WIDE RECEIVER ANQUAN BOLDIN
(on playing in his second Super Bowl) “Great feeling. It’s definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity, for me twice though. Definitely want to come back here and finish what I didn’t finish a couple of years ago.”
(on the emotion of walking on the field on Super Bowl Sunday) “For me, I just want to make it another game. I know there’s a lot that’s going on around the game, but there’s still a game to be played. For me, I’m here for that reason and that reason only.”
(on if he takes pride in being a tough receiver who will go across the middle) “I think for me, I look at it as I’m a football player, not so much a receiver. I think a lot of people, you get that label, especially as a receiver of being divas and things like that, but for myself, I’m just a football player.”
(on what it means to him that his peers respect him the way they do) “It means a lot because at the end of the day, that’s what really matters. The people that you play with, those are the people whose respect you’re really trying to earn. I think if you can do that, you’ve really done something.”
(on San Francisco’s defense) “They have a great defense. I think the thing for us is we had a chance to play against them last year. I think we played them Thanksgiving night last year, so we’ve had a chance to go against them. It’s a great defense, especially up front and in their linebackers. They probably have the best linebacker core in the NFL. They have two great safeties on the back end and some good corners as well. They’re not here for no reason at all. We don’t expect anything different on Sunday.”
(on what Joe Flacco has done differently over the last month than he did earlier in the season) “I don’t think he’s doing anything different. I just don’t think people were giving him the respect that he was due early on in the season. I think he’s played great all year, but I think just the stage that we’ve been on the last couple of weeks has magnified who Joe is, and I’m glad people get a chance to see him for exactly who he is.”
(on the definition of what Flacco is) “A great quarterback. Since I’ve been here, people have been questioning whether he’s an elite quarterback. I think over the course of this season, not just the last three weeks, he’s proven that.”
(on what makes Flacco elite) “Everything about him. First of all, his talent. I don’t think I’ve played with anybody as physically talented as Joe at the quarterback position. Strong arm. I think he’s more athletic than people give him credit for. He’s definitely a lot faster than what people think, but just his decision making. Over the last couple of years, he’s been given a chance to get us in and out of plays at the line of scrimmage and I think he’s done a great job of doing that.”
(on Flacco having a reputation as a quiet and reserved guy) “I think for us, it’s funny for us to hear people say that because we get a chance to be around him outside of football. He’s a guy that loves to have fun. He’s not as quiet as you guys think. It’s funny for us to hear you guys say that. He’s a normal person. He loves to have fun, loves to joke around, definitely in the locker room. We enjoy him.”
(on what advice he’s given his teammates when it comes to dealing with everything that goes on during Super Bowl week) “I think the thing I tried to get across to them is take advantage of the opportunities because the opportunity doesn’t come around often. You look at guys like Ray Lewis. He was able to play in a Super Bowl, but it’s been 13 years since he’s been able to get back. You look at Ed Reed who has been in the league 11 years, it’s his first Super Bowl. A guy like (Terrell) Suggs, same thing, 10 years, first Super Bowl. You want to take advantage of it. Like I told them, there’s going to be a lot of distractions. There’s going to be a lot of things going on around the game, but at the end of the day, on Sunday, you have to play a game and you want to be as prepared as possible to go win that game because the one thing I took away from my first Super Bowl is you don’t want to walk away not holding that trophy. That’s something that sits with you, something that for me, it’s bugged me since that day. I’m glad I’m able to get back here and try to make right on that.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Super Bowl XLVII – Tuesday, January 29, 2013
QUOTES FROM BALTIMORE RAVENS MEDIA DAY
MORE WIDE RECEIVER ANQUAN BOLDIN
(on what Ravens Sr. Advisor to Player Development O.J. Brigance means to the team) “I think O.J. means a lot to this organization, period. The things that he’s been through, the things that he’s still fighting through, still his willingness to continue to fight, I think everybody in our locker room is inspired by that.”
(on if he’s amazed that O.J. Brigance is doing the things that he is under the circumstances) “Definitely. Like I said, we get a chance to see O.J. every day. Just the knowledge that he imparts on the entire organization is just, it’s a blessing for us to have him.”
(on Torrey Smith overcoming the adversity of losing his brother) “I think he’s done a great job of dealing with it. For me personally, I can’t imagine going through an ordeal like that and having to play, especially the next day. I think as an organization, we’ve tried to be as supportive as possible. We’ve tried to put our arms around him and love him, let him know that we’re there for him, whatever he needs. I think he’s done a great job. I think Torrey’s real mature for his age. He’s pretty much the man of his house in his family, and he’s done a great job of dealing with that and playing great football at the same time.”
(on if the Ravens have a lot of momentum following consecutive road wins) “I think so, but I think the thing for us is we’re practicing well. You know the old saying, you practice well you play well, so hopefully we can continue to do that.”
(on Randy Moss) “He’s a guy that I respect. He’s a guy that I’ve watched over the years, even before I was a receiver, I was a Randy Moss.”
(on how he’s different as a player from his first Super Bowl appearance) “I think I’m a lot more appreciative of everything now. I know this time around I’m able to take it all in and actually see it for what it is.”
(on if he’s happier now than he was in January of 2009) “I think for now I’m able to go out and just play the game. I don’t have to worry about contract situations. I don’t have to worry about this and that. I’m able to come in and just play. That’s one of the things the Ravens have allowed me to do, just come in and be a football player. Coach (John) Harbaugh talks about it all the time: let your light shine, be yourself. They really allow you to do that, so I’m happy for that.”
(on if he felt like he couldn’t be himself in Arizona) “I think in Arizona, I don’t know how to say it, but there were times that for some guys, being yourself wasn’t what they wanted.”
(on what he admires about Randy Moss) “I’ve always viewed him as a game changer. I think if you look at Randy Moss over the years, he’s been able to change a lot of games just with his speed, his ability to stretch the field and his ability to make plays in traffic. There’s times when he’s gone up over two or three guys. I’ve always viewed him as a game changer, so I don’t think anything has changed in that respect.”
(on his relationship with Torrey Smith) “Torrey is like my little brother. He’s definitely a guy that I look out for. He’s definitely a guy that has grown on me. From the time he came in, he’s one of the guys that I really just tried to help out, really tried to help mentor. He’s done a great job of learning and playing well on the field.”
(on what he’s tried to teach Torrey Smith on the field) “Just how to become a complete receiver. Coming out of college, he was known as a speedster, but I want everybody to see how great of a receiver he is, how great of a route runner he is, how great he can catch, how good of a blocker he is. Just becoming the complete package.”
(on if Boldin is still better than Torrey Smith) “That’s a question you’ve got to answer.”
