QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- Today's practice)
"It was just a walk-thru today, a shorter practice. We'll have a full pads practice this afternoon, but I thought last night's practice work went pretty well and we're getting a lot of work in these next 36 hours with the rainout on Wednesday night. Guys are working hard and we're just trying to get better."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- getting a break from at heat)
"I guess so. It doesn't bother me."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- Commissioner Goodell coming)
"All I know is we have a scrimmage in the morning. We're trying to simulate the game. It's always good to get the feel of the game coming from the sidelines and making those adjustments and that's really what tomorrow is about. I know we're going to meet with the commissioner before the scrimmage so we'll see what he has to say."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on – How Curtis Painter is coming along)
"Curtis is getting a number of repetitions. He's getting a good opportunity to get more experience. I always think it's easier to learn when you're out there on the field getting repetitions as opposed to being out on the sidelines or just learning in the classroom. I know this is a good opportunity for him and I know he's taking advantage of his opportunity and trying to get comfortable in the offense. It's a lot different when you're out there trying to complete a pass against Kelvin Hayden or get the ball off before Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis come after you. It's valuable for him right now."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- getting used to young receivers)
"I think it's an everyday process. Certainly the guys who played last year, Pierre (Garcon) and Austin (Collie,) I think the timing has improved with those guys certainly because of the experience we had last year. It's good to have Anthony (Gonzalez) back out there in pads and working with him, and Reggie ( Wayne) looks good. It's a good opportunity to get some time with the other guys, whether it's Brody (Eldridge) or Taj (Smith) this is always the opportunity to get those reps with those guys because once the season starts, the number of plays we'll be able to run will be limited. So this is that time and hopefully we'll be able to continue it through camp."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- How Jacques (McClendon) is looking on O-line)
"Obviously you've got a great guy to learn from in Jeff Saturday. It sounds like he's taking the right approach, trying to be as close to Jeff as he can and just try to learn whatever he can from them because there is no one better in the league at playing center than Jeff Saturday. So he's got a great mentor, a lot of athletic ability. It's a bit new for him. Anytime you have to switch positions it's going to be new, going to be a bit of a change there, but because he is athletic I think it will help him there in that transition. The best thing he can do is kind of watch and learn from Jeff in this time."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- adjusting to wearing a visor)
"I think my eyes are getting a little bit better, but there's no story there."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- running game coming along)
"It's very important, especially because you're in training camp and you are in pads. I think the running game is something during mini-camp and OTAs, it's hard to really know where you are because you're not in pads. This is the time, along with the pre-season, when you're going against another opponent, when you're going to see the changes or points of emphasis we've made in the running game are paying off for us. It will be a season-long process to see if we're making any improvements. It certainly is a point of emphasis, something we want to do better, and it starts in training camp and really goes throughout the entire season."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- whether the team is on track in practice)
"It's hard to say. I think everyday I look at it as trying to get a little better everyday. I think last night was good work; we had two-minute drill, that's always something that is very important. We came from behind seven times last year to win games. Five times their offense had the ball with the chance to go tie or possibly win the game and our defense held them. That tells you right there how important two-minute drills on both sides of the ball are. Anytime you get that kind of work, we had a great crowd last night, it was outstanding to see from the fans of about 6,000 plus, that's the most it seems like we've ever had in a training camp. That was exciting. I think players kind of feed off that and we did some good things. There were certainly some mistakes, but I think the key is that you just have to continue to keep working and continue to try and get better. We had a good practice last night and you can't come back with an average practice the next day, you have to keep getting better. That's what Coach Caldwell encourages us to do and hopefully we can keep doing that."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- the big crowds)
"I think it's great. It makes a difference, I know for me it does and I've got to believe it does for the offensive linemen when it's hot, they're hitting. When you have someone encouraging you or you hear some applause there there's no question that makes a difference for players to kind of push through when you feel like someone's watching and cheering you on. Crowds have been great everyday, and it was great to see after the rainout crowds came back to see the turnout the next night. That's been outstanding and hopefully that will continue throughout camp. I think that helps practice have more enthusiasm and more energy and I think it's great."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- Importance of resigning Gary Brackett)
"Certainly Gary is our defensive leader and he's been our defensive captain for some time now and players feed of his energy, his enthusiasm, his commitment and just passion for the game, so he's been pivotal to our team's success and certainly to our defense's success. He makes all our calls. He's the quarterback of the defense, if you will, and we're certainly lucky to have him."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- Howard Mudd's presence)
"I knew Howard was coming yesterday and I think players enjoyed seeing him. We had a retirement party for Howard back in April with the linemen and a lot of ex-offensive linemen who have played here through the years and me and Dallas (Clark.) So we had a nice tribute to Howard and it all went really well. I think he really enjoyed it."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- Pete (Metzelaars) coaching offensive line)
"I think it's certainly early to answer a question like that. You're talking about a guy who was here 12 years and a guy who's been the offensive line coach for a couple months now. I have to say though I think it is kind of a one, two punch. You know Ron Prince who is the assistant offensive line coach is going to kind of play a role, and Coach Caldwell has given him and Pete certain kind of assignments and I think the two of them together is going to be different. Anytime you have a different coach in any capacity there's going to be a change there, but I think the lineman are getting used to working with those two. I know I certainly am and it's up to the players to make it work. We still have to do what the coaches tell us to do, but those guys are into it and working hard. It's a great opportunity for them and it's important for us to make that transition work."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on- Offensive coordinator change)
"Like I said, you can't say it will be the same because it's a different guy calling the plays, different guy running the meetings every day, and Clyde's been extremely involved in the past year in our office. He's really been in charge of our third down and red zone, so Tom (Moore) has given Clyde a lot of freedom and has given him the ability to have input. Now that Clyde will be calling the plays it will be different, but he's ready for this opportunity and Tom's going to be here as a resource for him, but it will be Clyde's show. Once again it's up to the players. The players have to go out there and execute the offense. If the players can't go out and complete a third-down conversion, you can't say it's the offensive coordinator's fault. The players have to go out and do it. It's always been the players that have to be accountable and go out and do what the coaches tell us to do, but training camp is a great time for the coaches to get to know Clyde as a coordinator and in that leadership role. He's working hard and all the other coaches have to do their parts as well."
