Panthers coach Ron Rivera

 

RE: Coaching in the Super Bowl after experiencing it as a player

“I’ve had an opportunity to be a player, an assistant coach and now a head coach in the Super Bowl. I think that is really neat. I really do. I’m just kind of excited about the opportunity. More so than anything else, I’m very excited for this organization, this team, the players, coaches, everybody else involved, Dave Gettleman, our general manager who has been tremendous. The last three seasons with him has been a tremendous experience for me. Personally it is the culmination of what you work for as a football player, as a coach and so it’s going to be exciting and I look forward to it.”

RE: Thomas Davis injury

“It was kind of tough for him to not get an opportunity to come back in during the second half so again he told me he was going to be ready. We will see but knowing him, I don’t doubt any word he says. If he says he will be ready, I know he will be ready.

RE: Ted Ginn’s play

“Probably to me the play of the game was the missed throw that Cam Newton made to Ed Dickson going up the seam. He overthrew him and Patrick Peterson had an opportunity to return it. Low and behold Ted Ginn Jr. caught him from behind. That gave us the opportunity to make the next turnover so again, it was all about effort and attitude. It was great to see Ted make plays today.”

RE: Adding Kurt Coleman this offseason

“The addition of Kurt is exactly that – he is a ball hawk. He has done a great job for us. He had another great play today. He made some outstanding plays all season, but the play he made just before the half with the big interception, keeping the momentum from swinging. I thought that was huge and I thought that was a play that was tremendous at that time.”