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Best of Patriots.com Radio Wed Apr 24 - 04:00 PM | Thu Apr 25 - 07:25 PM

Patriots Postgame Quotes - 10/27/2013

New England Patriots players comment on their regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 27, 2013.

**

Danny Amendola, Wide Receiver**
(On his thoughts after the win)
"I feel like it was obviously a good win for the team, but we can still get better and we're excited about that."

(On the differences in the two halves and third quarter scoring)
"[It was important to] get a rhythm and get things moving. We really emphasized playing well in the second half and finishing strong, and I think that's what we did today. It's something that we worked on and we emphasized it coming out of the locker room and playing good football. We did enough to get the job done."

(On photos of Tom Brady's swollen hand)
"Without a doubt, one of the toughest football players to ever play the game is Tom Brady."

Marquice Cole, Cornerback
(On what happened on the play where Devin McCourty tipped the ball to him so he could make the interception)
"Well, Devin just made a great break on the ball and when he jumped up to get it, I don't know if he though he wouldn't get his feet down, but I just said to him, 'Tip it, tip it, tip it.' I don't know if he heard me or not, but the ball just came down and I got my feet in bounds."

(On whether he was tip-toeing the sideline)
"Yeah, I knew I was close to the sideline. I tried to take a quick glance and get my feet in bounds so we could get the ball back."

(On whether he was covering Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace on that play)
"Yeah I was on Wallace on that [play]."

(On how big of a play that was for him since he has been released and re-signed several times in the past weeks)
"Well anytime you go out there to make a play to help the team win, it's a big play."

(On the second half being completely different from the first half)
"We just came back out with the mindset to go out and stop the run, try to make some plays and win the game."

(On whether there was any rah-rah halftime speeches)
"No man, it was all football. We came in and made some corrections, then went back out and executed the game plan."

(On whether he practiced the tip drill before)
"I mean me and [Devin McCourty] have been cool. All the DB's are talking all day, every day. So, that translates on the field being able to communicate in the beginning of plays."

(On the mindset for him coming in to replace Kyle Arrington)
"Next man up. You've just got to step up and make plays. They put me on [Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace], I know what type of receiver he is; a beaster, big-play guy. I just tried to go out there and try to contain him as much as I could."

(On it seeming like Miami liked the matchup of him versus Wallace, and whether he was comfortable with that matchup)
"I'm comfortable with my matchup on anybody. But everybody is, every football player is. The coaches being comfortable enough to put me out there speaks volumes to me."

Dane Fletcher, Linebacker
(On if the Patriots' captains spoke up at halftime)
"I think so. That's kind of what you need in a game like that after the first half. The captains spoke up and the results showed."

(On his individual performance Sunday)
"It's just nice to be back on defense, playing again and having a role on defense. Now I'm just trying to elaborate on that role and trying to make the best of it. It's just fun."

(On Rob Ninkovich's fumble recovery that led to a touchdown)
"Yeah, get the touchdown, Rob [Ninkovich] [laughter]. No, well-played by Rob and Logan [Ryan]. Just good football."

Steve Gregory, Safety
(On if playing better in the third-quarter was an emphasis during the week)
"Yeah, it was. I think the third quarter has kind of been our worst quarter so far this year. I don't know what the stats are or anything like that but I think we did a pretty good job this game of coming out in the third quarter and really taking advantage of it. It was good for us to come out here and do that and it was good to get this win in the division."

(On wearing the green dot on his helmet and being the primary play-caller on defense)
"The signal is coming in on the microphone, I have to get the calls out and stuff like that. It's not that big of a deal, we know all of our calls. It's just communicating it with the guys. Whoever has that dot is more than able to do it and I just happened to have it this game."

(On what the message was from the captains at halftime)
"[It was] just, 'We have to play better than we did in the first half.' The first half wasn't good for us, we let that get away. [It was] to come out, play one play at a time, one series at a time and go out there and find ways to make plays and win the football game. And we did that."

Rob Gronkowski, Tight End
(On the difference between the first half and the second half)
"As an offense, we went out there as a whole and the defense played great and we started playing complementary football and we started clicking as an offense which the first half, we sure didn't. We got to start playing all four quarters like that, but it was a good team win. The defense played well and the offense started clicking in the second half. We came out there and started rolling."

(On if he was happy the offense finally produced in the third quarter)
"Yes, definitely. The third quarter has been [a struggle]. We came out and had a great second half and we played really well together as a team and that's what helped us get the victory – playing together as a team in the second half and getting out there and putting some points on the board."

(On his touchdown getting called back)
"It's football. Some plays get called back and we overcame that and I think [Stephen Gostkowski] kicked a field goal that drive – had a nice field goal made by Steve and we just kept playing football and kept rolling every drive after that."

(On if the team is still trying to find an identity)
"We're just working hard every week as a team and just trying to improve every week as a team and that's all we're asking for as a team – just go as a team and just take one game at a time."

Chandler Jones, Defensive End
(On what changed after halftime to allow the team to play better in the second half)
"Our coaches. Our coaches did a great job. Matt Patricia and Coach Belichick did a good job of making adjustments, and I feel like we did a good job of listening and buying into what they had to do, had to say, and we went out and executed."

(On his first game playing with Andre Carter)
"Andre teaches me so much as far as hand placement, little things like taping my hands, the things that help me with longevity. Andre is like a big brother out there. He's a mentor and he's a great addition."

(On how it felt getting pressure on the quarterback in the second half)
"It feels great. As a defensive end, and as every pass rusher, when you're up and you know the team has to throw the ball or they have to get chunks, they have to get yardage, you should lick your chops."

(On his field goal block)
"When Coach calls that play, I definitely try to focus on my technique. That's what he emphasizes, my technique. That's the biggest thing, is smart technique. The swim move, taking that jab step, and swimming, and it came home free."

Chris Jones, Defensive Tackle
(On how the team went from zero first-half sacks to six in the second)
"Just playing a lot better. When you get a rush like that and everyone's working together, it all seemed to come together in the second half."

(On what the week has been like since the loss to the Jets)
"It's been a regular practice week. I was done with [the game] when we got back home. I just made sure I got that out of my mind. I put it on myself and it's over with for now. We had to play Miami this weekend and did really well. We won the game so that's all I'm really worried about."

(On his stop on the first play of the game)
"I got excited. I had my chance and an opportunity to make the play. That's all I can say. I'm excited. The defense as a collective whole made great plays in the second half and that's what allowed us to win the game."

Logan Mankins, Guard
(On his thoughts on the first half)
"I think we have a lot of good players who understand what it takes, and that first half, we were just all over the place. There were a lot of breakdowns. I know that I didn't play good enough in the first half but luckily I played better in the second half and I think a lot of guys did."

(On the changes the team made at halftime)
"It's the same as always - come in, make adjustments, talk about what they're doing and today we just did better in the third quarter than we had been, and thankfully we did because that first half was bad. We knew that first half wasn't the way we wanted to play or the way we should play so we knew we had to turn it around and guys did a better job of executing and finishing. It all came together in the second half for us."

(On the play of Marcus Cannon)
"He must have done pretty good today. He's a good kid who works hard and is trying to get better, so I think he must have done something right today because we were able to score some points when he was in there."

Devin McCourty, Defensive Back
(On his deflection on Marquice Cole's interception)
"That was all [Marquice Cole]. He just screamed, 'Try to tip it back,' and he was able to really keep his feet in bounds and make a great play. It was a huge play in the game, [Miami was] driving, they took a shot – just making a play right there was huge."

(On whether that type of play is non-verbal)
"You just trust your teammate. There are times on the field and one guy is covered, and you tell him – or if a guy is running through the middle, I'll say 'I got him,' and that guy will come off right in the middle of the play. That's what I always talk about. When we're able to play together and get that communication down, you can make plays like that. I think that's what's been great this year. Even though [Marquice Cole] hasn't been a guy that's been out there, he's practicing with us, we're all together hanging out off the field, so it makes it a lot easier when we're on the field."

(On what was said by the captains at halftime to motivate the team)
"You know around here it's simple: we've got to play better. We came in down at the half, and one good thing is, we have guys here that we've been in that situation – at home, down a couple scores – and the game is not over. Guys came in and the first thing [was], 'Hey, we've got a lot of football left to be played,' and that's the same thing when we come in and we're up. We know we've got a lot of football to be played, and the captains did a good [job], but as a team to have the mindset to come out there and to just play, that was big this week. Just play each play and each down, and try to string it together."

Rob Ninkovich, Defensive Line

(On the difference of play between the first half and second half)
"This week we really tried to emphasize coming out after halftime and trying to start with a lot more energy than we had in the past. I feel like, you know, the prior games we didn't have as much third quarter energy as we needed, kind of like we do at the start of the game. You got to come out and, you know, whoever is on the field to start you got to go out and do your job offensively or defensively."

(On what was the halftime message)
"You got to forget about the first half. What we put out there was not the best football that we could have played, so, you know, just forget about it and start a new game. The second half here is like starting the first half, you can kind of go out there and play our type of football and in all three phases go out there and do your job. I think that's the big point of emphasis there is just everyone just do their job."

(On knowing the team is capable of having such a great turnaround in the same game)
"You definitely got to play four quarters in this league. You know there are always tough games. We're always playing against great competition, so mental toughness goes a long way, especially a division game that counts a lot in the divisional standings and stuff like that, so we had a big week of preparation here. I think we did a great job of coming in and understanding the concepts of how we wanted to play these guys and the first half [we] didn't play like we should have and the second half we played how we wanted to play for the whole game, so we'll take it."

Stevan Ridley, Running Back
(On the opportunities in the second half that weren't there in the first half)
"Our offensive line was giving some push. The holes were a little bit tight at first and I think as the game progressed, the offensive line, we really started leaning on them and some creases were in there. [The Dolphins] are a very active defense and coach just told us to come in here and play solid football. And if we did that, the opportunities would present themselves. I think that's what happened for us in the second half versus the prior weeks that we've been at. We got to really just play four quarters of football and that's what we had been needing to do for the whole season."
(On if he felt that the momentum shifted after his long run that followed a Dolphins missed field goal)
"I would be lying if I said I didn't. It's a spark that came from it and I think that was just the boulder that our offensive line had to push and roll over. And once we got that big run going, it helped our offense to come in there and set up the pass. For us, that's what we try to do every week; be balanced on our attack. And every week that we go out there and we're balanced, I think that we play our best football. So for us, it's just striving to keep doing that in these upcoming weeks and hopefully we can break off a few more. Our offensive line is working hard and they're getting the creases. If they're not coming early, they'll get there late. But I know they'll always figure it out because they're a group that's been together and they know how to open up the holes for us."

(On how gratifying it was for the running back group to convert tough yardage when the game was on the line)
"I just always say that when our coaches call our number we have to go out there and be the solid group. This team is going through a lot of changes, a lot of guys in and out, but one thing that has been consistent is the running back group. We've been together since camp and we've had Shane [Vereen] that's fallen out but we've had guys that have stepped up. And I think that's the biggest thing for us is that we have to be a strong point for this team and when they call our number, we have to go out there and make solid plays. That's what we try to do early and often and also just close out the game."

Logan Ryan, Cornerback

(On if there was a low feeling in the locker room at the half)
"No not at all. We know what we're capable of and I know what I'm capable of and we just know what we didn't do in the first half and just keep playing football and take it one play at time and make things happen."

(On closing in on quarterback Ryan Tannehill on third-quarter strip sack)
"I just wanted to get the ball out. He didn't see me. I had a great opportunity and I was fortunate that it did come out."

(On how he felt having a few big plays in the game)
"It's good. You know, it's what I look forward to. It's what I've been working so hard for coming back to when I got drafted, so, hopefully, as I continue to practice better and play better they will continue."

Matthew Slater, Wide Receiver
(On the team's second half performance)
"Playing better in the second half is something that we haven't done a great job of so far this season, but I think we were able to finally put together a full 60-minute ballgame and put together a great second half."

(On whether anything needed to be said in the locker room at halftime)
"I don't think anything really needed to be said. I think we knew that it's been an area of focus for us and something that we need to improve upon. I think guys came out of the locker room with a lot of energy, a lot of focus, and I think it showed up on the field."

(On whether anything was said by the captains at halftime)
"I don't think there was anything out of the ordinary said. I mean, it was no different than any halftime that we've had around here, just making our adjustments. But we put an emphasis on that throughout the course of the week, so by the time we came in at halftime we knew what time it was."

(On how Stevan Ridley and Logan Ryan played after sitting out early in the game)
"Those guys stepped up and made plays when we needed them. That's what being a good teammate is about, that's what we pride ourselves on around here, is guys stepping up when their number's called. They were supportive of everybody all throughout the day, and when their number was called they made big plays to help us win the game."

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