Q:Was there ever any doubt you'd be back?
BGE:I'm just happy to be back.
Q:But did you think about where you might end up?
BGE:No, I just prayed and left those things to my agent. I'm just happy to be here working as a Patriot.
Q:You got to do some cool things during the lockout. Did you kind of enjoy that period?
BGE:You know, that was fun, but it's time right now to get ready to play football and get ready for the 2011 season. I'll just be happy to get out here tomorrow and practice with the rest of my teammates.
Q:What were your offseason workouts like? I know you did some boxing.
BGE:I did a little bit of boxing, but most of the time when it got time for football in April and May, I went down to Orlando with Coach Tom Shaw, who use to be a strength and conditioning coach here, so it's kind of some of the same things that I've been used to.
Q:How have you grown as a running back and as a football player under Coach Bill Belichick?
BGE:I just come in every day, work hard, and try to learn everything I can from coach and from all the coaches on the staff and just go out there and work hard every day.
Q:How much pride do you take in the fact that more responsibility has been put on your shoulders every year?
BGE:Like I said, I just always continue to go out there and do my job. That's the only thing you can ask.
Q:Since the running back group is a pretty close-knit group of guys, what was your reaction when you found out both Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk were coming back?
BGE:I was happy for both of those guys. Of course, I kept in close contact with them throughout the whole offseason. I was happy that they came back.
Q:Was Kevin Faulk one of the guys you talked to first when you found out you were coming back here?
BGE:Yeah, of course I've been talking to Kevin the whole time – Kevin, Sammy and Randy [Moss] all those guys.
Q:What are your thoughts on this running back group as a whole with Shave Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris?
BGE:I think it's just going to be fun for us to get out here and, just like I said, work hard every day. No one can really predict the future; we only can come to practice and put our best foot forward out there at practice and work hard.
Q:What were your emotions walking in here for the first time after the lockout?
BGE:I was happy to see everybody. We were all happy to see [each other]. Really, my emotions were just to get to work and get ready to start working on this 2011 season. But like I said, it's going to be one practice at a time and taking it step-by-step.
Q:Was it nice to have a little time off or were you chomping at the bit to get back here?
BGE:With the new rules, we can't really actually participate with the team until tomorrow, as soon as they ratify the agreement. So really, I'm just kind of anxious to get back out there on the field and be with the rest of my teammates.
Q:What were your thoughts when you saw that they drafted two running backs?
BGE:Coach is going to do whatever he feels will help the team win, and whatever he does, I always support it.
Q:The first couple years when you came in you were kind of quiet and now you're more of a leader. Do you feel more comfortable being a vocal leader now?
BGE:I don't know if I would say I was quiet. I might have been quiet to you guys [the media] because I wasn't talking to you as much.
Q:A lot of fans would like to see you here for a long time. Is you coming back just on that restricted free agent tender or was there a longer arrangement?
BGE: Like I said, I let the [agents] and everybody else handle the contracts. Of course, I'm keeping the contract situation out of the news. I'll let them handle that.
