I have big hopes and big dreams and aspirations to do great things in the NFL.
The thing about the 2008 season which sticks out for so many people was we were coming off the 18-1 year where we went to the Super Bowl and lost in dramatic fashion with the catch and everything else that happened.
Unfortunately, I've been around a lot of organizations over my 14-year career that have dealt with off-field issues.
I was in Minnesota in 2014 when Adrian Peterson was suspended. In that situation, we were about to play the Patriots when his suspension came out the Friday before the game.
My rookie year in New England was mind-blowing.
The Thursday night game is by far the most difficult game to prepare for. You can't get into as much depth as you normally would in your game plan because you just don't have the time. You've got to jump right into the next opponent.
I think that's the genius part of what the Patriots do: They go above and beyond in identifying the issue and doing whatever they can to make sure it doesn't wreck the offensive plan.
Your leader on the offensive line is your center, because the communication really takes place between him and quarterback.
Any time you can come down and score on your first drive, that's what you're trying to accomplish.
You can't play scared.
You can't play tentative.
I don't think there's anybody that puts more pressure on himself than I do.
I think as the quarterback of any NFL team, you put a tremendous amount of pressure on yourself to win ball games because that's what you're here to do and ultimately, that's what you want to do.
So for me, it's just continue to go out and work hard and do what I've been coached and let the other guys take advantage of what they do successfully and then just let the chips fall where they may.
Nobody knows the future.
I love the Patriots. I love this organization.
I've always believed in myself and I've surrounded myself with positive-thinking people. That's why a lot of times I don't watch the sports shows or listen to the radio because of that simple fact, that there's too many critics out there and if you listen to everybody's opinion, I think it works against you.
Everything works out in weird ways in the NFL.
My preparation doesn't change from being a backup to a starter.
Competition brings out the best in everybody.
