NT TED WASHINGTON

(On making it to the Super Bowl)
"This is something all football players want to accomplish. They want to be a top-notch player, go to the Pro Bowl and get into a Super Bowl. Once you accomplish all those, that's it, the height of it all. I'd like to go ahead and win this one and put it on the shelf with the rest of my stuff."

(on if he's surprised by his longevity)
"I'd like to get at least 15 years in. I feel good, with blessings and prayers, but I'm not surprised for a defensive lineman in my position."

(on the championship potential of the team)
"I saw the playoff potential, knowing the team can go to the playoffs every year, but once you get into the playoffs, you never know what can happen. Now, we're the type of team that can win the Super Bowl if we put our minds to it."

(on playing in Houston where his father played)
"That hit me too. Playing here in Houston where my pops played, and now he's sitting and here's his son playing the Super Bowl here. It's funny."

(on Carolina's offense)
"We know they are going to run the ball. The key to it though, is to sit on the run and get to the quarterback and try to get a victory. But knowing the way their coordinator works, whatever comes our way, we'll have to take it on."

(on his feeling this week)
"This was meant to happen for Ted Washington. The only thing left now is to get a Super Bowl ring here this Sunday. Hopefully a new contract will come with this team and try to get back here again."

(on his trade from the Chicago Bears)
"It's always tough when you're getting traded and you don't know about it and then you get injured. You just have to stick with it and say your prayers, count your blessings and get healthy.

At the time I was upset about it because they didn't come directly to me and let me know. They waited until after practice. I went home and then I found out through my wife. I don't think that's the way you should do business, but it's done with, it's over and now I'm here as a starter on a Super Bowl squad."

(on how the trade affected the Bears defense)
"I don't know if it hurt them, but we were close. For the defensive guys, I was one of their leaders. They listened and looked up to me and that's what the young guys needed. At the time, they didn't have a real veteran leader to give them speeches and tell them what it's going to take regardless of what their position was."

(on the Patriots' defensive unit)
"I think there is team unity. The ways the guys interact together. There is no selfishness which is probably the biggest thing. We work together and stay together and that's the way it should be."

(on his potential to make the Hall of Fame)
"I don't know. I haven't really thought about the Hall of Fame. I don't have any control over that. If it happens, then it happens. It is something I would love to have when I retire, but personally, I don't see myself as a Hall of Famer, but I don't know. What do you need to be a Hall of Famer?"

(on being successful in the 3-4 defense)
"I hadn't played in a 3-4 since I left Buffalo. In Chicago, they were running a 4-3 for the past two and a half years. Coach Belichick put me back where I belong in a 3-4 scheme. I fit much better in the 3-4 because that's what I've played in my whole career. It's probably being head up on a guy and forcing a team to stay with a double team. You really can't do much when you have a guy head up and you have to use an extra body to pick on one guy."

(on DL Richard Seymour)
"The way he's going now, if he keeps his head straight, with his work ethic, he's going to be one of the best in the league. He's far ahead of great defensive linemen that I know and have played with. His skills speak for themselves. He still has a lot to learn, but to know what he knows now, he's well ahead of defensive linemen I've known over the years."