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
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  • 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. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
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
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  • 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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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (14m) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (50m) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (2h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (6h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (6h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (7h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (12h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (12h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (12h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (13h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (14h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (14h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (14h) : umm... what?
wpr (14h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (14h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (14h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (14h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (14h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (21h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
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