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Deion Branch Press Conference Transcript

New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch addresses the media during his press conference at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Q: A lot has been mentioned about playing a team the second time, how big of a factor is it that a month ago you played against this team?  

DB: I think the only thing that we can take from the game is what happened during the course of the game a month ago. This game is going to play out the way it's going to play out once we kick the ball off Saturday. I think the stuff that we both are studying about each other, that's the only thing we can take from that game. Try to better certain plays and try not to do certain things that we did wrong against them; correct the plays that we messed up on. Other than that, I think the game is going to play out the way it's supposed to on Saturday. It's a different game, a different game. Everything is going to be totally different. The tempo is going to be high; guys are going to be very energized and excited about playing in the playoffs. We're all chasing the same goal, though.  

Q: How much does experience help in your approach?  

DB: None.  

Q: None whatsoever?  

DB: None. Prime example last week, I think Pittsburgh going into the postseason was probably the most experienced team that was going into the postseason, besides ourselves. But none. Whatever happens on Saturday, that's what's going to happen, regardless of who is playing. The team that plays the best, makes less mistakes, that's who is going to win.  

Q: Can you talk a little bit about the weather? It's supposed to be cold and windy. Does that have any effect?  

DB: No, ma'am. It's the playoffs. That's what you have to expect around here anyway - for it to be cold if it's going to be cold. They said it was going to be cold this past week but it's been 50s, 60s. We're prepared to play in whatever it throws at us.  

Q: Do you have the advantage over Denver?  

DB: No, ma'am. It's cold in Denver too.  

Q: Bill Belichick talked about the relationship that you have built up over the years with Tom Brady and how you're able to be in a certain spot exactly when Tom needs you to be there. How much of that is chemistry, how much is communication, how much is reps?  

DB: I think it's all. I think that the stuff that we do in the meetings is a big part of it. Then once we get on the practice field, I think that's when the reps come in as far as working with Tom on different looks, different things that we talked about in the meeting room. Once the game happens, everything pretty much flows just like we've been doing in practice. Just going over certain situations with him. It's great; Tom always puts guys in certain positions to make the plays, does certain things with the front line. It's just not only me, this guy works with the front line all the time with doing certain things to better our offense, to better our team.  

Q: Is chemistry overblown between a quarterback and receiver?  

DB: No, I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't say that. I think the thing is, if you have a group of guys working with a quarterback from time-to-time on everything then you'll get great production. If guys think you just throw it out on the football field, that won't happen. It's going to take time; it takes a lot of work, a lot of work.  

Q: How does tempo change come playoff time?  

DB: Well, we'll see. I know what we have to do. Just different things that might go on during the course of the game as far as setting tempo during the course of the game. Our most important thing is starting fast, that's the biggest thing for us. We can't worry about what Denver is doing, we have to worry about what we're doing and control what we can control.  

Q: Describe why Tom Brady is where he is.  

DB: His work ethic. I think the thing that sets him apart, when you get to the NFL, everybody can play football. I'm not saying everybody is good, but everybody can play. But this guy's work ethic, he's a perfectionist. We sit and work on, like I said a long time ago, running slants, hitches. These are things that he works on his three-step drop, making sure, 'Hey Deion, I want you to be at six yards. I need you to be here on this slant route.' We may work on that one play or the play that you always say, 'Hey Deion, you score a lot of touchdowns on this play' or 'Wes, the play you always score a touchdown on.'  These guys constantly work on that play a lot. Just constantly building those reps so you can have the comfort level to make sure that my guy is the right place where I need him to be when I can count on him. We know that he'll make the throw for us.  

Q: Have you noticed anything different in Tom Brady this week? In the intensity level?  

DB: No, he's still the same. He's still the same guy that he was when training camp opened. We're all chasing the same goal. Everybody is in here. He has all of our attention when he's in the huddle talking. We break the huddle and he expects us to do our job and we expect him to do his. Same guy.  

Q: Is it strange that a guy who just won his playoff game, Tim Tebow, is getting more notoriety than a guy who has won 14 playoff games in Tom Brady?  

DB: No, that's how the media builds it. They build the hype for this game and rightfully so, the guy is a great player but I think overall it's not about him, it's about the team. That team is doing a great job of surrounding, doing the things they need him to do so he can be successful; the coaches as well.  

Q: There have been comparisons between the adversity that Tom Brady and Tim Tebow faced coming out of college. Is there any comparison for you?  

DB: No, Tom went in what, the sixth round? Tebow went in the first. It's totally different. I think both of those guys are winners but two totally different guys, totally different guys.  

Q: There's no doubt who you'd rather have?  

DB: Yeah, Tom's my guy. Tom's my guy, period.  

Q: Guys in the locker room have been saying that the postseason is a different mindset. What is it about this team's mindset that is so different than in years past?  

DB: It's a lot. I think we've been faced with so much adversity during the course of the season. Guys showed a lot of resiliency in a bunch of games in the past. Honestly, I don't know how you all had us picked but I don't think anybody had us picked here where we are now. It's all about what the guys think in the locker room. We can't worry about what everybody says outside the locker room. They've been doubting our defense all year long and trust me, that's not what we're worried about. Our guys go out and do what they have to do on the defensive side of the ball. We do what we have to do on the offensive side of the ball and special teams as well. Overall, like I said, I think that the adversity and stuff that's been stacked up against us the entire year, we fought through it and showed a lot of perseverance and that's why we're standing right now.  

Q: How does that mindset compare with the Super Bowl team that you were here with the first time? Do the attitude and mindset compare?  

DB: I would say the attitude is still the same, it's the same. It's just all about that day, that one game - what's our approach. I really wouldn't, I'm not going to sit here and compare the teams to ones I've played with in the past because they're totally different. I think that the guys in this locker room would have the mindset as some of the players that we've played with back in the past; guys approach. I think the most important thing is we're still steered by the same head coach. His delivery is still the same, the guys in the locker room listen and follow his directions and I think that's why we're standing here right now.

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