Bill Cowher Understand Quotations

When we come here, there will be a lot of demands on many of these guys. (The goal) is to come here and prioritize things and try not to get out of the routine, and understand that Wednesday, Thursday, Friday is just like a regular game.

We've been in the playoffs for three weeks now. Nothing will change. We have something to build off now. We'll come back on Wednesday and understand what we have in front of us.

Mr. Rooney is a football guy. He wanted this business, and he was very supportive through the three non-playoff years, and I'm very appreciative of that, and will always understand that and appreciate that patience.

No one feels worse about losing a game like that than the players and coaches in that locker room. They throw everything into it. No one felt worse than Tommy. I mean, this is a quality individual. We all understand the criticisms that come with this game and we understand that, but when you start taking it outside the field, to the house, to the kids, to me, you've crossed the line.

We didn't do a very good job of handling the noise element the last time we went there. I would like to think that having been there once, you know what to expect. When we walked out of the RCA Dome, there was no question that it was louder than we anticipated going in. Now we understand what it is going to be like and we have to deal with it.

We understand what it's like to play in the playoffs. It goes up even further. The speed of the game is faster, the magnitude of each play becomes greater. Certainly our play this week has to indicate that.

It's not easy being in the middle, ... I understand both sides and am respectful of both sides. ... You just hope you can get both sides to be comfortable with their decisions.

It starts at the top, there is no question about that. I've been very blessed and fortunate to be in a very stable organization. At the same time, you can take nothing for granted. You still have to go out there every year and improve yourself. You ask players to do it and I think as coaches you have to do it. I think we all understand that. I'm just very fortunate and blessed to be part of an organization that is very open, very stable and very understanding.

It's going to be a tough week. But we've been in this situation before. The thing we understand is (Monday) night will go for naught if we don't follow it up with a stellar performance. If we don't, we will not compete with this team.

The biggest thing is not to overreact and to keep responding. Our guys just kept responding. You can't get caught up in the emotion and the finality that these games can bring. The fact this team's been there before, I think, they really understand that mindset.

The biggest concern I have is making sure we understand that we aren't going to pick up where we left off.

I didn't think it was that big a deal what jersey color you're wearing. Maybe that's just me, OK? To me, if you're not playing at Heinz Field it's an away game. I think anyone can understand that rationale. If it's a sensitive issue to people, I'm sorry.