Head Coach Scott Linehan
July 25,
2008
(Open Remarks)
“Based on how we traveled here, today was
really the official first day of camp, so we had a lot of meetings today. They
handled it great, in a business- like fashion today, and got a lot of work done.
It’s good to see everyone back out there. It’s good to see (T) Orlando Pace back
out there playing. It does a lot for how you feel about the team. (DE) Leonard
Little, (DL) Adam Carriker, all the guys that have been missing from the lineup
for awhile, that was great. One note, I really though (WR) Keenan Burton really
had a great day. When you put pads on, guys really start to stand out and play
football in this game. If I was going to go on the first day, I would say he’s
got a pretty good handle on things. I’m very excited about that. I think as a
group or as a whole, the team came out and we got a lot of work
done.”
(On the status of T Orlando Pace)
“There are a lot of things
we can do with (T )Orlando Pace, we just aren’t going to do as many. We’re going
to play it by ear with them, probably more on the conservative side for right
now, and just see how it goes. We have plenty of time to keep working. I think
he’s in excellent shape.”
(On contract updates)
“Obviously, 39 (RB Steven Jackson)
wasn’t here today, his agent informed (President of Football Operations and
General Manager) Jay Zygmunt this afternoon that he wasn’t going to be here. My
hope is that everything will be resolved soon. I know there is a business side
of things that sometimes comes into play, but I’m totally confident that things
will work out sooner than later. As far as (WR) Donnie Avery, there was no news
as he’s obviously not here. There was no news from their end; it would certainly
serve him good to get in here though. I think it’s really important for a young
player like that, that’s learning our system to not miss any practice. I’m
hopeful that will get resolved quickly.”
(On WR
Keenan Burton’s thoughts on Avery missing camp)
“Its one of the best
motivators in sports, so we will leave it at that.”
(On RB Steven Jackson not being at training camp)
“He didn’t
miss anything and we’ve had a great off season. Things happen and when he said
he wasn’t going to make the trip I knew something was going on, but I was hoping
that something would work out and I still believe that. I know we have had a lot
of dialogue with his representative and it has been fairly positive and I don’t
anticipate that it won’t be resolved.”
(On how he found out that Jackson wasn’t making the trip)
“He
said that he wasn’t going to be on the plane, so he gave me a heads up. I try to
be a positive thinker and hope that there will be nothing like a ‘hold-out’ or
anything, but I also understand the nature of this business and I’m hopeful that
everything will get resolved quickly. “
(On Jackson’s contract)
“No, he didn’t say anything about
that and everyone can put two -and -two together in regards to what its about
but I have so much respect for Steven and he was respectful with letting me know
he wasn’t going to be on the plane. Our focus was on the rest of the guys that
were here getting ready for the opening day of training camp. “
(On competition between players)
“Every competitor does and
no player knows or feels he has his position locked up. (WR) Dante Hall had a
great off season and was one of the bright spots. He looks like he is in really
great shape and I can tell he worked hard during the off season. I think
competition is felt by every player whether they have been to the Pro Bowl or
are starters because there are some guys out there playing the same position and
it brings out the best in all of us.“
(On WR Derek Stanley and the competition between wide
receivers)
“It really helps and makes him much more comfortable knowing the
system and the speed of the game. He came from a small school although I don’t
think that was really a big issue with him. It was more of being consistent and
getting yourself ready to go each practice. All young players have highs and
lows. I see more of a confident player and a guy that has worked hard on the
mental side of the game so he could play fast.
(On if G Richie Incognito and C Brett Romberg will have equal
playing opportunities)
“I want to be fair to both and it’s really hard to do
and we are going to do the best we can with it. Richie is in a position where
because Brett was playing primarily center and Richie was starting at guard and
working him at center. So Richie is competing at both, but we have to give him
the best shot at center because it requires so much mental work.”
(On CB Fahkir Brown icing his should at practice)
“I don’t
think it’s anything serious. He reached out and went to the ground and strained
it. He will go to evaluation with our doctors tonight, but he nor the doctors
think it is anything serious.”
(On DE Victor Adeyanju not running at the end of
practice)
“He has a tight hamstring, but is manageable and is nothing
serious.”
President Football Operations/General Manager Jay
Zygmunt
July 25, 2008
(On Steven Jackson’s contract situation)
“Earlier this
offseason we approached Steven (Jackson) and his agent to express the (St.
Louis) Rams interest to do a long term deal with him. Steven is not only an
outstanding player but an outstanding person so it was one of the priorities of
the offseason.”
“Steven actually went through an agent change sometime in June
and Wednesday we made Steven an offer that would put him in the top group of
running backs in the NFL. (His agent) Eugene Parker informed me that they were
not accepting the offer and that he would not be showing up today… We don’t know
when he will be showing up.”
“I told Eugene that it was fine, I mention that it was fine but
this would be an unexcused absence and he would be fined. As soon as he comes to
camp we would continue the negotiations but while he is not here, we will not
talk about the contract. When I told him that he understood and I think that
policy is not different with anybody else in the league.”
“Before (Steven) changed his agent, I had meetings set up right
after the draft and then I was informed that he was no longer representing him.
I was not informed that Eugene was representing him until the end of June. We
wanted to do a new contract right after the season but obviously the franchise
was going through some stuff with the passing of Georgia (Frontiere). But I
expressed the fact that (the contract) was something that we wanted to do.
Steven is important and we want to get this done.”
(On his concerns with Steven not being here)
“I think, within
the whole league, there are not a lot of holdouts and we have not had one since,
I think Jerome Bettis in the 1990s. We would like to get Steven signed and we
want him to be here for a long time and hopefully this thing will get all worked
out shortly. Hopefully he will show up and get here. Hopefully he will wear our
jersey for years to come.”
“Everyone else is here and obviously he is a big part of our
football team. He is one of the premiere running backs in the league and our
offer is reflective of that. We look forward to him getting here.”
(On Donnie Avery contract situation)
“This is an unusual
situation. All I have to say is that we offered him more money than the guy
behind him in the second round, a little less than the guy in front and more
than the guy who was drafted in his same spot a year ago. I would like to think
that we will get this resolved soon.”
