Below is a selection of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quotes from today's earlier media availability. Full video of press conferences can be found on Buccaneers.com.

Head Coach Dirk Koetter

Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator George Warhop

Wide Receiver Mike Evans

Head Coach Dirk Koetter

(On his thoughts about Jerry Jones' comments about shortening preseason to make regular season longer)

"Above my pay-grade."

(On safeties Keith Tandy and Josh Robinson being let go)

"Yeah, well we're not going to talk about anybody who's not here, and at the same time, no disrespect to anybody that's not here. Every year 32 teams are making decisions based on what gives them the best chance to win during the year. Those are a lot of really hard decisions by Jason, by me, and we have to live with the results. But we're excited about the guys we got."

(On safety Isaiah Johnson's journey with the Buccaneers)

"I think the number is 41 in the last three years of guys that we've had on the practice squad and move up, and I think there's 11 guys who've done it multiple times, and Isaiah's one of them. Isaiah is the perfect example of a guy who came in here, didn't say a word, just got better, got better, got better, got better. Scout team, special teams – improved as a safety and now here he is. He's on the 53 [man roster]. That's a good example to everyone, and everybody's got a different journey. It's really the same thing Adam Humphries did – Adam's just happened faster."

(On if there was a captain's vote)

"There was not. Nope, there wasn't."

(On why defensive tackle Jerel Worthy made the roster)

"He showed us a really good first step, quick off the ball. Really impressed with his motor – the guy was a second-round draft pick. He's played some ball in the NFL. I think sometimes when guys are out for a little while they miss it a lot more than maybe they thought they would've. Jerel seems like a guy who's hungry for another opportunity, and that showed on the video."

(On defensive tackle Vita Vea's progress)

"He's making good progress. Unfortunately, it's not to the point where he can play football on the field yet, but he's working a lot behind the scenes in the weight room, in the training room, and he's making progress, but he's not ready to play on the field yet."

(On when Vea will return)

"I can't say anything more about that."

(On his overall thoughts on the first game week of the season)

"Tough opener against a really good football team, but what better way for us to measure where we're at? One of the toughest places to play in the league – going to play in the Dome in New Orleans. I know our guys are excited about it, and as you said a division game, so they know us well, we know them well. We're excited about getting them going."

(On if tackle Donovan Smith will get going soon)

"Yeah, we'll see how it shakes out. You guys know well – Donovan takes a lot of pride. He's never missed a start in his time here, and if anybody can make it, it's him."

(On if it was 'weird' without quarterback Jameis Winston)

"It was a little bit. I think I noticed it the most when I walked in the quarterback room when we broke down for individual meetings and went in the quarterback room. I mean, it's been a long time since Jameis hasn't been camped out up in the front row next to his computer. It was a little bit strange, but we knew this was coming, and we planned for it. Now we've just got to do it."

(On having no quarterbacks on the practice squad)

"Yeah, especially this early in the year where we know we got a quarterback coming back – Jameis is going to be coming back pretty quick., There's just so many good players out there that we didn't want to lose one spot for a guy who's probably not going to play in a game right now anyway. All these other guys have a chance to be moved up at some point."

(On how quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick leads)

"I think he just keeps it real. He's a man's man. He knows how to talk to the linemen, knows how to talk to the receivers. You know, anybody that's got his experience – he's good in every situation. He's good with every type of player and he just handles himself like a real pro and you wouldn't expect anything else."

(On his team's winning on opening day and Sean Peyton's team's struggling on opening day is a coincidence)

"Every coach is trying to get his guys ready every week, so I hope it's three in a row."

(On how quick he knew running back Shaun Wilson would be on the roster)

"That's hard to say. I mean, everybody that's a new guy or an undrafted guy I think really does – Jason and I talk three or four times a day and it comes down to the whole body of work. Everybody's got a different story on that. I'm not sure exactly when, but he definitely deserved it."

(On if he can share whether he will be calling plays against the Saints)

"No, I can't. Appreciate you asking though."

(On if the heavy number of receivers is because those are the best players or if they will play specials teams as well)

"Both. I mean, a lot of people keep six. We've kept five or six depending on the year and depending on who the guys are. As many as really everybody really in that group except for Mike [Evans] is going to do something on special teams."

(On if all of the draft picks making the roster says something about their draft class)

"Well, I don't ever look at it like that. Some other people might. I just look at is as the best guys make it. We also have undrafted guys that made it, so you know they come from everywhere, but good football players come in all shapes and sizes."

Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator George Warhop

(On how much he likes the depth at offensive live)

"I like it. I thought it was a very competitive camp. The 10 guys we kept, I think earned the right to be here. We had some young guys that did a nice job, that progressed, that we weren't able to keep. I thought camp did what it was supposed to do. It created competition and we had to let some quality guys go."

(On Mike Liedtke's development at left tackle)

"Mike came in the league as a tackle. Early on, he was playing tackle and when he got here we moved him more inside to guard and to center. And then when we needed some help at tackle, he slid back out there. It's not foreign to him and it's good to be able to do a lot of things. It gives you more opportunity and he took advantage of it."

(On what offensive lineman Adam Getttis showed him to make the roster)

"He and Mike [Liedtke] are very similar in that they're both very flexible. He hadn't played a lot of center coming to this – he had played some. What he displayed was a calm during the games. He understands the game, communicates very well and every week he got better and better. Again, he gives us more flexibility inside."

(On what he likes from guard Alex Cappa)

"Again, transitioning from tackle to guard. Very, very, very bright. If you were in our meeting rooms, he's like a four-or-five-year vet in terms of understanding and answering questions and where withal. Just a matter of getting used to playing inside. Things are closer – guys are closer – so you have to be more efficient with your hands which is coming for him. And, it's a much more physical game inside than it is at tackle, which he really doesn't have a problem with. It's just different."

Wide Receiver Mike Evans

(On Madden fundraiser to benefit the families of Jacksonville shooting victims)

"Me and Young Kiv [Shay Kivlen], he is one of the best Madden players in America, so he's going to beat me down man, today in a friendly game of Madden to help raise money for his fallen friends Eli and Taylor. I hope that everybody can tune in and watch it. It's for a great cause. Hopefully my Madden game is up to par."

(On what it means to be a part of a fundraiser like this)

"It means a lot. To be able to be in this position, I never take it for granted. Having a platform like this, I will never take it for granted. I always try to help as much as I can. I think I am helping and I am going to be a donation. I look forward to meeting the guy. We are playing over the livestream, but I'll probably meet him in person one day. Hopefully it will help their families a lot."

(On how the fundraiser came about)

"The Bucs came to me with the opportunity and I couldn't turn it down."

(On whether he is more inclined to participate in causes that support victims of violence since it hits close to home for him)

"I never really thought about it like that. [It is] just people that need help in general, but that does bring up a good point. Throughout my life, there has been a lot of violence and I guess that does touch home for me a little bit, but I just like helping people in general that I feel like need help."

-BUCCANEERS-