Transcripts of postgame news conferences and selected interviews in the Jets' locker room following their 56-35 win over Arizona on Sunday:
HEAD COACH ERIC MANGINI
That was a little more exciting than it really had to be. I thought we obviously did a really good job in the first half. All three phases, being able to create turnovers, being able to capitalize on those turnovers, being able to block the field goal when they were in scoring position — I was really pleased with all of that.
Moving into the second half, obviously we had some issues there when they went into the no-huddle with the ten-personnel [one RB, no TEs]. I felt like we had a good plan, but we obviously weren't able to execute that plan against that personnel group and they were moving the ball extremely effectively. I was pleased with the offense in the second half, being able to respond and have the two fourth-down touchdowns.
I told the guys I'm very happy for a win. I'm never going to be unhappy when we win the game. We've got a chance here with the bye week to really go back and look at the things we've done over the course of the first quarter of the season and make some progress in all three areas.
On Brett Favre's performance…
I didn't realize he tied that [franchise] record [Joe Namath's six TD passes in one game], but it was a pretty good day for him. I thought the biggest play was the fourth-down touchdown. I thought he did a really nice job selling it with the play action, and the other touchdown late to [Dustin] Keller. But all around, he was able to connect with a lot of different guys. I'm looking forward to continuing that chemistry and building on that for us.
On the fourth-and-1 play for a touchdown…
I thought that the play that we had, I liked the play a lot. I felt like they'd be playing in there tight for the run. With a good hard-sell play action, we'd have a real opportunity to hit it deep.
On if that play showed killer instinct…
We had a lot of chances to execute a lot of things. That illustrated that more. You're always happy when you have that chance and you make that call that the guys are able to execute. It is very specific and the blocking is very specific. It ends up being a one-man route so the sell is so important.
On the relationship between Favre and Laveranues Coles…
They're right next to each other in the locker room. I haven't really seen anything that was different this week as opposed to the other weeks. They get along really well. They've worked together and practiced really well in the time that Brett's been here. I just think as they continue to work together, they'll both appreciate each other's talents.
On how Eric Smith is doing after the collision…
He's OK. Obviously my thoughts are with Anquan [Boldin]. Those are always scary. You never want to see that happen in any game. All of our thoughts and prayers are with him and tomorrow we'll check in on him and make sure he's doing OK.
On what players have surprised him one quarter into the season…
I don't think right now I could give you a quarterly report on the team, but there's been different guys each game and that's what I expect. I expect different guys to perform when needed and we need everybody. It's hard to give a quarterly assessment right now.
On if this is where he thought the Jets would be after four games…
I don't go into it with a set number. We look at each game the same. That's the approach.
On if he has ever seen anything like the second quarter…
Like the second quarter or the third quarter [laughs]? I can tell you I enjoyed the second quarter a lot more than I enjoyed the third quarter. I was a part of both of them and I can tell you I liked the second quarter a lot better.
On if "bizarre" is a word to describe the second quarter…
Are we on the second quarter or the third quarter [laughs]? There were a lot of points scored in a short amount of time. You like them when they're ours and you don't like them when they're theirs. It seemed to take a long time, too, both sides.
On if Favre is capable of performing like this consistently at this point in his career…
I've never dealt with anybody at this point in Brett's career, where Brett is. I don't know what's possible. I know that he's a consistent guy. He's incredibly talented. He keeps working with the offense. I think anything's possible with that group.
On if passing the ball that much was part of the game plan…
Our plan, I know we had some strong elements of that, but it got a little bit heavier in that direction. I can't imagine Arizona's plan going in was to throw as often as they did but it really worked out for both teams.
On if the Jets prepared for Kurt Warner fumbling a lot due to his history…
He's been very good at protecting the football throughout the course of this season and they haven't really turned many over. That was something that I was proud of defensively was our ability, especially in the first half, to get the turnovers that we were able to get because they have done an excellent job at protecting the ball.
On the importance of the win after back-to-back losses…
I'm honest here: Whenever we lose, I'm not really happy and whenever we win I'm very happy. But I don't go into one game or the other thinking this is a got-to-have-it. To me, what I try to convey to the team all the time, they're all got-to-have-its. Every game is important and every game has to be approached the same. I appreciate the difference externally but that's really what we believe in internally.
On Kris Jenkins…
He's done a great job. In the last week, he wasn't able to play that much. He wasn't in the sub package too much in the second half. But the opportunities that he had he always takes advantage of and really worked hard this week to get him to play here today.
QB BRETT FAVRE
On tying Joe Namath's franchise record with six TD passes in a game…
I'm proud of this team and the way we battled today, especially after last week. We knew the offense could score a lot of points. I think it shows the potential of what this team has. It's just one game, but it's a great start. Again, it shows a lot of potential, but I wouldn't look into it more than that. It was a great game, a great win and hopefully something to build off of.
On getting WR Laveranues Coles involved…
I didn't go out of my way. I think you'll see he's a hell of a player. I think everyone knows that. I think our receiving corps in general is very good. He quietly snuck up the ladder with me. He was injured, I didn't get a lot of time with him, and that's been well-documented. I can't tell you how many people within this organization have told me week in and week out "If you just throw the ball to LC he'll make a play."
I didn't go out there today and say, "I'm just going to throw it to LC." On the first touchdown I think he was the second or third read. I looked around, bought some time, had great protection. The guy's a playmaker. Our communication has been great regardless of what people may think. We talk about more things than we have actually gone out and practiced.
So I think it's a work in progress but I think he's a heck of a player. You've got to find a way to get him the ball. There were a couple of plays, the first deep ball I threw to him, that was a designed play to try and get it to him. There were a couple other ones as well, but for the most part he was just being a player.
On the importance of winning before the bye week…
It always seems like when you win a game, or you go into a game like this, you hear the comments "It's a must-win game." When the bye comes, regardless of when it is, it always comes at the right time. This is a little bit early for me and what I'm used to, and I'm not going to say that it's coming at the right time because the only way we get better is to play.
Obviously, practice plays a big part in that but I was limited in practice this week, which was disappointing because I felt like we were making strides. It will allow us another week to work together. I don't know the schedule but it will allow us to work together.
I'll keep saying this over and over, "It's just one game." Don't expect six touchdowns every week. But we as an offensive unit should see and expect a lot out of ourselves. I think this week coming up will be a good week for us to simplify what we're doing right and get better at because there are a lot of things we can get better at — starting with me.
The fact that I get to work with these guys one more week, I think each week we can become better. I just keep saying there's a lot of talent on this team. As long as I play up to par and allow these guys to make plays, we can be pretty good.
On having input on going for it on fourth-and-1…
I always want to go for it, but I had no input. I think I stayed out there really the whole time. They were great calls and sometimes you just have to roll the dice but you won't know unless you try. I felt like our running game was very effective today, obviously our passing game was effective, but our running game was good enough.
The fact that it's fourth-and-1, they can only play one of two ways: They can play defend or they can play attack. They attacked and so did we. It comes down to execution. I felt good about the play. I was more concerned about my execution, especially when I looked up and I saw Jerricho [Cotchery] wide open. I just said to myself, "Whatever you do, give him a catchable ball," because he was wide open.
On Jets fans viewing him as a cult hero in wearing "cheesecake" hats…
For the first time in my career I have no words.
On speaking with Arizona QB Kurt Warner…
I spoke with him before and after the game. I just told him to keep going. As I told him before the game, he's been playing well. We go back a long way. His track has obviously been a lot different than mine, but the guy has played outstanding for that team. That team is pretty good. I was concerned when this game came. That team is very active on defense and obviously they can score points.
I know everyone got a little uneasy with our defense in the second half. But our defense played outstanding in the first half. There may be games like that, there may be halves. The fact that we won it says a lot.
On the ankle he sprained Monday night…
I'm not going to run for 100 yards, not that I was going to do that before. I'm not going to move around as good as I used to, even on good ankles. But it felt OK early. I think the one sack early I scrambled out of and I think [LB] Chike Okeafor kind of tugged on it a little bit, but I'm going to be OK.
On throwing the interception to Okeafor…
I thought it was a penalty. I thought it was a free play. I'm not going to make excuses. How can you think and still try to pull that off? You have to know. I haven't seen the TV copy but it looked like he was in the backfield. I don't know if he was offsides. You guys watched it.
On his overall performance…
Throwing six touchdown passes was awesome. That has nothing to do with how I felt I played. I think it was just one of those games. I played a long time. Guys come up to me in the locker room and ask, "Is this the first time you've thrown six touchdown passes?" Yeah, it is. It's just one of those things.
More importantly, I felt like for the most part the overall game itself, if you take the touchdowns out of it, there weren't a lot of yards out of it. Completion percentage was good but it could have been better. I wish I had that one decision back. Fortunately, we didn't give up any points off of that but it wasn't perfect.
The one good thing I can say about this team that I've noticed in the short time I've been here is after the game last week, guys took ownership for the way they played in the game. I think it's so important we go out there [San Diego], it's a tough loss, it would be easy to point fingers. It's early in the year, but as I've told guys over my career, taking ownership and handling success are more important.
I think there are a lot of things we can get better at. I'm pointing the finger at me first. It was not a perfect game. That game felt like it got out of hand and they made a game out of it. It looked like from the pictures there were some throws I could have made but I didn't. By no means was it perfect. I'm pleased because it was a win. I've won some games before and have been a part of some great wins where I threw no touchdowns and several picks. Those wins were just as sweet as a win like this. A win is a win.
On the conversation in huddle after the Cardinals trimmed the lead to 34-21…
We have a pretty experienced group of guys in that huddle and on this team in general. When I walked into the huddle, they were saying things that any coach would say, what you would say, what I would say — first and foremost, "Let's get a first down. Let's get some type of momentum."
Our defense was obviously struggling — that was an understatement. Their offense at that time was very explosive. We just can't think touchdown, we can't think 20 or 30 yards. We have to think first down and give ourselves some breathing room. I just more or less reiterated that in the huddle: "Guys, let's just get some thing going here."
On the first TD pass to Jerricho Cotchery…
We had several plays in the game that was basically just pick a side. A lot of the things we put in were based on tendency. That play we actually ran against New England. It was a different formation, but we ran it in the first drive. It was a little high to Jerricho, right down in this [west] end zone.
That route is a route I feel I throw as well as the skinny posts. We missed that one in that game, which could have made a difference. We got away from it last week, put it back in this week. We ran it in practice and I missed him again. I kept saying to myself, "Keep it in, keep it in." It wasn't a guarantee that I would go to him. It was really pick a side based on coverage.
LC was wide open on the back route but I don't know if they get more open than Jerricho. It wasn't anything flashy, I just kind of hung it up a little bit. That was one of those I just tried to anticipate the double-post concept. Jerricho runs outstanding routes. He's as patient as any of the receivers I've ever thrown to. That was an outstanding route if you go back and break it down.
On Coles giving him the ball after their third touchdown…
I didn't ask for it. He gave it to me. Not too many times in my career has someone given me the ball. He said, "I don't want to make a big deal out of it. I already have two today. This one is for you." I'll keep it. I'll put it up in my trophy case.
Not to change the subject but I told [tackle] Damian Woody late in the game that I'm very, very happy I'm here. I would have said that last week, too. I was very happy on the flight back that I was part of the New York Jets. I'll say that today, too. That interaction between LC and me, it's always easy when you're winning or in a game like that, if we continue to build together as a team and come together.
Bill Curry [former NFL center and current Georgia State AD] came to speak to us last night and that's the one thing he addressed over and over — team. The one thing you'll miss when you leave this game is the team, the guys you're around. I've been fortunate enough to play with a lot of great guys and good characters along the way. I think this team is full of them.
TE CHRIS BAKER
On the offense…
Guys were getting open and the line did a great job keeping the pressure out of Brett's face. I think we pretty much clicked on all cylinders on offense today.
On the team's confidence entering the bye week…
Obviously, we are happy about it, going into the bye week 2-2. The Cardinals have a good team and we had to get focused for this game. Now that it's over, we can really focus on getting better and becoming more cohesive as an offense.
WR JERRICHO COTCHERY
On thoughts from the game…
We played a great game. We played the game that we're capable of playing. That is the offense that we have been trying to be this entire off-season.
On Brett Favre and his six touchdown passes…
He was dialing it up today. Anyone he wanted to go to he was saying, "You're up next." Everyone was getting ready. He was in one of those grooves. We were in a groove the entire game as a whole offense.
On how nice it was to see how well the defense was playing in the first half…
We have been trying to take advantage of those opportunities they have been giving us the entire year. We haven't been doing a good job of it. Today we capitalized a lot on those turnovers that the defense was giving us. Usually, they have been going three-and-out, but today they were one-and-out, two-and-out, giving us a shot every time, and we were able to make it count.
WR LAVERANUES COLES
On the first half…
You have to give credit to the offensive line. Brett and the coaching staff had faith in getting the ball out to me early. I think they made a conscious effort this week of trying to get me the ball early, and I'm appreciative of that. I'm just thankful I was there to make some plays.
On getting the ball early…
I think it's a little bit of me being a brat. Sometimes you want to be involved a little bit more, but not in a selfish way. I feel like if I'm given the opportunity, I can help this team win some ballgames. I voiced that to the coaches and they heard me. They gave me a chance to make some plays, and I'm thankful they did.
On the season…
It's tough. After dealing with injuries and then the big circus with Brett coming into town [laughs], it's been tough. I've taken it on the chin. I know there have been some things said about me, like not being happy about him coming here, but none of that is true. We've had great conversations from the time he walked through the door. I've done nothing but try to get on the same page with Brett since he's been here, and I'm sure he'd say the same thing.
I'm excited about having the opportunity to play football with a legend. I say it all the time — there's nothing I could do to enhance his career, but there's a lot he can do to enhance mine with everything he brings to the table. Anytime you have somebody like a Brett Favre walk through the door, you have to be excited about it and look forward to the opportunities he is going to bring you.
On the importance of communication with Favre…
I think it's great for everybody. I think it opens a lot of things for everyone. At times during the game when they realize that they are going to try to take me out of the game, things open up for the other guys. I think that's what it's going to boil down to. We have a lot of talent as an offense, and there's no reason that we shouldn't go out and have that type of fun and compete the way we did today. Anytime you have Brett spreading the ball out the way he did, I think it's going to be exciting.
On his second touchdown…
I'm always in Brett's ear as soon as we leave the huddle. If I'm not the first read, I make sure he thinks I am. I know he's getting more comfortable with the offense, and he's giving me the go-ahead to talk to him when I'm coming out of the huddle to tell him what I have. He's allowing me to say what I think I can win on. He's giving me the freedom to run the route and trusting me to get there and make those plays. Now that we've gotten to this point, I think it's just something to build on.
On giving Favre his third touchdown football…
He deserved it. Our offense has taken a lot of criticism. We haven't been as explosive as people thought we would be. It was my third of the game and the first time I had ever had three touchdowns in one game. I had the football in my hands. It meant a lot to me to go back and give the football to a legend and say "Thank you for everything you've done for me." He said he was happy for me, but I'm happy for him because it's great he's here to give me this chance.
On throwing the first touchdown ball into the stands…
I always look for the 87 jersey, so I went and gave the ball to the 87 jersey. Those are the people that hold me in their hearts, and I try to give them the ball as a token of my appreciation.
On speaking with the coaches about getting the ball…
I would like to keep that under wraps. I think that's what makes me the competitor I am. If I didn't want the ball, I don't think they'd want me on this football team. I think every time the ball is snapped, I want it in my hands. Not in a selfish way, because I am willing to go out and block for the other guys or do whatever it takes to win the ballgame.
When the ball is snapped, there could be three guys around me and I'll say I'm open and know I wasn't open. I'm just a competitor and always want the football. Once that burning desire leaves, I know it's time for me to walk away. But it hasn't, and I'm still here.
DE SHAUN ELLIS
On the second quarter versus the third quarter…
It was a major swing. You have to take your hat off to them. The second half of the game was like us last week. We stayed in and kept fighting, scratching and scratching. They did a great job of making adjustments to the game plan. They lit us up.
On scoring so many times in the second quarter…
It was a good feeling. Something we talked about was playing for one another and being able to keep drives going and being able to get off the field on third downs, getting turnovers. It was a good thing. I was happy to be a part of that.
On being able to score on both sides of the ball…
We were rolling. It was a good feeling. We played as complete of a first half as you can play. The second half got us in trouble. They made adjustments. They gave it to us. They gave us a lot of problems. Their playmakers started making a lot of plays. They just kept scratching and scratching.
On today vs. the Monday night loss at San Diego…
Monday night was a complete letdown. It was very frustrating. We wanted to come out and show we are a good football team and we could play. We knew we had a tough challenge ahead of us today with their offense. Their defense is also pretty good. To come out and do the things we did the first half was pretty outstanding.
On the difference between being 1-3 and 2-2…
It sounds a lot different. We go into the bye 2-2 and get a fresh start coming from the bye. We have another home game. We have Cincinnati coming up. We will go into the bye reviewing plays we have been having problems with. Hopefully we can get on a roll.
On rushing Kurt Warner early…
That was the plan, to get to him and pressure him. We knew if we got to him he would give us some plays, and he did just that. But Kurt Warner is a pro. He bounced back in the second half great and started giving us a lot of problems.
DT KRIS JENKINS
On how his back feels after Monday night…
It feels good. Honestly, this past Monday a lot of people were wondering what was happening and what was going on. Just to be plain and simple, this is it. I am not getting younger [laughs]. One of the things I have been realizing, especially over this past year, is that I have to approach the game differently. Sometimes the way I warm up and do some things is going to affect how I play.
It wasn't anything that I thought was super serious. I was a little freaked out at first because I didn't know what was wrong with me, but after we evaluated everything it wasn't something [serious]. I am not going to get into detail because it's not what I am supposed to do, but it's something that's not too common. Just some young athletes and people in general. It was something that I had to work through and get myself back out there. After the adrenaline stops I am going to be hurting, but whatever I can do to help my team win.
On his injury against San Diego…
Actually, I got hurt during the week before practice. I got hurt in practice. I am a stubborn guy. I've been raised that pain is one thing, injury is another. If you're injured and you can't go, then sit down. If it's pain, then just play through it. Sometimes, I will be stubborn and I am going to call it pain and I am going to keep on going.
I should've gone into the training room and I should've had it looked at, but I didn't do that. That is why it caught up to me on Monday night. During this week, I went in there and I got the trainers' help and I got the doctors' help. Thanks to them. I appreciate them working with me this whole week. They got me right and they got me out there working and playing again to be with my teammates.
On his blocked field goal…
I just ran the snapper over. For us, it's down in the line. It's not a glory position for us in the inside. The defensive ends can do some things that look pretty. Everybody sees it: "Oh, wow!" For us, it's going to get nasty and brutal and that's what it was. I ran over him, got some push and put my hand up. I have a beauty mark, but it's going away.
LB CALVIN PACE
On pressuring Kurt Warner…
It felt good. I knew the key to the game was to get some pressure on him. We didn't do it as much in the third quarter, but towards the end we made some plays when we needed to. We got the win. It wasn't pretty, but in the end a W is a W.
On the momentum shift in the third quarter…
When I was playing in Arizona I had seen them do it before. We were down a couple times and [Kurt Warner] would come out in the no-huddle and drive it down the field. It's one of those things that's tough for a defense. The tempo is so quick, it's hard to get plays in. When you have the caliber of guys they have, they have four or five capable receivers that can dink and dunk it down the field. Before you know it, they're in the red zone. Just that quick.
We really played the whole second half in a two-minute drill, which is not what you want to do. Give them credit, give them legitimate credit. We knew they weren't going to quit and lay down. They played a good game. The offense picked us up, scored some more points, and we were able to make some stops when we needed to.
On the importance of the win entering the bye week…
A loss isn't what we wanted, but I don't think that ever sat in anybody's mind. It was about getting the win by whatever means necessary and now we're back even, zero-zero. We need to go forward and make it 1-0 next time we go out there.
CB DARRELLE REVIS
On his first career interception-return touchdown…
I read a good play. It's something the coaches have wanted me to do for a while, get my first interception for a touchdown and it happened today.
On the defense causing a lot of turnovers…
We had a lot of turnovers. The defensive line got to the quarterback well today. We made a couple of plays in the secondary. It's falling together. We just have to keep on pushing and keep working.
On his mindset going up against WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald…
My mindset was just to relax. I knew that I was going to be on both of them in different situations. It's kind of crazy going against the best tandem of receivers in the league. You're going to one guy one play, and the next you have to adjust to what he's playing and what he's doing. It was a fun experience and I enjoyed it.
On what happened from the second quarter to the third quarter…
They adjusted some things at halftime. They were figuring out what we were doing. One thing that we can control is we have to keep on playing our schemes and play it out. We have to dig deep those times.
On Brett Favre throwing a career-high six touchdown passes…
We know Brett is going to do what he does and we just have to rally behind him. Today we made our plays on defense and he did his thing on offense.
On if he kept his first career-touchdown ball…
No, I threw it somewhere. I'm expecting more in the future, so I'll be all right.
S KERRY RHODES
On the defense…
That's more like it. We came after them with some looks and wrinkles they hadn't seen. They did a good job of adjusting at halftime. They picked up what we were doing and they have some explosive weapons that made some plays in the second half, but we made enough to win.
On moving on from last week's loss…
It wasn't that hard. We wanted to get back on the field and prove that we are a good team. Whenever you play a game like that where you play so bad, you just want to get back out there and prove yourself again. We have a resilient group of guys and we went out and did it today.
RB LEON WASHINGTON
On if there are many games like today…
Not at all. You score a lot of points like that, the other team scores a lot of points and we still came out with a win. It goes to show the camaraderie that we have on this team. First half, the defense had our back, forcing turnovers and allowing us to score points. In the second half, things were getting a little shaky. The offense started to score touchdowns. That's what it takes to win games in the National Football League, having each others' back.
On what was clicking in the passing game today…
It started with the offensive line. They did a good job in helping Brett with time throwing the ball. Whenever you give Brett time to throw the ball, he is going to find receivers. The running game got going early with play action. We do certain things to help the quarterback with time. Especially No. 4, he's going to find somebody open. The receivers did a great job running routes. It's good to see the potential that the offense has to make plays.
