Super Bowl 49: Players, coaches Thursday presser transcripts

Here are the full transcripts for what Seahawks players and coaches had to say on Thursday.

Super Bowl XLIX - Thursday, January 29, 2015

HEAD COACH PETE CARROLL

(on his relationship with Will Ferrell and what Ferrell said when he spoke to the team) "The last time he visited with the team was a while back at, I think it was a preseason game. He jumped in the meeting room, telling everybody he was an L5 and he was going to lead the kickoff team right down the middle. Nobody bought it. He's been to a couple games and we've had a great time over the years doing stuff. We haven't done too much this time. I think he's going to be on the Jimmy Fallon show after the game or something, that's why he's in town. A little plug for the TV show."

(on the origin of ‘Turnover Thursday,' how it works for him and how important it is) "Well, it is the No. 1 thing that we emphasize in the program because we think it is the biggest single factor that determines winning or losing. I think it's a really interesting fact. I threw it out here the other day, that in the last three years, we're plus-51 and so are the Patriots and we're way ahead of everybody else in that regard. It's a big commitment that goes across the board, all players on the team have to weigh into that. They obviously understand it like we do and it's been very helpful. So, yeah, today is that day. Either the offense is going to win or the defense is going to win, depends on what happens with the ball today."

(on New England's use of eligible and ineligible receivers and what communications he has had with the officials on how he expects to be able to respond in those situations and how he has prepared his team for that) "Right from the beginning of the week last week, after the Indianapolis game, some things popped up so I went right to call them in to find out what is going to happen about the mechanics of stuff. There was a mistake made in that game that was on a touchdown play, when a player came in, reported eligible and then stayed on for the next play and didn't get off the field and they scored a touchdown on that play - that shouldn't have happened.

That's something that could happen. The Colts got fooled on that play. On the next player reporting eligible it was a different player, so it got confusing and they miscovered the guy. We don't want that to happen if we can help it, so we called in and asked about that. They came back with a very clear response about that. They're going to have a new signal that designates when a player with an ineligible number will be eligible - that's the same. But, when an eligible number is now ineligible, they're going to make a new declaration to the players on the field so that you'll clearly identify that. I know the league is absolutely committed to getting that right and doing that well.

The Patriots have brought that to the forefront because they've been using some stuff like that lately. We've been preparing for it every day because we don't want to be caught in mishandling on our end. It's really on us to see it. The officials do what they do, but we still have to find it because it could happen like it did to the Colts. We're very much in tune with it. It has just been part of the preparation so it's not a big deal to us now."

(on what that new signal is) "The new signal is the referee will point to the player that has the eligible number and he'll signal that he is not eligible. That's the new thing. They've never done that before."

(on what linebacker Bobby Wagner is best at and how he has seen him grow into the role he holds now) "Bobby is a tremendous athlete. He's really fast. He was a 4.4 guy coming out and he has real natural abilities. Very adept quickness-wise. Hand-eye coordination is great. He's really a very, very good athlete for the position. When Bobby came to us, a pretty raw player that came in the door and we threw him right in, in the middle, to see if he could take command of the huddle and the calls and all that and he's never backed off of that. He has grown and become a tremendous leader on our team, noting the impact that he had when he came back after injury this year was a big factor for us. He's an all-around player. He can cover really well. He can blitz well. He's the best we have at going sideline to sideline and he's a big factor for us."

(on if he has any special strategy to defend New England in the Super Bowl) "At this time late in the year, we're committed to who we are and what we are pretty much. In that, we have a certain area of flexibility that we can adjust in a game, but for the most part we're going to do what we always do and we're going to do the things that we believe in and the things that make us strong. But with that, we have to have the flexibility to rush better than we have at times when he's (New England quarterback Tom Brady) throwing the football, to cover in very good fashion because of the uniqueness of their receivers. The tight end (New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) is a fantastic player that we have to do some things within our package to take care of him. It's going to be a combination of all of those things working together in the throwing game and we're not neglecting at all their commitment to the run. Just a couple games ago, they ran the ball 40 times in a game which is a tremendous commitment. The next game they ran 14 times. We have to find out how they want to play it as we go through the game. But, we're going to do the things that we do well and hopefully that will be good enough for us. Most importantly for us is we want to play with great speed. We want to play really, really fast and we want to chase the football and run all over the place and shorten those distances and make those yards after catch kept at a minimum and stay away from the big plays and all that. Those are the same things we always do. We hope to do that really well again this weekend."

(on how he would define defensive passing game coordinator Rocky Seto's responsibilities on the coaching staff and how he settled on that title for him) "First off, Rocky Seto, he's been a part of our staff since I arrived at USC (University of Southern California). He came on as a graduate assistant way back in the day. He had played at USC and been part of the administrative staff. So, I watched him grow up in our system. He has become really the keeper of the records. He's got all the information. He knows everything we've ever done and how we've done it. He's a tremendous resource for us to always stay in touch with the principles and the philosophy and all that. He's been the passing game coordinator. He's been a special confidant to me to maintain our language and our belief because he goes back the furthest with me. He's been a great friend. He's been a great coach for us. He's been a very integral part of everything that we do. He has meetings with the team every day. He has something, a certain part of our meetings that he does and presentations and stuff. He's a big factor for us. He's a great football coach."

(on a former coach saying that it is important to be the first team to use trick plays and if he finds that to be the case) "First off, are you going to reveal the source so we know the depth that this runs?"

(on the source being Steve Mariucci) "I don't agree with him at all. Next question. (laughing) No, I don't agree with the fact that you have to pull off the first trick play. I don't know what that means. You've got to do it at the right time so you can execute it and you can have success with it whenever it is because there's not - to me - and I'd like to talk to him about it, but this overall arching thought that once a trick play has happened that you can't do another one. I don't think that's the way it is. We try to pull it off at the time when it works out right for us and we can take the most advantage of it and we always have to be on the lookout, we always have to be attentive to it. It really comes down to fundamentals on the defensive side for the most part and special teams, that you cover your bases and you know what's coming so that you don't get caught not seeing it coming. I don't agree with that."

(on how important it was for him to have dual responsibility when he came to Seattle, both coaching and personnel and what the challenges are of assuming the personnel role in addition to coaching from a time management standpoint) "It's crucial to have the combination of expertise to do this and I'm so fortunate that I do this with General Manager John Schneider. John is a tremendous personnel guy. He's a tremendous manager. I absolutely lean a thousand percent on John to do all of the stuff of generating information, collecting all that we need to know, making decisions of great depth and concern through all aspects of what we do personnel wise, as well as being my best friend and everything that we're pulling off. I think it's too big a job for one guy. I personally think it's too big. There's too much stuff going on. It's a whole other season of work that's being done while the football season is going on that a football coach just wouldn't be able to handle properly. You can oversee, you can have an opinion and all that, but I'm very, very fortunate to have John as my partner in this and so we just work together and figure it all out and make the decisions as we go. During the football season I'll help him with the football thoughts. During the personnel season he'll help me with the personnel thoughts. We have made a tremendous commitment to each other to always bring out the best in one another and so that's how we've done it. Without John we would be nowhere."

(on if he has less time dedicated to coaching than in his previous stops with New England and the New York Jets based on his increased personnel role) "No, it didn't work out that way at all. If you do this right, you have to give it everything you have forever. That's what we do football wise. That's why it's so crucial to have a guy that you can lean on that we've come together in our thoughts and what we're looking for. If John (Schneider) is looking, it's the same thing as if I'm looking is basically what it amounts to now. We've converged in that manner so that we could operate at a really high level. I don't think it's taken any football off of me at all. There is a good, substantial offseason where we have plenty of time to do this work, but it all has to be set up beautifully by his side of it for sure."

(on what he remembers about New England defensive end Chandler Jones when he was scouting pass rushers in 2012 and what type of player he has developed into) "We really liked him. The length that he has, the long arms and the reach, very similar to Aldon Smith and that kind of effect that a player can have. He's a really good all-around athlete. He's very gifted. He runs well enough to be a big factor. It was just really, the thing we were waiting to see is how he would develop physically. Would he get stronger and continue to grow and expand because he had all the natural stuff. We thought he was a really good player and we consider him with high regard as we have to defend now against him and what he brings. It's a good challenge."

(on if he agrees with what people are saying about his defense being as good as the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s) "I don't know that. Those kind of comparisons are for people in the media to do. It's not for us because it doesn't matter and we don't really care about it. It's a flattering to be considered in that conversation is really all it is. To gauge that, I can't. Our players, anybody that does that, we really don't know. It's just talk, which is great for you guys. For us, it doesn't figure in."

(on what his earliest exposure was to the zone-read and how his zone-read package is similar or dissimilar to what other people do) "You want to know everything I know about the zone-read games? No, I got you. It was back in the college days and the most obvious example of it was when we played the Oregon teams and we played them early on. (Former Oregon Head Coach/current Philadelphia Head Coach) Chip Kelly really had the big factor in bringing that to prominence, but he wasn't the only one. The people running the ‘pistol' up in Reno and there were a lot of people that were doing it in college football. But, that's when we really started to pay attention to it and when we really had to mess with it. I think even back all the way to when we played Illinois in the Rose Bowl it was a big deal with those guys, the quarterback running. It's been a big factor. Having to stop it and having to deal with it is also having to respect it and regard it in a manner that if we could incorporate it into our football we knew we would be creating more problems for our opponents. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the quarterback that doesn't have the dynamics to make something of it. We fortunately do. Russell (Wilson) is a quarterback that wants to throw the football. He'll run when he has to, but he understands how to utilize it. He's a master at reading it. He's phenomenal at doing it at the times when he's not going to get hit, which is the only reason we keep doing it. If he was getting hit all the time we wouldn't do it. We've just incorporated it in hopes, in compliment to the rest of the things we do. (Former NFL/College Head Coach) Bill Walsh said a long time ago, if you can do a lot of things really well, then you're really hard to defend. We'd like to do a lot of things that make it really taxing for our opponent where they have to figure out how to focus on this and that. It makes us a difficult offense to deal with and Russell is right at the centerpiece of that."

(on if he feels that this team is young enough and that the core will be there for a long time that no matter what happens with Russell Wilson's contract so he will have a successful team for a long time to come) "We're hoping so. (General Manager) John (Schneider) has spent a tremendous amount of effort in long view, in looking down the road to see how we can continue to maintain the core of our club at the high level and with the guys that we have built it around.

We're in the process of doing that and I think it should be pretty obvious that we reward our own guys and those are the guys not only that we've sighted early that we thought were going to be good but we've been able to develop and really kind of guarantee where we're going with them. That's a big part of this. There is a fine balance in there and we saw the (Baltimore) Ravens a couple years ago, they had to have a big change in their football team because of the financial aspect of that. We don't anticipate that. We think we're structured in a way that we can hold on - that's being optimistic and looking for the good stuff here, that's how we're seeing it.

It brings us to very difficult decisions come the offseason. We'll always have those and every team does. We're hoping that being able to see and trust in what we've seen from our players now and we'll be able to maintain that nucleus of the club that will allow us to keep the identity and keep the focus. There are a lot of guys that are a big part of that. (Running back) Marshawn (Lynch) is a big part of that. (Wide receiver) Doug Baldwin and (wide receiver) Jermaine (Kearse), those guys are a big part of that. Our linebackers are a big part of that.

There are safeties right down the middle. There are so many of these guys that have become such big aspects of our team that we are working to keep them together and we're going to try to do that in the best way possible. I know Russell wants to play on a really good team too and he understands that there is no better competitor with awareness about that makeup, so I'm sure that that's part of his conscious as we go through this. We'll figure it out in time. It's going to be a big challenge. However, we do have a plan and John is, I think, he's doing a wonderful job of carrying it out right now."

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DAN QUINN

(on people comparing his defense to Baltimore's defense from a few years ago) "One, it's flattering to hear but one you're in the season, all you're really about is the next game. We'll let that topic come up in the offseason because right now really the focus is just about this game and all the things that we can do well. Of course it's flattering to hear. There's so many great players and defenses from different eras with different styles. Our guys love the challenge, but during the course of the season, you're just really worried about the next opponent."

(on what the most dangerous thing about the New England offense is) "I really think it starts with their quarterback. He's such an accurate thrower. He knows where to go with the ball. They've got a variety of different weapons, and they know how to feature them. We've got our hands full in terms of their offense. They're really balanced whether they want to run it or whether they want to throw it, then the way they can use their feature guys. The quarterback's a terrific competitor one where we'll have to try our best to affect him in the game."

(on what Seattle's defense needs to do to stop New England) "The biggest thing for us is the effort and the speed that we play with. We want to be as fast and physical as we can. We work hard on our tackling, but really that mindset of how fast and hard we can play. We hope it's hard to match."

(on if Seattle's defense needs to change anything if quarterback Tom Brady is getting the football out of his hands quick) "We faced some other teams this year that got rid of the ball as quickly as the Patriots do. We don't necessarily change our style. We do appreciate the way they're throwing it at times, how quickly the ball can get out there."

(on how getting pressure on Brady is just as good as a sack) "We always talk about affecting the quarterback. For us, those terms are getting the quarterback off his spot so after he sets up, be able to make him move to have to throw. The big thing for us is just make them feel the pressure. They do a terrific job in terms of protecting him. He does a great job with knowing when to throw the ball that there's not a lot of reason for him to hold it. Our rushers, the way we pressure is definitely going to be a backbone for us."

(on if facing quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a good primer for New England) "That's such a hard challenge when you face guys that get rid of the ball so quickly. Although you may not get the sacks, the hits and the movement in the pocket are important. When you do get rid of the ball so quick, it means there's a lot of quick game, so our tackling really has to be on point. They're going to complete passes so for us, we need to make sure the yards after contact are small. That's going to be a real factor too."

(on who the toughest guy is Seattle's faced this year other than Brady) "There's been a number of them. Even the way we started the season, we faced some terrific quarterbacks. I think our first game we started with Green Bay. Then I think we played San Diego. Then the third and fourth games around there were vs. Denver and Dallas. We knew the first part of the season there was going to be some terrific quarterbacks that presented all kinds of challenges. If you guys can remember, Green Bay placed a huge emphasis on going no huddle at the start of the year. There were other teams and Denver was that way as well. We made a big emphasis and really we practiced our whole training camp against no huddle knowing we were going to play teams like Philadelhpia during the year.

That could feel normal as well. We get a great benefit going against our own offense and all the challenges they present. In Coach's (Pete Carroll) philosophy and system, we get to practice against our own offense quite a bit. They're able to go in and out of tempo. Our offense presents a bunch of challenges, so we love to get the chance to go against them as well."

(on his point of view with the ineligible and eligible receivers New England has) "One of the big things with these guys is they have a big playbook. They have a number of different ways to attack. There are certain games where the runs are low and the passes are high. Then vice versa. I think of the Indy game where the runs were high and the passes weren't quite as high. It makes you go through the whole process in terms of who we're going to defend and how we're going to attack them. The extra time last week was worthwhile for us. They make you go through it, and that's for sure."

(on how counterintuitive it is for somebody to see New England running back Shane Vereen line up in the slot but leave him uncovered because he's ineligible) "When you go through that whole process, that's an unusual one from them, and that's one way for them to attack. One of the nice parts of our defense is we're not so complex that we have multiple calls for every scenario. We really try to just stay true to our style. We don't have so many defenses in the scheme, so that allows us to sort of not get out of rhythm based on what they're doing."

(on how much time he spends a day on the element New England brings with the obscure formations) "Some time for sure, so it's not like it's going to be the entire part of the game. They have plenty of stuff for us to work on, so it is part of the plan but it's not the full plan.

(on how the officials are going to signal to the players ineligible receivers on the field in a very specific way) "That's just what we do in practice. It's one more chance for us to try and simulate how the officials will do it with the exact communication, so we're trying to do that as well. We want to get our guys as well prepared as can be."

(on stopping New England's yards after the catch) "One of the real goals for us is we want to see how fast and physical we can play. For us to be one of the best fundamentally teams in football, tackling is at the forefront of it. We spend as much time as we can every Wednesday, every Thursday in a portion of our individual time and even our meeting time on tackling. When you see those stats where the numbers are down - the yards after contact - it makes you know that the drill work you've done is successful."

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR DARRELL BEVELL

(on the process of tailoring an offense to quarterback Russell Wilson's throwing and running abilities) "It's kind of a cool process to be able to work with and to be able to have a guy of his skill set. He definitely has unique skills. I've never been in the zone read and most of our staff really hadn't either.

The study and the fact-finding that we were trying to do, then the trial and error that we came up with during practice and seeing what worked, what didn't, what adjustments we needed to make. It was kind of fun to be able to use him with the rest of our scheme, to be able to still have our philosophy with running the football, being a physical, dominating, exert your will on the opponent kind of an offense, to be able to have the zone read - which seems to be a little bit more finesse but to keep the physical-ness to it. Then, of course the things that are going to come off of it in the pass game, those are all kind of fun things to have to be able to come up with."

(on Wilson seeming reluctant to run last season and if that change this year as Wilson lead quarterbacks in rushing) "I don't think he's changed. Still our No. 1 goal is to not run him. We want to hand the ball to (running back) Marshawn (Lynch), and we want him to take the brunt of the carries. We kind of say, 'Hey, we'll take the free if they're going give it to us,' but we want Marshawn carrying it. He's made great decisions doing it. He's had opportunities to be able to pull it and get some big plays out of it. Some of those runs come off of scrambles, as well. He's willing to take what they give him."

(on what makes Wilson successful as a running quarterback) "We're not trying to make him anything. We want him to be Russell Wilson. We want him to be able to be his unique self. If it calls for running then so be it. We believe in him. We trust in him to make smart decisions, because that's what it really comes down to is at the end of the play when you're going to get tackles, you're going to get hit. We want to minimize the impact of those hits on him. He makes great decisions doing that. In the pass game, Russell does a great job keeping his eyes down the field. Some of our biggest plays come when he's moving around the pocket, and the play's broke down and it's the play within the play and the guys making the adjustments down the field for him. He keeps his eyes up. He's not trying to turn into a straight runner. He still wants to be able to throw the ball in those cases. If it's not there, then he makes great decisions."

(on what makes wide receiver Jermaine Kearse so valuable to Seattle) "Jermaine can do anything for us. When you have a guy that runs routes, that catches the ball, makes big plays in the pass game, that's willing to go in and do the dirty work in the run game - he's one of the best blockers that we have. Then, you see him out there on most of the special teams where he's running down and being the gunner on punt team, those kinds of things. It's not like he's this high-profile guy where all he does is run routes. He'll do anything for us. He's willing to get in there, get dirty, do the dirty work. You love guys like that."

(on how much of the struggles against Green Bay in the NFC Championship game were Seattle's execution as opposed to Green Bay's defense) "I've got to give some credit to Green Bay. They were doing a nice job, but we were struggling early. It was uncharacteristic of us. We were making mistakes, guys going the wrong way or not making a play here, jumped offsides three times in the game, put ourselves really behind in down and distance. There was some conflicting stuff there, as well."

(on how he feels about Kearse and wide receiver Ricardo Lockette matched up against New England cornerbacks Logan Ryan and Kyle Arrington on Sunday) "I like my guys. I really do. Our guys are all hard workers. They're really good at what they do. They're good at functioning with what we ask of them. It's going to be interesting to see how they play us. They could go any number of ways, and it's going to be fun to see that matchup. We trust Lockette, trust Jermaine, trust (wide receiver) Doug (Baldwin), trust (tight end) Luke (Willson). Whatever comes up we'll be able to do well, but the key is there are probably going to have to be adjustments made, because if they line up that way then, "OK, how are we going to perceive?" They line up another way, 'OK, how are we going to perceive,' because they've done so much stuff on tape. They have so many different combinations of what they've used in the secondary, so many different fronts, personnels. It'll be interesting to see how they decide to play us."

LINEBACKERS COACH KEN NORTON, JR.

(on his message to Seattle's linebackers going into the season coming off of the success of last year) "Success breeds success. I think anytime anybody has success, they get hungry. They get greedy. They want more. I think that as young as our team was and the way they felt last year being in the biggest game of all time, and everybody grows up looking at the Super Bowl like, ‘Wow.' Now that they've been able to taste it, they don't want anybody else to have it. That's our game. This is where we're supposed to be.

When you have a team and players that are that eager and hungry, and they're young so they're still listening, you don't want to get them too old, because when they're too old they'll stop listening. Now that they're young, they're still listening. As long as they're listening, we're coaching them. We're just talking to them about how to stay focused, how not to let the distractions get to you, don't forget about the things that got us there. Guys understanding the core players, what got us to this point, and just staying true to our fundamentals. Let them know that we are a pretty good team. It's one thing to have a group of players playing really good - it's another thing to have a team of great players."

(on if he lives by that message in everyday life) "Yeah. We spend a lot of time - football is our life. We spend more time in the office than we do at home, so there's no doubt. We can't speak and preach one way, and live another way."

(on how Seattle compares to other championship teams he has been a part of) "They're very comparable. I think that if you're talking about Super Bowl winning teams, this team is still in progress. You can't win one and think you're a dynasty - you've got to win several. I think they're in the middle of their prime right now. I think that history will judge them once it's all over, so it's important for us to really understand how important this time is for us, and that the window to be really good is short. We have all our really good players maturing at the same time, and we do have a group of fantastic, fantastic ball players all at the prime of their life and the prime of their career. So they better take advantage of it now because the window closes, and it's on to another team."

(on how he prepares his players for playing in the red zone) "Well we just watch a lot of film, do a lot of studying. Really try to understand what we do best and try to limit explosive plays. New England's very good in the red zone - they're the number one team in the league. They score a lot of points and they're down there a lot. It's going to be a really tough challenge for us, but we're up for the challenge. We're ready and I think the guys are eager. We've been watching a lot of film and doing a lot of studying for two weeks now when it's normally one week to play our top games. They're really good, we're really good, so we're looking forward to a really tough matchup."

(on how he transmits the message of being a champion to his players, especially the rookies) "Well it doesn't start this week - it starts way back in training camp. It starts with how you live, how you work, how you study, how you practice, how you compete - all those things are pointing towards how to be a champion. How you talk, how you think, how you rest, how you lift weights, how you walk - there's so many different ways that are connected to being really good. It's not just one thing. I think at their age, and how much they've been able to see how working hard and what the reward is, I think they've done a fantastic job of taking care of business."

(on being a repeating Super Bowl champion, and the biggest challenge of that) "I think the biggest challenge is the distractions. Just the success, everybody telling you how good you are, and then you kind of believing it and kind of get away from the team. Sometimes when you have too much success as an individual, it makes you an individual player. If you just kind of think that, ‘I'm the reason why we're winning,' when really football is the ultimate team game. You've got to have kickers, you've got to have blockers, you've got to have tacklers, and receivers and throwers, and people covering kicks and all these kinds of things. There's so many different things involved in this team.

After a little time, you can stay focused. You stay grateful and aware that it's a team game and that you need everybody, and that you can't fall away from that. You have to stay fundamentally sound. When you have great leadership from the top with the owner, and coach (Pete) Carroll, and (general manager) John Schneider - they have a really good understanding of what it takes, and you kind of see things happening before they happen, and kind of guide your team a certain way. You can't say enough about how they've led us through this whole back-to-back thing that we're trying to do."


(on being in a lot of big games, and if he ever stops and thinks about that) "Yeah. A wise man once told me that once you start counting, that's when you're done. You know when you're young and you're trick-or-treating, and you've got all your candy. While you're getting the candy, you didn't count them, but when you got home when you were done, you started going through your candy and started dispersing. That's when you're done. So right now, we're still collecting the candy, and we can't count quite yet."

(on if he admires what New England has been able to do) "Yeah, you have to really admire them. It's really hard. Everybody's talking about back-to-back, two years straight - these guys are going on, what, number six now in that time period? It's a testament to the coaching, to the leadership, to keeping the core group of players together, your system, getting the right players in. You have to take your hats off to them. Really, really sharp. Really, really admirable how they've been able to do it. It's not easy - it's really, really hard."

(on if Seattle aspires to reach that level of consistency) "No question. Our team is young. Guys are maturing at a high level because they're having so much success during the prime of their careers at this point. Our average age is like 27 on our team, so the guys are really young. I think they understand that it's a short window, so you have to really take advantage of your opportunities. You have to take advantage of the guys that you have. We really have to keep our core guys together. You have to play every game like it's your last because it could be your last. There's a short window, such a short window. You've been around ball enough and Super Bowls enough to know they go through cycles, and right now they're going to be judged by how they handle their time."

QUARTERBACK RUSSELL WILSON

(on his ability to deliver in big moments, and where that comes from) "I have faith in the ability that God gave me, and I trust that the guys around me are going to make the plays, so I don't know. I've watched a lot of great players play before. I've studied Michael Jordan, I've studied Derek Jeter, I've studied (New England quarterback) Tom Brady - watching those guys and just learning from their mentality and learning from their clutch state of mind. I just love trying to play like that. I love trying to visualize being successful."

(on the one skill in his skillset that makes him excel as a quarterback) "Hopefully, my leadership. I think that's the biggest thing. Obviously I can throw and run and do all that stuff, but I think there's a lot of guys in the National Football League that can do that type of thing. I think that what I try to do is I try to bring something extra to the table every time I step on the field."

(on how he keeps calm in clutch situations) "Well, I think it's the ability to focus and also the ability to relax in a very, very tough situation and just be able to play with a poised mind. Like I said earlier, trust the guys you have around you that they're going to make the plays and just keep coming to them, keep throwing the football their way. Just focus on the fundamentals of it, too. Focus on the fundamentals of the game and have great fundamentals and great leadership, and just try to find a way to make a play."

(on if wide receiver Doug Baldwin would be a good pick as the hero of the Super Bowl this year) "You never know with our team. You never know who's going to be a star player in our game because we have so many different guys that make so many different plays for us. So many different guys are versatile. Doug Baldwin's a good choice though. (Wide receiver) Jermaine Kearse is a good choice."

(on why Baldwin would be a good choice) "Just because he's had a great week of practice. He's been phenomenal for us all year. He's been clutch for us all year. There's been so many different guys - you never know who's going to be the hero. Hopefully everybody can play a great game, and we'll see what happens."

(on if Baldwin is underappreciated around the league) "I think Doug Baldwin is one of the better receivers in the league. He's so quick. What he brings to the table, not many guys have. His quick ability, his understanding of the game, great hands. We always argue who's taller, me or him, but I think I've got him by a little bit. He's just an aggressive player and can really make a lot of plays."

(on what makes him effective when he keeps the ball when running the zone-read with running back Marshawn Lynch) "They have to bring attention to Marshawn. Obviously being the best running back in the National Football League, they've got to pay attention to him, so I try to hand him off the football. Really, like I said yesterday, 99 percent of my goal is to hand the ball off to Marshawn. If nobody's over there, then I'll take it."

(on the importance of preparation) "Well I believe the separation is in the preparation - just getting prepared, getting your mind ready. I believe that when you're prepared, you're never nervous and you enjoy the game for what it is. I think it gives me a great chance to be successful more times than not. I think it also helps to lead the other guys to be successful, too, and keep their mind on the right things."

(on the preparation this week specifically for the Super Bowl) "No different than any other game. I go through my checklist every week. I go through my checklist of certain blitzes, certain coverages, certain situations and just get my mind prepared for that."

(on if playing in a Super Bowl a year ago is beneficial to him) "Yeah, I definitely think playing in a Super Bowl a year ago is beneficial. I think that having the experience of the week - the biggest difference between a normal game or playoff game and the Super Bowl is the extra media, hanging out with you guys all day. Getting pulled out of meetings for media, that's the biggest difference. I think the best way to use that experience is to take advantage of those moments, just take it in. Enjoying being with you guys and just taking advantage of the opportunity, and just being in the moment."

(on the benefit of knowing the atmosphere of the game itself) "One of the most exciting parts where you really realize you're playing in the Super Bowl is when you go out there for the coin toss. Then the kickoff where they take all the extra lights, that's one of my favorite parts. That's the part you look forward to. You think, ‘Man, I'm really here.' The game, though, is no different. The more that you can treat the game as just a game - it's just 100 yards, 53 and a third. Like I said, Katy Perry is the halftime performer, so that's an exciting part, but other than that it's still the same old game. You're just trying to find a way to score one more point than them."

(on how difficult it will be to be the same guy next year after likely receiving a lot of money from a contract extension) "It's not going to be difficult at all. I know what's important to me. I know what I stand for and all that. So in terms of money, that won't affect me at all. I'm just blessed to be on this team and blessed to have a great situation. I've worked extremely hard. I work extremely hard every day to try to be one of the best and try to get our team to be one of the best teams in the National Football League, and that's kind of just my mindset. It's about others. It's about affecting a culture. It's about helping change and it's about winning a lot of football games, too. That's what we've been able to do."

(on what makes running back Marshawn Lynch a special player) "I think what makes Marshawn such a special player is he's very loyal. He's loyal to his teammates. He's loyal to the game of football."

(on if Head Coach Pete Carroll has a signature line) "Always compete. That's kind of what we talk about, always competing at the highest level and preparing the right way. Also, just enjoying the game. Enjoying the game for what it's worth, and we're just so grateful."

(on what he'll be doing the night before the game) "The night before the game I'll go through my preparations and go through my checklist. Go through the play-calls and select basically what plays that I want to be called and what plays I really like with coach (Darrell) Bevell. Me and him have a great relationship in terms of that, and we really try to figure out a lot of the game plan in terms of what we want to call and what we want to attack them with. Then just get some good rest, go to Bible study and sleep well."

(on the importance of nutrition for football players) "Nutrition is huge. To eat healthy and to be able to take care of your body, and to be able to give yourself a chance to be successful and feel good on gameday and throughout the week. I want to play 20 years, so for me a lot of it is taking care of your body and taking care of your mind, and staying healthy."

(on his ability to handle questions from the media) "Growing up, my dad and my mom used to always ask me questions, especially my dad. He used to always ask me questions. ‘Russell, you just got to the Super Bowl,' or, ‘You just won Super Bowl MVP.' All these questions as I was growing up - seven, ten, fifteen years old, so those questions prepared me. I went to a great school in Collegiate School growing up in high school.

I went to NC State for communications, broadcasting, then I went to grad school for business and all that. I've just been around great people and great education. My parents taught me about education, how important that was. Also being engaging in certain questions, really being in tune with that - that's kind of the hardest trick, especially when you're so focused and wired in on football right now. You have to wire your mind into the next thing that you're doing."

CORNERBACK BRYON MAXWELL

(on why he feels that the Kansas City game was the turning point for the team) "I don't know if you can see tired of losing, but things had to change. We just didn't accept it. We don't like that feeling around here. Winning is an addictive feeling and you want that feeling."

(on if New England will look at the Kansas City game and try to find weaknesses) "Yeah, why not? That was the last time we lost, so why not go look at that game plan and see what worked for them?"

(on how surreal it is being a full-time starter) "It is cool. I just took it for what it was. Just went about my business and it happened. It was one of those things where I stepped up and made the best of my situation."

(on how the defense has evolved) "Kam Chancellor, he wasn't healthy coming into the season, definitely and Bobby (Wagner) was hurt. Once we got those pieces back, (we got) a toughness presence maybe that we definitely missed without those guys. Kam Chancellor is a big leader out there. He is making plays and big hits out there, one after another. Bobby is the same way. He is key for the run defense. In the NFL, that is how you win. To win on defense you have to stop the run first and then make (your opponent) one-dimensional. Then everything happens from there."

(on the balance of Tom Brady's targets between Richard Sherman and himself) "It I something I don't really even think about to be honest with you."

(on the fact that he may be targeted much more than Sherman) "That is cool with me. I am in the game. I am in the flow of the game. Everything is good. I am getting the ball. It is one of those things - do it."

(on what he means by saying, ‘Do it') "Throw at me 90 percent of the time. That is cool. That is fun. I am going to get the ball. I am not even tripping on that. Please do that."

(on not having fear if Tom Brady throws to his side) "Why would I? No I don't."

(on the possibility of testing free agency) "Yeah, I am going to look at every option to see what is best for me and my family."

(on his background and where he played) "Defense. When I started in high school I just played defense."

(on the benefits from the experience he gained from last year's Super Bowl) "Just the whole experience. You went through it, so now you know what to expect. That is one of the things there is a certain comfort level when you have went through something and you go through it again."

CORNERBACK RICHARD SHERMAN

(on the police motorcycle escort for the teams and media during Super Bowl week) "I think at an event like the Super Bowl, they just want everything to go as planned. They don't want anything crazy to happen, so they want everybody to be safe. I think it would be a huge disaster if anything happened on the way to an event for media, our players or anything like that. I think the police officers out here are doing a great job, a fantastic job, escorting everybody and making sure everybody gets places safe. We haven't had any scares since I've been playing in this football league and that's been a blessing."

(on why Turnover Thursday is special and the importance of turnovers) "Thursday is special because (Head Coach) Pete (Carroll) emphasizes it, but we try to get turnovers every day. As you know, they are game changers. Pete, obviously, is a guy who emphasizes turnovers and keeps track of how many games you win when we won the turnover margin and what percentage of games are lost when you lose the turnover margin and things like that. It's a huge game changer, that's why our guys hunt the ball like we do. We're always ball aware. We're always looking for an opportunity to take the ball from our opponents, whether that's interceptions or forcing fumbles or stripping the ball. Whatever we can do to get the ball back to our offense. That's why we've been so successful on defense, I think, because of that ball-hawking mentality."

(on safety Kam Chancellor not being considered for Super Bowl MVP last year and if he flies under the radar because he is understated) "He doesn't fly under the radar on the field. Whether he flies on the radar off the field is up more to the media than it is us. He goes out there and makes huge impact week in and week out, and in the Super Bowl he made impact from the first play to the last play. I think he set the tone for the game on the second drive of the game. Once our offense got off the field, we got back on defense and when he hit (Denver wide receiver) Demaryius (Thomas), he set the tone for the entire game. That hit alone could have gotten him Super Bowl MVP. He should have got it. He made an interception. He made some crucial deflections. I think he could have easily walked away with Super Bowl MVP and I think he, once again, I've said this several times, but he should have been All Pro this year, first team, and I don't think it was even close. But obviously, hopefully next year he will get the recognition he deserves. But it's not something that he really cares about. He's a guy that's a consummate professional. He's a team-first guy. He does anything for his teammates and he's never looking for awards or recognition or things like that, although he deserves them very much."

(on if he agrees with back-to-back Super Bowl winners feeling more confident the second time) "Honestly, it's been similar. I think the advantage those guys have over what we have is we haven't won it yet. We haven't won the game. They won it, they were two-time Super Bowl champions. So we're confident. We're about the same as we were last year. We're a confident bunch. We believe in what we do. We believe in our system. We believe in our mentality, our philosophy, and we expect to go out there and execute. Whether that's enough to win the game or not is to be seen. But you have to be confident in these games. I'm sure they are confident and believe they are going to win the game as well. I think in order to make it this far in the NFL and make it to the final game, you have to always believe you're going to win. You have to believe you're going to win every game you go out there and play, and that's what allows you to play at such a high level and be so successful."

(on whether Denver quarterback Peyton Manning or New England quarterback Tom Brady is more difficult to prepare for) "I think that's a tough question to answer, honestly, because they are both incredibly tough to prepare for and they both present different issues. But they're also similar in the respect that they get the ball out fast and make great decisions. They are extremely accurate with the football. They rarely make mistakes. They have great supporting casts. The Patriots are very dynamic in their offensive approach and have great variety. So I'd say it's kind of a wash in that regard. I think if you're facing either one of them, you're in for a tough day."

(on the relationship between the NFL, the NFLPA and the players) "I think it's a working relationship. I think you're not going to win every battle, you're not going to agree on everything. But I think there is a respect level between the NFL and the NFLPA, and that's all you can really ask for in this situation. Obviously, they have certain things - their agenda - they want to accomplish and we have certain things that we want to get done for our guys. So at the end of the day, you really have two sides going against each other that have great respect for one another, but also have their own things they need to accomplish. Anytime you have a conflict of interest in that regard - conflicts - you're going to have disagreements. But I think there's a tremendous amount of respect."

(on if he is comfortable letting his son play football one day) "Oh, 100 percent, 100 percent. Football will be probably one of the first or second sports he plays, along with baseball and soccer and all the other fun sports. Because a lot of people talk about the negative aspects of football, and there are many, but there are also a lot of positives that you learn as a kid. I don't know too many Pop Warner, six- and seven- and eight-year-olds that are just full-speed running into each other and getting concussions, honestly. The kids aren't brave enough, honestly, at that point. They are so scared of running into each other and the kid being 10 pounds bigger than them or three inches taller than them. But football teaches you discipline and helps you develop a sense of leadership and courage and camaraderie amongst your friends and teammates. It also shows you how to work with the group, how to depend on one another, how to trust someone to do their job and how to be dependable, to do your job.

There are a lot of aspects of football that people don't talk about, and these are the things you learn and they are essential throughout your life. I don't know how social I would have been without football. I'm a pretty fun, easygoing guy, but I met a lot of my friends, especially early on, through football. I wasn't the coolest kid around, but I always had 20 or 30 friends because they were just on my team, and we spent so much time together. I think that's the thing that people never focus on when they're talking about football. You focus on the concussions - there are so many things that could happen in any number of sports. There are incredible injuries. I mean, basketball - there was the National Championship a couple of years ago, didn't a guy - his leg tore out of his skin. These things happen. Crazy injuries happen. Concussions happen. But there are also a lot of positives that come along with this game."

(on if NCAA student-athletes are given enough time to take advantage of their education) "Great question, I really appreciate that question. No, I don't think college athletes are given enough time to really take advantage of the free education that they're given, and it's frustrating because a lot of people get upset with student-athletes and say they're not focused on school and they're not taking advantage of the opportunity they're given. I would love for a regular student to have a student-athlete's schedule during the season for just one quarter or one semester and show me how you balance that.

Show me how you would schedule your classes when you can't schedule classes from 2-to-6 o'clock on any given day. Show me how you're going to get all your work done when after you get out at 7:30 or so, you've got a test the next day, you're dead tired from practice and you still have to study just as hard as everybody else every day and get all the same work done. Most of these kids are done with school, done with class by 3 o'clock, you've got the rest of the day to do as you please. You're may spend a few hours studying, then you may spend a few hours at the library checking out books and doing casual reading, and then you may go hang out with friends and have a coffee. When you're a student-athlete, you don't have that kind of time. You wake up in the morning, you have weights at this time. Then after weights you go to class and after class, you go maybe try to grab you a quick bite to eat. Then after you get your quick bite to eat, you go straight to meetings and after meetings, you've got practice and after practice, you've got to try to get all the work done you had throughout the day you've got from your lectures and from your focus groups. And those aren't the things that people focus on when talking about student-athletes. They are upset when a student-athlete says they need a little cash.

Well, I can tell you from experience, I had negative-40 bucks in my account. Usually my account was in the negative more time than it was in the positive. You've got to make decisions on whether you get gas for your car or whether you get a meal for the day. You've got one of the two choices. People think, ‘Oh, you're on scholarship.' They pay for your room and board, they pay for your education, but to their knowledge, you're there to play football. You're not on scholarship for school and it sounds crazy when a student-athlete says that, but that's those are the things coaches tell them every day: ‘You're not on scholarship for school.' Luckily, I was blessed to go to Stanford and a school that was primarily focused on academics, so it was a blessing.

It was a little bit better. As Jim Harbaugh would attest, we were also there for football. But there were still guys like Andrew (Luck) who majored in engineering, an incredibly tough road to take when you're in football, because a lot of the classes conflict with your time as a football player. You have an engineering class from 2 to 3:30, there's no way you can do both. You can't go to meetings and take your engineering class from 2 to 3:30, so what do you do? What do you do? Do you switch your major or do you tell your coach, ‘Hey, I've got an engineering class from 2 to 3:30 and I have to go to that.' That's a conflict of interest. That's what people don't realize. But it's not something that hurts the bottom line in a lot of people's lives, so I don't think it'll be something that will be addressed. But I appreciate the question."

DEFENSIVE END MICHAEL BENNETT

(on his decision to stay with Seattle) "Man, that's why I stayed because of being able to play in these types of games and just a chance to play on this team. I mean, this team is full of energy, full of super star, full of everybody who wants to be successful. I mean, money can't put a price on winning. I know a lot of guys who have made a lot of money and they are still upset that they can't be in this spotlight. Pro Bowls are one thing, MVP is one thing, but Super Bowl is a-whole-nother atmosphere. When you win a Super Bowl, you get so much notoriety and you get the chance to really be on a great team. Money just can't put a price on that."

(on the conversations he had with defensive tackle Kevin Williams to convince him to sign with Seattle) "The conversations with Kevin were just, I told him, ‘You've done everything you can possibly could do in the NFL. You've already been to six Pro Bowls, six All-Pros, as many sacks as you can, but you never got to the big game.' And I said, ‘Money can't really put a price on that. If you come in here, it can really solidify us having great depth at the defensive line. You might not start, but, man, you're going to get a lot of reps. How many more starts do you need?' Kevin, has made as much money as anybody in this league and for him to be in the Super Bowl right now just says a lot about him."

(on what Kevin Williams brings to the locker room) "I think he brings great veteran leadership and the ability to keep us poised in key situations. I think Kevin has played in every type of game he possibly can play in and now he's playing in the big game. I think he does a great job of keeping us level headed and his knowledge of the game is so far past all of ours it's just crazy."

(on the influence CF Hamilton Tiger-Cats Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Reinebold) "I mean, Jeff Reinebold he was one of the first people who ever saw me play football. He's one of the first coaches to come to my house, so I've been knowing Jeff for over 15-16 years now. We go way, way, way back. I mean, he knew my wife when we were in high school together. Even after he recruited me, anytime he was in Houston he stopped by my house and over the years he still stops by and it's kind of cool to get a chance to see him yesterday."

(on tying a mattress around a tree as a child to practice tackling) "Yeah, I used to tie a mattress around my tree when I was a kid and just did everything I could possibly do. I still do all that kind of stuff. I take my family to Hawaii while I train and they vacation and I just have a great time."

(on the energy at Seattle's practice) "I think the energy is the same. I think the energy is at a high level right now because we are always energetic because of the music, the vibe of the team and the coach that we have. I think that we continuously get prepared for the game the same way we always do. We treat every game exactly the same, whether we are playing in preseason, whether we are playing in the (toilet) bowl or whether we are playing in the Super Bowl. It's just pretty fun."

(on maintaining the top scoring defense the last three years) "I don't think there is any secret or anything. We just have the same type of guys who have the same type of attitude, which makes us successful. I think sometimes other team's guys get statistically driven to be at the top of the league and see who can get the most commercials and who can be a twitter guy, which is having the most twitter followers. But on our team, it's just guys who just want to be successful at playing football and want to do it the right way and play team football and not scared to make contact and really just want to be on a good team."

(on his relationship with brother and Chicago tight end Martellus Bennett) "I think me and my brother have a crazy relationship because we are so close. Our kids see each other quite often during the offseason. We spend all the time together we can. Our wives are best friends and we are best friends. My brother and I grew up doing everything together and we still do everything together. It was hard for me to come back to the Seahawks just for the simple fact that we have that kind of relationship. I almost felt like it was going to be a tear in me and my brother's relationship, but just after him being my brother and just saying, ‘Man, just do what you've got to do. I would love for you to play with me, but I understand you having something special in Seattle and I don't mind you staying there.' And that meant a lot to me and, you know, most brothers wouldn't say that. They would be selfish, but my brother was really selfless when it came to that aspect of the game."

(on Richard Sherman potentially missing the Super Bowl for the birth of his son) "Do you have kids? Do you know how important it is to your wife to be there for the kids? Well then, you understand and you answered your own question. I understand his mindset and I know his wife will tell him to just to come to the game after she has the baby because that's how wives' would want to do. They wouldn't want to put him in a bad situation, which is not really a bad situation to be there for your kid. I know the world would be on his back if he doesn't come to the game, but I think Sherm will make the right decision. I mean, it's only once in a life time you get to see your son born, but it's only once in a lifetime you get to be at the Super Bowl so it's a hard decision. I mean, had to make the decision back in college. I had a game and I ended up seeing my baby in the same day, but I ended up going to see my baby being born in the morning and got to the game at night, so it was a hard decision."

(on how much pride he takes on being a great run defender) "I love being a run defender. I think that's a part of the game that is going away because sacks mean so much to the fans and the media and that's usually how they pick their Pro Bowls, All-Pros and all that kind of stuff so guys tend not to give a care about the run. They tend to run up the field and try to get sacks, but you have to take pride in that because that's part of the most important thing about being on defensive line. You really can't let people run through you and to have the worst rushing defense would be an insult to the team. I take pride in being there and being where I'm supposed to be for the team because I am a team type of guy."

(on the challenges of facing New England running back LeGarrette Blount) "It's always a big challenge when you're playing against a running back with the talent of LeGarrette Blount. I've been knowing LeGarrette since I was in Tamapa. We came into the league at the same time and he's been a great, powerful back that can do so many things. I'm glad his dreads have got a lot longer because when he first came to Tampa his hair was really short, but now he has hang time on his dreads so that's pretty cool."

(on if it's interesting that defensive tackle Landon Cohen joined New England right before the playoffs) "No, it's not interesting. It's just how the NFL is. Landon used to play with me in Tampa, then he went to Detroit, then he went to Dallas, then he went to the Patriots, but that's just how the NFL is. When you are at the bottom it's just a hard grind. I think, sometimes the media and people don't really understand the grind of being at the bottom of the NFL. They tend to write stories about guys saying, ‘Oh, they are just mediocre,' but sometimes guys don't get their opportunities because of the way the game is made. I mean, if you talk about first round, second round picks, those guys are going to get more opportunities than guys who are lower on the totem pole. Landon has just been through the wrangler and for him to be in this, he deserves to be here. When you go through that grind it's just amazing and it's hard. I'm glad to see that he's here."

(on if he expects the Super Bowl to be a high scoring or low scoring game) "I expect it to be a low scoring game. I'm never going into a game as a defensive player and say, ‘It's going to be a high scoring game.' That would be an insult to Dan Quinn, Pete Carroll and the rest of my guys on defense. I expect it to be a low scoring game just like any other game we've played this season."

DEFENSIVE END O'BRIEN SCHOFIELD

(on the differences between last year's team and this year's team) "I honestly feel like the team is a little bit younger this year. We had a lot more younger guys play at the beginning of the year. We had some injuries with Bobby Wagner and Kam Chancellor and K.J. (Wright) and some of our backers. To get those guys back completely healthy is something special. I think everybody on this 53-man roster has had a time when they've contributed to a victory."

(on his status as a special teams player) "Oh, absolutely. I will be playing. I'll be spending a little time with Cliff (Avril). I'll be playing some nickel packages. So far, I think I'm only on punt team right now. I'll be playing somewhere between 20 and 25 snaps."

(on linebacker Malcolm Smith winning last year's Super Bowl MVP after playing 20-25 snaps) "He was a back-up, but when he got his opportunity, he capitalized on it."

(on if that gives him confidence that he can make an impact in Sunday's game) "Why not? That's definitely a conversation I've had. A lot of people have said that to me. If that happens, please come find me."

(on how he feels about Seattle being labeled a dynasty) "When you think of dynasty at the beginning, you think of the Patriots back in the day. They really set that standard of a winning tradition. I think that what (general manager) John Schneider and Coach (Pete) Carroll have done here is building a team based on chemistry and guys with chips on their shoulders coming and trying to prove themselves. Just the atmosphere that they have created is extraordinary. With the players that we have, there are so many guys that are playing at a high level, and they're so young. I think that when you find a great equation to win and all you're doing each year is just trying to get better yourself, to me, that's the true definition of a dynasty."

KICKER STEVEN HAUSCHKA

(on his collegiate journey) "I walked on to North Carolina State and was there as a graduate transfer. I graduated from Middlebury College. I was playing and ended up winning the job there, beat out a few other kickers at NC State."

(on how why he transferred to play one year at North Carolina State) "Tom O'Brien's staff had just come in. They were from Boston College. One of my Middlebury coaches knew them."

(on if North Carolina was looking for a kicker at the time) "I didn't know yet. They just told me I'd be a kickoff guy. They didn't tell me I would be a field goal guy. I ended up winning the job there and was applying to dental schools at the same time. I had gotten into UCLA and BU (Boston University). At the end of the season, I was still trying to decide which dental school and NFL teams started calling. That's when I realized that I should give this a shot and see if I could make it a career out of this. I put dental school on hold and started training for combine type stuff and was picked up as an undrafted free agent for the Minnesota Vikings."

(on if he would go back to dental school after football) "I don't think so. I've moved passed it now. I don't really want to go back through six years of school at this point."

(on if he has any other dentists in his family) "My mom is a dentist up in Boston and brother is a dentist up in Charlotte."

(on playing one year with Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson in college) "When I came in, Russell and J.R. Sweezy were on the team too. They were both freshmen and I was a graduate transfer. I was 21, and they were both 18. They put us all together because we came in at the same time. We were all living at the University Towers together."

(on his first impressions of Wilson in college) "He was different from the beginning. He had a confidence about him and a determination about him to get the job done and to work harder than anybody else. No matter what the task, you knew he was going to work harder than anybody else."

LINEBACKER BOBBY WAGNER

(on keys to being successful against New England's offense) "We can't let them run all over us and pass all over us. We need to make sure that we take away something, whether it's the run or the pass. I feel like if we do that, we'll be fine."

(on what frustrates New England quarterback Tom Brady) "Yeah, pressure is probably the biggest thing. We have to make sure we're in his space. We have to make sure somebody is tackling him and making it uneasy in that pocket."

(on cornerback Richard Sherman's comments that Brady is frustrated with pressure and dropped balls) "We haven't talked about it, that's just in our nature. We don't have talk about something that we always do. He's going to feel us."

(on who the X-factor is in Sunday's game) "I don't know. It's hard to pinpoint one person."

(on any player being able to become the X-factor) "You never know who's going to ball out. It's great, honestly because you trust the guys around you, you trust the people around you and trust that somebody is going to have a special day."

(on who can step up) "You never know. It depends on how the game goes and the flow of the game. We have a lot of great players on our team and you never know on any given day, someone can step up."

(on defensive coordinator Dan Quinn) "He's a great coach. Great leader. He communicates very well. I look forward to coming to work with him."

(on stopping the New England's offense) "I feel like we have a very good defense and we tend to stop people. We just need to hit them very hard."

(on if he's having fun this week) "I'm having a lot of fun. It's the same question every day. I wish I had another language - maybe I'll answer in Spanish or something. Just the moments. I appreciate everything about this week and everything about this game because we have players who have played over 10 years and never got to experience this. I'm blessed that in my three years here, I've been here twice. I realize it doesn't happen often. It's a very unique situation and you have to appreciate it."

(on what the team does for fun) "Last year, we went to a basketball game and did stuff like that. We went out and did various things with each other. Some of us went to the (Phoenix Suns) game last night and then went out to eat."

(on if he had an idea of what it would take to repeat) "We didn't understand how hard it was going to be because every single game we were out there, we got everybody's best shot. Because of that, we adjusted like we always do and had fun."

(on if he thought about what it means to be back-to-back Super Bowl champions) "You have to do it first."

(on what he will do the night before) "I'm going to chill and probably watch some Ray Lewis, Sean Taylor highlights. Probably throw in some Ninja Turtles."

(on the night before the game last season) "I don't really remember last year, honestly. I'm pretty sure I watched film and chilled and watched a movie."

(on being overlooked in the draft and how that motivates you) "It will always motivate me because there are a lot of guys that were taken ahead of me that I feel like shouldn't have been taken ahead of me. I go out and prove that every single day."

(on the midseason meeting after the Kansas City game) "We just had to have fun. We were worried about being perfect too much. Once we got back to doing that and not worrying about having every single thing right, we were good."

(on if he picked up on the obsession with perfection during practice) "I don't know. I wouldn't say it was one game, but it was a collection of games. We just had to go back and have fun."

(on if he has modeled his game after any other linebacker) "I like watching Ray Lewis. I like watching Derrick Brooks, Junior Seau, Ken Norton Jr., Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, guys like that."

(on defensive tackle Kevin Williams' performance) "He's done an excellent job. Every single day, he's always coming up to me and asking me how he can get guys off me and keep guys off of me. When you have a player like that who's trying to help you do your job great, it's appreciated."

(on if he has any advice for kids) "I would say always believe in yourself and always have confidence in yourself that you're going to get whatever you want in life done, because if you keep putting in the work and you put in the time to get that done, it's going to happen."

(on tackling strategy against New England running back LeGarrette Blount) "Take him down. Just hit him as hard as I can to take him down and don't get fined."

(on if he believes he has fans all over the world) "Yeah, of course. We have Seattle Seahawks fans everywhere, so I'm sure we have fans out there too."

(on if fans are rooting for Seattle because they are aiming for their second consecutive championship) "Yeah, it feels great. I know we have fans all over the world, and I feel like you can never count the 12th Man out."

(on if Seattle will have the best defense ever if it wins on Sunday) "We can definitely talk about. We have to win the game first. But if we win the game, we can talk about it."

(on the differences between last year's Denver offense and this year's New England offense) "It's going to be a different game. They have different athletes and different monsters. It's going to be a different game. They have different styles for the most part."

(on the differences between last year's Denver quarterback Peyton Manning and this year's Tom Brady) "They're different in their own ways. Future Hall of Famers, but we've taken down Hall of Famers in the past."

LINEBACKER BRUCE IRVIN

(on New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) "He's big. Fast. I mean, he's Gronk. He's an All-Pro, 6-7 guy. He can run. We've told y'all everything that we can tell y'all. It's Gronkowski. What else do you want me to tell you? He likes to party. What else do you want me to say? It's the same stuff."

(on what makes the Seattle defense so special) "Hopefully it's a lot of work. We work hard. We've got a lot of big-name guys, but you would never know because they work like they're just average players. They never let the starting get to their head and I think that's the biggest difference. Guys always come to work ready to work. I think that separates us from a lot of teams that we practice our tails off. We bust our butts during the week so when Sunday comes it's much easier. I think that's what it is."

(on Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn and his influence) "He's a coach. Coaches coach. Players play. No disrespect to him, he's a great guy, great coach, but we went out there and played. We're going to miss him, but I think we'll be all right. I think he'll do great in Atlanta, or if he decides to go there, I think he'll be great. But I don't think it'll affect us as much as y'all think it will."

(on what he thinks the key is to stopping the New England offense) "We just got to get pressure on (quarterback Tom) Brady. We got to stop the run and get pressure on Brady because if we don't he'll make us pay."

(on how Head Coach Pete Carroll believes in him) "Pete (Carroll) was recruiting me coming out of Junior College when he was at SC. So it kind of surprised me, but, then again it kind of didn't, when he took me. He just believed in me, him and (Quality Control/Defense Coach) John (Glenn). That means a lot to me. I try to go out here every week and prove them right."

(on what he thinks is his greatest attribute as a player) "I don't know. I'm fast I guess. Pretty strong. I can do a lot of stuff. I'm very athletic. That's my biggest thing. I can do a lot of stuff."

(on what to expect out of him for the Super Bowl) "I'm just going to play hard. Play hard and bust my tail and hopefully good things will come."

LINEBACKER K.J. WRIGHT

(on preparing for New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham in 2013) "The preparation, it was key. Whenever you have a main target that that the quarterback loves to go to and you know you're going to be on him, you know you've got to stand up. I remember getting the TV copy of their routes and just watching it. You can get a better look at how they run their routes when you watch the TV copy because you can see different movements you won't be able to see versus your iPad or watching film. It's just a more in-depth film study. I did that and just got a really good look at him, and I knew that the ball's coming this guy's way. It was a Monday night. Everybody's watching. You don't want to get exposed."

(on being very physical with Graham within five yards of the line of scrimmage) "You've got to. Different players don't like physicality. At that time, he was one of them. He struggled with press coverage, and when you watch film on him guys will just play off of him and just let him run 7-on-7 routes. That's something that you can't let him get a running start or he'll just have a field day with you. I believe Gronk (New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) is different. I believe he excels sometimes in physical coverage, and he excels in off coverage. He does good with both of them. For the most part what I've seen, guys that are on him have more success than versus off."

(on if being physical is an important element when going up against Gronkowski) "You've got to make a physical presence because that's what this defense is all about, being physical and knocking guys around. When we tackle them they go down immediately, don't get yards after the catch. We've just got to make our presence felt out there, and just let them know that, 'Hey, we're here coming to play. It's not going to be an easy game for you.'"

(on what it's been like preparing for this game knowing there's a chance that he's going to be an important player and if he enjoys that) "Yeah, it is, but every game is important. I'm not going to sit here and make this game or this player bigger than what it is because every single game I go up there and try to put on my best performance. We know this is the last game of the year, and he is a very important piece of the puzzle. So am I. It's going to be a battle out there. I expect to win every matchup I'm out there against him. That's who I am, and that's what this team is about. I'm just going to play within the defense, not going to go out there and make stuff up, and just try to play hard."

(on if he tries to make preparing for a game of this magnitude the same as any other game) "It's not different at all. The only thing that different is the media hype, the fans. More is at stake, but as far as preparing, it's just the same. We're doing our same stuff, our same 9-on-7, 7-on-7. You can't make it bigger than what it is because that's when you just start getting out of you elements and start getting out of control and playing wild. Coach (Pete) Carroll, he's doing a good job at keeping us calm and just making sure everything is the exact same."

(on one thing that Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn has emphasized with him personally this week) "It's just the fundamentals. He's always preaching fundamentals, 'Let's be the best fundamental team in football.' DQ, he's the type if they try to run the hurry-up, he's going to have that call in fast and make sure that our cleats are in the ground and we're ready to roll. A team's not going to out-tempo us. They're not going to out-scheme us. We're going to come out there and play our same football that we know how to play."

(on what the feeling in the locker room is like in the locker room in regards to Quinn's head coaching opportunity next season) "In this business, you always want guys to reach the top of whatever it is. If you're guys like JG (John Glenn), he's a quality control guy, you want him to someday become a linebackers coach or tight ends coach. Take (Linebackers) Coach (Ken) Norton (Jr.), you want him to one day become a D-coordinator. You always want guys to grow. If it comes down to players in free agency, one team's not paying enough you want them to go elsewhere and get paid the most money they can. I want guys to reach the top of their field and just be the best they can be and be able to provide for their family."

(on if Quinn is ready to be a head coach) "No doubt. I thought he was going to leave last year with how good he was. Being able to put two No. 1 defense together, that's special. Most teams need a defensive minded coach because defense is what wins you football games and what wins championships. You can tell. He will most definitely be gone. He can bring a nice presence to teach defense, teach fundamentals. Just put a good defensive coordinator around him and offensive coordinator around him and you're going to win football games."

(on what makes Quinn a good strategic coach) "I believe his simplicity is what makes him good. You see some defensive coordinators just be all over the place with their schemes and just have linebackers matched up against receivers. It's just bad coaching and bad defense. He's going to make sure the guys are in the right place, the match-ups will be good and just it'll be good, sound football. That's what it all comes down to."

(on what it means be healthy during this year's playoffs) "It's real special. I thank God for that moment. Last year, I came off a broken foot. I was heartbroken. I thought my season was pretty much over. I'm fortunate to be able to play every game this year. A lot of credit to our trainers. They're one of the best at what they do. For me to be healthy, it's real big for me. I'm 100 percent. I was playing in the Super Bowl last year at like 75 percent. This does feel good, and I'm real thankful."

(on who the voice of reason is for him on the sideline) "It's definitely my coach, Coach (Ken) Norton (Jr.). He does a good job in making sure that everything is in place. He's the guy that's with us all throughout the week. He talks to us after every series, just going over plays and all that stuff. He does a good job of making sure that the linebackers are the guys that - we've got to be calm and we've got to make sure that everything is in order because we have to set the front. We have to get guys lined up. We've got to make checks with everybody. We've got to be the guys out there that are out there controlling them out there, running the show."

(on where the defense should be considered in history if Seattle would win its second consecutive Super Bowl) "We should definitely be in the top-5, I believe, because a lot of teams I don't believe can do what we've done just beating great quarterbacks - the (Green Bay quarterback) Aaron Rodgers', the (New England quarterback) Tom Brady's, the (Denver quarterback) Peyton Manning's. We definitely should be in history as one of the best. I believe that in this game, if we go out there and perform the way we know we're capable of, we can definitely put our stamp in history."

(on if Seattle is relaxed during the week) "We definitely are relaxed. We just can't get overhyped about this game. Coach (Pete) Carroll does a good job in putting us in positions to be relaxed. We're out there shooting basketballs before practice. We're out there watching highlight films of the (Golden State) Warriors and the (Los Angeles) Lakers. He does a good job in making sure that everybody's calm. He just lets us know to enjoy this moment, soak it all in, game time will be here before we know it."

(on how he would compare this year's Super Bowl in Phoenix to last year's in New York) "Of course, New York is New York. That's Time Square. That's Statue of Liberty. That's everything, but this place has been fun, as well. It's got nice hotels. The rookies, it's their first time here. It's been good. Both cities are nice."

(on if Seattle is the same team no matter where they play) "You can put us anywhere. We can go to Australia. We can go to Antarctica to play; Mexico. It doesn't matter. We're going to be the same team and we're going to play our same style of football."

(on what he's learned about the New England defense in the last two weeks) "I've learned a lot about them. I've been studying these guys, like you said, for the past two weeks. I've just learned that they're a really good football team. They're good on both sides of the football and special teams, as well. Coach (Bill) Belichick, he put together a good organization. Those guys have got talent all over the field and they play together, as well. They're a really good football team."

FREE SAFETY EARL THOMAS

(on how the week has been so far) "I'm feeling good. Blessed to just be able to play this game. Who knows, if the Super Bowl was last week, maybe I wouldn't be playing."

(on how the Super Bowl experience has been the second time around) "It's been great. Smooth for the most part. I feel comfortable."

(on if he really notices an injury on the field when he's trying to play through it) "You never notice it. I think when you get going, you get in the flow, you forget about everything."

(on if he is aware of the injuries of the opposing team's players) "I haven't thought of it that deep like that. I don't think like that. When I get out there, I understand what I have to do. I know my routine and I let everything else take care of itself."

(on how he would describe Seattle defensive passing game coordinator Rocky Seto's role on the coaching staff and what he brings to the staff) "I think his style of teaching is very, very different from anybody in that building. I've never met a coach that shows examples from Animal Plant and tries to relate that to how we attack football. That's different."

(on his favorite tactic that Seto uses) "Just the battles between any animal. He always emphasizes a tackling plan or a judo punch. He would maybe have Bruce Lee up there showing a punch and a guy flying out of a chair. You see guys punching at the ball. (Seattle CB) Byron Maxwell stripping the ball, forcing a fumble or I am forcing a fumble. That's Rocky Seto's presentations."

(on what the biggest key to their success on defense is) "Our constant grind. We get better as far as understanding our scheme every year. It's simple, but it's little details that can take you over the top."

(on how much Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has played a factor in their level of consistency) "A lot, of course. He has that boxing mentality and that's what we have as a team, attack mode."

(on what kind of a game he expects on Sunday) "I'm not sure."

(on what kind of a game would be best for Seattle based on their style) "We're ready for whatever."

(on if he is ready to just get to the game and play as soon as he can) "I just want to get back to football. This is not me."

(on where his confidence and swagger comes from) "Faith. My faith in God. I have always been like this. I always played faster than everybody - in Pop Warner, college and the NFL."

(on if there is an angry streak in him) "It's a little bit of everything."

(on what the challenges of facing a big, physical tight end like New England TE Rob Gronkowski is) "You hit it right on the head. You have a great scouting report. You told me. I don't need to explain."

(on New England QB Tom Brady) "A great player. A winner."

(on how the culture within Seattle's secondary became a brotherhood) "We gave ourselves a chance. Overall, just the experiences, the trips - it all brought us closer, even when we lost. It made us talk about it."

(on if anything changed with the team from the first half of the season to the second half) "We have to stick with each other. We started to trust each other. We had to kind of find that bond again."

(on what he talked about in a specific midseason meeting that changed things around) "It is just us being open with each other - that's it. When you are open with another man, because everybody feels that they can't show love and be a man at the same time. But, it only takes a couple of people to start it out."

(on the report that he got angry with teammates when they were eating sunflower seeds at a team walk-thru) "Yeah. It was just my old-school mentality in a lot of ways. I just felt like that was a distraction. That's just how I lay on."

(on what he learned in that midseason meeting) "To answer your question, we always knew who we were. We just had to be real with each other - that's it."

(on where being real with each other had been) "People were just to themselves. We were out there playing for ourselves. I think you really could play for yourself, but you have to involve your teammates too, because it's got to be for yourself. You have to look at yourself in the mirror, no regrets. But you definitely have to have love for your teammates."

(on what Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch is like in the locker room and on the sidelines, despite the media perception) "He is a humble, genuine guy. You said it right, ‘media perception.'"

(on what challenges New England RB LeGarrette Blount presents) "A big body. Especially with my shoulder, I need to have a tackle in plan and we need to gang tackle."

(on if he thinks New England will test him early because of his injured shoulder) "I'm sure they will. They do a great job of trying to find match-ups. That's a great challenge for me."

(on if being challenged bothers him) "No. I am happy for it. You want the ball coming your way. We'll see what happens."

(on the best advice his grandfather, a pastor, ever gave him) "The best advice he ever gave me was he said, ‘You either change your ways or change your name.' If you really think about that, it's powerful."

(on if he loves the mental aspect of the game and going up against great quarterbacks in a chess match) "Yeah. That's why you love preparing. That's why I love the NFL. In college, it wasn't like this. This is a step up and you are learning more. I am constantly learning."

(on what he thinks of New England's deception on offense and how prepared Seattle is to handle it) "We put so much pressure on the offense. That will be a great way to throw us off our rhythm, so you definitely have to prepare for it."

SAFETY KAM CHANCELLOR

(on the challenges in facing tight end Rob Gronkowski) "He's a big tight end, a big guy, an athletic guy, fast guy and he's crafty with what he does. He uses his body well to shed off defenders. He catches the ball well. He has a great quarterback. It's a quarterback that looks for him on a lot of plays, and he gets a lot of target."

(on whether the matchup with Gronkowski will be a physical one, a mental one, or both) "I'm not sure. It just kind of depends on how the refs let us play the game and just how the game goes. You've just got to play in the moment."

(on Gronkowski's size) "He's a tight end for a reason. He was blessed with that size, that speed and that ability. He's a tight end for a reason. Like people used to say that I could be a linebacker or something. I tell them, ‘No, I'm a safety.' He probably a tells people he's a tight end. I think his position is tight end."

(on the challenge in facing running back LeGarrette Blount and if any of Blount's comments this week got Seattle fired up) "I've just been hearing about his comments this week. He runs hard, runs well with his pads and has good feet for his size. He's just another big back, a physical back."

(on the challenge in facing quarterback Tom Brady) "He's a good quarterback, great quarterback. He's efficient. He knows where he wants to go with the ball. He's a quarterback that understands defense. He knows how the defense wants to try and attack him. He goes for your weaknesses. If you make any mistakes and opening up a couple holes he's going to find the open guy. You just have to be key as far as discipline in your defense."

(on biggest difference between Seattle's team now compared to the beginning of the season) "The first half we all talked and said people were being more selfish in that first half. We're weren't as much of a unit in the first half as opposed to the end of the season. We had our differences. We had our problems. We had our adversity. I think everything that we went through at the beginning of the season built the team that we are now. The rest of the season we started trusting one another. The love became stronger and stronger because the love was already there, we just had some confusion. We had the friction, we prayed to God and it all came back together how it was supposed to be."

(on how Seattle stopped the friction from the first half of the season) "Yeah, Coach (Pete Carroll) called up a meeting with the core guys, and we just talked about respect, respecting one another, understanding one another, having love for one another and understanding that the guy next to you is your brother. You're out there on the battlefield together. We all feel the same pain. We all lose together. We all win together. This is a brotherhood, and we just had to understand that."

(on how important tackling is in this game) "Tackling is going to be very important like every game. We treat no game differently. Every game tackling is important. This game is about running and hitting. As a defense, you want to be great at tackling. You want to be the most fundamentally sound team that's out there. Tackling is important in every game. Every situation is the same. There's no more importance in this game on it, it's the same. You have to be a great tackling defense to stop the offense."

(on the difference in defending a slip screen pass and a bubble screen pass) "On the slip screen you get more linemen in front of you quicker, and with the bubble screen it's more receivers. That would be the main difference. You've just got to get the bigger guys out of the way on the slip screens. They kind of get up to you a lot faster on the slip screen. That's probably the biggest difference."

(on if he thinks New England will run a lot of screen passes to its running backs) "I don't what to expect, but we'll be prepared.

(on who the toughest quarterback was to prepare for in the regular season) "We don't prepare for quarterbacks. We prepare for teams, so I can't really say which quarterback we prepare for. We prepare for teams. We don't look at just one guy on a team. We talk about battling against a team."

(on who the toughest quarterback is to play against) "Again, it's not about just one man, it's about the team. You can't really say, ‘Oh, it's tough to play against this guy.' Because he has to distribute the ball and that guy has to get open to get the ball. You can't really say it's one guy."

(on what kind of game he expects on Sunday) "With football you don't always know what to expect, but you've got to be prepared. We don't know what to expect, but we'll prepare for anything."

(on what kind of a game plays more to Seattle's advantage) "Any game with a win. That's the better style of game for us."

(on the similarities and differences from last year to this year leading up to game Sunday) "Media's been the same. Activities have been the same. The focus has been the same. The preparation is the same. I mean, the only difference is you just know what to expect every day. You kind of know how the day's going to go. You know how to handle it mentally, all the drag they try to give you in the media all that stuff. You don't let get to you."

(on if he would be happy if he could just play the game today or tomorrow) "No, we haven't prepared fully yet. We've prepared almost all the way, but we haven't finished our preparation yet. We still have a couple days left. When we finish preparation, I know we'll be ready."

(on if a lot of the penalties called on Seattle's defense just come from playing fast and aggressive) "Sometimes you just play fast, and you're just playing football. You're just out there playing football, and you're having fun. You're playing with no doubt, no fear. Penalties happen. Those things happen. The dumb ones are the ones you want to eliminate, but penalties happen sometimes."

(on New England's formations and if Seattle is better prepared for them now since the ineligible and eligible receivers have to be announced) "It doesn't change anything. They're going to still do what they're going to do. The refs are going to call out those ineligible guys, those eligible guys and we're going to see it like we always see it every game. When they do call it out, we hear it and we see it. We pay attention to detail. We're a detail orientated team defense, so it's not going to change anything."

(on if the simplicity of Seattle's defense helps them play better) "There's nothing fancy at all about our defense. It's fast, physical and straight to the point. It's if this is your gap, fill your gap. If this is your man, cover your man. They just teach us the fundamentals that we need to know to finish plays, to get to plays, to sniff out plays. That's the other part to it."

(on how Seattle maintains the consistency on defense year in and year out) "You've just got to remain hungry. You've got to starve yourself. Don't look at the bigger picture, you never look at the bigger picture. You always remember the journey. I always tell my guys, ‘It's about the journey, not the destination.' Because during the journey is when you have the most fun times. That's what you earn. It's all about the journey to me."

(on why defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has been a major part of the defense's consistency the past three seasons) "Because he's been consistent. If your d-coordinator is being consistent with who he has and what he brings to the defense, then the guys that are under him, that follow him are going to be consistent. We get nothing but realness from D.Q. We get himself, we get his heart. When we hear it, we feel it. You have no choice but to be consistent if you're following a leader like that."

TACKLE RUSSELL OKUNG

(on the difference between this year and last for him) "There's not much of a difference. It's been a great journey getting here. We are very excited to be able to play on Sunday."

(on what Seattle's offense needs to do to stay with New England's scoring abilities) "I believe we need to stay true to our identity. We need to stay true to what we do best and really just stay on schedule and not really shoot ourselves in the foot or make a lot of mental errors. I think we'll be fine."

(on how he feels about the offensive line not being talked about) "When they do talk about us it's a bad thing. It means we've done something bad. If they're not talking about us I figure that we are doing our job."

(on how Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson helps the offensive line out) "He has the ability to really take off with his feet or even throw a huge pass down the field. Even when he is extending plays and getting out of the pocket or getting around and scrambling, he's does pretty well. We'll take that any day."

(on how Seattle is preparing for New England Head Coach Bill Belichick's play calls) "We're aware of what they do. They play a lot of different schemes and they play a lot of different defensive fronts. We're preparing the best way we know how and hopefully we will be ready for Sunday."

(on how he came to play football) "I actually played soccer. That was the first sport I actually played. I was a little too big for that so they moved me over to football and I haven't looked back."

(on his journey to be back at the Super Bowl a second year) "It's been an amazing journey. I've had a lot of really good support growing up. I was raised in Fort Bend (Texas) and have had a lot of coaches and mentors really take me under their wing. They really believe in me as well. I wouldn't be who I am without those people believing and helping me develop me in some way."

(on his growth as a person off the football field) "I think my growth started with accountability. I was taught accountability at a very young age and have had an outstanding education from the men in my life to teach me how to really be a man and really show me what it takes to be a man as well. With their constant grilling and their discipline, it really shaped me into the man I am today."

(on if it is hard to single out one leader on Seattle's roster) "I believe anyone is capable of leadership. They say leadership is really just influence and guys who have the ability to really influence. Really, it's if you have the ability to influence in the right way. Are you leading us in the right way? A lot of guys, they do that. A lot of guys have outstanding character, a lot of guys who are men of integrity as well. When you have those things, they come together with football and leads us to the team we are."

(on if he can see the finish line for this week) "Yeah, it's getting closer to the game and I can't wait for Sunday. That's why we're here. I can't wait to play some ball and see who is going to be the champion."

(on what his thoughts are when he hears the offensive line is a weak link of the team) "People say what they want to say. I think we just do the best we can with protecting Russell (Wilson) and keeping him up and making sure Marshawn (Lynch) can do what he does best too.

(on controlling the line of scrimmage for Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch) "Well it's our identity. I think we are a run-first team and then we want to throw the ball explosively over your head with big plays to our receivers. Our guys are capable of it as well too, but obviously it's our identity, too. We want to play physical, smashing football and running the ball is a part of it."

(on who he thinks he will be up against on Sunday) "They play a lot of different guys. We'll see Chandler Jones, No. 50 (Rob Ninkovich), No. 91 (Jamie Collins), No. 55 (Akeem Ayers), No. 54 (Dont'a Hightower), a couple of different guys. They rotate a lot of guys, but our guys are capable. They are pretty active up front too. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

(on if New England defensive end Chandler Jones is a handful) "Oh, they all are. These guys are professionals. They know what they're doing, and they get paid well to do what they do."

(on what stood out about last year's Super Bowl) "I thought we stayed on schedule. We stayed on schedule with our ball. We ran the ball effectively, but we've got to play cleaner. Obviously, you want to make less mistakes and see where it takes us."

(on if last year's Super Bowl is relevant to this coming game) "No. History doesn't win games. You can only kind of learn from it and hope to do the best you can with it."

(on something people don't know about him) "What they don't know about me is I don't like to talk too much about myself. That's what they don't know. What they don't know is I wouldn't be where I was without the guys. They're my support system. It's never just me standing alone. There's the other four guys who make me the player that I am."

(on where he would be if he wasn't in sports) "Probably running a business somewhere. Maybe still be in school. I don't know. The sky's the limit for me. I don't think there is anything I'm not capable of doing."

(on what it's like to play in front of a quarterback who is always running) "I think it's what makes him really good. He (Russell Wilson) can run around and make plays with his feet, or even with his arm, too. Him extending those plays and making something out of nothing is what makes him very special."

TIGHT END LUKE WILLSON

(on what winning two Super Bowls in a row would mean) "To be honest with you, I will probably think more about that if it happens. Just because it is one of those things where it is irrelevant to me right now. The moment we start getting caught up in what could be then you miss what is right in front of you."

(on whether it was harder or easier to get back to a second Super Bowl) "I think last year was pretty tough, but I think this year was equally, if not more challenging because we were under the radar last year. We weren't the Super Bowl champs. Now we have everyone's ‘A' game. We were kind of a measuring stick for everyone else in the league. There was no secret that if you didn't come with your ‘A' game we were going to try and embarrass you. I think a lot of teams realized that and like you said when you play the best you want to try to compare yourself."

(on what the key factor was in getting back to the Super Bowl) "I think the key was being who we are. I know that sounds cliché, but defensively hitting guys and being more physical. Offensively, running the ball. Again making scramble plays. Making explosive mentality (plays) in the passing game. For me I think that (we) were not trying to do anything special and do something we are not. Just be who we are is what got us back here."

(on when the game becomes just another football game) "I think that - yesterday we got back on the field and had a full practice for the first time in a few days and that was the first time where it felt like we were back to a regular week. There was no media at practice. No distractions, so to speak. We were out just focusing on the Patriots and just really getting after it. When the football part of it comes up that is when it comes back to normal."

(on how difficult it is to prepare for Russell Wilson's scrambling abilities) "We have general rules and you understand the system where everyone else is route wise. It is more of a feel thing. It is not a, ‘Hey you need to be here.' (You have) to feel out where defenders are and where your own guys are. It is not as difficult once you understand the general idea of what you are trying to accomplish."

(on not having a go-to guy on the receiving corps) "I think that also plays into effect that you don't have a certain coverage you see all the time. Certain guys aren't getting doubled, so you have your own opportunities."

(on the reaction to Percy Harvin being traded) "We all felt that we had a point to prove in a way. Percy is a tremendous player and he was tremendously talented and great. He did a lot of great things for us. We also have some great players on this team this year that you have seen. A lot of guys want to step up and prove that."

(on who has stepped up and replaced Percy Harvin) "I don't think you can replace Percy Harvin. He is so talented. He is one of a kind. Everyone knows that. I don't think there is one person that has replaced Percy Harvin. I just think as a group, offensively, even (offensive) lineman, wide-outs, tight ends, running backs, fullbacks and the quarterbacks. We all just created a chemistry where we were able to have some successful games offensively."

(on his development over the years) "Zach (Miller) is a tremendous tight end, so it was cool to have him as a mentor to me. When my number was called I just tried to perform and do the best that I can and help the team out. It is a team atmosphere and attitude."

(on the teams preparation from this year compared to last year) "As far as scheduling and that sort of thing it is very similar. Obviously the Patriots have a great defense. We are going to go out and try to do our thing and execute our plays. We are not a team that dwells on what the other team does. It is more of a internal things that we do. That is our philosophy."

(on New England's tight end Rob Gronkowski) "Tremendous tight end. He is a great player. For me what I enjoy about him is - a lot of the big name tight ends catch touchdowns and have a lot of yardage, which he obviously does, but he also really contributes to the run game. I think (that) he is very good run-blocker, so I have a lot of respect for him."

(on similarities between his game and New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) "To be honest, with them being in the AFC, I haven't watched a ton of his film, so I rarely see his highlights, so it is kind of unfair for me to answer that question."

(on his run-blocking) "I feel that I have done a really good job this year and gotten after it and been able to contribute."

(on how things changed after his big breakout game from a public perspective) "I don't know from a public perspective. It is tough. To be honest I don't really read a ton of the reports and all that stuff. Hopefully it is more positive. At the end I just focus on what I am trying to do and helping the team."

(on if he has always had the big game potential, but just need it to happen) "I felt like I can have big games and contribute like that. I felt like that was coming eventually. It did and was a nice time to have it."

(on what Seattle coach Pete Carroll sees in him) "I think I am another guy with a chip on my shoulder. Kind of a story like most of the guys on this team have. He gave me shot, which I am very grateful for."

(on Carroll's coaching style) "Mentally my approach to the game is a lot different than it has ever been. I think he has allowed me to evolve as a player."

(on how Carroll's coaching style has changed him) "A lot of times you get in situations where you are forced to be one way or act one way, (but) with Coach Carroll we have a group of individuals that come together and play as one. He wants you to be yourself. Everyone on the team is very different, but at the same time we all work towards a common goal."

(on if he has learned anything about himself now that he is allowed to be himself) "I don't know. I don't know if I have reflected that deep on it. Maybe that is an offseason question. Right now we are so focused on the Patriots that it is kind of tough to think of things like that."

(on if he and quarterback Russell Wilson talk about the two-point conversion from the NFC Championship game) "I was laughing. That has just never happened, but it did and it works. It was almost comical. Guys were kind of laughing about it. To be honest, that whole end of that game into the locker room is a bit of a blur. It went by pretty quickly."

(on what kind of teammate Marshawn Lynch is) "Unbelievable teammate. Very funny guy. Extremely hard working and incredibly talented as you can see that every Sunday. Just unbelievable. I can't say enough about the guy. We love having him on our team. The team loves him. He is pretty funny and a great guy to be in the locker room with."

(on his antics when he speaks to the media) "I don't know if I would call them antics. He doesn't really have much to say. A guy in his position -- I can't really blame him. I don't really have a problem with what he says or does."

(on how proud he is to be from Canada) "There is not a ton of us who are truly born and raised in Canada. Jon (Ryan) and I were talking about that the other day. In that sense it is a point of pride for me because there are so few guys that went to high school in Canada and played in the NFL. I know it is pretty cool being Canadian and having that stigma or responsibility of being able to represent my country. (It) is pretty neat."

(on if there are a lot of Seahawks in his hometown) "I think there are now, definitely. I get a lot of support from my hometown, which is something I am really proud of and enjoy.

WIDE RECEIVER DOUG BALDWIN

(on his evolution in the NFL and if he has a chip on his shoulder) "Yes, but it's not necessarily proving people wrong. It's more so proving ourselves right. We like that negativity that we get from the media and from some fans sometimes, but we use it as motivating, fuel to the fire. We look at it as a way to not only to prove others wrong, but to prove ourselves right."

(on something clicking with the offense after Percy Harvin was traded) "I don't know. Not just because of his trade. I think there were a lot of factors that went into us figuring things out. Even after his trade, we were still struggling offensively. We didn't really find our identity until after the Kansas City Chiefs game. It took a while to figure things out. I don't think it had anything to do with his trade."

(on if he feels like their 3-3 start was part of a Super Bowl hangover) "Not at all. We had injuries that we had to overcome, obviously. It's very difficult to win in this league. For whatever reason, the media and the fans think it's easy, but it's very difficult to get to a Super Bowl once, not even to mention a second time. It's just the nature of the business. It's difficult to win in this game."

(on what makes the New Englad secondary so special) "For Brandon Browner, it's his physicality, and what he does at the line of scrimmage and what he brings to the table in terms of his physical-ness. Darrelle Revis is one of the most patient cornerbacks. He's very cerebral. He knows concepts; he knows route concepts. He can figure things out based on the way a guy's lined up, his alignment. He can pick people apart just based on the way you are lined up. You have to be versatile in what you do at the line of scrimmage in terms of releasing of the ball and very patient in your route running. You also have to make sure you don't give anything away, because those guys are very cerebral. They figure things out on the fly."

(on if there will be any trash talking with cornerback Brandon Browner) "We have already talked about it. I texted him earlier in the week. I told him that I love him like a brother, and he will always be one of my best friends, but he knows what it is come game time. He reiterated the same thing. We understand what this is. It's a competition. I love him to death, but he knows he is going to get the best out of me when we get on the field, and I know I'm going to get the best out of him. No trashing talking is a mutual respect there, but obviously we are going head-to-head and give the best we got."

(on what kind of game he expects the Super Bowl will be) "I expect a physical game. I expect a low-scoring game at that, to be honest with you. That's a very talented defense over there, and we are going to bring our own talented defense with us. I think it's going to be a fun game to watch, but I think it's going to be a very challenging game on both sides of the ball. I would expect a very physical, low-scoring game."

(on if it's a little easier having already gone through a Super Bowl) "Yes, in terms of dealing with the media, you handle it a lot better and a lot more smoothly because of the fact that you have been through it, you have the experience. In terms of the game, this is an entirely different opponent that we are facing. We have a completely, not a completely different team, but we have some changes that have happened. Preparing for that team, it doesn't get any easier."

(on if he would be ready to play the game right now) "I would, I would - very much so. I'm anxious to get to the game, however I'm trying to enjoy the moment that we have right here."

(on receiving constructive criticism) "It doesn't really bother me the constructive criticism. I take pride in being able to listen to constructive criticism and taking it in a positive way and making myself a better football player or human being in general. If you are going to bring up something, I need the facts. I need you to show me exactly why you think that way. If you don't back it up with facts, it's just an opinion. I will respect your opinion, but you are going to respect mine as well. I'm going to bring the facts to back my opinion up, as well."

(on if the entire team has a chip on the shoulder) "I think so. Anybody who has an internal motivation to prove themselves right is going to have a fire in their belly to go out there and play well or be successful in whatever their field is. In some regards, I feel that way. I enjoy that fire in my belly. I don't turn down the constructive criticism that is out there."

(on what was the breaking point where they realized they needed to be better and were serious about getting to the Super Bowl) "It was a gradual thing. There wasn't any one specific point where we said, ‘Alright, we need to do this.' It was a gradual thing. I always start off with the Dallas game, the Rams game and then the Kansas City Chiefs game. Those were turning points in our season in terms of looking at ourselves in the mirror and figuring out what we needed to correct. We had a team meeting, and we figured out we needed to start trusting in each other, stop worrying about what the other guys are doing, focus on ourselves, controlling what we can control and going out there playing not with each other, but for each other."

(on quarterback Russell Wilson) "He's good. He's a dominant guy when he has the ball in his hands, because he can do so much. He's versatile in the fact that he can take off out of the pocket and still downfield and make plays with his arm. But, when he does scramble and he does take off with the ball past the line of scrimmage, he can make guys miss. He's very effective when he does. He's capable of doing so much. That's what makes him special. He's not just a prototypical pocket passer. He is a guy you have to account for not only in the pass game, but with his legs."

(on what running back Marshawn Lynch does best) "Running, obviously, he's a running back. Nothing specific and that's also what makes him so special. He is one of the most aggressive runners in the NFL. He has the ability to run guys over, but he also has the ability to make them miss with the different moves he makes. He's also an underrated catcher out of the backfield, I keep saying this. He's truly one of the most well-rounded running backs in the league."

(on how he would describe his mentality on the football field compared to Marshawn Lycnh's) "Very similar, actually, in terms of mentality. Physically-wise, I'm trying to avoid contact as much as I can as a receiver. He seeks contact. Mentality, is very similar. I would say that for most of the guys on the team. Do whatever it takes to get that extra inch, to get that extra yard for your teammates."

(on adapting to the environment that comes with being in the Super Bowl) "Yeah, it's more so been beneficial in terms of dealing with the media, dealing with the outside distractions, dealing with trying to get your family situated with tickets and hotel rooms and all that stuff because you know what to expect. In terms of preparing for the football game, it doesn't get easier because this is completely different team that we are facing. We had some changes on our side of the ball, so there are things that we have to do to get ready for this game that is different from last year. The football aspect isn't easier."

(on what his first conversation with quarterback Russell Wilson was like) "He wasn't sure that he was going to get the job yet. He was just in the mode of taking care of himself and taking care of him. We didn't start doing stuff until two years after he won the job."

(on if he was approached by former Seattle quarterback Matt Flynn to talk about throwing together) "Right when Matt got to Seattle, we had already started doing stuff outside of training. We would go to a local high school and throw. He got all the receivers and tight ends to come with him to throw, so right away Matt had started doing it."

(on when the mindset changed that Russell Wilson would be the starter) "I think it was in the Chicago game, his rookie season, is when everybody started to realize how talented Russell could be, the potential that he had. He started putting it all together after the Chicago game."

WIDE RECEIVER JERMAINE KEARSE

(on his perspective on how the season went) "I mean we're here. We're at the Super Bowl so I feel like it was pretty solid season."

(on if he feels he progressed this season) "Yeah, you're always trying to get better because you're never going to stay the same. You're either you're getting better or you're getting worse or you're going to try to stay complacent. That's what you're trying to do every day, is just get better."

(on his relationship with quarterback Russell Wilson) "I feel like we have good chemistry. We came into the league the same year. The chemistry and the timing with this has grown over the past few years so it makes it easy for us."

(on what the biggest challenge will be for him on Sunday) "You just got to maximize opportunities and just go out there and compete. That's all you can really ask for is to just to go out there and compete and make the plays when they present them."

(on how he felt after practice) "I felt good. It was nice to get back out there and start football again dealing with all the media stuff before. It was nice to get back out there."

(on how he feels mentally) "Definitely getting back on the right track. The past couple of days have been a lot of media and what not so to be able to get back into our normal routine has been nice."

(on if he feels this game will end up being a matchup of wills) "We know it's going to be competitive. That's one thing you're going to be able to ask for. You got two competitive teams fighting for the same thing. It just comes down to us executing and competing out there."

(on what he does to get his competitive edge) "I just try to keep my normal routine. I'm not going to change anything I do from throughout the season or the rest of the playoffs. I feel like that's my competitive edge is just sticking to what I do."

(on if he has any rituals on Sundays) "I eat a chocolate hot fudge sundae (the night before). I don't know if that's a ritual. I do that every Saturday night."

(on if he thinks his team feels relaxed and prepared) "Yeah, it's about just being comfortable and just embracing the moment. I feel like our guys are preparing well and getting their minds right. I think they'll be all right."

(on if he thinks about the team being a dynasty) "We just try to take it one day at a time. That's what it's about. Not looking ahead and just taking it one day at a time. Just trying to compete and win that day."

(on how Head Coach Pete Carroll said nothing will change now) "We are going to stick to who we are and do what we always do. There's no need to change anything because it's the Super Bowl. You just got to take it one day at a time and don't change."

(on what he is doing beyond the box score that is so valuable) "I'm just trying to compete every day. We have a lot of guys that try to compete and ultimately that's what I feel like it comes down to. Just maximizing opportunities."

(on his special teams play) "I think that's something that everyone takes pride in. All of us play special teams. We take pride in what we do and how we go about things. If we have to run block, we're going to try our best at it. If we have to make a play with the pass game, we're going to compete."

(on if his special teams play gives him value) "The more you can do."

(on the personality of the wide receiving corps.) "I think our receiving corps. plays with a chip on our shoulder. We just try to compete every day. That's what it comes down to and whenever the opportunity presents itself, we just maximize it."

(on his emotions during the NFC Championship game) "It was definitely a roller-coaster of emotions. You kind of have a down moment and you just try pick yourself back up. It's just about staying in tune, staying in the game and not quitting."

(on if it was tough to stay in the game after many of the balls thrown his way were tipped or intercepted) "Yeah, it was tough at the time, but you have to be mentally tough in situations like that. When you could be able to push through that, you'll find good results."

(on how to find success against the New England defense) "Just sticking to what we do. Not changing who we are. Ultimately, just go out there and compete. Obviously, they game plan for a specific team. There's going to be some different things and going to have to be able to adjust. Go out there and compete and stick to who we are."

(on facing his former teammate, New England cornerback Brandon Browner, and if there will be trash talk) "I got respect for (Browner). I haven't talk to him in a couple months or so, but I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it. He's a good player and I'm sure he'll go out there and compete."

(on playing with quarterback Russell Wilson) "You got to find him and then you just find an open area for him. That's what it comes down to. He can make plays with his legs so you just got to find an open area for him."