Mike Shanahan Team Quotations

I watch a lot of college film, not only looking at what different colleges do from an offense and defensive standpoint, but also evaluating players, ... so we do that quite a bit during the off-season. Especially a team like LSU, who has a number of players (in draft consideration) year-in and year-out.

We haven't faced a better defensive team this year.

That's not saying Maurice doesn't have a chance to go on to another football team and make that team and contribute,

You're not really sure how much you're going to reshape your team. What you try to do is get the best players in to compete, and those players eventually separated themselves on who's starters, who's second team and who doesn't make the squad.

Everybody wants difference makers and everybody wants great players. Sometimes, you get a great player that's not a team player and then you have a great player on your team and he might not help you win games.

Anytime you cut somebody in the third round, obviously you feel like you made a mistake ... in a true evaluation of your entire organization, anytime you use a third-round choice and he doesn't make your team - that's not good.

The minute he walked into that room, he got a standing ovation. Every player and coach was on his feet. I didn't expect that, but it was just one of those moments that you cherish. Then Jerry spoke to the team for 10 minutes. It just showed the respect that he has earned.

It's very important for the team to know exactly how I feel. (But) I don't necessarily have to wear my thoughts on my chest, ... I've got a job to do, get these guys ready ... Sometimes I do keep things in-house because I think they should be in-house.

He studies the game. He's got a sense of urgency about him. He's very sharp. When he practices, he practices full-speed. There are a lot of people who get to Super Bowls, but really don't practice on a high level. He's a guy who practices like he's trying to make the team each and every day.

It's always nice to win against a team that you know you're going against the best, from a coaching standpoint, offense, defense and special teams. I have the utmost respect for what they've done, and we really feel fortunate to come away with a win against a team that has played at that level consistently for a number of years.

There can be no separation in your organization. You win as a team, you lose as a team.