Let’s go over the notable quotes from the Sunday NFL Pregame shows on ESPN, Fox and NBC. As usual, CBS is omitted because I have yet to receive press releases from the network’s public relations department.
Starting with ESPN:
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Notes and Quotes – Week 9
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed today’s NFL action. Some excerpts:
On Tennessee Titans Vulnerability?
Tom Jackson: “Going undefeated becomes problematic for a coach. You think about last year – and I know it’s fresh in our minds – there was a team undefeated last year and the team that won the Super Bowl, lost six football games. Who was happy at the end of the season? You don’t want to go into the 14, 15, 16th week of the season saying ‘We’ve got to go undefeated.” Lose a game in there so you can relax.”
Mike Ditka: “That logic doesn’t work. In that case everyone should lose the first game and go undefeated the rest of the year. This football team is very good. Where they could have a problem is going to Chicago. Jeff Fisher is going back home. He’s going to feel a little more pressure…Chicago if they’re in the right mood, they can match up with anyone in the game.”
Keyshawn Johnson: Put some of the pressure on Kerry Collins. If they get in situation where he has to throw the football, 25-30 times in the football game, then they can find themselves in some trouble.”
Chris Berman: “This is a different model of a team. This is a just defense first and second and third team. So, more close games mean less of a margin of error, but more likely to get a real good defensive performance each week.”
On Ben Roethlisberger Taking Hits
Tom Jackson: He’s staring down the barrel between 45-50 sacks and I think much of it has to do with Willie Parker. Willie Parker in the lineup in the first few weeks, those 30-plus runs, I think protected him and the offensive line. Willie Parker might be in the lineup Monday and if so, I think he will survive. If Willie Parker gets hurt and I don’t think he does.
Keyshawn Johnson: “I’m not really concerned with the season; I’m concerned with the overall career of Big Ben. He’s been sacked out of the last 37 games, 116 times. When you do the multiplication there, and think about the hits, not sacks, twice as many, there is no way you can survive a 10-year career span.”
Tom Jackson: “I think we both know Ben Roethlisberger maxes at 22 to 25 passes.”
Keyshawn Johnson: “He’s a big strong quarterback and he doesn’t want to go down on the first contact. Some of the biggest plays in his career, after the initial first contact he’s able to make plays down the field and escape the pocket. Those hits, career-wise, not this year, but career-wise, I want to see the guy play more than 10 years.”
On if Brett Favre’s Move to the Jets has been a Success?
Keyshawn Johnson: “It’s very successful to me. Brett Favre has done a tremendous job coming in there. They’re 4-3 right now and they’re right in the thick of things within the division. But this whole notion of the coaching staff and Eric Mangini talking about Brett Favre don’t hit on 20, hit on 20 Brett. He’s hit on 20 his entire career. When you look at Brett Favre, he’s going to hit some things, he’s going to throw some interceptions, but he’s also going to give you an opportunity to win some football games. He’s been the same way for 15-16 years. He’s 39 years old.”
Mike Ditka: “If he’s become the face of this organization and no question, it was the right move. But here’s the thing, all he’s trying to do is execute the play that’s called…and he’ll always try to do that. He’ll try to make a bad play, good.”
Cris Carter: “With Brett Favre, you know what you’re getting. I don’t know why would even debate what he was going to do on the field. They are a better football team. In the National Football League, when you go through free agency or you try trade, what you’re trying to do is buy someone’s highlight reel. And that’s what the Jets did. If they didn’t have Brett Favre, I wouldn’t be interested in watching them. They are better to watch, they’re a better football team and they’re exciting football team.”
Tom Jackson: “Jet fans need to remember that you only won four games all last year, so we already matched that total before we got to the mid-season mark. Seems to me there’s been a disconnect. I’m not surprised that coach Mangini had a meeting with Brett. I am surprised at the subject matter. It’s too to turn him around. Coach you can’t turn him now, it could be three interceptions or it could be six touchdowns. You hope more for the six touchdowns than the INTs but it’s too late to say ‘Hey, I’d like for you to be a little more careful with the football.’”
On Cowboys quarterback Brad Johnson
Cris Carter: “I am disappointed in the way that Brad’s played, but at Brad’s age, I know Brad didn’t think he’d have two tackle’s that couldn’t block anyone. Brad probably thought he’d be back at home in N.C. eating a piece Aunt B’s apple pie right now. It’s not Brad’s fault and they were not playing well before Brad took over.”
Tokm Jackson: “I am disappointed certainly in the way that Brad’s played, but more so in the guys who are not 40. The 23 and 24 – year olds. I think the one chance they have to win is Marion Barber. And, Jason Whitten, if I’m a linebacker and you step out on that field with broken ribs – you better be ready.”
Mike Ditka: “I think this is a case of looks good, smells bad to me. I think they’re a weak football team right now and you can’t blame it on the quarterback. The tackles are terrible.”
Keyshawn Johnson: “They were struggling before. Did Brad play in those three games that they lost? – No. Did Brad have to tackle Steven Jackson – No. I mean c’mon man for real. Everybody now you want to throw Brad under the bus, just run over Brad, like its Brad fault. Brad’s 40-years-old, what did you expect when he was your back up. A guy that would come in and give you some plays Where are 23, 24 and 25-year olds? Where are they at? Show up. Make some plays.
Chris Berman: “Do they have enough guys who can man up. Man up a little bit.”
Now to Fox NFL Sunday:
NFL on FOX reporter Pam Oliver conducted a one-on-one interview with New York Giants controversial wide receiver Plaxico Burress on the ups and downs of his season:
Oliver: “Do any of these things accurately describe you? Immature?”
Burress: “I’ve made some mistakes and made some bad decisions, yes.”
Oliver: “Stubborn?”
Burress: “I go about things a little different than other people do, so yes.”
Oliver: “Hates authority?”
Burress: “No. My sensitivity is kind of my burden. I wear my emotions on my sleeve but I wouldn’t change that about me because it’s who I am. Could I do things better? Of course.”
Oliver: “Do you respect Tom Coughlin?”
Burress: “Yes.”
Oliver: “In the 49ers game, America saw a blatant act of disrespect. Did you apologize? Were you sorry?
Burress: “To him personally, no. I guess (on being sorry) after everybody came up to me and was telling me how it came off . Could I have made a better decision or choice, just to go over there and sit down and just blow it off? Yeah, I could have but my emotions got the best of me at that moment.”
Oliver: “Do you make mistakes or do you make excuses?”
Burress: “I don’t make excuses at all. That’s the one thing that I’ve never done, I’ve never been ashamed of anything that I have done.”
Analyst Michael Strahan and Burress’ ex-teammate reacted to the continuing situation: “When everyday, win or lose, the media is asking you about a guy who’s not playing by the same rules as you are, as a player you reach your boiling point. I think the team is reaching their boiling point. There have been a number of guys who have tried to talk to Plaxico. But through the Giants have done a really good job of staying focused.”
Co-host Terry Bradshaw on Jerry Jones’ decision not to secure a competent backup QB: “You have 13 Pro Bowl players and a potential Super Bowl team. All of us picked the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl. So why didn’t Jerry Jones go out and get a real back up quarterback? Even Daunte Culpepper can throw the football down the field. Instead you have somebody who’s 40 years old, has all the experience in the world and can stand on the sidelines. The difference is when you get on that field you have to act, you have to be able to perform and Brad Johnson cannot perform.
Analyst Jimmy Johnson reacts to 49ers interim head coach Mike Singletary’s motivational methods including pulling his pants down at halftime: “I never did anything that was contrived. I never really liked the gimmicks. I think Mike might have gotten a little carried away with his motivational speaking tour. Pulling your pants down? I actually think it’s kind of stupid.”
Analyst Michael Strahan on how a player might respond to Singletary’s approach: “As a player when a coach does something like that you’re more concerned in the second half about what just happened. You’re thinking ‘my coach just pulled his pants down.’ You’re not really thinking about going out to win the game. I thought it was a great message when he sent Vernon Davis benched for not playing by the team rules. But to pull down your pants? That’s a little overboard.”
Co-host Curt Menefee on why many teams are so easily influenced by the media and make rash decisions: “It absolutely amazes me the impact that sports talk radio and the internet has had on the mindset of people in the National Football League. That’s why we have already seen three head coaches, one defensive coordinator, and a GM fired in the first eight weeks of the season. If you had enough conviction to stay with these guys during the off-season, then you owe it to your franchises’ stability to go with them at least half a season, don’t you? Why let Larry from Longmont on line three influence your decision? These days too many team decision makers don’t know any better because they don’t have a football background. In the NFL there are nine former cap guys or accountants making the final football decision for their teams, one former sports writer, one former agent and an ex-college recruiter heading three other franchises. No wonder some of these teams lack any convictions, these guys are basically fantasy football owners with a key to the building. Look at the teams with stability and long term success – the Giants, Steelers, Patriots, Packers. They are all run by football people. It’s time that insiders who do know trust what they know and stick with it, and stop reacting to what other people have to say about them.”
Analyst Howie Long on which Manning is better equipped to be successful in the long-term: “The Giants run the ball 30 times a game. You get Brandon Jacobs for three quarters, you get the body blows in and then you come in with Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw. That offense is set up for him to be successful. On the Colts, it all falls on Peyton.”
Analyst Michael Strahan and former Eli teammate agreed with Long: “Eli relies more on a team than Peyton does. It is all on Peyton to succeed. Eli is on a team where it’s offense, defense, everybody to succeed.”
Finally, to NBC’s Football Night in America:
CRIS COLLINSWORTH ON THE GIANTS: "They can run the ball with anybody in the history of the league."
CRIS COLLINSWORTH ON THE COWBOYS: "For Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips and company, they knew what they had at backup quarterback and it's costing them big time."
CRIS COLLINSWORTH ON THE TITANS: "Maybe they really are going to the Super Bowl.
"When you have a defensive football team that can dominate a really good offense like Green Bay has, it just looks like it's going to be something special for Tennessee this year."
PETER KING ON BEARS' FAN HOPING FOR KYLE ORTON'S SPEEDY RECOVERY: "I don't think they want to see another chapter of Rex Grossman."
JEROME BETTIS ON REX GROSSMAN: "For all you Chicago Bears fans who are saying 'no more Rex, we don't want anymore,' believe me, this is a different Rex Grossman. And I'll tell you why: Matt Forte is the running back. Grossman doesn't have to do as much."
TIKI BARBER'S RESPONSE: "I'm telling you 'Bussie,' everyone in Chicago is praying for Kyle Orton."
PETER KING ON MATT CASSEL: "He's going to hit it rich in the off season and I think it'll be with a team like Detroit."
TIKI BARBER ON THE JAGUARS: "David Garrard threw the ball 38 times. They can't win that way."
There you go, your comments from the NFL pregame shows, except for the NFL Today.
