Transcripts of midday conference calls by Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin with Jets reporters on Wednesday:
QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER
On the toughness of the Steelers to get through the adversity early in the season…
I think it's a credit from top to bottom. It starts with the Rooneys and a family that's been here for so long, the rich tradition, the coaches and the players. We're a close group.
On if he identifies the Steelers during his years as a "tough" team…
We try. We're kind of the identity of this town, hard-nosed, blue-collar, working-class people. That's what we try and do. We're just like the people that we represent.
On if he has been encouraged by the support he has received this year…
It's been great. We try and play the game as hard as we can amongst each other. We're a good team.
On what Santonio Holmes meant to him when they played together…
That's great to remember that [the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLIII]. That play will be remembered for a long, long time and it's awesome to be a part of. Tone was a great teammate, a great football player, and he brought a lot to help me every week on Sundays, whether he was a bailout guy or a guy to throw it deep, to make plays. Really a special kind of football player and I'm glad that he's doing well up there in New York. Obviously, he's missed.
On his initial thoughts when Holmes was traded to the Jets…
Shocked. You never want to lose a guy, especially a friend and a player who is that good, so it was shocking news.
On what concerns him about the Jets defense…
Everything [laughing]. They're a great defense. Obviously, facing Coach Ryan so many years at Baltimore, it's like we're playing Baltimore again. They're a phenomenal defense with great players, great schemes, blitzes and a huge challenge for us this week.
On what he has seen from Mark Sanchez and his progression in year two…
I think he's a very good quarterback. I think he's making progress every year, from last year to this year. I think everyone goes through those rookie hardships and it didn't seem like it was ever going to hit him. I think this year he's done a great job of leading his team and doing what they ask him to do at the quarterback position.
On what it would be like playing against Troy Polamalu…
Well, Troy is a special kind of guy. It's fun watching him play and I'm glad he's on my team.
On why Holmes is a good player…
I think it's his football IQ. He knows the game. Whether it's playing with me when I was scrambling around and him just finding open areas or the ad-libbing that he and I would do and know what each other was doing. There were times we would come in Monday after a game and Coach would be like "You guys completely did the wrong thing, but it worked for a touchdown." We had a pretty good chemistry.
On Holmes wanting to prove something in Pittsburgh on Sunday…
I'm sure he'll be excited and amped. From knowing him, he gets up for every game. I don't think it will be too much different, but he'll have a little extra there for the fans.
On how the game affects the AFC playoffs…
If you're talking to us about playoffs, it's not about that for us. For us it's about winning another football game. That's the approach we've taken during the last four or five weeks. It's just let's get to 1-0. Right now that's my No. 1 goal, to get to 1-0 and see what happens after that.
On the Jets being outspoken…
No, they are a great football team and I've played against Bart Scott for a long time. If you're a good football team, you can talk if you can back it up, which they do.
On his nose…
It's not bad. It's still there [laughing]
On playing at Heinz Field…
You never know what you're going to get with the elements, wind, snow. That's one factor, I think. The fans get really loud. That's another good thing for us. I think the field can always be a homefield advantage because you never know what you're going to get. It could be torn up, all mud or all sand, you just can't be sure. I think unless you're used to playing on it, it's a little different.
HEAD COACH MIKE TOMLIN
On the decision to trade Santonio Holmes to the Jets…
We thought it was best for all parties involved. Obviously, he had one year remaining on his contract, a portion of which he was going to miss. We had an opportunity to get value for him. We realized we were potentially going to weaken ourselves at one position. Our hope was we would eventually strengthen ourselves at another position, which is ultimately what we did. We used that pick to acquire Bryant McFadden, who's a starting corner for us. We were optimistic about what Mike Wallace was capable of becoming. I think he and some others have done a nice job in stepping up and making the kind of plays Santonio is capable of.
On if Holmes is still the same player he was…
He's a dynamic playmaker, no doubt.
On the keys to getting through the first four games of the season without Ben Roethlisberger…
I think it just speaks to the fact that we're just that, a team. We acknowledge that we're going to miss guys from time to time for one reason or another. It's our business to win. That's what we intend to. For the most part, we were successful over the course of that first month. Of course, we fell short against the Ravens.
On the Steelers' aggressive defense…
We have a bunch of good players that play well and play well together. They love to play to football, they love to compete. I think the tape bears that out. It's fun for them. They enjoy the challenges of trying to get after people.
On if responding to adversity is the benchmark of a good team…
I think it's a benchmark of a good team, regardless of what sport you're talking about. Adversity is as much a part of sports as anything else. Your ability to respond to it is critical in terms of what kind of team, or really what kind of player, you are.
On Mark Sanchez and how he affects the Steelers' game plan…
You guys kill me with those questions (laughter). This is a talented young guy. He has a tremendous arsenal of weapons. They haven't performed as well as they would've liked over the last several weeks. I think the same thing could be said for our quarterback and his arsenal of weapons. That's what makes every Sunday exciting and that's why we prepare on Wednesday.
On how the offense has changed without Holmes…
It hasn't changed at all.
On the Steelers' homefield advantage…
We appreciate our fans. We believe we have the greatest fans in the world and they provide a hostile environment for us. All of the other things are irrelevant. If the weather is bad, it's bad for both teams. If it's raining, it's raining on both teams. Those are just variables to the game.
On if he envisions the game being a defensive battle…
I have no idea. I try not to go into the game with any preconceived notion about how it's going to unfold. What we like to do is put together a good plan that plays to our strengths and minimizes our weaknesses based on our opponent and be light on our feet. I think that's all that any team tries to do, particularly this time of year when people are fighting for positions.
On what he's seen from LaDainian Tomlinson…
He's a great player.
