PRESS RELEASE: Quotes from the Park 9/14/05

[Blade]

HEAD COACH JOE GIBBS

POST-PRACTICE INTERVIEW

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005

On the team’s kicking situation:

“We signed [K, #3] Nick Novak to kick for us. He’s a good story. He’s a local guy. He

seems to be a real good kid. He’s sharp. He’s been in two camps [Chicago and Dallas],

so he’s been seasoned a little bit. He’s going to be kicking for us. We’re going to see

how [K, #10] John [Hall] goes. He has a similar injury [right quad] to last year, except

not nearly as bad. So hopefully, at some point here, he bounces back real quick for us.”

On [WR, #89] Santana Moss possibly returning punts against Dallas:

“I think that we always keep that as an option. He certainly can. It’s going to be

something where a game situation will determine what we’re going to do back there.

Obviously, you want to use him, but that’s a heavy load. Last week, we had trouble in

the first half because he had cramps and had to get an IV at halftime. I think, ‘How many

[plays] can he take? How much will he be able to do?’”

On how [QB, #11] Patrick Ramsey has handled his demotion:

“I think Patrick has handled this better than you can even expect someone [in his

situation] to handle it. He has been very professional. I know he doesn’t like it. I have

great admiration for the way he has handled it. I really do. I think it says a lot about him.

Again, I emphasize that this is not the first time that I’ve been through a situation like this

with the quarterbacks. For many of the young ones, something like this can happen. It’s

happened to the other ones I’ve been around – I mentioned [former Redskins quarterback

Mark] Rypien, I mentioned [former Redskins quarterback] Stan Humphries. We’re

committed to working as hard as we can in every way. Patrick had a great attitude today.

We’re going to go to work because you never know, in the situation that he’s in, at what

point he will be back in the game.”

On whether [QB, #11] Patrick Ramsey asked the team to trade him:

“No. He’s been very good about everything. Obviously, he was very disappointed. Anyone would be disappointed, but he’s a heck of a competitor and wants to play.”

On the keys to maintaining [QB, #11] Patrick Ramsey’s self-confidence:

“What you do is a lot of hard work, [particularly] film work. He has confidence.

Quarterbacks have to be unusually tough mentally – most of them are going to go

through some very tough times. They’ve got tremendous pressure on them, but most of

them have grown up with that or they wouldn’t be a quarterback at this level. From a

confidence standpoint, I think he has confidence.”

On [LB, #57] Chris Clemons’ injured hamstring:

“He did some work for the first time. We’re hoping that he’ll be able to go from here on

out.”

On [DT, #75] Brandon Noble’s knee injury:

“I think we’ll probably be releasing some stuff on that later on tonight. I didn’t get all of

the specifics on it, but I think there were some things that needed to be cleaned out [of his

knee]. I think they scoped it. I think there were some particles that needed to be

removed. We’re just going to have to get the results and then the full conclusion on what

the doctors think his availability is going to be.”

On [DT, #75] Brandon Noble’s misfortune over the past several seasons:

“He’s extremely hard working. He’s a real classy guy, as everyone knows. I think it

says a lot about his work ethic and how mentally and physically tough he is to be able to

play defensive tackle in this league, to start off with, but also, for a comeback player of

the year to have that kind of injury and bounce back and be able to play the next year and

play well. You hate that he gets a setback on something like that. Our first thought is

always to protect him and what is best for him. We’ll see what [the medical staff] says.”

On facing the Cowboys in Dallas on Monday Night Football:

“I don’t think you get any bigger than this. It’s probably one of the tougher places in the

world to go and play, particularly on a Monday night. Everyone here has great respect

for them. Coach [bill] Parcells always has his teams ready to play. They’re a really

good football team. They’ve really helped themselves [since last season]. Their

quarterback rating is out-of-sight and their running back is one of the tougher guys that

we’ll face. Obviously, they’ve restructured the defense. They have a lot going there,

with some new talent and guys flying around. They went to San Diego and beat San

Diego out there. We have great respect for San Diego, so it’s a tough one for us. We’re

going to have to play the game of our lives. We certainly will have the whole world

against us down there.”

On whether he references the Redskins’ two losses to the Cowboys in 2004 when

preparing the team for this week’s game: “I don’t think you talk about that. At least I don’t phrase it that way. We lost two ball

games to them. Our guys played against them and they know them. You try to talk to

the young guys a little bit about what to expect because you’re going to some place that

will be a madhouse to go in and play and try to do well. You just make the best

preparations that you can. I don’t know that you talk that much about last year. We have

film cut-ups that we use, but the problem with our offense is that they’ve changed the

whole structure of their defense. They pretty much revamped everything.”

On whether he regrets not naming [QB, #8] Mark Brunell the starting quarterback

before the season:

“I really don’t deal in hindsight. You try to make the best decisions you can and work as

hard as you can at it. You try to make the best decisions of what you feel like and what is

best for everyone on the team. No one likes to go through [a tough decision like] that – I

didn’t like going through that – but I don’t think you go back. It doesn’t do any good in

pro sports to go back and think about the past. You’ve got to deal with the future and

make decisions on what you think is best.”

On [K, #10] John Hall’s string of injuries since joining the Redskins: “What we’re dealing with is a real tough thing. He’s one of our best-conditioned

athletes. We always say around here, ‘If anything, he works too hard.’ He’s the first guy

running, the first guy lifting, the first guy stretching. You hate to see him go through

something like this, and we have to go through it [too]. It’s a tough deal, but we just have

to deal with it. [The doctors] said that if last year’s [right quad injury] was a 10, this

year’s injury is a two, so it’s not nearly as bad. I talked to him today as we were warming

up and I just said, ‘Hey, just keep us posted as to exactly how you’re feeling.’ I know

he’ll do that.”

==========================================================

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005

QB #8 MARK BRUNELL

On if he is looking forward to facing the Cowboys:

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big opportunity for this football team. It’s a tough

situation being on the road. Its Dallas’ home opener and they are 1-0 and had a big win

against the Chargers. We have our work cut out for us.”

On if he expected the quarterback switch:

“I don’t think it was expected. There are some things which you can’t control. What you

can control is going out there and working hard and trying to move the team when your

opportunities are there. I am pleased to have it and I am excited about the opportunity. Its

good to get back in there but now we have to win some games and put some points on the

board.”

On if it is a comfortable transition:

“In some respects it is. In some ways it’s very difficult. Obviously everyone knows that

Patrick (Ramsey) and I are good friends. Part of that is difficult but at the same time we

are managing. You never want to see a friend go through a tough time. I know its real

difficult for him right now but we are going to get through this and we are going to go

forward.”

On if he feels he will bring some stability to the quarterback position:

“You bring stability by playing the position the way you are supposed to, by winning

some games and moving the team. That’s our job and ever guys who has been in there the

last five or six years and anybody who has ever played this position has tried to do that,

be successful. That is really my focus. I want to be successful just for this team. There is

a lot of weight on the quarterback position as there always has been. I am going to go out

there and give it everything that I have got.”

On his success in the pre-season:

“Pre-season is tough to gauge anything. As you guys know I was going against back-ups

and Patrick (Ramsey) was going against some very tough defenses. That’s obvious and

everyone knows that. I can speak for myself and I felt comfortable. I was glad to be in a

Redskin uniform again and real fortunate to be able to move the ball in the pre-season.”

On how he feels this season:

“I pulled my hamstring and that hindered me a little bit. This year I am a different guy

and I have been in the system for a year. I think we have more talent this year. We have

guys that want to be there and have great attitudes and are working. I don’t know if we

could have said that last year at this time. This year we can. There has been a lot of

change for the better as far as personnel on this team and so now we have to go try and

win some games.”

==========================================================

QB #11 PATRICK RAMSEY

On his reaction to QB #8 Mark Brunell being named the starter:

“Just as I’ve said, I don’t agree. I feel like I wanted to play. I wanted a chance to play.

Coach Gibbs and I have talked about it. I wish Mark the best. I truly do.”

On if he has asked the team for a trade:

“I’m not leading anybody to believe anything. Coach and I have talked and what was said

is between us. I haven’t specifically told Coach that I want a trade.”

On if he feels a fresh start elsewhere would be good for him:

“I’m a Redskin right now and I’m going to concentrate on Dallas this week.”

On how hard mentally and confidence wise it has been not knowing his status:

“That’s the league. That’s the business we’re in. At the same time, it’s very frustrating.”

On if he feels it was an unfair decision being moved to second string quarterback:

“It was Coach’s decision. He said he had a gut feeling. It’s his decision and that’s what

we’re going to go with.”

On what he is going to focus on now:

“I can just go out here and try to get better. That’s what I can focus on. I can dive into

that and lose myself in that.”

On if this decision will affect his relationship with QB #8 Mark Brunell:

“It doesn’t affect our relationship in any way. It probably just brings us closer together, if

you want to know the truth. I know that sounds off, but that’s the truth.”

=========================================================

POST-PRACTICE INTERVIEWS

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005

OT, #76 Jon Jansen…

On playing with casts on both hands:

“It’s a little bit cumbersome, but it’s what I have to deal with. It’s Dallas on Monday

Night Football, so it doesn’t much matter.”

On whether the quarterback change has been “discombobulating”:

“It was [discombobulating] for a couple of days, but now we’re back practicing. We had

a couple of days off to deal with it, but now [QB, #8] Mark [brunell] is our starting

quarterback. [QB, #11] Patrick [Ramsey] is going to do everything he can to support him

and if he’s called upon to go in, I’m sure he’ll do a great job.”

On whether he expects [QB, #8] Mark Brunell’s performance to improve this year

given the different supporting cast:

“Not having been here last year [due to his Achilles tendon injury], I would like to say

yes because I would be a part of that [improvement]. Hopefully, we have a better

understanding of the offense. I think that is probably what will benefit Mark this time

around.”

On his advice to [QB, #11] Patrick Ramsey:

“There are a lot of challenges in life. He’s had a challenging four years [as a Redskin].

This is definitely one of them. Unfortunately, he’s just going to have to deal with it. We

all have something to deal with. I have to deal with my [broken] thumbs and he has to

deal with that decision. Everybody across the board has to deal with something. We

have to come together as a team and get ready to play on Monday night.”

==========================================================

WR, #89 Santana Moss…

On adjusting to a new starting quarterback:

“We’re all football players. We all play this game. I’ve played my four previous years

[in New York] with different quarterbacks in the lineup. You have to be able to go out

there and just adjust to whatever you see, just like when you go into halftime and make

adjustments. You have to come out and go with whatever you have. If [QB, #8 Mark

Brunell is] the guy that’s going to be throwing the ball, then we have to get ready. Now

is the time to get ready, during practice time.”

On potentially adding punt return duties to his role as a wide receiver:

“We talked about it. I told them I would be comfortable with it if I was needed. I didn’t

know if I would be used [as a punt returner], but if my role is using me as both [a wide

receiver and punt returner], I’ve done it before, so it’s not like I haven’t done it. I just

always have it in the back of my mind that I always have to go out there and be ready.

Until I’m called upon [to return punts], I’ll be ready.”

[jonjeff]

Gibbs and Ramsey can spin this thing any way they want to, Ramsey won't be with the Skins in 2006. I don't agree one bit with Gibb's decision. A player should never lose his starting position due to an injury. Ramsey deserves better then the treatment he has received his four years in Washington. I hope he ends up somewhere where he is appreciated more then he has been here in DC. I still think he can be a decent QB somewhere in the NFL.

[IowaSkin]

I don't agree one bit with Gibb's decision. A player should never lose his starting position due to an injury.

Unless it's Kurt Warner in for Trent Green in 1999, or Tom Brady in for Drew Bledsoe in 2001.

Seemed to work for those two teams.

Not that I am happy about Ramsey being benched. But all I can do about the whole situation is sit back, watch, pray, and hopefully wake up Tuesday morning with a victory over Dallas. :dallasuck

[KDawg]

Gibbs and Ramsey can spin this thing any way they want to, Ramsey won't be with the Skins in 2006. I don't agree one bit with Gibb's decision. A player should never lose his starting position due to an injury. Ramsey deserves better then the treatment he has received his four years in Washington. I hope he ends up somewhere where he is appreciated more then he has been here in DC. I still think he can be a decent QB somewhere in the NFL.

You act like Gibbs is the first Coach to bench someone due to an injury... Drew Bledsoe ring a bell?

[Buck812]

Unless it's Kurt Warner in for Trent Green in 1999, or Tom Brady in for Drew Bledsoe in 2001.

Those situations were a little different. They came in and established themselves b4 the other player was ready to come back. The bad part about this one is that "the other player" has already established that he cant even play in the pop warner league. :doh:

[SkinsTillIDie]

Crud... well, I guess it was only time until Ramey asked for an official trade. I guess Mortenson was right.

[KDawg]

Crud... well, I guess it was only time until Ramey asked for an official trade. I guess Mortenson was right.

Huh? Where does it say Ramsey asked for a trade?

[dieneverfan]

it doesnt sit well with me.there has to be something more to it.something behind the scenes.i dont think gibbs ever wanted to start ramsey this year.brunell had a much better preseason.i hope we give it royal to the boys.brunell has to have something left in the tank.

[AJ_Skins]

Gibbs and Ramsey can spin this thing any way they want to, Ramsey won't be with the Skins in 2006. I don't agree one bit with Gibb's decision. A player should never lose his starting position due to an injury. Ramsey deserves better then the treatment he has received his four years in Washington. I hope he ends up somewhere where he is appreciated more then he has been here in DC. I still think he can be a decent QB somewhere in the NFL.

I don't know why you would want that to be the case. If you think Ramsey is a good QB, you should want him on the team. I think a lot of things are still up in the air at this point, so it's best just to sit back and see what happens when it comes to these issues.

[AJ_Skins]

Unless it's Kurt Warner in for Trent Green in 1999, or Tom Brady in for Drew Bledsoe in 2001.

Seemed to work for those two teams.

Not that I am happy about Ramsey being benched. But all I can do about the whole situation is sit back, watch, pray, and hopefully wake up Tuesday morning with a victory over Dallas. :dallasuck

The obvious difference is that Green and Bledsoe both had major injuries that kept them out for an extended period of time, and their backups came in and played exceptionally well. Ramsey was ready to go back in after halftime, and Brunell's play has been anemic ever since he's been here.

[OldTownFan]

Ramsey is done as a Redskin after week 17, note I said 17 because I'm not expecting Brunell to do a Moses impersonation and lead us the promised land.

[Cskin]

A player should never lose his starting position due to an injury. Ramsey deserves better then the treatment he has received his four years in Washington.

Yeah.... but a player SHOULD lose his job when he's been told countless times to take care of the football and make sound decisions. Ramsey has done neither, and the preseason games and week #1 are proof that it's a weakness of his. Three turnovers in a half of football..... two fumbles and a interception.

Gibbs has said time and time again that he wants his QB to play smart and make sound decisions...... and most importantly.... TAKE CARE OF THE DAMN BALL. He hasn't done that.... which is why he's now on the bench.

[Fletch1]

OT, #76 Jon Jansen…

On playing with casts on both hands:

“It’s a little bit cumbersome, but it’s what I have to deal with. It’s Dallas on Monday

Night Football, so it doesn’t much matter.”

That's what I am talking about!!!!!

:dallasuck

[Chris 44]

HEAD COACH JOE GIBBS

POST-PRACTICE INTERVIEW

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005

and I have been in the system for a year. I think we have more talent this year. We have

guys that want to be there and have great attitudes and are working. I don’t know if we

could have said that last year at this time. This year we can. There has been a lot of

change for the better as far as personnel on this team and so now we have to go try and

win some games.” QUOTE]

Interesting quote about attitudes, working, change for the better. :applause:

[emondsl]

Joe:

I am a Loyal Redskin Fan, and have been for many years, But YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT PATRICK RAMSEY.

Brunell will take you nowhere. He's washed up. A loser.

Get Patrick Back in there now. He'll make mistakes, but he has ability.

I'm tired of the QB contraversities. Let him throw the ball.

Brunell can't out throw my grandmother.

I'm believe that you are just too close to Brunell with this "Born again Christian thing to see the forrest for the trees."

Re-Focus Joe or Williams will be replacing you!

Lou

[herrmag]

Joe:

I am a Loyal Redskin Fan, and have been for many years, But YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT PATRICK RAMSEY.

Brunell will take you nowhere. He's washed up. A loser.

Get Patrick Back in there now. He'll make mistakes, but he has ability.

I'm tired of the QB contraversities. Let him throw the ball.

Brunell can't out throw my grandmother.

I'm believe that you are just too close to Brunell with this "Born again Christian thing to see the forrest for the trees."

Re-Focus Joe or Williams will be replacing you!

Lou

Well Lou, that was a good, well thought out response. Oh, I think someone forgot to mention that Joe Gibbs doesn't post here, so don't wait too long for a response.

[chaj70123]

There is no way that Brunell will have any success Monday Night! He played well in the preseason against 2nd teamers. I love the skins to death but I dont see us winning many games this year with him at QB.:logo:

[Type-TNA]

you guys are forgetting that brunell threw for 300-something yards last year against dallas in the monday night game. so who knows what could happen, maybe Brunell is really good monday nights and he'll lead us to a victory. And if he does, and the Giants lose to a very inspired Saints team then we could be all alone in 1st place in the NFC east.

[Funkyalligator]

hmmm...1st place....NFC east....awesome.....love to see that happen.....as long as we win and everyone else in our division loses....that would great...

[clubisyohankovic]

Get Patrick Back in there now. He'll make mistakes, but he has ability.

Lou

Who is Patrick Back?

Is he available?

[Mark911]

There could be a whole lot of people eating their "Brunnell hating" words on Tuesday morning. I'm not saying that it will happen, but it's absolutely not out of the question.

I was a Brunnell hater the first couple days too, but look at it. Patrick does not take care of the ball. Sure, he'll throw for three touchdowns, but how many picks come with those three touchdowns, how many fumbles?

Unless Gibbs goes for the anemic offensive gameplan, Brunnell gives us a much lesser chance of beating ourselves.

[Stonoman]

:logo: :eaglesuck I support Brunell and the team. :gaintsuck :eaglesuck :gaintsuck :point2sky

[manichispanic]

i like Ramsey, i also feel that he's never had a full year to show what he can do, but he throws picks, and our offense doesnt score too many points......

Just because I'm upset that he was benched, doesnt mean im going to abandon my team. If Mark Brunell, or any other QB came in and won us a playoff game or two, then we couldnt forget about Ramsey fast enough. Be careful who you draw your alliances with

[bulldog]

the bottom line is winning football games.

there are no guarantees in life.

Ramsey didn't deserve to keep the starting job no matter what. In fact an argument can be made that he never earned it.

He certainly didn't look like a starting quarterback for a winning team in the preseason. He looked almost as awful this year as he did in preseason last year.

The same thing happened with Heath Shuler. Each summer he was expected to take that next step up and become the passer he was destined to be as a former #1 pick. Cut down on the interceptions. Cut down on the fumbles. Throw the ball away when guys are covered. Don't take the sack to take the team out of field goal range.

Every summer the quarterback said he was prepared to do just that.

But it never happened ON THE FIELD despite all the film work, all the minicamp work and all the efforts of the offensive coaches to get the player up to speed.

[Cou-!@#$DALLAS-gh]

Gibbs and Ramsey can spin this thing any way they want to, Ramsey won't be with the Skins in 2006. I don't agree one bit with Gibb's decision. A player should never lose his starting position due to an injury. Ramsey deserves better then the treatment he has received his four years in Washington. I hope he ends up somewhere where he is appreciated more then he has been here in DC. I still think he can be a decent QB somewhere in the NFL.

He didnt lose his job because of the injury...

He lost it for 2 fumbles and 1 INT on his only 3 drives

Along with the 4 horrid INT's and the bad sacks/bad decision making in the preseason...

Hes been with the team for 4 yrs.... thats a steep learning curve (kinda like the special ed class in HS) He still has happy feet, and still makes bad plays...

If you turn the ball over you cant play here...

:thumbsup: