Any game is important to me. At Boston College, when I went out for the spring games, I wanted to win. Maybe it is more important than other preseason games. It's just that everyone is expecting a lot from me in my first week of professional football. I want to confirm my expectations.

But I'll tell you this: When I lose my athleticism, it's time to go.

The day I retire is the day I'll feel old. I'm not there yet.

My first two years in the CFL, all I thought of was getting back to the NFL - it was like 'I'll put my time in up here and go back.' Then I went and signed a nice contract in Calgary and was like, 'Hey, I can make a living up here, this is great football, and I'm having a blast.

My favorite song to play is 'Smokin'' by Boston. I actually had a chance to play that with the band Boston live.

The trouble is that right now I want to put as much work into football as I can. It's very important for me to get off to a good start. By the same token, I feel a responsibility to handle the media and those sort of things.

My biggest frustration with the Heisman is it's become the MVP of the national champion, or a team going to the National Championship game. That's what it's turned into. If you're not undefeated, you're out of the running.

The public doesnt care about my size. Its just something for the media to talk about.

The more chances you get, the more comfortable you feel. I?m ready to go out there if something happens. I?ll feel comfortable if I am ever called on.

My daughter is very strong-willed and is a great kid. She doesn't drink. She doesn't smoke. She doesn't fold to peer pressure. I think how affectionate my wife and I have been with her over the years all plays into that. She realizes the more people she is exposed to that kids who have both parents around grow up to be much better people.

All of those guys who told me that I was too short and how complicated the game was, it is not that complicated. It is the same game I have always played.

The biggest issue about the height factor is the bias that the NFL has about it.

Football is my profession now. I'm getting married in August... It's a new experience for me as someone just getting out of college. I still have the same attitude about football I always had. I play hard. I enjoy practice. I'd rather be throwing in passing drills than sitting around and watching TV.

It's nice to have a situation where you can make it fun.

Hey, I'm just looking for an excuse to retire so I can play summer league baseball, go coach my nephews, play pickup basketball. I've always had that ability to move on to the next thing.