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September 12, 2007

Patriots players speak on videotaping scandal

Several players were asked inside the locker room about their feelings on the Patriots videotaping scandal. Here is what some of them had to say.

“Whose fair share is it to say that it was a disadvantage for the other team or whatever,” Patriots running back Kevin Faulk said. “Who’s to say that nobody else is doing it but at the same time, it’s nothing that we can control.”

"I think everything has been stated pretty much by Bill and the other guys on this team,” Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel said. “I think that if we start focusing on what happened last week, we are going to be in big trouble and we got a big test with LT and the boys coming in. They are as good as advertised.”

“My feelings are still the same, as far as myself and my teammates, we have nothing to do with that,” Patriots defensive back Ellis Hobbs said. “As far as Bill, he’s made his statements and he’s handling it so there you have it.”

Some players were asked if they thought the Patriots image would be a harmed because of the scandal.

“Anything can tarnish it,” Faulk said. “You talking to me right now can tarnish it by writing what you put in the paper but at the same time, that’s not going to tarnish what we do on the football field as a football team.”

“We can’t really control [how] people outside of the organization feel,” Patriots linebacker Larry Izzo said. “To quote the head coach, it is what it is.”

The players said that they aren't embarrassed by the scandal.

“Are we embarrassed? No it didn’t have anything to do with that victory on Sunday so I’m not embarrassed," Hobbs said. "I’m proud of the fact that we are 1-0 and we are moving in to week two."

“I don’t feel embarrassed for anything that we do,” Vrabel said. “I think we go out and try to prepare as players. We work hard and we put a lot into it year around and we try to go out and win the game.”

None of the players said that the scandal is going to be a distraction.

“I just had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some Doritos so I’m not too distracted right now,” Hobbs said. “This is my lunch break. When we go out there and practice, we are not thinking about any of those things. Our main focus is to get out there and to prepare in the best way possible for the San Diego Chargers. That’s all we are worried about. There aren’t any distractions.”

“It’s not a distraction really, we are getting ready for the Chargers,” Izzo said. “We are preparing and I think we got a lot of guys that have the focus that it takes to prepare and that’s what we are going to be doing all week.”

“This no different then any other work week in my mind,” Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light said. “I’m going to do the same things I’ve done my whole career to prepare for this game and be ready to play on Sunday.”

Posted by Rob Lee  at 1:10 PM | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: Carol &Danny at September 12, 2007 1:43 PM

Posted by: gabe at September 12, 2007 4:02 PM