(on if he's surprised by how upset the fans are) * *
"No, obviously, we're all disappointed. If I understand the fans and how they feel, every player on our squad is also disappointed. Anytime we lose we're all disappointed. It's not something we're accustomed to, and so we certainly share in their disappointment."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if he can't really take the fan's view into the decision process)
"I wouldn't say that. I would not state that, that way. Our fans have been loyal, have been vocal, very passionate, and although they may not agree with everything that we do, I think when it really counts, when it really boils down to it, when things are on the line, they'll be in our corner, rooting hard for us."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if it will be hard to bounce back at Buffalo)
"I think more so than anything else, we have to look at our preparation during the course of the week, which will not change. We'll work to make certain that we stay sharp in those areas. Obviously, we anticipate that we'll play that game much the same as we did the one yesterday; maybe not entirely, exactly, the same, some things could change, but obviously, right now, where we are is that we're in the playoffs, we have homefield advantage, and our next quest is making certain that we're in great position to do well in the playoffs."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on why the team has made the decisions it has since clinching homefield advantage)
"I think when you look at it, we clinched after Week 11, which was early. That was too early, obviously, to start to pull back. So, we played the games just like you would anticipate we would, and even last week in Jacksonville. But then there comes a time where you have to make a determination on when you're starting to get close, in particular trying to make certain that you're as healthy as you possibly could be. Case in point, had WR-Pierre (Garcon) gotten hurt yesterday, he wouldn't have made it to the first round of the divisional. I think you have to take some of those things into consideration and plot your course from there. Make a decision and live with it."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the risks that come with making that decision)
"I think like anything else in our sport, because it is so visible and has such high interest and great fan level, that there is always going to be several different ways to look at it. I think that's always part of the intrigue about it. That's why you get so much interest. That's why we have so many people here today. But, nevertheless, the thing that we have to do, in the position that we are in, we have to look at it from our vantage point, look at what is most important to us, look at what we think is going to put us in the best position to be successful in the playoffs. That's what we do, and we stand by it and live by it."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on what the risks were for his team)
"The only big risk that I consider in that particular case is No. 1, obviously the reason why we are doing it is because health is a primary concern. No. 2, the only thing that you'd look at as really something that could stagnate you somewhat is whether or not you can stay sharp, whether or not you are still operating on all cylinders, and you have to make that determination. We played them a half. We did not play some guys at all. The guys that were healthy we played. So, we think that we were able to keep some balance there. It's a delicate balancing act between health and sharpness. Those are some tough things to consider."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if RB-Joseph Addai was taken out because of injury or was it pre-determined that he would not play much)
"We'll kind of get a real good look at him here coming up shortly with the trainers taking a good look at him. Let me put it this way, it's a little bit of both."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on RB-Donald Brown)
"I think Donald certainly showed some flashes. It was good that he was able to get back in there and carry the ball for us a little bit. Obviously, he had a big third-down conversion with a catch and run. I think he showed some flashes, had some decent runs. Overall, when you look at his numbers, they weren't great, but he had some pretty key runs. The goal line run was a heckuva run to get in there for a touchdown. He did some nice things for us."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on young running backs having to improve on pass protection)
"I think the toughest thing for them is to make certain that they are really sharp in terms of their assignments, which indeed (RB-Donald Brown) is. Then the rest of it I think comes. He's willing. He does a good job of positioning his body, and I think he executes his techniques well, in terms of pass protection."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on QB-Curtis Painter possibly losing some confidence)
"It's a tough situation, and you can't blame everything on him in that situation, but it was difficult. We tried to make certain that we assured him and talked to him a little bit and told him some of the displeasure was expressed more so at me than him in some situations. We made certain that he understood that. I think overall it was a great learning experience for him. I think he did some good things within the grand scheme of things. Oftentimes, you will find a young guy that does not have an opportunity to play an extensive amount of time, that he has problems getting in the huddle, calling plays, (getting) delay of games and things of that nature. But I thought he managed that aspect pretty well. He had some nice throws, as well. I think it was a learning experience, and hopefully, he'll get a little bit more."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on how difficult it was removing some of the starters)
"I'm one of those guys, it's probably my greatest strength and my greatest weakness, I can focus in, I can narrow my scope, and once you make a decision you have to live with it. Certainly you weigh all the options before. You take a look at all the things that could occur, but once that decision is done you just keep moving."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on TE-Dallas Clark being seven catches short of 100 for the season)
"I know he got his 1,000 yards this year, which was big. Dallas has been great in that aspect. I'm not certain how that will be handled. Oftentimes, we let those things happen within the flow of the game. We'll see what happens come Sunday."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on what it means to the team if TE-Dallas Clark makes the Pro Bowl)
"It's been a great year, and I think he's well-deserved if it does come about, and I suspect that it will and should. He's had some tough competition over the years. There have been some guys at the position that have played really well. I think this year when you look at Dallas and his body of work, he's certainly deserving."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the first team offense against the Jets)
"I think we probably would like to put more points on the board. We had some opportunities, and we just didn't cash in on them. Joseph had a good day running the ball. I think Joe averaged somewhere around six (yards) a carry, so he had a pretty good day. He popped that trap in there for a touchdown. I think we ran the ball fairly effectively during that stretch. Maybe we just weren't quite as sharp as we'd like to be."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on missing some plays)
"I think there were a few things, but we certainly would like to put some more points on the board."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on why he took QB-Peyton Manning out)
"Just in terms of his sharpness and those kinds of things, he's a guy that prepares so hard and so well. He's extremely focused. Our thing with him and several other guys, we're thinking more of staying as healthy as we possibly can, as fresh as we possibly can, going into the playoffs."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on why risk playing QB-Peyton Manning at all)
"That is a thought, but not one that we've entertained and probably won't entertain it. But, nevertheless, we do feel there is an opportunity for him to get in and get a little work and stay sharp in a game-type environment, and that's kind of what we believe in."
