Rod Graves Quotations

We were certainly poised to take advantage of other teams' inability, if you will, to act quickly in free agency. And now obviously the field's been leveled quite a bit. We're disappointed solely from a football operations standpoint that we weren't able to jump out there and take advantage of some players and opportunities that might have come about because of teams having to clear cap space.

Since becoming aware of the situation at NAU, we've spent a considerable amount of time in discussions with the University officials, outside health professionals and our own medical personnel to determine the best course of action, ... The overwhelming concern obviously was the health and well-being of our football team.

Basically it was a structure that we had to have in order to accommodate all we were trying to accomplish with this deal.

There is a mutual interest in continuing our relationship. We'd like to have him back.

We make a real strong effort to get as much done, as much as we need to during the spring and in Indianapolis.

I accepted his visit as typical of one you get from a veteran player who has a strong interest in seeing his team in a better position to win. In my opinion, it was a great discussion we had.

I think what it does demonstrate is that we're committed to building a strong nucleus for our football team, and part of that effort is making the right decision about the players you reinvest in. We just consider Kurt Warner part of that process, to reinvest in quality people and quality players.

Players that come in here have to have a high competitive level and have to have an intense desire to succeed beyond just a desire to play in the National Football League. Those are the type of guys that we'll be after in this year's draft.

It does not preclude us from taking a look at the quarterback position in the draft.

The 10th spot is a very good spot for us to be in. I think that if we stay there we're assured we'll get an excellent football player.

We need to improve our running game and we have to start up front.

We addressed our concerns with respect to his contract. I don't want to get into the details, but I will tell you the concerns over play time, those were a part of our negotiations. If Kurt is playing and we're producing as a football team, then I think everyone is happy.

We have considered both of those, but we're going to weigh that against draft considerations as well, and see where we come out. There's certainly no opposition to looking at Joey Harrington.

We consider him as one of the pieces of the nucleus that we'd like to keep together. He is very talented and the arrow is still up on him. I feel he has a chance to be one of the better offensive linemen in the league eventually and we certainly didn't want to lose him.

There are probably only a few situations that would entice us to move up. I'm less likely to recommend that just because of the cost involved.

When you look at so many positive things that have gone on here the past several years, to me, it's hard to deny the fact this organization is making strides in a positive way.

To not prepare for (injuries) is like going into a game not thinking about special teams. You know that at some point, you are going to be confronted with it, so youd better be ready.

We went in there last summer to Cliff Lake and had a really good time -- good swimming, good fishing, warm water, beautiful scenery and a nice peak to summit where you can see the whole country. We'll hike five or six miles the first day, go over Devil's Peak and spend the next night in the Sky Lakes Basin, then hike five or six miles out. If you haven't seen Sky Lakes, this is a good one to see.

We certainly haven't expressed any interest and won't until March 3. But we feel we are poised from a cap standpoint to be aggressive in free agency, and we have identified guys we will go after.

We certainly desire to keep Reggie. We're not surprised there would be interest in him.

At this point, we are going to step back and sort of regroup and determine where we are going to focus. I still believe we'll be able to take advantage of additional opportunities in free agency.

Ever since we've adopted sort of this best player approach to the draft, it really doesn't matter to us as much as to what happens ahead of us. We're just prepared to take whoever we feel like is available from our top board. That concept has worked effectively for us the last couple years.

There's a few rattle-snakes, but we won't see any. There's a few creeks to ford, but that won't be a big deal. And no ticks.

The risk is probably no greater or no worse than it is for a lot of other players, but the spotlight is always heavier on the quarterbacks. It's just the risk that we're involved with. You hope you're making the right choice.

I've said before that if Vince Young was there (at No. 10), I'd drive out and pick him up at the airport. If Vernon Davis is there, I'll drive out and pick him up, too.

Coach Green's leadership and focus in terms of what he wants and what he feels he needs. He's defined that for us very well, and then we just go after it.

Anybody that's watched this organization over the last two or three years would have to say we're doing things in a different way,

This contract took on challenges that in many ways we have never faced before,

This contract required a creative approach from our standpoint as well as the agent's standpoint.

They (NFL officials) are still in the process of clarifying issues with the union as well. Much of that information will have a bearing on future contracts, and so we're anxious to get a lot of that information and to get clarification, because it will have a bearing on our ability to get deals done quickly.

I'm not sure how much of an advantage. We are still trying to put our arms around that. There are so many rules and implications on uncapped years, so we have to be guarded in what we do.

If one of those type quarterbacks are there, we'd have to match it up in discussions with whoever else may be there.

I'd pick him up at the airport. We'll see what happens.

I feel it was a very positive meeting. We'll evaluate our decision today and expect to have an announcement soon.

I can't comment on players that haven't hit the market yet, but I will say that based on guys that are speculated to be free, it could be a buyer's market.

He planted the seeds for that, and I think that we'll see the fruits of that a lot more next season. By having players like him that have been in winning situations, they have a lot to offer in terms of helping your younger players grow.