Sports: Packers quotebook

Packers quotebook

By Compiled by Times staff writer

Coach Mike Sherman on quarterback Brett Favre's injury: "Brett has a midfoot sprain, and he cannot walk at the present time. It's too early to tell, but I anticipate that he'll miss next week's game and maybe longer."

Safety LeRoy Butler on Bucs kicker Martin Gramatica: "If you lose the way we did, it doesn't hurt as bad. They have a great field-goal kicker, and he hit two of them over 50 yards."

Butler on backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck: "We can win with No. 11. I am very confident in him. He's one of my guys. I was proud of the way he played. Matt's better than half the starting quarterbacks in this league. No, he's better than at least 20. I've got confidence in both him and (Favre)."

Ryan Longwell on becoming the leading percentage kicker in NFL history: "It's one thing to just scrape by just a couple of percentage points, which in placekicking is a lot. But to do it in a place like Green Bay, I'll take extra pride in that. I really think it's tough to kick in Green Bay. To finally get it done and get on the list is a fine accomplishment."

Linebacker Bernardo Harris on the Packers' second-half surge: "In the second half, we came out ready to fight and battle. We were able to hold them down for a while, but in the end we couldn't close the deal."

Sherman on the running back situation: "Right now, Ahman Green is our guy. We're going to correct his fumbling problem. He is a very talented back."

Sherman on Hasselbeck: "You have to understand that stepping in and filling the shoes of Brett Favre is no easy task. Matt Hasselbeck came into this game without taking many reps in practice against one of the best defenses in the league and did a fine job. He did a great job on the fake field goal, and I thought he played well."

Left guard Ross Verba on Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp:"Sapp's a pretty good player. He made a couple of plays. You play 60 plays, and he beats you two or three times and you've had a bad game."

Butler on the play of Hasselbeck and Green: "Those guys are fighters. They fight hard and they make plays, and I stand behind them. I'd rather have them out there because I know what they're about. I'm excited because I know they can get the job done."

Tight end Bubba Franks on the team's improved play in the second half: "We came in here and made a couple of adjustments at halftime. We didn't have as good of a first half as we wanted, and we knew we were going to have to step up our game. We came out (in the second half) and I kind of think everybody wanted it a little more."

Franks on Sapp: "He had a pretty good game. How many sacks did he have ... one? He's a good player, so we have to do things a little different with him."