On leading the Pro Bowl vote at OLB
“It’s one thing to be voted into the Pro Bowl. But if we make it to the Super Bowl, then that takes precedence.”
On the Panthers’ new role as the hunted
“Of course we have a big target on our chest and on our backs and everybody wants to be the team that beats the Carolina Panthers. And that’s kind of how we’ve always wanted it.”
On not taking the 2-6 Titans for granted
“We’ve been an underdog for a while. We understand that. We take that and put it in our pocket. But at the same time, we’re still going to play like this team is going to beat us. And this team is pretty good.”
On former Panthers LT and current Titans RT Byron Bell
“We put him in a tough position and he tried to answer the bell. We really did. And I thought him as a right tackle is probably the more natural position for him, but you know he was athletic enough, and he was willing to try.”
On why his time with the Titans didn’t work out
“I have no clue. I just wasn’t the guy for the job, I guess.”
On Titans QB and fellow Oregon Duck Marcus Mariota
“I respect him, but we’re on the same level now and we’re trying to beat him. I wish him a safe and healthy career but he can throw us a couple picks this week and I’ll take it.”
On Newton and the Panthers’ offense
“A lot of coaches are sometimes leery of running their quarterback. I’m not one of them. I think they can protect themselves better when they’re running it compared to standing like a statue in the pocket and Mike [Shula] does a great job of scheming that offense. There is a lot of deception.”
On sacking Newton during their meeting in 2011
“I was just coming on a blitz off the edge and came through free, I guess wrong protection or whatever the case may be and just got him real good in the back.”
When asked if Newton went down easily
“Yeah, well, he didn’t see me, so absolutely. Anybody will go down if they don’t see the guy on the blindside coming in scot-free.”
