On how it feels to sign a four-year contract extension: "[I'm] very excited. I'm pumped that we were able to get it done. Now we can move forward and focus on what's important. For me, that's making kicks and for all of us it's winning games."
On when he knew the deal would be finalized: "Probably at about 1:45 p.m. Central Time. You want to talk about getting deals done in the 11th hour, we did just that, and at the end of the day, that's all that really matters. We were able to get it done."
On what the last 24 to 48 hours have been like while waiting to finalize the deal: "It's definitely an emotional rollercoaster; there's no other way to put it. You do everything you can to try to compartmentalize your feelings and realize that whatever happens off the field, business is just business. The nature of my position is one that I put everything I have mentally, and emotionally, and spiritually into every single kick that I go out there and attempt during the football season. Like I said, it's definitely difficult to think about it and separate on the field versus off the field – football versus business – when they are so closely intertwined. At the end of the day, we were able to lock it in. I think everybody should be pretty pumped about everything. I know I am."
On if he ever thought he needed to have a plan B if negotiations did not work out: "I never really thought about things in terms of having a plan B. Plan A and the only plan, for me – and it still is the same plan – is to go out and make as many kicks as I can [and] try to string as many together in a row as I can. The goal is to take care of business on the field so off the field that stuff will just get ironed out on its own. As far as having a plan B, that was never a consideration. The only plan and still the current plan is to do everything I can to make kicks."
On if it was important for him to be the highest-paid kicker in the NFL: "I think the most important thing to me was that we got a deal done that, as far as I'm concerned, [my wife] Amanda and [son] Easton and I could all feel good about. As far as everybody involved is concerned, it's something that I can walk through the hallways of the facilities and bump into just about anybody and there's no animosity. I think the word of the week – if you follow any of that stuff, which I know you guys do … You guys are probably writing some of that stuff, but the word of the week has tended to be 'acrimonious.' I wanted to make sure – I think we all wanted to make sure – that there was no acrimony or animosity from this point moving forward. What's happened in the past couple days is in the past couple days, and it frankly doesn't matter moving forward."
On how he's going to celebrate the big contract: "How do I celebrate? Well, I had to postpone this particular conference call by about 10 minutes because I was in line at Potbelly getting sandwiches for me and Amanda and my in-laws as a thank you for them letting me use their fax machine. (laughter) When I first made the team in 2012, I went and got a burrito from Chipotle and got the chips and guacamole and didn't worry as much about spending the extra couple bucks on the guacamole. This time around, we're celebrating with some Potbelly turkey sandwiches."
On if today's events make him reflect on his accomplishments: "My honest answer is 'no,' just because it does me no good as a football player to look in the past and to celebrate my own accomplishments. I can't ever think about it like that. I'll have plenty of time to do that when I retire; hopefully that is a long way away. All I'm worried about – I wouldn't say worried – all I'm focusing on is remaining and becoming, all at the same time, the best player that I can be."
On if he's talked with the other members of the "Wolf Pack" [LS Morgan Cox and P Sam Koch]:"I heard from Morgan [Cox] and Sam [Koch] just a little bit ago. They both sent their congratulations, and Morgan made sure to let us know next time we play credit card roulette, we are going to have to go to a nice restaurant and only use my card. *(laughter) *It is all good things; I'm definitely pumped to be able to continue to work with those guys. They have been awesome for me these last four years on the football field and also off of it as good friends and teammates. I've got to give a shout out to [kicking consultant] Randy Brown and [special teams coordinator/associate head coach] Jerry Rosburg and 'Harbs' [head coach John Harbaugh] – really everybody for helping me have the level of success that I've had these last four seasons. I'm glad to be able to keep it going for the foreseeable future."
On how important it is that the "Wolf Pack" is signed through 2018:"It is definitely big. To me, it is imperative to have a quality long snapper and a quality holder before you worry about how good your kicker is. You have to have the first two steps before the ball leaves anybody's foot, and those two are the best in the business. Sam was obviously rewarded with his first trip to a Pro Bowl this last year, but we have known all along how good he is as a punter. To be able to work with those guys, to be able to learn from each other over these last four years, has been awesome, and knowing that we are going to be able to keep going and hopefully make ourselves some of the longer-tenured specialists – one of the more-tenured specialist units in football – I think that the opportunity to do that is a very good deal."
