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
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (6h) : Brewers sweep Dodgers. Awesome
Mucky Tundra (6-Jul) : And James Flanigan is the grandson of Packers Super Bowl winner Jim Flanigan Sr.
Mucky Tundra (6-Jul) : Jerome Bettis and Jim Flanigans sons as well!
Zero2Cool (6-Jul) : Thomas Davis Jr is OLB, not WR. Oops.
Zero2Cool (6-Jul) : Larry Fitzgeral and Thomas Davis sons too. WR's as well.
Mucky Tundra (5-Jul) : Kaydon Finley, son of Jermichael Finley, commits to Notre Dame
dfosterf (3-Jul) : Make sure to send my props to him! A plus move!
Zero2Cool (3-Jul) : My cousin, yes.
dfosterf (3-Jul) : That was your brother the GB press gazette referenced with the red cross draft props thing, yes?
Zero2Cool (2-Jul) : Packers gonna unveil new throwback helmet in few weeks.
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : I know it's Kleiman but this stuff writes itself
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : "Make sure she signs the NDA before asking for a Happy Ending!"
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : @NFL_DovKleiman Powerful: Deshaun Watson is taking Shedeur Sanders 'under his wing' as a mentor to the Browns QBs
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Dolphins get (back) Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Steelers land Jalen Ramsey via Trade
dfosterf (26-Jun) : I think it would be great to have someone like Tom Grossi or Andy Herman on the Board of Directors so he/they could inform us
dfosterf (26-Jun) : Fair enough, WPR. Thing is, I have been a long time advocate to at least have some inkling of the dynamics within the board.
wpr (26-Jun) : 1st world owners/stockholders problems dfosterf.
Martha Careful (25-Jun) : I would have otherwise admirably served
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Also, no more provision for a write-in candidate, so Martha is off the table at least for this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : You do have to interpret the boring fine print, but all stockholders all see he is on the ballot
dfosterf (25-Jun) : It also says he is subject to another ballot in 2028. I recall nothing of this nature with Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy is on my ballot subject to me penciling him in as a no.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : I thought it used to be we voted for the whatever they called the 45, and then they voted for the seven, and then they voted for Mark Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Because I was too lazy to change my address, I haven't voted fot years until this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : of the folks that run this team. I do not recall Mark Murphy being subject to our vote.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy yay or nay is on the pre-approved ballot that we always approve because we are uninformed and lazy, along with all the rest
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Weird question. Very esoteric. For stockholders. Also lengthy. Sorry. Offseason.
Zero2Cool (25-Jun) : Maybe wicked wind chill made it worse?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : And then he signs with Cleveland in the offseason
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : @SharpFootball WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold”
Zero2Cool (24-Jun) : Yawn. Rodgers says he is "pretty sure" this be final season.
Zero2Cool (23-Jun) : PFT claims Packers are having extension talks with Zach Tom, Quay Walker.
Mucky Tundra (20-Jun) : GB-Minnesota 2004 Wild Card game popped up on my YouTube page....UGH
beast (20-Jun) : Hmm 🤔 re-signing Walker before Tom? Sounds highly questionable to me.
Mucky Tundra (19-Jun) : One person on Twitter=cannon law
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Well, to ONE person on Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : According to Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Packers are working on extension for LT Walker they hope to have done before camp
dfosterf (18-Jun) : E4B landed at Andrews last night
dfosterf (18-Jun) : 101 in a 60
dfosterf (18-Jun) : FAFO
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : one year $4m with incentives to make it up to $6m
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Or Lions
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Beats the hell out of a Vikings signing
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : Baltimore Ravens now have signed former Packers CB Jaire Alexander.
dfosterf (14-Jun) : TWO magnificent strikes for touchdowns. Lose the pennstate semigeezer non nfl backup
dfosterf (14-Jun) : There was minicamp Thursday. My man Taylor Engersma threw
dfosterf (11-Jun) : There will be a mini camp practice Thursday.
Zero2Cool (11-Jun) : He's been sporting a ring for a while now. It's probably Madonna.
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
6-Jul / Random Babble / Martha Careful

4-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

2-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

2-Jul / Fantasy Sports Talk / dfosterf

1-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

29-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

25-Jun / Around The NFL / Martha Careful

23-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Jun / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

16-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

15-Jun / Random Babble / Martha Careful

14-Jun / Around The NFL / beast

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