Ravens Post-Game

WR DERRICK MASON

(On the significance of 100 catches)

"Only a few get the opportunity to catch that many balls in this league. If you look at the history of this game, not many have been able to catch 100 balls in one season; not even the greats. To be mentioned in the same breath as a lot of these other great receivers is an honor. Again, you've got to give it up to Troy [Smith]. He gave me a lot of opportunities today. He just kept getting the ball out there and then [Mark] Clayton, he was catching the ball. And Devard [Darling] did a wonderful job. For a guy who had a baby earlier in the week, to come out and play the way that he did, it speaks volumes to him. Like I've always said throughout the course of the season, what those guys are able to do allows me to do what I do."

(On the relief he felt to end the losing streak)

"It felt good. I took a deep breath once we got that interception. All that frustration just came out. It was good because we played against a very good team and they fought until the end. We were able to make one more play than them at the end so that just leaves us to go into the offseason on a positive note. No matter how the season went, we were able to win our last game and that's good."

(On guys like RBs Musa Smith and Cory Ross and QB Troy Smith stepping up in the offense)

"It felt good. That's been our theme the whole season: next man up. Whoever's up, you got to come in and get the job done. Cory Ross, and I consider Musa a starter because he plays so well once he gets in there, but Troy [Smith], not being able to play the whole season, to come in and play the way he played speaks volumes and more. The guy, all he does is prepare and practice. He doesn't say much, runs scout team in practice, but when he got a chance tonight, he proved that given an opportunity, he can play in this league at a high level. So, you've got to take your hats off to them. Troy did a great job. You can't say enough about what he has done these last two weeks. For a first year guy, being able to show that poise that he had of a 10 or 11 year vet, you can't ask for anything more. We won this game because the defense did a great job and everybody stepped up, but I think the most important part was because of Troy [Smith]. HE stayed calm throughout all that we were going through today."

(On the next steps for the 2008 season)

"First, we need to get healthy. I looked in the locker room when we came in today. We had, goodness gracious, there were so many empty lockers. I'm not accustomed to that and I know a lot of guys are not accustomed to that. We had big key guys whose lockers were empty, their pads weren't in there. First things first is to get those guys healthy, make the decisions in the offseason, free agency and the draft. I think we've got to add some people and get a lot of these guys healthy and I guarantee we will be back on that roll that we had two years ago."

RB MUSA SMITH

(On how it felt to run the ball today)

"It's been a long season, but I got my shot tonight. I just wanted to show my teammates and this organization that stuck behind me through all the years and the injuries that I could step up and play."

(On how it felt to win the season finale)

"It felt very good. Everyone came out and laid it on the line and we got the ‘W.' I'm just happy to finish the season, finish strongly, and get the ‘W.'"

(On being able to play the whole game at running back)

"It felt good. In the preseason, I would play a half and get touches, but it felt good to play the whole game."

(On if winning the season finale takes the sting off of a 5 – 11 season)

"It definitely feels good to end the losing streak and get the win, but this offseason, a lot of us have to get healthy and get ready for next year."

WR DEVARD DARLING

(On RBs Cory Ross and Musa Smith)

"They came out and did a hell of a job. They ran the ball well. Cory Ross was a big surprise. They just came out and executed."

(On his relationship with QB Troy Smith)

"Obviously this offseason is going to be major. I know it's a contract year for me. But it's going to be big for Troy. Troy has everything. He has all the tools, and I'm really excited for him coming back next year."

(On his TD reception)

"Before we left the huddle he [Troy Smith] told me be smart on the four-route, and that's what I did. He looked for me, and it was wide open."

(On Troy's attention to detail)

"He's just a confident guy. Before the game he just told us to go out there and have fun. And we went out there and executed."

(On getting a win to end the season)

"It feels so good just to walk out of this locker room knowing that we won our last game. We fought hard, and we practiced hard all year, and it's just a great feeling."

(On fighting for a spot next season)

"I just thank the Lord for the opportunity here, and I just look forward to this offseaso,n and we'll see. We'll just take it day by day."

LB BART SCOTT

(On this season and getting a win)

"It's still frustrating, you enjoy the win but you look back and say would'a, could'a, should'a. It's one of those things that hurts because you knew you had a quality football team, but for the most part we weren't able to put that football team on the field this year for whatever reason guys banged up, guys hurt. It meant a lot for this team to come out with a win, if you look around this locker room and look at all the empty lockers of players we didn't have, for guys to come out and rise to the circumstances, a win against Pittsburgh is a win against Pittsburgh. If you look at the stats and match who's in who's out for them against who's in who's out for us that made us even today. For us to come back out and win it's good for our fans. I know all those Pittsburgh fans that bought all those tickets were out here to try and throw it in our face. It was good to let the Ravens fans feel good about themselves today".

(On the play of some of the younger players)

"We're just building depth. The core of this team is good. We still have a lot of explosive players. This year the injury bug not only hit us, it hit our prime time players. You look at our defense and we're missing five Pro Bowl players. Multiple Pro Bowlers not just one or two. You look at our offense and our weapons are gone that's kind of how the season has been".

(On QB Troy Smith)

"He's a natural leader. It was easy for him to win over this team because of his personality. I think he's done a good job in adjusting and learning each week. It gives him a lot of experience, it gives him a heads up in being out there with live bullets. He faced Pittsburgh and their multiple schemes and different looks. He was very composed and poised, even when pressure was coming. He has a great ability to get out of trouble and buy time. That's very valuable experience. I think the sky is the limit for this kid".

(On getting a win)

"You don't want to go into the off-season and then come back and listen to people talk about a 12 game losing streak and all that stuff. It's good for us to get that monkey off our back. You just wish it could have went another way".

DT HALOTI NGATA

(On getting the win)

"It feels good, man. We get some momentum for next season, and we need to remember this feeling, because it feels pretty good."

(On the Ravens' front seven this season)

"It was good, it was really good, especially when our offense is on a roll, getting us some rest. It felt really good today."

(On stopping the Steelers' run)

"It's what we've been. Stop the run first, then react to the pass. That's what we do around here, and it's been pretty good."

OL/TE ADAM TERRY

(On ending the season with a win)

"Wins are tough to come by. It's nice to come off with a win and go into the offseason with something positive to look at. A win's a win, and it's something positive."

(On having played with Jonathan Ogden)

"It's a good thing to listen to ‘Jonny,' but like I've always said, there's things that J.O. can just do that other people can't. That's the frustrating part about it is you watch him do things and even me, coming in towards the end of his career, if it is the end of his career, it was great to sit behind him and watch him. He's a good player and a great guy."

(On playing TE again)

"It was good to be out there a little bit. It was a little tougher to hear, but you know, it was good. It was fun. Senior year of high school was [last time he played tight end]."

K MATT STOVER

(On how this season turned out)

"It was frustrating because I knew that we had aspirations and expectations to go to the Super Bowl. When we weren't able to direct our paths that way, and I think a lot of that had to do with misfortune with injuries and when you keep our horses up, all the guys that we have on this team, we are an excellent football team and you saw that against the New England Patriots. Even then, we were still down a few horses. So I'm really happy to see that we got the time to mend those wounds and those players will be back."

(On how long he wants to play)

"As long as God continues to give me the talent and the desire to play. That's key. You've got to have maybe the talent, but do you have the desire? I continue to love this game. It's a privilege to play. Ozzie and Brian continue to give me the opportunity, and that's a wonderful thing."

C MIKE FLYNN

(On the victory)

"I'm glad we ended it with a win, especially against Pittsburgh. They're still trying to get a three seed, so we played well. We ran the ball effectively. It was a good win. We needed a win, and to end on a winning note, that's fine."

(On the success of the running game)

"I think we made a concerted effort to run the ball. We had some good field position, obviously, we're winning and we [weren't] coming like we have a lot of the season. You're down 14, 20 points, turn the ball over, it's really hard to grind it out and win a game. The games that we ran the ball well, we've done well in and we've been ahead or right there. So I think the biggest thing is just being behind a lot."

LB NICK GREISEN

(On the victory)

"It's a great feeling for these guys, who put so much time and effort and work into winning football games, and it's such a big accomplishment, especially having lost all those games in a row and this being our last one and kind of going into the off-season; there's still going to be a chip on our shoulder because of the way the season went. But at the same time, we can actually feel good and build on this."

(On how the quick score sparked the Ravens)

"Give credit to the special teams for getting that ball on the first play. It really set the tone. It was huge. It set the tone that, you know what, today's going to be our day and right from the get-go, for us to get the ball and for them to score seven right away, for our offense, it's a good confidence booster for them and for our defense as well."

RB CORY ROSS

(On how he felt today)

"It felt good to actually get a chance to show what I could do today, to be actually out there playing with the O-linemen and Troy Smith, with a lot of young guys, it's a great feeling."

(On using his size to his advantage)

"I am who I am. The way that the O-line blocked today, it was easy. I play against a defense, which includes Ed Reed and Ray Lewis and the D-linemen everyday. It's not like I'm just going out there and going through the motions. I'm giving them a look. When I got out there today, it was easy. I'm going against guys of our caliber."

(On the touchdown run)

"It was a stretch play and I had a read to the outside, and I saw a crease and I hit it real hard. One of the great things that Coach Nathan teaches the running backs is that when you get out there in the secondary, you challenge them. First thing I thought is that I'm not going to give this guy a chance and that's the way it happened."

(On seeing the last defender before the end zone on the TD)

"It's fun when I'm playing against a defense like Ed [Reed] and Chris [McAlister], giving them face mask, they're yelling and we're scrappin'. It's kind of like I'm preparing myself for when I do get that chance that I know exactly what I need to do. I set it up and I score."

QB TROY SMITH

(On the tempo and game plan for today)

"My hat goes off to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're a tough, tough, tough opponent and they're an incredible team with incredible guys. Today, I honestly felt like we would not be denied. The season has been long and drawn out. Today there was something special about the feel – something special about everything. With Rick Neuheisel achieving that great news and he got a chance to speak to us last night, and I can't speak for everybody, but it touched me with some of the things that he said. It was huge for everybody."

(On the reserves getting a chance to play today)

"I think it means everything. The character on this team is unquestionably the best I've ever been on. Anytime you go through a series of events where things are not going your way and then you still find a way to be positive, you have to be able to give back to everybody that make it possible. This team is incredible – everybody on this team fought. Cory Ross got a chance to speak, and I felt like when he scored I scored. It's incredible what he said. He is who he is. Cory Ross is an incredible player. I don't care about size, or how big he is or whatever, he's an incredible athlete and he should get a chance to make plays and with him being the guy that he is, he will get that chance. Just speaks volumes for the character of this team."

(On the TD pass to Devard Darling)

"It was an incredible job by the offensive line – guys like [Casey] Hampton, Larry Foote and James Farrior, they had been pressuring all day and [the offensive line] stood on their heels and they did pretty much textbook what you want them to do. I can't speak enough about it because I love my linemen, every single one of them. They make everything happen on the field. A football game is won in the trenches and our offensive line did an incredible job today."

(On getting a chance to play the last two weeks)

"Moving up in small increments and not going in right away, because it is a marathon and not a quick race. Coming up we have to get ready for the season, because it's a long one, and going out with a win is incredible."

(On becoming a better quarterback in the offseason)

"All of the things you aren't good at, you try to perfect those. All of the things you are good at, you still try to be your best and do well with those. You kind of have to be a horse with blinders if you want to be the best, because the route to greatness starts now. It didn't start yesterday, in a sense that you think of what you want to be great in, and it starts now. That's exactly what I wanted to do, so as soon as I can, I will get back to the City of Baltimore and begin training and working hard on the offense and hopefully, we'll have a better year next year."

CB DAVID PITTMAN

(On making the biggest play of the game with the interception)

"It felt pretty good. I want to give thanks to the defensive line for pressuring the quarterback during the entire game and just doing what the coaches tell you to do."

(On what he's had to go through)

"It kind of makes me feel a little bit better with me just being David Pittman and going out there and doing what I do by continuing what I do. By studying hard and listening to the coaches and working with guys like Derrick Mason and Demetrius Williams, you try and compete every day in practice and try and pick that up."

(On when he found out he would be starting)

"I found it out at the beginning of the week, and I just tried to get into the mindset of being in a different role than I‘m used to."

(On answering the critics' doubts)

"I don't pretty much pay attention to the critics. I basically just go out there and do my job."

LT JONATHAN OGDEN

(On how it was to have his family with him for what could be his last game)

"It was nice. I just wanted to make sure that if it was my last game, I got a chance to bring my son down on the field, get a picture on the field, so he'll have something to remember it [by]. He's only two and a half, [he will be] three soon, but that was good. I was glad he was there.'

(On if the last couple of days have felt different for him)

"A little bit, a little bit. But at the same time, I was still trying to focus on getting ready for the Steelers, so that was where my mind was. When you think about too many things, you can't focus on what you need to do. Now that that's over, I'm glad we won. Right now I've got a little time to think and we'll go from there. We'll see how it goes."

(On the feeling of beating the Steelers if this is his last game)

"Not a bad way to end it. A varied year, but we got a little taste at the end. The first game I've played in this year we got a win. I'm really happy now, I just feel good about that. No matter how the season ends up, you end on a win, it's a good note."

(On if he ever stopped to look around the stadium and take it in)

"At times, yeah. [On] TV timeouts you tend to look anyway, but you don't know, this might be the last time you're looking around on the field so you just kind of enjoy it, look around a little more. Might have been smiling a little bit more, I don't know if anyone saw it, but I was just trying to enjoy it, I was trying to play the game. We were trying to win, but I was trying to enjoy it at the same time."

(On what his odds would be of returning next year if Las Vegas had to put odds on it)

"Oh yeah, they'd bet against me. Probably strongly against me. But that's why we have odds. There's still a chance."

(On if he got some talk from other players and opponents that he doesn't normally get)

"No, no. I've been battling those guys for so long, it's the same old same old, ‘Hey J.O., how you doing?' You play those guys twice a year for twelve years, you get to know a lot of them. But at the end, me and a couple guys took a picture because I said this might be the last one. One of the guys on the Steelers wanted to get a picture and that was nice. It showed a sign of respect, and that was pretty cool."

(On what his thought were running out of the tunnel before the game)

"Running out, I was just looking up and ready to go for the game. The only thing today was kind of,'Focus on the game but at the same time try to remember and enjoy as much as you can.' It was kind of a tough thing to balance, but I was able to do it today."

(On if he had fun blocking for the younger players today)

"Oh yeah. I knew that even if this was my last game, you know you've got guys out there like Troy [Smith], Cory Ross, all these guys out there are fighting to show somebody something for next year. I wanted to do the best that I could to help those guys go out there and perform the best they could and I think I was able to do that today."

(On how injuries affected the team)

"We had a lot of injuries. Everybody in this league is so close, talent-wise, and a few injuries here and there can just turn the table and momentum gets going in the wrong direction unfortunately, and that's kind of how it goes. But I think this team, with a few additions and a few things here and there, stay healthy, we'll be right back up there."

(On his message to the Baltimore fans)

"I would just say thank you for being out there, watching me. It's been a pleasure playing for this city, this team, these fans. I've watched this team grow from a team that moved from Cleveland to playing in Memorial Stadium to probably the best 12th man in the game. This city and me, we've grown together with this team, so I'm just grateful to have been a part of it."