Rod Higgins Quotations

Growing up and knowing how hard it is for African-American people to sometimes get things in life you really appreciate this opportunity.

We like our guys. We like our core. We still have time to make a deal. We have until February to make a deal. We're happy with how these guys are coming together.

You have to go down that road of seeing how he fits. I'm sure he has to do that from his side too. ... I'm sure we'll sit down and talk. As a professional, the way he is, he's entitled to that.

As I stated recently, there was a good chance that we might not utilize the exception. And we are comfortable with that decision and outcome.

The stars in this league -- Kobe, Shaq, McGrady, all of these guys -- carry so much weight with their team that if a particular guy sustains an injury, it's going to take some juggling. Some big-time juggling.

Opportunities like this can be few and far between. So you realize that you are sort of out there carrying the flag for the next generation.

It's for every organization. If you have an opportunity to have the fortune of drafting a player who turns out to be really good, then you're shutout from keeping them, nobody wants to be in that scenario. We definitely feel good about getting the both of those guys signed. We're hoping they become the caliber of Gilbert.

I can sense it really well. He just busts into the office and says, 'What you got for me?' He's feeling real good right now, but that comes from all of us having the opportunity to work together and get to know each other. We communicate very well.