> “It’s odd to say with someone who’s a couple years younger than you — a tremendous influence in my life. You know, he came to coach me in Tampa when Herm Edwards took the Jets job. I could tell he was special right away. And he challenged me to be better.
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> I was at what I thought was the prime of my career. And the first minicamp we ever had, he handed me an old VCR and a legal pad and it had like 86 plays of things I could do better, and it actually ticked me off at first. I’m in the prime of my career and this guy coming out of college is going to tell me why I need to be this much better.
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> And my wife, as she often does, said, ‘Have you read it? Can it make you better?’ And I did just that. I listened to Linda Lynch. I started reading it, and I became a better player. And that’s the way Mike’s special. Our game will miss him.
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> I don’t know if it’s for good. I’m thrilled for him. I saw a picture a couple weeks ago. He was at his daughter’s (gymnastics meet). His daughter’s a tremendous gymnast at Georgia, and he was there enjoying her compete, something he hasn’t been able to do. So I know he’s enjoying those things.
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> I hope he comes back to the game. Sorry, Kiya — that’s his wife — because I’m sure she’s enjoying having him. But he’s just such a special human being and has given so much. And I’m happy that he made the decision on his terms.”