On if he is prepared for what comes with being the starter on and off the field:
"I just take everything in stride. I have great teammates that calm me down. They are behind me. They tell me to go out there and play my game, don't try and force anything and just to be myself."
On if this was always the plan for him when he was younger to become a quarterback in the NFL:
"As a kid, your dream is to play in the National Football League. Steve McNair was a guy I always looked up to because he came from the same area that I came from. For me to also have the opportunity to also be a starter in the National Football League means a lot to me, my community and everyone that supported me to get to this point. It is important for me to do my best, to prepare myself each week."
On how it feels around the facility now that he is the starter:
"The first day it feels different because you are overwhelmed. You are not sure how to react or what to do. Basically the first day is time to relax and get yourself calmed down. From that point on I was just my normal self. I am not trying to put any pressure on my shoulders. Everyone knows that this is my first game in the NFL. I want to have a good showing but at the same time I don't want to put any pressure on myself."
On if that is more difficult to do because the team wants him to win now:
"Anytime you go in there your goal is to win. You want to win. That is the point of playing the game. That is why guys work hard during the week to go out and fight your best. That is the same thing with any team. Everyone's goal is to win on Sunday. That is why it is the NFL. It is tough to get a win each week."
On what he is expecting from the Bucs defense:
"The main thing I have to do is worry about what I have to do to help the team. I need to worry about my assignments and what I need to do from play to play. I need to let everything fall into place and utilize the guys that are around me."
On how helpful Mark Brunell (QB, #8) and Todd Collins (QB, #15) have been:
"Mark and Todd have been very supportive. They have sat down and talked with me. They have said that they are behind me 100%. They understand that I am at the beginning of my career and they are at the end of theirs so they want to do everything they can to help me get started off on the right foot. Mark has been messing with me all day trying to calm me down and get me relaxed. Those are great guys. All the veterans, the offensive line, receivers, running backs, even defensive players are all behind me."
On if it is like a new offense not having Clinton Portis (RB, #26) in the lineup:
"It is not a new offense. Our backfield is a little different right now. Clinton is out and Ladell (Betts, RB, #46) is in. It is not a different offense. We have done some good things in this offense. We always want to continue doing the things that you do best."
On how he becomes the teams leader after watching for almost two seasons:
"Anytime you are the quarterback you want to make sure you are doing the right things on and off the field. You want to study as much as you can so when you come out on the field you are making the right calls and throwing the ball in the right places. That is very important. Guys look at that. They want to see how you are going to react. Once you take the quarterback position you are a leader from that standpoint on."
On all of the sudden being the man after being inactive for 27 games:
"It has been different. I learned a lot from Mark (Brunell, QB, #8) and Todd (Collins, QB, #15) while watching. At the same time it is different when you are playing. You have to get yourself into a rhythm. You have to get yourself back into game speed playing a full game. I have talked to a lot of guys that have been in this same position where they played their first game. It is just getting back and used to everything. Your goal is to play hard and you want to do everything you can for your teammates."
On what he has seen from the Bucs defense:
"They are very aggressive. They have some good, experienced guys on their defense. They are a very talented group. We have to take it one play at a time because of the experience and talent that they have."
