Q. Anytime there is a change in the starting lineup the replacement is being put in there for a reason, to correct something. How much extra pressure does that put on you knowing that you are being put in this spot?

A. This is the NFL, pressure comes week in and week out. As a team and as a member of this team, everybody has to be prepared to play whether you are a starter or not. We look at it as if you are first or second string you are going to be a starter because it only takes one play for you to come up in that starting 11. Regardless whether or not I was starting this week, that is how I practice. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.

Q. What was your reaction when you found out?

A. It’s OK. I practice as if I was the starter. It is something that I pride myself on, practicing hard. When coach finalized it, it wasn’t a big deal. I make sure that’s how I practice and carry it over to the game.

Q. This defense has given up a lot of big plays over the three-game losing streak. What do you think you can add to this defense to help stop them?

A. Not to give up the big play, play solid football and get back to the things we were doing weeks one through five. Playing the ball well, running to the ball and making sure that we don’t give up big plays.

Q. Do you feel like you are completely up to speed on the defense?

A. I completely feel up to speed. If I wasn’t, I don’t think the coaches would make me a starter. That shows the confidence they have in me. I am just trying to go out there and live up to it.

Q. Was this a tough transition to this defense?

A. You go from three different coordinators in three years it is going to be different. Coach Dave Merritt brought me along smoothly. My teammates, (Antonio) Pierce, Michael Johnson, C.C. Brown, have been talking to me constantly. (Corey) Webster, making sure that we are on the same page. When you have teammates out there that constantly talk to you and make sure that you are on the same page, it works out well.

Q:  How did Michael Boley and Chris Canty come though?

A:  They had a pretty good day; they had a pretty good day, yeah.  We are putting ‘questionable’ on them, but they did about half and they seemed to come through each day pretty well.

Q:  Would they have any limitations on them if they could play on Sunday? 

A:  We’ll see. You would have to see what situations come up and so on and so forth.

Q:  Is this kind of an "all hands on deck" week?

A:  Well, as I said earlier in the week, it is the game before a bye week so you do have an opportunity there to look at it that way – as a one-game schedule or however you want to do it. That is the way that I kind of said it.

Q:  It appears you are making a change at safety?

A:  We are going to start Aaron Rouse, yes.

Q:  What was the thought on that?

A:  There was no thought. CC can play both sides and Michael has played. We have three guys, they all play a lot.  The third safety played 26 snaps the other day. So we are just going to try to maneuver around a little bit and defend the deep ball better – that’s all. 

Q:  We have asked you a lot about Brown, but how has Rouse played?

A:  He has done OK. He is still trying to fully understand what is expected and what the new language is – the new language of our defense and what his responsibilities are. But I see a tall, fast athlete that can certainly contribute.

Q:  What does he do that allows you to defend the deep ball better?  Is it the speed?

A:  No, I just think that – it is just the ability to play the ball in the air and we’ll see. It means that we are going to have to put him in the game to see how that is going to be.

Q:  Does the opponent have a role in this?

A:  No, -- I’m sure it does on a weekly basis but it is more or less, just again, us trying to improve; trying to get better.

Q:  ….since this is a team that does throw the ball downfield on you?

A:  Well, they do.  And they have big receivers.

Q:  If Boley is ready to play Sunday, would he be ready to resume the starting role that he had before he got hurt?

A:  We’ll see.  It wouldn’t necessarily have to be that way, but we’ll see. 

Q:  How about Mario Manningham?

A:  He seems to be OK. Yeah, he practiced. I think he is on track.

Q:  Is there any possibility that you might try some of the cornerbacks at safety if this doesn’t work out?

A:  I wouldn’t answer that one, to be honest with you. That would be something strategy wise. I wouldn’t want to advertise what we are doing that way.

Q:  A couple of guys were talking about how Bill Sheridan was more hands on this week with his coaching? Did you notice that at all? Was that something you guys talked about?

A:  I think he has been pretty much hands on every week. I don’t see – we have great confidence in our coaches, position coaches, but in the ultimate, the coordinators are responsible. But I think that, for example, our walk throughs, our jog throughs, those things – there is a lot of teaching that goes on there. And I haven’t seen anything that was different from any other week. 

Q:  Was it a good week of practice overall?

A:  I think the energy was good; I think it was good.

Q:  Did you do the leadership council meeting this week?

A:  I’m about to.  If I get out of here, I’ll see if I can make it on time so I don’t get fined.

Q:  How do the Chargers use Shawne Merriman?  Is he roaming from side to side, or is he pretty much in the same spot?

A:  Shawne is an athletic enough guy to do whatever they need him to do.  We are going to have our hands full with Shawne.  They move him around.  Sometimes he is off the ball, five yards deep.  Sometimes he is playing different sides.  He is a good player, I’ll tell you that.  So we are going to have to keep our eye on him.

Q:  Has Coach Coughlin changed up anything this week motivationally or psychologically with the team? 

A:  Coach Coughlin told us what we need to do and what he sees on the field that is not showing.  And we just try to carry what he told us from this week.  And what he needed us to do, we just try to carry it over to the game.  I think yesterday and today were both solid days of practice.  Guys had a lot of energy and were flying around and making some plays.  So I think this is going to be a good week for us.

Q:  Antonio Pierce was talking earlier this week and he said the way things are going this is almost like a Super Bowl for you guys.  Do you agree with that?

A:  No question.  I don’t ever remember losing three games in a row.  So a lot of guys around here realize that in five years they have never really been part of losing three games in a row and we have to do something about it.  And a lot of guys are willing to step up and go out and make plays.

Q:  Each of the last few losses you have been running really well at the beginning of the game and then the team gets behind and they kind of have to get away from the run.  Is that frustrating?  Do you wish they would stay with the run a little bit longer?

A:  No question.  I always want to stay with the run.  I’m a back and that is just how it goes.  I have a good team around me, we have great receivers, and the quarterback is very, very, very good.  We have good offensive linemen.  We try to use everybody to the best of our ability to make sure that we can give us a better chance of winning.

Q:  Compared to some of the teams that you have played lately, is this a Charger team that does a lot of stuffing in the box again, too?  Or are they a little bit more soft in terms of how they play their guys?

A:  This is copy-cat league. The Chargers are going to look at what Philadelphia did, look at what New Orleans did.  They are going to look at what the Cardinals did and they are going to try to get their own version of what they did against us to try to make it work. That is what this league is all about.  And that is why if you don’t come out and hit somebody in the mouth when they are blitzing real quick and discourage them from doing it, they are going to keep doing it. So we are just looking forward to a lot of pressure and we are going to block it up and get the ball down the field.

Q:  Similar to what you saw from Dallas earlier in the year?

A:  It is kind of like the step sister of Dallas. They kind of do a lot of the same things. They have Merriman. But they use him a lot different than Dallas uses DeMarcus Ware.   So he runs around and makes a lot of plays; not that DeMarcus doesn’t because he really does. We kind of know how to block up their scheme because we play against Dallas twice a year for the last five years. It is definitely going to be a challenge for us. We have a good team that is coming in here – both on offense and defense. So it is going to be a big challenge for us to come out and try to get this game. 

Q:  Numbers are everything, obviously.  But would a 100-yard game kind of boost everyone’s spirits, do you think – the offensive linemen, the running backs, everybody?  That is something that you guys are used to around here.

A:  Yeah, I’ll tell you what, if anybody is due for one, it is definitely me. We go out; we do what we have to do to try to win the game.  And the last three weeks we haven’t done enough.  We haven’t wanted it bad enough. We have been outplayed and it is time for that to change. We have to come out and be the team that we know that we are.  We are a very good football team and everyone in this locker room knows that.  And we have to come out and play like that on Sunday.

Q:  I don’t imagine in your wildest dreams you ever would have thought it would be past mid-season and you would still be looking for that first 100-yard game.

A:  I would never even imagine that.  If you would have told me at the beginning of the year, I would have told them, ‘bury you.’  But it is what it is.  I’m been running hard, I’ve been doing the best that I can and taking what they have been giving me and working and trying to make something of it. 

Q:  You had some good runs the past three weeks, though.  Have you felt differently these past three than earlier in the season?  Is there something changing there?

A:  Not really.  Just getting in there and running and just hit it.  The holes aren’t there very long, and when they are there you have to hit them.  I think is what changes – I see one hole, I don’t try to look for another one – try to get a bigger gain – I hit the first one that I see.  So that is pretty much all that changed.

Q:  Is there a little bit of a hesitation in reading the holes?

A:  Well the game is too fast to be able to get all of those reads and look where you are going. It is way too fast for us. You have to pick one and go.

Q:  Do you know LaDainian Tomlinson?

A:  I know him as a football player. I have never really been around him or anything like that. I imagine that he is a great guy. Hell of a football player. It is going to be interesting to see what happens because they have a lot of talent. 

Q:  You mentioned that the team needs to get back to playing football – being the team that it was.  Are you seeing that this week in practice – are you making strides to getting back to where you think you guys should be?

A: No question. Guys are running around, flying around, making a lot of noise. Everyone has been that guy this week – to get on someone else when they are not doing it right – make them do it the right way. I said on Wednesday morning that I was going to be that guy to come in here and jump on people’s back when it doesn’t look like they are working hard. And about 40 other guys had the same mentality. So it was crazy. 

Q:  There has been more of a sense of urgency this week?

A:  There has definitely been more of a sense of urgency and I think guys have really realized that we have lost the last three games. And it just can’t be that way around here. This is New York. You can’t --- not three in a row. Don’t lose at all. And I think this is a team that realizes the situation that we are in and go on.

Q. Does Tom change much when the team is in a losing streak compared to a winning streak?

A. Not really, he gets a little bit more intense but the message is still the same. What he expects of this team is still the same, so I would say no.

Q. I just asked Coach Sheridan about some of the miscommunication that has been mentioned, and he said we should ask the players.

A. There are just certain plays where we might have been not necessarily on the same page. We have gotten that straight, we have had a great week of practice thus far with the linebackers, safeties, corners and defensive line being on the same page. So hopefully that issue we can kind of throw it in back of the bag.

Q. The Chargers offense likes to throw the ball down the field a lot. Does that mean Rivers is holding the ball longer and will give you more of an opportunity for sacks?

A. You know what, I am going to stop using that as an excuse. It doesn’t really matter anymore. My job is to get after the quarterback and that’s what I have to do, regardless if he holds the ball for a second or he holds it for 10. Yeah, they do like to throw the ball down the field, so the opportunity should be there. Regardless of that, I’ve got a job to do and guys got to do it.

Q. LaDainian Tomlinson’s numbers are way down. I have a feeling you guys still have respect for him. What has he showed you on film?

A. Yeah, we have respect for him. He showed us that he hasn’t lost that much of a step. I think, because of the emergence of (Darren) Sproles and they have Jacob Hester, guys that can run the ball, he just isn’t getting the carries that he used to get for whatever reason that is. He still is the LaDainian Tomlinson of old, I think so. I have still seen this year where he made defenders in the open field look very foolish. We are still going to have our hands full with him, Sproles and everybody on that offense. They have a great package that they run with a quarterback that can get the ball just about anywhere. Like I said, we have our hands full.

Q. Has coach Coughlin changed anything up motivationally or psychologically this week?

A. I think there has been just a re-emphasis of let’s make sure we are doing everything right. We aren’t leaving anything unattended to in terms of our preparation, realizing that is how we have won in the past. Our workload in terms of getting ready for our opponent, we have been as good as anybody in terms of being professional and leaving no stone unturned, so to speak. I think if anything, that has been the emphasis. It is something he always does, but I think there has probably been a higher sense of urgency and maybe guys listen a little more attentively.

Q. What do you guys need to do this week to cut down on the amount of turnovers this team has given up over the past few weeks?

A. Nothing specific. I wish there was one thing. It would make it so much easier. You have to be really conscious of how important that ball is. Right now we are doing so many good things, if you can just stop doing some of those bad things, we are going to be difficult to contend with. We are leading the league in big plays, big pass plays over twenty, we’re doing a lot of good things, now just be more consistent. Certainly that consistency expresses itself in cutting down on mistakes and the biggest mistake of all is when you turn it over.

Q. The numbers in the run game aren’t as good as they have been the last couple of years. Is that a product of your guys not playing as well or the game situations?

A. I don’t know. Again, I wish we could figure that out. Certainly we are not as dominant as we have been. We are throwing the ball better, which you would think would actually lead us to have better chances to run the ball. It is certainly something we are emphasizing, something that we know is important to our game and how critical it is to our success. Not only for ourselves offensively, but again, we are second in the league in time of possession, so we are doing those types of things. Anything we can do to help the defense by holding onto the ball helps our team.

Q. San Diego’s defense is ranked pretty low in the league, but the last few weeks they have been better. Have you seen that improvement?

A. Unfortunately, yes. Unfortunately, they are playing much more aggressively, much more physical. (Shawne) Merriman looks, in particular, to be really raising his level. I don’t know if health-wise, it looks like he is getting back to where he was. So, yeah they are playing much better football over the last few weeks than they were earlier on.

Q. That being said, how important is it to get Brandon (Jacobs) going and set the tone and show how physical you guys can be?

A. Yeah, I think that is always critical. The better we can do in that it just helps set everything up. It establishes the tenor of the game. It gets everybody excited when they see him running the ball with physical force and the prowess that he has. It certainly sets up some opportunities for throwing the ball down the field for some big plays. If we can get that going, it certainly enhances everything, not only offensively, but I think the whole team benefits.

Q. He has started well the last couple of weeks, but when you guys have gotten down it seems hard to stick with the running game. If that situation presents itself again, are you more inclined to stick to the running game?

A. No, I think it has been just the opposite. We haven’t run the ball very well in the beginning. We have run the ball after we have started throwing it. That is really what has helped him. He has been a beneficiary of the throwing. What we would like to see is us to start off the game running the ball better and I think that would allow, again, it is hard to be too critical because we are second in the league in time of possession, it is not like we aren’t doing our fair share. But if we can do more, we are willing to do whatever it takes to get a ‘w’ so if that is a more effective component of what we are doing, I think it will enhance our chances of winning the game.

Q. How similar is this defense to the one you saw in Dallas in the beginning of the year?

A. That is a good question. There are definitely some similarities. They have obviously put their own stamp on it and he has tweaked it and moved in a different direction in a couple of different areas. But you can see the genesis is from the Dallas, the Wade Phillips tree. That is kind of the starting point, like all defenses or offenses, but then they have a tendency to veer off in their own direction based on the coordinator or other coaches that are there. But, there is definitely a similarity and that is definitely the starting point.

Q. Those quick hit runs to the house, does that kind of surprise you because they look like some quick-hitters, no pulling guards or anything like that?

A. Right, on both of those we were stunting and you are right, the ball broke the line of scrimmage, so obviously there was a breakdown in the front. But, you certainly never anticipate the ball going that length because that is why you have three levels of defense. Totally shocking. It’s not that the ball is never going to break the line of scrimmage, because guys are getting blocked and that kind of stuff, but you certainly never expect it to go the distance like that.

Q. The majority of big plays the last several weeks, have they been due to more mental errors or physical errors?

A. That is a fair question. To me, it has been more physical. It isn’t like the guys are busting the defense, we’re just turning guys loose. Some of them have been outstanding plays by the offense. I’d say it is just more on individual plays, maybe an individual guy either not able or executing particularly well on that particular play. It isn’t like guys are not executing the defense, one guy is running one defense and some guy is running something else, that has not been the norm, no.

Q. With the Chargers’ propensity to throw deep balls how critical is it to cut down on those big plays this week?

A. I am hoping that they don’t throw the ball down the field at all. No, it will be very critical for us. As much as anybody we have played, they really, really throw the ball down the field. Their numbers are astronomical as far as volume of big throws that they have had. Our guys understand that and it is very easy to pinpoint the backend guys and say they have to handle those deep throws. As you know, it is a collective effort in regards to putting pressure on the quarterbacks, and weave out receivers at the line of scrimmage so they don’t get down field as easily and all that kind of stuff. Everybody is tied in, in trying to defend those kinds of plays.

Q. Has coach Coughlin changed up anything psychologically or motivationally this week for his coaching staff or his roster?

A. He hasn’t needed to. I think everybody in the building recognizes where we are and how we need to respond. He has a team full of guys who have tremendous character, and I would like to think his coaching staff is the exact same way. He’s stated the obvious, which is we are on a three game skid and we need to do something about it, so that is what we plan on doing.

Q. He is pretty much the same guy in terms of his approach and personality this week?

A. Yes, again, maybe with the exception of making sure we understand the urgency of us getting back on track.

Q. When you have a team that has been one-sided offensively -- they haven’t run the ball very well, they do throw the ball well -- is there a danger that if you look too much at the passing game that the running game can come up and hit you?

A. Yes and we really are not looking at it that way. I know numbers-wise they are a more prolific passing team, but they have an excellent rushing offense. They don’t maybe utilize it as much or maybe have as much mileage but we certainly aren’t disregarding their run game. We will be playing accordingly.

Q. You mention the three levels of the defense and you expect the ball to break the line of scrimmage but those other two levels, when you talk about Darren Sproles and how quickly he can go, do you say something to those guys to make sure they are at least slowing him down?

A. Yes. It is something that you are coaching every day on the practice field aside from the x’s and o’s and the assignments. You are always coaching your second and third level players about leverage on the ball. He is a dynamic, explosive player, so that is an extra emphasis this week for us.

Q. When people like Justin Tuck and Antonio Pierce say there is a problem with communication, what do they mean?

A. You have to ask them. I don’t know what they are talking about. They haven’t come to me regarding that. I am not trying to shut the question down but particularly I don’t know, you have to ask them. They could explain it to you, what they are referring to.

Q. You sense no problem in communication?

A. No, no. But, if there is, I would love to hear about it.

Q. Since Kenny Phillips got hurt, there has been a question with the safeties. With Aaron Ross coming back, is there any thought of maybe moving Aaron back to safety or Terrell Thomas back there to help out?

A. I think all kinds of personnel ideas have been bantered around. First of all, until he comes back, there will be nothing happening that way. But I think when you hit a skid like this, you think of all, you brainstorm all kinds of scenarios. We only have three safeties on our active roster, which is pretty normal. You usually have more corners anyways. But, nothing is going to happen until those guys can come back anyway.

Q. Giving up 40 points in two of the last three games and the three-game losing streak, you knew there would be bumps, but I don’t know if you could have expected these big of bumps. Is this really unexpected?

A. Yes, especially like you said, not only the points but the volume of the big plays. People are going to get plays on you, but the sheer volume of big plays, that has been our biggest nemesis. Even from when we were 5-0, we still, a couple times in a game, there are a couple breakout plays and you are always trying to coach against that. The players are trying to defend that stuff. But, it has stockpiled on us the past couple weeks and consequently we lose three games in a row and get 40 points scored on us.

Congratulations to the Yankees. What can I do for you?

Q:  Chris Canty and Michael Boley – no setbacks at all?

A:  No, not at this point.  They did well.

Q:  Did they do even more?

A:  They probably did a little bit – maybe a little more.  They are basically 50 percent, but they are getting their reps and they are running.

Q:  Those are two guys that didn’t practice a lot even before their injuries.  Is the Medical Department electing to keep them out this weekend?

A:  They didn’t practice a lot before their injuries? 

Q:  Boley and Canty

A:  Before their injuries? Boley was on the field for about what three weeks a couple of weeks ago.

Q:  Canty anyway.

A:  Yeah.  If they keep going, we will see how it is.

Q:  The McCoy touchdown on Sunday where you said it was a gap-sound thing.  It looked like mass confusion up there. 

A:  You keep asking me that question. 

Q:  Have you figured out how that happened at all?

A:  Yeah, we didn’t cover the gap. There was some discussion, but we didn’t get in the gaps that we were supposed to and then he was clean through the gap. Once he got through the gap, he should have still been tackled. We took poor angles.

Q:  I guess what I mean is that you have new parts in the back – in the secondary.  But all of those guys up front have been around.  How could it be confusion if these guys have been around for a while?

A:  They have to get directed; they have to get a call. They have to get a call to tell them what we are playing up front.  So for whatever reason – but it is no excuse, believe me. There is no excuse. There were three guys right there.  Nobody made the play. Whether they were in the gap, not in the gap, knock the blocker back into the gap – do that.

Q:  Has there been a problem with calls getting in on time or anything like that?

A:  Not at all; not at all.  Occasionally there is a formation which has to be adjusted to.

Q:  What have you seen from the Giants defense on film the last few weeks that might be different than what they were doing the first four or five games?  They have obviously struggled a whole lot the last couple of weeks.

A:  I think they had some injuries and battled through that.  And I think probably the biggest thing is they are giving up some big plays.  Other than that -- it is not like – yeah, things are just going up and down the field.  They have given up some big plays that teams have been able to put some points on the board, which has been uncharacteristic of that defense.  But you go throughout, really, the whole course of the season.  Obviously we understand what this defense is about.  You still look at them and where they stand throughout the league in defense – both run and pass.  And we are going to have our work cut out for us.  I think each week is a new week.  I have been asked multiple times about ‘do you catch them at a good time or a bad time’ because they have lost three in a row.  And I think each week is a new week.  Obviously any time you have to come to New York to their place to play in a big game for both teams – both teams are going to strive to be at their best.

Q:  Donovan McNabb said that he studied their safeties on film and saw things that he could exploit.  What do you think he saw?

A:  Well, again, they have given up some big plays.  I’m not sure exactly what he saw as far as enough to detail it – what he saw.  I think they have given up some big plays.  There have been some holes in some zones that he was able to take advantage of and that teams have.  But at the same time it is a sound defense that gives you multiple looks.  I think anytime you play as many different looks and do as many different things as they do, that can work two different ways.  Obviously they can give an offense a lot of trouble and create a lot of pressure and really cause offenses to struggle at the same time.  It can leave yourself vulnerable for some big plays.  But I don’t think – I can’t image there was anything in particular Donovan necessarily saw other than, again, some teams have been able to get some big plays.  But it is a sound defense, obviously with a tremendous pass rush.  And, again, we are going to be up for the challenge, but we know what this team is and is capable of.

Q:  Today Eli said that he first met you at the Manning Quarterback Camp.  I was wondering what you recall from that and what you learned from which Manning?

A:  Yeah, well, that is the first time down there at that camp – I believe it was for my senior year in college – or our senior year.  It was really a treat to go down there and work around a bunch of pro quarterbacks and college quarterbacks and players.  And it is really a first class camp they run down there.  Being around Peyton and Eli – those guys – it was fun. Being a college senior and it was fun just up close seeing those guys throw and work and just getting to know them a little bit.  It was a good.  The first thing that stood out for me - Eli – the first thing I remember him telling was, ‘Man, could he really throw it.’  Obviously that is a broad statement, but it just flies out of his hand.  He can really throw it and it was, again, a treat to just to work with a handful of those guys.

Q:  He said that you guys texted each other once in a while.  Do you consider yourself close to him? And do you feel your careers are intertwined because of the draft day trade?

A:  Yeah, well, I wouldn’t say we are close.  But, yeah, we have exchanged a few texts.  I wanted to tell him congratulations on the win – the Super Bowl.  And there have been a few other texts here back and forth more or less wishing good luck or congratulations on a win or something of that nature.  But certainly we are intertwined somewhat based on that draft day trade and how that all unfolded.  Yeah, I would like to think it has worked out for both of us.  You are always going to be linked in some ways to guys in your draft class, maybe even moreso because of how that went down.  But certainly a heck of a quarterback and a player.  And obviously he is still an ascending player.  He has obviously accomplished a lot already but seems to still improve year to year.

Q:  What do you remember about that day?  It seemed like for five minutes there you were kind of confused as to what was going on because the Giants had picked you but hadn’t talked to you.  What was going on there in your mind?

A:  I was right there at my mom and dad’s house in Raleigh.  I had felt all along it was going to be the Chargers or the Steelers.  I can’t say I felt it but that was kind of – as you kind of lay out what the day is – how it is going to unfold you felt like – or at least you hoped – it was going to be one of those two teams.  I had had a workout with New York.  They came to Raleigh – Coach Coughlin and we had a work out.  But you know when you feel a team’s interest and really it was the other two teams – both San Diego and Pittsburgh – I felt the strongest interest from.  So I think - when the Chargers took Eli first and then I was waiting – you are wondering what is going to happen – if they are going to make a move.  And when the Giants took me I kind of had a feeling both just from what had gone on in the past few months and what agent Jimmy Sexton had said about hey, "You may not be a Giant very long, but if it doesn’t work out I think they obviously will be content if they end up having to keep you."  But I had never spoken from one person from the Giants front office – still to this day on that draft day and so on.  So I knew something was up.  Usually you at least talk to somebody.  So as the next half-hour, hour, took its course – obviously we know what happened after that.

Q:  Will there be any added emotion because of that?  It just seems a little bit different.

A:  There really won’t be.  Again, I never felt a tie or a bond with the Giants in any way or that, "I thought you wanted me and now you are trading me away."  There was never anything like that.  Again, I know it wasn’t just a straight trade – me for Eli or vice versa.  There were some very key picks and players involved in what the Chargers were able to acquire and, honestly, players that have had a huge impact over this past six years and continue to have.  So I’m sure both teams are happy the way it worked out.  But, no, there will be nothing – there is no hard feeling or anything from that manner.  I think it is fun, however, anytime you compete against – obviously I have to worry about that Giant defense and playing and managing the football game.  But certainly any time you are going against a team led by a quarterback regardless of whether you are linked or not – but a guy the caliber of Eli, it is always fun.  And then I think throw in the fact, as we have been discussing – you are linked in that way.  It does make for some nice – any additional sidebar things that you enjoy about a game – just being part of it – it definitely adds to it.

Q. How do you feel you made out of the deal at least climate wise?

A. Very well, very well. That is one thing, for sure, from a weather a standpoint, it seems to be a little more laid back out here on the west coast, which fits me. I am kind of a low key, family man who kind of likes to lay low. You throw in the 75 and sunny mostly everyday and it is not a bad place to be.

Q. Did you play in the ’05 game or will this be your first game against the Giants?

A. This will be my first one. That was my second year and Drew (Brees) was still the quarterback when we played the Giants at home.

Q. Were you the third quarterback or the backup?

A. I was the backup.

Q. When you were a college senior did you play in the Gator Bowl against Notre Dame?

A. Yeah, college junior. My junior year we played Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.

Q. Do you think that elevated your status in the eyes of scouts and pro personnel people?

A. That was the tail-end of my junior year when we won 11 football games. I think it was a solid year at N.C. State, we got more national attention than we had ever gotten in the past. I think my senior year was really what helped me most. Ultimately, I think the Senior Bowl that the Chargers coached our Senior Bowl team, the south that year. That is really when I got a week to spend with those coaches. I think for me, the combines, the interviews, I felt like I had shown on tape enough to be worthy of playing in this league and playing at a high level, but I think the combine, the meetings, the Senior Bowl, getting to see all the things you can’t see on the tape, just how to lead, and be around the guys, in the huddle and managing all those things, all the intangibles. I was able to help myself throughout those months leading up to the draft.

Q. Vincent Jackson?

A. Vincent, over the last 25-30 games, each and every week he has made tremendous strides. The big plays he is making show it and he is a 6’5, 240 lb. guy that can run. He has always had the ability. I think the place where he has made the most improvement is just understanding our system and understanding the whole passing game and coverages. He has really turned himself into a really good player.

Q. You talk about being linked to Eli and you are also linked to Roethlisberger because of the draft. Does the fact that they each have a Super Bowl ring make it imperative that you get one or how do you feel about that?

A. Quarterbacks and head coaches have a record tied to their name, but all of us in the league, as competitors, that is the common goal we all have: we want to win a championship. That is why you play the game. Those two guys certainly, three between them, have gotten off to a great start. There is nothing that could give me any more drive or could motivate me any harder to want to win a championship. So, what those guys did it doesn’t make me say ‘oh man, I really want to try hard to win one now.’ Certainly, at least through six years, when talked about among those three, the one that hasn’t gotten there. It is a long career and one that you play for a bunch of years. You want to win it every year, but certainly, it doesn’t give any added drive, but certainly, certainly, you know that that is the case, you have been the odd man out at least this far.