QB-PEYTON MANNING (on it raining last time he played a game in Miami) * *
"It would be nice to have some good weather down there, but you never know. It's a night game, and you have to be prepared for all of the elements, but surely it can't rain as hard as it did that night."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on having good memories of that stadium)
"Certainly, we do. It's very different circumstances this time around. It's the Dolphins' first home game and Monday Night Football and trying to figure out how to stay away from LB-Jason Taylor and LB-Joey Porter, that's plenty to think about. Certainly, I have fond memories of that night a few years ago, but I think everybody has the right focus in hand right now."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on why the team plays so well in primetime games)
"It's hard to say. Hopefully, we can continue to do that this year. This is a new year and a new team. We have a lot of young guys. (Head) Coach (Jim) Caldwell talked today about establishing ourselves as a battle-tested road team, and what a great opportunity and challenge (it is) to start out our road test this year down in Miami. It's their first home game. They'll be grumpy since they lost in their first game, and that stadium will be rocking. It will be a great test for us. To be a good team in this league you have to win on the road, and that's something we've done in the past. I think it starts with good preparation, and that's what we have to have this week."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he gets antsy when he has to play at night)
"I would always rather get up and play, but you know in advance what the schedule is going to be. Sunday is a little bit easier, usually, because you can watch games on Sunday, but Monday, you can get some good study time in to review your notes and certainly be good and rested for the game. It's not a problem."
* *
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the challenges Miami's defense presents)
"They are a physical defense. They created a ton of turnovers last year, that was kind of their M.O. They had a lot of sacks. Our challenge will be protecting the ball, getting open on time and being solid in our run game and pass game. They are an excellent defense that really look to feast on your mistakes. We need to be solid in what we're doing and not make mistakes that puts our defense in tough situations."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on having young guys step up with the injury to WR-Anthony Gonzalez)
"There's no question that we do have young players. Pierre (Garcon) will be a huge part of the game plan, so will Austin Collie. I think it's fair to say that when you do have young guys in there, you're going to lean on your veteran players. There is no question that Reggie (Wayne) and Dallas (Clark) and Joseph (Addai) will be featured in the game plan. At the same time, it is the NFL. You can't draw up a play (and say), 'This ball has got to go to Dallas Clark.' Here you call it that way, but the defense gives you a different look that you might not expect. Pierre and Austin know they have to be ready at all times, and I believe they will. Pierre has worked hard in his time here. Austin was over here for six hours the past two days, on his off days, studying film, and you like to see that in a young player. I feel good about those guys being ready."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on WR-Hank Baskett joining the team)
"There's a veteran receiver since Anthony (Gonzalez) is going to be out for awhile. It feels good to have another veteran. Hopefully, we can catch him up to speed as much as possible, so if we had to put him in there to play, he'd be ready. It's a lot of offense to learn in a couple of days. He's been in a complicated system in Philadelphia, and he's a veteran. He can only help us."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if they have any type of Wildcat version in the Colts offense)
"No, you have to talk to (Senior Offensive Coordinator) Tom (Moore) about that. It sure has been effective for Miami, though. I think their coordinator, Dan Henning, is kind of like Tom Moore. He uses his players and uses his weapons. They really found a special niche there with Ronnie Brown. I know our defense will have their hands full. Coach Caldwell asked me to give the Wildcat look on the scout team and to play Ronnie Brown. I declined and turned it over to Mike Hart to see if he might give it a little better look. It's debatable. It'll be a challenge for our defense."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on catching a touchdown pass one day)
"Sure, I'd love to catch a touchdown. That would be fun. I caught one pass in college on a throw-back. Jamal Lewis under-threw me. I had to cutback and made a guy miss, but they caught me from behind, believe it or not. Maybe someday."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on having not run a QB bootleg in awhile)
"You never know. It's most effective when you least expect it."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on QB-Chad Pennington)
"Chad's been an excellent quarterback throughout his career. What he did last year was extremely impressive, going from the Jets to the Dolphins, who just won one game the year before and turning them into a playoff team. He's been a big part of that change in culture. I know they have new coaches and new management, but you have to have the quarterback there to kind of walk-the-walk. I know he's been a big part of that. He's extremely efficient, accurate and makes good, smart, sound decisions. Our defense will have a challenge stopping their offense with him at the helm."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on Miami's secondary)
"Kind of like the first game against Jacksonville, there is not a lot of film to study on these guys. You have two rookie corners that rotate on one side, both first-and second-round draft choices, and you can see why. They are very talented, very athletic guys. They have DB-Will Allen, the veteran, on the other side, so I know those guys are learning from him. It's nice when you have young corners, and a 10-year veteran on the other side that they can learn from. There is still sort of some unknown when you play a game in Week Two that has new players on defense. You have to prepare for what you think you might get, and be prepared to adjust. They are a talented, athletic defense that has a lot of speed."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he remembers the first time he saw Monday Night Football)
"I cannot remember the exact game or time. I certainly used to watch it growing up on Monday nights. Our parents would allow us to eat dinner in the den, so we could watch the game. I remember seeing a lot of great players playing on Monday nights. It was a big deal. I want to say 2000 was the first time we played on Monday night. 1998, of course, we didn't play, then since we'd gone 3-13, we didn't have any in 1999. We played our first game against Jacksonville here at home on Monday Night Football. That was a big deal. That was exciting. We had a good game. We had a big win. It's still a big deal because all of our young players, RB-Donald Brown, DB-Jerraud Powers, it will be their first time. So, you get excited for them. It will be a good atmosphere."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if his parents let him stay up late enough to watch the end of the game)
"It seems like they did. Cooper and I certainly wanted to see who won and see what happened. Of course, Central Time it didn't seem like it started as late as it does now."
