DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (On reports that Gillette Field has been uncovered during recent rains and is very soft and sloppy) 1/13/05
"When the field conditions are a little bit different than usual, I might change a little bit, but I will go out and play. It is kind of relative. If it is going to be slow for us, it is going to be slow for them."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (On whether he would prefer to play on a wet, rainy field or a hard, snowy field) 1/13/05
"I don't think it makes any difference from a footing standpoint. I am not exactly sure how cleats react to a wet field. I guess bad footing is bad footing."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (On the projected absence of DE-Robert Mathis in the New England game because of injury) 1/13/05
"Robert is a big part of this defense. He makes a lot of plays on special teams. We are going to have to find some one to step up special teams wise to fill his shoes. That's big shoes to fill."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (On whether he can make a bad field work to his advantage) 1/13/05
"I grew up in Connecticut where field conditions weren't always the greatest. I am familiar with the cold; I am familiar with bad footing. I am going out there to perform. It doesn't really matter what the conditions are – cold, snow, rainy."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (On playing against New England running back Corey Dillon) 1/13/05
"Dillon is a real good back. He understands where to cut back and he is a hard runner. You have to wrap him up. He is capable of having those big games, those 200 yard games like a few years ago. You have to have good gap protection. He can cut it back any time."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (On the mindset of the team this week) 1/13/05
"We have to play just like we have always done. We can't sit there and listen to the hype. We can't get caught up in, 'This is us versus the Patriots.' We are not really worried about they (had) won 19 straight or whatever. We have to prepare for this game like any other game."
DB-BOB SANDERS (On his impressions of going to New England to play the Patriots) 1/13/05
"It is a good opportunity for me to go out and play well. I have to play my best game. I have to make the type of plays I am capable of making."
DB-BOB SANDERS (On playing in cold, wet conditions) 1/13/05
"I have played in cold weather all my life. In Iowa, it gets real cold toward the end of the season. The guys who love the game are ready to play in any type of conditions. Those guys play well whether it is warm or cold. Some guys turn down hits or don't want to catch the ball because their hands are cold."
DB-BOB SANDERS (On covering receivers on a wet, sloppy field) 1/13/05
"It is tough, especially when the field is not the way you want it. You have to work on keeping your feet up underneath you. You have to be prepared for any conditions. In this league, you will have games when the fields are not the way you want them to be, but the coaches expect you play as well as you would on dry turf."
DB-BOB SANDERS (On whether the defense has gotten a bad rap this season) 1/13/05
"I don't think so. We have gotten better week in and week out. We may not have done statistically what everyone expected us to do, but as a whole we have done well. Toward the end of the season, we were playing our best football. We are improving. We have young guys and we have veterans. Building the chemistry has helped us. The more weeks you play together the better you are. You tend to learn what each player can do. We have built a lot of trust in each other."
