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:


UserPostedImage
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?
UserPostedImage
zombieslayer
14 years ago
Hoping Starks is a Packer for awhile. I really like the kid.
My man Donald Driver
UserPostedImage
(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
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.
UserPostedImage
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:
UserPostedImage
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.
UserPostedImage
Users browsing this topic
    Fan Shout
    Zero2Cool (8h) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
    Zero2Cool (9h) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
    Zero2Cool (9h) : No sir. I did not.
    dfosterf (9h) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
    wpr (10h) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
    dfosterf (11h) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
    Zero2Cool (11h) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
    wpr (11h) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
    Mucky Tundra (12h) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
    Zero2Cool (12h) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
    Zero2Cool (13h) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
    wpr (15h) : 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 (15h) : The site is much more better.
    Zero2Cool (15h) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
    Zero2Cool (15h) : I saw that and thought it was kind of lame.
    dfosterf (15h) : Packers new locker room is pretty awesome. Great for morale, imo
    Zero2Cool (16h) : Shuffled things on the web server. Hope it makes it faster.
    Zero2Cool (16h) : Other times, it's turtle ass
    Zero2Cool (16h) : Sometimes it's snappy, like now.
    beast (17h) : I feel like it's loading at the top of the next minute, or something like that.
    beast (17h) : Also the thanks/heart takes FOREVER to load, and posting in the shout box takes three times FOREVER!
    beast (17h) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
    beast (17h) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
    Zero2Cool (18h) : Yeah, I noticed that too. Is it slow for PackerPeople.com too?
    wpr (18h) : I don't know what you IT guys call it but the page loading is very slow for me today.
    Zero2Cool (18h) : SSL might be settled now.
    Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Still working through SSL cert issues
    wpr (23-Jul) : Glad to be back
    Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I think PH original finally working.
    dfosterf (22-Jul) : Can tell you are having a fun day Kev
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Yep, I had to manually move them. It'll fix itself after more posts.
    Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Same deal with the songs/videos thread, says you replied last but when I go there it's what I posted earlier is last
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : I had to manually move three posts.
    Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : But when I go it, Martha's is the last reply
    Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Still a little screwy; it shows on the main forum that you were the last person to reply to the Jenkins trade thread
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Host issues, been crazy day
    Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Connect 4?
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Connecting to new database
    Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : What the hell
    beast (22-Jul) : Packershome going to the Whiteout unis again
    Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : Oh wait, they got Cam Ward. 1st overall right? haha oops
    Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : They could send Packers a 1st for a QB they are familiar with
    Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : Titans QB Will Levis to have season-ending shoulder surgery
    Zero2Cool (19-Jul) : Their season did kind of start there, so 🤷
    dfosterf (19-Jul) : Eagles put an engraved Brazil flag on their super bowl rings
    Zero2Cool (18-Jul) : Benton unsigned no more
    Zero2Cool (17-Jul) : That's good analysis, yes you are getting old. It'd a blessing!
    dfosterf (14-Jul) : *analysis* gettin' old
    dfosterf (14-Jul) : One of the best analyisis I"ve ever watched at this time of an offseason
    dfosterf (14-Jul) : Andy Herman interviewed Warren Sharp on his Pack a day podcast
    Please sign in to use Fan Shout
    2025 Packers Schedule
    Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
    LIONS
    Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
    COMMANDERS
    Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
    Browns
    Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
    Cowboys
    Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
    BENGALS
    Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
    Cardinals
    Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
    Steelers
    Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
    PANTHERS
    Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
    EAGLES
    Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
    Giants
    Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
    VIKINGS
    Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
    Lions
    Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
    BEARS
    Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
    Broncos
    Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
    Bears
    Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
    RAVENS
    Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
    Vikings
    Recent Topics
    18m / Around The NFL / beast

    1h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    3h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

    6h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

    7h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

    7h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

    18h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

    23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

    22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

    22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    18-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    15-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    Headlines
    Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.