Jeremiah Trotter Quotations

We believe we're a better football team and we didn't show it, not even close.

We're going to miss coming in here and hearing Hugh laughing and cracking jokes. He was a great player for us and a great person for us. So, this really hurts. We understand it's a business and these things happen all the time. But it still hurts.

The ref said I threw a punch, but I didn't throw a punch,

We're happy with the way things turned out. I thought we could have played better against the run. I thought we gave them 30 more yards, but they're a professional team, so they're going to get some plays.

I was surprised that in a game of this magnitude for something that was really just trash talking, I think they (referees) went overboard with it,

Certain guys, you have to give the money. I look at a guy like Brian Westbrook. Whatever you have to do to keep that guy here, you have to keep him. He's young, he's one of the most dangerous weapons in the league, and he's steadily climbing.

For what he does for that team, I don't see another one out there that's better. He's the closest thing I've seen to Barry Sanders. He's just that good. He does everything. We've got to always be aware of where he's at - at all times. You've got to concentrate on stopping the run first and go from there.

I always said -- even when I played there -- if we could ever get this guy to play within the scheme, study, and be a professional, he probably could be the most dangerous player in the league.

We can get this thing rolling again. We just gave up too many plays.

Guys are looking forward to it, ... We worked hard all offseason and training camp trying to get to this point, and now you're finally getting into the game plan and the bullets are for real now.

He's a guy that he'll respect you if you show respect. That's kind of the way I am. I think he values good leadership; that's important to him. He knows he can only do so much as a coach, that it takes good leaders on the team to go that extra mile.

I thought we could have played better against the run. I thought we gave them at least about 30 yards. I was just excited to get back out there, see my teammates flying around and trying to contribute.

I thought the defense played good last week; it was just the running game. I feel like we can stop the run week in and week out. We did a pretty good job of it today.

I said it at the beginning of the season -- (takeaways) was our main goal. We know we are a nasty defense. We know we are a good defense, but last year we didn't have enough takeaways. That's a focus for us this year, getting to the ball.

Our plan on defense is to pressure the quarterback and (Howard) can do that. It'll definitely help the secondary and the linebackers.

(Mathis) threw a punch and I tried to block it. We were just trash talking. I don't think anyone should have been ejected.

I wish it wasn't over and that we were playing today to go into the playoffs. But the way it was going, at some point, you stop the bleeding.

That was our main goal. We know we are a nasty defense. We know we are a good defense. But last year we didn't have enough takeaways. That's a focus for us this year, getting the ball.

Trash talking is trash talking, but my prayers go out to him and his family. I've been through two knee surgeries and I wouldn't wish that on anybody. I really hope he has a speedy recovery.

Trash talking is trash talking, but my prayers go out to him and his family, ... I've been through two knee surgeries and I wouldn't wish that on anybody. I really hope he has a speedy recovery.

We know we are a nasty defence. We know we are a good defence, but last year we didn't have enough takeaways, ... That's a focus for us this year, getting the ball.

We were just trash talking, it escalated and everybody was jumping in, but that was it, ... You expect you teammates to come in and defend you. I don't think anyone should have been ejected.

We were just trash talking, and it escalated a little bit,

When the whistle blows, it's hit and tackle. ... Are you going to put a knot on somebody?

We'll take 'em any way we can get 'em.

We as a team have tried to put that behind us. It's frustrating to have cameras in your face every day talking about a particular subject - other than football - that doesn't need to be talked about.

When you go through a situation like I was in in Washington, it makes you appreciate a coach who's strict on discipline.

We'd better figure it out. Especially for next year, we'd better figure it out. If we don't, we'll be back in the same situation we're in now.

We're the NFC champs. We're not going to go out and say it, we're going to go out and show it.

You ask a T.O. question, you're going to get your feelings hurt,

T.O.'s my friend. Donovan's my friend. They're both good guys, no matter what perception is out there, and when you see two good guys and the chemistry is off you try to help the situation out.

What can you say? When you dig a hole too deep, you think you can come back, but then they came right back and made some more big plays.

We just wanted to keep fighting. Thank God I was in the right place at the right time. The ball went so high in the air I was able to get to it.

We understand that a lot of things happened this year. We didn't play nearly up to our capabilities even when we had everybody healthy. But a lot of factors went into the way our team went this year.

was a just penalty. It should have been more than that.

Even though this has been a tough season, we have a lot of pride on this team. And that came through today.

Everybody is desperate to win. We're desperate, too. We're going to come out like our backs are against the wall, too.

Everybody in football knows that when Donovan is playing well, he's the catalyst. As he goes we go.

The train's going to keep moving, but any time you take away a talent like that, it's going to affect you some.

These next three weeks are going to tell the tale of this team. It's imperative that we go down there to Washington and get this win. We lost our first game in the division to the Cowboys, so this is a must-win. A must, must-win.

Our expectations were so high coming in, and, just the way everything went down, it was a big blow to us.

Oh, definitely. I'd love to retire in Philly.

Any of you know Matlock? Give me his number. I heard he's never lost cases.

This game could be a definite turning point as far as the season, for us. Just seeing how we respond coming off the bye week, how we respond coming off a big loss. It's going to be gut check time. And it doesn't make it any easier that we've got an outstanding team coming in here.

They should have fined the referee. That's who they should have fined for that bad call. I do think referees should get fined, too, for making a bad call. There should be some disciplinary actions for the refs.

They should fine the referee. That's who they should fine, for that bad call. I do think referees should be fined, for making a bad call or missing a call. Some disciplinary action, for the refs.

A lot of it was me, ... A lot of it was a change in the mentality. We have a new attitude. Any arena you're in, attitude is probably 90 percent of being successful. Well, not 90 percent. At least 70 percent. You have to have talent, too.

A lot of things happened to us this year. But we didn't play up to our capabilities even before we had all those injuries.

It's just been one thing after another. For whatever reason, this year, we weren't able to win the way we wanted to. We have to figure out a way to get this thing turned around.

It's embarrassing. We aren't making any excuses about injury, guys being out. Whoever is on the field has to perform. We just weren't ready to play.

It's a big game for us. There's been enough talk. Now we have to go out and do it. It's a home game, a Monday night, and we've got to come out fired up and ready to play. . . . We're at the halfway point. There's a lot of football left. We're 4-4 right now. Obviously we were expecting to be a lot better. But there's nothing you can do about the past. We're just going to move on from here.

It should have been more than that. When you hit the quarterback, especially with the crown of your helmet, that's the price you pay.

It's been a shock. It's just been one thing after another.

It's been a bad season. We've been playing awful.

Donovan is 'Five. Nobody but you call him 'D-Mac.' He's 'Five.

Donovan is a tough character, man. He shows it every week. Particularly this past week, fighting through the injuries and just doing what it takes to be on the field.

It's nice out here, but I'm freezing. I'm sitting here watching the clock.

Everyone knows that Donovan is our catalyst. As he goes, we go.

Any time you lose players like that there is some concern, but everybody has to step up, ... But I think this is the best our defense has played since I've been here. We would have added more depth with Corey and Hugh, but that's the nature of the business. You can't keep everybody, but we could have used them.

Anytime you lose, it's a missed opportunity. The whole game, I felt we were going to win. You never want to say it's in the bank, but....

The fans and everybody wants to see big offensive plays. But it was kind of good the defenses on both teams played well. To go out there and close it out on defense for the NFC was big for us.

I?m not saying it would be different. But I know I could have helped out. I tried to tell the officials what happened, but it didn?t help. We still played hard and we had our chances. We can?t cry over spilled milk.

I'm going to get my attorney, try to take this thing to the Supreme Court and ride it out. I don't know if you know (1980s TV lawyer) Matlock. I'm getting his number. I heard he's never lost a case.

I'm going to get me an attorney, try to take this thing to the Supreme Court, ... Any y'all know 'Matlock?' Give me his number. I heard he never lost a case.

I'm very shocked. I never would have thought in a million years that the season would go as bad as it has. It's just been one thing after another.

I'm very shocked. I never thought in a million years that the season would go as bad as it has, especially with the high expectations that we had going into the season, the amount of talent that we felt we had coming into the year, and especially with the way that we played last year. It's been a shock. It's just been one thing after another.

I never planned for it to escalate like that, ... happens every other play.

I like the way he runs. I like what he brings to the table. Last year, when he first went in there, he took a pounding. He took a beating. He pretty much had to carry the load because they had a quarterback situation. This year, he put on a few more pounds, which he really had to, especially in that offense. He's done an outstanding job.

I love playing against running teams. There's just more opportunities for me to make plays, you know? For us to make plays, as a defense. We welcome all challengers. Anybody want to bring it, we're ready.

I know my teammates were excited to get me back out there. I tell the guys every day, 'We're the best defense in the league.' That's what you have to believe. With the talent we have on this defense, why not?

Hey, you've got your own pilot. I don't have my own pilot.

I don't think it escalated to the point where anybody should have got kicked out of the game.

I didn't see that. I don't know nothing about that negative stuff. I saw that 'We Love T.O.' sign. Did you see that?

He threw a punch and I tried to block it. I got the facemask and they must have thought it was a punch. We were just trash talking. I don't think anyone should have been ejected.

He threw a punch and I tried to block it, ... I got the face mask and they must have thought it was a punch. We were just trash talking. I don't think anyone should have been ejected.

He's the man. He just makes things happen. When the game's on the line, you want the ball in his hands.

The chemistry is still here. It's just a new season. A lot of things happen from one season to another. As a professional, you can't let it carry over. You got to put it behind you and move on.