Transcripts of conference calls from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick to New York Jets reporters on Wednesday afternoon:
PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY
On how long the playoff loss to the Jets has stuck with him...
I think we've moved on from that game. It's a new year for us. It's a different a team. It's a different Patriot team, it's a different Jet team. We're excited to play. It's a very important game for our season. It's a division opponent. We'll be excited to play when we see them on Sunday.
On what the Patriots offense can improve upon…
I think we've definitely taken advantage of some opportunities. We've been pretty good in getting the ball in field position this season, from our defense and special teams. I don't think we've done a great job of really taking advantage of making those scoring opportunities for us. We've got five interceptions. Obviously, we've been very good at this stage of the season. We can definitely be more efficient in all areas.
I thought last week we did a good job of getting really balanced. We're still trying to figure out ways to make improvements, incorporate all of the guys into the offense, every receiver, every tight end, every running back that's on the roster needs to be able to contribute. At times we've done it more consistently than others. We're going to need to do it this week. Everybody who's on the active gameday roster is going to need to contribute.
On why the Patriots have used Wes Welker more vertically this season…
I think we sent him deep last year, too, and teams have covered him. I always feel like the guys who are going to get the ball are the guys who are open. When Wes has a vertical route and he's open, I throw it. When he has a short route, I throw it. It kind of goes for everybody. I really try to keep my eyes and scan the entire field, so whoever I see who has a matchup that we like and if that guy's open, then he's the one who gets it. Wes has made some big plays for us getting down the field this year. Hopefully we can continue that.
On his chemistry with Welker…
It's pretty easy for Wes to have chemistry with any quarterback. He's an exceptional player, very smart. He's very tough. He understands the concepts of the routes, the thinking behind the routes. If he gets a good matchup, he has very good quickness and a very good burst of speed to be able to get open since the day he's got here. He's had a ton of catches since he got here. Obviously, he's a huge part of what we try to do every week, advance the football.
On how comfortable it is for him to have a player like Welker…
You'd really like to see everybody contribute equally. I think that's kind of what makes an offense most dynamic is when everybody is able to contribute. Wes has had some really big games for us this year. He's been getting open quite a bit. I think everyone's got to share the load, especially when you play a defense as great as the Jets defense. They really put a lot of pressure on us in a lot of different ways, and they force you to find the matchup. They've got a lot of guys that can cover well man-to-man, so we're really going to have to try to use everybody this week. I'm sure they're going to be focused on Wes.
On how things are going for Chad Ochocinco and if he is picking up the offense…
Yeah, he's fun to have on the team. He's made some plays for us this year. Every week he seems to get more comfortable. It's kind of a tricky situation with the offseason and getting the plays, no camp and so forth. He's really worked hard to get up to speed with what we're doing and hopefully he can make some plays for us this weekend.
On how he has been able to get over the loss to the Jets in last year's divisional round…
Honestly, it's pretty far out of my mind at this point. You watch it, you study it, but the emotional part of it I've kind of put off. I'm very much into what we're trying to do this year and trying to understand what their defense is trying to do this year. There is not much we can take from that game emotionally last year that can help us this weekend.
On if he had any comments in response to Antonio Cromartie saying he feels the same way about him as he did last year…
No, I don't.
On if the defense's struggles has put any more pressure on the offense…
Definitely not. Coach Belichick has always stressed that we do our jobs. My job is that I have to play quarterback for our team. Fortunately, I never have to worry about our defense or our special teams or our coaching. I just have to focus on playing quarterback, and that goes for everybody at their positions. It's not how you complement each other offensively, defensively and on special teams, just make sure that you're handling what you're asked to do. You're never able to do anything during any other parts of the game, so the player that I need to be for our team is to be the best quarterback that I can be. I can help the team more than anything by doing that.
On the development of Stevan Ridley…
He made some plays for us last week. He's a young player, so he has to work extra, like I said, because he didn't have much of an offseason this year, but he's working hard to understand everything that it takes to be a running back in the NFL. When he gets the ball, he does some pretty good things with it.
We have a good stable of backs with Danny [Woodhead], Benny, BenJarvus [Green-Ellis], who is really a great runner for us, and then Shane Vereen, who hasn't had many opportunities either, but that entire group is a great group of backs. They all run hard. They all run with power. They all have good vision and they're a big part of our team.
On how Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez complement each other and help him…
Well, the tight end position is really the key to the offense, because the tight end, they're so involved in the pass blocking, the receiving and the run blocking. A good tight end does a lot for your offense. So all the successful offenses have tight ends that are dynamic players. The Jets have one in Dustin Keller.
Rob and Aaron have made a lot of strides this year. They're both good players for us. They're making the plays needed, they're getting open, home runs, they're able to get open. And equally as important for us, they take the running game very seriously. And as blockers, they're oftentimes going up against guys that are bigger than them. But they're ready for the challenge and they do their best.
On if it is a unique atmosphere when the Jets come to New England…
We've had so many great games against them, it's just a great vibe for it. I think there are so many players that have changed teams over the years, coaches. There have been a lot of important games against them. We play them twice, obviously, a season, and plenty of times we've played them three times. So it's just a team we're very familiar with, and the team that executes the best and blocks and tackles, covers, gets big passes, that's what it comes down to. We're not going to trick each other. I think we know each other too well.
On if he sees himself playing into his 40s…
A lot of times, I hope so. That's my plan. But a lot of times the man above has a different plan. I love playing. Hopefully I'm playing a long time. I'm most excited when I'm able to line up every week. I was a jerk while I was out an entire season. I just love playing the game, I love being able to take the field each weekend. Every time I come off the field healthy, you're appreciative of that, because a lot of guys, it doesn't happen over the course of a full season.
On his relationship with Peyton Manning…
Well, we've known each other for a long time, so we exchange messages from time to time. I admire him greatly for the way that he plays the position. I know the sacrifice it takes to play this position and play it well. So I always say I wish him the best of luck getting healthy.
On if he feels like he is playing at the top of his game…
No, early in the year there are a lot of things that I need to do better and that I'm working to do better, and hopefully it's good enough this week.
On if he has been in touch with Manning…
I think that we have exchanged a message over the last couple weeks.
PATRIOTS HEAD COACH BILL BELICHICK
On if last season's playoff loss to the Jets has stayed with him…
Of course. You never want to end your season the way it ended for us. That game's in the past. Nothing we can do about it. Time to move on and face the challenges we have this week.
On if he looks at last year's game while preparing for this week or if he only focuses on this year's teams…
It's a combination of all those things. We played them three times last year. There's certainly things to be learned from each of the three games. And then there are things to be learned from what we've seen from the Jets this year in preseason and their four regular-season games. They have a couple of new faces, a couple of things that are different from what they were last year. It's us matched up against them, so there's a lot to be learned from those views as well. It's a combination of the two.
On how Rex Ryan's plans to get back to the "Ground & Pound" affects his game plan…
Well, we know they can run it and we know they can throw it, so we're going to have to defend all of it.
On what he sees from the Jets-Ravens game video…
I think Baltimore is kind of one of those games. Unfortunately, we've all had a few of those along the way. It was a good night for Baltimore and not as good a night for the Jets. I'm sure that they'll bounce back. I don't think that's really indicative of their team. I wouldn't put too much stock in what happened Sunday night. I think the Jets are a good football team and I know they are capable of playing a lot better than that. I'm sure they'll play better than that against us this week.
On how much of a factor Shaun Ellis' performances against New England were in deciding to sign him…
Shaun has been a good player for the Jets since 2000 when he came in to the league. He has definitely played well against us. He's played well against a lot of people. He's a good football player, so I'd say that was the main point with Shaun. Shaun is very professional, a real smart guy as you know, hard-working. He's a great asset to our team. I'm glad we have him. He's made a great contribution. He's a solid team member. He's very professional, does everything right and does what we ask him to do. He not only works hard to improve himself but also helps his teammates and some of the younger players. I think it's all those things.
On if he thinks Tom Brady is anxious for this game after saying how much the playoff loss to the Jets bothered him…
I think we're all anxious to play every Sunday. We only play once a week. We put a lot of time, work and preparation into the six days that lead up to Sunday, or whenever the game is, so yes, of course. I think Tom will probably say the same thing about any postseason loss.
On if his offense's performance is where he expected it to be…
We've done some good things. There are certainly a lot of things we can improve on, but every week is a different matchup, so how we match up against the Jets and what we do against them will be different than any other week has been. We have new challenges this week. Where the offense was or wasn't last week, a month or go or anyplace else, it's really where it is on Sunday afternoon and how we do relative to the opponent this week. That's really where our focus is, to try to maximize our opportunities Sunday against the Jets, try to create some opportunity, take advantage of some things that they do, or if they make a mistake, be able to capitalize on it, and be prepared for all those situations.
On where his coaching battle against Coach Ryan ranks with other coaching battles he has had…
I don't rank them. I just try to prepare our team for each game and do the best that we can during the week to be prepared, go out and make good decisions and help the team win on Sunday. What's important to me are the final results and trying to help this team win. That's what we ask all our players to do and that's what I try to do. I'm sure Rex is trying to do the same thing. He's a good coach and they're a good football team. It should be a great matchup on Sunday.
On if he expects the Jets to play with an extra sense of desperation since they have lost two in a row…
It's the fifth game of the season. I think that word is a little strong.
On if he thinks the Jets will play with more of a sense of urgency because it's a divisional game and they have lost two in a row…
How can there not be urgency when you're playing a division game?
On if he expects Nick Mangold to play…
Of course. We're preparing for everybody.
