Colts rookie safety Antoine Bethea has started in 11 of Indianpolis' games this season, missing his first week of action last Sunday against the Titans due to a shoulder injury. According to the Colts' team statistics, Bethea has posted 85 total tackles (including 50 solo efforts)so far this year. That places him third behind Pro Bowl linebacker Cato June and defensive captain/middle linebacker Gary Brackett. Bethea also has been credited with an interception and two passes defenses so far this year.
Ed Thompson: Well lets get right to the big question that Colts fans have
been really concerned about. Tell us how you injured your shoulder, how it's
feeling, and if you'll be playing this Sunday.
Antoine Bethea: During the Philly game I fell on it and injured it, but right
now I'm feeling well and I'm planning on playing on Sunday. I've been practicing
all week, so I'm looking forward to getting back out there on the field.
ET: Do you know yet if you'll be paired up with Bob Sanders or is he
still day to day?
AB: I'm not sure yet. Bob's a great player, so we're just hoping he can
be back on the field with us again. Nobody likes to be on the sidelines watching
their teammates play, but you know in the NFL, everybody gets beat up. But I'm
hoping that we'll both be out there soon having some fun playing together
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| Antoine Bethea in preseason action against the Bengals. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images) |
ET: Talk about being beat up...before this shoulder injury, how's
your body been responding to the week-to-week pounding of the NFL?
AB: I've been doing pretty well. Our strength and conditioning program is
great, so after the game you've got to take care of your body, get your
treatments whether it be an ice bath or something else that will help. And for the most part I've been bouncing back pretty well.
ET: You got to play your position with Marlin Jackson back there with
you. Tell us a little bit about Marlin as a player and as a person.
AB: Marlin's become one of my closest friends on the team. He's a great
person; real down-to-earth and someone you enjoy hanging out with. As a player,
he's going 110 percent all the time in the practices and in the games. And when
he goes to make a tackle, he's going to try to take your head off no matter
what. He's a great person on and off the field, and I'm just happy to have him
as a teammate.
ET: Bill Polian this week said that he thought you were deserving of
consideration for defensive rookie of the year honors, and so do I and I'm sure
many others who have watched you play this year. What do you think of that?
AB: I'm grateful for the opportunity that I've been given. There's a
lot of people out there who would love to play in the NFL and would love to be
in my shoes. When I go out on the field, I don't want to take anything for
granted in regards to the opportunities I've been blessed with. And I'd like to
thank you and Mr. Polian and anyone else who is thinking that I should be
nominated, but I just want to go out there and play ball and if it happens it
happens. But if it doesn't, I'm still grateful for the opportunity I've been
blessed with.
ET: Is there anything else I can pass on to the fans for you at this
time?
AB: I'd just really like to thank them for the support they've been
giving me and the team this year because it's really appreciated. So please be
sure to tell them that I said "thanks".
Check back on Saturday for our Colts Q&A with Antoine where he'll talk about Sunday's matchup against the Jaguars!
