MetroFanatic: Let's talk a little about the upcoming season. What do you see from the team this year, in general?
Paul Grafer: I think it's going to be a work in progress. We have young players, a new coach, a new direction. Everything is new, and that takes time. At the same time, the amount of progress we've shown already is incredible. We've had some tough times already in spring training. We lost a bunch of games, and then we culminated with that trip to Argentina, where we got a couple pretty big wins against some of their first division teams. So, I think things will have to continue to grow through the season - we'll have to get used to Bob, he'll have to get used to us. And we'll gell, and find some sort of cohesion. I'm confident, because I think we have the right type of people, the right type of players for that to happen.

MF: We've heard from several players today that there's a difference in the camaraderie, the team spirit compared to last year, that wasn't there last year. Are you seeing that? Not that anyone's going to say that last year everyone was at each other's throats.
PG: It's a different kind of interaction than in the past. I remember guys saying last year that this team gets together, why aren't we winning? We get along fine, but we know we have to put the work in. And we're good professionals, we have good leadership... but the most important thing will be the results. I think we have the type of people that won't turn bad results into negativity, which starts a snowball effect, into more bad results. I think we have the right type of people here, that keep that negativity out; and you know we're going to face tough times, but when we face them I think we're going to have the ability to come out of them.

MF: Let's talk about you for a second. You've got Tim Howard, one of the best goalies in MLS, in front of you. But you must want to play too... so what do you see for yourself this season? Your goals for the season? Are we just going to see you in the US Open Cup, or will we see more of you this year?
PG: Time will tell. There will be some opportunities for me to play. Tim is becoming more and more involved with the national team, and there will be the Open Cup. Who knows? I know my role is the backup. Tim is the best goalkeeper in this country, and I have an incredible amount of respect for him. I also know that when I am called on, I need to act like I'm the best goalkeeper in this country. If I didn't, it would be a disservice to my teammates and this organization. So I'll keep working hard and wait for my chance. I have the feeling I'll have a few more opportunities this year than I have the last few years, and when I get them I'll just do my best.

MF: In the Rochester friendly, you stopped a penalty again. How do you approach taking penalties, because you seem to have some success stopping them...
PG: I've been getting a little lucky lately in preseason: but unlucky in the sense that I faced an incredible amount of them. I think it was 7 in the preseason.

MF: What is that about? While most fans had only a small website report to go by, it seemed like the team was having a lot of penalties called against it.
PG: I'm not sure. I think that, without bashing any refs, there have been a couple dodgy ones. And then maybe we've been guilty of diving in a little too much in the box. It's not something we've specifically addressed, but maybe something we should be aware of. Hopefully that will sort itself out.

MF: Do you have a specific technique against penalties?
PG: I just approach them as a sort of win-win situation... I mean, I don't have much pressure on me, because I'm supposed to give up the goal. I feel like the pressure is all on the shooter, so I'll do one of two things. I'll try and read the situation: maybe I know where the guy has gone in the past, or I can read in his stance behind the ball: if I can get anything out of that, maybe I can incorporate that into a guess. Then maybe if I don't have anything, I'll read his approach to the ball, and that might tell me something. If none of that tells me anything, then I'll just decide to react and save it, or I'll just guess one way. All those things quickly determine what I'm going to do.

MF: Of all the players in MLS, who do you not want to see standing at the spot in front of you?
PG: I wouldn't want to see Kreis. I've seen some of his, and not only does he hit them accurately, but he just pummels the ball. There's just not really much of a chance...

MF: Unless he hits you right square in the chest. Another thing the fans want to know... how's the cooking going?
PG: I'm on a little break right now. I was taking classes at the Institute of Culinary Education in the city, which I did for about 4 months. I've got about a month left, and then I'm going to do a month externship at a New York City restaurant. But I'm going to postpone that to the offseason, just because I can't make the time commitment right now during the season. I think it's something for the offseason. It's very enjoyable, a great hobby of mine.

MF: And you will be wearing pants in the kitchen.
PG: I will be wearing pants in the kitchen.

MF: So what's the deal with the pants?
PG: I think it probably began in college. I played on Astroturf in college for 4 years, and pants are a necessity under those conditions. It's funny how things have come full circle now that I'll be playing on Astroturf here at Giants Stadium: it's probably going to be a necessity again. I just never moved back to shorts after that. I trained in shorts, I played games in shorts as a kid, but once I hit college I wore pants, and I've kept them ever since.

MF: How do you feel about being possibly the only player in the world whose equipment has its own website?
PG: Honestly, I feel very honored. The pants do too, I think.

MF: The pants have been all over the world: Moscow, Nicaragua, London. They're in Belize right now...
PG: (laughs) I hope they get a break at some point. I'm sure they enjoy the travel but everyone needs break from that kind of schedule. Belize? Is that right? I hear it's a beautiful location...

MF: Do you feel pressure to never wear shorts again?
PG: No, I feel if I really needed to go back to shorts, I could handle it. But I really feel an attachment to the pants. I don't see a move to shorts anytime soon.

MF: Let's say it's 95 degrees in the middle of the summer, FieldTurf... what's the choice?
PG: The pants have overcome more difficult circumstances than that.