HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the decision to pull the starters) * *
"Well, it's something that I looked at and took a real good look at over the years, in terms of trying to make certain to give us an opportunity to stay sharp. We worked all week, in terms of our preparation, and just felt that if we go into the third quarter with a lead that we'd give our starters a break in the action. The most important thing for us is obviously to make certain that we're operating on all cylinders come the playoffs. That's key. That's important and that's our focus."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if it was a surprise to the starters)
"They knew. We certainly ha talked about it before the game, so they understood. There's not anybody that is on our team that does not want to play, did not want to play the whole way out. Understand that that's the way these guys are. They're highly competitive and that's the way it is."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if there was any talk about reinserting QB-Peyton Manning)
"No sir. Every guy you ask them if they want to go, and they want to go the distance. It's up to us to make the decisions and so we did. The main focus for us is just to make certain that we're ready to go. The most important season obviously is the one that's coming up."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on how concerned he is about the way things went after Manning and the starters were pulled)
"Obviously, we weren't sharp. Returning the kickoff return for a touchdown, that was something that we certainly shouldn't let happen. Then, also the sack-fumble for a touchdown. On those two things it's just our sharpness was not quite there and those are things we'll have to work on."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the plan for next week)
"The big thing is that we're looking at trying to get a delicate balancing act between keeping ourselves sharp and making certain the guys are healthy and ready to go come the first round of the playoffs."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if it is frustrating to see a loss)
"No, it's not frustrating. Anytime you lose, whether its preseason or this kind of a game which has no issue with the standings, you want to win every game. This one got away early. We had chances that we didn't quite hit on. We weren't quite in sync. That is going to happen to people. We started this game with 11 starters who were penciled in to start at the beginning of the season out of the ballgame. That is a hard go under any circumstances, especially against a team like this that has such a veteran and well-conceived and complicated defense. They are going to give you plays from time-to-time, but you have to hit them and we didn't. We were just off a hair. That plus the kickoff return, which was totally on us, was really the story of the game. What happened after that is almost meaningless, not taking anything away from the Jets, they are a heckuva team. We were not sharp today, and that is understandable. We played for 16 weeks as sharp as any team in football. The good thing is that none of this mattered in the standings."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if there was a plan going into the game on when some of the guys would come out)
"(Head Coach) Jim ( Caldwell) was going to make that call whenever he felt that it was appropriate. The call was up to him, and he made it."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on how tough is that call when you're ahead in the game and you have a perfect season)
"The perfect season was never an issue with us. We've said it time and time and time again. It is somebody else's issue, not ours. That was of no concern."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on it seeming to be the fans issue)
"Well, I understand that, but it doesn't mean that it is ours."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if he can understand the fans point-of-view)
"I certainly can, sure I can, absolutely I can, and if I were in row 20, I would probably be rooting for that too. Football logic has to come into play at some point in time."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on football logic meaning that you don't have guys out there with potential for injury when the game doesn't matter in the standings)
"Of course, especially when you're up against a team that is going to give you a lot of complicated stuff and has a lot of veterans that play exceptionally well on defense, and we're minus WR-Pierre (Garcon) going in to begin with and we lose RB-Joseph (Addai) early, fortunately those are not long term injuries. But when you're undermanned against this team, you can get yourself in trouble in a hurry. So, discretion comes into play here and Jim made the call, and that's the way it should be."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if this will be the plan headed into next week's game)
"I don't know. I can't tell you that until we know what the injury situation is. That's something we'll have to decide later in the week."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on why this week and not last week)
"You want to make sure you stay sharp. That was a division opponent on a short week. You can't get backup players ready on a short week. It's a short week traveling. That is very difficult to get people ready to play. To our guy's credit, they went out and played like the devil. Everybody else in the National Football League loses a game every now and then, too."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on referencing this game to a preseason game)
"I did not reference it to a preseason game. What I said was, let's get this straight, every game you play you want to win, whether it's a preseason game or a game like this that has no bearing on the standings for us. That's what I said. I did not liken it to a preseason game."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on it being a tough situation for QB-Curtis Painter to come into)
"Sure, it's a tough spot for him to be in against a veteran defense that does a lot of things. With an offense that we can't, against a team like this, really narrow down. You can't give him the cliff notes version of this offense. We missed a pickup on the fumble for the touchdown. That wasn't his fault. You have to block these people, and they are hard to block. Curtis learned some things today. He got some experience."
TEAM PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if he thought it would be easier for the fans to take if they knew it was coming)
"First of all, I think we made pretty clear that our first priority was to make sure that we got enough work to stay sharp. I'll repeat myself, I think we've made it pretty clear how we felt about 16-0. That's not a goal. It never was a goal. It isn't a goal now. Our goal is later on, and who knows how that will come out, but we want to give ourselves the best shot."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the game/being taken out of the game)
"Well, I was prepared that potentially that could be the plan. I was told to be flexible throughout the game. I wasn't surprised when that news was told to me. We tried to score as many points as we could. Liked to have scored more points there while we were in there. Had a big kickoff return that was kind of disappointing, definitely put us in a hole. We knew that potentially might be just one series in the second half. Could not get points there. I was disappointed we didn't win the game. Certainly put Curtis Painter in a tough position. That is an excellent defense. Tough spot for him to be in. Disappointed we didn't (win) the game. Hopefully we came out healthy which is important. I feel like this was our organizational philosophy that we stuck with. Still had a chance to win the game. Disappointed that we didn't."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he thought he might go back in the game)
"No, I knew once I came out that I wasn't going to come back in."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on not having a chance to play the whole game)
"Until any player in here is the head coach as a player, you follow orders and you follow them with all your heart. That is what we have done as players. The guys that have been here, we support decisions made, and we follow orders. Our orders were to go and win the game. Our orders were not to give up a fumble touchdown, neither give up a kick return. I don't think we followed the blue print for winning this game. Some mistakes on our part in all phases. There are not many games that you win where you have turnovers and give up a kick return for a touchdown. I don't think I have to state that any competitive player wants to be in there to play, but obviously we had some other things that were weighing in the decision."
* *
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on keeping momentum going the rest of the season)
"I can't speak for anything besides what is up coming this week. I thought we had good work in practice this week and thought we did some good things. Certainly against a good opponent today against New York. We obviously would have liked to have scored more points when we got down there. We have been really hot in the red zone. Got a touchdown on that one possession where we got the field goal. I have no idea what the plan is going into next week. I know we will be full go in practice. Anybody that is injured it will be a chance for them to get healthy. Try to stay as sharp as we can in practice and the plan is to go try and beat Buffalo somehow, someway."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the disappointment in not going undefeated)
"I think Coach Caldwell would be disappointed in any player that was not going to be disappointed if you told him he couldn't play in a game. We have a bunch of competitive guys that want to be on the field. At the same time we support his decision and like I said it was an organizational plan, organizational philosophy that we were going with and as players we support that."
* *
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on reaching the 50,000 career passing yard milestone)
"I haven't given it a whole lot of thought. Like I have said before, anytime something like that comes about, I have been very thankful and fortunate to have played with so many great teammates. Certainly tremendous support coaching. There have been a lot of great players that I have played with. Some that are certainly here, a lot that are not anymore. I do think about that time to time. But obviously right in the middle of the season you are sort of thinking about week to week and trying to win each week. But I am thankful to have had so much help along the way."
* *
QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on the game)
"Obviously, the outcome wasn't what we wanted, but it was good for me to get out there and get a little experience, I guess."
QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on not taking the boos personally)
"I really wasn't too worried about it. Like I said, it never is fun to lose. We hate it just as bad. I had a lot to worry about. I didn't really worry about that."
QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on when did he know he was going in)
"They hadn't (made the decision before the game). A little after halftime, they said the starters may go a few more series, and then I'd possibly go in. It was subject to change, also."
QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on the play that he got sacked and fumbled)
"It's an unfortunate situation. He hit me at the right time to force the fumble. They made a great play getting it into the end zone. That's a tough one."
QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on it being a pressure situation to go into)
"Yes, it was a close game, but those are the games you love to play in. I was excited to get the opportunity, but unfortunately it didn't go our way."
QB-CURTIS PAINTER (on his performance)
"I think I did some things well. We completed some passes. As far as the organization of it, I think we did some things well, just not quite enough, I guess."
WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on if it was tough to come out when he did)
"I mean, yes. I don't like coming out. Once I'm suited up, I want to play. This wasn't a normal preseason feel. We had some opportunities where we could have opened the score up. We kind of left some plays out there. We still had it where we wanted it. I mean nobody wants to come out. Everybody wanted to win the game, the starters and the backups. It seemed like the angriest people in the stadium might be the fans. They pretty much took it pretty hard, but everybody feels like they have a part in this. I can understand where they are, but at the same time, if we stand there and guy gets hurt then its 'Why is he still in there?' It's kind of a double-edged sword. Hopefully, we have the formula. I think we do. We're working on the bigger picture."
WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on 16-0 not being the bigger picture)
"No, it just came with the territory. All 32 teams have the same goal, whether you're undefeated or 8-7. Once the playoffs come it's a new season anyway."
WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on how important the regular season record was to him)
"I want to win the Super Bowl, so whatever we have to do to get there, I'll take it. We take care of business in the playoffs and go on to win the Super Bowl, I think a lot of this stuff will be forgotten. There is always a bigger picture, and hopefully, we have the formula for it."
WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on if he thinks the consensus among the players was that they wanted to go for the perfect record)
"We really didn't talk about it. But there is not a season that goes by where people don't mention the 1972 (Miami) Dolphins. I guess tonight we have to hear the champagne bottles pop and them celebrating. Guys want to win, whether there is a streak on the line or not. We fell short today, but now we can focus on getting some guys healthy and getting ready for the playoffs."
WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on Jets' DB-Darrelle Revis)
"He's one of the best. He's a good corner, a good, young corner. He has a bright future ahead of him. Who knows, maybe we'll see him in the playoffs."
C-JEFF SATURDAY (on the loss)
"It feels like a loss. I can tell you that I didn't go out there to lose, that's a fact. It's a loss, we'll go in and look at it, and hopefully get better from it."
C-JEFF SATURDAY (on if he that the offense would take some players out in the second half)
"I had no idea. I didn't know what the situation was going to be. I knew we were going to play and try to win the game and it didn't work out like that."
C-JEFF SATURDAY (on his reaction to putting QB-Curtis Painter in)
"I took snaps with him, and he went in there and did the best job that he could do. We didn't do anything. That's the bottom line. I don't think we got a first down. That's not what we wanted to do."
C-JEFF SATURDAY (on 16-0 not being a goal)
"Our job is to win every game. So, whatever it is, we need to win every game. That's what I've come here to do. That's what I come here to play like, and we didn't win. So, whatever anybody says about goals, my goal every week is to come up and win, and we didn't win."
C-JEFF SATURDAY (on trying to win every game)
"I know when I show up, I show up to win. That's what I get hired to do. That's what I did. We layed it out there, and we didn't win. I'm frustrated with it. We'll look at the film tomorrow and try to get better."
LB-GARY BRACKETT (on losing for the first time this season)
"You just hate to lose. Obviously, for whatever reason we decided to play with it the way we did and we didn't play good enough to win. I think what you take from it (is) if you don't play good football, you get beat. Obviously, we have some things we have to work on and we have to continue to get better."
LB-GARY BRACKETT (on putting the loss in perspective)
"Guys are upset. You never want to lose especially playing later in the year but we understand what our goal is and that's being healthy in the playoffs."
LB-GARY BRACKETT (on the Colts' defensive performance)
"I think we played tough. In the first half, obviously they had about 40 to 50 rushing yards. (In) the second half we let a few get out so we want to look at those that got out and see if we can get that corrected."
DE-RAHEEM BROCK (on things changing after QB-Peyton Manning went out)
"It changed, but we played the way we play. We wanted to come out and get the win, but unfortunately we didn't get the win. But everybody has to understand that our goal is to win the Super Bowl."
DE-RAHEEM BROCK (on if it is tough to see the crowd react the way they did)
"A little bit. You're a fan, you'd like to see your team go undefeated. It's been a great year, everybody is excited. They started clapping. They understand, at the end, we still have the main goal. I'm sure they'll forget about everything else if we come back with a ring."
DE-RAHEEM BROCK (on how much he knew about playing time going into the game)
"We didn't know to much. We just played like we played until the coaches pulled us out. So, everybody tried to play 110 percent until it was time to come out. We tried to make some plays and win the game, but unfortunately we couldn't come up with the win."
DE-RAHEEM BROCK (on the defense resting some people today)
"We rested a couple of guys, but we still played pretty well. It ended the way it ended. Like I said before, we just have to get ready for the playoffs and get ready to that next goal."
DT-ERIC FOSTER (on the loss)
"We're all banged up. You want to fight for it. You want to stay sharp. I think we did a good job today as far as the defense. We're just looking forward to the next game against Buffalo."
DT-ERIC FOSTER (on the defensive injuries)
"It's tough but we have that next man up mentality. Obviously, we miss them and they'll be back healthy and strong for the playoffs."
DT-ERIC FOSTER (on putting the loss in perspective)
"Obviously, we are disappointed. We all wanted to go out there and win that game and continue that streak. We still have goals that we want to accomplish. Our main goal is to win the Super Bowl."
DB-KELVIN HAYDEN (on resting the starters)
"Guys felt like they wanted to go out there and compete. We are a competitive group. Guys want to get better. Guys want to compete. Guys want to win. It is what it is but that's why players play and coaches coach."
DB-KELVIN HAYDEN (on the Colts' ultimate goal)
"We have to look at the bigger picture. It's better to get it out of the way now than come January. The thing is there's a lot of stuff we can work on. The thing is also we want to be clicking when it's time."
DB-KELVIN HAYDEN (on Coach Caldwell's decision to rest starters)
"It was his call. We're behind him 100 percent and we just have to move forward."
* *
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on the decision to rest starters)
"Every time you go out there and compete you want to go out there and get a win. You want to make history but Coach Caldwell made a decision and we rolled with that. He's been leading us all year and has been a great head coach. There's no need for us to question him or a decision that he makes. We go out there (and) whatever he tells us to do we go out there and do it."
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on the final regular season game at Buffalo)
"We're looking ahead for Buffalo. That's our next opponent. We're not looking over them. Tomorrow we'll come in and watch the film and make our corrections and get ready for Buffalo."
