Brighteyes
Super Bowl!
Here's his comments - slightly edited. His conference was 6pm Arizona time Saturday, 1/3. An hour later than scheduled.
I was looking forward to this trip; had a great relationship with the Bidwills when I came here, we did very well that year, and was looking forward to our meeting … had some very productive talks.
It’s a little unusual doing what we’re doing – I’m not used to traveling around talking to people – I’ve been one place for awhile. But I was looking forward to this, and … I don’t have anything else to say. Fire away.
On being a popular guy.
Yeah, I think so. I tried to get to San Francisco, went with my family to watch a bowl game. I was on the phone … caught a cold while I was there. Lot of phone calls; lot of things going on, I gotta tella ya … it’s been really incredible.
On Arizona’s attraction.
Well, we’re just getting into some talks. I’ve always liked … well, what they’ve done this family, they got the stadium coming … Mike Bidwill’s doing an outstanding job. That was a big step in the goal for this franchise. We’re just getting into it right now … just talking about some general things. I sense a real strong attitude … they want to get there.
We haven’t finalized anything … there hasn’t been any specific decisions made about this and that. I’ve got my set of questions; they’ve got their set of questions to ask. It seems like an attitude right now.
And of course, I’m having a different level of talks than I did as an assistant. But I definitely sense they want to be really good.
I’m going in open minded (to every meeting with every team). I do my homework. I have a certain list of questions that I apply to every team, and I have some specific questions that apply to each individual team. Everybody’s different. Everybody wants to get from where they are to the Superbowl. And that’s what I want.
But all the circumstances are different; all the talks are different.
But honestly, my family right off the bat, where do you think you’re gonna go, Dad? I said, ‘I have no idea.’ And that’s the way I’m going into it.
What’s the first question on your list?
It’s this: okay, you’ve made a major decision in the redirection of the program. And before we start with the new, what’s the organization feel they need to do to contribute to the head coach’s success?
I just feel like, what do you need to do? And that will give me some indication, some idea of what needs to be done.
On the possibility of taking a quick offer.
No, I want to go through the process. I understand that someone will at some point in time change that course … and I don’t want to rule anything out, but … that’s not what’s in my mind right now.
On how much help his prior experience in Arizona is in this decision.
It helps a lot. Anytime you’ve been someplace, you know the people. I know Mr. B. I know Michael, I know the people around here. It helps a lot.
It helps in laying out the questions, and stuff like that.
I’m really not interested in outside people telling me what I should be doing and what I shouldn’t be doing. When I went to the New York Giants I had all my friends telling me ‘you’re crazy to do it.’ And I went there and found maybe I’m crazy … so they’re right.
I’m happy I went there.
On the pressure outside of New York being a step down.
A step down? How about a couple of floors down.
You want to know what New York’s like? Our last game there Bernie Kukar – the referee – been in the league a long time, well respected guy. He absolutely got annihilated on the sidelines. I mean driven into the ground – hit from behind. He was face down and they were dealing with him – finally brought the cart out. Put him on the stretcher, and as they were driving him out he got booed.
That’s just the crowd … that’s just the crowd.
It doesn’t matter. There’s pressure up and down, up and down. Actually, if you want to know the truth, I put more pressure on myself than people put on me.
On the Cardinal personnel already in place.
I’m not really that familiar with personal. I told Michael I don’t think we had Arizona in any of the cuts. I didn’t get a chance to see them play … I did see some highlights of some things that went on during the season.
But really in today’s game, it’s so much different that pre-salary cap and free agency. You do your smart homework; you draft well, and resign your guy, keep your guys healthy, or it’s over pretty damned quick. You gotta have everybody on the same page; gotta have everybody moving in the same direction.
You can move real fast up or down in this league. It’s not like it’s a monumental task. You just got to have the right approach, and go after it in the right way.
On his family’s understand in his not taking a year off.
They all asked me about that. And I thought about it.
I want to coach if the opportunity is right. I don’t need a break. I have more than one team interested … and I have an obligation to the Giants to try and mitigate damages.
On Rod Graves.
I haven’t known Rod real well … I’ve known of him. My dealings with him have been very first class. I like him – he’s a straight forward guy. Team player. That’s what you’re really looking for in a manager.
The situation here is about everyone being on the same page, and the direction we’re going. Nothing else – everybody pulling in the same direction. No egos.
And his decision time frame.
Hopefully next week.
I was looking forward to this trip; had a great relationship with the Bidwills when I came here, we did very well that year, and was looking forward to our meeting … had some very productive talks.
It’s a little unusual doing what we’re doing – I’m not used to traveling around talking to people – I’ve been one place for awhile. But I was looking forward to this, and … I don’t have anything else to say. Fire away.
On being a popular guy.
Yeah, I think so. I tried to get to San Francisco, went with my family to watch a bowl game. I was on the phone … caught a cold while I was there. Lot of phone calls; lot of things going on, I gotta tella ya … it’s been really incredible.
On Arizona’s attraction.
Well, we’re just getting into some talks. I’ve always liked … well, what they’ve done this family, they got the stadium coming … Mike Bidwill’s doing an outstanding job. That was a big step in the goal for this franchise. We’re just getting into it right now … just talking about some general things. I sense a real strong attitude … they want to get there.
We haven’t finalized anything … there hasn’t been any specific decisions made about this and that. I’ve got my set of questions; they’ve got their set of questions to ask. It seems like an attitude right now.
And of course, I’m having a different level of talks than I did as an assistant. But I definitely sense they want to be really good.
I’m going in open minded (to every meeting with every team). I do my homework. I have a certain list of questions that I apply to every team, and I have some specific questions that apply to each individual team. Everybody’s different. Everybody wants to get from where they are to the Superbowl. And that’s what I want.
But all the circumstances are different; all the talks are different.
But honestly, my family right off the bat, where do you think you’re gonna go, Dad? I said, ‘I have no idea.’ And that’s the way I’m going into it.
What’s the first question on your list?
It’s this: okay, you’ve made a major decision in the redirection of the program. And before we start with the new, what’s the organization feel they need to do to contribute to the head coach’s success?
I just feel like, what do you need to do? And that will give me some indication, some idea of what needs to be done.
On the possibility of taking a quick offer.
No, I want to go through the process. I understand that someone will at some point in time change that course … and I don’t want to rule anything out, but … that’s not what’s in my mind right now.
On how much help his prior experience in Arizona is in this decision.
It helps a lot. Anytime you’ve been someplace, you know the people. I know Mr. B. I know Michael, I know the people around here. It helps a lot.
It helps in laying out the questions, and stuff like that.
I’m really not interested in outside people telling me what I should be doing and what I shouldn’t be doing. When I went to the New York Giants I had all my friends telling me ‘you’re crazy to do it.’ And I went there and found maybe I’m crazy … so they’re right.
I’m happy I went there.
On the pressure outside of New York being a step down.
A step down? How about a couple of floors down.
You want to know what New York’s like? Our last game there Bernie Kukar – the referee – been in the league a long time, well respected guy. He absolutely got annihilated on the sidelines. I mean driven into the ground – hit from behind. He was face down and they were dealing with him – finally brought the cart out. Put him on the stretcher, and as they were driving him out he got booed.
That’s just the crowd … that’s just the crowd.
It doesn’t matter. There’s pressure up and down, up and down. Actually, if you want to know the truth, I put more pressure on myself than people put on me.
On the Cardinal personnel already in place.
I’m not really that familiar with personal. I told Michael I don’t think we had Arizona in any of the cuts. I didn’t get a chance to see them play … I did see some highlights of some things that went on during the season.
But really in today’s game, it’s so much different that pre-salary cap and free agency. You do your smart homework; you draft well, and resign your guy, keep your guys healthy, or it’s over pretty damned quick. You gotta have everybody on the same page; gotta have everybody moving in the same direction.
You can move real fast up or down in this league. It’s not like it’s a monumental task. You just got to have the right approach, and go after it in the right way.
On his family’s understand in his not taking a year off.
They all asked me about that. And I thought about it.
I want to coach if the opportunity is right. I don’t need a break. I have more than one team interested … and I have an obligation to the Giants to try and mitigate damages.
On Rod Graves.
I haven’t known Rod real well … I’ve known of him. My dealings with him have been very first class. I like him – he’s a straight forward guy. Team player. That’s what you’re really looking for in a manager.
The situation here is about everyone being on the same page, and the direction we’re going. Nothing else – everybody pulling in the same direction. No egos.
And his decision time frame.
Hopefully next week.
