December 23, 2020 Opening Statement: “Obviously, I know you guys saw the update that we had for this morning. I think really on a positive note, we have not had any new positive tests, which will enable us to be able to go ahead with practice today and have the players here in the building. After going through a lot of the contact tracing, we’re going to keep several coaches out of practice today, including myself and Cory Undlin. We’re all included in that, and a few other assistant coaches. “I think there’s still a lot of information and dialogue going on between the League right now and the team, so we’re still working through that and sifting through all that information. I know you guys will be concerned about the coaches and what everyone’s going to be doing at different times during the game, that kind of thing. But right now, we’re just really focused on today (and) getting through the end of this day and making sure we have a good practice today. I can tell you, as far as the coaching staff goes, everybody is still involved because of the great Zoom that we have, so able to prepare the players like we normally would all throughout the day. Myself and the other coaches that won’t be at practice will be in there watching it on Zoom live, so we’ll be able to make corrections when we need to after practice as well. “By the end of the week, we’ll give you all the information that we need to in terms of the contingency plans that we have for guys in specific roles. Obviously, it’s a time where we really do need to adjust, and we’ve shown the ability to do that before and this thing is going to be no different. We’ve got great coaches on the staff, a great support staff, and everyone’s kind of rallying together to be able to help out in this time and fitting in when they can. “Really just for me, kind of on a personal note, obviously I’m super frustrated just with all the things that are going on. It’s kind of hard times, but I don’t think it’s any different than what anybody in the world is going through right now. Frustrated for – I mean yesterday was my 28th wedding anniversary. I’m stuck in a hotel, can’t be with my wife, can’t spend time. So it affects us in a real way. Also, just super concerned for the people that have had positive tests. I think we’ve got to remember – I know that all this football is going on and we see a positive test and (we’re) just like, ‘Oh, how does that effect the football?’ But they have families to go home to, they have wives, kids, parents, people that this can truly affect. So, that’s kind of where my mind goes to and my concern for those guys. There are people that are making bigger sacrifices as well. We’ve got hospital workers, front line workers, and we’re blessed to still be able to play football. But it’s kind of frustrating at this time. So, with that, I’ll open it up for questions.” On who takes over his responsibilities for practice and potentially the game: “So, obviously from the start of the season, even back with Coach (Matt) Patricia and the staff, obviously this was something that we had to plan for. So, there are contingency plans and each and every time something happens, we’re making adjustments to that. I still think we’re gathering more information. Before we want to make all those statements, we need to see exactly what’s going to happen for today. By the end of the week, before the game, we’ll make sure that you have all that information.” On if the media reports are true that an assistant coach wasn’t wearing his contact-tracing device and another coach held a private meeting: “We’re not going to get into specifics of all this thing. It does go back to contact tracing. When you end up having a positive test, probably what happened to us is it was probably the perfect storm in terms of when you have an away game, and you have somebody test positive on Monday, they go back 48 hours. In a travel situation, you have the plane, you have the hotel, you have the busses, you have the smaller locker rooms in away places. So, there’s a lot of things to sift through and a lot of information on that. We’re still working through all that.” On if two assistant coaches violated COVID-19 protocols: “I’m not going to confirm or deny that.” On why he’s protective over the health and safety measures of the team: “I’m not trying to be evasive or not forthcoming. I want to make sure that that’s something I’m doing, but like I said, we’re just still trying to gather all the information. I’m super concerned about the health and safety of all our players and particularly their families at this time. I mean the holiday season; more people are going to be here. But I just don’t want to make any statements before we have all the facts and all the things that need to come out from that.” On explaining how the COVID-19 incidents spread: “Obviously I can confirm we have one player and one coach, we talked about that. But I don’t know if there’s any way to be able to tell exactly how a person gets this thing. As you said, we’re operating in a pandemic – just super frustrated. Not speaking of these two but speaking of some of the other people who had it before, they can’t even pinpoint where they got it. ‘My only stop was going to get a cup of coffee. My only stop was a gas station.’ I would say, we’ve done a really nice job, in terms of the team and all the people around us, trying to make sure we do the right thing and make the correct decisions. But there’s so much going on around us as well, sometimes it just happens. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to pinpoint how the one person, or the two people, got the COVID-19 (virus).” On if he has COVID-19: “I do not.” On if there’s a possibility he’ll be able to coach Saturday and when he expects to find out: “If I’m correct, today is Wednesday, tomorrow is Thursday, so tomorrow is a Friday in our world. So we have to be able to have all that information by tomorrow, so we can give it to you guys as well.” On if he’s comfortable having Quarterbacks Coach Sean Ryan call plays: “Like I said, we’re still working through all that. I really have a great offensive staff. I can speak with so much confidence in terms of the guys that I have. I know what they do well. I know how they perform for me, so I know exactly the moves we need to make in those situations and have total confidence in those guys in the roles that I’ll give them.” On the personal challenge as an interim head coach with everything going on: “Well I guess I could say I’m getting a baptism by fire. In a very short time, I’m getting all the situations I can possibly get put in. So it’s giving me great experience, and gave me the opportunity to learn all about the people around me and the great support staff I do have, and where I could go for support and help, and be able to make sure that I navigate this in a way that will be in the best interest for the team.” On if coaches were at the facility on Monday: “As far as the coaches, they do not have to be in. Some guys do prefer to go in, some guys do not. So not all the coaches are in. They’re allowed to work in their office and get their things done. But they do not have to be there and all of them were not there.” On how many coaches will be at practice today: “That’s a good question, I wish I – I should’ve counted them up. We will have enough for each and every position to have somebody that’s there, in-person, to take care of the situations that they need to.” On explaining how practice will run today and who helped him organize the setup: “Obviously when I took over, we ended up having a little bit different practice structure. So the practice is already laid out. We know exactly how many reps, we know the periods that we’re doing. If you were at practice, you probably wouldn’t notice a difference because it’ll run smoothly. We have a certain number of plays that we will run, then we blow a horn and we switch. Basically, I kind of take care of the whistle, kind of ending the play. So I assigned one guy to make sure we end and begin the plays that we need to, and then the rest of it is just going to run as normal because the coaches that we have that will be there have already been at practice, working with those positions. So it’ll be seamless. They’ll just be working the same way that they have.” On if the coaches currently in quarantine will be quarantined during Christmas: “Yeah, we will all – I mean, at various stages. If we need to be completely away or not, yes, I mean, obviously the guys will make their own decisions but, yes it’s over that time.” On if he can comment on which coaches are out today: “I cannot.” |
