Titans center Kevin Mawae (conference call with San Diego media)
How are you feeling and what is your status for Sunday's game?
"We're kind of taking it day to day right now. Obviously my goal is to play but we'll just see and see how it feels by the end of the week."
You don't want to miss a game against Jamal Williams, do you?
"I don't want to miss a game against anybody, especially now this time of year. It's the playoffs and our goal is to win and move on. Obviously I can't help the team if I'm on the sideline."
You and Jamal have had some good battles over the years. What's it like when you go against him?
"The thing about Jamal is he's such a big human being that unless you're in the perfect position you're not going to be able to stop him. He does a great job of holding the point of attack and playing his gaps and things like that. Where his forte is size and bulk and strength to hold the gap, mine is quickness and leverage. I think it's a good matchup for both of us. He definitely deserves the Pro Bowl nod that he got this year. He was actually our vote for the Pro Bowl."
Do you think there's going to be any carryover from the heated contest you guys played against the Chargers in December?
"I don't think there's going to be a carryover. I do think it'll be another intense and physical game, if for anything else because it's such a big game. The magnitude of it lends itself to be that kind of game regardless of what happened in the regular season. What happened a few weeks back, it's not something that we're thinking about. We're looking forward to the rematch and again, the stakes are much higher this time."
What were your thoughts on Shawne Merriman saying that Jeff Fisher put out a hit on him in the first meeting?
"I think that after a game of that magnitude and anytime you get injured, the emotions run high and they were running high on both sides of the field. I think sometimes you kind of speak without thinking. For any player in this league, not just Shawne Merriman but for anybody to accuse a coach of putting out a hit is a little immature. It's something you deal with. Shawne's healthy now and I'm sure he's put it behind him and he's going to come out and play his best game this week."
Were you surprised that you got fined after the game in Nashville?
"Disappointed maybe. I've looked at the film myself and I think given the magnitude of the game, I think given the fact that Norv Turner made a point that, 'I'm going to turn these plays in,' and things like that, I think that all played a part in it. I think it's pretty obvious when you watch the film that I could have really lit into Shawne but at the last second he turned his back on me and I tried to pull up. It's unfortunate that he got hurt. It happens. Guys do get fined in this league. It's one of those deals."
Did you guys think he went after Vince Young at all on that one play?
"We looked at the film and Vince carried out a fake and they just kind of ran into each other. It's different if you just run into your receiver, hey it happens, but when you just run into your quarterback, guys especially on offense take exception to it. It's playing football. (Shawne) was playing hard, Vince was playing hard. The guys that got fined were playing hard. It's not like there's any retribution or payback or anything like that. It's just football."
The fact that your status is up in the air and Vince's as well, does that have any factor in the game?
"I think what it boils down to is guys being ready to play some of the biggest games of their careers up to this point. We have such a young team. There's a lot of our guys that we don't know if they're ready for this game, whether it's physically or mentally or whatever just for the sheer fact that we've got a bunch of guys that have never been to the playoffs before. Health issues aside, I think this team will be ready. We'll be ready physically. As far as the guys that may have been banged up, Vince is a competitor but when it comes to injuries everybody is an individual and everybody heals differently. I'm sure Coach Fisher will make all the right decisions when the time comes." * *
How much can you help as a veteran with playoff experience and how much does it help having a coach that has been there so often?
"I think when you have a group of veterans who have been to the playoffs, we've got several and we've got some guys that have played in the Super Bowl and won the Super Bowl. It's our job to explain to those guys how big of a deal this is. Teams don't just go to the playoffs every year. It just doesn't happen. Take away the Indianapolis Colts, you take away the New England Patriots, both teams have been there year after year lately, but in the bigger scheme of things in the NFL, you just don't go to the playoffs every year. It's our job as the veteran guys to explain that to them. This is a precious time. You lose and you go home. That's not what our goal is. Our goal is to keep winning, as is the San Diego Chargers'.
In a game like this when there's been history between the teams, do you look for the officials to call things closer or do you have to be a little more careful?
"Football is football and anytime you go out there and think about anything other than just going out there and doing your job and playing a hard physical game then you don't bring your best. I wouldn't imagine any of our players are going to go out there worried about the referees. I don't think Norv Turner is telling his guys to worry about the referees. He's telling them to go out there, play your best game, explain to them what's on the line and that's it. If it goes beyond that, then you're just taking away from what you're capable of doing on the field."
