the study, and there sits Willie Mays. Willie Mays – my baseball hero, (and) the greatest baseball player to ever play, in my judgment. We sat there and watched the third game of the Giants and the Reds in the presence of Willie Mays. I’m a great Cleveland Indians fan. 1954 – Number 53, Vic Wertz, (with) Larry Doby on second base, he hits a shot to deep center field in Polo Grounds. Back goes Mays. He catches the ball over his shoulder. He spins around and fires the ball back to the infield, holding Larry Doby to third base. And I said to Willie, ‘Willie, I had that figured out. From the time the ball hit the bat, you knew you were going to catch that ball, and what you were thinking about was how you could get that ball back to the infield so Larry Doby couldn’t score from second.’ I think it was 2-2. And Willie looked at me and said, ‘Exactly. I had it from the time the ball hit the bat.’ I hope I’m not giving any secrets away.”

 

(on their sons following Jack into coaching)

Jack: “I go back to what I mentioned earlier. When they went out for Pop Warner football in the fifth grade, the thrill of a parent, that your youngster chose to play football, they asked to be a part of a football team, brought great, great joy to me as a father. All of those different experiences up to this are just boring. It’s so thrilling to know that your children, John and Jim and Joanie, as a coach’s wife, have chosen to do what you have done for 43 years of your life. This experience is so great, (it’s a) big, big, big stage, but it’s just another fantastic part of this great journey that Jackie and I and our family have been on.”

 

(on if they will see their sons this week and their plans after the game)

Jackie: “Well we are not sure about that, but we have visited with both briefly. That’s as much on John as Jim, as they are busy practicing now, but we have seen Jim’s children here and some of the other families are coming in on Thursday. That’s what we’re looking forward to. After today, we’re going to spend our time with our families who are coming in and all of our grandchildren. There are no dinners set or anything like that. We have no idea what we are doing (after the game). Like in life, when you plan everything out, which I learned after 10 years of marriage, if you try to plan everything out, it does not turn out that way.”

Jack: “One story I want to mention is Jay Harbaugh, how many know who Jay Harbaugh is? Anybody know Jay Harbaugh? Jay Harbaugh is Jim’s oldest son and he’s on the coaching staff for the Ravens. He’s doing the grunt work there (as the) assistant strength coach. It’s kind of an interesting story. He does video and works in the weight room and he just graduated from Oregon State. There, he was a student-coach on their staff at Oregon State with Mike Reilly, and now he’s with John over there. You’ve got father and son competing on Sunday night as well.”

 

-more-

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

MORE QUOTES FROM JACK AND JACKIE HARBAUGH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

(on what they will wear to the game on Sunday):

Jackie: “Well we are neutral in this situation. And actually, my daughter and a friend of hers helped me. I mostly wear Life Is Good (brand) shirts around and they said, ‘Mom, you can’t wear Life Is Good shirts around there.’”

Jack: “We will not have anything purple or anything red.”

 

(on Bo Schembechler’s influence on these two teams)

Jack: “I’m really glad you asked that question. There was a great article about Woody (Hayes) and Bo that I had a chance to read, and I want you to know it literally brought tears to my eyes having experience the ‘70s. I was there for six of the 10 years of the ’10 Year War’ with Woody and Bo, and the great joy that I get is that John, when he did his first press conference with the Baltimore Ravens, the question was asked, ‘Tell us the first thing you’re going to do as the Head Coach of the Baltimore Ravens.’ He said ‘The number one thing will be the team. The number two thing will be the team. And the number three thing will be the team.’ Then in San Francisco, in their meeting room, you look into that room and you see Joe Montana might have sat right there, Jerry Rice was over here. The great players in this meeting room in their facility, and one the back wall, about three feet high is, ‘The Team, The Team, The Team.’ And then at Indiana, with the Hoosiers, you go into their practice facility and (you see) ‘The Team, The Team, The Team.’ Every single time that I see that expression, there is one man that I think about, and that’s Bo Schembechler. Every single day I was at the University of Michigan, his program was about the team. What is best for the team? What is going to help our team? We do it. If it’s not going to help our team, we don’t do it, and it’s not a difficult decision. The Team, The Team, The Team – that all came from Bo and Woody. To answer your question, I see Bo’s fingerprints all over the Raven football team and all over the San Francisco 49er team, and there could not be anyone that you could better emulate.”

Jackie: “I might add to that, it carries over to family, too. Everybody in their family is a part of that family and so I think, unknowingly, we took that philosophy into our family and our daily lives; that we are all a part of one family and we’re doing what’s best to lift everyone up in our family.”

LINEBACKER NAVORRO BOWMAN

 

(on how competitive he was with his brothers growing up) “We were very competitive. We’re still competitive to this day. Anytime you get a chance to go up against your family member, it’s a little bit more personable, but at the end you can laugh about it. Before it happens we definitely want to win, so I know how (Jim) Harbaugh is feeling.”

 

(on if it was good to get back to football and practice today) “Yes. We started off yesterday walking through, but today we can run around a little bit.”

 

(on if he felt like he was out of rhythm with all of the time off) “No, not at all. Everywhere you walk, you see the Super Bowl. You see 49er helmets. So you’re always going to be in rhythm when you see that.”

 

(on how he and Patrick Willis contrast one another on the field) “I think we complement each other well due to the fact that we’re very similar in athletic ways. We have a chance to disguise a lot of our defenses because we can do a lot of the same things. I just think that gives us an advantage. When going against opposing offenses, they really can’t get a read on what type of defense that we’re in because we’re staying put. We just benefit from it.”

 

(on stopping the run on Sunday and how important the linebacker corps will be to ensure a win for the 49ers) “The biggest thing is to stop the run. Whenever you can make a team one-dimensional, it gives you a better shot to win the game. That’s our job in the middle, up-front, front seven, just to stop the run and once we do that we’ll be able to let them loose on the outside.”

 

(on emerging as an every-down linebacker and his ability to cover in the passing game as well as stopping the run) “I just pride myself covering guys, whoever it is – fast, quick, whatever – and I think that’s what you need to separate yourself in this league. You have to be able to do something different or unique and a lot of guys can’t do that at my position.”

 

(on what to expect from him in this game) “Me to leave it all out there on the field. It’s the last game of the season. We can rest later.”

 

(on who the best athlete on the team is) “Probably Isaac Sopoaga. He’s about 350 (pounds), can throw the ball probably 100 yards, can catch, can run, can lift whatever he wants to lift and can eat whatever he wants to eat.”

 

(on how much responsibility he needs to have when Ray Rice is coming out of the backfield considering Rice’s unpredictability) “We’re always matched up on running backs, so I’m not too much worried about it. You have to realize what’s at stake and focus up a little bit more, key in on what to expect. Ray’s a great athlete also. I know they’re going to try to get him the ball as much as possible, but Coach (defensive coordinator Vic Fangio) has done a great job with calling the defenses at right time. So, I’m sure we’ll be in the right defense in the right situation.”

 

(on if Ray Rice is the most dangerous player on Baltimore’s offense) “They use him a lot on their offense, even on third down. You don’t see too many running backs that’s a go-to guy on third down and they definitely try to get him the ball.”

 

(on his ability and Patrick Willis’ ability to cover tight ends one-on-one and how it provides an advantage for the defense) “Half of it goes to our ability to do it and half of it goes to Vic’s (Fangio) feeling of what type of situation it is. If they’re running short and intermediate routes or if they’re going deep. So, all of that comes into play when you’re covering a tight end or wide receiver. You have to know the situation, the down and distance because if you think something’s coming and it’s something else, you could get beat. So, it’s not just about the athletic part, it’s the knowledge of the game. All three of us – me and Pat and Coach Vic working together – we just take a lot of pride in covering the tight ends and wide receivers.”

 

-more-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

 

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA SESSION

 

MORE LINEBACKER NAVORRO BOWMAN

 

(on if he and Patrick Willlis’ positions are interchangeable) “Yes. If the game speeds up, we go to what we know, 100 percent, no mistakes because it’s going so fast. But, if the team’s tempo is slow and we’re understanding, and we’re in a rhythm, we’ll mess with their heads and sit still.”

 

(on how difficult it is to pick out a guy like Ray Rice who can hide behind offensive linemen) “It’s not that difficult. I don’t know, I can see him.”

 

(on if Ray Rice is underestimating the 49ers linebackers ability to cover in the passing game) “Yes, he’s underestimating. We’ll have to go out and show him on Sunday. I’m looking forward to it. We’ve all worked hard to get this far. There’s going to be one winner in this winner and it’s going to be the Harbaugh family.”

 

(on his high school experience at Suitland) “It was a great experience. I was able to play varsity since I was a freshman – basketball and football and I was able to have success in both. My junior year I decided to just stick with football just because I wasn’t getting any taller and the letters were coming in for football. I was just able to let the fans, my classmates and teammates fill me up and say I had an opportunity to be great. I was just playing the game back then. I was blessed with some talent. I was able to earn a scholarship to Penn State and that just went well for me. I was able to earn my degree and make it to this level.”

 

(on putting the last two seasons into perspective as well as his relationship with Patrick Willis during that time) “It’s like you see what you can get in front of you. We refused to just let it disappear. We refused to take a day off. As far as me and Pat, we don’t take days off. We’ve been working hard ever since we’ve met. Pat had a rough four years while he was with the 49ers and we were able to get this thing rolling together and we want to win this thing together.”

 

(on if he was frustrated waiting for his opportunity or if he knew that in 2011 he would get his chance) “I was young. I don’t know. I didn’t really let it get to me. I was very patient. Whenever you’ve got guys like Takeo (Spikes) and Pat (Willis) in front of you, you can’t really complain. You just have to make sure you’re working as hard as them, you’re preparing like them and you’re just sitting back. They eased me in there on third downs my rookie year. I’m a fan of Takeo Spikes. I’m a fan of Pat. I got placed in a unique situation where I know I can get better in this rookie year because Takeo and Pat are going to take all the snaps. I know I can get better off the field without playing and just see little things that can help my game next year because next year I’m going to come back and I’m going to really be ready to play a 16-game season. All those things were in my head. My rookie year, I enjoyed it. It was the best, but my second year I came back and I wanted to play and I was able to get in a right situation to be able to do that.”

LINEBACKER PATRICK WILLIS

 

(on Ravens fullback Vonta Leach) “Vonta Leach is a good fullback. He is an All-Pro fullback, a Pro Bowl fullback, and really I almost feel like he is the last of the dying breed of what you can call a real fullback. He is a tough guy and a guy that every play you have to come with it.”

 

(on not letting Vonta Leach into the second level to block) “Really it’s just recognizing what’s going on and recognizing the play and just going after it. You have to understand that you have 10 other guys on the defense and if you do the job that you are supposed to do and let the guys help you with the rest.”

 

(on his relationship with Michael Oher) “That relationship is good. Every offseason we try to get together and hang out. I love Big Mike like a brother man and he is an awesome guy. Like I said, in the offseason we try to get together and hang.”

 

(on if it will be odd to see Michael Oher on the other sideline) “No. I don’t want to use the word odd. It’s going to be a blessing to play against someone that you played college ball with and someone that you admire as a person. You wish him well, but at the same time too, we want to win. We are going to do everything we can to go out there and compete at a high level and we want to win.”

 

(on if he has met up with Michael Oher yet in New Orleans) “No, we haven’t met up yet this week. It’s just crazy with everything and the media stuff we have to do. We have our own teams and we have our own practices, but we are going to try to get together one night this week and see if we can get something to eat if we can.”

 

(on the growth of Ahmad Brooks this year) “Ahmad is one of those guys that we have been together now for the last four or five years. Just to see how far he has come since the first time he came with us as part of this team has been amazing. It’s been a big change of how he goes about his work and wanting to understand and show us how much it means to him and how much he cares, and showing that the previous things that he had that might have held up his head didn’t matter anymore. He was with us to make a new home and to be better and to make this team a better defense. He playing outside linebacker the way it’s supposed to be played. To play linebacker in our defense you can’t be just a run-around guy. You have to be a stout guy and be able to take on blocks and set the edges, and he does that for us week in and week out. That’s the kind of guy I want to be in the middle with because they set those edges and keep us from having to run a whole lot.”

 

(on where he is in his career compared to Ray Lewis) “I never have been a person to talk about myself. I tend to let others do that. My job is to go out there and compete all the time at a high level and be the very best football player that I can be. People always make comparisons of me to other people. I have the tattoos I have for a reason. On the inside when I flex, it says ‘I’m me.’ What that means is I have all of the respect in the world to the guys that they compare me too. Those are guys who have been there and done that and guys who are doing it right now at a high level. I just hope that someday I can have that kind of name when people talk about linebackers; I can be one of those guys that are talked about. At the end of the day, I can only be me and I can only be the best football player I can be. I hold myself to a high level and I hold myself to a high standard and each day I want to be able to look myself in the mirror when I come off that field, or come off the game field, ‘Did I give it my very best?’ If I can do that, then I am OK with me. I am never satisfied but I am OK with knowing that I can answer that truthfully because only I know if I did. At the end of the day, I can only be me.”

 

(on becoming a leader on the defense) “I have never been a big ‘ra-ra’ guy. I have never been a guy that gets up in people’s face. There are all types of different leaders in this world. Some people lead by example and others lead by words. Some people lead by not saying anything and people just feel it. I am the type of person that has always been taught to work for what you want and to work for what you want to accomplish. I am a lot better worker than I am a talked. Just let me show you and you just watch. I will show you want we are talking about. To have the kind of guys I have played with over the years and the kind of guys I am playing with now. It’s not hard to go out there and show them because those guys care and they want to win. Anytime that you have a group of guys like that, it makes your job a little bit easier.

-more-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA SESSION

 

MORE LINEBACKER PATRICK WILLIS

 

(on how much media he is consuming) “Obviously, when you are walking by the TV right now there are only two teams. There are only two football teams left. It’s just us and the Ravens. When you walk by the TVs you see them talking about the Super Bowl. I don’t like reading the papers a whole lot. I don’t like to sit down and listen to what people have to say. At the end of the day, everyone is going to have an opinion and if you get caught up in what they are talking about and you are not a strong-minded person then you can let it bother you. I try not to pay too much attention to it.”

 

(on why the 49ers will win if it’s a close game) “If it comes down to a close game it will be because we made more plays and we executed more. It will be because we wanted it more.”

 

(on what the biggest challenge on Sunday will be) “Our biggest challenge on Sunday will be going out there under the bright lights and playing a complete football game from across the board, offense, defense, and special teams. It’s hard because sometimes you might have two phases, sometimes you might just have one, but if you can get all three phases then a lot of time that guarantees you a chance to win.”

 

(on playing in the Super Bowl) “It’s going to be crazy man. I never really been a super bug emotional guy when it comes to making a play or winning the game, but right now we are here at the Super Bowl and it’s a normal week to me with a whole lot more media. I’m doing nothing that I wouldn’t do at home during a regular season game. I don’t like using the extra energy that I don’t have to use. Why change anything? Why change your routine and the things that got you to this point. This week I really don’t think it’s going to hit me until the night before. I’m usually like, ‘It’s game day tomorrow, let’s go.’ All during the week it’s just preparation and getting yourself in tune. It’s just getting yourself mentally there and physically there and then the night before the game, I think that’s where my nerves start moving and it’s hard to sleep. I’m like, ‘OK, it’s coming.’”

 

(on the pending case between former NFL players and the league regarding player safety) “That’s something that I don’t really want to get into. Like I said before, if people have something wrong with them, then I guess they are going to say what they have to say. That’s the talk and subject right now. I have nothing to do with that right now. I am doing alright. I don’t know. I don’t want to touch on that subject.”

 

(on how he will calm his nerves before the game on Saturday night) “Really man, the biggest thing that I try to do is before I go to sleep on Saturday nights. I just sit down and I will pray. I just ask the Lord for peace and say, ‘Lord, let your will be done.’ At the end of the day His will will be done regardless of what we want the outcome to be. I just pray and hope that when I go to sleep at night that he will give me peace. I wake up in the morning and am ready to go.”

 

(on the problems that Dennis Pitta presents) “Dennis Pitta, he has emerged to be a good tight end for them. He is a guy who is very elusive and can stretch the field. He is one of the guys that I’m sure I am going to have my times of covering and I am looking forward to the challenge. I really am. I still say that there are very few linebackers that go out there and they cover the way that I do in our packages. It will be a great challenge to go out there and showcase not only play the run and play in the box, but I can play outside of the box as well. It’s going to be a key point I’m sure when I am on him. I am looking forward to the challenge.”

 

 

 

 

 

-more-

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA SESSION

 

MORE LINEBACKER PATRICK WILLIS

 

(on how Ray Lewis has influenced him as a linebacker) “He has influenced me in the sense that he has played the game for so long at a high level. He plays with passion and he plays with enthusiasm. I call him the Mufasa of middle linebackers. He is just that type of guy that when you watch him you just say, ‘Wow.’ The legacy that he is leaving is a legacy that I feel like will never be forgotten for as long as football is around. He will be one of those names that for as long as people talk about linebackers people will say, ‘Wow, that Ray Lewis.’ That’s the kind of passion that I try to play with. That’s the kind of passion that I strive to play with. That’s the kind of passion that before I even knew who Ray Lewis was, I have always tried to play with. To see him do it at this level and be recognized the way he has, and to see his play, when people talking about passing the torch, that’s the kind of torch that I want to see and I’m sure other linebackers are also. When you watch him play you say, ‘Wow, that’s a bad dude.’ That’s what I have been a fan of, his passion for the game, his heart for the game, the way he plays every snap and the way he plays every play, play in and play out. That’s for real. I just hope that someday, when I am done playing this game, that when I am done playing that they can say those same things about me as well.”

 

(on why he wears number 52) “It’s one of those things that when I was drafted they asked me and said, ‘What number do you want?’ They gave me 51, I think these are the numbers, 57, 58, 59. Honestly, I’m an even number guy one. Two, 52 just looks so much better than 51, 58, 57 and 59. Maybe that’s just me. Not only did that number 52 look better, I also knew that a guy that I know right now and at that time was wearing that number. It’s one of those numbers that if you wear that number you have to represent. I said to myself that this will be a number play into. This will be a number to represent. At the end of the day, there are expectations behind this number and for this number. You have to show what this number is about and since the time I was drafted I was saying that I have to have 52. If I could have had my college number of 49, then I probably would have had 49. That’s where it is six years later.”

 

(on how he has adjusted to living in California) “Living in Bruceten (Tenn) and then going to Mississippi, then going to California, it was a big change. You don’t know what you don’t know. Coming from the small town I grew up in, when I went to Ole Miss, I thought, ‘Wow man, this town is huge.’ Other guys would come from Florida and Louisiana and I played with some teammates that would laugh at me and say that this town is small and complain about how small it was and I was talking about how big it is. Then I got out to California and I will never forget that when they picked me up from the airport, and all of the sudden they took me city, I don’t know if we went into San Francisco first or San Jose first, but either way, both are just very, very big places. I just remember being like, ‘Wow, this is a lot of cars. How am I going to drive in all of this traffic?’ Little by little you learn to adapt and now I call San Jose and San Francisco my home. That’s where I bought my house and hopefully that’s where I will be for a long, long time.”

TIGHT END VERNON DAVIS

 

(on how competitive he was against his brother) “We were very competitive, me and my little brother. He always wanted to get the best of best of me, but I wouldn’t let him because I was the older brother. It’s great having a brother because you keep that competitive edge, you never lose it. I know what they are going through, the Harbaugh brothers, because I have a brother.”

 

(on getting back to practice) “It will be great to get back to work. It seems like it has been a little while because we have been doing so much with media and things like that. I’m excited to get back to work and put the game plan in.”

 

(on Colin Kaepernick being so calm) “There is something about Kaep (Colin Kaepernick) that no matter what happens he always keeps his composure. That is what I like about him. He is always under control, no matter what. It’s a great thing. I am just happy to have him be a part of this team.”

 

(on when Colin Kaepernick became the starter) “How did Kaep (Colin Kaepernick) find me in that last game we played Atlanta? It’s all about how the defense plays you. In the past, during the regular season, the defense would turn into coverage and it wouldn’t allow me to get open. What happened in the Atlanta game was they took their eyes off of me and I was able to get open numerous times and he found me. That’s what it is about. It’s about each and every week, you never know what’s going to happen, but you always have to be prepared.”

 

(on what he remembers about last year’s Thanksgiving game against Baltimore) “I remember we lost. I strongly believe we should have won that game. We travelled. We had one day. We didn’t rest. It’s probably the amount of rest that we got in that game. I strongly believe that.”

 

(on whether Ray Lewis can cover him) “We’ll see. I guess we’ll find out.”

 

(on the development of the offensive line) “That group, the offensive line, they have come a long way. We’ve been building the offensive line since I’ve been here, trying to get it right. All of a sudden, it pops just like that. (The offensive line is a) great group. (They are) very competitive and guys who want to be great, every last one of them. You have Joe Stanley, Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis. (It’s) a young group destined to be great.”

 

(on high expectations as a rookie) “A lot was expected out of us coming in, but it takes time. You have to build, work your craft and mold yourself. It’s rare for someone to come into the league and make an impact like that, unless you’re Colin Kaepernick.”

 

(on appreciating Colin Kaepernick) “He knows that we appreciate him. Look at where we are now.”

 

(on growing as a man and a player) “Growing as a man, I had to go through some stuff first. I had to figure this thing out, find out who I was as a player. (Mike) Singletary helped me channel my emotions and really find out the best route to go. Putting my teammates first was the best thing I could’ve done. Once I did that, things started to happen for me. I started to see the game differently. It wasn’t about me anymore. It was more about my team. I enjoyed it. I still do. Everything that I do, I put my teammates first. To me, that’s the mark of a true leader. That’s what I want to be. I want to be a leader and have guys continue to follow.”

 

(on whether he has seen a change in Michael Crabtree) “For (Michael) Crabtree, he had to grow. He had to find his niche, just like anyone else. He has done a great job for us in terms of making plays and being there when we need him. It’s truly a blessing to have him be a part of this team as well. Michael Crabtree has turned it on. I’m happy for him and I’m happy for his future.”

DEFENSIVE END JUSTIN SMITH

 

(on his time in Cincinnati) “I enjoyed my time there; I’ve got a lot of friends (there). We didn’t win a ton of games there, but I learned a lot about football from Dick LeBeau to Marvin Lewis and Jay Hayes and those types of guys that I learned from. It was definitely part of my growing process.

 

(on Ahmad Brooks’ growth as a player) “As a football player he has matured, as well as a person. His ability to make plays and change direction is something you don’t see in a lot of people, he is a crazy athlete. It’s all started to come together in the last couple of years for him.

 

(on playing against the 49ers offensive line) “We do it in training camp, it’s no fun. They are a good group across the board; they’ve got the right amount of nasty dudes, and they’ve got the right mix. They’re smart guys, they always give us crap because they say we always go right or left, and they have to know a bunch of stuff. They are the right mix of dudes. I thinks getting Alex Boone in there, really cemented it, with his mentality, the way he goes about stuff. Joe Staley, really leading the group, the way he plays. Mike Iupati, (Jonathan) Goodwin, that mentality on that side sets that offensive line apart.

 

(on preparing for Tyrod Taylor) “We worked on the pistol, the option, in case he was to get in and in case they have him in certain packages. We worked on those adjustments and what we do and how we would stop them.

 

(on how much his tendon is torn) “I’m not sure the exact percentage, I think 50 or something. A little bit over maybe.

 

(on surgery and rehab) “I really haven’t gone to the doctors yet. I figure I will do that after the Super Bowl.”

 

(on retiring) “I’m not going to retire after this year; I would like to come back and try to get here (the Super Bowl) again. I realize my career is definitely winding down. I’m not saying I’m going to play another eight years or something like that. I want to play at a high level. I don’t want to just be a back-up guy a mentor-guy. I want to help the guys as much as possible, show them all of the stuff I’ve learned from other guys. It’s all just passing the torch, everything you learn from the coaching staffs. I want to do that while I’m playing. These guys will be in good hands. I mean, that room is a good group of guys, good football players and a good football coach in (Defensive Line Coach) Jim Tomsula. Any time you’ve got a Ray McDonald in your room, you’ve got Issac (Sopoaga) in there, Ricky Jean (Francois) coming up, they are in good hands.”

 

(on how much being at the Super Bowl means after a long career) “I think I appreciate it more, being older than if I was younger. If you’re younger you’re just like ‘Ok, get in the league, play a couple of years then you go to a Super Bowl.’ I think everybody has a different experience, a different process and this is mine, so I appreciate it a little bit more. I know how hard it is to get to this game; getting to the NFC championship last year, then being able to get back, appreciating the whole process and how much goes into it as well, how much work, how much work we have done as a team. Not only the talent level that is in that locker room, but the coaching staff as well that brings it all together to get to these spots.”

 

(on stopping Ray Rice) “I think the main thing is you’ve got to gang tackle the guy, not let him get through the line of scrimmage. Once he gets on the smaller guys, it’s kind of a mismatch in the secondary, because he’s so powerful and elusive. They do a lot of things with him, catching out of the backfield, throwing to him, he’s a big checkdown route for him. They get him the ball in about every poissible way they can.”

 

(on getting to practice today) “It will be good. We went over there yesterday and got a workout in. It will just be good to get back in the normal routine.”

 

(on this team’s mentality) “It’s a good group of guys who just pulled together and kept that momentum going from last year and rode it in to this year and got back to the NFC Championship Game and we were able to get over the hump and now we are here in the Super Bowl.”

 

-more-

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA SESSION

 

MORE DEFENSIVE END JUSTIN SMITH

 

(on who will win) “This game is going to be about physicality. The winner is going out-physical whoever they are playing. I think it’s just going to be about the physicality of the game.”

 

(on the challenge of playing in the Super Bowl) “I think it will be just like any other game. We will be going over our pictures, seeing what they’re trying to do, how they attack us, and how we can stop the offense and not really worry about all of that other stuff.”

 

(on his technique of rushing the passer) “You are working in a phone booth in there. You’ve got to deal with the center, so you don’t have a lot of room for moves, which works out good for me since I don’t have any. I try to go right through them.”

 

(on going against the Ravens offensive line) “They are a talented group of offensive linemen. They are about as similar to our group as it is. They are big. They are physical. They come off of the ball. They run their zone scheme exceptionally well. The running back knows how to cut off of them. It’s just a group effort and they play well together.”

 

(on the last two years) “Football is all about winning. I’ve enjoyed the last couple years, we’ve won a lot of games over these two years. It would be hard not to enjoy.”

 

(on converting from a 4-3 defensive end a 3-4 defensive end) “I gained some weight, the abs are gone. As you get slower they keep moving you in. If I’m ever playing nose guard it’s probably the end.”

 

(on getting on the practice field) “It’s good, we get done with this stuff (media) and get back to football and get back to what you’re down here for.”

 

(on having two weeks to prepare) “I don’t think it’s beneficial since both teams had the week off. It is what it is, you go with what they give you. This is the schedule. This is what we’re both on and both teams will be ready to play on Sunday.”

 

(on Ahmad Brooks’ work ethic) “Ever since he got here, he has worked hard. I remember in Cincinnati he was a talented guy and he worked there, but he has really taken it up to a different level when he got to San Francisco. He said getting cut was the worst thing that ever happened to him and was really an eye-opener for him. He has used it for motivation. He has busted his ass every day, got in the starting lineup and been going full-speed ahead ever since. He’s a big part of our lineup.”

 

(on getting pressure on Joe Flacco) “I think there are different things you can do. Being prepared for how they are going to attack us and do some stuff to counter.”

 

(on the 49ers advantages over the Ravens) “The advantage of knowing what we have to do to stop them. We know their game plan and we know how we are going to attack it. We are just going to try and shut the run game down.”

 

(on getting turnovers) “It’s something that (Defensive Coordinator) Vic Fangio and (Secondary Coach) Ed Donatell talk about all the time. It’s no secret if you win the turnover differential you have a better chance of winning. I think it’s something that if you put in the front of your mind you have a better chance. When you are going to make a tackle, consciously (trying) to go for that strip, go for that punch out. When you go for that sack, don’t just get that guy down, but go for the ball. You’ve got to be careful how you go for the ball around the quarterback, but go for the ball and try to get it out. They put a stat on the board yesterday that winning the Super Bowl, a plus-three (turnover) differential is 100 percent.”

 

-more-

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA SESSION

 

MORE DEFENSIVE END JUSTIN SMITH

 

(on what changed the team into a Super Bowl contender) “We go to Philadelphia, they are up 20-0 at halftime, and we are able to come back.  I think it just kind of cemented this group, like ‘OK, we’ve got something here, let’s keep rolling. We are not feeling our way through the season anymore. We are starting to believe.’ That winning attitude starts coming out. Even in Atlanta, we are down 17-0, the sideline never wavered. It’s just a testament to the guys and the confidence and ability of this team to come back; score, stop them and get it fixed.”

 

(on Baltimore’s offensive scheme) “They are pretty similar to what Indy used to do. They like to run the stretch scheme, make the corners and safeties have to come up and make tackles, really get on the perimeter. Those guys make a couple of tackles then they go over their head with the play action. I don’t see them changing and I don’t see us changing. We know what they are going to do and we are going to try and stop the run with a little bit lighter box. If we can do that we are going to have a good day, and if we can’t do that, we are going to have a rough day.”

WIDE RECEIVER MARIO MANNINGHAM

(on talking to the younger players who have never been to a Super Bowl before) “I’ve talked to a couple guys. Just don’t blink. Cherish these experiences that you’re going through. [Not] too many players come to the Super Bowl and win it. Go out and play your heart out on Sunday, that’s all I can tell them.”

 

(on what he remembers about going to the Super Bowl with the Giants last year) “Just being new to it. Last year was my first year even making the playoffs. I never played in a playoff game until last year. Just go out and do what you have to do. We didn’t get [any] younger, so go out there and play your heart out.”

 

(on how long it takes to come back down to earth after winning the Super Bowl) “The first game of the season next year. You’re not playing games, so they’re not doing anything but talking about it anyway. We talked about the Super Bowl last year going into the season. You’re thinking about it, but you’re just trying to get back to that same position.”

 

(on his catch in Super Bowl XLVI) “I was on the left side, New England’s side. I re-did my route because it was Cover Two. I stayed in bounds and Eli [Manning] just threw a perfect ball.”

 

(on how tough it has been the past couple of weeks being injured and watching the team run through the playoffs) “Yeah, especially when you know that you can make an impact on the field. Plus, when you know your team is good and you can see the road that they’ve taken, you can see everything unfolding. It’s crazy.”

 

(on what lured him away from the New York Giants to come to the 49ers) “I just wanted to make an impact and come in and contribute to this team knowing that I played against them last year and I knew how tough they were. I wanted to come bring my toughness with me so that we could be right where we are right now.”

 

(on how 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh compares to Giants head coach Tom Coughlin) “They are always going to have their teams ready to play and ready to play hard, and keep a disciplined team. The mentality ­–  you have to go out there and go get it – they’re not going to lay down for you. Go get the W, that’s all that matters.”