San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, defensive end Nick Bosa, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, and tackle Joe Staley spoke with reporters before Thursday's practice as the team prepares for Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcripts provided by the 49ers Communications staff.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
You have two Super Bowl rings. Where do you keep them and do you ever wear them? And what does it mean to be a starter as opposed to backing for a Super Bowl?
"Those are back in Chicago, safe and sound. I don't know if I've worn them any other times other than, like, the ring ceremony, maybe to a school, visiting or something like that, that was about it. But, this is another great opportunity to be back to it and just these don't come around very often. You've got to take advantage when you get them."
How do you feel your Super Bowl experience will help you the next couple of weeks and in the game?
"I think when you get down there, especially the media availability, all the requirements and obligations that you have to do, I think. Just having been through that, and obviously being a starter, it's a little different with time management and everything. But, just having seen all that, being up close and personal with it, I think all that will help me."
What are your recollections of Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes visiting you after the Chiefs game last year and did that make an impression on you that he would--?
"Absolutely. I didn't even know Pat at the time. For him to come out of his way after the game and wish me luck and everything, just a real class act. The guy's awesome. On the field, off the field, he does it all."
Have you guys stayed in touch at all?
"Not really since then, no, but just for him to do something as simple as that, it went a long way."
You said that you don't really care how often you throw and all you really care about is winning. Somebody like CB Richard Sherman will see any sort of slights against him and use that as motivation. I'm wondering with all this discussion about you, your play, the fact that you threw just eight passes in the NFC title game, how you use that or how you view it if it's even on your mind at all?
"Yeah, Sherm, everyone has different ways to get motivated, and very similar to Sherm I do the same thing. I hear all the stuff and everything, but you can't put that all out there all the time. You have to do with it what you will and take it for what it is. Just at the end of the day you've got to go out there and play football."
What do you think is the benefit of examining New England Patriots QB Tom Brady in a Super Bowl, in the game? Will it play a role in how you prepare for this game?
"I think just how calm he was, everyone says you've got to treat it like another game, just the way he actually he did it. I was up close and personal, getting all the, picking up everything I could, seeing how he went about his business and everything. And obviously it worked out the two times that I was there with him. Try to transfer that over to my game."
What do you think about the Chiefs defense?
"Talented group. It starts up front. [Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones] 95, [Kansas City Chiefs DE Frank Clark] 55, they've got other guys that could get after it, too. But, their overall team speed, they mix it up in coverages. They don't really, they're trying not to give you anything easy. So, it makes it difficult, honest."
How hard was it to watch that film from last year? Was it like for you obviously with the emotions of your injury, but studying that tape and their defense?
"It brought up a lot of memories obviously with the knee and everything. It's crazy just how things come full circle like that. But, it's a new year and everything. You could take some things from the players and things like that. But the scheme, it's a little different this year."
Other memory from Kansas City, this year you were coming off a rougher game in Denver in the preseason, but you were really sharp. In retrospect, how important was that performance just to get your confidence back and your legs back underneath you?
"I thought it was important. It definitely was, especially with the timing of it. Coming back from the knee and everything, I knew there was going to be a bump in the road or a hiccup at some point. And I think Denver happened and all that, and then bouncing back in Kansas City, just really helped escalate things."
You played under a Hall-of-Fame coach, and then you come here and you encounter a rookie coach that doesn't even look like New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. What were you expecting from Kyle and did anything surprise you?
"I would say I expected a very sharp offensive mind, because I never met Kyle prior to that other than Combine and things like that. But, just from hearsay around the league, just a smart guy who, he commands the room. He could lead men and just offensive mind like no other. So, there was no surprises with that. That all held true. And just the way that he could lead, it's incredible. He does it in different ways, on the field, in the meeting room, the team meeting, all that stuff, it just goes a long way."
How would you describe yourself as a leader?
"I think just be myself, let it come naturally. I never try to go outside the box and do something that isn't myself, because I think guys see right through that and they'll think it's fake. Can't be that way. Guys are smart in there. They'll see right through you. But, I think at the end of the day you've got to be yourself."
Along the same lines, because your teammates say you're one of the guys, you don't elevate yourself, you're not, like, I'm the franchise quarterback. But, at the same time you can't just be one of the guys because you're the quarterback and there are times where you have to scream at them, like it was the Browns game or whatever. Is that something that comes naturally or have you learned the art of how to balance those things?
"There's definitely a balance to it. It's a fine line. But, I think at the end of the day as long as guys respect you and respect your opinion they see the work you put in things like that, I think all that carries tremendous weight. When we're around each other, the teammates just, as much as we are, you just know your guys inside and out and they know you inside and out. There's no really being fake. It is what it is."
On a pretty young team, how important is T Joe Staley just as a voice and a locker room presence?
"It's huge to have him, especially just big moments, games like this. We've had them throughout the entire end of the season, it feels like, these big games. But, just having a guy like that who could calm everything down, put everything in perspective, things like that. Joe's done phenomenal on the field, and the things he does off the field go very unnoticed, but it carries us a long way."
Does he say much in the huddle?
"From time to time, I think there's a time and place that he will. But, everyone leads in their own way or shows examples of that."
Just wondering, because it is different going through the process as a starter and a backup, will you reach out to Tom or anyone from the Patriots just to get advice how to handle what you're about to encounter in the next week and a half?
"I might. It's not a bad idea. The more information that you could get about it and having been through it, it's a little different than as a starter than and backup, so any information I could get would be great."
Speaking of what you learned from Tom Brady, just being part of the Super Bowls, against the Seattle Seahawks, what can you speak about his demeanor when he led that game-winning drive in the Super Bowl?
"As I said it before, he treats it like every other game. You could see it, how he is, his body mannerisms, everything, just how he prepares for it makes him confident on Sunday. And so, I'm trying to do the same thing, be ready to go and we'll see what happens."
One of the things Kyle's done and general manager John Lynch have done is they have embraced the history of this franchise. Former QB Joe Montana was at a game, former WR Jerry Rice was at a game, former QB Steve Young. How do you feel about the importance of that and then how do you feel about being measured by the standard of those players?
"I love that we keep it in the family and everything. When those older players come back, just whether they talk to us or you just see them on the sidelines, having them around, it's cool. It just makes you realize the history of this organization and whenever you get that opportunity, it's great."
You mentioned you were similar in to Sherm in the way that you guys both perceive slights. Obviously, you guys react publicly to them in very different ways. I'm wondering, where do you think your approach to just being kind of quiet about that comes from versus Sherm obviously, who seems to feel himself by being a little bit louder about it?
"I don't know. I think maybe having two older brothers, you say too much you keep your mouth shut a little bit. Just, I don't know. I think it just comes for me naturally, how I am."
How important was the first road trip where you guys stayed out on the road and building team unity and getting off to a good start, 2-0 and then going on the run you did 8-0?
"The one in Ohio you're talking about?"
Yeah starting the season. How important was it to build team unity?
"It was cool. It seems like a lifetime ago. Staying in a Holiday Inn, all that stuff. It was an eventful week, a little different than what we were used to. But, the time you get to spend with each other, with the coaches, with the teammates, you can't replace that. It's awesome."
There was a viral moment where Kyle talked to an official on the sideline who said the coverage is going to go this way, watch for holding. How often does he do that with you guys as players during the week on install? Is there a certain time that you remember where you think, well, is that really going to happen? It happened exactly the way that they said?
"Yeah, there's definitely been a couple of those. It would be hard to recall one off the top of my head. But, he always, throughout the week, whether it's situationally, this specific play or whatever it is, I don't know if you call it predicting or giving you a heads up of what he thinks is going to happen, and when it does happen it's very impressive. As a player, when a coach does that, you can trust him so much with that. It's invaluable."
The fact that you guys have not run a lot of passing plays this last week, can that be an advantage in the Super Bowl since the defense hasn't seen much?
"Yeah, they'll have to be on their toes, kind of play the game out as it goes."
DL Nick Bosa
Can you tell us about your leg workouts?
"They're pretty normal. That front squat, RDL, step-ups. I focus on technique, squat pretty deep. That's about it."
Always had such powerful legs or something you developed?
"I definitely developed them. But I think I get them from my dad."
You talked about this a little bit on Sunday, but has it sunk in now, the part of the world you're returning to? To be in the Super Bowl, I mean, that's pretty special.
"Yeah, it definitely is special. Trying to block out all the distractions right now, though, and enjoy that when it's time to enjoy that."
Your brother plays the Chiefs twice a year. Has he given you tips, advice on how to attack those tackles?
"Yeah, definitely. We're going to be talking. He has pretty good input on these guys. He's going to give me everything that he could give me and it's up to me to go use it."
How important is it for you guys to pass rush as a collective unit? I know often it's looked at from the outside as just being able to beat the guy in front of you, but how focused are you guys on that chemistry and timing and those different games?
"Yeah, we're back playing a mobile quarterback and one who could throw better than any we've faced. One of the biggest things is trying to keep him in the pocket and not let him escape when he wants to escape and make him uncomfortable."
With how fast those guys are and how explosive they want to be, obviously it's got to be a focus for you guys to try to get Mahomes?
"No doubt."
How important will it be for you guys to get after Mahomes?
"It will be a pretty big factor in the game."
Do you see a similarity between him and Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and just escapability and his arm?
"Yes, very similar with extending plays and play breakdowns that turn into long touchdowns. You watch Tennessee, second half they didn't get much of a rush. And you saw what happens. That's definitely a big focus."
Do you think that you've gotten better against that type of quarterback? It's been a progression of mobile quarterbacks that you've faced. Is there a progress there in how you are attacking them?
"Yeah, I think we've gotten better this year as we've played. We've faced just about everything you can face. Obviously, this will be a little bit different challenge, but I trust everybody around me."
Along those lines, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh talked about how important it is to rotate you guys so that you stay fresh. How important do you see that, all eight of you guys up front?
"Yeah, I mean, like we've been trying to do all year, we lost a couple of guys in the middle of the year so it became a little harder. But we've got to keep the same mindset, stay as fresh as we can, so when it comes down to crunch time, we can rush.
How about the way that Robert Saleh prepares you guys? What stands out to you guys about the way Robert Saleh prepares you guys?
"I think he just lays out the plan really well. From the start of the week to today, he tells you exactly what we need to do to beat them and it's usually pretty accurate. So, he gives us our three keys and he gets, usually, gets the D-line out of the room so we can go do our thing with [defensive line coach] Kris [Kocurek]. But he keeps us really in sync between units: D-line, linebackers, defensive backs are all in sync. We all know where each of us fits, so there's no confusion. He makes everything pretty clear for us."
You're from the Florida area. What does it mean to be playing in such a big game so close to home?
"I think I just got that question, but it's really awesome. To be in my hometown, I went to a lot of Dolphins games, my dad played for the Dolphins. To be back in that stadium, played a few high school games in there. It's obviously a pretty big moment for us."
To have somebody like your brother, who not only plays the sport but plays your exact position and you guys can speak the same language and understand exactly what he's going through, how much of a resource has that been and how much will it be as you guys carry on through your careers?
"Yeah, season gets a little busy, but I feel like this offseason we're definitely going to have a lot of conversations while we train about just things that I've learned this year from playing and things that he's learned, obviously. But, we play a pretty similar position, pretty similar scheme. So, there's going to be a lot of back and forth with that for sure."
WR Emmanuel Sanders
T Joe Staley was just in here telling us about his Super Bowl experience and how overwhelmed he was by all the kind of extra stuff that happens there and said that he assigned family members to be the "no" people, to kind of keep the other family members from making it too hectic. Can you relate to that? Was it that hectic for you when you were out here?
"No, because it's my second time around. First time it wasn't hectic as well. I think the language going on around the building, I think, is very accurate. [Head coach] Kyle's [Shanahan] been around a long time. And [general manager] John's [Lynch] won Super Bowls. And we've got guys on this team who have won Super Bowls and been to the Super Bowl. So, I think the language that's going on around here in terms of him and everything this week, so when we get out to Miami it's going to be even more of chaos, and I think we're speaking the right language, in terms of getting the young guys to understand and visualize what's exactly going to go on and how the week is going to be and how it's going to be out at Miami as well."
What is that message that John and-
"Obviously it's to prepare this week. Obviously, prepare this week. We've got to practice today, prepare like we're getting ready to play on Sunday. Prepare all week like you're getting ready to play a game on Sunday because if you don't, by the time we get out to Miami, it's going to be chaos. We've got Media Day. We've got all kind of obligations. It's not going to be like a regular schedule that we are used to in terms of getting off of work, going home, hanging out at home. It's going to be- you're going to be pulled left and right in terms of different obligations that you've got to do. You've got to handle all that. At the same time, it's about, like I said, making these young guys visualize it so that when it does happen, then just hit them upside the head. They see it before it comes."
Joe was also talking about that it doesn't always happen where the wideouts are such willing blockers and participants in the run game. Why has this group been so willing to be involved?
"I think it's a mindset. At the end of the day we've got a lot of guys who aren't "me" guys, it's about let's get the job done and let's win. It's more about "we" than "me." And I'm one of those guys as well. And I think everybody is a part of it. You even look at [TE George] Kittle. Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the league, but everybody wants to talk about his blocking as well. So, I think it's contagious around the building in terms of going out and doing your job. When you look at your best players and they're doing it, I feel like everybody else will hop on board as well. So, it's contagious."
How valuable was the Super Bowl experience from your history?
"What do you mean by value?"
How much can it really help a player in the game, the lead up to it?
"I don't know what you mean by that. What do you mean?"
The second time you were in the Super Bowl, did you feel like you were more prepared for it than the first time?
"I think I was prepared both. In the first one, I got hurt. And then in the second one, I obviously went out, had 80 yards. I don't know how many catches. But I feel like it's a lot of hype in terms of: it's the Super Bowl, the biggest sporting event in the world, but at the same time it's my job. I've got to go out, win a game. I've been playing and I told the young guys today, I said it's going to be a lot of hype. Obviously, you can watch TV, you can feed into that, but at the end of the day, none of that matters if you lose the game. So, the best bet is to try to stay locked in, don't read the newspaper articles and stuff like that. But just trying to stay in the moment. And I told them, and maybe it's just how I'm built, but once the clock starts rolling, I go out on that field. Truthfully, I just love the game of football and I'm just so locked in on doing my job that I kind of forget it's the Super Bowl. It's like it's more of a battle and you forget that it's millions of people watching. And so I think that I speak for the whole when I say I feel like this team, from a focus standpoint, we're all built like that as well because we've been in crucial times and I've looked to the sideline and nobody blinked."
Are you saying you don't even hear the crowd?
"Yes, sometimes I don't. I'm locked in. I'm not one of those guys- I wish I was more like that but at the same time, it's a blessing and curse. I'm not one of those guys that look around and enjoy the ambiance of it. I'm more like straightforward, just focused on my goal. And then at the end of it, when it's all said and done, you look up at the scoreboard and you say we won, now it's time to celebrate."
Do you try to visualize yourself over the next week and a half, catching a touchdown pass?
"I've already been visualizing everything. I've been visualizing everything. As a team, we've been visualizing talking about how it's going to be after we win it. Because, like I said many times, you've got some people that say, 'Oh, yeah, I'm happy to be in the Super Bowl.' And you've got some people who say, 'Yeah, cool, NFC Champions.' But at the same time, we still have one game left and we have to go handle business."
Can you visualize what that score might be?
"No. Imagine I give a Super Bowl score prediction, all of your pens would start moving."
You've been around a lot of quarterbacks. What makes QB Jimmy Garoppolo unique as a leader, and obviously when he takes it out on the field, in the huddle?
"I love Jimmy. I swear I love Jimmy but I'm tired of talking about Jimmy. Jimmy is a baller. I've been saying it since day one. But that's my boy, man, and Jimmy's a baller and I keep saying it over and over and it's the same questions. But, he's a baller and I expect him to do what he's got to do. Obviously, he threw the ball eight times last week, but at the same time, some people say you've got to stop the run. But it's been plenty of times they say you've got to stop the run and next thing you know you open the passing game. I feel we can do that as well."
Can you speak to what it's like to be coached by wide receivers coach Wes Welker and what influence he's had?
"It's cool because I played with Wes, that's why I feel a little old. But I played with Wes and now he's my coach. And man, he's doing a good job. Obviously, I know a little bit more than the younger guys. But, what he's doing with those young guys, it's amazing. The way that he's got [WR] Deebo Samuel playing. Deebo was already a player, but you've got some players that are great players, but you need a coach that can pull the greatness out of them. I think that's a lot of credit to Deebo and Kyle and how they have been able to pull the greatness out of Deebo, because we sit here and talk about him, he's a rookie. And we don't really talk about him like a rookie because he doesn't play like a rookie. He plays like a grown man and that's how it's supposed to be. I've been enjoying just being in the room with Wes. And every now and then he'll pull out some of his old clips to show the young guys, 'Look, I might be saying this, but I've done this before, too.' Don't get it twisted."
Does he have any specific principles or points of emphasis that he always makes?
"I think one thing that Wes says is that he always tells the young guys, you never arrive, because the moment that you feel like you made it in this league, that's when you're on your way out. So, he always tells the guys, 'Keep your head down and keep working, because the moment you think that you made it, you didn't. You're out of here.' So, I can relate to that as well, because going on year 10, I still don't feel like I've arrived, but at the same time, my head is down, I'm just working."
The receivers on this team get pretty heavily involved in run blocking and seem to embrace that. Is that a big point of emphasis on this team?
"Yes, I think you're late to the party."
You hear a bunch of silly questions when you make the Super Bowl, like what kind of sandwich would you be.
"I actually enjoy that more. Up here, you've got to watch what you say. Don't want no headlines."
T Joe Staley
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said he tries to tell you a story each game.
"Defense, not the offense. We don't get a story, wish we did. I've heard they're epic."
What is it that has made you guys such a great run team beyond the obvious commitment from the coaching staff?
"Schematically what we do offensively is really hard to defend. I think also just the mentality we have as any entire offense. It's not just all on the offensive line, it's not on the fullback, it's not on the running back. It's a complete team effort. I think the wide receivers really buying into really being run blockers and committing to that is huge. You don't see that around the league. And they really understand that if they really commit and go all aboard in the run game, it's going to open up things in the passing game. I think a lot of our skill players have no ego as far as stats go. They're going to do whatever they can to give us the win. I think this last game, the game before that, too, was really indicative of that. You didn't hear any complaining after the game. Obviously we're going to the Super Bowl, it all worked out, but even during the game no one was playing about no targets or anything like that. They were all fired up for the run we were able to do. So I think that's a lot to do with it, just the mentality of everything."
Does that permeate the whole team on both sides of the ball?
"Yeah, I think just that, like, no ego, doing whatever we can do, fill our role, that whole thing that's preached about all the time, but it's never really done. I think that's really indicative of who this team is and what we've done all year is just whatever we can do to help the team, whatever our role is for this football team. [RB] Raheem [Mostert] is a huge example of that, just being a guy that wanted to be the best special teams player he could, never complaining about touches, gets his opportunity as the season goes on to get more carries, takes advantage of that and then has the biggest game in the biggest moment."
You gave DL Nick Bosa pass-rushing advice in the summer when you were going against each other. Has that continued?
"I didn't have to give him much, though. We were talking. It was more like, hey, why are you beating me so bad."
Do you ever kind of give him tips during the year about how to attack a certain tackle or anything like that?
"Not really. I mean, he's been unbelievable from day one. He's so physically gifted, whether it's just his pure athleticism that he has, the power that he plays with, his understanding of how tackles are going to attack. I might, during a game, say, if I'm watching or catching something, I'll be, like, a tackle is really sitting down in your bull rush now. You have him set up so whenever you want to do hands or whatever like that. But he's also usually one step ahead of me. He's, like, yeah, I know. I'm going to be doing that next series. He's got plenty of sound boards and have been very successful in his life, his brother being the main one, but, yeah, we always keep communication open. Practicing against him always makes me better."
How do you view all the discussion around QB Jimmy Garoppolo just given the fact that he'll take criticism because you guys only threw eight passes in the NFC title game?
"That's wild that he takes criticism for that. We won the game. We were doing what we needed to do to win the game and that's the main point of an NFL football game. I think he would be pretty sad if he threw 450 and we lost, so it doesn't really matter."
He also said that he does see it and he does take it in and does not address it publicly like CB Richard Sherman does, but how do you think Jimmy is handling all that talk?
"If he says he sees it, he doesn't show it. He's been the same exact person since he's been in here. He prepares the exact same way. We have the utmost confidence in him to do whatever needs to be done. We've had plenty of games this season where we've really had to lean on him heavily to win the games for us and he's come through every single time. I think that's a storyline because we didn't throw the ball obviously the last game, but we didn't need to. I think that's also a strength of [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] is that he's going to do whatever it takes to win the game and whatever he feels is working the best is what we're going to do. That doesn't fall on Jim's shoulders at all. It's a complete team effort and I think that's another example of this team being very selfless in what we're doing is that you have the quarterback could care less if he throws 500 yards or if he throws for 10. He just wants to win the game and the whole entire team is like that."
How will your Super Bowl experience help you in this game?
My Super Bowl experience was a long time ago. I think something I can really draw from that is just how chaotic it is when you get down there, telling a lot of the younger guys what to expect and make sure the distractions that come with that game are not so much the game, but they're like all of a sudden you have 20 family members down there, everybody wants to have an experience down there. Just managing all that, making sure you have someone, like I tell my mom and my wife, hey you're going to be the know person. We're going to have a set dinner we'll go to, but this is a business trip for me. I tell a lot of the guys the same thing, is to manage their expectations of your family, what you're supposed to do down there and really focus on the game."
Did the level of chaos surprise you the first time?
"A little bit, more so the media day and the media obligations because you're used to just doing what we do here and then you get down there and it's like almost 100 times what you've done your whole entire career. So that's a little bit overwhelming at first, but I think there's lessons to be learned in that and I think that we have enough guys here that have gone through it and we have a good enough team, quality guys that it's not going to be a distraction."
What's it like going against Kansas City Chiefs DE Frank Clark, and how intense does he get on the field?
"I'm very familiar with Frank from his time in Seattle. He's a hell of a player, a guy that plays with relentless effort the whole entire time. So he's a huge challenge. As far as like intense and like trash talking, anything like that, I never really had, I don't really talk trash and guys really don't talk trash much to me. It's kind of a battle. We have mutual respect for each other. So it's going to be a hell of a battle going against him on the biggest stage."
In the previous Super Bowl was there any surprise to you about the intensity of the game?
"No, I think the surprise for me was going up to the game, the buildup and telling yourself it's another game, been doing this my whole entire life. Then you go out there for pregame warmups and that was the only time for me that I actually felt like, we're in the Super Bowl, just because there's so many people around, you realize in that moment that you're playing in the Super Bowl. And I think too just embrace that understand you're playing in a game, but also it's something you've been doing your entire life, you've prepared for this moment. I think that's something you can really fall back on is just the preparation and understanding what you're going into and accepting it and going forward, but once the whistle blows and you play the first snap, everything is just the same old."
Do you think your perspective of the second half of the career that you've had or maybe your approach to the second half of your career, would it have changed if you had won that Super Bowl?
"No. I don't have a drawn-out answer, but I don't think it would have changed. I wanted to play a certain amount of time. I wanted to play as long as I could still play at a high level that I felt was up to my standard and I haven't been fallen off yet."
When you look at game tape of your run game and how it has been blocked, are you seeing, just generally speaking, really high level stuff, precise execution across the board? What have you seen from that?
"Yeah, just seeing guys being on it, all 11, really just physical play, coming off the ball, a lot of execution, a lot of guys being on the details of blocks. There's a lot of little intricacies about exactly where to place your hat as an offensive linemen or the different rules we have for receivers and tight ends and fullbacks and everybody just doing it and being on top of those details. I think that's just, generally speaking how football is, though. When your reps are getting at a high level, it's about all the details that you go through a week of practice and get ironed it out."
Did you get an NFC Championship ring obviously seven years ago and what did you do with it?
"We did, and I have absolutely no idea where it is, it's probably somewhere. I hope it's somewhere" [Laughter].
What makes Kyle such a good play caller, especially the timing of knowing when to make a call?
"It's just the way he's able to piece everything together and completely understand exactly how a defense is trying to attack us and defend what we do and then exactly how to counter that and he usually seems like he's two or three steps ahead. He understands like this certain play, while it might not give us that home run that we're looking for, it's going to set something up in the second quarter that is. He's a complete chess player when it comes to pieces on the football field and exactly how we design plays and how we put people in position to be successful."
What makes Jimmy such a great leader, behind the scenes and then when you get on the field and in tough situations?
"He's an unbelievable human being, A. Guys just love being around him. He's a very genuine human being, comes from an unbelievable family, just salt of the earth kind of guy. Then B, here, his preparation, I think that's always what gets a lot of respect, a guy that's just preparing exactly how they're supposed to. He knows every single detail of this offense. He knows exactly what his role is for a certain play, what he's supposed to do on his pass play or run play and he just plays with incredible passion for the football game and he makes you want to be better."
Were you surprised you beat him in tic-tac-toe?
"That was actually staged."