NEW ORLEANS — Basking in the glow of the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII on Monday morning, head coach John Harbaugh will take some time to enjoy his first NFL championship before turning his attention to another offseason.

Arguably the most intriguing item of business for general manager Ozzie Newsome will be the pending free agency of safety Ed Reed, whose six-year contract will expire after he was paid a base salary of $7.2 million during the 2012 season. The 34-year-old defensive back has expressed his desire to remain in Baltimore, but the a tight salary cap and Reed’s declining skills might force the Ravens to move in a different direction.

Reed intercepted a Colin Kaepernick pass in the second quarter of Sunday night’s game, which tied an NFL postseason record as his ninth career pick in the playoffs. The question now becomes whether that was Reed’s final theft wearing a Ravens uniform.

“We had that conversation [Sunday night] on the bus ride away from the stadium actually,” Harbaugh said. “He and I both agreed that we want him back. I want him back, and Ed wants to come back. You never know how these things are going to work out, but we are going to work like crazy to work it out because Ed’s a Baltimore Raven, and hopefully we can make that happen.”

The future Hall of Fame safety will be entering his 12th season and told reporters he plans to play next season, but he will reassess where he is from a physical standpoint as the offseason progresses. Reed revealed he sprained the medial collateral ligament in each of his knees during Super Bowl XLVII, but he continued to play despite briefly going to the locker room in the first half.

The 2002 first-round pick turned the heads of some earlier this week by expressing how he’d like to play for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, but he reiterated that his first choice would be to remain in Baltimore. Indianapolis and New Orleans would also be logical destinations for Reed should the Ravens pass on keeping him.

There’s always the possibility that Reed decides he’s had enough after dealing with a chronic nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder for the last five years, but he made his feelings about his future clear in the moments following Super Bowl XLVII.

“This is not it,” Reed shouted emphatically. “This is not it. I’m not done.”

NEW ORLEANS — Even after witnessing the most incredible month in the history of the Baltimore Ravens, it’s still difficult to believe it all happened in the hours following their 34-31 win in Super Bowl XLVII.

The Ravens have had better and more talented teams than this group that finished the regular season with a 10-6 record, good enough to win the AFC North but hardly anything to write home about. The offense and Super Bowl most valuable player Joe Flacco were exceptional at times this season but were maddeningly inconsistent as well. A defense regarded as one of the NFL’s finest for more than a decade was far from dominating due to age and a plethora of injuries, taking a significant step back as stars such as Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis missed significant time.

A three-game losing streak in the month of December that included the firing of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron left the Ravens looking anything but “super” as they desperately searched for answers. Frankly, it was difficult to decide just how good they were — or even if they were at all.

Yet, there they stood on the on-field stage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome after winning the second NFL title in the 17-year history of the franchise. It wasn’t pretty as the Ravens nearly squandered a 22-point second-half lead, but they prevailed, earning the right to call themselves champions.

“It couldn’t end in a better way,” safety Ed Reed said. “The game was a display of the whole year. Started good, got ugly, ended great. Ended great.”

Perhaps the 35-minute power outage was the appropriate symbol of where the Ravens had been over the last six weeks. Just as a 28-6 lead evaporated as the San Francisco 49ers pulled to within two points with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, the Ravens appeared to be knocked out in December after suffering their third consecutive loss in a humiliating 34-17 final at home against the Denver Broncos in mid-December. At that point, the Ravens looked more like a team that might not win another game before regrouping to make the incredible run to New Orleans.

A 9-2 record that stood among the best in the NFL — even if many questioned the validity of that mark after several underwhelming wins — had fallen to 9-5, with many wondering if the Ravens were bursting at the seams with dissension. However, they stuck together, insisting all their goals still stood in front of them while fans and media alike wondered if they were finished. They were the truest form of a family, at least as close to one as a professional football team could be as players shared their faith and love for one another openly down the final stretch of the season.

“We had a lot of guys injured,” safety Bernard Pollard said. “But at the same time, the camaraderie within that the locker room — this is the closest team I’ve ever been on in my life. Like I said, we came together and fought the good fight.”

Yes, these Ravens were inspired by a returning Lewis in the postseason, but it was the play of Flacco that took them to new heights as the fifth-year quarterback was the best player in the NFL during the playoffs. His play and the improved offensive line after the reinsertion of Bryant McKinnie at the left tackle position were all new offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell needed to propel the Ravens to new heights on that side of the football.

That offense looked as elite as ever in the first half on Sunday night, but the 49ers regrouped in slowing the Ravens’ passing attack while the running game remained a non-factor. Meanwhile, the Baltimore defense wilted, looking tired and lacking answers for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick as he led San Francisco to three second-half touchdowns and a field goal.

As they had countless times throughout the season, the Ravens appeared on the ropes with the offense sputtering and Lewis’ once-mighty defense completely exhausted. But as savvy veteran teams often do, the Ravens had enough in them to make a few more plays to finish the job.

With the 49ers having three shots at the end zone from the 5-yard line and trailing 34-29 at the two-minute warning, the old Ravens defense made its final great stand with Lewis at the helm. The unit forced three incompletions to hand the ball back to the Baltimore offense. It was vintage Baltimore defense, even if that idea will take on new meaning beginning next years as the Ravens face life without Lewis leading the way.

The final stand was the end of an era with Lewis retiring and Reed potentially playing his final game with the Ravens. And in the context of this 2012 season, it was the last example of one unit — offense, defense, or special teams — picking up the others in crunch time.

“It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t perfect, but it was us,” coach John Harbaugh said. “The final series of Ray Lewis’ career was a goal-line stand to win the Lombardi Trophy. As Ray said on the podium, how could it be any better than that?”

Harbaugh’s right. It was the only fitting way to end the perfectly imperfect season that included ups and downs, peaks and valleys, and trials and tribulations. Of course, the Ravens ended the year on the highest note of all in winning their first Super Bowl title since Jan. 28, 2001.

In a season in which we constantly asked the real Baltimore Ravens to stand up, we finally learned who they really were over the course of the last six week as Harbaugh and his team dusted themselves off from a miserable stretch in early December to start anew. They knew something the rest of us didn’t as the Ravens pulled off the unlikeliest of wins in Denver, exorcised the demons from a year ago in New England, and polished off their final act as a postseason underdog by turning the lights out — literally and figuratively — on the 49ers.

On Feb. 3, 2013, we finally figured out the only appropriate way to describe this unique football team after a season of struggling to find the proper words.

They were champions.

Our WNST.net staff took some video of Baltimore Ravens players offering their reactions to the team’s 34-31 over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday for their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Head Coach John Harbaugh…

Super Bowl XLVII MVP QB Joe Flacco…

Retiring future Hall of Fame LB Ray Lewis…

New Orleans native and future Hall of Fame S Ed Reed (Part 1)…

Ed Reed Part 2…

WR Torrey Smith…

DL Haloti Ngata…

(We apologize for the quality of the video at times. As you can imagine, the postgame scene was mobbed and our crew was multitasking to say the least.)

SAFETY ED REED

(on what influence O.J. Brigance has had on him and the team) “O.J. has meant a lot. What can I say? For what he’s going through (ALS) to still take the time to encourage us and motivate us to be good men. Not just by his example, but just what he’s going through, what he’s living with. He said from Day 1, do not treat me any different. He honestly meant that and hasn’t changed. He just told us to be patient with him and still talk with him. O.J. has been a great man, before and with what he’s going through, he’s been a great man and a great friend to me. He’s been a lot of help for me to be a professional and to understand my role when I first got here to Baltimore.”

(on his thoughts about Bill Belicheck) “The bad part about this is that you all ask the question, but don’t write down everything that someone says. People only get a part of what the comment was. I don’t have to say much about that. My heart is in Baltimore. The question is, ‘Would I play for Bill Belicheck?’ Yes. What football player wouldn’t play for Coach Belicheck? Will I be in New England? Most likely not. It’s just terrible that people get half of the story, and it’s even (worse) when you hear the comments that they make toward you, but it comes with it.”

(on which team has had more distractions from player comments during this week) “I honestly haven’t turned on my TV in my room yet, so I don’t watch anything outside of what I see in the cafeteria and our lunch room, and what you guys ask or tell me about. I heard about Randy (Moss) saying that, and I guess he feels he has a great argument, but I watched Jerry Rice. I’ve got a lot of respect for Randy Moss, but I watched Jerry Rice and his work ethic and him on and off the field and how he’s represented the game. He has never pulled his pants down as a touchdown celebration and done certain things to diminish his legacy. I’m not saying that Randy has done that, but you have to play the game a certain way and do things the right way before you consider yourself to be somebody like that. He is a great receiver and has been a great receiver for a long time, but you have guys out there like Lynn Swann and Jerry Rice who really played the game, and Chris Carter. You’ve got to really be mindful of the things you say, of course to you guys, because things tend to get blown out of proportion. But I’ve got a lot of respect for Randy Moss and what he’s done over his career.”

(on what makes Vernon Davis such a special player) “He does it all. He’s a beast. He’s one of those guys that you all say has ‘it.’ He catches touchdowns, he’s blocking. I’m surprised they haven’t ran him yet, handing him the ball, but he’s somebody you really have to know where he is at all times and be mindful of what he’s doing, because they give him the ball, for one. You have to give him the ball. Why wouldn’t you? But whoever is covering him, whether it’s me, (safety) Bernard (Pollard), or anybody on our team covering him, you have to be really mindful of where he’s at.”

(on if the two best safety groups in the NFL are playing in this Super Bowl) “That’s probably the reason why we’re both here. It’s probably why San Francisco is here and we’re here, because of the safety groups. But I’m sure (Dashon) Goldson and (Donte) Whitner would say they couldn’t do it without their front seven, and we can’t do it without our front seven, either. There are no individuals, and there’s no tandem that could do it without those other guys, and I’m very thankful for Haloti (Ngata) and Ray (Lewis).”

(on if the safety position is more important than it was five years ago) “No, I don’t think so. I don’t know about that. For one, you can’t do it without those other guys. Our position is crucial, because you have to do a lot of communication. There’s a lot of communication. You’ve got to talk to linebackers, you’ve got to talk to corners, sometimes I’m talking to linemen and defensive ends, so it is a lot of communication that we have to do and get done. I know (49ers defensive coordinator) Vic Fangio, he was here and the defensive scheme that they run over there, so I know there’s a lot of communication in it. That’s probably why both teams have had the success that we’ve had over the years, even now, getting to this point. I’m not going to say it’s (the safety position) not important, because it is important. All positions are important. Is the safety position more important than any other one? No, but there is a lot that we have to get done.”

(on how the safety position has changed over the years) “I think just from a covering standpoint, and being that the league has gone to a ‘quarterback league,’ so to say. I’m glad to be a part of a defense that went against the best with (Tom) Brady and Peyton (Manning), and a bunch of other guys throughout this season. San Francisco has two. (Colin) Kaepernick, he poses a lot of problems also, so it’s prepared us to go against great passing offenses. He presents something different with his running, but it definitely has changed, the position has changed, because you have more passing going on. We faced two teams in two weeks, and we figured we played 160 plays or something like that, and half of those plays are passes. You can’t be a stout defense and not have great safeties on your team.”

(on if there is a trend in recent years of Super Bowl teams having great safeties) “Yeah, I mean, look at New York. With Antrel (Rolle) and Kenny Phillips over there, who just so happen to be Miami guys. But yeah, you have to have somebody in that last line of defense who is getting guys lined up and making plays back there. I watch games, some Sunday night, Monday night games, Thursday night games, where you see San Francisco and those guys making plays. I’ve seen (Dashon) Goldson making those interceptions. I’ve seen (Donte) Whitner making those hits. I remember one that sticks out to me, when he hit the guy from New Orleans in the playoffs last year. If I’m not mistaken, he fumbled the ball. So those guys are definitely flying around. I tend to watch every safety on tape. We can get so many pointers from each other. I always tell guys that. Make sure you’re looking at the safety that is playing on the field when you’re still in tape.”

(On if there will be any banned substances that will eventually be allowed for healing purposes) “It’s tough, because you have to have someone who really knows medicine and who you’re affiliating with. It’s not certain that it’s going to boost your play, so to say. Steroids are a little bit different, so I’m not talking about that. We know that it’s not good for kids and the long-term effect of that. If there’s no long-term effect that’s going to tear your body down, but it can help you heal, that’s different. I work hand-in-hand with my doctor, so I know the things that he’s helping me with, that help me to prevent the aging sort of things that you get in your body. Most of my teammates—and I tell them all the time—you think just eating healthy is going to be the thing. You eat vegetables and you’re eating grilled chicken and grilled fish, and that’s enough. It’s not. It’s not enough. For this sport, it’s not. I don’t think they do enough medical-wise in the NFL to help us, to get past not only the concussions, but the wear and tear that we go through. It’s a long grind. You’ve got training camp. Yeah, they did some things with the CBA, but trust me, it’s still tough. It’s still a long way to go. There’s a way to go about doing it. We’ve taken some great steps, but we’ve also taken two steps back in the process, because at the end of the day, some players lead, but the players are not the ones that are being treated fairly. I think when it comes to the medical standpoint, how we’re being fined. I’m not doing anything different in the training room now that I did in high school. There’s still the same ‘stim’ machines, there’s still ice and hot tub, there’s no difference. There’s really no difference, honestly. You might have a couple other little machines, but it hasn’t been too much of a difference. I know what my doctor does for me, that a lot of other guys don’t do that can help, but it’s on you as a player to spend that money on yourself, to invest in yourself. Don’t just buy that car and put the 22s on it. Put that $2,500 into your body and watch your business excel. I think the league can take some of that money that they take from us, that they make in the preseason, and put it into our training rooms to help us be successful and live a better life after football.”

(on how to improve player rehab and recovery) “That’s been my whole thing since I had my hip surgery, has been rehab and recovery. I’ve stressed rehab and recovery because that’s the biggest part of it. You have to rehab after this season. You have to go right into that, your recovery process. Most of those guys, I don’t know if they do that or not. I’m not working out with everybody, but you have to have some type of recovery. That’s more of what’s in you. It’s inside your body. We all look good on the outside, but if you go to the doctor, what’s the doctor going to treat you for? He’s going to treat you for your symptoms. He’s not going to treat you for what the core problem is. That’s probably the biggest thing. We don’t have the medical support in our training rooms. Sometimes, you really need to go outside of your training rooms, your training staffs to get medical treatment. Or ask your trainers how can you get better treatment. I know Smitty (Mark Smith) does a great job, and when we had Bill (Tessendorf), he did a great job too, but some things, they just didn’t have access to and we have to pay for.

NEW ORLEANS — A running diary was needed this week to track the comments of Ravens safety Ed Reed as he prepares to play in his first Super Bowl on Sunday.

The 34-year-old started the week hinting that retiring teammate Ray Lewis might not be so serious about walking away from the game while also appearing to soften on his stance from last week stating he would play again next season. Reed also stated he felt former NFL linebacker Junior Seau had no regrets about playing football before committing suicide last spring.

However, his comments about wanting to play for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick created quite a stir on Wednesday with Reed scheduled to become a free agent this offseason. Many running with the story failed to acknowledge Reed also expressed a desire to remain in Baltimore during the same interview session.

On Thursday, Reed clarified his remarks about Belichick while also scolding reporters who elected to pick and choose his words for their purposes.

“The bad part about this is that you all ask the question, but don’t write down everything that someone says,” Reed said. “People only get a part of what the comment was. I don’t have to say much about that. My heart is in Baltimore.

“The question is, ‘Would I play for Bill Belichick?’ Yes. What football player wouldn’t play for Coach Belichick? Will I be in New England? Most likely not. It’s just terrible that people get half of the story, and it’s even [worse] when you hear the comments that they make toward you, but it comes with it.”

Reed has dug plenty of holes for himself from a media standpoint, but there was nothing wrong with what he said in simply complimenting a coach who has expressed an affinity for the free safety over the years. With the Ravens almost certain to allow Reed to test the free-agent market, the veteran would be doing a disservice to himself by dismissing any potential suitors — even if only for negotiating purposes.

A return may not happen given the Ravens’ tight salary cap for the 2013 season and other priorities ahead of re-signing Reed, but anyone interpreting Reed’s initial comments about Belichick and the Patriots as anything more than an innocuous thought was reaching for a headline and nothing more. The reality is that Reed would — and should — be willing to play for a number of teams if he is unable to come to an agreement for a new deal in Baltimore.

As Reed has said on several occasions over the last few years, it’s a business.

“I always said when I came into the league and got drafted that I didn’t want to be one of those guys jumping from team to team,” Reed said on Wednesday. “If it was up to me, I would be right in Baltimore. If it happens to be somewhere else, I can play football on the moon.”

With players very accessible over this four-day period in New Orleans and Reed always being a colorful interview, the fact that he’s created headlines this week should come as no surprise to anyone.

SAFETY ED REED

(on the impact that Doug Williams had on him as a fellow Louisiana native) “Just watching him, how he played the game with such passion. It just means a lot for what he’s done for guys opening doors as a quarterback. That’s awesome.”

(on if he appreciates his first Super Bowl appearance more with it coming later in his career) “Probably so. I appreciate the practices that we have. Media Day yesterday was awesome. Just the time that you spend, it’s a little different. It’s almost like being at a Pro Bowl, with all the attention and everything. With all the attention and everything, how everything is going. You’ve got obligations to do certain things when you first get started. We’ve got to do this every day, so it’s definitely a little different experience.”

(on if he ever wondered if he would ever get to play in a Super Bowl) “Of course. I didn’t doubt it, I just wondered when and if. I answered that question a couple times in my career. You have to have a special team. Everything has to be clicking, and you’ve definitely got to want it to get here. Not everyone is fortunate enough to go to a Super Bowl. I’m thankful and grateful. I’ve been saying that the whole time. To get the invitation to be here and to be in New Orleans, it’s even more special. Everyone won’t get to a Super Bowl. I know guys who didn’t play a down here and went to other teams and made the teams and got Super Bowls. Derrick Martin got two. That’s my boy, and I know he’s a hard worker and a great player who had an impact on those teams. You’ve just got to be part of something special and we’re glad to have it this year.”

(on if he thinks this could be his final game) “No, not at all.”

(on if he has any special routine before the game) “No, I’ll be following the same routine. Today’s my Wednesday, study day or whatnot, just doing everything the same. It’s a little different being at home. My mom’s been calling me like, ‘When are you coming home, when you coming home?’ I’m like, ‘Mom, I’ll see you later.’ I’m in a different mode right now. Nothing different.”

(on if the Ravens will be introduced as a team or individually before the Super Bowl) “I’m not sure. When we’re introduced as a team like that as the road team, we don’t do anything, no dancing, none of that individual stuff.”

(on if he thinks he’s experiencing any memory loss at this point in his career) “Yeah, but who doesn’t wake up and forget things? That was just a comment of, sometimes I feel like I forget things, but who doesn’t go through those things?”

(on if any memory loss is football-related) “I think some things I go through are football-related. I’m not all the way concerned right now about the memory-loss thing so much being football-related, because I only had about two or three concussions in my career, maybe more that you don’t really know of. There have been some things that honestly put up a flag. That’s the reason I assess myself every year. I keep saying that. But I feel awesome, I feel great.”

(on what flags may have come up) “Just stuff that I know, stuff that I’ve been through and might have been related, just because I’ve been playing football for so long. I’ve been playing football since I was a kid, seven or eight years old, not even counting the times we played without pads, when you’ve got guys as we called it ‘drop in the bucket,’ to try to get those extra yards. I’m sure there’s going to be something related to football. Like I said yesterday, I signed up for this. I knew it’s a contact sport. I know there’s going to be pains and ailments and injuries. Do I want that to affect my livelihood? No, but do I know that it’s going to affect it? Yes. I made the comment about the late, great Junior Seau. When I said I know he won’t have any regrets, I was talking about football, not the fact that the man passed away and lost his family. People tend to not write everything, and that’s the bad part about our business. No disrespect to his family, but people tend to write the wrong things and take it out of context and that’s the worst part about what we do.”

(on whether seeing other players suffering physically after retirement concerns him) “Yes, for my family. For my family to have to go through that if it were to happen, God forbid. But any family who has to go through that, any player who has ever played in this league or goes through this league would hate that for their family to go through. It’s like any other tragedy, though. To be honest with you, none of us know our time. None of us know how we’re going to go. None of us know when that day, when that hour is going to come and when it’s going to come to us. Some of the best people in the world have died in the worst ways. Does that make them a bad person, though? We’re going to have our time, and sometimes the way you live can have an effect on the way you go.”

(on if he would let his son play football) “I’m with (President Barack) Obama on that. If my son wants to play football, I would educate him about the sport as best I could, just like I tell these guys about taking care of themselves. It wouldn’t be any different. If he wanted to play, I’m going to let him play. I’m also going to educate him, though. That’s what my foundation is based on. It’s about getting information to kids. It’s no different than what I said about school systems. I’m not talking about our president, but we have stuff going on in our school systems that need to be taken care of. We have a whole bunch of things across this world that need to be taken care of. It’s not just football. We have to make sure that we’re educating kids and people about what’s going on, versus just saying, ‘Don’t do this,’ or ‘Don’t do that.’ If you have the knowledge and the information, maybe then you can make better decisions. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about, your choices.”

(on how dangerous 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is) “He’s very dangerous. He can run and throw the ball. Any time you have a quarterback like a (Michael) Vick, Randall Cunningham or a Doug Williams, those guys like that who can be in the pocket and also throw the ball, it poses a problem. The one thing about us as a defensive back, you have to stay in your coverage. You have to be disciplined in your coverage and rely on those other guys to make the play.”

(on if facing Robert Griffin III and Michael Vick earlier this year benefits the Ravens’ defense in preparing for Kaepernick) “Vick was Week 2 and RGIII was like, Week 10 or 11. That’s miles ago. Does it help? Maybe. Do I think it does? No. It’s just so long ago—different team, different o-line, different receivers. But he definitely poses the same type of problem that those guys did with running and throwing the ball.”

(on if he has a sense of pride in the 49ers’ defensive style) “We don’t play against that defense, so I’m not concerned about them. I’ve watched those guys, I have a lot of respect for those guys and what they do. I know Vic Fangio, the (defensive) coordinator. We ran some of the similar things that they ran, if not the same. Those guys are doing a great job over there. Patrick Willis and those safeties, (Dashon) Goldson and those guys making plays, the linebacking corps, everybody. Justin Smith, the d-line, they make plays. They’re a great defense, and that’s the reason they’ve had the success that they’ve had and gotten to the place they’ve gotten to, because of their defense, and their offense and special teams.”

(on what influence his family has on his decision to keep playing) “They always support me, and they know if I can walk and talk and run, I’ll be playing football. The decision is solely mine. Who I really talk to is my dad and my doctor, if I’m physically able. But it’s all here. If I have the heart for it and I want to continue to play, then I’m going to do it. If I don’t want to play, I just don’t want to play.”

(on his desire to finish his career in Baltimore) “It makes a big difference. I always said when I came into the league and got drafted that I didn’t want to be one of those guys jumping from team to team. If it was up to me, I would be right in Baltimore. If it happens to be somewhere else, I can play football on the moon.”

(on if there are other teams that would be appealing to him) “I have a lot of respect for Baltimore as a city, so certain teams would probably have to be weeded out.”

SAFETY ED REED

(on what he thinks about when preparing for a game like this) “I think back to ’97 when I came to Media Day. It was Green Bay and New England in the Super Bowl. I was just a teenager, so to experience this for myself now alive and in color, it’s a blessing. I’m just thankful and grateful to be here.”

(on how his time at the University of Miami prepared him for this game) “Just how we worked, our work ethic, being around great people. Curtis Johnson, who recruited me. Chuck Pagano, Butch Davis, Coach (Don) Solinger. I could name the whole coaching staff who was there at the time. Andreu Swasey, who has been my strength coach, like a brother to me for many years, who has helped me to just have the right mentality to be a great leader and have a great work ethic.”

(on if he reflects on what it has taken to get his career to this point) “Yes. When you get to this point in your career and you get to the Super Bowl, everything comes up, especially coming home. I’ve thought about the walks to practice by myself, at night, walking home from practice carrying my pads, with my dad’s work shirt over my shoulder pads. Missing football for a year, all those things come up. Everything really gets put into perspective when you get to this point and you’re just really appreciative of the people that help you get here. You just think about everything.”

(on how emotional it is to be able to play in the Super Bowl in his hometown) “Very emotional. It was very emotional when we won in New England. I just was all tears, tears of joy. I cried like a baby. I really did. We’ve just worked so hard as a team to get to this point, and I know 30 other teams work to get to this point, too, and us and San Fran made it. There’s just so much I can say about it, I’m just speechless. It really hits you in the heart because this is the highest point that you can get to in football, for what we’ve come from. In little league, dreaming and watching those Super Bowl teams. I watched New Orleans for a long time and I watched San Fran for a long time. Just to watch those championship teams, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice and John Taylor and (Tom) Rathman and Ronnie Lott. To see Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and those guys in Vegas with the DBs in the offseason, it’s just amazing.”

(on how often he’s been back to New Orleans) “I come back as often as possible. I have my son, so I have to take care of him, he’s priority. But I get back every offseason.”

(on Ray Lewis wanting to end his career under a showering of confetti) “Ray told that story so many times, and that’s what we’re here to fight for. That’s what we’re here to battle for, and I know it’s going to be a great game.”

(on if he plans to come back next year) “I didn’t say I was definitely coming back, but I’m planning on it. I’ll assess those things after this game. I’m just soaking all this in right now. I’m not thinking about next year. Usually, I’m thinking about next year right now because I’m not in this game. I’m so far away from tomorrow, honestly. I’m just thinking about right now, today, just soaking all this up.

(on what his relationship is like with Frank Gore) “Frank Gore knows how I feel about him. He knows he’s my boy. He knows that I always thought he’s one of the best running backs I’ve ever seen. I have a lot of respect for Frank. He’s like a brother to me. I’m so happy for him. I sent the text out, but I think he changed his number, to him just to congratulate him, because I know what he’s been through. I know his story. I know his family back in Florida when we spent time together. I’m just so happy for that guy, for where he’s come from. He definitely deserves to be here with his team.”

(on if Colin Kaepernick presents a new breed of quarterbacks) “I wouldn’t call it a new breed of quarterbacks. We’ve seen guys like Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick. When Michael Vick came into the league, everyone said it was a new breed. Guys have been scrambling, running quarterbacks before, and I’m sure Kaepernick is saying the same thing. He definitely is a problem on the field because he’s a good quarterback and a good athlete, good player. He definitely poses a problem.

(on how playing against Robert Griffin III earlier this year will help prepare the Ravens for Kaepernick) “First off, we’re on a better field. For all that money down in D.C., you’d think their field would be better. That field sucks. It does, it was all mud. It was like (Griffin) was running on water. It definitely helped us out a little bit, but with the weapons that San Francisco has, it will be a little bit different of a challenge.”

(on if there was any rallying cry for the Ravens during this postseason run) “It was just ‘stay focused.’ It was really Philippians 4:13 that carried us. I’ve never seen a presence of our father like I have around this team, making this journey. I sound a little bit off the wall with it, but it’s the truth. God has just been amazing. I know a lot of people are making fun of Ray (Lewis) about how he’s talking and how he’s on camera, really emotional. It’s the truth. He’s a very spiritual person, and it’s just been real. Many of us don’t see that or have that gift when it comes to spirituality. So, to be part of it and know that God is moving things, it’s impressive.

(on his relationship with defensive backs coach Teryl Austin) “T.A. has been one of the guys. He’s really let us be who we are, and I’ve been right there with him the whole time, communicating with him, and he lets me know a lot of things to where I can talk to players a different way and I can give him information about what’s going on with us, too. It’s been very helpful on both sides, being that I knew the guys. But T.A., he’s really detailed and really has helped us to understand our opponents week to week.”

(on where he thinks he stacks up among safeties all-time) “I’m just another safety who played in this league. A lot of great athletes have played this game around a lot of really great talent. I don’t think you can pick out one player who is the best of all of us who played this game, because none of us could do it without the other 10 guys, so I’m just another guy.”

(on if he wondered if he could ever win another title after this year) “No. Deion (Sanders) just put it in perspective walking out here. He won two and he thought he was going to go back, and he didn’t. This is it right here. This is the only Super Bowl that’s going on this year, right now, that matters.”

(on how important it is to give back to his community) “It’s very important for me to give back to my state, because this is where I’m from. You have to start at home first, give back to the people that really supported you, and support me now. I have a lot of fans here, a lot of people that are just like, ‘Hey, I’m just happy that you made it. I’m just happy that you’re here. And those are just random people who are from New Orleans. So to represent New Orleans, I’m just grateful for it, to represent home. To give back to these kids and try to get kids to go to college, to get away from home,  to see something different, open their minds to something different. We tend to want to stay here in Louisiana as Louisiana people. We don’t want to get away as much. We love our city. We’ve just got to be mindful that there are other things out there, and we really need to open our kids’ minds to get them to go to college. Get them to get away. Then come back and help the next ones behind us. They call us crabs in a bucket. We tend to want to pull each other down. You can say that about anywhere, but they really say it about here, being in Louisiana and whatnot, how tough it is in our city. We have a lot to give and we have a lot of athletes here. A lot of guys from Louisiana have foundations, Reggie Wayne and other guys, who have made it to the league. We have a lot of guys from Louisiana. Our rivalry team, Pittsburgh, with Mike Wallace and guys. We have a lot of guys across the league who really give back to their schools.

(on how his Christian faith has affected him in football and life) “It’s everything. It’s number one. We’re all connected, no matter what your religion is, we’re all connected. We all know there’s a higher power that takes care of all of us. No matter your race, your creed, we do things different, but we’re one.”

QUARTERBACK ALEX SMITH

(on Kaepernick taking the starting job) “No question, I’m not going to lie about any of that. [It’s been] tough at times for sure, tough to accept, tough to watch, but we’re in the Super Bowl, and this has been an amazing experience. It’s a great team, I love being a part of it. I have said it before, it’s bittersweet a little bit, but still, it’s been a great thing to be a part of.”

(on his frustration losing the starting job) “I mean, it’s only human nature that things like that do happen, but for me it’s just trying to shut all that down. That’s not doing any good for anybody, certainly not me. For me, it’s focusing on my job, staying ready, and being the best teammate I can. Those are the priorities for me; those are what I try to focus on.”

(on the Ravens’ strengths) “I don’t know if there’s any one spot; they are good across the board. Very physical up front, good in the back end, and good in the middle. For us it will be a challenge. There are no weak spots, as you would expect from a Super Bowl defense. They are really well-rounded, and, for us, I think it is going to take a balanced attack. We’re going to have to be able to do it all: run, pass, mix it up and keep them on their heels.”

(on him requesting to be released) “I don’t know where this stuff comes from. I’m focused on this game and helping this team win a championship and doing whatever I can do. That stuff can wait; there is plenty of time for that in a week.”

(on Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard) “Both are really good players, both veteran guys. They really understand what they’re doing. They know offenses well; they know what quarterbacks try to do. Pollard is a very physical guy. You see it on the tape, some of the hits he makes, his physical presence. With Ed, he’s unique in his own right. He’s so unorthodox in how he plays; it’s not textbook safety play that you’re used to seeing. He plays Cover 2 different than anybody; he plays the middle of different than anybody, and obviously has exceptional range and great instincts. When he is around the ball he has great ball skills as well. He’s a unique guy to go against; it definitely requires a lot of film study because he doesn’t play safety like anybody else.”

(on how Coach Harbaugh’s impact on the team and himself) “I just think he understands what it’s like to be back there. The expectation level, he understands the plays you should be making back there, what are tough plays to make back there and what it’s like to go through a game to go through a season, and I think constantly just thinking about putting players in a position to succeed. It’s no different as a quarterback he’s just trying to put us all in a position to succeed and he understands what it’s like to be back there so I think he has a good idea what it takes.

(on the experience) “Amazing. You’d love to be starting but it’s a blessing to be at a Super Bowl, there’s a lot of guys that play a long time that don’t ever get here, so I’m enjoying it. We’ve got a great team, a great group of guys, loving it.”

(on the challenges of the week) “For me it’s the same as the rest of the guys. There are a lot of distractions. You’re away from home, a lot of things that break up routine. For myself it’s just trying to remain focused. There’s a lot of things going on, things like this that are out of the ordinary. Just stay focused, stay in the game plan and get ready to play the game.”

(on his coaching of Colin Kaepernick) “I don’t know about that, it’s probably a better question for Coach and Colin. We’ve got a great QB room, all the guys are great, starting with [Quarterbacks Coach] Geep [Chryst]. For me it’s just being a good teammate, I don’t know if I’m doing anything extraordinary, just doing my job.”

(on if he feared losing his job) “I knew there was an opportunity there, no question. You’re letting the next guy step in and get an opportunity. I fully knew what Colin was potentially capable of. He came in and made the most of it. It’s the nature of sports.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Tuesday, January 29, 2013

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA DAY

MORE QUARTERBACK ALEX SMITH

(on if he wanted to lash out) “I don’t about lash out. In my mind it’s focus on things you can control and there was nothing about that I could have changed, the way it happened. Stuff like that happens, it’s football, there’s going to be injuries, it’s a physical game.”

(on Kaepernick taking over as the starter) “We’re in the Super Bowl, this is a great thing. It’s been an amazing ride. We’ve still got one left here. I’m not thinking about that stuff right now. My role changed, however many weeks ago that was, and I’ve taken on this new role. That’s my job. Now it’s to stay ready to go and help this team any way I can. I’ll have time to think about other stuff in a week.”

(on if he’s thinking about his future) “Not at all, not at all. Like I said, after Sunday there will be a long time to think about that stuff.”

(on how he helps Kaepernick) “For me, if there’s anything I see, whether it’s in the game plan or in the game. As a backup quarterback you’re constantly trying to play the game through the starter. So for me, in practice, you’re not getting the reps, so you’re back there watching. It’s the same thing on game day. It could be anything, it could be nothing. With him, it’s not a lot at times, he sees things really well he’s a really smart kid, and obviously a tremendous player.

(on his progress under Coach Harbaugh and how he has changed) “I really feel like even a few years ago I was the same player. I really think the difference is the receiver group around me changed. (We have) a good system, putting guys in a position to make plays, playing good, sound football and just doing it more consistently.”

(on head injuries and if he regrets taking himself out of the game) “Not at all. We’re all going to be done with this game at some point and we’ve got a lot of life ahead of us, so err on the side of caution. With that head stuff, there are no brain transplants I’ve ever heard of. I may only get one, so it’s not something to mess around with.”

(on if other players would not report head injuries for fear of losing their jobs) “I haven’t heard any. Players deal with that with all types of injuries and have always dealt with that, whether it be an ankle or your head. I think it ultimately comes down to the doctors and the players and how they feel. I don’t think anybody is going out there recklessly. If guys don’t think they’re ready and can’t go in then I don’t think they’re going to mess with it. I don’t think that changes it.”

(on how things could have been different were he the starter) “I’m not thinking about it, to be totally honest with you; I’m really focused on taking this all in. This is a great thing. For almost all the guys on the team this is their first trip to the Super Bowl. (I’m) primarily just getting ready to play.”

(on if he prepares as though he could still play and win the Super Bowl) “That’s my job. Be ready to go. You never know, it’s a crazy game, crazy things happen and my job is to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. That’s my role.”

(on preparing as a backup) “It’s different, but it’s a lot of mental preparation. A lot of time in the film room a lot of time with the playbook, and just being ready to go. Like I said, I play the game through Kaep a lot, you’re just trying to take the reps and be ready to jump in at any time.

(on getting through the disappointment of losing the starting job) “Things happen in sports. For me it’s just being ready for the next opportunity, that’s what I can control, being ready for when that opportunity comes. I don’t know when it’s going to come, but for me I’m just doing to continue to work to be ready. Once this is done and next week or a few weeks from now we can think about that stuff.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Tuesday, January 29, 2013

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA DAY

MORE QUARTERBACK ALEX SMITH

(on working in a system he is comfortable in) “I think there are a lot of great systems out there, and I think arguments can be made for any of them. There are a lot of things that go into being a good offense and playing good quarterback. For one, it’s good players around you, it makes life around you much easier. For me it’s just being well rounded. You want to be able to do a lot of different things, you want to be versatile.”

(on having to address losing his job all week) “I mean it’s coming, it’s expected. I feel like I’ve been answering it the last few weeks anyway, so I’m ready for it. Like I said, I focus on what I can control. For me it’s getting ready to go if I have to and staying prepared and helping this team. No different from a lot of these guys. There are distractions that are unique to this week for everybody. For me it’s just trying to stay as focused as possible.”

(on if being young helps make losing his job easier to deal with) “I feel like I have a lot of football ahead of me. I don’t feel like this is my last opportunity I feel like there’s more out there for me.”

(on looking to the future) “There will be plenty of time for that when this is all done. Right now I’m just focused on the game.

(on having to deal with doubt throughout his career) “It’s kind of the nature of playing quarterback. There’s going to be a lot of scrutiny, there’s going to be a lot of eyes on you, it’s kind of the nature of the job.”

(on asking the advantages of being released versus being traded) “I have no idea. That didn’t come from me; I don’t know where any of that came from. I haven’t even thought about it to be totally honest with you. I want to play football but there will be time to think about that stuff when this is done.”

(on how he’s enjoying the Super Bowl) “Loving it! We spend so much time together as a team, we spend so much time away from our families putting in time with each other you can’t help but get closer to each other. For us to come down here and go on this journey, it’s been a great ride and a great experience.”

(on being a consummate professional) “It’s a team game and a team sport. If you want it to be about yourself, go play golf or tennis. I got into team sports to be a part of a team and there’s something very unique about that, the selflessness of a team sport. For me, my teammates are about as high as it gets on the priority list, behind my family.

(on dealing with the difficulty of the switch) “I just think I’m honest about it, I don’t think my teammates expect anything else. That’s not to say that the situation is easy, it can be uncomfortable or awkward at times, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

(on his biggest improvements under Harbaugh) “I don’t necessarily think I was doing anything different. Maybe more consistent, but I give credit to my teammates, the guys around me when I was playing, and Coach is putting us in positions to succeed.

(on if he learned anything from replacing a Brett Elliot in college) “I know how close we remained through that and for me knowing it was difficult for him, but I’ve learned a lot from all the quarterbacks. Brett to start, but then I’ve been around a lot of great guys, I’ve seen in a lot of quarterback competitions. Shaun Hill and I competed for a few years and it actually only brought us closer. We’re actually really good friends and I just think it can be handled the right way… There’s only one guy that can get the ball, there’s only one starter. I don’t think it has to be handled in a negative way. Everything can be put out on the table, and left out on the field, so to speak.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Tuesday, January 29, 2013

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA DAY

MORE QUARTERBACK ALEX SMITH

(on coming so close to the Super Bowl last season) “Obviously for us it was a great run last year. We came up short. Some great moments you look back on, and then the Giants game. Getting that close to being here last year, it’s tough.

(on the burden being drafted number one) “At the time it’s a great thing, you’re doing all the combine and doing all the work outs and all that stuff. Inherently, if you’re going to the number one team, usually that means they’re the worst team from the year before. Then all of a sudden you’re playing and maybe they don’t have the pieces around you. That’s kind of the nature of the deal.”

(on if he thinks he would still be the starter had he not gotten hurt) “I haven’t even thought about it to be honest with you.”

(on if the thinks he was playing his best football when the switch happened) “I felt the most comfortable I’ve been on a football field in a long time, maybe ever. I felt like I was continuing to get better and better.

(on if he thinks he could have led the team to the Super Bowl) “I for sure think that, but that’s kind of neither here nor there.”

(on how his previous experiences helped prepare him for his benching) “I have had a lot of ups and downs in my career. I’ve been in a lot of competitions. I’ve dealt with injuries before. I feel like I’ve been through a lot that has prepared me for this. If you’re a quarterback very long in this league, you’re going to go through some things. You better have thick skin, you better be able to handle situations. For me it’s just being ready for the next opportunity. That’s my focus.”

(on the frequent turnover of offensive staff early in his career) “It’s hard, not just for me, I think for everybody on offense who played here. I don’t know how you get very proficient and something, when you’re constantly just pressing delete and having to learn something different. The terminology the complexity of an NFL offense is big. You’ve started to lay that foundation, you start to feel comfortable with something then you’ve got to press delete and learn a different one. You never really get to an advanced level within the offense with that kind of turnover.”

SAFETY ED REED

(on how great it is to be back home in New Orleans for a Super Bowl) “I can’t explain it. This is awesome. To come home, to be in Louisiana, in front of the home team, the home crowd, playing for the Super Bowl…I can’t really explain it. I’m really speechless. For everything that I’ve been through to get to this point, everything we’ve been through as a team to get to this point, it’s just awesome. I’m just trying to enjoy it and not hold everything in, just enjoy the moment and soak this up. I remember being here in ’97 for Media Day when the Patriots and Green Bay played, I had won a Punt, Pass & Kick, and I remember this right here, because I was at Media Day.”

(on if it’s tough to imagine what it would be like to win a Super Bowl in his home town) “Yes. You’ll have to ask that question after the game, because I’m sure the guys on San Fran are saying the same thing. They’re a great team and we’re a great team and at the end of the day, there’s only going to be one of us who is going to be crowned champion. That’s what we’re here for. That’s what we’re playing for, and that question can come a couple days from now.”

(on if he’s decided to come back and play for another season next year) “That question there was asked a couple days back, about this being my last ride. I’m not focusing on that right now, so that question is pointless to answer, really. I’m not even thinking about that.”

(on if he is content with this being a week to honor Ray Lewis and his career sendoff) “Hey, this is about Baltimore. I knew. Ray told me months ago that this was probably it. I had that focus of coming in, that hopefully we could get here, and here we are. It just so happened that Ray made that announcement so the team knows also, and here we are. Of course, we want to send him off the right way. I’m not about to say this is my last game, and everybody join in with that. Now, if that’s what it takes to get the guys pumped, though, I would say it. No, this is not about me. It’s about us, the Ravens playing against San Francisco. Yeah, it’s Ray’s last ride, but I wouldn’t be so certain about that. Ain’t no telling. He might make a comeback. He may play 10 games next year.

(on if he plans to visit his family while he’s in town) “Yeah, I’m going to go visit my family. I’m going to visit my mom tomorrow, I’ll be at the house tomorrow. Hopefully I can get some good cooking around here.”

(on what he remembers about Punt, Pass & Kick) “It was awesome. I remember everything, really. Going against Craig Nall and guys like that, guys who played in the league. I was going against quarterbacks. I was a safety/quarterback athlete. I wound up winning the event, and the winner of the event came to Media Day to see guys just interact with you guys. I was just standing around, me and my dad. I remember seeing the Superdome field, I remember seeing you guys crowd around guys like this. It was just an awesome day. I just started seeing those same visions as we started getting closer and closer to the Super Bowl. Before we played the Patriots, I started seeing those images, but I wasn’t saying anything about it. It was just like, ‘Lord, for real? Is this real?’ I knew we had to play this game, and it’s just awesome. After that, I wound up going to Disney World and competed in their Punt, Pass & Kick.”

(on if he can kick) “Yeah, I was a kicker. I taught Mike Scifres from San Diego. I taught him how to kick, ask him. That was back in high school and we didn’t have many kids to play the game.”

(on if he won the local Punt, Pass & Kick) “Yeah, I won the local one to go to the big one in Florida and Disney World. That was an awesome trip there in itself, me and my dad. I had those visions, too, going to Disney World.”

(on if he was an option quarterback in high school) “I wouldn’t call it option, we ran the Wing-T. There was some option in there, and you can see that from when I used to pitch the ball.”

(on if he thought about what he would be missing had he already been retired) “No, I haven’t thought about that because I knew what I was saying when I tell you guys that I’m thinking about retiring. That’s me sensing my body physically to see where I’m at, how I feel. I’ve been playing with a nerve impingement for the last six or seven years. I know that’s affecting me. I tore my labrum early in the year, and that still affects me, working out and everything. It’s just doing a great job with my doctor, who’s really…he comes up to see me every week. So having all that going on physically, plus you have to pay for this service. I pay out of my pocket for my physical well-being. It makes you think. It makes you think about your livelihood after football, how much you’re going to have to spend to take care of your body, the toll that it puts on us. That’s the biggest concern that the NFL has right now. Even President Obama, I see, has made a comment on it, and the truth is that football does take its toll. It does take its toll on our life and our body. So that’s why physically, I was assessing myself through the years, and even now, to see how I feel. I’ve been doing some great things with my doctor, to kind of combat against the (aging) that we have.  We age faster than everybody for what we do. My whole protocol is surrounded around making sure that you’re taking care of the body. It’s one thing for what God has planned for you, as far as you to see him, seeing your maker.  But it’s one thing as far as what you’re doing physically to take care of yourself, as far as your health, as far as your eating, what you’re putting into your body, how you’re working out. I used to work out with Sergeant Slaughter over there, Ray Lewis. And I used to be like, ‘Lew’ – and (personal trainer) Monte Sanders can attest to this – like, we’re working too hard. We’re doing too much, and at some point, you’re doing too much, I think. The biggest thing is having someone and knowing your body as best you could to get that full potential out of yourself, by maximizing that. That’s why I’ve performed the way I’ve performed this year and that’s why I’ve played all the games, and why you don’t see me on the ground wincing as much – because I’ve done enough to help myself to bounce back for this job, because I’m one of the guys who was born for this, who really puts everything into football and puts a lot of things on the back burner.”

(on if he agrees with Commissioner Roger Goodell’s attempts to police the game and protect the players) “Honestly, there’s a catch-22 with that. You have to police the situation, but at the same time, you have to make sure you’re doing the right thing for the players also. Not everybody is making the money that you’re taking, and not every offense is deserving of $100,000, $50,000 fines. And these are players on that committee, Merton Hanks and guys like that, who have been in the game, but also have a boss to answer to. A lot needs to be done with it. I don’t think every fine is right. You have to go back and really look at how guys play the game before you judge them, is what I’m trying to say.”

(on if defensive players should also be protected) “Yes, defensive players should be protected, too. And offensive guys, quarterbacks in general, shouldn’t be treated better than everybody else on the football field.”

(on if the extra week off helped to gather all the tickets for his family) “I’m still getting tickets. I would actually auction off tickets to random folk if I could. But you need that week. You need that week to get everything situated. I know the organization needs it to make sure you get tickets straight, the family, as far as hotels, travel. That week is definitely good to get everything prepared, and obviously, I’m still kind of chopping things down, making sure you’ve got your lists right, especially when you come home. I asked Jonathan Vilma how he dealt with it in Miami, because he experienced it at home, and I’m doing the same thing. Everybody wants to come. You want everyone to come to the game. Honestly, I could fill the Superdome up. I could fill every seat. I would love to, but you can’t, so I want my family to know that right now. Things are starting to get a little pricey, but I’m just grateful to go through it. I could do this every year.”

(on how important it is to him to participate in the first Super Bowl in New Orleans since 2002) “It’s huge. Being at home, this is special. For my first Super Bowl, to be playing in my first Super Bowl in New Orleans, I just want to do this for the city. I’m sure there’s some guy from Louisiana on San Francisco’s team that wants to do the same thing. It’s just special.”

(on the differences between preparing this week and last week) “Well, you’ve got Colin Kaepernick and you’ve got Tom Brady. You’ve got a whole bunch of weapons in San Francisco, a great line, Randy Moss, (Michael) Crabtree, Vernon (Davis), my boy Frank Gore, the best running back I’ve ever played against. They have so many weapons. Preparing for this team versus preparing for New England, my preparation won’t be any different. It’s two different types of teams.”

NEW ORLEANS — If there were any doubt over whether the Baltimore Ravens belonged in the Super Bowl, Monday’s arrival in New Orleans was a sparkling debut for head coach John Harbaugh.

Dressed like a man more likely to run for public office than making his first Super Bowl appearance as a head coach, Harbaugh held court with a large media contingency on Monday evening and was on point throughout the 19-minute session. Handling more difficult questions about former offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and President Barack Obama’s recent admission that he wouldn’t let his children play football as well as lighthearted questions about his brother Jim, Harbaugh made an excellent first impression with the Super Bowl media.

Harbaugh’s day got off to a good start on Monday by way of a passionate rally in downtown Baltimore prior to the Ravens’ departure for New Orleans in the afternoon afternoon. And he finished even stronger as he addressed questions six days prior to the Ravens’ meeting with the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl XLVII.

“We’re proud to be participants in the Super Bowl. We’re going to do our best to play our best in this game,” Harbaugh said. “We had an incredible sendoff down at the Inner Harbor this afternoon on our way to the airport. We had thousands, I’m not sure how many thousands, but lots of thousands of people there in a cold drizzle, on a January, Chesapeake Bay, afternoon. And they were there all morning waiting for us and they just went crazy.”

The Baltimore coach handled questions about his brother with humor and patience, knowing he will hear the queries all week despite his efforts to keep the focus on both team’s players.

He also won the initial fashion battle with his brother as he dressed in a sharp suit selected by his wife in contrast to Jim’s black sweatshirt and khakis. The style points mean nothing as far as what will happen on Sunday, but the Ravens coach represented the organization with the utmost level of class. And after four previous seasons of coming close — advancing to at least the divisional round in each season — Harbaugh appeared as though he belonged in the limelight.

A small contingency of players reflected Harbaugh’s professionalism as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs, and Matt Birk were dressed to the nines for their media sessions. Their comments reflecting nothing but a respect for San Francisco that’s shared by their coach.

“Our guys are class guys,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll play with character, we’ll play with class, we’ll be a tough, hard-nosed football team –  that’s the way we’ll play. Before the game, after the game, I think we’re very respectful of our opponents, we always have been, and our opponents have respected us over the years. The team we’re playing is built the same way.”

Harbaugh has been to the Super Bowl before as a special teams coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles at the conclusion of the 2004 season. The Baltimore coach couldn’t recall any profound bits of wisdom from former Eagles head coach Andy Reid, but he referenced a thick planning book that was used when the Eagles met the New England Patriots in Jacksonville.

The 50-year-old Harbaugh will hope for a different result this time around as the Ravens look to win their second NFL championship in the last 13 seasons.

“You have a sense of the timing a little bit,” Harbaugh said. “You understand how the week goes. You understand the distractions, the potential distractions, and you understand the timeline for the game as much as anything. That will be a plus, but they’re all different.”