Steve Beuerlein Quotations

Mike had been at a roast the night before, and he got on a red-eye and flew all night. He came over to my house, and the three of us sat and talked. Even though I was dead-set against returning, Mike convinced me otherwise. He said, 'I know what you're thinking. I know you're disappointed. But here's why you're needed and why we really want you to come back.' I have to admit, it was pretty persuasive.

We were playing the Rams in Anaheim and I threw a deep ball to Ricky. That might have been the only ball I ever threw him that he should have caught, but didn't. He dropped it. Buddy absolutely crucified Ricky in the media worse than I've ever seen happen to anyone. But Ricky then is just like Ricky now ... well, except maybe he's a little wiser and has a whole lot less hair.

I've never had an injury like this. My hand was pinned under me. I felt terrible. I felt like my whole finger was bent back, which we found it was.

I like Brian, and I don't want to say that the fact that he wasn't outgoing was the reason it didn't work for him here. Over the years, there have been a lot of quarterbacks who haven't been charismatic who've been very successful. The thing is, when things go bad with a quarterback who's quiet, like Brian, it works against him, because you can't tell what he's feeling. People start scratching their heads, and it's tough to rally them.

I had several conversations with Mike after the season, and I knew there were a lot of ways it could go. When they signed Jake, I figured, 'They don't want me.' I told myself there was no way I was going back there, that if I was going to remain a backup I'd rather it have been anywhere else.

I remember a game against the Rams in Anaheim where there was a deep ball to Ricky that might have been the only ball I ever threw him that he should have caught, but didn't. He dropped it. Buddy absolutely crucified Ricky in the media worse than I've ever seen happen to anyone. But Ricky then is just like Ricky now. He's a total pro and he just kept working. Buddy Ryan tried to bury both Ricky and I while we were there. He was pretty good at that kind of stuff and he ruined some careers. I survived it and Ricky's still surviving it.