Transcripts of selected interviews with Jets players during the locker room media session before Wednesday's midday practice:
P BEN GRAHAM
On when he received the call back from the Jets…
When I was on a high school football field [in San Diego] punting with Darren Bennett. They tried to contact me, my agent and Darren. As it turned out they contacted Darren's wife. She came racing down to the high school field and she said, "You'd better answer the phone."
It's quite the turn of events. It's the first time in my 18th professional year as a sportsman that I have been released and it's certainly the first time I've been re-signed in a week.
On if he could describe the emotions of coming back…
Not really. It's only something that my wife and I would really understand, but that's why I went and saw Darren. He understands that situation. He has been there. There are only a few of us that can when you're 15,000 miles away from home. You come from a sport that what you do is engrained in you. You come here and you sort to want to believe that it's the same game or same sport, but it's not, it's different. It's a business and I caught on the end of that [last] Tuesday, but all for the right reasons.
Things happen for a reason. The Jets wanted to move me and that's understandable. I had a bad game against the Patriots. I went back preparing for the next opportunity and as Coach Mangini said, "Things change quickly and they change back." I was ready for the next opportunity and it came by the Jets.
On if returning to kick for the Jets at San Diego was awkward…
Of course it was. How would you feel being fired from your job to be hired three or four days later [laughing]? It's awkward, but it's familiar. The guys were great. I understand the situation. They are happy to have me back. For how long? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Today I will be preparing like I do every other week.
DT KRIS JENKINS
On if he is feeling better today than he was Tuesday…
I am feeling better and I have been getting treatment working on it. I am not at liberty to go into detail about anything, but I am taking it day by day doing the best I can. Obviously, I am not on IR so it's a plus [smiles]. I am working on it day by day and doing what I can to get back on the field with my teammates.
On how tough it was to watch the game from the sidelines…
It wasn't easy. It's hard when you go through training camp where you do a lot of things, where you're basically fighting with, for or against the teammates to get to a place to be successful and you don't feel like you can contribute. It is a difficult thing to deal with.
I've had some past experience sitting on the sidelines with an injury. I have no choice but to shake it off and the guys understand. If it would've been a situation that I was up and ready to go, I would have been out there. It was something at that time we were kind of saying otherwise.
On the timing of the injury…
The timing of it wasn't perfect. It got aggravated during the game. It didn't want to act right after that. It will be OK. I can't go into it, but I can say it's not something that was a first-time occurrence. It's something that I have dealt with before in the past. It's something I have to work through and I know how to get through it.
On if he believes he was close to coming back into the game…
That is accurate. It was real close. If I would've had to or if I felt like I absolutely needed to get back out there, I would've had to sacrifice myself a little bit and deal with the pain. It was a call on the sideline and I had to roll with it.
LB CALVIN PACE
On if it will be weird facing the Cardinals…
Probably until after the first play. Get that first one out of the way and realize that I am not on the team and play them like anybody else.
On how much he is looking forward to getting back on the field Sunday…
I am looking forward to it a lot. We have to get that taste out of our mouth; move on. We have more games to play and put that past us, learn from our mistakes and get better.
On if this was the first game he circled from the beginning…
I was looking forward to it. I am still looking forward to it. It's not anything about revenge. I am looking forward to going out and playing against a lot of old friends to compete and have a good time against those guys.
On if he wants to prove the Cardinals wrong…
A little bit. It was a business move and they had some things they had to do business-wise. I don't have any hard feelings towards them in that aspect. It's a game. If I was going to take it that way, I would be mad at everybody for not drafting me. It's another tough game.
On how familiar he is with facing the Cardinals offensive line…
I am familiar with what they do and what they like to do against other guys. I saw them every day in practice. They are the same group of guys that were out there last year.
Pressure is definitely a must this week because if Kurt Warner has time, he can go out there and pick you apart. We have to come together as a defensive line and linebacker corps and get as much heat on him as possible. It's not necessarily about sacks but getting hands in his face, hits and getting him a little riled up.
