Brian Billick: In his words

Comments during his time as Ravens coach

January 1, 2008

"Why would that be? This is the National Football League, whatever their circumstances are. A loss is a loss." -- December 2007, when asked if losing to the previously winless Miami Dolphins was tougher than other losses

"I'm going to be back. Now, once the season's over, we'll see what happens with regards to [the players], my staff, myself and all those other things. But right now, you only have the one mindset." -- December 2007 (with three weeks left in the season), on whether he would return as coach

"I'm asking our fans to take a little leap of faith with me here and kind of give me the benefit of the doubt that I kind of know what I'm doing, that we could be in good shape. Anybody that has size, strength, precision, is a good decision-maker and is intelligent, I think I can find a system to utilize that." -- February 1999, before the Ravens acquired quarterback Scott Mitchell

"As much as some of you want to, we are not going to retry this. It's inappropriate, and you're not qualified." -- January 2001, to a crowd of more than 200 reporters in response to repeated questions about linebacker Ray Lewis' double-murder trial six days before the Super Bowl

"All our game planning is via a slide presentation with PowerPoint that every businessman in America uses with his presentations, because anything with color, movement and action heightens the learning curve. If you think you can stand up in front of these guys with the old chalkboard or a black-and-white overlay, you can forget it. This is the MTV generation." -- January 1999, after being hired as Ravens coach

"I am not sure I have kept the focus of priorities properly for this team." -- December 2005, in the midst of a losing season for a team that had Super Bowl expectations

"Anybody want to ask me who my quarterback is next week?" -- November 2001, after the embattled Grbac rallied the Ravens to a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars with a touchdown pass in the final seconds

"I think the experience in Kansas City and here may have very well taken a toll. I know fans and media don't think of it this way, but you can wear a soul out. Particularly, when you've got a priority system and have other things going on in his life, there is a part of you that has to say, 'Why would I expose myself to that again?' " -- March 2002, on quarterback Elvis Grbac announcing his retirement after one season with the Ravens

"You have to be very careful about inhibiting the passion for this game in an arbitrary way. I've got a very diverse group of players economically, socially, racially, geographically, with a number of different upbringings. For me to determine that one set of actions versus another based on my limited perspective in the way that I grew up or the way that I've conducted myself, you've got to be very careful about [that]." -- October 2005, after the Ravens committed 21 penalties, including three for unsportsmanlike conduct, in a loss to the Detroit Lions

"I really don't have an answer for you right now. We have to go back and analyze it and see if we can come up with a better answer than what we've come up with previously." -- November 2007, after the Ravens' listless, 21-7 loss at home to the Cincinnati Bengals

"I have the podium, and you all are here to listen to me. Next question." -- January 2001, responding to a reporter asking how he could tell the media how to do its job in regard to Lewis during Super Bowl week

"The word ego, in its purest definition, is wanting to distinguish yourself from others. That's not particularly negative. I have a big ego because I strive to distinguish myself from others in the way I carry myself and do my job. If that carries over into being self-centered, self-absorbed, then I've taken it too far. I hope I'm not those things. If arrogance is someone who is confident in himself, confident in the people around him and wanting anybody who is working with him to carry that same confidence, then I'm arrogant." -- January 2001