8/11/08 Training Camp Practice Photos
Transcripts of selected interviews with Jets reporters after Monday's training camp practice:
C NICK MANGOLD
On if he feels like Brett Favre is becoming comfortable to the system…
Yes, he is working hard and you have to give him credit on that because I wouldn't want to have to deal with that. There is a lot of information, but he is working hard and coming along pretty smoothly.
On how much the excitement level has increased since he heard about Favre…
We were always excited. We are out here working hard, banging into each other and we see what this team can do, so the excitement level has been very high for us for a long time.
On the cohesiveness of the offensive line…
We are working at it and I think it's a moving process and you have to keep at it every day, but we have some great people in Alan [Faneca] and Damien [Woody] and obviously D'Brickashaw [Ferguson], Brandon [Moore] and me. We are having a good time and we are getting better every day.
On the information Faneca passes on…
Definitely, he has a lot of information in his head. He helps out. He's there answering questions. He will give you little pointers. It's nice having that.
On if he is looking forward to getting back on to the field vs. Washington on Saturday…
It should be exciting. It's always nice to be able to go out and hit somebody else other than your own team. I am looking forward to it.
TE BUBBA FRANKS
On how Brett Favre effects what the Jets offense can do…
I think the main thing is he finally understands the offense. He's only been here three days and guys are starting to realize why he's Brett Favre. He's done some good things in three days. I told them to just wait until he gets comfortable, then they'll see.
On if his role is more important…
My role is going to be the same regardless. He's here, it's just a matter of getting him comfortable with the offense, getting chemistry with the rest of the players. I've played with Brett for eight years so it's not like our chemistry is going to change. It's a matter of him getting comfortable with the rest of the team. He's starting to get there, little by little.
On if he is now more comfortable here with Favre's arrival…
I'm definitely more comfortable. Now I know who's throwing the ball to me. He's been the only guy who's ever thrown the ball to me for eight years, so go ahead and make it a ninth.
On if there are any decoy routes with Favre at QB…
There is no such thing as a decoy route, not as long as you have Brett back there. I tell the guys, even when you're covered, you're not really covered. If you have two hands, two arms, you're not covered. He's going to hit one of them. As long as you can see him, he can see you.
On what he has seen out of Favre so far….
He's just getting comfortable. As you can see, he's starting to play around with the defense a little bit. Everyone wants to pick off Brett's ball. Now he's giving them a couple of different looks. There's a pump fake, sometimes there's two and then he goes deep on them. Not many people realize how quick his release is and it's starting to show. The guy can still play football.
On if Favre is getting more comfortable …
He's getting there. We've only been here for three days. Right now he's playing off of what he knows. As he goes along he's going to get more comfortable.
On if Favre is trying to get more comfortable with his teammates or with the offensive system…
A little bit of both. He doesn't know many people here. We don't have a lot of time. Chemistry will be the biggest factor. It's just a matter of how fast can he get chemistry with the rest of the team and how comfortable can the team get with him.
On if Favre is leaning on him…
My main job is to keep his smile on, keep him happy. Every now and then you can come to a situation like this and lose your focus. Brett's handling it well. He's starting to have fun out there.
On if he felt awkward when he arrived here…
It's different. That's the biggest thing. I knew a lot of the players here. Most of them I came out with my rookie year. I knew a lot of the guys, so I felt pretty good. Plus I had a longer time to work with them during the whole off-season, so we got to hang out and be together.
On if he can appreciate how tough it is for Favre to arrive late in camp…
He's learning on the run. The good thing is the season's coming pretty fast, so as soon as it gets here he'll be good with pretty much every guy on the team.
On if he is excited for Favre to start Saturday…
Looking forward to it, I can't wait to see him go back out there. It's going to be a little different with him in a Jets uniform, but it's still the same guy.
