Rams quotebook

[Times photo: Jim Damaske] Trent Dilfer comforts Shaun King. The game in photos Main story Not enough Gary Shelton Six points doesn't cut it for King, Bucs Hubert Mizell Sometimes it is just as easy as a snap Ineffective attack finally costs Bucs Defense's spy scheme shuts Faulk down. Bucs covered primary concern Locker room is a house of pain The Party Line Bad call does in Bucs; offense doesn't help Patience pays off for Rams 'They'll be heroes no matter what' Once-sorry Bucs carry region to higher, common ground Emanuel: No need for review From the rule book What They're Saying Fire and Ice Quick hits Quarter by quarter By the numbers The 9 key plays Rams quotebook Bucs quotebook BUCS POLL: How will the Bucs do next season? Vote

Compiled by Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 24, 2000

LB Todd Collins, on the task ahead:
"It's total euphoria in here right now. We still have one more week of work, and we just get up tomorrow and go back to work and head down to Atlanta. It will be a good game. We have the rematch. Tennessee is a good team. They proved it on the road today."

QB Kurt Warner, on the struggling offense:
"I thought we did a fine job. We just didn't finish drives. We got things going and had chances to make some scores, to score some touchdowns, to score some more points, and we just never finished it. ... The way (the Bucs) play defense, it's hard to get the big play on because they change things up."

Coach Dick Vermeil, on how important this game was to him:
"Everything in your coaching career is where you are at that time in your life. Obviously, at 63 years old, this is the most important game I have ever been in in my entire life. The last time I went (to the Super Bowl), that was the most important game. Then the Rose Bowl was the most important game of my life. This one happens to be at this time period, and you know, I am glad we don't have to play it again."

RB Marshall Faulk, on winning ugly:
"I didn't think you could win ugly or win pretty in the playoffs. I just thought you win in the playoffs and a win's a win."

CB Dre' Bly, on the offense the Rams expected to see from the Bucs:
"We figured that if Tampa was going to beat us, it would have to be through the air. We just made plays during pressure situations."

Faulk, on what the Rams proved:
"We proved that we can play in a close game. People didn't think we had the stamina. We proved it today."

C Mike Gruttadauria, on life in the trenches:
"It was a battle. It was a straight fight play after play after play. They were bringing it, and we were taking it on the chin. Then they'd take it on the chin. We'd get a 5-yard gain, then they'd get a tackle for a loss. It could just as easy have been the Tampa Bay Buccaneers going to the Super Bowl."

Warner, on what he was thinking during the Bucs' fimal drive:
"I was hoping time would run out. We knew that our defense had done a great job all day, kept them out of the end zone. So I'm sure in the back of everybody's mind we were thinking "There is no way they are going to score a touchdown,' which is what they needed. But you never know in situations like that."

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