TRR
08-30-2005, 05:44 PM
Q&A with DICK VERMEIL
Aug 30, 2005, 6:15:40 PM
DICK VERMEIL: “It was tough to see Shaunard Harts go. He was thrown into 17 games or so in the four years he’s been here. He did a good job. But that’s all part of this business. Same with Quinton Caver.”
Q: Are the safeties that are gone good news for Jerome Woods? Is he safe yet?
VERMEIL: “Jerome Woods? I always thought he was. I never had any plans to send him out of here. He’s a good football player when he’s healthy and he provides us depth and the ability to start if the starter is playing well. He also provides us with competition if he can play it better. He’ll do some things he hasn’t done in recent years like help with the (special) teams. But we all know he can play when he’s healthy.”
Q: Trent Green did not practice today. Is he going to play at all on Friday?
VERMEIL: “I’ll know better tonight or tomorrow morning. He’s going through a battery of tests. Like I said yesterday, some of these tests just aren’t five minute deals. They take sophisticated equipment and sophisticated people to administer them. We’ll know a lot more tomorrow.
Q: What about Dante Hall? Is his injury worse than you thought?
VERMEIL: “Initially I thought it was just going to be a couple of days. But he’s better today. He ran striders and gassers today and felt good running in a straight line. I think he’s fairly doubtful for the game Friday night but I think he’ll be ready to go next week.”
Q: How did Freddie Mitchell look to you?
VERMEIL: “He looked ok. I watched him too. It didn’t look like he favored his knee anyway. He was working hard and having fun and caught the ball when it was thrown to him. He did all right.”
Q: What do you need to see of him Friday to make this team?
VERMEIL: “I think we need to see if he was as good as he was. Not having coached him you never really know how he really was, only from what you saw of him on video tape. We know he was a first round pick; we know we had him as a first round pick; we know he’s made big catches in championship games and in Super Bowls. He’s got that kind of experience and poise. Now, it’s just whether he’s healthy and can catch on in a few days to impress us enough to let someone go in his place.”
Q: Peerless Price and Peter Warrick were cut today. Any interest in those guys?
VERMEIL: “I didn’t know about those guys. We had to let three guys go today – more than at other positions because when you play your fourth pre-season game you normally plan on playing your starters so many reps and then take them out. So, you have to have enough people to play a competitive game the rest of the game. We had more wide receivers than we had other positions and had some guys dinged elsewhere. That’s why so many receivers went.”
Q: What would be your plans if Trent can’t go? Is Huard back?
VERMEIL: “Huard hasn’t been given the go-ahead to play. However, he went through quarterback drills today.”
Q: What about Todd Collins? He’s throwing the ball, I see.
VERMEIL: “He’s gripping and throwing the ball about 15 yards. But, no, we’ll be very fortunate if we have him for the Jets game.”
Q: What tests did Green do today?
VERMEIL: “I can’t tell you. I really haven’t talked to Dr. Browne myself. Carl has and he said they’re finishing up one study and there’s one more they have to give him. We’ll have some answers or the answer is there’s nothing wrong.”
Q: Is there more concern for you today than yesterday?
VERMEIL: “I’m always concerned when you look out on the field and your starting quarterback’s not out on the field. You always have those concerns.”
Q: Is there even more concern that it’s numbness and not pain?
VERMEIL: “I don’t know. I get numbness in my left foot all the time – my whole foot and the back of my heel. It’s due to a sciatic nerve problem. But we don’t think Trent’s is due to a sciatic nerve problem.”
Q: What if it was that? How would that affect the way he plays? How does it affect you?
VERMEIL: “Well, if he couldn’t play it’s a big hurt, but we don’t anticipate that type of finding.”
Q: Do you know more today than you did yesterday?
VERMEIL: “I don’t. I think I will soon.”
Q: Letting Harts and Pile go who have made some starts for you the last couple of years, is that a comment on the play of William Bartee at safety?
VERMEIL: “First we brought Sammy Knight in. Then we put William Bartee in there and it looks like he’s going to be able to play that position and play it well. We’re only going with four safeties and when you play the Rams who use four wideouts a lot; you need four corners in the game all the time. When you take the two starters out you need four corners beyond that. That’s why you let safeties go and keep corners.”
Q: Any update on Corey Simon?
VERMEIL: “His name was mentioned in the building today. I don’t know if we checked the bank account or talked with his agent. But he didn’t sign (in Philadelphia) because of money. I don’t know what kind of money we have left to start over on something like that at this time. It would be great to have him because he’s a great football player.”
Q: Would you be willing to ask players to restructure something to make room for him?
VERMEIL: “That’s Carl’s and Denny Thum’s thing.”
Q: But you understood that his problem is all financial?
VERMEIL: “Well, he turned down a $5 million one-year contract, so it sounds like it’s financial.”
Q: How tough is it going to be get down to the 53-man roster?
VERMEIL: “It’s always tough to get to 53. It’ll come down to a gut feeling or how guys play. Sometimes it comes down to special teams.”
Q: How did Kendrell Bell play?
VERMEIL: “Special. Quick. I said to him today, I want to see what happens when you move that quick when there’s someone you don’t like in front of you. There should be a pretty good impact.”
Q: Will he get that chance Friday?
VERMEIL: ‘He’ll get that chance Friday.”
Q: How long do you expect to play him?
VERMEIL: “I haven’t talked to Gun but I would imagine the first quarter.”
Aug 30, 2005, 6:15:40 PM
DICK VERMEIL: “It was tough to see Shaunard Harts go. He was thrown into 17 games or so in the four years he’s been here. He did a good job. But that’s all part of this business. Same with Quinton Caver.”
Q: Are the safeties that are gone good news for Jerome Woods? Is he safe yet?
VERMEIL: “Jerome Woods? I always thought he was. I never had any plans to send him out of here. He’s a good football player when he’s healthy and he provides us depth and the ability to start if the starter is playing well. He also provides us with competition if he can play it better. He’ll do some things he hasn’t done in recent years like help with the (special) teams. But we all know he can play when he’s healthy.”
Q: Trent Green did not practice today. Is he going to play at all on Friday?
VERMEIL: “I’ll know better tonight or tomorrow morning. He’s going through a battery of tests. Like I said yesterday, some of these tests just aren’t five minute deals. They take sophisticated equipment and sophisticated people to administer them. We’ll know a lot more tomorrow.
Q: What about Dante Hall? Is his injury worse than you thought?
VERMEIL: “Initially I thought it was just going to be a couple of days. But he’s better today. He ran striders and gassers today and felt good running in a straight line. I think he’s fairly doubtful for the game Friday night but I think he’ll be ready to go next week.”
Q: How did Freddie Mitchell look to you?
VERMEIL: “He looked ok. I watched him too. It didn’t look like he favored his knee anyway. He was working hard and having fun and caught the ball when it was thrown to him. He did all right.”
Q: What do you need to see of him Friday to make this team?
VERMEIL: “I think we need to see if he was as good as he was. Not having coached him you never really know how he really was, only from what you saw of him on video tape. We know he was a first round pick; we know we had him as a first round pick; we know he’s made big catches in championship games and in Super Bowls. He’s got that kind of experience and poise. Now, it’s just whether he’s healthy and can catch on in a few days to impress us enough to let someone go in his place.”
Q: Peerless Price and Peter Warrick were cut today. Any interest in those guys?
VERMEIL: “I didn’t know about those guys. We had to let three guys go today – more than at other positions because when you play your fourth pre-season game you normally plan on playing your starters so many reps and then take them out. So, you have to have enough people to play a competitive game the rest of the game. We had more wide receivers than we had other positions and had some guys dinged elsewhere. That’s why so many receivers went.”
Q: What would be your plans if Trent can’t go? Is Huard back?
VERMEIL: “Huard hasn’t been given the go-ahead to play. However, he went through quarterback drills today.”
Q: What about Todd Collins? He’s throwing the ball, I see.
VERMEIL: “He’s gripping and throwing the ball about 15 yards. But, no, we’ll be very fortunate if we have him for the Jets game.”
Q: What tests did Green do today?
VERMEIL: “I can’t tell you. I really haven’t talked to Dr. Browne myself. Carl has and he said they’re finishing up one study and there’s one more they have to give him. We’ll have some answers or the answer is there’s nothing wrong.”
Q: Is there more concern for you today than yesterday?
VERMEIL: “I’m always concerned when you look out on the field and your starting quarterback’s not out on the field. You always have those concerns.”
Q: Is there even more concern that it’s numbness and not pain?
VERMEIL: “I don’t know. I get numbness in my left foot all the time – my whole foot and the back of my heel. It’s due to a sciatic nerve problem. But we don’t think Trent’s is due to a sciatic nerve problem.”
Q: What if it was that? How would that affect the way he plays? How does it affect you?
VERMEIL: “Well, if he couldn’t play it’s a big hurt, but we don’t anticipate that type of finding.”
Q: Do you know more today than you did yesterday?
VERMEIL: “I don’t. I think I will soon.”
Q: Letting Harts and Pile go who have made some starts for you the last couple of years, is that a comment on the play of William Bartee at safety?
VERMEIL: “First we brought Sammy Knight in. Then we put William Bartee in there and it looks like he’s going to be able to play that position and play it well. We’re only going with four safeties and when you play the Rams who use four wideouts a lot; you need four corners in the game all the time. When you take the two starters out you need four corners beyond that. That’s why you let safeties go and keep corners.”
Q: Any update on Corey Simon?
VERMEIL: “His name was mentioned in the building today. I don’t know if we checked the bank account or talked with his agent. But he didn’t sign (in Philadelphia) because of money. I don’t know what kind of money we have left to start over on something like that at this time. It would be great to have him because he’s a great football player.”
Q: Would you be willing to ask players to restructure something to make room for him?
VERMEIL: “That’s Carl’s and Denny Thum’s thing.”
Q: But you understood that his problem is all financial?
VERMEIL: “Well, he turned down a $5 million one-year contract, so it sounds like it’s financial.”
Q: How tough is it going to be get down to the 53-man roster?
VERMEIL: “It’s always tough to get to 53. It’ll come down to a gut feeling or how guys play. Sometimes it comes down to special teams.”
Q: How did Kendrell Bell play?
VERMEIL: “Special. Quick. I said to him today, I want to see what happens when you move that quick when there’s someone you don’t like in front of you. There should be a pretty good impact.”
Q: Will he get that chance Friday?
VERMEIL: ‘He’ll get that chance Friday.”
Q: How long do you expect to play him?
VERMEIL: “I haven’t talked to Gun but I would imagine the first quarter.”