Tom Brady, quarterback

Catherine: How do you prepare mentally for a game?

Brady: I spend hours and hours with my coaches and teammates, talking about our plan and the plays that we want to run. You know, you’re constantly trying to understand all your different responsibilities on all the plays that you have, and there’s no shortcut. You just have to do it. You have to sit down and study and study and then talk about what you’re doing and keep studying more and ultimately … you can go out there and play with a lot of confidence when you get to the game.

 
Tom Brady talks to reporters.

Kevin Faulk, running back

Catherine: If you weren’t a football star, what would you be?

Faulk: Hopefully I’d be a coach, coaching a football star—a future football star.

Catherine: Who was your role model growing up and why?

Faulk: My mom. [She taught me] hard work, dedication, [and] the passion for wanting to just succeed.

Catherine and Kevin Faulk smile for the camera.

Wes Welker, wide receiver

Catherine: What's changed in you since you joined your team?

Welker: I think I'm just more comfortable—with the guys, with the team, with Tom [Brady], and everything else. ... It takes time to learn everybody's names and get to know everyone. I just feel more comfortable going to work and it's a great atmosphere.

Wes Welker answers Catherine's question.

Logan Mankins, guard

Catherine: When you were young, what did you want to be?

Mankins: I wanted to be a cowboy when I was young because I grew up on a cattle ranch.

Logan Mankins talks during Media Day.

Devin McCourty, cornerback

Catherine: Does your position on the team affect your personality at all?

McCourty: A little bit. Playing the secondary, you kind of have this ‘not backing down to anyone’ [attitude], especially on defense. The biggest thing we always talk about is going and competing against anyone, any time, any day. So I’m more of a laidback guy off the field, but when I get on the field, it’s kind of like we all bond together as a … unit and we’re ready to go.

Catherine asks Devin McCourty a question.

Sergio Brown, safety

Catherine: Do you ever worry about getting hurt while you're on the field?

Brown: It does cross your mind, to tell you the truth. It does, but you can't think about it. ... You [need to] worry more about making that play rather than getting hurt.

Catherine tries on Sergio Brown's Super Bowl hat.

Brian Waters, guard

Catherine: What do you eat to prepare for a game?

Waters: A lot of carbs. In the morning I’ll eat pancakes, things like that, and then right before the game … I’ll probably eat a bar, a sports bar, or maybe even spaghetti or something like that. … You use carbs for the energy, so [I eat] a lot of carbs. 

Catherine gets ready to interview Brian Waters.

Nate Solder, tackle

Catherine: What are the things you learned as a kid that helped you play football?

Solder: This is kind of funny, but after all my games and everything, my parents still made me do my chores. I think that’s been really important for me in my development as I grow older too.

Nate Solder huddles up with Catherine.

Jerod Mayo, middle linebacker

Catherine: When and where did you start playing football?

Mayo: I started playing [football] when I was five or six. I played Mighty Mites, and it was a good time.

Jerod Mayo talks about football.

Dane Fletcher, linebacker

Catherine: What’s your biggest motivation when you play football?

Fletcher: I would say I do it for my friends and family back home. I hardly even do it for myself; it’s all about them.

Catherine: Was it hard to work your way up to this?

Fletcher: Yeah, it’s the hardest thing ever, but it just shows how much you really want something. Anybody can really achieve it if you really work hard.

Catherine scores an interview with Dane Fletcher.

Rob Gronkowski, tight end

Catherine: How do you reduce your anxiety before a game?

Gronkowski: It's kind of hard, I mean ... you're just ready to get out there. When the game starts ... you start feeling better, start feeling the groove and basically just go out there and play your hardest.

Rob Gronkowski answers Catherine's question.

Markell Carter, linebacker

Catherine: When you’re losing or winning, what goes through your mind?

Carter: Well, whenever we’re losing, I’m thinking of what I can do to change the result, like what I can do to help my team get back on track. And then whenever we’re winning, it’s just what I can do to make sure we stay on top, to keep on the pressure.

Markell Carter poses with Catherine.

Nate Jones, defensive back

Catherine: When and why did you start playing football?

Jones: I was 10 years old. I started playing because I was good. I used to play during recess after lunch and one of my buddies told me I should come out for the team, so I did. His dad was the coach. That’s where I started.

Catherine: Is that buddy in the NFL too?

Jones: No, he’s not. But, hey, … he got me started so I give him credit.

Nate Jones hangs out with Catherine for a picture.

Aaron Lavarias, defensive line

Catherine: If you were really tired on the field, what would you do about it?

Lavarias: I just try to think about not being tired. … You don’t want to think about being tired because then that makes you even more tired. I just try to think about my job, what I have to do, and what’s the next play.

Aaron Lavarias gets down on Catherine's level.

Back to Main Page