Transcript of quarterback Tim Tebow's news conference at his locker following the Jets' Wednesday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Training Center:
On facing Pittsburgh's defense…
It's a big-time challenge. They're a great team. They've got a great defense and a lot of great players, a lot of veterans. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I think we are as a team and definitely as an offense.
On how big of a factor the Wildcat may play in the game on Sunday…
Whenever you get called on, you want to be able to go in there and be effective and efficient and you want to help the team to try and get a victory. You do that by creating first downs and hopefully being able to get in the end zone.
On if the success from last week can help the team this week…
I think it's definitely something positive. It's something to remind you that everything is going in the right direction and to continue to keep working hard, keep getting better every day in practice, so when Sunday gets here, we're ready to go again.
On his memories of the Broncos-Steelers playoff game from last year…
You'll always have memories of that game. It was a special game and a special win. A lot of fun times were had. But now it's a new season, new opportunity, new challenges, so I'm looking forward to the game and I think we are as a team. They're a great team and create a lot of challenges for an offense. We're going to have to really prepare and be mentally on our game and physically because they're a very physical team as well.
On what he proved against the Steelers with the Broncos last year…
I don't know. It was just a big win for us. It was the first playoff game I've been able to play in. It was a lot of fun. It was something that I'll always have great memories from. Again, that was in the past and that's where I'm going to leave it for right now. We're just focused on this game, trying to beat a great Pittsburgh Steelers team this week.
On if this is a barometer game …
They're definitely a very good team. I don't know if that's exactly right. This is the second game of the year for both of these teams, so we're both learning, we're both improving, we're both trying to get to where we want to get to. They're a great team, so it is a great challenge.
On if they will add to the Wildcat this week…
I don't know. We're just going to keep working hard and put together a great game plan. For me, I'm just going to do whatever I'm asked to do.
On if he is content with his role…
I'm definitely competitive, but the number one thing to help competitiveness is winning football* *games. However I can help this team to win football games, that is the ultimate goal. That's why we're all here, to win the game. Whatever I can do to help us win football games, that is what I'm going to do.
On playing many roles this season…
It's something that I've had to do before. My first year in Denver and my first four games last year, and also my freshman year at Florida, I had a role similar to this. It's something I've had to do before and I just try to do it to the best of my ability.
On if it is harder not being the starting quarterback after his success last year…
I was blessed and we were blessed as a team to do some really neat stuff. This is a new opportunity, a new team, and I'm excited to be here. I'm not looking back at the past, I'm just trying to do the best I can with the present and look forward to the future.
On if he ever had a game where he didn't throw a pass…
Yeah, there we're some games in my rookie year for sure. Actually, when we played the Jets, I scored against them, but I don't think I threw a pass. There's some games where I didn't throw. You just have whatever Wildcat plays and run those.
On how much of the offense they showed against Buffalo…
I don't think it was a high percentage. I think it was what we were trying to execute at the time. After we had quite a bit of a lead, I think it was a little bit more vanilla there.
On if he'll see different coverage on Sunday than he did last year…
It will be interesting to see how they game plan us. I think there's a lot of different ways. They're a very aggressive team in nature, a very physical team in nature. For them, you want to be who you are, and that's an aggressive team, a very physical team. Overall, they're not going to change too much how they play.
On if he'd like to throw against Pittsburgh…
Whatever is going to work, and whatever I'm asked to do.
On if he watched the Pittsburgh game last Sunday…
I didn't see it Sunday night, but I've watched the film, yes.
On if it's weird to watch the Broncos…
I try not to watch it like that. I just watch it as I'm viewing the defense and the Steelers, and try to watch it like I'd watch any other game. I'm happy for those guys because I have a lot of friends on that team. I definitely wish them well and can root for those guys. I still talk to a lot of them.
On Denver's Von Miller's celebration after his sack…
I heard about it. Von and I are very close friends. He's an awesome guy and he's a great player. By the time he's done playing, I think he's going to have a good chance to be one of the greats. I wish him nothing but the best.
On if Miller's celebration was a tribute to him…
Yeah, I guess. We're close and I wish him nothing but the best. I'm happy for him.
On getting more media attention than Mark Sanchez…
I really try not to view it like that. I just answer the questions that I'm asked. Whatever they tell me to do, I do. I'm blessed to have this support. I really appreciate it.
On how he fits in in the locker room…
I feel like I'm fitting in great. I've got a lot of support. There are great guys in this locker room and I'm glad to be a part of it.
On what clicked against Pittsburgh's defense last year…
I think we opened it up a little bit more too in that game, because we knew they were going to be physical up front, so we were going to have to try and open it up, and we did. We were able to hit some big plays. I think we continued on that path, I think we still were balanced in that game, but we took our shots and we hit them in that game. I think that's something when you're playing a team like that, that is that good up front, and shows you so many looks, when you get your opportunities for big plays, you have to capitalize and hit them.
On if people who view him as a running quarterback saw a different dimension when he threw for 316 yards…
Hopefully, not in the fact that numbers, because numbers can get skewed based on a lot of things, but just in hitting a pocket and trying to make throws down the field, whatever the situation was, and just trying to find a way to win the game.
On if he has ever tried to emulate Ben Roethlisberger…
He's a great player. I've watched Big Ben a lot, just the way he plays, the way he handles himself. I think he's a great quarterback. Obviously, when you win Super Bowls like him, you're doing something right. He's also someone that is very clutch. I think that's probably one of the greatest compliments I could say about him. He's someone who, when the game is on the line, he's always playing his best. I think that's one of the best things I can say about him.
