Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski addresses the media during his interview at Patriots headquarters for Super Bowl XLII in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 30, 2008.
(on building off his great rookie season)
"I think the best thing that helped was being on a good team with guys who know how to win and expect to do good things. The upper-class guys that we have, who are so professional, know how to deal with distractions and everything else. They know how to win. It's contagious. When everybody on your team is hitting in baseball, you're going to get a hit, too. That's the way I feel when the team is playing well. It's makes it feel like I am going to play well. You don't want to be the guy who messes it up for this team. I think everybody feels that way. Coach (Bill) Belichick tells us all the time, 'Do your job and trust that the guy next to you will do his.' I am not worried about anybody's else's job. I am just worried about mine, so they don't have to worry about me."
*(on if he wants to hit a game-winning Super Bowl kick) *
"It doesn't matter. I just want to win, whatever it takes to win. If we win 45-0, I don't care. It doesn't matter what it is for me; I just want to win. Whatever helps the team out ā and if it comes to (a game-winning kick situation) ā I want to pull through for my team."
*(on how he relaxes knowing it's the Super Bowl) *
"I am always pretty relaxed out there, whatever the situation. It doesn't matter what situation, I have to be relaxed and focused on what I have to do. There is pressure on every kick I have to make every week. Just because it's the Super Bowl, that's not going to be on my mind when I am on the field. This is a game. It's a game we have to win. That is how I am approaching it. I don't think of it any differently. Last week was a game that led to the Super Bowl. When I actually get out there and play the game, it doesn't seem any different than when I was playing in high school. So, I just attack it like that and do my best to help the team win."