A whole lot of Seahawks player quotes from Super Bowl Media Day

DE MICHAEL BENNETT

(on what made him decide to re-sign in Seattle) “I think it was just (Head Coach) Pete Carroll and (Defensive Coordinator) Dan Quinn. Knowing Dan for so long, it gave me a good insight of what the plan was for the team and what position they were heading toward. Just everything about it. And the city is so clean. You can eat off the road. People ride bikes around. Fresh fish – once I go somewhere else and eat, the food doesn’t taste the same, because in Seattle everything is fresh and organic.”

(on the importance of the 12th man) “Depends on the 12th man. (Texas) A&M, the Aggies, they mean everything to me. And of course the Seahawks mean a lot to me too. The fans are everything. Without the fans, there would be no game.”

(on what it would mean to win a second consecutive Super Bowl) “I don’t think you even want to think about things like that. I think if you think about things like that, you’re getting ahead of yourself and you’re trying to dream about things that haven’t happened. I think you just need to take it one day at a time and approach the game the way it’s supposed to be approached. If you go out there and do what you’re supposed to do and take care of all the things you need to do, then we’ll be where we’re supposed to be.”

(on what New England’s success in the postseason says about the team) “It says everything about the Patriots. It says they have a great owner, a great coach, a great quarterback. Just a great team. That’s a great organization. Any player in the NFL would love to play for that team and that coach. I mean, they’re winning. If you want to win, you go to the Patriots, and they’ve done a great job of winning. Tom (Brady) has been a great quarterback, Robert (Gronkowski) has been a great tight end, and, of course, all over, it’s just been a good team.”

(on what it would mean to win Super Bowl championships over quarterbacks of the caliber of Petyon Manning and now Tom Brady) “I don’t know what it would mean. I haven’t thought about it that far yet.”

(on having started his career in Seattle and now having returned to play in two consecutive Super Bowls) “It has come full circle, man. Just being able to go away and learn from Tampa Bay and to come back and take my experiences and use them for Seattle, it’s just been great. Everything about Seattle has been first class, whether it’s (owner) Paul Allen or whether it’s (general manager) John Schneider or whether it’s the equipment staff. Everything is first class here.”

(on his second experience with Super Bowl week activities) “It’s cool, because we’re ahead of everything. We’re sticking to the schedule. We’re not making it bigger than it’s supposed to be, because at the end of the day it’s just about the game. All the media is just here making the game bigger than what it’s supposed to be, and we’re just here to play in that game and enjoy the game that we love.”

(on his feelings regarding Media Day) “I don’t think much of it. I think it’s just, it’s fun, I guess, to see everybody get in here and see how big a business the NFL is. You just enjoy the theatrics – people crazy, people asking crazy questions that don’t pertain to football, but it’s all fun and games.”

(on his path to success in the NFL) “It’s kind of cool. I think after a while, you know – (former Seattle defensive end) Red Bryant used to always tell me, ‘You can’t hide talent.’ And I think it’s something that’s pretty cool. I think I’ve been making the same amount of plays I’ve always made, but when you’re on the big screen, people see it more so you get more credit for what you do.”

(on whether he felt his role changed in the Seattle defense this season) “I don’t think my role changed any. I mean, Red Bryant is the kind of person you can’t replace. His leadership and his ability to do what he can do. I think we just came along and just tried to make the group grow a little more, because a lot of young guys had to come and make plays. I think they’ve done a great job with that.”

(on the cowboy hat he chose to wear for Media Day) “One of my friends who passed away from cancer, this is his hat, his favorite hat, so I’m just wearing it through the week. He died two weeks ago.”

(on the greatest challenge for Sunday) “The biggest challenge? I think the biggest challenge is just playing against a great team. Tom Brady is a great quarterback and it’s a great organization. Just going against an up-tempo offense and all of the guys that they have, that’s the biggest challenge. They have so many guys, they have the same mindset as us. It’s like playing yourself.”

(on whether stopping New England tight end Rob Gronkowski is the focal point of Seattle’s game plan) “I don’t think stopping Gronkowski is the focal point of what we need to do, I think that just beating the Patriots in all aspects if the focal point of the game. You can’t put all emphasis on one player too much, because the Patriots have a lot of weapons. The time you’re thinking one person is more important than the next, that’s when you get beat.”

(on returning to the Super Bowl with many of the same starters) “I think it’s just cool to have everybody back and understanding what we’ve been through. Not getting ahead of ourselves and just loving the game the way we do. All of these guys just came back and with all of the successes that they’ve had, they still have one thing in mind, and that’s winning.”

(on Houston defensive end J.J. Watt) “I think J.J. Watt is a great player. The Texans are a good team and I’m from Texas, so I enjoy watching him.”

(on if he feels there is an advantage playing in University of Phoenix Stadium, given that Seattle plays Arizona every year) “I don’t think we have any advantage. Every game is different. We’re just going out there and playing the game. We’re playing against a whole other team and a whole different type of game, a different type of atmosphere. So I don’t think us playing here makes a big difference at all.”

(on growing up with his brother, Chicago tight end Martellus Bennett) “It was cool growing up. He’s very creative. I think he does a great job with balancing football and his creativity, because I think sometimes, with athletes, we get caught up in sports too much and we don’t succeed because we’re so caught up in this game that we never understand who we truly are. People don’t take time to know themselves. I think my brother does a great job of taking time to know himself. Growing up, it just made it really fun, just always doing things that we weren’t expecting to do and his ability to tell stories. It was great.”

(on the freedom given to the team by Head Coach Pete Carroll) “I think it’s pretty cool. I think a lot of times football players feel so confined by who other people want us to be. I think it’s good that Pete lets people be themselves. I think when you do that, you get a more successful – you get wins. You think about Google, you think about how they let their people be who they are. You think about any successful business in America right now and it’s all about letting people be themselves and letting them work. Sometimes when you have people doing too much, they just forget who they are and they aren’t happy. And when you’re happy, you do a lot of things better.”

(on lessons learned at Texas A&M) “I think I learned about perseverance through adversity and one of the things about A&M, the culture how it is set up, it sets you up for success. We had a lot of guys from different backgrounds, but we all came for one common goal, and that’s what I think is great about A&M.”

(on whether he feels he is quicker than most offensive linemen) “I think so. Some of the linemen are overweight and I’m in shape. I do Total Gym and I eat well, so it makes me a little quicker than them. I can last a little longer than them.”

(on preparing for the Super Bowl) “The preparation has been the same. We haven’t done anything different. We’ve been preparing the same way we always prepare and not trying to make it bigger than it’s supposed to be.”

(on whether he is stressed about the upcoming game) “I’m never stressed, man. I wake up every day and look in the mirror and say, ‘Damn, I look good,’ so I can’t be stressed.”

(on his family with three daughters) “There’s a lot of estrogen going on, a lot of sensitivity. I have to break down my football barrier, being so macho all the time. Gotta watch those kid movies, gotta watch those girly things.”

(on the perception that Seattle players are overconfident) “People hate us because, you know, when you talk a lot of smack, people usually hate you. But when you talk a lot of smack and you back it up, they hate you even more. I think that’s what it is. People hate (Richard) Sherman because he says he’s the best corner, and he plays like the best corner. So, it’s just like one of those things where people just hate us because of who we are, but we embrace it. I like it. I like when people hate us, because our stocks go up, our jerseys are higher selling. It’s pretty cool.”

(on what he sees as the legacy for Seattle’s defense) “I think we’ll be the Paul Bunyans of the NFL. We’ll be the best.”

QUARTERBACK RUSSELL WILSON

(on comparing this year’s Super Bowl run to last season) “Coming back to the Super Bowl this year, it means a lot more to us, I think even that much more. All of the things we’ve been through this year, the resilience that we’ve shown, it’s been unbelievable. That’s the best part, and I think the selflessness that our team has shown all year has been one of a kind.”

(on his game-day routine and if it changes for the Super Bowl) “The game-day routine doesn’t change. I get up early in the morning and say my prayers, listen to my music and have breakfast and just be as normal as possible. It’s just a game; it’s 100 yards, 53-and-a-third; it doesn’t change.”

(on the difficulty of trying to repeat and if this season was a harder process) “The hardest thing in terms of repeating is it’s not the focus of repeating, it’s more so how do you get to the Super Bowl just in general. It’s not the focus of repeating. It’s a new year, it’s a new team, it’s new situations that you go through in life. So it’s just finding a way to play championship football week in and week out.”

(on not wanting to give up their spot as champions for another year) “Yeah, of course. To get back to the Super Bowl is a huge thing. To be able to do that, it’s a one-of-a-kind-type thing. It’s not easy to do.”

(on his message to kids in Children’s Hospital) “To all kids in all of Children’s Hospital – obviously, I go to Children’s Hospital every Tuesday in Seattle and unfortunately I had to miss today. But to all of the kids out there, I’m just praying for you guys and praying for miracles. Keep the faith and be ‘strong against cancer,’ that’s something I’ve been really big into in Seattle. I’m just rooting for everybody.”

(on if he and the team have reviewed the first three quarters against Green Bay and what went wrong early in that game) “Well, I think they just made some plays that we weren’t making earlier. We had some turnovers that are uncharacteristic of our football team and that was it. We just had to put drives together and find a way to make plays at the end of the game, and that’s what we were able to do.”

(on the persistence Seattle displayed in remaining committed to the zone read and how that leads to big plays) “We have such a versatile offense. We don’t just stick with one thing, we try to mix it up and make it tough on defenses. We have a running back like Marshawn (Lynch) and the receivers and the tight ends that we have, and Robert Turbin’s our backup running back who is really a starting-type running back for the National Football League – it makes it tough for a defense. So I think you just consistently try to find ways to make it tough on the defense.”

(on having faith in the zone read even late in the NFC Championship game as time was running short) “Well, it’s just trusting in the things that you’ve done all year really, really well and just being able to make those plays. When it comes down to it and crunch time comes down, the attention to detail has to be better than ever. So our focus is to have that throughout the whole entire game this week. We’re playing a great team in the New England Patriots. It will be an exciting battle.”

(on his faith) “In terms of my faith, my faith is everything – God comes first, family and friends come second, and football comes third. I think when you keep it in that order, great things happen to you. You don’t stress out about much.”

(on if he prefers drawing first blood or winning in dramatic fashion late in games) “I just prefer to win. It doesn’t matter. All I care about is winning and finding ways to win a football game.”

(on the game-winning throw to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse in the NFC Championship game) “Jermaine Kearse, when he made that game-winning catch, just gives chills down your spine. All the things that you’ve been able to do all year, to get back to the Super Bowl, it’s a testament to our season and our resilience.”

(on New England’s defense and the impact of cornerback Brandon Browner) “You notice their DBs (defensive backs), obviously. They’ve got so many different guys that play; they’ve got 10 or 11 guys that play. But you also have their defensive line, those outside linebackers that really get to you, so it’s going to be a tough challenge for us. We’re up for it and that’s why we’re here; that’s why they are here, too, as well. I think it will be one of the all-time greatest games. That’s what I’m going for.”

(on what he wants his legacy to be both on and off the field) “In terms of my legacy on the field, I want to be considered a winner. That’s ultimately the goal in terms of playing quarterback, is win, win, win. That’s all that really matters at the end of the day. In terms of my legacy off the field, I want to be a Christian man that helps lead and helps change lives and helps serve other people. It’s not about me, you know? It’s not about me and it’s about just helping other people. So that’s kind of where I keep my focus.”

(on the importance of character and integrity in the game of football) “I think integrity and character in the game of football is really important, but I also just think that in life in general. It’s not just about football, we’re all human. We all make mistakes or whatever, but we’re football players. We’re able to use our gifts. For me, I’m able to use my gift to glorify God. That’s what it’s about for me. I think we’re all representatives of our families and the people that helped raise us, for our teammates, and I think that’s what it’s about. But also people look up to us and it’s about trying to be role models. Like I said, we’re all not perfect, but we just try to do the right thing.”

(on if the way the NFC Championship game began or how it ended stuck with him longer) “Definitely the way we finished. To be able to hoist the NFC Championship trophy, to be able to go to the Super Bowl again – I’ve only been here for three years, but to go to the Super Bowl two years in a row, it’s pretty special as a team, and (it’s) the guys that I have around me that make that so special. So that’s the great part about it.”

(on his own struggles and interceptions early in the NFC Championship game) “They just made some good plays. They made some good plays and they made a couple more plays than we did. We found a way to make a few more plays at the end of the game, which were important for us.”

(on his advice to young kids who want to be a great quarterback in the future) “What advice I would say – I think the advice that I got from my dad is keep things in perspective, have a great purpose in life, have great perspective and always persevere. I think for me, that’s kind of been my story so far in my life. I just keep believing in the people I have around me. I surround myself around great people that really encourage me every day. My education was really important in my life, that helped set me up in a positive manner and it allowed me to do a lot of great things. So sports comes, really, last for me. Even though I love the game of football – I love watching film and all that – it’s going to end at some point, hopefully in 15, 20 years and hopefully not too soon. You just take one day at a time.”

(on how he stays focused, especially in the second half of the NFC Championship game) “Just staying focused on my fundamentals, staying focused on the people that you have around you, the guys that you trust are going to make the plays. But you know, I’ve been through a lot in my life and the game of football is a small fraction of it. I think for me, I’m just grateful to be able to play the great game of football and use the game of football as a platform to glorify God, but also to represent my teammates and the people that I have around me and my family and my future kids one day down the road and all that. That’s why I play the game of football.”

(on if Seattle’s offensive creativity mostly comes from Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell or from all of the team’s offensive minds) “Yeah, that’s mostly from Coach Bevell’s mind and maybe some of me in there, maybe some of (Quarterbacks) Coach (Carl) Smith and maybe some of (Head) Coach (Pete) Carroll, maybe some of (Assistant Quarterbacks/Quality Control Offense) Coach (Dave) Canales. We kind of all mix together. It’s one group, one mission.”

(on coming down from the emotional NFC Championship game to prepare for the Super Bowl) “It’s been great, just to be back here and experience this again. Last year in New York, now we’re in Arizona and the desert. We’re on the west coast now with all these amazing 12th-Man fans. I think we’re going to rock the house. I think these 12th-Man fans are going to rock the house come Sunday night, we’re looking forward to that. But in terms of the emotions, it’s 100 yards, it’s 53-and-a-third like I always say. We’re just pumped up just to be able to get out there and have another opportunity to play, and obviously this game has implications, obviously to go back-to-back years and that would be great. We’ll see what happens.”

(on what Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell, an Arizona native, means to him) “Darrell means the world to me, Coach Bevell. He’s from Arizona. He’s done a tremendous job of getting us ready, getting us prepared every week and teaching us and keeping us going every week. He’s a phenomenal coach. I think he’s one of the best coaches in the National Football League, and to have Coach Bevell as my offensive coordinator, I don’t want him to ever leave. I’m selfish in that manner. I’d also have my quarterback coach, Coach Carl Smith. I told him (Smith) he’s got another 12 more years left to at least coach me. So both of those guys really do a great job of coaching me, and (Assistant Quarterbacks/Quality Control Offense) Coach Dave Canales, my assistant coach. Being around people who really know the game of football, but also enjoy the game of football and love coaching it and love teaching it, that’s why I love Coach Darrell Bevell so much, that’s why I love Carl Smith so much, that’s why I like Coach Canales so much.”

(on if he pinches himself when he thinks about playing against Denver quarterback Peyton Manning and New England quarterback Tom Brady in back-to-back Super Bowls) “Obviously to play in the Super Bowl two years in a row, and I’ve only been in the league for three years, it’s been exciting. It’s been an exciting three years of my life, but this year has been really special. To win the Super Bowl last year, to go against a great quarterback in Peyton Manning who I have so much respect for, plays the game the right way, does it better than anybody could probably ever do it, and then to face Tom Brady this year – two guys that I’ve looked up to since I was a little kid. It’s a tremendous honor, a tremendous honor to be on the same field, to play the great game of football, to play in Super Bowl XLIX. That’s history, and hopefully we can make some history. Hopefully Tom doesn’t play too good. I know he’s one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, but hopefully we find a way to win.”

(on putting into perspective his two consecutive Super Bowl matchups against Manning and Brady) “You asked about playing Tom Brady, playing Peyton Manning last year – it’s a tremendous honor to play two of the greatest guys, the greatest players to ever play the game. It’s one of those things you’ll never forget. It’s history. I’m just grateful I get to be on the same field. It’s an honor and I know that I’ll be ready to go and I’ll be excited about it. At the same time, I’m not just playing them, it’s our whole team. It’s Seattle Seahawks versus New England Patriots and it will be a great game.”

(on what it would mean to defeat Manning and Brady in consecutive Super Bowls) “I’m not sure if it’s about just playing against those guys, but winning back-to-back Super Bowls is history in itself. But also to play Peyton Manning and to play a guy like Tom Brady – like I said, two of the best to ever play the game – I think it’s special just because you’ll never forget it. You want to play the best. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and it’s going to be exciting for us.”

(on his favorite quarterback to watch growing up) “My favorite quarterback growing up – you know, I was a fair-weather fan growing up, so whoever was doing well at the time. I just loved watching great players. So growing up I loved watching Brett Favre. I loved watching Tom Brady. Peyton Manning was always great to watch, obviously. (In my) college days, I really liked watching (New Orleans quarterback) Drew Brees a lot – just how to get the ball out quick, how he made the throws, his faith. I’ve read his book several times. That’s probably my favorite quarterback, to be honest with you, is Drew Brees.”

FREE SAFETY EARL THOMAS

(on if he, Russell Wilson and Kam Chancellor ever discussed going to the Super Bowl as rookies) “We weren’t that specific. We talked about how we wanted to change Seattle first because when we came there, it wasn’t a winning culture. We were just out there playing. As we got older, as we started to understand the defense, as we started to understand what Coach Pete Carroll was trying to say to us. Our game just evolved. Every year, you saw it in (Richard) Sherman, (Byron) Maxwell, Kam (Chancellor), Jermaine (Kearse), everybody gets better. Watch that college film and you’d be surprised.”

(on this year’s path to the Super Bowl being more difficult than last year’s) “No. I enjoy it this year way better. I don’t want to say last year was easy, but, man, we had to fight. You all were doubting us. I love it.”

(on how head coach Pete Carroll keeps his players calm) “I can’t really explain it. I can’t explain it, but he has that certain presence about him that people respect. He can reach any player on our team. He does a great job in that aspect.”

(on if his pregame routine will change on Super Bowl Sunday) “No. On gameday and the game of the Super Bowl, I’m at the VMAC (Virginia Mason Athletic Center), I’m in my zone and I have my headphones on. I have the same routine. Nothing ever changes.”

(on what he’s listening to) “Drake.”

(on the status of his shoulder) “It’s great. It’s cool, man. The training staff did a great job on it.”

(on using the Microsoft Surface Tablet) “I didn’t do it this year.”

(on if technology on the sidelines helps him) “I like the old school paper.”

(on who has the biggest presence among the safeties) “Everybody. We have so many personalities. You don’t know what you’re going to get. That’s the only question.”

(on containing New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) “He’s a big guy. We understand how they want to use him and we have to use our knowledge to our advantage.”

(on what it says about him and the team that they’ve reached the Super Bowl again) “We let it loose. We let it hang. We never, never stray away from who we are. We know who we are. We love to play football and we’re very passionate about playing football. Being in Seattle, come to our games, you’ll love it. All that energy and love, no place like it.”

(on how it felt to win the NFC Championship game after being almost done) “Did you say we were almost done? As far as losing? That didn’t happen. I’m not a fortune teller. We won, we’re here, we’re talking.”

(on his favorite memory of playing football) “Right now, off the top of my head, my mom crying. And I’m crying too. After the last game.”

(on what makes the Seattle secondary so competitive) “It’s just a mind frame. We talk about greatness. We love each other, (defensive backs) Coach (Kris) Richard. We’re technicians. Grace, skill, God-gifted, all of that. The way we communicate.”

(on if Dez Bryant completed the controversial non-catch against Green Bay) “I’ll ride with Dez, yes. Team Jordan.”

(on the impact that his hometown had on him) “It gave me crocodile skin. It made me a beast. Pain is nothing. Your environment. That’s how it is. But I didn’t really let that change me in terms of being a good person. I didn’t let the hood, or whatever that environment was, change me. It’s always going to be in me, but I know and I understand who I am.”

(on if his hometown made him tough) “I never thought I was tough. When the time came, I just never backed down.”

(on how the secondary’s chemistry helps them perform on the field) “Fluid, we flow together. It’s a beautiful thing to see, especially when we really recognize what’s going on, the little details. Everybody’s minds are not regular football minds.”

(on if that chemistry showed itself) “Just watch the tape and you’ll see.”

(on the differences in the secondary this year as compared to last year) “In the offseason, you always have a point of attack tape. You have different cut-ups and you have your negative plays. You study, you study, you study. When you get back, you know what’s coming every year. You put a stress on offense. They have to keep growing. In the cover 3, there’s not that many ways to attack us. We understand it though. We know football. I’m going to keep saying it until you all believe me.”

(on if the attitude on the field is different than last year) “It’s not the same. It’s not the same at all. This time around, we’re more mature. We know our scheme better. We trust our coaches more. Everything is very familiar.”

(on how he would describe New England quarterback Tom Brady) “He’s a general in every regard. He runs it. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s not the ‘goody two-shoes’ that you all think he is. He’s a warrior in a way.”

(on how he’s going to beat Brady) “You’ll see. We’ll see.”

(on what he sees from New England running back LaGarrette Blount) “Big body. Definitely up there on the tackling plan going against him. It’s going to be a test.”

(on how he feels today as compared to other days) “I feel great. This is unbelievable. I’m soaking it all in.”

(on how he’ll prepare for an elite quarterback in Brady) “Just like how we prepare for Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. We don’t panic.”

(on how he and strong safety Kam Chancellor feed off of big hits) “Presence. When he’s out there, like a Rolls Royce, you are always going to notice them. He has that type of presence. We both actually have Rolls Royces, so I thought I’d put that in there.”

(on the fans that are on hand at Media Day) “It’s growing. We accept bandwagon fans and everything.”

(on running back Marshawn Lynch’s humor) “This is who he is. I don’t nitpick or judge, so I just accept a person for who they are. I just love who he is. He is so random.”

(on how much energy the Seattle fans give the team) “I think their energy combined with what we bring, it puts you in a flow state. You don’t hear anything. You just embrace it and it sort of lifts you off of the ground.”

(on his experiences with high school football) “I miss high school, period. I was just talking to my defensive backs coach, Coach Richard. At one point in my career, I just felt like this wasn’t the same. This has all the politics to it, the media, they have control over what’s going in. In high school, it was so pure. The more and more I expressed myself, Coach Carroll as well as Coach Richard does a good job of making it feel that way.”

(on the biggest game that he’s played in high school) “To be honest, I won a Super Bowl. I want to win a high school championship more than I want to win a Super Bowl. Maybe because I’ve done it, but the relationships that you’ve built with those guys you’ve been playing with since Pop Warner… I’m from a country town and we still communicate. It would never be the same.”

(on if his shoulder injury will impact his tackling ability) “No. When I tackle somebody, I just close my eyes anyway and just throw everything I have. It doesn’t change my plans at all. I’m going out there doing what I know, trusting my teammates. I have so many great players around me.”

(on quarterback Russell Wilson’s capabilities) “He’s nice. He can run, pass. When it gets hard, when it gets tough, nobody is better.”

(on his expectations when new players join the Seattle secondary) “They naturally see it. You can feel it in our room through actions. You lead by example. You talk to them, you are nice to them. You don’t try saying ‘I’m this and that.’ They are surprised when we welcome them with open arms and they love that. They get better.”

DEFENSIVE END CLIFF AVRIL

(on how it feels to be back at the Super Bowl) “Back at the big show. Two years, back-to-back, it’s a blessing. This is nuts. This is one of the most fun parts of the situation. This is cool.”

(on going from being a part of the Detroit Lions’ 0-16 season in 2008 to being in the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons) “It’s nuts because to be able to be at the very bottom, I think I am one of the only players probably ever to do it, to go 0-16 and being in the Super Bowl, winning the Super Bowl and being back the next year. It’s been a heck of a ride. It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of faith, and eventually I got here and it’s a blessing.”

(on signing the big contract with Seattle two years ago and knowing he will be with the Seahawks for a few more years) “We have something special. We have something special here. I am glad they consider me to be one of the core guys there. They feel like I can be a part of something special for the next few years. I am just happy to know where I will be at for the next few years is the biggest thing for me.”

(on if he will go back to Jacksonville in the offseason) “Most definitely. I am always coming back home. Jacksonville is where I am going to be at during the offseason. I will probably be there by Friday next week. I am definitely going back home.”

(on the New England Patriots’ offense) “They have a Hall of Fame quarterback back there. They have a heck of a scheme. He is one of the best to do it, but we feel like we match-up well against those guys. We just have to be physical. We have to do what we do. I think that’s the big thing – making them deal with us more so than worrying about what they’re going to do.”

(on if he has his whole family coming to the game) “Oh yeah, everybody is coming back up. It’s pretty costly, but you never know when you’re coming back again. Hopefully, next year again, but we’ll see.”

(on what he thinks of being back at the Super Bowl for the second time) “It feels a little smoother the second time around. We are enjoying it. We’re embracing it. This mayhem that you all have going on out here is crazy, but it’s a blessing to be back again.”

(on how important it is for the Seahawks’ defense to get off to a fast start in the game) “That’s important week in and week out. It’s no different with these guys. You want to get pressure, get hits on them as early as possible. We want to make them think about the defensive line more so than thinking about what’s going on downfield. It’s important for us to get after them early.”

(on what it is about Dan Quinn that will make him a successful head coach) “I think his attitude, his scheme, how he approaches the game, how he prepares for the game. I think that will definitely make him a great head coach. His attitude towards everything is huge.”

(on what the Patriots present offensively that makes them so hard to defend) “Their quarterback. Their quarterback is the man. Again, he is a Hall of Fame quarterback. He is one of the best to ever do it. He makes things happen when there isn’t anything showing. I think he’s definitely the nucleus of everything that they do on offense.”

(on what Patriots quarterback Tom Brady does that makes him so effective) “He gets the ball out pretty fast. That’s the big thing. He gets the ball out pretty fast. He makes his reads real quick. The big thing, as a pass rusher, is you can’t get frustrated with how fast the ball is coming out. You have to keep rushing.”

(on the legacy of the Seahawks’ defense if they are able to beat Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl one year and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady the next) “To be honest with you, we don’t think about that. We look at it as just another opponent in front of us. But like you said, those are two Hall of Fame quarterbacks, so obviously it does have a little bit of weight behind it. It would be up to you guys to let us know how legendary that would be.”

(on how much Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll’s style to let players express their uniqueness comes out on media day) “That’s the great thing about playing for Pete: He allows everybody to be themselves. He trusts that we’re not going to say anything too crazy, but at the same time, he allows us to be ourselves. It’s amazing. The system works for us. It’s pretty cool.”

(on if he has watched the tape from the previous Super Bowls the Patriots have played in) “No, that was a few years back. I haven’t watched any of it.”

(on if the team will attempt to duplicate the pass rush the opponents put on the Patriots from those past Super Bowls) “Most definitely. We definitely want to get after them up front. There is no question about that. If we can get hits and hurries as many times as possible, it will definitely affect the game big time.”

(on if he thinks Patriots quarterback Tom Brady can be rattled) “I think all quarterbacks get rattled if you hit them enough.”

(on the New York Giants rattling Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in their Super Bowl match-ups) “The Giants proved that if you have a great pass rush, it makes the game a lot easier for your defense. Obviously, we want to mimic that.”

(on how he and Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett play off each other along the defensive line) “We complement each other well. We know how to play off each other. We know how to rush. I know what kind of rusher he is, he knows what kind of rusher I am. So, he knows where I will be at most of the time, and vice versa. It allows us to just be able to collapse that left side of the offensive line because we’re used to playing with each other.”

(on if he and defensive end Michael Bennett have changed their mindset and taken on a different role this season) “Before we got here, we were starters in the first place. We knew the load wasn’t the issue. The challenge was just seeing how you fit the scheme and seeing if you can perform at the level that you would like to. But, we embrace the opportunity. We embrace playing with this team and we made it happen.”

(on who he thinks the best running back in the league is) “I don’t think anybody in the league is running the ball like (Seahawks RB) Marshawn (Lynch) right now, to be honest with you. A.P. (Vikings RB Adrian Peterson) is the next best thing in my personal opinion. But, he is a heck of a back still. They are both great, but Marshawn is definitely one of the elites.”

(on how Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch approaches the media) “I think he believes in something and he stands for it, so I don’t blame him. If you believe something, you should definitely stand for it. That’s just his opinion on everything.”

(on his emotions and feelings from 2008 until now) “Completely different. You go from 0-16 to the Super Bowl back-to-back. I think I appreciate it more than 50 of the players on the team just for the simple fact that I have been at the bottom. I have been at the very bottom, and to be the last one standing is amazing. It just shows that with hard work and faith, anything is possible.”

(on what were some of his biggest takeaways from his time with the Detroit Lions were) “Just hard work, the business aspect of things. I think that’s the biggest thing. Understanding that the NFL is a huge business. You can’t take anything personal, no matter how much a team may seem to like you. If financially or business-wise it doesn’t make sense, then they don’t do it.”

(on what it’s like playing in Seattle) “The 12th Man is unreal. The support we have out there is nuts. Obviously, having all that support behind you definitely helps you take your game to another level. Also, having the type of players that I have around me, it makes coming to work fun and it makes you want to try harder for the guys next to you.”

(on what the defensive keys will be in Sunday’s game) “I think the big thing for us is stopping the run game, and getting as much pressure as possible on Tom Brady in their passing game and getting as many hits as possible.”

(on what it says about Seattle’s defense that they are able to hold the best quarterbacks in the game to mediocre games) “I just think it says that we’re still getting better as a defense and it is just saying that we have guys that can get pressure on them. It just means that we have a real good defense and they are just another quarterback in our way of getting to where we need to go.”

(on if it’s easier to go against a quarterback that is not mobile) “Yes and no. You know where he is going to be at as a pass rusher, but at the same time, he gets the ball out pretty quick, so it could be frustrating as a defensive lineman.”

(on the key to stopping Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount) “I think to stop the running game it’s going to be all about everybody tackling him. If you get three, four, five guys on him and tackle his legs, I think that’s the big things for us.”

(on making sure that the Seahawks are able to put pressure on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady) “That’s the goal. We’re trying to make him uneasy in the pocket, try to put pressure in his face and sack him as much as possible. We want to frustrate him – I think that’s the biggest thing up front.”

(on what the main differences are in being at the Super Bowl for the second straight year) “You just know what to expect. Last year, everything was going fast. Now, you know what to expect. We have the same schedule. This isn’t that big of a deal now, I guess. We know when to rest, when not to rest or whatever. Just knowing the expectations was a big thing for us.”

(on how the Seahawks’ defense can limit Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski) “We know what he is going to do. He plays everywhere. He is one of the best at his position, but we also feel like we have one of the best safeties. Big on big and let them go at it.”

PUNTER JON RYAN

(on if anything was running through his mind on fake field goal touchdown pass in NFC title game) “No, not really. We had practiced the play all week, and I was very confident with the play. It was a relatively simple play really. When I got out there, I was just making sure that we had the right look that we were looking for. When we got that look, the fake was on. Then after that, it just happens so quickly you just can’t even remember anything really.”

(on if he can confirm he went over to quarterback Russell Wilson and said ‘That’s how you do it’ after touchdown pass) “Absolutely not, that definitely did not happen.”

(play-by-play on what exactly happened on the fake field goal touchdown pass) “We looked to the sideline, and the coach (special teams coordinator Brian Schneider) called the play. When we set up the line, I was just looking for the particular look that we were looking for. If we didn’t see that look I was going to call the fake off. As it happened, the look was there. I got the ball, and started rolling out to the left. We were trying to option No. 50 A.J. Hawk. A.J. Hawk came to me, and when he came to me, I threw it over the top for the touchdown.”

(on whether or not he would have ran if A.J. Hawk dropped back into coverage) “Yeah, if A.J. Hawk would have dropped into coverage it was a run first option, so I would have run for the corner.”

(on how long it felt like the ball was in the air on touchdown pass) “A while. Everything happened so quickly. But at the same time, when that ball was in the air, I felt like it was there forever.”

(on how big of a momentum changer the fake was in the game) “It might have been a little bit of a spark that we needed. We hadn’t scored up until that point. I think we were down 16-0 there, so it might have been kind of the spark that we needed. As it turns out, we kind of turned it around from there.”

(on being from Canada and playing in the NFL) “Growing up in Canada, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to play in the NFL. Now to have been playing here for nine years, playing in my second Super Bowl is really a dream come true.”

(on what he thinks about Media Day) “It’s a circus, like you said. It’s a zoo. It’s different. It’s not stuff that anyone does very often. I remembered from last year. We kind of got broken in last year on the experience, so we’re a little more used to it. It’s a zoo.”

(on his thoughts of Arizona) “I love Arizona. I live here in the offseason, and I have for seven years.”

(on where he lives in Arizona) “I live in Phoenix, right in Phoenix and just love the state and love the city. I see myself kind of being here forever.”

(on how hard it is to find tickets for people since he lives in Phoenix) “We got 15 tickets, so those were snatched up pretty quick. Then I managed to get three more from a teammate. There’s still a lot of people back home that want more. I had to get the close family members and obviously my fiancé as well. They’ll all be there, so it’s good to have them there.”

(on what he likes most about living in Arizona) “The weather. I grew up in Canada, so the winters were pretty miserable. Being able to be here in February, March and April, it’s beautiful.”

(on how he’s going to celebrate if the Seahawks win) “Oh man, I’m not even sure. You don’t always think about that. You kind of just think of up to the game. What happens after, it’s all kind of natural emotion. That’s kind of the beauty of it. Last year when we won it, it was almost like you didn’t know what to do. I was just down on the field, and I kind of just stood there for a while just kind of stunned until my mother came down on the field. At that point, then I just lost it when I was able to hug her. Kind of all those emotions came up where we came from and how far we’ve made it. That meant a lot.”

(on if he plays golf) “No, I think I’m the only kicker and punter in the league that doesn’t play golf.”

(on if he’s ever been dragged out and forced to play golf) “Oh yeah, yeah for sure. I actually host a golf tournament (Jon Ryan Charity Golf Classic) back home in Canada every year for my charity (The Bob Ryan Scholarship Foundation), so I do get out a couple times a year. I can drive the ball a ways. My best part of the game is I’m really good at drinking on the golf cart. That’s probably my strongest point is drinking beer on the golf cart. That’s really my strong suit.”

(on one word to describe his golf game) “Poor to quite poor.”

(on the strangest question he’s ever been asked in an interview) “Last year at media day there were a lot of questions about Justin Bieber that seemed pretty strange to me. That was kind of the stranger one that I can think of right now.

(on one word to describe David Feherty from the Golf Channel) “Unique.”

RUNNING BACK ROBERT TURBIN

(on if he pinches himself thinking about going to two Super Bowls in three years) “It’s an amazing feeling, so I do have to pinch myself to make sure it’s real. It’s awesome. Bobby (Wagner) and I, coming from Utah State, going through adversity there, we definitely know how it feels to not be a winner. We know how it feels to work very hard and still come up short. So, to be able to continue to work hard and the results to come like this, early in our career like this, it’s definitely a humbling experience. It’s a great feeling. We’re truly blessed. I definitely don’t take it for granted.”

(on if his family and friends will be here and how he chooses who he gives tickets to) “Oh yeah. You start with the priorities. Who’s been with you, thick and thin? Who’s been there for you the entire time? Those are the people that come first. It’s definitely the people that I keep close to me that I would want to be in the stands.”

(on his No. 1 priority in making sure they are at the game) “My dad. I would be fine with only my dad coming.”

(on how proud he is for Utah State at the success he and Bobby Wagner have had) “We’re definitely happy for Utah State, just everything that the school went through; all the work that not only the players and coaches put in, but even the A.D. and other people who worked hard in the athletic program, the fans that come to the game being supportive. All the things that you have to go through and all the hard work they put in, to see the results of going to multiple bowl games and consecutive bowl games, it’s awesome, and it’s only going to keep going.”

(on University of Phoenix Stadium and the field being able to roll outside) “Yeah I think it takes like 90 minutes for the field to roll in. It’s weird. You might as well just keep it inside. I don’t even know why it has to go outside.”

(on the field being natural grass) “Well, for me, it really doesn’t make a difference. I like grass. I like to practice on grass more than play the game. I’d rather play the games on turf. Not real turf; field turf.”

(on natural grass being easier on the body) “It’s easier on the knees and all that kind of stuff. That’s why I’d rather practice on it. For the games, you want to be fast. The field turf makes you a little faster, so I like that.”

(on how his running style complements Marshawn Lynch) “Well, obviously, Marshawn is a very physical runner, but he’s versatile and can make people miss, break a long run to score a touchdown. I feel like I can do a lot of the same things. I think we complement each other well because we both just run hard. We try to not only get the yardage that’s there, but make plays after that, make plays after contact and things like that. That’s what really makes him very unique, and I come in and try to do the same thing.”

(on if he wants to go sit at Marshawn Lynch’s podium since he left after five minutes) “I think I’ve had Marshawn’s back with media enough times.”

(on how he deals with the questions about Marshawn Lynch not talking to the media) “To be honest with you, I don’t mind it. At this point of my career now, at the end of my third year, I’d rather you ask Marshawn. If you can’t ask Marshawn, then you just don’t have the questions.”

(on Lynch saying he’s just here because he doesn’t want to get fined in response to every question today) “That’s what he said? I saw it on the TV back in the room but it was muted so I didn’t know what he said. Well, hey, I have no control over that.”

(on what he sees from Marshawn Lynch in the locker room that the media doesn’t get to see) “I just think that around the locker room and on the field, he may not do everything the way it’s supposed to be done. He’s a guy that rules don’t really matter to him, guidelines and things like that. But, at the end of the day, from a personal standpoint, he’ll be the first one there if you need something. He’ll be the first one there to talk to you when you’re down. I remember the game Paul Richardson tore his ACL, he’s one of the first guys over there to go talk to him, to try to cheer him up and encourage him and tell him everything was going to be alright. At the end of the day, that’s Marshawn, more than what he displays in the media or whether or not he’s late for meetings.”

(on if Marshawn Lynch helps him or if he mostly does his own thing) “A little bit of both. He shares some knowledge here and there, and there are times that he hasn’t. But, I think that the times that he hasn’t doesn’t make him a bad teammate. I think that you’re supposed to allow a young guy to go through his own experiences and learn the ways of the NFL himself.”

(on if he envisions himself making big plays in games) “All the time. There’s really not a day that goes by that I don’t envision myself making a great play in a game. I visualize it every day. I could be driving home, I could be sitting in my room, really in a meditation-type surrounding, lights off and things like that, I could be listening to music; there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about football and that I don’t visualize myself making spectacular plays.”

(on what types of plays he envisions, whether it’s a long run or a long screen pass or anything else) “It’s all of those. It’s jumping over the line on a 4th-and-1 or goal line. It’s catching a one-handed pass from Russell (Wilson) down the sideline and scoring a touchdown. It’s hitting somebody with a spin move and breaking it for a touchdown. It’s all of that. Even as I talk about it, I feel this weird feeling in my chest because I’m just so passionate about the game and I know one day I’ll be able to show that I can make those plays that I visualize. It’s about timing. It’s about opportunity. It’s about staying the course and continuing to work.”

(on if he sees himself one day being a lead back in the NFL) “I definitely can see myself being Robert Turbin the No. 1 back of this team, definitely, or another. Absolutely.”

(on how he will run against a big guy like Vince Wilfork) “Hopefully I got Max Unger there to help me out, and James (Carpenter) and Sweeze (J.R. Sweezy) to help me kind of get through that. He’s a big guy. He’s a big dude. And, not only that, he’s a great player, lot of experience, knows the ins and outs, probably knows all the tricks of the trade for offensive linemen and things like that. He’ll be difficult to deal with this Sunday.”

(on what problems a guy as big as Vince Wilfork can cause) “He’s just hard to move. Obviously, up front, the No. 1 goal is you want to get a push. You want to try to push the defensive linemen back. Dealing with a guy that big and that strong, it’s going to be difficult, but it’s just about grinding it out and staying the course, because you’ve got to play four quarters.”

(on if he feels they can match the Ravens success running the ball against the Patriots in the playoffs) “We feel like we can run the ball on any team. We feel like our running game is superior to other teams. We obviously have a great running back, Russell can do things with his legs, I can come in and do my thing and same thing with Christine (Michael). With the mix of all that, we feel like we can stay on schedule with our running game.”

WIDE RECEIVER JERMAINE KEARSE

(on what makes it different to face the New England defense) “I feel we get really good practice with our secondary. They’re arguably one of the best ever. To go against the Patriots secondary, I’m looking forward to it. They’re a great group and they have a lot of great players. It just comes down to competing and that’s all you can ask for.”

(on the catch that brought the Seattle to the Super Bowl) “It’s big. To be able to say a team I grew up watching and now I’m blessed enough to play for them and make a catch to send us to the Super Bowl, it’s definitely a blessing. I’m just honored to be a part of this organization.”

(on what is different this week from last year) “The best thing about Coach Carroll is we don’t change what we do. We keep it the same. It’s not going to be any different last year to this year. We have to stick to our routine and we’ll go from there.”

(on how he would compare New England cornerback Darelle Revis to Seattle Seahawks Cornerback Richard Sherman) “That’s a good question. Revis is a little more physical at the line. Sherman has a lot of length, he’s a long guy. He’s able to play the back hip and still play the deep ball because of the length of his arms. Revis is good at the line. He’s got quick on feet and is in and out his break. They’re pretty similar but different.”

(on being from Washington and bringing Seattle to the Super Bowl) “It’s definitely a blessing just to be able to be a part of this. Growing up in the state of Washington and going to the University of Washington and then let alone, playing for their professional team in Washington is rare. Just to be one of those to do it is just definitely a blessing. I’m just honored to be a part of the organization and I’m just excited.”

(on advice he would give Katy Perry for the Halftime Show) “You know, I was really looking forward to these types of questions. This is what I’m talking about. I mean, she’s a pretty big star so I feel like she would know how to handle those types of situations. I would say enjoy the moment.”

(on what it means to be in a different area of the Pac-12 representing his college) “It means a lot. Being over here with the Sun Devils and the Wildcats, and our rival Pac-12 teams, it’s just a lot fun. I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to play. Being able to be in back-to-back Super Bowls is rare and to be on a team that has done it is just a blessing. I’m excited.”

(on if he found the child who caught the ball when he threw it into the stands) “Yeah, I actually met him. He’s a good dude. We talked to him a little bit. Just to hear his story and even how catching the ball just made his day. To hear about that, that was my thing, it was cool talking to him.”

(on if he gave him tickets to the Super Bowl) “We exchanged a jersey and we just talked. He was just fortunate to be in the situation and it was cool to meet him.”

(on what the challenges are to get to the Super Bowl for the second time) “Coming here the first time, you’re unfamiliar with the process. Getting here the second time and trying to do it again is already hard enough. It’s a professional league and there’s a lot great teams out there. Just to be able to be back here again is a lot of fun and we’re excited.”

(on if he has any rituals before the game) “I wouldn’t say I have any personal rituals. I’m a firm believer in God. Without him, this is not possible for me. Just being blessed to be in this situation, even to grow up in Washington and paly for this team and let alone be in two Super Bowls already, is definitely a blessing. I’m just excited to be here.”

(on what quarterback Russell Wilson is best at) “I think he is a great leader in the huddle. He really takes control and when you have a guy like that, you’ll have guys that follow. And we follow. You see it game after game. When things aren’t going quite well, he rallies us together and guys follow his lead.”

(on how difficult it is when Wilson breaks down and runs around) “He is a short guy, so it’s kind of hard to find him sometimes, but you eventually find him. I mean, he’s all over the place. It’s tough for defensive linemen to bring him down just because his ability to move around in the pocket and then let him unscramble. You just have to know your rules and know the spots you have to be at and be at the right spot at the right time.”

(on what it means to be the hometown hero at the Super Bowl) “It means a lot. Just being able to have the support of my fans, friends and family behind me, it means a lot. It’s just funny going home and you have kids that kind of come up to me and talk to me like I’m a role model for them. It’s nice to hear those things because I was once in that position telling other guys that. I just try to lead with a great example and just be a light to the youth.”

(on how important persistence is to the offense) “That comes down to just good coaching. Our coaches do a great job of keeping us composed and continuing to just stick with the game plan. (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line) Coach (Tom) Cable and (Assistant Quarterbacks/Quality Control Offense) Coach Dave (Canales) do a great job with our offense. They never shy away from what they want to do. When they want something to be done, they’re going to have it done.”

(on if the winning touchdown in the NFC Championship was the biggest catch of his life) “I would say this last catch was meaningful. I mean the Super Bowl catch, you can’t really go wrong with that. The last catch I would say is a little more meaningful just because of the adversity we had gone through earlier through the game.”

(on if he gives any advice to the younger guys on the team) “I try to talk to the younger guys a lot. The first year is always the longest year because you go straight from college into training and then you jump right into the season. There’s that rookie wall that guys hit and I just try to help them wherever need be. If they have some questions for me about game day or some film, I’ll try to help them out as much as possible.”

(on Seattle’s fan base) “I feel like our fans show up well. They travel well and I really believe we have the best fans in the world. These guys come out every home game and cause a lot of ruckus.”

(on if the long ball can get past New England’s defense) “I mean we really got to compete. If we’re going to take shots down the field, we’re going to have to compete downfield for the ball. We’re going to have to make the most of each opportunity. Whatever we do out there on the field, comes down to making the most of each opportunity.”

(on if the frustration ever set for him or Wilson during the NFC Championship game) “I was most definitely frustrated at the beginning of the game, when things weren’t going our way with the four interceptions that happened between us. I mean, just continue to be persistent and he kept throwing and kept coming to me and throwing my way, just trying to make a play.”

(on how the communication between him and Wilson is a factor) “I mean I think it’s huge. There has to be so much chemistry to be able to perform. The communication is key. We have to be in tune with Russell. We have to be at the right start and the right time and the ball has to be there. If we have faith in each other and trust each other, then those plays will happen.”

(on if he thinks players should be obligated to talk to the media) “I don’t think so. I mean I feel like if a player doesn’t want to talk, they shouldn’t have to talk.”

(on how big of an impact playing with Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson has had on his career) “It’s huge. Just the type of player he is and being able to follow his leadership. He’s a great leader out there and he’s a play maker.”

(on the NFC Championship game and how the play changed throughout the game) “I mean, it was an interesting game. Things definitely weren’t going our way. We had a lot of miscommunication and plays weren’t being made. But at the end of the day, it was just persevering through the adversity. When the play needed to be made, we just had to make it.”

(on going up against New England’s best cornerbacks) “Just preparation and watching film. Watching technique and being prepared. Have to play with confidence and compete.”

(on what he already knows about New England cornerback Brandon Browner) “I mean I’ve gone against (Browner) more than a couple times in practice and I’m pretty sure he has gotten a lot better as I did. There will be some familiarities with him and I assume he’ll think the same thing of me, but we’re also getting better each day and I’m pretty sure he’s getting better and that’s what I’m doing, so we’ll see how it goes.”

(on his thoughts of integrity in the game and how important it is to him that the game is kept clean) “You know, things happen. You’ve just got to move forward with those things and continue to push through it and just keep it what it is.”

(on what kind of guy Wilson is) “He’s a cool guy. We hang out with him. He’s a cool guy. He’s a nice guy. We all mesh well and I think that’s what’s special about our team. We all mesh well. Each personality fits each other.”

(on his what tools Wilson has) “He’s able to scramble and he has a great arm and his accuracy as well. Just continue to keep getting better with him. Work on the chemistry and the timing.”

LINEBACKER K.J. WRIGHT

(on his thoughts about New England cornerback Brandon Browner’s comments) “I talked about that yesterday and I was a little bit caught off guard. I wasn’t expecting him to say something in that nature. I can understand going at guys that’s hurt as far as throwing the ball their way and doing stuff like that but as far as targeting certain injuries that is just not good. You can end a guy’s career that way and you don’t want to do that. I was a little surprised, but hopefully he didn’t mean what he said.”

(on how cornerback Richard Sherman still considers Browner part of the ‘Legion of Boom’ and if he still does) “Yeah, I still do. I still like the guy. I have no hard feelings toward him. I still consider part of us because he was one of the guys when I first got here. We came in together. We are part of the same class. I still love him, but as far as his comments, I just did not like it.”

(on if the Seahawks defense has to defend the whole offense or specifically New England cornerback Tom Brady) “Most definitely. Whenever you play a team, from my standpoint, it starts with the running game, controlling the running backs and making sure that they just don’t pound the ball. If a team can run the ball on you, they control the game, the whole game. I believe if a team can sit back and just pass the ball on us, that falls right into our hands. We’ve got to start with the running backs no matter who the quarterback is. You’ve got to start with the running back first.”

(on who on New England scares him) “Nobody.”

(on who is the Patriots best player) “(Rob) Gronkowski is.”

(on will he be matched up with New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) “I will. I will be on him, Kam (Chancellor) will be on him, Bobby (Wagner). He moves all over the place on the football field. They will have him at the No. 1, have him at the No. 3 receiver. We will all be matched up on him and we know that wherever he is most likely the ball is coming his way. So you have to have a real good eye on him and just make sure he don’t take over the game.”

(on the difference between last year’s run to the Super Bowl to this year’s) “This year was different. It was much different. It was harder this year. We were 3-3 and we weren’t looking too good. We were looking bad, actually. Last year was much easier winning games and it just seemed like every time we played we just handled teams fine because when you are a Super Bowl team you have a target on your back. So we didn’t handle that as good the first half of the season. I appreciate this run more because we had to fight throughout a lot of injuries to be able to get here.”

(on where he wears his Super Bowl ring) “I actually wore it three days ago. I wore it to a signing that they did for the fans. I don’t wear it too much, but when I do I wear it on special occasions.”

(on what the recipe for success is for their defense) “We just trust each other out there. We are all tied on a string out there as a unit. You’ve got guys out there you can play with and I’ve been with these guys for three or four years, so we just all know how to play with each other, communicate with each other rather than talking. That is something most teams can’t do. We just play so hard, everybody is just accountable for what they do out there and you don’t want to let the guy down next to you. If you go out there on this defense you have to play hard and just play for one another.”

(on who on the Seahawks defense will have a huge game on Sunday not including himself) “Take myself out of the equation? I’d say every one of us will have a great game. I just think it’s just playing lights-out football and putting on a great performance. This team—we aren’t a bunch of ‘me’ guys. Everybody wants to play good. If the D-line is playing good, usually the secondary is playing good. If the D-line is holding the offensive linemen off of us then the linebackers are playing good. We are all out there playing together.”

(on what are two things defenses have done against New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) “You see a lot of good things. You see guys trying to press him and he does a good job on pushing off and using his length. You see guys play off him and let him run 7-on-7 routes. He does a good job with reverse press coverage and off coverage.”

(on what other tight end is similar to New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) “Tony Gonzalez, he’s the guy that comes to mind. They are really similar and just with the speed, with their hands. They remind me a lot of each other.”

(on what he thinks about this experience) “This is amazing, man. This is amazing. Not too many guys get to experience this and just coming out here for Media Day to talk to you guys. Just being at the Super Bowl in general is just something that is special and I have to cherish these moments.”

(on how Linebackers Coach Ken Norton, Jr.’s wife has become mom to the team) “Mrs. Norton, I love Mrs. Norton. She is definitely my second mom and she’s done a good job just being so nice to us. She’s from the South, so she’s given us southern hospitality. I love her a whole lot. She cooks for us, she brings us surprise meals, we exchange Christmas gifts. She is a real special lady and I love her a lot.”

(on if the linebackers are like one big family) “It is, and that is how Coach (Ken) Norton structures everything. We eat with each other on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We have linebacker night so we are a close group. It just feels good to have a coach like that that shows you it’s more than just football and that you can have life long memories with these guys.”

(on the New England matchup compared to last year’s against Denver) “Last year’s game was a great game and this year’s game will be a great game. It’s a new opponent and they do different things. I think it’s going to be a tougher matchup. I don’t believe it’s definitely not going to be a blowout. This team is going to come out ready to play. They’ve been here before so it’s going to be a battle all the way to the fourth quarter.”

(on if he thinks New England is too distracted right now to focus on the game) “No, they aren’t worried about it at all. When it comes down to game time, all this stuff is just thrown out the window. They won’t care what the media has to say about them. They won’t care that people were mad at them. When it comes down to kickoff, all this stuff goes out the window.”

(on if he is concerned about New England Head Coach Bill Belichick’s game plan) “Am I concerned? No, not at all. I know he is a good coach and he’s going to have something special. He’s a great game planner and he’s been around for a long time. I’m sure he’s going to try and come out and do some things on defense to try to mess with our offense and vice versa but we’re a team, we will adjust to whatever is thrown at us and we will be prepared for it.”

(on what he would think about a Super Bowl in London) “I think that would be real cool. I think that would be really exciting. I can’t wait until the Seahawks can go to London and be able to play a football game out there. It is a real cool city and I heard the fan base is good so that will be really nice.”

(on the NFC Championship) “That was special. That game is going to go down in history as one of the greatest Championship games ever. We weren’t drained at all. We knew that was going to be a hard game and it would come down to the end, but when you face great teams like that you got to fight and you have to finish the game all the way through the fourth quarter. We rejuvenated, we have energy.”

(on what one rule would he change in the NFL) “That’s a good one. I believe that, this is one that the one that really bothers me, how when teams go for two-point conversions, how they get the two-point conversion but if we get a turnover we can’t run it back for two points. I don’t see why that’s fair. I think they should change that. If they can score on us, we should be able to score on them as well.”

(on the Seattle secondary forcing teams to run more) “That just shows how good we are. We are a team that we are still a young team, we are hungry, we are still going to try to prove who we are, we are trying to be legendary. We are trying to look back 20 years from now at just how good we are. I believe we are on the right path and for us to win this game it will really put our stamp as one of the greatest in history.”

(on where New England quarterback Tom Brady ranks among other quarterbacks he has faced this season) “Oh I have faced Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers. I’m going to say that, I’ve faced him my second year, I’m probably going to say that he’s the first one. It’s a tie between him and Aaron Rodgers, they’re really good. But he is just so smart. I’ve seen them rush him on film and he’s just so calm and he makes all the right decisions for the most part. He just does a good job at getting his guys the ball in good positions.”

(on the weirdest superstition someone has on the team) “I don’t know what guys do. As far as for me, I have to take a cold shower before every game. It has to be freezing cold so I can wake up and get myself going. That’s what I do.”

(on how frustrating it is to play New England quarterback Tom Brady) “He’s just smart. He’s been doing it for 15-plus years and just knows what he’s doing. He’s seen every coverage in the NFL, the best pass rushers. He knows how to win and just how to get the job done. When we played them, we did a pretty good job against them. I believe since that time we have played them, we have grown as a team, we’ve grown as a defense.”

(on how the Super Bowl experience is the second time around) “It’s a blessing. It’s special. Most guys don’t get the opportunity to experience this and I’ve done it in two years in a row. It’s just something I have to soak in because you never know when you’ll be back here.”

WIDE RECEIVER DOUG BALDWIN

(on Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh) “I think he is going to do excellent. He’s a very talented coach, very wise, puts a great coaching staff around him. He does a wonderful job of recruiting. He takes advantage of his players strengths and weaknesses.”

(on missing the rivalry with him in San Francisco) “I don’t know yet. San (Francisco) still has a lot of talented players. I don’t know anything about the coach over there very well. If I know anything about the 49ers, they will be ready to play when we play them.”

(on representing Pac-12 country) “It is special. During college, I didn’t really understand it or appreciate it. Being here now and you pointing it out to me, it is an honor. I took a lot of pride of playing in the Pac-12, the Pac-10 when I was playing. I am just thankful for the opportunity to represent there.”

(on Baldwin’s favorite memory in college of playing in Arizona) “Winning.”

(on if there is a rivalry between SEC and Pac-12 alums in the NFL) “Yeah, without a doubt. There always is going to be that rivalry regardless if you are playing in college or if you are playing in the pros and you are sitting next to a guy who played in the SEC. Being a Pac-12 representative I always have to talk my trash. I firmly believe the Pac-12 can handle its own against the SEC, which I think we have shown. But yeah, of course, that rivalry is always existed.”

(on missing former Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate) “We were so close – obviously as teammates – but as friends, we were so close. You miss him. For three years I had grown close to him, so losing a guy like that is like losing a close friend. We definitely miss him in the locker room.”

(on what Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman and New England cornerback Darelle Revis do well) “They have multiple different techniques that they use. I don’t want to go too deep into it. (Sherman) has a different technique than Revis does. Revis is probably one of the most patient defensive backs I have watched on tape. His technique is vastly different from what I have seen from other guys. It presents a challenge. Sherman is one of those guys – he might not be the most patient but he has length to him and his competitiveness is unparalleled. Two vastly different techniques, but they are both obviously very good at what they do.”

(on his emotions after the NFC Championship Game) “The frustration and all the hardships we face as a team throughout the year and then through that game. It was a build up for sure. I just let it all out. It was indicative of everything of not only my teammates, but my specific position group has gone through. Just letting out the frustration. I wouldn’t take it back for anything. I said that before. I said the right thing. I just wish I wouldn’t have said it right after the game because I feel that it took away from the team aspect, and us celebrating the win together.”

(on seeing what is said about the receiving corps) “I don’t have to go out and find it. I am active on Twitter. I have a Facebook and an Instagram, so it is thrown in my face day-in and day-out. I have friends that text message me. Whatever is out there finds a way if we don’t go looking for it. I don’t mind it because I use it for extra motivation.”

(on being at this stage and possibly speaking out again) “I don’t know. I’m a guy that lives in the moment, so whenever the moment presents itself, whatever happens, happens.”

(on what he thinks of his Super Bowl trading card) “I don’t even know what to say. I haven’t even seen this before. It kind of puts everything into perspective. This is unbelievable to be here at this platform, this situation, this atmosphere, this game. I can’t even put it into words. I appreciate that.”

(on how he feels about being at the Super Bowl) “I love it. I am blessed with this opportunity to be here. I am fortunate enough to have the great teammates that I do surrounding me. I couldn’t be happier about this situation and about this opportunity.

(on any alternate celebration suggestions for Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch) “Alternate celebrations? Why would he change anything? It is Marshawn Lynch. He is getting the most popularity for doing nothing, so I would tell him to change nothing.

(on if he would be okay with Lynch getting a 15-yard penalty for a celebration) “He is smart. He is wise. He is not going to do anything that is going to negatively affect the team on the football field. I am not worried about that at all. I think it is silly to even talk about honestly.”

(on if Green Bay ran a Cover-0 defense on Seattle’s game-winning touchdown catch) “It is funny because that specific Cover-0 look we had not seen all game. We had prepared all week for that look. It was strange that in that moment we got the perfect look. It was something we had been practicing against every day during the week. I was surprised, but at the same time we were prepared for it but, we were kind of expecting it. We just didn’t know when. For them to call that in such a crucial moment and for us to be as well prepared as well as we were for that play, that just worked out perfectly. I could believe it but at the same time of it happening, I couldn’t. I kind of couldn’t believe it.”

(on how it makes him feel that people think the Seattle wide receiving corps is alright) “It doesn’t make me feel anything right now. I am at the Super Bowl enjoying this moment. We had been getting that negativity all year and in years prior. It is nothing new. I am having a sit-down with you all tonight. I got some things to say so I am going to save it for there.”

(on if he considers himself the emotional leader of the team) “I wouldn’t consider it as myself. I think I just fell into that role. That is just the type of guy I am. I am passionate. I love football, and I am going to wear my heart on my sleeve. I am not going to hide anything. I am going to be real with you 100 percent of the time. I don’t consider myself that. I just think I fell into that role.”

(on the matchup with New England cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis) “I am excited. Anytime you get to go up against guys who have dominated in this league you have to rise to the challenge. You would expect nothing less from our receiving corps. We are excited about that opportunity. Like you said, those two guys – Browner being one of the most physical cornerbacks and Revis being one of the most cerebral cornerbacks. I am excited about the opportunity we have presented to us.

(on getting off Revis island) “You know what? I am going to bring my sunblock, my shades and my hat and I am going to go to Revis island and see what I can do and I will let you know after the game.”

(on being in back-to-back Super Bowls) “It is an unreal feeling. I can’t even put it into words yet. I am just trying to focus on the task at hand and living in the moment. I don’t really think I will be able to fathom what we are doing yet (until) a couple years down the line. (I am) tremendously honored to be here and appreciative of the opportunity.”

(on if it was harder getting to a second Super Bowl or harder getting to a first) “It is much harder trying to get a first time. You get here the first time and then the track is already blazed for you. You realize what you have to do and how you handle things, what you are going to see throughout the season in terms of outside distractions and then when you get here you understand you are going to have media day and that the fans are going to be going crazy, wild. So you have that experience. I think the first time is much more difficult than the second time.”

(on what Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson is best at) “Improvising.”

(on what he thinks of New England’s defense) “Sound. They are extremely dangerous because they are athletic. They are physical. They fly around to the ball. They are one of the fastest front seven we have seen. We are anxious about the opportunity. We know that they have some dogs over there. We know about the dogs on our defense, so like I said we are just excited about the opportunity.”

(on the genius of Bill Belichick) “Yes, and that can’t be understated. He is probably one of the most methodical coaches when it comes to defensive techniques and game plans. Every week is something different that he has for the opposing offense. We really don’t know what we will see on game day, but we are preparing for everything we possibly could see. When it comes down to game time I think we will be ready. I am sure he will have some curve balls for us.”

(on what happens when Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch gets in “Beast Mode”) “You all think of it as beast mode. He doesn’t really change throughout the course of the game. He is the same cat. He is just pounding the rock. I think he wears down his opponents by doing what he does. Sometimes it is early and sometimes it is late. I think last game was indicative of that. He was pounding the rock and giving everything he has. Suddenly there defense starts to wear down. Those three yard runs that he had earlier in the game, they start becoming into six to eight to fifteen yard runs. That is just what we do on offense.”

(on Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson’s emotions after the NFC Championship Game) “There was a lot of people crying. Russell was crying. My man Jermaine (Kearse) was crying. I was screaming at the top of my lungs. It was just a very emotional time for us, obviously getting that win in the fashion in which we did. You can’t really explain that in words, so you are going to have an overwhelming effect of emotions in that moment.”

(on his best Marshawn Lynch story) “I won’t give any specific stories about Marshawn, but I will say that he is probably one of the best teammates I have ever been around. He is a comedian. He is a supporter. He will get on you when he needs to get on you when you need it. Obviously he doesn’t like talking to the media because that is just not him. We all know him in the locker room as the true teddy bear that he is and we love him for it because like I said he is one of the best teammates we have been around.”

(on if Lynch has ever gotten on him) “Several times, several times, but I have gotten on him too. It goes back and forth. He does it in a different way though. He does it in a sly way (where) you laugh at it with him, but then when you go back to your hotel room you think about what he said and it means something to you.”

(on if Lynch is smarter than what people think) “He is a lot smarter than what people think. He is very wise, very wise.”

CORNERBACK RICHARD SHERMAN

(on how his elbow feels) “It’s feeling pretty good, it’s feeling pretty good. It’s been good all week. I’m done getting treatment. It’s been getting better day by day.”

(on how the experience of last year helps handling this week) “I think it helps in terms of just dealing with the media. Some guys don’t get really this much media on a day-in and day-out basis, so it helps them in that regard – being more comfortable and understanding what to expect.”

(on how it feels to face quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots) “It feels good, it feels good. It feels good to face whoever we’re facing in this game. They’ve worked hard and they’ve had a great season to this point, so it’s obviously going to be an outstanding opponent.”

(on if he gets annoyed that people may have a bad perception of him) “Do I get annoyed about people’s perception? Not really. It doesn’t bother me too much honestly. I kind of go to the beat of my own drum. If people feel a certain way, you know, everybody has an opinion and I also have my own opinion. I have my own way of doing things and it might not align with everybody but I’m going to keep it that way.”

(on what it says about this defense if they could beat Brady this year after beating Denver quarterback Peyton Manning last year) “I don’t know what it says about our defense. I think it says something about our team because we’re not just playing Tom Brady. We’re playing the Patriots and all of their great players, and they have a great defense as well. So I think it says more about who we are as a team and what we’ve been able to accomplish as a whole with hard work and dedication.”

(on if Media Day is a landmark to signal that the Super Bowl week has really started) “Not really. We kind of always buckle down to an extent but we’re also pretty loose as a group, so we never take things too serious. It’s not like, ‘Oh man, we’re going to get into serious football-mode.’ We’re always in serious football-mode. We’re always focused on learning our opponent and getting better, and getting ready for the game. We don’t take it too serious in terms of shutting everything down, not talking to anybody and things like that. I think our team does a great job understanding what we need to do.”

(on how the team reacted to wide receiver Percy Harvin being traded) “We reacted to it the same way we always react to injuries or any other time we lose a player – next man up. The next man steps up, and in that case it was Paul Richardson and he stepped and has found his role in a way.”

(on having extra inspiration knowing he has a child on the way) “I guess you could enter inspiration to a degree. It’s someone that actually depends on you for everyday living. Everything they do is dependant on you and how you provide, and how successful you are. As a parent you want to set a great example for them, so I guess to a degree a lot of things are riding on it.”

(on going up against Brady) “It’s fun, it’s fun for competitors. It’s a great challenge for us and anybody who’s ever been an elite competitor or an elite player enjoys those moments against other great players. It brings the best out of you. I think we as a group and as a team enjoy going against an elite team because it brings the best out of us.”

(on if he heard what New England owner Robert Craft had to say yesterday upon the team’s arrival, and his thoughts) “I did hear what he said. I don’t really have any thoughts on that.”

(on the one thing that makes New England quarterback Tom Brady different from the other quarterbacks he has faced) “He’s a little more fiery than the rest of the quarterbacks. A lot of the quarterbacks try to stay even keel throughout the game and not get too high, not get too low. He’ll show his emotions a little more than the rest of them.”

(on what it means to have Seattle’s fans here) “Oh, it’s amazing to have the 12s here. We knew if we made it to this game the 12s would be out here in full force and representing as much as they can – they always do. If they didn’t let them in the game, they’d probably climb the walls of the stadium and sit on the roof. We appreciate them.”

(on if they think about the potential of being a dynasty) “Just like our mentality every game, it’s game-to-game, it’s year-to-year. We don’t think about dynasties or history or anything like that. We just go out and play the game, and let the chips fall where they may. We let everybody else discuss those things and determine where we stand. We can’t do anything but try hard and play hard, and do the best we can.”

(on how he feels about giving Brady nightmares) “I didn’t know I was in his dream-sphere. I appreciate you, but I highly doubt he’s afraid of me. He’s a great player, Hall-of-Famer in this league and he’s been playing at a high level for a long time, but I appreciate the compliment.”

(on how he is going to make Brady uncomfortable in the Super Bowl) “I don’t know if I’m going to make him feel uncomfortable. I’m just going to try to do my job effectively and hopefully capitalize on the opportunities I’m given.”

(on what it takes to be great in the NFL) “It takes hard work, dedication. It takes work ethic. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication to your craft, dedication to film study and a discipline to sometimes do things that you wouldn’t want to do otherwise. You don’t get the opportunity to go out as much, to enjoy as much of the off-the-field stuff, the social life if you really want to be great in this game. A social life is kind of for the offseason and after the season you get to enjoy that stuff, but elite players, the great ones sacrifice that to study their craft and to get better.”

(on how he likes Media Day) “I mean it’s fun to me. It’s fun. I think my teammates are enjoying it, they’re having a good time. It’s just one of those things. It’s another one of those elements of the Super Bowl and you have to enjoy it because you’re at the Super Bowl. It’s a fun time for you, it’s a fun time for your family, it’s a fun time for the fans. Everybody gets to know these players a little bit more in depth and maybe get to know things about the players that they maybe didn’t know any other way. There’s some cool questions out there, some very interesting, in-depth questions that go deeper than a lot of people have gone during the season.”

(on comments made by New England cornerback Brandon Browner, and if it’s okay in this league for a player to try to hurt another player intentionally) “It’s not okay in this league for anybody to intentionally hurt anybody. I think he was just caught up in the moment. He didn’t mean any malice by it. It’s one of those things, we know him as a person and sometimes he exaggerates a little bit. He didn’t mean anything by that and we didn’t take it offensively. We know him as a person and we know who he is, but to answer your question, that’s never a good thing. Nobody intentionally hurts anybody in this league, that I know of. I think a lot of guys stand for the integrity of the football league and have a lot of respect for one another, and Brandon does as well.”

(on what separates Brady and Denver quarterback Peyton Manning from a skillset standpoint) “They’re just different. They’re just different in the way they approach the game, the way they approach their passing game. Different offenses. Peyton plays the game differently. Brady runs a little bit more of the hurry-up; Peyton runs it from time to time, but then he’ll slow it down and they’ll be meticulous, they’ll run the ball, he’ll audible, he’ll check a lot at the line. I think Tom kind of goes and he sees the defense for what it is, and goes out and executes.”

(on what advice he has for kids playing defense and want to be better at tackling) “Practice, a lot of practice and also understanding angles. Practice makes perfect, so the more you practice anything the better you’ll get at it. Also, not playing with fear, playing fearless. A lot of people say that the more fear you play with, the harder it is to tackle because you’ll tense up before you get to tackle and things like that. I would say give yourself a chance to practice things and see it and visualize things, and that will make you a lot better as a player.”

(on if he thinks athletes should be obligated to speak to the media) “I don’t think they should be obligated any more than the commissioner is obligated to speak to the media. I think that if players are going to be obligated to speak to the media then every one of the NFL personnel should be obligated to speak to the media weekly, and that’s not the case. It’s unfortunate, but I think that every team should be forced to present certain players, obviously a few of them. Obviously if someone is uncomfortable in front of the media and uncomfortable answering questions and things like that, then you have to find a way to accommodate the NFL. This is a game – you find a way to accommodate everyone else who’s uncomfortable.”

(on what it takes to stop New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) “He’s a great player. He’s a physical player, so you have to somehow try to match his physicality and battle with him. You can’t just stop him, he’s a great player. You go up against a great player, you’re not just going to stop him, but you can do your best to contain him and play effectively.”

(on what he thinks about a team moving back to Los Angeles) “I think that’s big-time for the league. Unfortunately, somebody has to lose a team for that to happen, and it’s unfortunate for whatever city that loses that team, but it would be great for the league. L.A. is obviously a huge city, huge market for the league. It’s one of the biggest cities in America and one of the focal points of the United States. So it would be great. I don’t remember L.A. with a team – I was so young when they had the Rams and the Raiders, I really didn’t get to enjoy that time, but I think it will be huge for that community.”

(on what Seattle Head Coach Pete Carroll is like in the locker room and how he keeps everyone focused) “What you see is what you get with Pete. He’s just like he is with the media in the locker room, outside the locker room, at home. He’s a great guy, he’s a great coach. Calm, cool demeanor. Laid back. He allows his players to bump their heads and scrape their knees, and learn from their experiences on and off the field. He gives us a chance. He trusts his players more than I think a lot of coaches do, and we appreciate him for that.”

(on if getting to the Super Bowl this year was harder than last year) “It was more difficult this year because of injuries. Last year we had a stream of good luck – that’s the only way you can explain it. This game has a 100 percent injury-rate, but this year our luck ran out a little bit in terms of the injury front. Some guys went down for longer, extended periods of time. Big-time players. (Linebacker) Bobby Wagner, (strong safety) Kam (Chancellor) went down for a few games. (Tackle) Russell Okung we lost. We lost a lot of players. We lost (running back) Marshawn (Lynch) for halves of games. I think we showed resilience fighting our way through those injuries and continuing to stay in front.”

(on New England Head Coach Bill Belichick trying to outsmart his opponent) “He’s definitely trying to outsmart you. He’s a great coach. They’re looking for any advantage they can get. They do a great job game-planning and finding weaknesses in defenses, and exploiting those weaknesses any way they can find, and they’re very timely when they do that. So I think there’s definitely some validity there.”

TACKLE RUSSELL OKUNG

(on what it’s like to be back to the Super Bowl) “It’s amazing. The journey itself, it’s been very tough. To be here where we are, especially after the struggles at the beginning of the season. It’s great to be back.”

(on how this season is different than last year) “It’s no different. A lot of people tend to say that we’re defending some title, but it’s not true. We’ve been just as in pursuit of getting to a challenge as everyone else.”

(on what his emotions will be on Sunday) “Just emotions of gratitude. I think it’s not necessarily always a game, but again a journey in itself, just what it took to get there. I’ll be very grateful on Sunday coming up being able to play one of the best games in the world.”

(on if anyone preps the players for Media Day) “Usually I have to dodge you guys. They’re making me do it. So, my motivation is the fine that they would bill against me if I wouldn’t talk. It’s great. The experience is great. Talking to all you guys is great, and just looking forward to the big game.”

(on what the biggest difference is between Media Day this year compared to last year) “It’s just about the same. Obviously in New York that’s the media center of the world, but it’s been great. The experience is the same. A lot of the same people are here, and it’s good.”

(on the biggest challenge of facing the New England pass rush) “The Patriots’ dynamic is their pass rushers. They’re very dynamic rushers. They have (New England defensive end) Chandler Jones on the outside and No. 50 (defensive end Rob Ninkovich) as well as No. 91 (New England linebacker Jamie Collins) who can rush pretty good as well, too, and on the inside a lot of good power rushers too. We’ve just got to meet them head-on, make them play head on. They’re going to play at our intensity, and we’ll see how it goes.”

(on quarterback Russell Wilson throwing four interceptions in the NFC Championship game and if there is anything the offensive line can do to prevent that) “Yeah, whatever it takes. If we need to give him more time or make the passing lanes a lot clearer for him we’re willing to do that. The great thing about the end of that game, last game, was that we stayed resilient and threw a touchdown pass at the end to win the game.”

(on what the difference is between the two teams in the Super Bowl compared to last year) “Really not that much of a big difference. I think week to week we do a good job of trying to play at a championship mentality and really playing our best ball week-in, week-out, day-in and day-out. At the end of the day, it’s just a football game.”

(on what makes Seattle so special and tight-knit) “I think one of the things that makes our team so special is all of us have a love for one another. We truly do it for one another. We’re always fighting to see each other play at the highest level we possibly can. When we can do that I believe we’re unstoppable.”

(on if he thinks about his future as a Seahawk right not) “I can’t. I really can’t. Obviously, I love this organization. They’ve done a lot of great things for me and choosing to make me one of their first picks. That’s great and all, but I’ve got to keep it in perspective right now. We just have a big game.”

(on if he thinks the players should have an obligation to speak to the media and should be fined if they don’t speak to the media) “I believe, one, that we have our constitutional rights, freedom of speech and what we want to say. Obviously, the NFL has certain stipulations in place, and they require us to speak at certain moments. When we all signed our contracts we all agreed to that. We understand that, but I believe if somebody wants to say something or they choose not to say something it should be just as fine.”

(on how important it is for Seattle to set the tone in the trenches on Sunday) “I think the game’s going to come down to the offensive line on both sides of the ball, whoever definitely plays better. Obviously, they’ve got a really good front in New England, and we’re looking forward to the challenge this week, as well.”

(on what makes quarterback Russell Wilson so good) “Just his winning mentality. He never believes that he’s going to lose the play. He’s always looking for the big play, always looking to make either a play with his feet or with his arm. He’s a phenomenal talent and a phenomenal player.”

(on the challenges that New England defensive end Chandler Jones presents him) “I think the whole New England front presents a lot of challenges for us. They’re really good in their pass rush, as well as defending the run. We’ve just got to really stay true to our scheme and our technique, and it’ll be a good battle this Sunday.”

(on blocking for Wilson and Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch) “Marshawn’s a very tenacious runner, and when he gets that ball in his hands you really don’t know what he’s going to do or how hard he’s going to run. You see a guy like that you want to fight for him every time you get.”

(on if the offensive line gets excited to block for Lynch and Wilson) “Yeah, it’s really fun, and I’m just so proud of our offense. We want to be an explosive offense that can really get big plays or can even throw it over your head down the field.”

(on how the team is different this year) “Obviously, we don’t have the same players, but I believe the mentality is just the same. We want to play tough football. We want to run the football. We want to play great defense, especially when we’re ahead – as well as take care of the ball – then at the end of the game finish, as well.”

(on if he surprised at times by Lynch’s ability to break tackles) “I’ve never really been surprised by his ability. It’s something he does day-in, day-out. You just know when that ball gets in his hands he’s very capable of taking it the distance. I hope we put the ball a lot more times in his hand this week.”

(on the challenges of blocking for Wilson when he breaks the pocket) “You’ve just got to finish the play because you don’t really know what he’s doing behind you. You don’t know if he’s trying really to take off and run with his feet or he could throw it downfield. You’ve just got to finish at the end of the whistle, and Russell’s going to make the magic happen.”

(on what he wants his legacy to be on and off the field) “I would say that my legacy is important just because I want to have a lasting effect off the field. Obviously, on the field, it’s great, but these things aren’t going to die with me. What’s after me, the generations after me are really what’s important to me.”

(on what giving back to the community really means) “Really giving back, to me, means just to build something sustainable. I never want to give a handout, but a hand up. You want to encourage guys not just to enjoy some type of handout or just enjoy those things for the moment, but to truly be changed, to really build something sustainable that will last, as well.”

(on the differences in the journeys to the Super Bowl this year and last year) “I would say definitely the journey of getting here has probably been the most important. We’ve shown ourselves to be a very resilient team, a team that’s capable of overcoming. We were 3-3 at a pivotal moment in our season, getting to 6-4 before we made our run. To me, the Super Bowl is just a testament to the journey of what it really took.”

(on if he feels different as a person in this Super Bowl after having been to one) “No, it feels exactly the same. We’re staying in our identity of who we are, and I believe what we do now will be some of our best ball.”

(on the biggest concern of the New England defense) “They have a very dynamic defense. Up front, they’re playing some really good ball – (New England defensive end) Chandler Jones, No. 50 (New England defensive end Rob Ninkovich), No. 91 (New England linebacker Jamie Collins), and obviously we know what (New England defensive tackle Vince) Wilfork can do in the middle, as well as his other guys too. We’re really looking forward to the challenge. It’s going to be a good, smash-mouth game of football, and it’s a game that we love to do. So, we’re looking forward to it, playing some good, tough ball, and see who comes out on top.”

(on what running back Marshawn Lynch means to Seattle) “He’s the man. I would say he’s what makes us who we are. We know when that ball’s in his hand he’s not playing. He’s going to do what it takes to really get all those yards and every yard is going to matter.”

DEFENSIVE TACKLE KEVIN WILLIAMS

(on how it feels to have this opportunity after so many years in the NFL) “This is huge. To come here at this point in my career, that is something I was really focused on. Having a chance to make the playoffs and to come here and get that done, and have a chance to be here at the Super Bowl, that is huge. It is a huge accomplishment for our team.”

(on what the key has been to him lasting as long as he has in the NFL) “Eat your vegetables man. I don’t know. It is the Good Lord. That is all I can say. It has been a good 12 years of not spending a lot of time in the training room. I don’t know, I think it is just being blessed. I can’t just put my finger on one thing that keeps you out of that training room and keeps you healthy and on the field every week.”

(on what he tells the young guys who may have already won a Super Bowl) “Just stay hungry. Don’t let all the perks and the benefits get in your way or cloud your vision of what’s really at hand. At the end of the day you want to play the game you love, make good money, and you want to walk away and still be a good person.”

(on whether this is the best defensive line he has ever played on) “I think this defense, top to bottom, you don’t have a weak spot. I have been with some great guys though; Pat (Williams), Jared (Allen), Ray Edwards, Kenechi Udeze, and I could go on with names of guys I played with in Minnesota. But this is a fun group I play with here in Seattle. Mike (Michael Bennett) is outstanding. (Brandon) Mebane, to step in and have to play his role, that was tough to do, the way he plays. He has been excellent for me, helping me transition to play nose. I don’t know, top to bottom, the whole group I think is a good group. It is top three in the groups of guys I have played with.”

(on how much he weighs right now) “How much do I weigh? I might be around 315.”

(on how tough it was for him to switch positions after Brandon Mebane was injured) “I started a couple of games at nose in Minnesota but this is the most nose work I have gotten to play in 12 years of football. I try not to overcomplicate it, just go out and play football, play the position and try not to make it too hard.”

(on what Brandon Mebane has taught him) “He gives me some pointers. He has helped me pick up the things on the center, make the game easy. Like I said, you don’t overthink it. I have been playing football 12 years in the professional league, so I try not to make it too hard and just attack the guy in front of me.”

(on how dumb the controversy in New England is) “Oh man. It is pretty dumb. I’m not going to say it is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of, you want guys on the same level, but I have said that it won’t help anybody cover, it won’t help anybody defeat blocks. It is not going to help you tackle. It is not a big issue.”

(on whether he thinks fans are tired of hearing about the controversy in New England) “You would be surprised. A lot of fans are interested in that stuff. Like I said, in the end it won’t help you tackle anybody or get anybody on the ground. But at the same time you want everybody to be on the same competitive level.”

(on Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount and the Patriots power running game) “He is a tough guy. He is a big guy to bring down. If you seem him, he is a load in person. The key is to get his legs to get him down. It is going to take more than one guy. You have to continue to fly around. It shouldn’t be much of a problem but you can’t just count on one guy to make the tackle.”

(on the inspiration behind his sack dance) “I am a big wrestling fan so I watched Rick Flair a lot. The Four Horseman. It is something I started earlier in my career and being here with these guys, every time they get a sack they do some type of dance, celebration or something. So I had to bring it back out.”

(on his experience in the first 48 hours of Super Bowl week) “It has been cool. I am with a group of guys that have been through it before. They are making the transition, what to expect, the ins-and-outs, they are making the transition easy for me. So I am just following in line with those guys and just hanging in there.”

(on defensive end Michael Bennett recruiting him to Seattle) “He basically just said, ‘Come on over. I have been watching you throughout your career and you do some great things. I think you really can help us and we are going to try to get back to the Super Bowl.’ I don’t think he lied to me. He sold me on the pitch.”

(on linebacker Bobby Wagner returning to the lineup and how that helped them make their run over the second half of the season) “Bobby is kind of the quarterback for us out there. When Bobby came back it put everybody back in their natural position, so everything ran smoothly on the defense. The linebackers especially, they were back at their natural positions and the places they were comfortable playing. It just sped everything up. The transition of playing for one another really took off and we made plays. He is all over the field, so he did a tremendous job when he got back.”

(on what it feels like to finally be playing in the Super Bowl) “It is kind of a surreal moment. I couldn’t believe we won a week or two ago. I was like, man we really came back and won that game. So now it is that transition to, we need to get one more confetti bath. I was really happy with that win but I will really be excited, no telling what emotions will come out, after we win this.”

(on what he did to celebrate the win in the NFC Championship game) “I went home with the family, got some takeout and just relaxed. Take a deep breath and just, wow, we really won that game.”

(on playing next to Bennett and what they do to make each other’s lives easier on the field) “I take on the double teams for Mike. But Mike is a ball of energy man. You can feed off some of the plays he makes and he gives the front incredible energy and passion. He talks before the games and he has so much energy and passion. It gets you ready to go and knock down a wall, once you get done listening to him talk.”

(on the craziest thing he has seen at Super Bowl week so far) “This Media Day thing is kind of huge, huh? I don’t know, it has been kind of copacetic. Everything has been on cue. I got guys that are breaking it down for me, play-by-play, so I am not really shocked about what is going on right now.”

(on whether the results of this game will decide whether or not he retires) “I think it has a good chance. I think you have seen a lot of great players go out and win the Super Bowl and then retire. If we can win the Super Bowl it will probably play into the offseason, but I just want to win and focus on that right now.”

(on whether or not he will retire) “I don’t know. I mean, if somebody wants my services bad enough, I can see playing some more.”

(on if there is anything special he is doing to prepare for this game) “No, just preparing like a normal game like I have the last 12 years and hopefully have a great outcome.”

(on coming close to making the Super Bowl while he was in Minnesota) “The biggest thing is don’t blink. In Minnesota I felt we controlled that (2009 NFC Championship) game the whole way and then we get into overtime and lose it. It was just the polar opposite of last week. We played good defense but the offense was kind of sputtering and we still were there fighting and didn’t give up. We fought to the end and we were able to get the outcome we wanted.”

(on the difference between the Vikings team and this year’s Seattle team) “Oh, I don’t know. Probably all the younger guys. I don’t know. We were much older in Minnesota and we knew it was a small window to come together and try to win. We were able to get where we were trying to go, but we just fell one game short. I think, with these guys here, it is a lot of three-year, four-year, five-year guys that are hungry to prove themselves and that are just coming into the prime of their careers. You can tell those guys are playing hard and hungry.”

(on whether he was close to joining New England during free agency) “I visited the Patriots. It was down to Seattle and the Patriots, as far as my last two, and Minnesota, but I think I made the right decision. I was comfortable with the group of guys here and that helped me sway my decision.”

(on if his comfort level with the players in Seattle was what made him choose the Seahawks) “Yeah. I mean, like I said, I think New England was a much older group. Just playing with such a lively D-line and a lively group of guys in general, it gives an old dog a lot more energy, too.”

(on the two teams showing the most interest in him during free agency both being in the Super Bowl) “That is kind of weird right? Me and my wife were talking about it and we have to make sure we win so it will just make the decision that much sweeter.”

(on the media frenzy during Super Bowl week) “It is a lot man. You’ve got cameras everywhere. Asking a lot of weird questions. It is cool though. I would rather be here than at home.”

(on if there is a feeling there may be a dynasty in Seattle with back-to-back Super Bowls and all the young talent) “I think that the Seahawks, we have a good chance. There is a lot of young talent here and they just locked up some more guys for years to come. If they keep the core guys together, I mean they have a good chance to do some great things in back-to-back years.”

(on what makes cornerback Richard Sherman so good) “His competitiveness. You see, a lot of times, all you focus in on things he says, the off-the-field things and people might think he is a bad person. Richard actually is a cool guy and he is real competitive. He doesn’t want you to catch a ball, whether it is two yards or three yards, and you know he doesn’t want to give up deep balls. He is very competitive. I just think that is the whole group. Everybody is that competitive and that hungry and that eager to fight. It carries over when we play.”

(on whether he sees a generational gap between him and all the young guys on the team) “You say that, but we joke all the time, ‘when I was drafted some of you guys were still in high school or junior high.’ We laugh about it on the team. These guys play hard and these young guys really try to pick my brain and learn the little nuances of the game. We have fun with it.”

(on whether the younger players know about all his All-Pro and Pro Bowl years) “(Defensive end Michael) Bennett, he makes sure they know all the accolades that I have when they ask me to do something crazy. He pulls that out of the hat all the time and it is hilarious.”

(on what kind of thing they ask him to do) “It may have been early in camp, like I may have had to change my stance or something. And (Bennett) was like, ‘this guy has been playing 12 years and you are going to try to get him to change his stance?’ And then he names off all the things, Pro Bowls and stuff like that.”

(on how he has adjusted to playing nose tackle after being hesitant to make the switch initially) “At this point it is just about having a chance to win. It wasn’t an ideal situation, I thought, coming in to play nose tackle. When (defensive tackle) Brandon (Mebane) went down I was nominated and I just rolled with it. Like I said, I play with a great group of guys around me. I might mess up, but they cover it up so well because they are flying around.”

CORNERBACK BYRON MAXWELL

(on how he prepares for situational football) “Every team is different; it’s not going to be the same with every team. So you’ve got to adjust your game to what they’re doing. That’s how you win games.”

(on how much attention to detail they pay to situations like redzone and two-minute drills in practice) “That’s what they do. The keys and formations you can get a key from their formation and play ball from there.”

(on the matchup against New England wide receiver Brandon LaFell) “We match up pretty well, I think. He’s going to play his game and I’m going to play my game.”

(on being a part of the Legion of Boom) “My game is definitely different than (Brandon) Browner. He’s a lot more physical than me. I think they probably lost a little bit of physicality but they definitely gained a playmaker.”

(on whether he’s talked to Brandon Browner now that he’s playing for the Patriots) “Yeah, we talk.”

(on whether Browner gave away any Patriots secrets) “He’s not going to do that. He’s trying to win this game and if I’m in his way you best believe he’s going to try to smash me. We’re friends so I know what it is, but it’s cool though.”

(on if taking advantage of injuries is just part of the game) “We know that. I know him, so I know what he’s trying to say and what he’s doing. There’s no malice behind it. There’s no bad intent behind it.”

(on whether he would try and test an opponent’s injury early in the game) “Definitely. If you think you can get some keys to win the game I don’t see why you wouldn’t.”

(on whether it helps that he played in a Super Bowl last year) “It’s always new but, like you said, it’s definitely helped that we’ve been here before. Just like anything, like on a road, once you pave it it’s easy to walk through. That comfort level is a little higher than what it was last year but it’s a different game, a different week, you’ve still got to do what you’ve got to do to win this game.”

(on whether he thinks this could be the best defense of all time) “If you win the game, yes definitely. But you have to win the game.”

(on being able to come back and defend their Super Bowl title) “It’s another title that we’re not defending, we’re about to go get another title. We’re always hunting.”

(on the importance of the 12th man) “They’re very important. We won that game and we fed off their energy last week to get us to the Super Bowl. Home field advantage, we’ve got eight wins off the top just being there.”

(on what Seattle has to do defensively to beat New England) “We have to tackle well. We have to play fundamental football and we have to tackle well.”

(on what it is about New England quarterback Tom Brady that makes him such a special quarterback) “He’s fiery, but he’s calm. He’s got confidence. We could go on about Thomas Brady all day.”

(on his prediction for the game on Sunday) “Seahawks win. I don’t know the score, but we win.”

(on whether he’s dreaming about the game) “I’m dreaming. That’s what it is.”

(on what he feels are the Seahawks biggest strengths) “Our ability to run the ball and our ability to stop the run.”

(on what he feels are the Patriots biggest strengths) “Their ability to adjust. That’s the biggest thing for them, they can adjust and play any style of football.”

(on who is the biggest character in the Seahawks locker room) “That’s a tough one. We have a lot of characters. Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Pete Carroll, we’ve got a lot of characters. A lot of big personalities, Marshawn Lynch.”

(on what artist he would pick to be the halftime entertainment) “I like Ashanti. She’s always been my favorite.”

(on how he would feel about playing the Super Bowl in London) “Bring it on. I’ve never been so it’d be a great experience. It would probably be my first time over there so I could enjoy the city and we’d win another ring.”

(on how much he embraces the targets that come his way playing opposite of Richard Sherman) “It’s just one of those things that’s going to happen, so you either accept it or move on.”

(on being one of the newer members of the Legion of Boom) “I don’t consider myself a new member, I’ve been here four years.”

(on what he learned from Brandon Browner when he was with Seattle) “He’s a tough guy. He’s a true competitor.”

(on the week of preparation so far) “Good. It’s been great.”

(on the keys to having success against the Patriots offense) “Tackle well. You’ve got to play fundamental football and you have to tackle well.”

(on overcoming adversity as a team) “It’s been a lot harder. You have to go through a lot of different things. I don’t want to say it was easier last year, but I felt like we already knew what was going on coming into the season.”

(on whether than makes him appreciate this Super Bowl more) “Yes, definitely. We really had to earn this one.”

(on quarterback Russell Wilson) “He’s the point guard out there, man. He knows when to go, he knows when to pull back. He’s a great player.”

STRONG SAFETY KAM CHANCELLOR

(on former Washington safety Sean Taylor) “Well, my second year of college I moved to strong safety and I saw Sean Taylor was a big safety. That was his gift, God’s gift, big guy over 6’3” that could move around, run fast, hit hard make tackles and just had a presence on the field. It definitely inspired me. I wanted to be just like that guy. The same size, didn’t have the same speed, but I worked over the time. I just kept working and working to just get better and better each year. I think you definitely have to look at how he played and what he brought to the game.”

(on former Washington safety Sean Taylor’s impact on the league) “I think just the way he brings it to the game, the ferociousness, the way he attacked the game. Everyone was inspired by how he did it with his size. He had the biggest impact on the game and still does today.”

(on how he is off the field) “Laid back. I’m very laid back. Sociable, got a lot of humor. Funny guy, I’m just laid back. I’m a regular person. Nothing special.”

(on the toughest thing to defend on New England’s offense) “I really don’t know the hardest thing because I haven’t played them yet, but just from watching film, they have a great quarterback. Tom Brady’s a great quarterback who’s definitely capable of getting his guys the ball and letting them make plays. They have great receivers, a good running back core and a good line. I think they play well together as a team. We just have to play team ball and stay true to what we do.”

(on sitting in the same seat for Media Day as New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) “I wasn’t aware. You just brought it to my attention, but I mean I guess it was destiny. It was destiny for us to have the same seat.”

(on if he is going into this Super Bowl trying to set a tone with a big hit like he did last year) “No, never. That’s me every game. Every game I’m going into the game and I’m thinking about enforcing. I’m the enforcer on the team and I want to enforce every game I go in to. I’m going for big hits and I want them to be harder as the game goes on. I want the hits to get harder. Every hit gives you more energy, more drive, more passion. It gives you more of everything. Right now I’m getting hyped up so I need to stop talking about it.”

(on if New England running back LeGarrette Blount will have any yards after a catch with him tackling) “Not at all. No way. When we play this game, you touch this ball it is all about getting you down. It’s about running and hitting. It’s about being fundamentally sound. If you prepare for it, it will get done in the game. So, if you prepare and once that man catches it, the rest is want to. I say, the coaches can get you to the position to get you where you need to get, get your feet under you and line you up, but the rest of it is the want to. You’ve got to want to get that guy down and you’ve got to want to do it with aggression and that’s my team.”

(on going back and watching the game with the halftime show as well after Sunday) “I’m going to watch it. I’m going to enjoy every bit of it. You’ve got to enjoy the journey. You can’t skip things in life. You’ve got to enjoy the journey.”

(on last year’s Super Bowl helping Seattle prepare for this year) “Last year was last year. It just shows some that we are familiar. Things are familiar. Media day is media day. Everything is still the same. It’s not really different. We’ve just got to prepare. That’s all we are focusing on right now, just preparing and focusing on putting our best foot forward and executing.”

(on which version of Seattle is better, this year or last year) “Of course the present is better. It’s right now. We’re in the now. We can’t speak for what we did before or what we’re going to do later. We’ve got to speak for what’s right now. I believe in my team we have right now and the process that we’re taking.”

(on how loud Seattle’s fans are today) “They’re loud wherever we go. The 12’s they roll wherever we go. They have our back no matter what. They were with us when we were 3-3. It didn’t matter if we were winning. No matter if we are on the road or at home. They’ve got our back and they’re going to bring the noise every single time.”

(on explaining how he is able to jump over the offensive line against Carolina) “It’s just another gift that God gave me. I’ve been able to be athletic, been able to be explosive and jump and be limber. To move around well for my size. It was something that our special teams coach had seen during the week and it was something we’ve seen. During the week I practiced it twice. I felt confident about it. Both times I executed it and I felt good getting over the line and I felt fresh. When it came to the game I felt confident about it, and I just went for it. There was no doubt in my mind.”

(on if he tried to jump over the line in college) “No. I tried it one time I want to say two years ago, but I failed. The guy hit me in the feet and I fell over their line. I didn’t execute it well, but my body didn’t feel the same then.”

(on what he learned from coming back against Green Bay) “I didn’t learn anything new at all. Everything was familiar. I know my team will always fight. We fight to the end. We believe. We believe in our preparation. We believe that if we prepare well, we’re going into every game and win. We just don’t know how. We’re going into this game and win it, we just don’t know how. We’ve just got to keep believing no matter what. We are not quitting until it says zero on that clock unless we have to go to overtime.”

(on the help from the fans against Green Bay) “They helped tremendously. They bring a lot of energy and a lot of passion. We could feel their passion through the noise and you feed off of it. It just drives into our passion within us on the field.”

(on how it became a ritual watching former Washington safety Sean Taylor highlights before he plays) “You just want to recreate that memory all the time. I just want to recreate that memory and that’s why I do it all the time. I watch them on YouTube just watching the hits. The furiousness, I just love it.”

(on his thoughts about Virginia Tech and his days there) “I had a great experience playing for the Hokies. Just to be able to get the opportunity. I was blessed. I signed really close to Saturday. The last few days or something. The tape came and they offered me. Before that, I was probably going to go to James Madison University. (Virginia) Tech was my only real, big D-I offer and I took that. I went up there and it felt like home. The guys treated me like family. The coaches treated me like family and when I got there it was the same thing. I felt right at home. I felt like I was a part of something special and the education there was great, the teachers the students, everything. The whole environment is family-like and you just have to love a place like that.”

(on if Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch is a good teammate) “Definitely. He’s a great teammate. He’s fun, he’s active, and he’s hilarious. He has great advice. If you are in need of advice or are ever going through something you can go to Marshawn and talk to him. He’ll give it to you straight, clean cut. It’s going to be real and that’s some great advice.”

(on the experience of already going through the Super Bowl process last year) “It’s just a lot of familiar territory. You know what to expect and what to plan for. That’s pretty much it, but you’re still here to play a game so you get back to practicing and doing what you do and execute.”

(on what he has to do against Tom Brady and New England’s offense) “Just play team ball. It’s never about one guy. It’s never one guy that’s going to beat a team. I think if we stay connected and play team ball, play our ball, play Seahawks ball, we’ll be fine.”

(on the familiarity of playing at University of Phoenix Stadium) “Your feet, you can feel the ground. The turf is familiar, comfortable. The feet feel good out there. It’s uncomfortable on the field sometimes. We’ve been to this stadium and we know it’s going to be a little humid in there, the lights are going to be bright. You’re familiar with the stadium. You know what to expect.”

(on if the field at University of Phoenix Stadium is fast) “It’s comfortable. I don’t know if it’s fast. I’m a medium speed guy. It’s comfortable.”

(on playing alongside Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman and free safety Earl Thomas) “It’s amazing playing together with our group. Just the connections have been real. To know that those guys are on the same level is we’re thinking the same way, on the same page every single day. Every moment in football we’re thinking about how we can execute their plays and thinking about the next hit, thinking about the next pick. Just know that there are constant things there and you know they have your back. We’re on the same page and they have the best interest for you.”

LINEBACKER BOBBY WAGNER

(on New England tight end Rob Gronkowski) “It’s going to be pretty difficult. He’s a big guy, hard to take down. But at the same time, he has a little juke to him. I like that about him. I look forward to these types of matchups. To consider yourself one of the best, you have to handle guys like that. I look forward to playing him.”

(on how fun it is to get back to the Super Bowl) “It’s extremely fun, especially with all the doubters. With all the obstacles we had to endure throughout the season, the injuries, and at one point we were third in the division and not even in the playoff picture. To be sitting in the same spot that we were last year with the same opportunity is a blessing.”

(on if it is an advantage playing at University of Phoenix Stadium previously) “I don’t think it’s going to be an advantage. We are used to coming out here but at the same time, when you have a game like this, everybody is going to put 110 percent effort into it. If they don’t, they’d be dumb. I think it’s good that we’re not playing in the cold. That’s what is beneficial to me.”

(on how New England quarterback Tom Brady tries to confuse the linebacker core) “I think he just questions your discipline. He’s going to look you off in your pass coverage. He’s going to do a lot of things that try to toy with you; they’re going to do different formations. But at the same time, you have to be ready for it, do your job, be disciplined, and you’ll be fine.”

(on what he remembers playing at Colony High School) “I remember we were winning. Winning a lot. The last two years I was there, we were winning. I loved being at Colony. It kind of made me the person I was. I was young and I had a lot fun there.”

(on if he goes to back to Colony High School) “I go back all the time. I was just out there. I talk to all the classes and told them my story. I think it’s important that you go back, especially from Ontario, there isn’t a lot of people that go back. I told myself that if I ever got to this position, I wasn’t going to be that person.”

(on if he buys into people saying the defense picked up when he came back) “I definitely feel me coming back impacted a little bit. That’s kind of what I wanted to come back in and really have my presence felt. I can’t take credit for everything we did, but I definitely feel like I had a part of it.”

(on how his college coaches prepared him for the next level) “I think the big thing was communication. I told them that I wanted to get to the NFL, so they coached like I wanted to get to the NFL. I was treated different. They were much harder on me because I had a dream. They helped me kind of get that dream. Them being hard on me and not letting me sleep at night, and all types of stuff, has put me in the position that I am right now.”

(on what they do to prepare for Gronkowski) “He’s a more physical, bigger body than we are. We’re definitely going to have to put our hands on him and definitely give him his way. Make sure all his catches are tough catches.”

(on why this year the linebacker group is getting a lot of attention) “I think we just came together as a group. Everybody kind of stood out. You can’t forget Bruce (Irvin) in that, doing some of things he did, especially returning every pick that he got back for a touchdown. I just think as a group, we did a lot of things great this year, collectively.”

(on his draft class and if they knew it was going to be a special group of rookies) “I knew it was going to be a special group because if you talk to everybody, you realize a lot of us were doubted. As soon as we got to the league, first thing that happened was we were told we couldn’t do something. That’s the worst thing you can tell this group is you can’t do something.”

(on how it is having the Seattle fans supporting them at the media event) “It’s very cool. It’s not surprising though. We travel well. If we were playing in Paris, I think there would be a lot of 12’s in Paris. We travel well.”

(on how much practicing against Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch has helped) “It helps us out a lot. You know, you go against the best in the business every day, so when you play someone that’s not Marshawn Lynch, it definitely makes it a little easier because I don’t feel that anyone compares to Marshawn Lynch.”

(on New England running back LeGarrette Blount) “I think he’s a good runner. He’s hard, big body. Definitely going to give you a challenge if you let him. But, I feel like we have a lot of players that can do the job.”

(on going against the New England offense in general) “It’s fun. It’s always a fun matchup when you go against an offense like that. We always pride ourselves. Last year we went against the number one offense and I feel like this is the top of the business. To be the best in the business, you have to take down the top of the business.”

(on how he feels about being a new dynasty in the NFL) “I don’t feel any pressure. We let you all feel the pressure for us.”

CENTER MAX UNGER

(on whether this season was disappointing for him after sustaining injuries) “Injuries are part of the game. You just kind of have to deal with it and come back healthier and stay in the game when you’re not in there and kind of make the best of it. And when you come back, get in shape and know the game plan.”

(on how he feels physically) “I feel good. I feel strong. Got back from the playoffs, so that’s all that matters.”

(on Seattle’s running game and what they will have to do against New England to win) “Solid, solid front seven, obviously. A lot of variation in the fronts they run. They do a lot of things, so that’s the game plan. Game plan adjustments are going to be huge.”

(on being one of Seattle’s veteran players) “It’s pretty amazing just being fortunate enough to stay with the same team for this amount of time through a coaching change, and it worked out, I think, for the best.”

(on the culture of Seattle’s organization and what it has been like to play for them) “It’s first class from top to bottom. I think that our support staff, our coaching staff and the front office just do an awesome job. Can’t say enough about what they’ve been able to do.”

(on the University of Oregon’s loss to Ohio State in the college football national championship game) “Tough last game. Great Rose Bowl, but I think the future is bright for them. Obviously, Marcus (Mariota) will be gone, we’re losing a couple key guys, but hopefully they’ll come back stronger.”

(on if he has a prediction for the Super Bowl) “No, no predictions.”

(on how difficult it is for a team to repeat as Super Bowl champions and what it would mean for Seattle to accomplish that goal) “I think you saw that early on in the year this year. We had some struggles. We were 3-3. (We were) trying to reinvent ourselves as a team and being able to kind of come back. We lost quite a few guys. Just kind of being able to recapture what we did the year before, and I thought we did that. It was extremely difficult.”

(on what makes Seattle’s culture unique) “I’m not quite sure how to answer that question. I know that the guys that are here really want to be here, and want to have the style of coaching. I think that it really just focuses on what you do well and highlighting that within your position. It’s just a positive mindset. We practice hard and we play hard, and I think (Seattle Head) Coach (Pete) Carroll does a great job of managing his approach to us and just doing a good job managing the team.”

(on if there is a different side of running back Marshawn Lynch that the media doesn’t see) “He’s one of my all-time favorite players I’ve ever played with. He’s just like an awesome guy, totally cool locker room dude off the field.”

(on whether New England’s defense is similar to another team) “Actually, a little different in the sense that it’s an even front, both guards are covered. Don’t see a lot of that around the National Football League, but at the same time, they vary it. I guess they’re traditionally a three-four team, but they throw so much stuff in there it’s hard to kind of compare them to anybody. I would say a big run-stopping front seven.”

(on Seattle finishing strong despite struggling early on in the season) “That was a tough one. It was looking pretty bleak there for a little bit, and then we stayed course, kept on it, and we found a way to do it. Ultimately, it just came down to winning games. There’s no real secret to it. We won the games that we needed to win.”

(on what the practice schedule will be like for the rest of the week) “We do a normal game day last week before we came down here. We essentially stick the script as much as we can. We’re over at ASU.”

(on remaining focused throughout the week leading up to the Super Bowl) “(Seattle Head Coach) Pete (Carroll) has done a good job keeping us in it. Similar to last year, (we) kind of know how big this moment is, and the spotlight is on us. And just being able to manage that, Pete has stressed that all week, and I think for the most part we’ve done a pretty good job.”

(on running back Marshawn Lynch not running up the back of his blockers) “Never. I challenge someone to check that out on film and see if they can find one. But I think Marshawn has been here five years, I think, (and) I’ve never had it happen, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that. I think we hit him in the back more than he hits us.”

(on the key to going up against New England defensive lineman Vince Wilfork) “Vince has been playing the game at maybe the highest level anybody has in the last 10 years.”

(on if there is something about Seattle’s team that the media doesn’t know) “I don’t know, man. I think that the Green Bay game last week kind of summed up our whole season as far as just not quitting. Everyone keeps asking me what the demeanor was in the huddle having seven yards in the third quarter, or something like that, and no one really changed. No one batted an eye. No one changed their demeanor in the huddle. No one really panicked too much and it was even keeled. We stayed the course, and we ended up pulling it off.”

(on Marshawn Lynch being required to speak with the media) “We’ll see what he does when he speaks to the media. It is mandatory. We are required to come up here and say stuff. It’s kind of a tough situation. The guy, obviously, doesn’t really have a good relationship with the media and doesn’t really want to mend it at all. So, it’s a tough situation.”

(on if there was a certain athlete he looked up to as a kid) “I actually didn’t really watch football. I didn’t have cable TV or bunny ears growing up, so I didn’t watch a lot of sports. So, I didn’t really have a ton of idols. But my high school O-line coach played for the St. Louis Rams. He played eight years, I think. He was my coach in high school, looked up to him ¬- a guy that came from Hawaii and then played a lot of football in the NFL.”

(on what he did in Hawaii as a kid without television) “Just living in south Kona, man. Hanging out.”

(on if he watched wrestling as a kid) “No, man. I wasn’t a big wrestling guy. I kind of got a little bit of an education though in the wrestling scene when I got to the mainland, but I wasn’t a big wrestling guy.”

(on the hardest player to block in the NFL) “To your left. (defensive end) Michael Bennett.”

(on if University of Oregon fans root for him in the NFL) “Yeah. I hope so, man. You get some love on Twitter every once in a while.”

(on his experience playing against Arizona State University in college) “We were here, I think, three out of four years, or something like that. It was always awesome except for like the noon kickoffs playing down here in the hot sun. Other than that, it was good. I think we won every game out here.”

(on shaving his signature beard) “Training camp came around, and I didn’t even want to start it. Actually, I lost a bet, too, so I had to shave. I had to shave and I was like, ‘I’m not going to do this to myself again.’ I’m tired of having a bird’s nest on my face and getting food in it all the time, man. I have to bring it back next year, though.”

(on his emotions during the NFC Championship game) “It was (an) interesting game, man. We came out as about as flat as you can be. You can’t play much worse on offense and our defense basically (dragged) us along the whole game. And then with about three minutes left, we kind of figured out what the heck we were doing and made some plays. (We) got lucky, got some onside kicks, faked a field goal, did some crazy stuff and pulled one out. You don’t do a lot of stuff like that in a game and win.”

(on if he can tell the difference in the pressure of a football) “People keep asking me if I can feel the difference between pressure of the ball. I’m the center, I touch it every single play. I can’t, if I’m being honest with you. I don’t think it really even matters that much.”

(on representing the University of Oregon and the Pac-12 conference) “Obviously, a lot of pride for our conference, the Pac-12 and obviously more for the Ducks. (I) love my alma mater and I love our conference. I have to defend our conference every single day in the locker room. It’s cool practicing at ASU right now. It brings back a lot of memories from college.”

(on his favorite memory playing against ASU in college) “It was 2005. We played a night kickoff here. I think ASU was ranked probably 15th, and we ran like three or four reverses throughout the game, scored a bunch of points and ended up winning a game we shouldn’t have won.”

TIGHT END LUKE WILLSON

(on how he’s dealing with Media Day this year) “It is a little warm to be honest. They have us in these suits and I am starting to sweat. Other than that it is pretty awesome.’

(on whether he has a different kind of appreciation for this experience after having gone through it last year) “Yeah, this year I am just going to relax a little bit and enjoy it more than I did last year.”

(on whether he knew if punter Jon Ryan could throw like he did on his touchdown pass) “You know what? The fake was based on how they lined up and it could have gone to my side. So that being said, I knew he could throw because I had practiced with him that week.”

(on the two-point conversion play that gave them a three-point lead in the NFC Championship game vs. Green Bay) “It was just kind of a broken down play and Russell (Wilson) made an unbelievable throw. I was able to come down with it. I felt like it was up there a while. It was a sprint right, didn’t work out, they passed off the coverages and I just tried to give Russell an option. He figured out a way to get it done.”

(on what people back in his hometown of Lasalle, Ontario think of all his success) “I don’t know, to be honest. I get a lot of support from back home and it is kind of cool. I try to represent my whole county and community as best I can. It is really a point of pride for me. I am really proud to be from there and I think they are pretty happy for me.”

(on what he remembers about playing football in the state of Texas while he was at Rice) “It was pretty intense, especially coming from Canada. It was a very, very different atmosphere. Football is almost like a religion down there, so it was kind of cool in that sense. To have that many people care about the game of football.”

(on what went through his head when tight end Zach Miller went down earlier in the season) “I just have to really step up and fill in for this team. Zach is a tremendous tight end and he really does it all. I think he is one of the most underrated players in a long time. So I really had to step up and perform for this team.”

(on hitting his stride this year) “I really felt like I had done a good job blocking for a while, and then later in the season I really thought I became a big part of the passing game, which has been a lot of fun. It has been kind of a developmental route for me, but at the same time I feel like I am doing a pretty good job.”

(on how much the Seattle offense needs a dynamic threat at tight end) “I think that our offense, what makes it unique is that we have it all. We have a tremendous running game, a tremendous running back, and then having a guy like Russell who can run and throw and do the read-option, scramble and make plays, it just adds another weapon. Having the receivers that we have that are all making plays and the tight ends making plays, it is tough to game plan for us because we have so many ways to attack defenses.”

(on if defenses are still surprised by his speed) “I think they might have been but I think most guys are catching on now.”

(on his thoughts about being back at Media Day) “It is fun man. Last year I was a little nervous but this year I am just kind of out here enjoying it. I’ve got the long hair, starting to sweat a bit. It is a bit of a gong show in here but I am having fun.”

(on what he sees when he looks at New England’s defense on tape) “Just a really consistent team, really disciplined. That is what is really cool about New England. A lot of teams kind of have their identity. New England is able to do a lot of different things, even different fronts. Some games they will have three, four down linemen, and they do a great job with whatever they do, so it is a lot. We don’t know exactly how they will play us. We have to be prepared for everything.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Silvertips’ Kaden Hammell (47) enters the rink during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Patterson: Overachieving Silvertips had season worth celebrating

In a season when some thought the team’s playoff streak could end, Everett put together one of its greatest campaigns.

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27

Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.