Patrick Smyth, Executive Director of Media Relations ([email protected] / 303‐264‐5536) Rebecca Villanueva, Media Services Manager ([email protected] / 303‐264‐5598) Erich Schubert, Media Relations Coordinator ([email protected] / 303‐264‐5503) DENVER BRONCOS OTA QUOTES (5/22/12) CORNERBACK TRACY PORTER On adjusting to play with the Broncos “The defense is a little bit different from New Orleans, but overall at the end of the day, you’re still playing football. I’m just loving the chemistry that we’re developing right now.” On whether they played a lot of man‐to‐man defense in New Orleans “Pretty much. We did a lot more of a cat coverage, so to speak. Here we’re definitely mixing it up a little bit. We’re doing a little of everything. You can’t sit here and say right now we’re more man or we’re more zone. Here we’re doing a little bit of everything.” On his strengths as a cornerback “Maybe my press ability to get my hands on a receiver, being able to run with their routes. A lot of guys nowadays are a lot faster at the receiver position. Being able to stay with those guys in coverage, playing proper technique is one of the strengths I think I bring.” On what he’s learned from CB Champ Bailey “Overall just staying patient, learning what formations and what routes are coming and just having a knack for being around the ball. Champ’s history speaks for itself. It’s been my second practice [with Bailey], so I’m just trying to soak up as much as I can. Any question I think of on the field, I run and ask him. He answers it to the best of his ability because at the end of the day we just want each other to succeed.” On the Saints’ bounty matter “You’re always worried because you were [on that team] but at the end of the day, the Commissioner and the league are going to make their decisions and that’s just something that we had to live with. You can appeal it all you want, but like I said, at the end of the day, those guys are going to make the decisions and you just have to roll with it. It’s all about how you come back. It was definitely in the back of my mind because I played in New Orleans and they were the focal point of the whole issue.” On whether LB Jonathan Vilma received a fair punishment “I can’t say what’s fair and what’s not fair because I’m not in the front office, I’m not the Commissioner. I can only say that Jon is a good friend of mine. There was no instance that I think he would have hurt anybody or anybody on our team playing with the Saints would have hurt anybody. Like I said, I can’t say if it was fair or wasn’t fair. The only thing he can do is appeal it and try to get back out there.” On whether it’s nice to be practicing against an offense instead of individual drills “[It’s] definitely [better] because you’re out there and we basically have to envision a receiver out there running a route and that’s fairly difficult. You’re basically learning the defense—receivers, they can run any route. Coaches can come out and say, ‘They’re going to run this route,’ but you never know what they’re going to run. Being out there against the offense going full speed, that’s definitely a big help.” ©2012 Denver Broncos Football Club. All rights reserved. The individual quotes cited in this document may be used for the purpose of news reporting and other fair uses as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Duplication or posting of this quote sheet, in its entirety, or any other use of this material which is not a fair use as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Denver Broncos Football Club. On whether he’s talked to QB Peyton Manning about his interception in the Super Bowl against the Colts “Not yet. Coming close. Maybe a little bit down the line. Right now I’m just trying to grasp the defensive playbook and he’s trying to take control of that offense. I think once we finally get settled in we’ll have enough time to shoot that little joke in. As of right now, we’re both still learning.” On whether he’ll bring it up if he comes up with a pick‐six in practice “Trust me, I know if you guys are out there and I happen to intercept Peyton and run it back, that’ll be the start of things to come. I’m definitely looking forward to it. Peyton is a great quarterback and a great competitor, just like Drew Brees. To come into an organization with another great quarterback, Super Bowl‐MVP quarterback, I think in my five‐year career, I’ve been spoiled.” On getting his No. 22 from CB Syd’Quan Thompson “It was a little process; we had to talk a few things out. But eventually I kind of talked him into letting me get the number. It had a little a little “history” in New Orleans and I really liked that number. At the end of the day, we worked a pretty good deal out.” On why the number was important to him “Because that’s the number that I had coming into the league, it’s a number that kind of stuck with me and fit me. I just wanted to keep it—I didn’t want to start all over with another number. When people see 22, they think of me. That’s definitely what I want to keep up.” On whether he’s superstitious about the number “Not really (laughing). But like I said, that’s the number that’s grown on me since I’ve been in the league and it’s a number that and it’s a number that I’ve grown to love. I know a lot of history and a lot of comparison can go with wearing the No. 21 because they had a lot of great players that wore the number. Not that I’m one to shy away from being in the spotlight of wearing the number—I just want to have the opportunity to make my own.” On whether he looked up to Deion Sanders “Absolutely. He’s another one of the greatest players in the league. As a matter of fact, he and Champ were two of my favorite players. To have the opportunity to play with one of my favorite players is a dream come true outside of winning another Super Bowl.” On playing with CB Champ Bailey “Champ and I are trying to get on the same page. We’re both trying to make this defense one of the tops in the league and force as many turnovers as possible. Whatever he asks of me that I can help him with—if I can help him with anything—I’m open arms.” On whether he’s in awe of CB Champ Bailey “When I first got here, I was saying to myself, ‘[Dang], I’m playing with Champ Bailey.’ After playing with him, he’s a down‐to‐ earth, humble guy and to answer your question, no, I’m not in awe any more.” On playing against the NFC South this season “It’s definitely going to be competitive. It’s one of the more competitive divisions in the league. There is a history there with every team that finished in last place, the next year they finished in first. It’s definitely becoming a more pass‐happy division with the likes of New Orleans because New Orleans has the spread offense so a lot of teams in the NFC South are adapting to that offense. I definitely tell them that it’s going to be wide open. Expect to get a lot of ball thrown across the field. That’ll give us a great opportunity to force more turnovers.” On the NFL making thigh pads mandatory “I’m a believer in it. I’ve been wearing them since my rookie year.” On whether most defensive backs would be against thigh pads “Yeah because generally they aren’t too worried about getting hit in the thigh or knee, but like I said, myself, I’ve been wearing them since I was a rookie. ©2012 Denver Broncos Football Club. All rights reserved. The individual quotes cited in this document may be used for the purpose of news reporting and other fair uses as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Duplication or posting of this quote sheet, in its entirety, or any other use of this material which is not a fair use as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Denver Broncos Football Club. “We actually just found out in the locker room that they are going to be mandatory. A lot of guys are frowning upon it because they like to not wear thigh and knee pads, but much like wearing shoulder pads and a helmet, it’s a rule of the league and you have to do it.” On why some players don’t like wearing them “Some guys are superstitious to say that wearing the thigh and knee pads slows them down, but for the most part, I think it’s a myth.