QB-PEYTON MANNING (on this Saturday's preseason game against Detroit being a dress-rehearsal for the regular season) * *
"They told us we're going to play into the third quarter this game. So far, today has been just like what a normal Wednesday would be for us. From a preparation standpoint, we're studying Detroit just like we would the Jaguars. You're a little limited what you can study film-wise, you just have two games, but there are similarities to what the Tennessee Titans did. It's a new scheme and new coaches. I think it is good for the young guys to see what the routine is like and good for the veterans to get you back in the normal routine of everything you used to do during the regular season."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the importance of getting quality work in this week and at Detroit)
"We all know (next week) is going to be a short week. I know coaches will still be evaluating players all the way until the end and the last two cuts, but I know for the veterans this is a really important week to get you ready for the season."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on what the team needs to get accomplished against Detroit)
"I think we'd like to win the game again. That's first and foremost. Offensively, we'd like to see a number of different situations. We'd like to continue to move the ball, protect the ball better. I'd like not to fumble the ball and just go down there and score some touchdowns. Like I said before, it would be ideal if we got a little bit of everything, a two-minute drill before the end of the half, a couple of third-and-ones and get some red zone work. The main thing is to try and move the ball, get some different guys in there playing, different receivers and running backs and tight ends, and get everybody comfortable before the season opener."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on thinking that it is better to just go ahead and play right away as a rookie quarterback)
"Certain situations are different, but I can just speak for what I prefer, and Eli (Manning) can give a different perspective. He sat for 10 games and started for the last six, and he said what he learned in the six that he played far outweighed what he learned in the 10 on the sideline. He said you just can't quite tell just how fast these defensive players are and just how confusing the blitzes are. That sort of reinforced what I thought. The best way to learn is to play. I remember how uncomfortable it was my third preseason game against the Chargers. I don't recall the stats, but I remember they weren't very pretty. I threw two to the Chargers. I think if you don't play, you're going to have that uncomfortable game, whenever it is you do. I think the sooner you do it, the better off you're going to be in the long run. Different coaches have different plans. Both (Matthew) Stafford and (Mark) Sanchez are similar to myself and Eli in that they are coming in with new coaches and new systems, which I think is an advantage because you can know the system as well as all the veterans. That's kind of a benefit for a rookie quarterback."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he's seen any changes in Coach Caldwell since he became the head coach)
"I think we'll continue to learn more about Coach Caldwell as a head coach. I think he'll continue to learn more about a number of our other players. As a quarterbacks coach, he was familiar with some of the main offensive guys, but mostly just quarterbacks. I see him talking to defensive players a lot getting to know them, and I see him taking a lot of guys off to the side and giving them individual coaching. We're getting used to his team meetings. You're starting to hear some of the things that he likes to repeat over and over again, the things that are important to him. I think it's still early in the process. I can give you a better answer towards the middle or end of the season."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on what Coach Caldwell repeats over and over)
"He's really big about having the intensity up, being up-tempo, being sharp on the details. No earth-shattering clichés or phrases there. Those are things that he always used to remind me as a quarterback and things I've always believed in. I think the team is responding to that."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on Senior Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore coaching from the booth now on game days)
"He's done it for two games, and we'll do it this Saturday, so we're kind of adjusting to that. (Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers) Clyde's (Christensen) in my ear. He's getting the play from Tom and calling it into me. That's the main difference."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he misses having Moore call the plays into him)
"He's just done it for two games now, but Clyde is just echoing what Tom is saying."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on changing the approach to work in the two new wide receivers)
"We've just spent a lot of time working with them, not just in the preseason, but going back to the offseason, the OTAs and the individual workouts. Every practice during the preseason, every repetition in these games, is important to try and get on the same page and feel comfortable that they are going be in the place where I want them to be, and for them to feel comfortable hearing the audibles from me. I think the more times you do it is going to pay dividends for you. It's such an evolving offense and constantly changing. Reggie (Wayne) and Dallas (Clark) are used to hearing everything, but these young guys, you can't take for granted how important each repetition is for them."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he was surprised that Brett Favre returned to the NFL)
"No. Was anybody? A guy asked me the other day about me writing letters to retired players and why I haven't written one to Brett Favre. I've written it, I just haven't mailed it. I've had it written for about five years. I'm not surprised. Last year was a little more on our radar, because he was coming to the AFC to the Jets. Now that he's back in the NFC, around here we haven't talked about it as much."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he sees himself struggling with the decision to retire like Brett Favre)
"(I think) the only people who can relate to the position he's been in is guys that are retired now. I really can't speak for him or what he's thinking and what not. Like I said, you keep creeping that word into my mind. You start talking about post-career, retiring, it becomes more of a reality. I'm trying not to think along those lines. I'm trying to think young and think in the now. That's one thing Coach Caldwell does talk about a lot, is focus on the now. I'm taking my head coach's advice."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on Tony Dungy's Red Zone '09 movie premiering tonight)
"I don't really know what everybody can expect from it. He came and interviewed some of the players here. We had individual interviews geared toward high school experiences and any advice to high school kids. I don't know what all the different parts will be like when it comes together. I know with Coach Dungy involved in it, it will be done right."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on taking a lot of notes and keeping his notebooks)
"I have all my notebooks. They stopped making the notebooks I used to have. I had to have Jackie (Cook), Coach Caldwell's assistant, stock up on them. If it's not broken, we can't change it now. I believe in being a note-taker. That's one thing that Coach Caldwell and I definitely have in common, we are both note-takers. I bet he has every meeting Coach Dungy has ever held. I saw him first-hand basically transcribing meetings. I'm a note-taker. I write down things coaches say and thoughts to myself and reminders and refer back to those old notebooks."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how he must have hundreds of notebooks)
"I don't know if it's quite hundreds. It's been 12 years. I fill every page. It's been averaging around 10 a year in season. I usually have one in the offseason that lasts me. In season, you get into the games and playoff games, so about 10 a year. I guess it would be a little over that (one hundred)."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he writes on both sides)
"Front page and back, yes. They're at home. I've got them in a little storage spot. The handwriting isn't particularly neat, but I can read it, so that's all that matters."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on former Colt RB-Edgerrin James signing with Seattle)
"I was happy to see that. I've been in contact with Edge. He's big into text messaging. He told me that he wanted to wait and see if the right situation arose. He told me he was talking to New Orleans earlier. The last time I talked to him, he said nothing was on the radar and said this may be it. I was happy to see that he got signed, and he'll be coming to Indy (Seattle plays at the Colts on Oct. 4), which I think will be kind of neat for all of our players, but for our fans, too, to see him back in Indianapolis."
