Q: Bart Scott had some things to say, did that bother you?
A: Not at all. I can care less what he has to say about me or the Giants.
Q: He said 'Who's Terrell Thomas?', that's what he wanted to know…
A: I'm Terrell Thomas. I can care less what he thinks or who he knows, I know who I am and that's all that matters.
Q: It didn't strike at all?
A: Not at all. I would never face him. It would be different if it was a wide receiver or something like that but he's an opposing linebacker and I would never face him so I could care less what he has to say about me.
Q: You had 5 interceptions last season, is that something that people shouldn't be saying at this point?
A: Hey, we have freedom of speech so he can have his own opinion.
Q: Is all this back and forth for a preseason game necessary?
A: Honestly, I think my words were taken a little bit out of context. It was more meant to be that we hear what they're saying and we're taking note of it. That's pretty much the gist of it.
Q: Is there any part of you that wishes you weren't limited to only two series with the Jets?
A: Not at all. First preseason game is a big game, not a big rivalry but you know we're opening up the stadium and there's a lot of hype around it and everything is getting to be made out a lot bigger than it is but it's going to be a battle between our two's and three's. The one's get out there; get a series in or a quarter in and whatnot. Coach Coughlin has a formula for us and that's what we're going to do.
Q: Isn't that part of what the fun is? The rivalry?
A: Yeah, I mean you saw last year. We came back and they went back on top and won the game, it was fun, it started raining. Carolina game last year we won in the last minutes and that's what preseason is all about. Whether there's hype around it or not, it's going to be a good game for us.
Q: Do you know yet whether or not you're playing?
A: I'll be playing.
Q: Was that something you pushed for?
A: I was playing the whole time. There was never a chance that I wasn't playing.
Q: Players have to work out a lot of things in training camp; do you feel like you guys are sort of working on your chirping and trash-talking back and forth?
A: (Laughter) Oh no. Like I said, we're not a team that is into trash-talking. Couch Coughlin said it best when he said 'talk is cheap, play the game' and that's exactly what we're going to do.
Q: How did you hear about what Bart Scott said?
A: Lots of ways. Friends, family, teammates, Twitter, however you want to put it.
Q: What was your reaction when you found out?
A: I just laughed. That's the easy way to go out, saying 'Who's Terrell Thomas?' but I guess I got some more work to do and that's just motivation for me so I thank him.
Q: Does Coach Coughlin read what you say and then call you in?
A: No. I don't think my words were harsh in any way. Plain and simple is that we hear what they're (The Jets) saying, how they're taking over New York and we're taking note of that.
Q: When you said your words were used out of context what did you mean?
A: I really didn't say anything. I mean it's a preseason game, they're talking and saying it's their town, okay, well we're going to play Monday and so back it up, that's pretty much it.
Q: You do agree that you did say stuff that you can see them maybe taking it the wrong way or getting upset about it?
A: Yeah, but my direction wasn't meant for that.
Q: So is this going to be the most ferocious 12 plays of your life?
A: (Laughter) I hope so but it's going to be a fun game and I think Coach Coughlin has a great game plan for us and the rest of the team knows what it means to the Giant organization to go out there and play. It's the first preseason game so everybody is going to go out there and play hard.
Q: You have to tell your two's and three's to go for blood right?
A: Not at all, it's not that serious, it's just a preseason game.
Q: You said something as a team and then Bart Scott took it to a personal level, did that surprise you at all?
A: You know that's the type of players they are over there. They use whatever they can to their advantage and that's fine. If I'm that guy to put on the bulletin board, that doesn't mean anything, you just got to go out and play.
Q: Will it feel like your stadium Monday, since it is technically a Jets home game?
A: We're playing in our stadium and our practice facility is five minutes away walking so I guess you could say it's our stadium.
