NFL Combine 2011: Coaches and Executive Interviews Day 1

At the NFL Scouting Combine, NFL coaches and executives give access to media from all across the nation. Little is said that isn't already known. More non-answers are given than anything with actual substance. No one reveals their draft strategy or plans for free agency.

Sometimes, little nuggets of info slip out.

Other times—especially those times involving Rex Ryan—humor is used to sate the appetites of the hungry media hordes.

Here are some news, notes and quips from today's scouting combine pressers:

Ron Rivera on having the first pick in the NFL Draft:

"What we’ve done as far as the first pick is concerned is we’ve evaluated our own roster first and foremost to determine the positions we feel warrant the first pick. We’ve eliminated it to a specific number of players and we’ll be watching those players very closely over the next month and a half, evaluating, trying to get as much information as we can and most certainly trying to see which player—regardless of position—fits our needs most urgently."

Rivera on the hiring of Sean McDermott:

"Sean is somebody I worked with in the past for five seasons and I got to know very well. We very much shared the same philosophy in terms of being aggressive and an attacking style of defense that comes from being around Jim Johnson, and everything kind of happened."

Rivera on Steve Smith:

"My biggest thing is let us put it all together and see how it works, see if it’s something that can work for all of us. That’s probably the most important thing. But we have to do what’s best for the Carolina Panthers."

John Fox on the Denver Broncos starting quarterback:

"I don't think we'll really figure it out until we start competing. It's a group of three I think are very capable. Right now, I think Kyle Orton's our starter. We've got a very young guy, a high draft pick in Tim Tebow who got his feet wet last year toward the end of the season. He did an outstanding job. He's got some of the intangibles you're looking for. And then, shoot, Brady Quinn I'm looking forward to seeing play."

Chan Gailey on Ryan Fitzpatrick:

I’ve said all along I am extremely confident in Ryan Fitzpatrick. I think he played well enough till he got to the very end—the next to last game he was in when he got banged up—I think he played well enough to prove to a lot of people and me and our staff included. That he can play well and we can win a bunch of football games with guys like that."

Gailey on if he regrets not starting Ryan Fitzpatrick sooner:

"Yeah, shoot yeah. If I knew then what I know know, I wouldn’t have done that."

John Harbaugh on if Joe Flacco holds the ball too long:

"There's nothing wrong with the way Ben Roethlisberger plays, or Aaron Rodgers. One thing I think can do is help him a little bit offensively. I don't think we've been a great quick game type of a team in the last three years with Joe. So, we build that quick game in there a little bit and then obviously the release time is going to be a little bit faster because of the nature of the offense and that will help those numbers."

John Harbaugh on if he's given (new San Francisco Coach) Jim any advice:

"Jim’s right over there? What advice did I give you about being a head coach in the NFL? Anything good? See, he can’t think of a thing?"

Jason Garrett on the progress of Tony Romo and Dez Bryant:

"They are both doing well. Tony has actually been throwing a little bit, and he says he feels comfortable. Typical Romo, ‘Hey, I’m ready to play. If we were playing a game today,’ that kind of a thing. And Dez has made progress as well."

Rex Ryan on goals:

"I believe this is the year we're going to do it, I believe this is the year that we're going to win the Super Bowl."

Michael Schottey is an on-call editor for the Bleacher Report College Writing Internship. He is also an NFL Featured Columnist and an NFL Draft Expert.

A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, he has professionally covered the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, as well as NFL events like the Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl. Follow him on Twitter.