Scott Linehan Quotations

We're just keeping our fingers crossed that we can work everything out. I guarantee from our end, we're doing everything we can to make it happen. ... We're going to re-negotiate from a free agent's standpoint, and we're obviously going to be in my opinion the most competitive team in the market for our guy.

We'll be hitting the bricks, so to speak (Saturday), full speed.

Obviously, we've got to have a contingency plan, but I'm going from the standpoint that we're going to get it done. We'll address that if we have to. To me, that's down the road. ... We're talking about a guy that to me you don't replace.

Obviously, I'm pretty sold that the guy can do it.

I have a pool of candidates. It's got to be a good fit for the system. Every once in a while there's going to be a bump in the road.

He is going to be our three-technique. We are going to play a 4-3 defense and get in and out of some 3-4 odd looks.

I think that we are in good position to start up the talks again. We are going to make a commitment to try to get it done. Where I'm sure that there are other people who are saying that it will sure be nice to have him, his value to this organization is much higher than just his ability as a football player, believe me. We are going to make the effort that needs to be made to try and get it done.

I think he is. He has never given me any indication that he's not.

We've got to address that, and make it a stronger position for us on offense.

Up to the day he shuts it down, he's way too valuable a player to not have the ball in his hands. For whatever reason, last year was not his best year statistically. But I would certainly like to utilize the abilities he still has, if he's willing to put a few more years in.

So we're going to be interviewing two or three candidates in the next four or five days and make sure they fit the requirements we have to coach our system and our defense.

You saw flashes last year. Ronnie got a little banged up at the end of the year and would've easily had 1,000 yards as a rookie. He's really a complete back and I think he could play every down. That guy's going to be a force to be reckoned with for years, I guarantee you that.

This is an exciting sign for us. This particular player became available, fortunately for us, just prior to the weekend (in) a big need area for us. He's going to fit a big part of what we're trying to get done here, and add some veteran leadership, as well as his obvious playing ability on the defensive front.

You don't want to hold the time away against him, but on the same side you have to know there's going to be time for him to get back into playing shape. It might be a good thing for a guy, too. He might come back with a little more fire to do it.

It was important to have guys that are on the same page with him. Those are guys that I've heard nothing but great things about.

It's a way of life, and they're very adaptable. We felt like going to Miami was going to be temporary. We didn't know it was going to be this quick, though.

I told (Rams President for Football Operations) Jay (Zygmunt) that we needed to get someone today that can catch him.

It's not the way you like to do it. But either way, we achieved the goal, and that was to make sure he was on our team.

It's really important for me to have guys that have great experience on that side of the ball. I'm going to lean heavily on them.

It's like in baseball being strong up the middle. You have inside guy, a middle linebacker and a safety. It's a pretty good place to start.

I've had a couple of really good conversations with Marshall and I think he's very positive about having a couple of good years left in him. And that's very positive. The veteran leadership is critical. In this day and age, because of the salary cap, it's hard to have that. There aren't many people like Marshall in this business who can affect a team positively. Not just as a player but as a leader that can teach everyone else.

It was a fluke deal. It wasn't anything that's a concern for us now; it was just a bad-luck injury.

I'm excited that we have worked out a deal. I'd been optimistic all along that we would be able to get this done.

I knew Corey there. He started 64 games there during four years. He's one of those guys that doesn't come off the field.

I flew back for a weekend so I could catch at least one of my son's baseball tournaments this year. But the whole time, I was on the phone talking to coaches. I literally sat in the stands or in my car ... and was on the phone.

If you're getting ready to play Vince Young, you know you've got a two-headed monster. He's proven to me that he can throw it, as well as be able to run around and make plays. He's one of the most exciting players to come out in recent memory. He hasn't really even tapped into some of the things I think he's going to be able to do at the next level.

He started 64 games there during four years. He's one of those guys that doesn't come off the field. He will do whatever it takes to prepare for a game. He's like an extension of the coach out on the field.

He still has some good 'juice' left in him in my opinion. So you might as well use him. Don't let him take any (unused) carries with him to the Hall of Fame.

I'd love to have him as long as we can keep him. Some of those things are out of your control. In this case, I don't think that's the case. He's still got some life left in him. And we've had very good meetings with him.

It's still about making a good decision. We all want to have the Reggie Bush's of the world on our football team, but it's not reality.