HEAD COACH JOE GIBBS
On going after WR David Patten:
"I probably put our selves in a bind. It was 12:01 when I called David. The bottom line was we didn't have any one else in free agency that we had lined up to go after at receiver. We were going after one person. I started bugging him. I don't think he went to bed that night until about 2 o'clock. I called two or three times. We were talking on the phone but I felt some pressure there because we had made up our mind this was the guy we were going to try and get from a receiver stand point and it is a big deal for us."
On how David Patten fits in with the team:
"David I feel like fits in with us first of all just the kind of person he is. We have done a lot of research and we think that we are getting somebody that is a high quality person. An eight year veteran in the league he has fought his guts out. As we have talked about his history the guy came from a school and winds up going through Canada and fighting his guts out to get a chance. A little bit of everything, the Arena League, and fought his way into the NFL. The last four years he has been in New England and has three Super Bowl rings. I think what he brings to the table for us is somebody that understands. To be quite truthful I talked to him a lot about the team feeling up there. What kind of relationship did everyone have in the locker room in New England. That is a big deal for us because New England has been super successful. We look at them and we say they have been setting the standard and certainly you need to learn from somebody like that. I think David can bring that to the table too. Last year he had a career high seven TD's and 18.2 yards per catch. Also a little interesting part of history, I don't know how many guys
have ever done this, but in one game he is the first player in Patriots history to ever catch a pass for a TD, rush for a TD, and throw a pass for a TD. I thought that was kind of unusual. You can probably put the fear in several of our guys. We can do with out a quarterback and Clinton (Portis) doesn't have to worry you can carry the football."
WIDE RECEIVER DAVID PATTEN
On signing with the Redskins:
"It is truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of this great organization. Coming from one myself in the past four years, I have great deal of respect for those guys. But with every great empire, anybody who has accomplished anything great in life, it has always come to an end. Life is about transition and changes. I bless God first and foremost just for the opportunity with this team, this organization, and this coach. I explained to him yesterday of the great excitement that I have. It is an awesome feeling and I really can't put it into words. I have been working for something for eight years to be found favorably in a coach's sight and a team's sight that believes in me and is willing to
commit to me and give me an opportunity to come in and make a difference. This team has done that. I can't express my extreme gratitude. I promised the (Coach Gibbs) and the organization yesterday that I would give you everything that David Patten has. God is in my life and I truly thank him because I am in this situation because of his grace, his mercy, and all of the blessings that he has bestowed upon me. It could have easily gone the other way but I am standing before you an eight year veteran and fairly successful. I believe the best is yet to come. I am extremely excited and I don't believe in making predictions because I don't know what the future holds, but one thing I can promise you is that I am going to give this team, organization, this city 100 percent effort. If I fail I fail. I believe I will succeed. I give you everything I have and you can take that to the bank. I am very glad to be here and I am excited about what is getting ready to take place."
On what it is like being courted by Coach Gibbs on the phone at 2 o'clock in the morning:
"In free agency there is always the concern that people have not taken notice or they haven't seen what you have accomplished. My agent had called me and he told me that there was some interest from the Redskins and a few other teams. He told me they were going to call me at midnight. He asked me for my cell number and that Coach Gibbs was going to call me. I was like 'Coach Gibbs?' I feel like I have been fairly successful but I
didn't think I had done that much to receive that kind of attention. It was almost too good to be true. I will tell you what at 12:02 I was watching the clock. I had my cell phone beside me and I was trying to be cool like I am supposed to be in this situation. I was trying not to watch my phone but I was looking at it every two minutes just waiting. The phone finally rang and I was like 'Man this is finally happening' for him to call that soon, it really let me know that they really like d me and they were interested in bringing me in and having me be a part of this organization."
On if it was hard leaving the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots:
"If it wasn't for coming to such a great organization with great history and this great coach, from what he has told me he I feel like I can take his word to the bank and that I wont be let down, makes it easier. My hats go off to the Patriots organization. Mr. Kraft is a great owner and leader. Coach Belichick, he will go down in history and I appreciate everything those guys have done. That's the first home for me because that is the first organization the believed in me and committed to me. Leaving those guys, Tom Brady another guy that will go down in history, my receiving core, Deion Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens and Bethel Johnson, it was just a really good time for me. The whole team we really got along really well. It is almost bitter sweet. I know nothing last forever but I feel like the best is yet to come for me. I am excited about being here and in time I will get over that."
On if the Patriots had a chance to match the Redskins offer:
"I don't believe they had an opportunity to match it. They knew that I was becoming a free agent and they had a chance to get something done. For whatever reason it didn't work out there and I wasn't resigned. The only thing I can control is what is going on
right now. These guys expressed interest in me and we came to a deal and I took hold of it."
On if he feels that he will be an instant leader in the locker room:
"Without a doubt, I consider one of the greatest leaders and that is not being spoken out of arrogance. I lead by example. I am not going to be one of those guys that yells 'rah-rah, you do this and you do that,' but I have learned in doing my spiritual walk that you lead by example and that is what I bring to the table. I am going to work hard day in and day out. Hopefully when I say something to a young guy they won't do it because I have said
it to them but they will do it because they see it in my life."
