Many Seahawks players, understandably, weren’t up for talking with the media as they exited the locker room for the last time this season. But here is some of what was said:
DE Cliff Avril
(On looking ahead at what’s next as a football team) Yes—we have a great group of guys. Everyone, for the most part, is returning and that will handle itself. Right now for me, it’s about focusing on the real important things in life—spending time with my family and enjoying them and raising my little boy.
(On using ‘reality’ [Off-season] to get away from football) Yes—If you look at it, we’ve played the most football out of any team in the last two years. So you need a break from this, we definitely need a break from it and I’m going to embrace that and take the break and I’m going to get away from it as long as possible.
WR Doug Baldwin
(On how can he bounce back) I’m going to find the best way possible to get through it. I think in the grand scheme of things, you have to realize that it’s just one game. Obviously, it meant a lot to us and we’re devastated by the outcome—I kept trying to tell myself that it’s just a game, it’s just football, but at the end of the day, I’ve been playing this game for twenty-one years, so it’s a little bit more than just a game to me and to the guys in this locker room. It feels like you’ve lost something that’s a part of you deep inside. So I think I’ll fall back on my principles and not ask why, how I’m supposed to learn from this, move on, get better, and prepare during the off-season.
(On being disappointed, but going forward) Yes—we’re all competitors who’ve faced adversity before and the only way we have to do it is focusing on the task at hand, and not wondering how it happened to us, but wondering how we’re going to bounce back and move forward. Obviously that’s crucial for us right now.
WR Jermaine Kearse
(On his Super Bowl catch) I was watching it the whole time—so as I was falling back, I was kind of aware of where the ball was so I was trying to keep it in range for me to be able to come down with it.
(On his emotions from his catch to Russell Wilson’s interception) it’s difficult—it’s disappointing to go out like that, but we just have to stick together. This team is real special—this is a real special team and I’m so blessed to be a part of it.
(On the last play of the Super Bowl) BB [Brandon Browner] just had a great jam. He quick jammed me the first play before that on the run and we were kind of in the same formation a little bit and he was able to do it again. He was able to jump jam me and cause disruption.
WR Chris Matthews
(On how is his doing and what he’s thinking today as he says bye to his teammates for a while) I just want you guys to know that I’m an extreme competitor so right now, it’s hard and it’s hitting me real hard. I told you guys before, I would have been fine with zero receptions, zero touchdowns, zero tackles on special teams and came out with a win – that would have been great for me. A lot of these guys got to experience the Super Bowl and they have a Super Bowl ring to show for it – I don’t. I’m pretty mad about that. I’m extremely mad about that but we will get over it and I’m going to work off this offseason and come back a better player hopefully. I know for sure, when my mind is set and where I’m at right now; I’m going to do as much as I can and the most that I can.
(On if his four catches and touchdown enhance his opportunity to move up the ladder in terms of moving up on the team) I don’t know. I hope so. If they don’t, like I said, I’m going to come back a different player and I’m going to go to practice and I’m going to try to make them put me where I feel like I should be.
(On being a competitor) Yeah, exactly – I don’t like to lose at anything. You just wait till next year.
TE Tony Moeaki
(On how he describes the closeness of this team compared to others that he’s been on) It was different atmosphere than what I’ve been a part of. This team is so close and that’s a credit to the leaders on the team and the coaching staff.
(On the emotions on the players faces) Yeah, we went through a lot. It’s hard to get to those types of games. Sunday was devastating. But we’re a close team and we will stick together and we will get through this and come back stronger.
(On how long it will take to get over this game) Everyone is going to feel this for a little bit. Some guys will handle it longer than another guy but I think once we get back OTAs or camp and stuff like that – we will start getting back to normal – just getting back in the swing of things.
(On what Pete Carroll said about rebounding from this) We just have to stick together – that’s what got us this far. Why would we change that right now? That’s so true. We just have to stick together. We were one play away from, a yard away from being world champs – to be in that position says a lot about that team so we can build off that.
WR Robert Turbin
(On if waking up today he still finds himself in a state of shock) I mean, yeah – it’s definitely surprising. You play the game over in your mind a little bit and you find that the score doesn’t change. It’s quite shocking because you obviously feel like you should have won the game. We feel like we should be in here celebrating instead of sobbing but we’re not and the Patriots made a play. You have to give them credit.
(On if it’s harder to get over this game because of the way it ended) I don’t know the answer to that. Everybody is different. I think individually you have to find what’s going to help you get over this game the most. There are things in life that are more important than this game. There are other things that are going to come up this offseason that are going to be much more important than the fact that we lost the game that Sunday and those the things that you have to be able to focus on. There is always two ways to go about tragedy or to go about things that don’t go your way. You can either let it take advantage of you and bring you down or you can find a way to allow it to motivate you and push you to be even better than you were before and that’s the way that I’ve always been taught to be – nothing’s ever going to knock me down and keep me down. I don’t think that that’s the way anybody thinks on this football team – that’s what makes us great in the first place. How many times has Coach Carroll lost in a championship game? He could have stopped after the first time or the second time but something keeps him going to continue to coach this game the way he does. There’s something in each player in this locker room and it keeps guys going to keep playing, it keeps them motivated.That’s what the most important part is: to realize we’re preparing for this game.
MLB Bobby Wagner
(On the message from Pete Carroll from the meeting) Just keep your head up and move forward.
(On if the team can respond after the Super Bowl loss) We always respond—so we’ll respond.
(On being able to rally back after this Super Bowl loss) We’ll bounce back.
(On his process to put this season behind him) I’m going to spend time with my family—that’s all.
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