AFC Notes: Colts, Ravens, Steelers

Colts

Colts owner Jim Irsay mentioned that they “couldn’t be more excited” about the team at this point in time.

“We’re just off and running,” Irsay said, via the Indy Star. “We love our rookie class. We really feel like we’ve made significant strides with this draft (and) with some of our players that were young last year. Oftentimes, going Year 1 to Year 2 is a big difference. Of course having Andrew on the field, I mentioned it before. Things change. When you have that guy on the field, everyone knows you’ve got a chance and the sky’s the limit.

“We couldn’t be more excited.”

New Colts HC Frank Reich also said he likes where the team is at coming out of offseason workouts.

“I do think you can feel it,” Reich said. “You can feel as a coach, having been around. Obviously, we’re not in pads… But I really feel good about what we have. The talent level, the character level, everything that we’ve done, the commitment, I feel very confident that we have the pieces here to challenge week in and week out and do a lot of good things.”

Ravens

Ravens third-round OT Orlando Brown says he’s motivated by upholding his late father’s legacy in the NFL.

“My biggest wish right now is I wish he could see it,” Brown said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “At the end of the day, that’s my motivation for getting to this point and continuing to make sure I carry on his legacy.”

Steelers

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger explained that he isn’t worried about his contract situation, even though his current is below market value following some of the recent contracts signed by quarterbacks the past few years.

“I have two years on my contract. I’m not going to be one to sit here and worry about my contract,” Roethlisberger said, via ESPN.com. “That’s not my job. My job is to play football. I’ll let my representation, the Steelers worry about all that stuff. To me, it’s all about going out and playing now. I think there are a lot more, maybe a lot more important people who need to get their deals done now. For me to do it two years out, if it doesn’t make sense for the team, I’m not going to sit here and worry about it.”

Roethlisberger said that his focus on simply winning Super Bowls, and he understands that sometimes it’s best for the team to leave some money on the table for other players.

“I care about record-breaking Super Bowl wins and things like that — that’s more important to me,” Roethlisberger said.

“It’s important, too, to understand as quarterback of this team, sometimes you almost have to leave a little bit of money behind for other guys,” Roethlisberger added. “That’s not my job, that’s not my thing to worry about. That’s why I have agents.”