| On QB Jared Goff’s injury and game status: “Yesterday was pretty promising. So, today is kind of a modified practice, but we see him taking the reps. It’ll be more passing-related, 7-on-7 type stuff that I think he’ll be able to participate in. We’ll get our skill guys moving a little bit.” On what he would like to see from the team in the final game of the season: “Continued development out of the young players, but even some of the players that are second-year players, third-year players maybe thrusted into roles that they haven’t had an opportunity to play in very much. So, that’s what we’re looking for. ‘Are they taking a step up from last week, or continuing to take the right steps into this last week?’” On the support from the Detroit Lions fanbase this season: “Listen, it’s been great. They’ve been there thick and thin. I know it hadn’t been everything that everybody’s wanted it to be, but yet – I just go to this, we’re at the end of the year, the last two games that we’ve played at home, Minnesota and Arizona, our fans were in it to the very end. It was loud in there and it was energetic. So, it’s been great. It’s everything that we already know. When we get this thing turned to where we want it, we’ve got the fans and they’re ready to roll and we’ll do our part moving forward.” On how he was sure DE Michael Brockers would buy into the team the way he has this season after being traded to Detroit: “Well, because anybody that knows him and everybody that knows him, that’s just the way he is. It doesn’t matter what – everybody will tell you that for him, it doesn’t matter what the record is. It doesn’t matter the play time. It’s all about he’s got a job to do and he’s going to do everything he can to put his best foot forward and that’s just the way he’s cut. Those guys are hard to find, much less with the production they put on tape. That doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing, but that was really a pretty easy sell. I think when you know the character of that type of person, that’s not going anywhere and that’s proven to be true with him as well.” On how DE Michael Brockers has helped develop rookies NT Alim McNeill and DE Levi Onwuzurike this year: “I think it’s what you’re seeing. You can argue that McNeill may have had one of his better games in Seattle. So, I think he was actually one of the brighter spots in that game, believe it or not, but that guy is improving. And look, Levi, I know I made my comments, but it’s not like Levi is not improving. He’s coming. It’s like he’s flashing plays and he flashes more every week. But those guys, they’re learning how to be pros. They’re learning how to approach the game. They’re learning how to approach practice. They’re learning that you’re not just walking in the door because you’re a drafted player like you’re going to go kick (expletive) in this League. It doesn’t work that way. And so, when you have a rough day, you’ve got to know how to bounce back and put that behind you and learn from it and he’s teaching them those lessons. He doesn’t let those guys (expletive), they go to work. He pulls them in the weight room, they do what they’re asked to do and then some, do extra. And so, he’s teaching them the ropes, how to be a true pro.” On what he needs to see on Sunday to give proper evaluations on players to plan for next season: “As you said, there are a number of guys that we’ve gotten a look at. I think it’s the same thing, you want to be sold one way or another maybe on a few guys. ‘Is this somebody that it’s worth continuing to invest in into next year? Do we see potential as a positional player, whether it’s a linebacker? Do we think they can be a depth player, potentially a starter one day at linebacker? Or, are they just special teams? Or, are they both?’ So, I think you’re still looking for those things a little bit. You want to see if there is some of that, that maybe you ordinarily wouldn’t be able to see and we have that luxury just with the nature of where we’re at with injuries and COVID and all of those things.” On if they will play certain players more on Sunday in order to evaluate them further: “I think it’s naturally going to happen. I think it will just naturally happen. Kind of like it did last week, it’s going to play its course. So, I don’t feel like there is anything that we’re going to have to do to really try to push and find something out about another guy that we wouldn’t ordinarily do.” On if he has decided who will be the primary offensive play-caller next season: “Honestly, I haven’t. I know that I’m getting a lot more comfortable and I feel like this is something that I do believe I can do and be good at. But, I’m not ready to commit to what I’m doing next year yet. I’ve got to sit down and process all of this at the right time.” On if it was difficult to manage the game and call plays when he first took over play-calling duties: “It was. I’m not going to lie to you, it was a lot. It felt like it took a couple of weeks to be able to start breathing again. But yeah, it was – look, there was a transitional period there. It took a minute to try to get it all in because unfortunately when you take that on – fortunately and unfortunately, something is going to suffer somewhere until you figure out – I think I told you guys this, (former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Bill) Parcells used to always say, ‘Look man, running a team is like having a garden. The minute you neglect one area, it will wither and die if you’re not giving it attention or you’re not pulling weeds, you’re not watering.’ And unfortunately, you start figuring that out the hard way. So yeah, it’s been a process, but I can tell you this, I’m miles ahead of where I was three or four weeks ago. I feel that way. I’m so much more comfortable now, I do. I’m starting to figure it out. It doesn’t mean I’m perfect by any means, but I do feel l a lot more comfortable.” On what makes Packers QB Aaron Rodgers one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL: “Everything that everybody else sees. He’s still playing at a very high level. He’s a quick processor. He’s got a quick release. He knows the game. He’s a high-level thinker and it’s one of those things where he’s got enough flexibility and what he’s able to do, they’re doing by just what you’re doing defensively. So, he really can get to a number of different things that he knows can beat your coverages or your pressures and he’s got smart players he plays with and they know what he wants. And then, look, that defense is pretty good. They’re playing good football over there, too. So, they’re getting him the ball back. And then, when you accompany that with a run game with Aaron Jones and those guys, that’s a tough team. There is a reason why they’re playing at a high level. But, he hasn’t slowed down, I know that, and he’s as dangerous as he’s ever been. Really, the only thing you can do is if you get a small opportunity to make a play, you’ve got to make a play. You’ve got to make it count because they’re not going to come around often.” On how Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur has been successful over the last few years: “Well look, he’s done a great job with those players and with that roster. I think he’s very flexible in what he does. I think his use of the talent that he has, has been noticeable, at least for me. I know just as an offensive play-caller, he’s very creative and he’ll give you a look and then counter with it. He keeps you on your heels. He keeps you guessing. I think every week they do things really well to attack their opponent, but yet it’s still things that are kind of their core values of who they are and what they do. Look man, he’s done a great job. I mean, you can’t argue that with what they’ve done since he’s been there. The proof is in the pudding.” On what he wants to see from WRs Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond on Sunday: “I don’t know if it’s what I would expect or what is – I don’t know if what I need to see would be a good way to put it necessarily. For me, I think the best way to say it is I expect for both of them to come out and play well and be who they’ve been since Reynolds walked in the door. I expect him to be what he’s been for us. And then, I expect Lif to be what he’s been for us all year, like steady, reliable players. I think that would be a better way to put it than, ‘What do I need to see?’ I feel like I’ve kind of gotten a pretty good feeling of both of those players and what they are and what they can do. And so, I think those guys are going to go out and be exactly what we think they’re going to be this week, steady, reliable players.” LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET (VIA ZOOM) January 5, 2022 On how his knee injury has progressed over the last two weeks: “It’s progressing. Again, like I said, I hope to play. We’ll see how the week goes, but I don’t know is the answer until probably later in the week.” On the importance of playing this week and finishing the season strong headed into the offseason: “Yeah, it’s very important to me. I want to be out there. Ultimately, it’s kind of not up to me. It’s up to where my knee is at, but I really do want to be out there. I said it earlier in the week, I’d be pretty disappointed if I wasn’t able to make it happen. Yeah, really do want to be out there.” On what he was and was not able to do in practice today and if he was restricted at all: “It’s a bone bruise is the best way to describe it. It’s just pain management and trying to avoid any setbacks.” On Ravens QB Lamar Jackson limping after playing with a bone bruise last week: “I didn’t see that. I think his is in his ankle. I don’t know and mine’s in the knee, so it’s a little bit different. I haven’t seen any video of Lamar moving around, but I moved around quite a bit today and like I said, I hope to be able to go.” On his frustration with suffering a knee injury after his streak of strong performances: “Very, very. You have to miss the Atlanta game and Seattle game. Hopefully, not this one, but was playing pretty well and our offense was really starting to get some momentum going and that’s really the bummer. Hopefully, we can recapture it this week if I’m able to go and get a little bit going.” On the importance of having a strong performance in the final game of the season going into the offseason: “Yeah, I think especially against the team we’re playing with Green Bay. Who knows what they’re going to do with their starters and whatnot? But, by all accounts, they’re the top team in the League right now and if we’re able to play a good game and come out with a win, it’d be pretty special to finish the season that way and that’s how we’re looking at it.” On the previous question about Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s bone bruise: “I don’t know if there is a video of him moving or something. I don’t know. I will say that I’m not though to set the record straight if that’s fair.” On if it matters to him that WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is 15 yards away from setting the Lions’ record for most receiving yards by a rookie: “I didn’t know that one. You’d hope he’d get that one. I think that one and I do know the one that he’s got eight catches, five weeks in a row, see if we can make it six. I don’t think we’re going to try to force it to him, but the last handful of weeks it’s come pretty organically. And yeah, I don’t know if I’ll be aware of that during the game, but sure, you’re kind of aware of it throughout the week.” On Rams WR Cooper Kupp approaching the record for most receiving yards in a single season in NFL history: “It’s been really fun to watch. I get asked about it all of the time now. It’s not unexpected. Obviously, they’ve had a great year out there and Matthew (Stafford) has had a tremendous year as well. What he’s been able to do has been so special and I think with the way he’s – our film has crossed over a lot, so we’ve been able to see a lot of it. The way he blocks and the way he does everything right, every play, and then obviously the year he’s having catching the ball is unbelievable. Always a guy I’m going to root for, always a great friend of mine, and somebody that the sky is the limit for him.” On if Rams WR Cooper Kupp’s season is a goal he would want for WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: “You’d hope so. That’s the comp in some ways you’d hope. I know St. Brown knows he’s got a lot of work to do and Cooper’s kind of doing something pretty special this year. Hopefully, one day.” On his favorite stories and memories with Head Coach Dan Campbell this season: “I think just his steadiness in the midst of how poorly it went early on, especially how steady he was daily and how he showed up as the same person every day and there was no wavering from him. That bleeds into the rest of the coaching staff. Then, ultimately that bleeds into the players and the leaders on the team. We needed that this year. He was the same guy every day and said the right things, did the right things. I thought he did a great job.” On if Head Coach Dan Campbell’s steadiness helped him in his transition from the Rams to the Lions: “Yeah, and I think it helps everyone. I think you’re going through some adversity, you’re looking for that constant and he was that for us this year and ultimately myself and the leaders on the team try to be that as well. He is the head coach and is able to speak to the team every day and his energy perfuses through us. So, it was definitely – I think you find out a lot about people during adverse situations and it doesn’t get more adverse than some of the stuff we went through this year and found out a lot about him and it’s great.” LIONS QB TIM BOYLE QUOTE SHEET (VIA ZOOM) January 5, 2022 On the knowledge he will take from his three starts into the offseason: “That’s loaded. You kind of make that list as you go. I think number one is speed in which I progress through my plays. I think I’ve done a really good job with that, but that’s something I want to continue to work on of just making sure that I’m not hanging on too long to certain things and it’s putting me kind of behind schedule when it comes to getting through progressions. And, I think another thing too is just pocket movement, and as you kind of see the game of football, kind of the evolution of it, the quarterback has to be more mobile. And, you obviously have guys, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, who are standing in there delivering the ball, but I think football is favoring a guy who can move around a little bit. So, I think that will be a focus in the offseason of making sure I’m a little bit more mobile, that I have the ability to get out and scramble and make plays. I was fortunate enough to be around one of the best to do that with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. I think those two things stand out, but obviously accuracy. Obviously, trying to be perfect with my accuracy. There are a few too many balls that I feel like I’ve missed or haven’t been perfect with this year that I’m going to be locked in on this offseason.” On if he has solidified his belief that he can play in the NFL: “100 percent, yes. I can play in this League. I believe that.” On what playing with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers meant to his development: “It was night and day. I came in a quarterback – call it X – and I left quarterback Y. My whole entire time there, I was strategic with how I kind of picked his brain because I didn’t want to be the undrafted rookie who was in his ear and always asking. I kind of took a backseat my first year and kind of observed and watched how he operated. And then, I took the role of being the backup and that’s when you kind of get more involved. But yeah, he’s instrumental to my whole entire progression as a quarterback and the coaches there. I’m grateful for our friendship off the field, which I think is far more important than the one we had on the field. He’ll be a special person in my life forever and I’m very grateful for him taking me under his wing and being as nice as he was. It was a special three years for me, but I’m right where I want to be right now.” On the feelings that will arise if he gets the chance to play against the Packers on Sunday: “It would be more cool. I get to play against a former team of mine, but part of the responsibility of a quarterback is trying to stay even-keeled and not really look into that kind of stuff. It’ll be cool to see guys across from me that I’ve been friends with for three years now, three-and-a-half years, who I’ve stayed in touch with even when I came to Detroit. But, once you go play football, it’s competitive as always and you’re trying to beat the other team. I’ll always have respect for that organization and the team and the coaches and how they operate. But, I’m with the Lions now and we’re going to try to get a win.” On if playing with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers taught him to play faster: “I think Aaron is special because he’s seen so many different things. I think Year 17 for him, sorry if I’m incorrect there, but he’s just been around the block. Guys like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, they’ve just seen every look. So, I think that helps them get through it a little quicker because they know certain looks that kind of cancels out certain routes and you can kind of progress a little bit. You can kind of anticipate a little bit. I think with my case, I wouldn’t say I got it from Aaron, but I just want to be quick in the pocket. I don’t want to be back there hanging onto it, taking sacks. I want to make sure – and I completely agree with (Head) Coach (Dan) Campbell. I think there are certain instances where I should slow down, and I’ve seen that. Whether it be at the top of my drop where I can kind of tempo my feet or be a little bit more patient to see a route develop, that’s something I’m always evaluating. I think he hit the nail right on the head. I think that’s a focus moving forward of making sure I’m seeing it, letting it develop. I’m never going to be upset with myself for getting through things too quick. But, on the flip side, if you get through things too quick and all of a sudden there’s a 20-yard inbreaking route that I could have thrown, kind of bites you in the butt a little bit. So, all good learning experiences.” On what it means for him to help WR Amon-Ra St. Brown get within 15 yards of breaking the Lions’ record for most receiving yards by a rookie: “It’s special, it really is. As you guys have heard me rave about him and probably every coach and every player rave about him, he deserves everything that’s coming his way, I truly believe that. He puts in the work. We just got off the practice field and who was out there catching JUGS for 10 minutes? It’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. He’s making sure that he’s doing all of the little things that he needs to do. And, to be quite honest with you, it’s the first time I’ve heard about this record. Hoping obviously that he breaks it. It’ll be a special moment for him, but he’ll only grow and build off that, which is the special part. He’s not going to say, ‘I did this my rookie year. I’m good to go. I’ve arrived.’ He’ll keep working. But, definitely special to be a part of it. I’ve contributed I think those two games to him during that five game stretch of him playing really well and I’m glad I was able to find him. He showed up for me.” On his interest in returning to the Lions next year: “I firmly believe in what we’re trying to do here and I know (Head) Coach (Dan) Campbell says it every day, he says it to us, we’re building a foundation right now and we kind of have to take our lumps. Not that we have to take them, but we have taken them already and I think this team, because of the leadership with our (Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes) GM and our (Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Ford Hamp) owner and our head coach. I mean, they understand where we’re going and I think it’s up to the players to understand, like Jared (Goff), myself, players who have been on other teams who have seen it done the right way and have been to big-time games. It’s not that I helped the Packers get there, but I’ve seen it. I’ve kind of been on that side of the fence where I feel how it’s supposed to look. It makes me as a competitor definitely want to stick around because I know exactly where this team is going and I think the players who understand where it’s going are licking their chops for an opportunity next year because Coach Campbell will have us dialed in. He’ll have us ready to go and it’ll be a special run. To answer your question, I’d love to come back to Detroit. I’ve built a lot of special relationships here. I love the area. The fans have been awesome to me. I don’t get paid to make those decisions, but hopefully I put myself in an enough of a position to have them consider me back because I’d love to come back.” |
