Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article342904.ece 

It's been a dizzying 10 days for James Starks since becoming a Super Bowl champion.

The Niagara Falls native can still see the cameras flashing and the confetti falling inside Cowboys Stadium after his Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25, in Super Bowl XLV.

The running back is back home and shared his victory story with the Western New York media on Tuesday.

"I'm still on cloud nine," Starks said. "I'm enjoying every moment of it. Seeing all the love that everybody has been showing me, it's just nice to be home."

Sporting his ever-present 1,000-watt smile, Starks spoke at his alma mater, the University at Buffalo, before the men's basketball team played Ohio. He said coming home to share his victory with friends and family was important to him.

"Everything I've been through, Niagara Falls and Buffalo have been there 100 percent of the time, backing me all the way," he said. "That gives you a lot to fight for. A lot of what I do today is because of the community and my family. It's a big part of my life."

Starks' rise up the Packers' depth chart culminated with a starting role in the Super Bowl. He was the only Green Bay player to get a rushing attempt (not counting two kneel-downs by quarterback Aaron Rodgers), finishing with 11 carries for 52 yards.

The performance capped a dream postseason for Starks, who rushed for 310 yards on 81 carries in the Pack's four-game march to a title. Starks outgained all other playoff rushers by 85 yards.

His rookie season didn't start out so perfect. A hamstring injury landed him on the physically unable to perform list, costing him the first 10 weeks. He didn't get his first NFL carry until Week 13 and finished the regular season with just 101 yards on 29 attempts.

"I had some minor setbacks," Starks said. "That happens in football. You never know what's going to happen. I came back a little rusty."

Starks admitted his work during the week needed improvement.

"I wasn't a practice player. I wasn't practicing right. There's a different way to practice in the NFL, and I wasn't doing that and it was a little setback."

The Packers, though, were desperate for a running game after star Ryan Grant was lost for the season to an ankle injury in Week One.

When the playoffs started, Starks made the most of his chance. He rushed for 123 yards on 23 carries against the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round, securing his role for the postseason.

"I got in tune with the system, starting learning everything, and then everything started working my way," he said.

Starks touched on a number of other topics Tuesday, including what might happen next season when Grant returns.

"Competition is always good. That's when I'm best. ... Everybody in the NFL has an opportunity to play. There's great talent everywhere. With Ryan back, it's going to make me that much better."

On the threat of an impending lockout, Starks said: "I'm not really worried about it right now. I only can control what I can. I'm going to continue to work. I never shy away from hard work. I've been doing it since high school. I believe in it. If we have a lockout, that'll just give me time to get better."

Indeed, complacency does not seem like it will be a problem. Asked what drives him now after achieving a Super Bowl title in his rookie season, Starks offered the following.

"What motivates me is I don't think I did as good as I can do. I didn't play half of the season. I think a lot of fans know me just cause of what I did in the playoffs. I don't think that's going to stick.

"I want to be seen as one of the best backs in the National Football League. That's my drive. I'm going to keep pushing to be that."

"Jay Skurski" wrote:


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shield4life
14 years ago
I like this kids attitude. Grant and Starks combination is going to be deadly weapon with the opposing teams next year.

If you can stop grant ... there's still Starks ... if you can stop Starks ... there's GJ ...f if you can stop GJ ... there's Finley ... and eventually we got Rodgers 😃.
Glad To Be A Packers Fan.
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
14 years ago
Hard to fathom what a difference a year- year and half makes. here's a kid in college who is told he will not be able to play his senior year. He still gets drafted. Has another injury. Still makes the team. And ends up starting the SB and gets a hero's welcome back home.
Who would have known this back in Aug- Sept of 2009?
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zombieslayer
14 years ago
Hoping Starks is a Packer for awhile. I really like the kid.
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. šŸ‡¹šŸ‡¹ šŸ‡²šŸ‡² šŸ‡¦šŸ‡·
Zero2Cool
14 years ago

Hard to fathom what a difference a year- year and half makes. here's a kid in college who is told he will not be able to play his senior year. He still gets drafted. Has another injury. Still makes the team. And ends up starting the SB and gets a hero's welcome back home.
Who would have known this back in Aug- Sept of 2009?

"wpr" wrote:



Nonstopdrivel.
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wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
14 years ago

Hard to fathom what a difference a year- year and half makes. here's a kid in college who is told he will not be able to play his senior year. He still gets drafted. Has another injury. Still makes the team. And ends up starting the SB and gets a hero's welcome back home.
Who would have known this back in Aug- Sept of 2009?

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



Nonstopdrivel.

"wpr" wrote:


but of course. :face1:
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Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
doddpower
14 years ago

Hard to fathom what a difference a year- year and half makes. here's a kid in college who is told he will not be able to play his senior year. He still gets drafted. Has another injury. Still makes the team. And ends up starting the SB and gets a hero's welcome back home.
Who would have known this back in Aug- Sept of 2009?

"wpr" wrote:



Nonstopdrivel.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:


but of course. :face1:

"wpr" wrote:



A rhetorical question. Of course he knew!! LOL.
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
14 years ago

Hard to fathom what a difference a year- year and half makes. here's a kid in college who is told he will not be able to play his senior year. He still gets drafted. Has another injury. Still makes the team. And ends up starting the SB and gets a hero's welcome back home.
Who would have known this back in Aug- Sept of 2009?

"doddpower" wrote:



Nonstopdrivel.

"wpr" wrote:


but of course. :face1:

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



A rhetorical question. Of course he knew!! LOL.

"wpr" wrote:


even Gregorious knew and smiled.
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Mucky Tundra (5h) : In your face, HBO!
Mucky Tundra (5h) : @ByRyanWood Mark Murphy: ā€œA great source of pride of mine is that we were never on Hard Knocks.ā€
Mucky Tundra (5h) : *years
Mucky Tundra (5h) : @mattschneidman Mark Murphy says he anticipates ā€œmany Packers gamesā€ being played in Germany, Ireland and/or the U.K. over the next 5-10 yea
dfosterf (5h) : *cafeteria* I have hit my head also, so I sympathize
dfosterf (5h) : Possibly hit his head leaning into the glass protecting the food in the cafateria
dfosterf (5h) : Maybe a low flying drone
dfosterf (5h) : Did Savion Williams run into a goalpost or something?
Mucky Tundra (6h) : also, no bueno when a guy starts getting concussions right off the bat in his career
Zero2Cool (6h) : Concussion is worse. Banks probably vet off day via back booboo claim
Mucky Tundra (8h) : @AndyHermanNFL Jordy Nelson out at camp today. No word if he’s in play for one of the two open roster spots ; )
dfosterf (8h) : Is that better or worse than Banks bad back?
Zero2Cool (9h) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (24-Jul) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
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