Skip to main content
Advertising

Player Quotes - Arrival Day

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on if it will feel more normal to have QB-Peyton Manning for training camp this year after he missed last year’s camp) “Yes, absolutely.

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on if it will feel more normal to have QB-Peyton Manning for training camp this year after he missed last year's camp)

"Yes, absolutely. Playing together as long as we have and as long as he's kind of been the face of the Colts, it'll be good to have him starting out with us, everybody being healthy and all the players who we're expecting to do good things all being on the field at one time."

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on what QB-Peyton Manning does off the field during training camp to help the team)

"I think just his presence helps a lot.  People understand that he's the guy we're going with. Whenever you're starting a training camp or a new season you want everybody there, live bullets.  This is the first time as a team that you can put pads on and show what you have. You want all the guys and all the pieces of the machine working at one time."

* *

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on having Tom Moore and Howard Mudd rejoin the team)

"I think it's huge. Howard and Tom both bring so much experience. Both of those guys have so much knowledge of the game, and we've been so successful as a group with them that I think they just bring a level of expectation with them. We've won big games, we've won championships with these guys. I think they can call guys out and get guys ready to play."

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on if he has missed Howard Mudd this summer)

"I think it depends on how you define miss. I would miss him as a person. I don't know if I would miss his coaching critiques. He has a very interesting way of getting his point across, and to be very frank, I think we need it right now. We did not play well as an offensive line last year. Our run game was probably the worst in the league, and we have to be better than that, and I think it's going to take a coach like that, calling players out and getting players motivated and ready to get our jobs done to get this thing turned around and get the ship righted."

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on if the Colts running struggles last season were more the fault of the offensive line than RB-Joseph Addai and RB-Dominic Rhodes)

"It's everybody. You can pass blame all the way through, but ultimately it is the offensive line. That's our role and responsibility. It would be the same way if Peyton (Manning) was getting sacked all the time. I wouldn't blame it on Peyton even though he may roll out, and he's as slow as they get. That doesn't matter. Bottom line, it is our job to protect him, and it's our job to open holes for Joe and (first round draft pick) Donald (Brown), now. That's what we are here to do, and hopefully we'll get better at doing it."

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on if he still gets excited on his way to training camp)

"Probably not excited. I get excited for the practicing part. I enjoy getting back with guys, and you always enjoy the football part. I don't enjoy leaving my family. I'm 34. I've got three kids at home so I miss my home life. Obviously, that is the hardest part. But as far as the football side goes there is nothing better, the smell of the grass, the early morning dew, all those things that people talk about and read about, that is all true. The smell of the pads and the helmet and the cracking and the noise, that is what I get excited for."

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on what tells him that this is Jim Caldwell's team)

"I think when he first took it over you knew. He is very assertive in his role. He understands what it takes to win in this league. He's been around us so he had already earned the respect. I had worked with him as the quarterbacks coach for so long that I know what his expectations are. I know how he calls guys. He is a very vocal person when compared to (former head coach) Tony (Dungy). He'll call guys out. He'll say things that need to be said in a different way. Both he and Tony have different ways of doing things. I think Jim put his stamp on it from day one, and I don't think it'll be any different as we enter camp. This is his team, and he's got to do what we've got to do and that is win football games."

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on Jim Caldwell having to deal with comparisons to Tony Dungy)

"I think no matter what you do in football you're always going to be compared. The next quarterback is going to be compared to Peyton (Manning), the next center, the next whatever you are, whatever position you are in this game you are always going to be viewed as replacing somebody. I think Jim is a big boy. He knows how to handle it, and I think he'll do a very fine job at it."

C-JEFF SATURDAY (on having OG-Ryan Lilja return)

"I'm excited. Having Lilja with me is a lot of fun. He and I have a good time playing together. We get after it. I love his intensity and his toughness. I'm excited that he is getting healthy, and that's the most important thing. We've had a lot of good times on the field. We've had some good wins and some big games together so I look forward to many more."

* *

K-ADAM VINATIERI (on still being excited for training camp) Sunday, August 2, 2009

"Yes, this is what it's all about. We've been working hard in the offseason and we get to put on the shoulder pads and helmets and I was going to say they get to start smacking heads but I don't get to do too much of the smacking heads, but everybody else gets to do that so it'll be good. I'm excited to be back. I'm excited to watch the guys go and run around and I'm excited for the season to come along. Offseasons are a great thing, a time to relax and stuff, but this is what it's all about for us."

K-ADAM VINATIERI (on recovering from injury)

"We're just going slow back into it now, but we should be ready to go for sure by the time the season starts. We're just trying to make sure we take it slow and get there in time for the regular season and I think everybody has that same mentality."

K-ADAM VINATIERI (on whether his routine has been thrown off or not due to injury)

"I would say I've got a lot less practice this offseason than I have in the past but thankfully for me, I've done it a bunch of years so it shouldn't take too long to get it all back. It's one of the timing things with a new holder and that whole chemistry thing that we haven't gotten a lot of work in yet. We'll do some major catch-up and some major work during the training camp and we'll be ready to go."

K-ADAM VINATIERI (on new Special Teams Coordinator Ray Rychleski)

"I've had the opportunity to work with him the last couple of months and he brings a lot of fresh new excitement, that college atmosphere to it. It will be fun to see the changes that he makes and I think he's getting guys really excited to be back out on special teams, too, so I think it's going to be good for the team."

DB-MARLIN JACKSON (on training camp)

"I think I'll enjoy it even more this year with the long layoff that I've had. When I get out there for the first time, it'll be exciting."

* *

DB-MARLIN JACKSON (on coming back from injury)

"I'm ready to go. I've been working hard the last few months doing a lot of drills and things like that, full-speed cutting, change direction. I'm ready to go and get back on the field. I think that's the last part of my rehab is actually getting back on the field and playing and working back into shape."

DB-MARLIN JACKSON (on injury recovery)

"It definitely does increase your passion, having to work harder than you ever have before. I've always been a hard worker but with this injury, if you want to get back to the level you were at, you have to work 10 times harder than you ever have before. That definitely does increase your love and passion for the game."

TE-DALLAS CLARK (on being excited to be at camp)

"Absolutely. As hard as it is to leave, it's that much as exciting to be here. I don't know why I am, but this year I'm really excited to get this season going, and I don't know why it is. I'm always looking forward to coming to camp and practicing and getting the season started, but this year I'm just really kind of eager so it's exciting. It's great seeing everyone, so let's get this thing going."

TE-DALLAS CLARK (on having Peyton Manning in training camp)

"I think it will be great to have him. I forgot that that was last year, the whole 'Peytongate,' where he was and what was going on. That was a different camp. It had a different atmosphere and not having him at practice and stuff like that so it will be great to have him back. I think it will help him a lot. I think (Jim) Sorgi did a great job last year and handled everything great. He was a great professional about it. That's the best part of camp is having a healthy team coming in and I think for the most part we have most of the guys out there that we need and then the guys that are still taking care of injuries, they're working their butts off to come back, and we're looking forward to getting them back as well"

TE-DALLAS CLARK (on looking forward to development)

"I think that's a big part of it. I think as players, we're kind of excited to see where this team's going to go and what we're going to do and how the players are going to respond with people here and when people aren't here. I think it's going to be a great environment. I think we're all excited about it and ready to get this thing going."

DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on having a good off-season)

"I definitely did. I did a little traveling, got away from things for awhile. You have to do that and just get away for a little bit and then get back and get back into a rhythm."

* *

DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on the first training camp under Jim Caldwell)

"It's going to be a little different. It's going to be a little bit strange not seeing Tony (Dungy) out there but Jim's a great guy, a great coach. He's been around, so it's not like it's a brand new face.."

DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on setting goals or letting things happen)

"I pretty much let it happen. You never know what's going to happen. You just go out there, play every play like it's your last and have fun while you're doing it and see how things shake out."

DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on comparing Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell's camps)

"It remains to be seen. Everything has been pretty similar up until now so whatever difference there is we're going to see."

DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on favorite part of camp)

"Just getting better, coming in, seeing the guys and your whole squad once again and just getting to work."

WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on construction outfit)

"This was my whole idea for camp this year. I really feel like we're going to really have to get dirty. We're going to have to really get into it. I feel like we have to make the blueprint and once the blueprint is made, we already know the site. The site is in Miami. I know that place better than a lot of people. We feel like, let's get the site together and as long as we have the blueprint, the rest is history."

WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on not having Marvin Harrison)

"It does (feel a little different). There's going to be a lot of extra work. There's going to be a lot asked of me, but I'm up for the job. I feel like there's no pressure. I'm going to continue to do the same things I've been doing. Nothing is going to change and it's going to be fun. It's going to be exciting. Like I said in minicamp, I really feel like our receivers are going to share something special. I really do believe that."

* *

WR-PIERRE GARCON (on competing at camp and vying for playing time) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"It's a good feeling, a real good feeling. That's what you want to know coming into camp, (knowing) that you could make a big difference and get better."

WR-PIERRE GARCON (on how OTAs went this spring) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"I was more comfortable, I knew the plays, I knew what I had to do. I was more familiar with what was going on. I was a step ahead."

WR-PIERRE GARCON (on how valuable last year was) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"I learned a lot from Marvin, Reggie and Gonzo. Now I'm putting it all to use and putting it all together and starting a new destiny."

WR-PIERRE GARCON (on his confidence going into camp) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"I'm prepared, ready to go. I know what I have to do and I'm looking forward to it."

WR-PIERRE GARCON (on what he wants to get out of camp) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"The familiarity with each other and the endurance to get through the whole season. But more than anything we want to vibe with everybody else."

LB-GARY BRACKETT (on being back at camp) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"It's great to be back. (I'm) headed into my seventh camp and I'm excited."

LB-GARY BRACKETT (on what he wants to accomplish with the young guys) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"I just want to get some work in myself. I missed the last couple of games, so I've been out since November. Obviously, I'm anxious to get back out there on the field, playing with some of these younger guys, getting used to different schemes.  It's similar to what we've done, but there's a little different terminology, so I just want to get back and caught up to speed."

LB-GARY BRACKETT (on whether there are any concerns with his leg) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

 "No, the leg is fine. I've been rehabbing.  That's pretty much been my offseason, rehabbing everyday, continuing to strengthen it to make it better. Obviously, with any injury you might have some hiccups along the way, but I'm feeling good."

LB-GARY BRACKETT (on whether Coach Caldwell has put his mark on his team) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"I think so. He made his business kind of separating himself, being his own man. Coach Dungy is going to go down as one of the best coaches ever, but obviously with (Caldwell) being at the helm he just wants to do things his own way, by communicating with us, doing things a little different in the meeting room, different types of schedules. He's definitely put his mark on this team."

LB-GARY BRACKETT (on whether Coach Caldwell will always be compared to Dungy) Sunday, August 02, 2009 Training Camp

"I think it will be tough just because we've been so successful under Coach Dungy. In that respect he has big shoes to fill, but I think he's on the right path. And I think we have a lot of people in place to do some good things this year."

QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on whether he's ready for camp or not)

"I'm ready. I think it was a good thing to get our rookie camp that we had the last couple of days to get us going, and obviously to get here and get things going is exciting."

QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on learning everything over again)

"It's kind of like going back and being a freshman in college again. You're coming in and everything's new to you, so it's a very similar experience. You just kind of stand in the shadows for awhile and try to learn and pick everything up."

QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on the OTA's)

"It helped a lot. I think one of the big things that we do here is you go through it so much, all the repetitions and like I said, this last minicamp was a good introduction for us to really get us up to speed for tomorrow. They've been really helpful."

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content

Single Game Tickets On Sale Now!

Single Game Tickets On Sale Now!

Our 2024 schedule is set! Secure your seats to all home games at Lucas Oil Stadium now.

Advertising