The Green Bay Sunday forecast calls for freezing temperatures. At kickoff, the temperature is expected to be 24 degrees with a wind chill of just 13 Fahrenheit, but the wind might be manageable as the gusts will blow 11 miles per hour out of the WNW. However, head coach Eric Mangini is always a step ahead, and each player – no matter where they come from – will be prepared for anything.
"We're preparing the best we can. It's pretty windy out here today," punter Ben Graham said Friday. "It's all about the warm-up and making sure that we can kick in every possible situation that we might face in the game. I've played in some snow last year and some wind and some rain. Growing up in Geelong (in Australia), in the middle of winter, it does get windy and wet and cold. It doesn't snow, but it just is part of the experience and you just have to make the most of it."
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Read below for complete transcripts from inside the Jets' locker room
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New York Jets' C Hank Poteat, 12.1
On starting against Houston…
Getting an opportunity to start is just an opportunity. You work hard throughout your whole career just to be out there and play and contribute to the team. It's something every athlete works hard to do.
On how difficult his journey has been…
Early in my career it was difficult, but I look at every situation as a blessing, because it helped me develop as a player and as a person. I grew through each experience.
On how it has helped develop him as a player…
As a player, you get a chance to go into different systems. When you go to a team, you're facing different types of receivers and you have different coaches, so you're learning different techniques. When you're out, you're actually improving, because you're watching and listening to what they're saying about other players.
On playing for a similar team (New England)…
The terminology is pretty much the same. You just come right in and play your technique basically, the same as I would in New England. It didn't take long to get comfortable.
On his relationship with coach Mangini…
My relationship is pretty much the same as any other player's is with a coach. It's a player/coach relationship; I always respect him as a person and as a coach. It's pretty much a player/coach relationship, so there's not too much of a difference as far as me and him, than with any other player on the team. We've just been around each other a little bit more, so we understand one another, as far as what I like to do and what he's trying to do as a coach.
On a comfort level with coach Mangini…
For myself, I know what he wants from me and where I need to fit into the scheme that he's trying to run here with the Jets.
On being in New York for one day in September…
I thought it was funny actually. I was appreciative on the opportunity that I had; I was just released, then I came to another team and got a chance to play a whole game at the corner spot. I felt like I did pretty good, and that's the only thing I could do, it is what I have control of.
On the Jets seeing what he could do…
In this business and life, you always want to look at the positives and move on. The minute you receive the negative talk or attitude, that's when you might as well forget it. I never believe what people say, I continue to believe in myself and continue to work hard.
New York Jets' P Ben Graham, 12.01
On the Green Bay Packers…
Growing up, the Green Bay Packers were one of the most well known teams in Australia. Lambeau Field, they talk about as tourist attraction, so I'll be taking my camera.
On punting in the bad weather at Lambeau Field…
We're preparing the best we can. It's pretty windy out here today. It's all about the warm-up and making sure that we can kick in every possible situation that we might face in the game. I've played in some snow last year and some wind and some rain. Growing up in Geelong, in Australia, in the middle of winter, it does get windy and wet and cold, it doesn't snow, but it just part of the experience and you just have to make the most of it.
On how the cold weather affects the ball…
The cold weather does affect the ball. The ball doesn't have any explosiveness, it feels dead. That's something that we have to take into consideration. But again it's the same for both punters, it's the same for both quarterbacks and everybody else.
New York Jets' CB Andre Dyson, 12.1
On getting used to playing opposite different people…
It's not like we're playing hand-in-hand, so I feel comfortable with whoever is out there in the secondary. We all are in the same meeting room, we all talk together, we all communicate and rotate a lot in practice. That helps us a lot. As long as we're on the same page, it doesn't matter who's out there.
New York Jets' K Mike Nugent, 12.1
On looking forward to the challenge of kicking this weekend…
I look forward to every single game that we play. This is just going to be something different that we're going to experience, but we've had some cold practices around here, especially around Thanksgiving, so it's one thing we have experience with and we're just going to take it one step at a time.
On kicking in Green Bay compared to Ohio…
It's definitely a colder weather atmosphere. It definitely gets colder in Wisconsin than it does in Ohio at certain points in time, but it's just one of those things that you have to concentrate on every single kick.
On if the weather will affect his kicking…
It shouldn't affect what you think. It's obviously going to affect kicking in some way or another throughout the game for either side, but I can't say, "It's going to affect this kick or that kick."
Friday Injury ReportJets
Questionable: FB B.J. Askew (foot), CB David Barrett (hip), WR Tim Dwight (thigh), RB Cedric Houston (knee), DL Rashad Moore (hand), DB Eric Smith & LB Bryan Thomas (shoulder)
Probable:*RB Kevan Barlow (calf), *LB Matt Chatham (foot), *WR Jerricho Cotchery (chest), *CB Andre Dyson (neck), *OL Pete Kendall (knee), *WR Justin McCareins (foot), *QB Chad Pennington (calf) & *DL Dewayne Robertson (foot)
PackersDoubtful: T Mark Tauscher (groin)
Questionable: S Nick Collins (hamstring), *LB Nick Barnett (hand), TE David Martin (ribs) & *RB P.J. Pope (hamstring) & *LB Ben Taylor (hamstring)
Probable:T Chad Clifton (hamstring), *QB Brett Favre (right elbow), *RB Ahman Green (knee), & *CB Charles Woodson (shoulder)
*Denotes players who practiced
