ON RELATIONSHIP AMONGST LINEBACKERS: “I think that is one thing that sets us apart. We’re all brothers. It’s certainly a competition, but we all work together. We all help each other and have fun together; we all joke on and off the field. We are brothers first – we recognize that this is a business, but we realize how important camaraderie and brotherhood is to a football team.”

ON FLEXIBILITY AT LINEBACKER SPOT IN BUD FOSTER’S SYSTEM: “It really all depends on the offensive formation because we have a lot of different types of audibles and checks and at any given time, any linebacker can be playing another linebacker’s position; for instance, I could be playing middle where Bruce (Taylor) is if the formation switches over from the boundary to the strength, or I could be playing over by (Jeron Gouveia-)Winslow. You never know. It all depends on the offense’s formation”

ON APPALACHIAN STATE’S OFFENSE AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OTHER TEAMS: ”(Appalachian State) is a huge option team, where, as we know, the quarterback is dangerous on his feet and possibly through the air as well. We have to be prepared to stop the run first and foremost. But later in the season, I can expect to see a lot more passing because there won’t be a lot of running going on because that’s just something we aren’t going to allow.”

ON COMPARING APPALACHIAN STATE TO JMU: “We’ve certainly watched hours of App State film – a day’s worth. We haven’t watched a lot of (last season’s game against) JMU. I didn’t play in that game, but I think that as a football team we’re past that game and we’re moving on. App State runs a similar offense and we’re keying in on all of their probable plays and we plan on making stops”

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Other stuff

  • Peyton Manning is back to practice, at least on a limited basis
  • The Philadelphia Eagles and Michael Vick agree on long-term contract worth $100 million.
  • Former Washington Wizard Javaris Crittenton is wanted on a murder charge of a woman in Georgia.
  • Miami’s Jacory Harris still expects to play despite being named ineligible.
  • The NBA and the locked-out Players Association will meet Wednesday for a second negotiation session.

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Follow Nick on Twitter @NickCaffCT