Transcript of Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle with the Baltimore media (Rolle revealed Wednesday that the illness he has been struggling with this season is epilepsy):

On how he feels coming back to play: “I’m feeling very good, more so emotionally. I just want to thank everybody that knew I had epilepsy but didn’t come out and say anything about it and respecting me and my family. I appreciate that a great deal. The hardest part was going to games and [seeing] the fans. I heard all kinds of rumors about what I have. It’s just been hard on my wife and my family, and I’m just happy to be back playing.”

On why he decided to disclose his diagnosis of epilepsy now: “Because it’s under control now, that’s the main thing. Now I’m not scared. It happened right before the Arizona game – the first two seizures. I didn’t know if I could play, if I’d be all right or anything. And, then I got on the medicine and I played [against] St. Louis and Buffalo and I felt fine. But, emotionally, I practiced for Pittsburgh and that Friday morning I had another seizure. I [thought], ‘Man, what’s the problem.’ [Now] the medicine, everything is taken care of. You don’t realize how much you miss your teammates and Rex [Ryan] and D.T. [Dennis Thurman] and those guys – just missing it. This is what I love to do.”

On whether it crossed his mind he would never play football again: “Yes, it did. The first [seizure] was the scariest one because half my tongue was off and I drove to work and didn’t know I’d had a seizure. It was very scary. But, the organization has been very helpful. Coach Billick has done a great job never disclosing anything. Bill [Tessendorf] has sent me to the best doctors. I’m thankful that I was here.”

On what he has learned about epilepsy: “That you can help. There are a lot of people out there I plan on helping. And, you can do what you do. I thought at first I would never be able to play [again]. In my locker today, I walked in and [read] that [Pittsburgh’s] Alan Faneca has had epilepsy since he was 15. He’s probably the best guard in football. So, I feel very good. Knowing what I know now and with the way last year was for me, I’m not ending my career like that. That’s what I’m most proud of.”

On his excitement to get back on the field: “Very excited. The season hasn’t gone how we wanted it and most people are asking, ‘Why are you coming back, you’re 4-6?’ But, these are my teammates and I love playing and it’s time to come back. I can play, I can continue to play and I will do so as long as I’m healthy.”

On what the support of the Ravens’ organization and his teammates has meant to him this season: “[It’s meant] that you’re more than a football player to the organization. You’re an individual and you’re a person, first and foremost. They did everything they could. They told me I didn’t even have to come back and play if I didn’t want to, and I really appreciated that. It’s just time to turn things around.”

On what he would like his role to be in promoting epilepsy awareness: “Anything is possible. The people from my foundation right now are finding people we can contact just to get something going and let those people know it doesn’t stop you. It sucks not being able to drive right now, but besides that everything’s good.”

On describing the physical symptoms of a seizure: “You don’t remember the seizure. All I remember is with the few I’ve had my tongue has been cut and I had terrible headaches after. People said I had memory loss. The problem was I couldn’t play because the medicine was the wrong medicine [for me]. Once I got that out of my system, everything’s good. I know I can play because I played [against] St. Louis and Buffalo on the medicine, so I’m ready to go.”

On whether his energy level is still 100 percent: “I think so. We’ll see Sunday.”

On whether he remembers experiencing smaller seizures in the past before this year: “I was having minor ones and didn’t even know it at the time. [For] about two, two and a half, years, I was having minor seizures and didn’t know it. So, I’m glad that the Ravens took care of it as soon as they found it and I’m still here.”

On how difficult it was for him to keep his illness private with all the speculation in the media: “That was [hard]. I really appreciate you all that knew [and were] not disclosing it. That meant a lot to me and my family.”

On the challenge of finding the proper medication that would leave him seizure-free and also allow him to play: “It was very hard. For two weeks, the first time, I couldn’t do anything because they didn’t know about the medicine. I was scared before the St. Louis game because I didn’t know the [side] effects; I didn’t know how I’d do or anything. Emotionally, I was more hurt before the Pittsburgh game because I’d done everything to get back and thought I was there and then I had another seizure and [the doctors told me] you’re not playing until we get it figured out. Now, I’m just happy to be normal again and to be a part of the team like everyone else.”