Hines Ward Team Quotations

When teams play the Cover 2, you're supposed to be able to run against them, ... We couldn't.

It helps a lot that we get a chance to go out there and redeem ourselves. We get another chance to face the No. 1 team in the AFC. That's about all you can ask for.

We're the same team that went 15-1 last year and made it to the championship game.

He has touched everybody on this team so much. It was something we wanted to do for all he has done for us.

For us, we don't get caught up in statistics as much. As players, the team MVP is the guy who exemplifies hard work at practices, gives it his all on Sundays and is the guy to get the guys up.

No team ever won all three games on the road and won the Super Bowl. Why not try to make history?

We thought we could take some shots in the air. We're an experienced team and we took our chances.

Nobody believed in us, but we believed in ourselves, and now we're in the Super Bowl. These last three games on the road show a lot about our team and this coaching staff.

He's the catalyst of our whole offense. The quarterback has to have confidence, or how else will the rest of the 10 guys follow him? He's going out there confident and having trust in his teammates to make plays.

He's the catalyst of our offense. The offense has to go out there with confidence and he leads with that. It was truly a team effort today, but it was Ben who was leading the way out there.

He's a threat, no question. If you put eight in the box, and we block all eight, you are going to give up a big play. How do you deal with Willie? His speed has to be accounted for. I don't know how teams will defend him in the playoffs. He can go the distance any time. If we block it for him, we're going to get the home-run ball.

We have a coach who's been here 14 years, and that says something right there about how the team operates.

Everybody gets excited seeing him throw. But in our case Tommy right now gives us the best opportunity to go out and win ball games. You can't blow off a year in this league. I'm glad I don't have to make the decision, but right now Ben's not comfortable enough to go out and lead our team just yet. But when he's ready, he's going to get his opportunity.

People may put them down, but they're the champions. Until someone dethrones them, they're still the team to beat in the NFL.

We have to stay away from the negative plays. The third-and-longs, those are hard to overcome. We overcame a couple of them last year but last year we were a great team with second-and-short, third-and-short.

We don't feel like we're favored. We're not going to change. We're still playing like a team with desperation.

Just hit it down their throats. They've got great team speed. When we were down 10-7 against them before, we still had a chance in that ballgame to go out and make plays. We just didn't do that.

Carolina played a lot of Cover 2. When teams play Cover 2, you have to be able to run the ball. We didn't do that. And, we have to stay away from negative (yardage) plays.

Jerome has inspired each individual on this team in some form or way. He kind of inspires us to go out and play hard so we can get him that Super Bowl ring and end on a great note.

Everybody was ready to put Denver and Indianapolis in the championship game. We're the same team that went 15-1 last year and made it to the championship game. We're coming from a different perspective now, being on the road playing two tough road games. We all believed in one another, even if no one else did.

When you're that No. 1 seed, teams are gunning for you, everybody wants to be that team to knock you off. For us, we get a chance to face the No. 1 team for a second time this year, so let's see what happens.

I wanted to finish my career as a Steeler. I felt I just fit the mold as far as a blue-collar guy. I may not be the flashiest, most flamboyant wide receiver out there. But I get the job done for my team.

Ben is different with his confidence this year. He has trust in everyone around him and he makes the team work for him. He has been a phenomenal leader.

We're just having fun, and that's what it is about. There are 20 teams out there who wish they were in the playoffs. For us, you have to enjoy it while you are here. And, as players, you have to make sure you enjoy that.

Teams seem to put us in black jerseys whenever we go anywhere that's hot. We're accustomed to playing in that.