Amani Toomer

Amani Toomer (on his expectations from training camp): I thought our team had a great shot. We were all really familiar with the offense. Kevin Gilbride being our offensive coordinator gave our offense a new look and our new defensive coordinator got me really excited. Once I saw us practicing and I saw the way things were going, how Eli was playing, I just felt like we had a really good shot. I felt like we had a lot of talent on the field. Not just talent but we had everybody who was in the positions to show their talent had been on our team before so they were a little more familiar with our system.

Amani Toomer (on facing the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game): They're not going to face the same team they faced in Week 2. We've got a lot of momentum. And let's take it all the way to Green Bay.

Amani Toomer (on the Giants' victory over the Cowboys in the 2008 Divisional playoff game): When we got off to that good start, it kind of let everybody know that we came to play. We were not here to lay down and roll over for anybody. That's kind of the M.O. of our team.

Amani Toomer (responding to criticism of Eli Manning): Everybody says, 'Oh, he doesn't have the fire'. But there's more than one way to lead a team, and he showed it today (against Tampa Bay). You don't have to be a rah-rah guy to get people to respect you. Everybody on our team really respects him a lot.

Amani Toomer (on Eli Manning's successful game against the Bucs): He didn't try and force anything and make the bad play. He'd miss a throw and he didn't let it affect him; he was onto the next play.

Amani Toomer (on whether or not the criticism of quarterback Eli Manning would die down after his successful game against the Bucs): Well, you know, it's New York. He had a great game today, but there hasn't been a lot of time when I've been in New York where they've actually loved the quarterback.

Amani Toomer (on the slow start of the offense against the Bucs): We weren't sluggish, but it was not like we were the week before. We needed one play to get us going and for me to be the guy, I was excited.

Amani Toomer (on the momentum of almost beating the undefeated New England Patriots): I think it is definitely best for us to put that game behind us. It was a disappointment for me. I feel like we should have won that game. I don't believe in moral victories so that is where I stand on that.

Amani Toomer (on having a 7-1 road record going into the playoffs): I think we are excited about going on the road. We feel that, I don't know for what reason, that we are better on the road than at home. I am glad we are getting a chance to play in some warm weather for a change.

Amani Toomer (on the Giants finding a way to win): Well, anytime you can win a game against a conference opponent, on the road, in inclement weather, field wasn't the greatest, but we found a way to win. That's what we need to do. We're probably going to be on the road if we go ahead and make the playoffs and we know that we're a better road team than home team.

Amani Toomer (on whether people saying they were not a good 8-4 team was a motivator): Yeah, it was. Anytime I've been on the Giants, when we had a good team, I don't think anybody ever gave us credit. Even when we went to the Super Bowl, they said we were the worst Super Bowl team ever, or the worst team to win the conference ever. I don't know that kind of goes with the territory.

Amani Toomer (before his first preseason game of the 2007 season): You usually don't look forward to preseason games. After not being able to play in a game for a while and after watching last week, I'm excited. I've been preparing for a while like it's a real game and it's a good test for me. Watching last week was tough, but it was the smart thing to do. I think now I am starting to really get back into it. I'm just really excited about it. It's been a while. I'm looking forward to it, just getting back out there and getting a little bit of action. Sitting on the sidelines and watching, that's the toughest thing. I think taking the field is something that's going to be exciting for me.

Amani Toomer (on the difference between practicing and playing an actual game): You can't really get in game shape, because practice is not as fast as the game. You can't simulate it. Sometimes when we do the two-minute drill, it is kind of, but it's not as chaotic as it is in a game. I kind of know where I am, but I want to just get back in there and just try to get into game shape and take a couple hits and get healthy.

Amani Toomer (on his age): My age, I don't think, really plays a big factor in my recovery. I am still young at heart. I don't feel like I am playing like I am older. I feel like I am doing a lot of the same things I did before.

Amani Toomer (on his stance on records): I definitely play for the enjoyment of the game, but you always want to look back and feel as though you have accomplished something. When I get done I will definitely think back to that.

Amani Toomer (on why he had surgery to repair his torn ACL): The reason why I had the surgery was because I wanted to remove all doubt, so that I would be able to play for a longer period of time. People were talking about me doing a whole bunch of different options and trying to keep on playing and how far I would have wrecked everything once I was done last year. The reason why I did get it was not just because I had to have it, but was because I had to remove all doubt and make sure that I could come back and make some big offensive plays for a couple more years.