On Cedrick King attending practice
“It is an inspiration, I really do believe that. His message to the players was, don’t let it get in the way. Plain and simple, don’t let it get away. He is training for the Boston Marathon right now and he came out and did some of his workout and when we got ready to get started he broke the guys. He shared a few words and it was awesome.”
On questions about Peyton Manning’s arm strength
“You see the same guy. That’s the biggest thing what people have to understand, he’s a consummate pro, he’s going to know you, he’s going to understand you, he’s going to attack you the best way he knows … I think it really is a great chess match and not necessarily coordinator against coordinator but it’s quarterback against defense.”
On Manning and his line calls
“I told him one time I hope he writes a book and tells us all the truth. He does so much and it’s hard, it really is. I had the fortune of competing against him a couple times when I was in San Diego and as a coach you try to get past that because he does so many things. Really just try to play based on what you feel as the coordinator. I was calling defenses against him and I had to pay attention to situational football with him, I think that’s probably the most important thing you have to do, understand the personnel but then the situation.”
On former GM Marty Hurney
“He gave me my opportunity. There are a number of players that are here because of him. Drafting the quarterback obviously, drafting the middle linebacker, you can point to them. But then you turn around and look at what Dave (Gettleman) has been able to do with the salary cap and how Dave (Gettleman) has been able to lock up the franchise players. To be able to lock up Luke and to be able to lock up Cam. You can say the stamp was Marty (Hurney) getting them here and then you can look at Dave (Gettleman) and Dave (Gettleman) has gotten these guys here for good. That’s a great combination.”
On how he is feeling
“Feeling good. I’m excited about where I am right now and hasn’t changed. I’m still looking forward to playing on Super Bowl Sunday.
On limitations with his arm
“I mean, there are some limitations. I just had surgery on Monday, but at the same time it’s been getting better and better every day and that’s the goal … I’m gaining my strength back in my hand and my arm and fully expect to be playing next Sunday.
On screws and plates put into his arm during surgery
“Yeah, they had to plate it and probably about 11 or 12 screws that are in my arm right now, but it is what it is.”
On coach telling a story on the radio about him joking around with some guys in the locker room about his arm
“They were kind of picking on me, kind of grabbing my arm and you know I like to pick on folks a lot. And they kind of grabbed my arm and was like, ‘You can’t retaliate now. You can’t do anything.’ But it’s feeling a lot better today than it was yesterday, so I was kind of retaliating like, ‘Try me now,’ one of those things, but it was all in fun, man. It just feels good to be healing up right now and knowing that I have a lot of time left to continue to heal.”
On Cedric King calling him “a warrior” at practice
“I mean, when you think about what Cedric has overcome as a person. I think it really put things into perspective when you think about all he’s gone through and knowing that he’s the ultimate warrior. He laid his life on the line for us in the military and for him to be a huge fan of us and see the things that I’ve been able to overcome, it means a lot to me.”
On the NFL’s inquiry into the Al Jazeera report
“Just like I said back in December, I do welcome it. It’s no news to me. I still stand by what I said then that I welcome it. It’s garbage from the first day it came out and it’s still garbage today.”
On what he sees in the Panthers’ defense
“You see just a fast, physical football team that’s created a lot of negative plays for offenses. They’ve created a lot of turnovers, given an offense a lot of short fields, which as you watch the game unfold, and you see the scoreboard, it’s 7-0, it’s 14-0. It’s like the guy singing the national anthem is still on the field and the game hasn’t started yet.”
On comments he made to Patriots coach Bill Belichick following the AFC Championship Game
“I don’t know if it’s been confirmed or not. What happened to private conversations on the 50-yard-line? I guess they just don’t exist anymore. No confirmation on that whatsoever. We are on to Carolina.”
On if dual-threat QBs are distinct from pocket passers
“I think that is 100 percent for [the media] to decide. That is not in my department. I think every coach tries to call some plays that play to all of his players’ strength—quarterback, running back and receiver. I guess the only thing I’ll say is it seems like every year, they say: ‘The pocket passer is a dying breed and will no longer be.’ And I kept saying: ‘Well, I hope that’s not true because I will be out of a job and my brother will be pretty close behind me.’ We enjoy this profession, but hey, I think there are different types of quarterbacks and different ways to be effective.”
On simulating Panthers QB Cam Newton in practice
“It’s tough. [Quarterbacks] Brock [Osweiler] and Trevor [Siemian] are going to have to do the best job they possibly can. But I thought we got a good start on it today. It’s different. But I think different gets everybody’s attention.”
On the health status of S T.J. Ward and S Darian Stewart
“I’m encouraged that they’re going to both be there in a couple weeks. It doesn’t mean I’m right. I think T.J. is probably a little ahead of D-Stew right now, but we’ll probably be smart with them this week and put them back together next week. But I feel good about it.”
On approaching the Super Bowl as if it might be QB Peyton Manning’s final game
“He hasn’t said anything to me. I know he’s enjoying the playoffs and enjoying the opportunity with this football team. I can’t speak for him. He’ll have to answer those questions. But I know it’s special to have him back in the huddle leading the way. I’m just very proud of his work to getting back to being in this position.”
On how he will focus in preparation
“Easy. The ball is put down on Sunday, and it’s blue and orange versus baby blue and silver. All I can do is worry about us. That’s how easy you make it. Everybody that has no affiliation with blue and orange, you don’t have to listen to them.”
On preparing mentally and physically for the Super Bowl
“It’s all mental because when you get in the stadium, you look around and you might see Beyonce. You have Eddie Murphy on this side and there are so many people. It’s such a big deal. You can’t get caught up in the outside. You can’t get caught up in that. You just have to keep your focus within the game and within the moment.”