Now to Fox NFL Sunday which discussed a myriad of topics including Josh Freeman’s departure from Tampa Bay, the NFC East Division and a bunch of other issues.
FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 10/6/13
Bradshaw Calls NFC East a “Total Disappointment”
Glazer Reports on Who’s Interested in Josh Freeman and Where the QB Should Land
Johnson: Giants’ Biggest Problem Is Their Stars Are Not Playing Like Stars—————————————————————————————————
Co-Host Terry Bradshaw on the status of the NFC East: “The NFC East is a total disappointment. How in the world can these teams be so bad? I asked Jimmy and Michael before we got on the air and they said bad offensive linemen. Therefore their quarterbacks are struggling, Michael Vick in particular. So, a bad NFC East only means one thing, someone wins this thing going 7-9.”
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Analyst Howie Long on how Dallas can stop Denver: “The most talented team in the NFC East, Dallas, gets the juggernaut from Denver at home. If you’re going to be successful, one, you’d better run the ball, control time of possession. Two, when you have the opportunity to finish drives, score points – get seven, at the very least three. Don’t turn it over. Don’t give Trindon Holliday the opportunity to make the big play on special teams, which has been a regular occurrence, and don’t have a second-half collapse.”
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Insider Jay Glazer on where former Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman is likely to land: “I talked to Josh last night and he said he wants to make a decision tomorrow night, as in tonight. The teams that are showing the most interest – the Oakland Raiders, obviously that’s a place he can go right in and start right away. Also, the Buffalo Bills called yesterday. They’re trying to bring him in while EJ Manuel recovers, but Josh knows once EJ comes back, he’s out of the starting lineup over there. The team that’s probably gone after him the hardest, believe it or not, has been the San Francisco 49ers. Jim Harbaugh, Trent Baalke, they’ve been on the phone with him several times, but obviously they just want him to come in as a backup. The most intriguing team for Josh is the Minnesota Vikings. He has talked to Leslie Frazier, GM Rick Spielman, and I told you a while ago that quarterback situation is very murky and Christian Ponder is on a short leash. It’s a very good option for him.”
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NFL analyst Ronde Barber on if Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano can regain control of the Buccaneers locker room: “The best thing that they did was release Josh. Somehow, someway that situation had to end. It had gotten toxic from both sides. Josh was manipulating, everybody felt like Coach was manipulating, but I don’t feel like Greg was that kind of guy. Greg wants what’s best for this team. I think he can get the locker room back. I want to see him get the locker room back.”
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Long on if the Lions’ Ndamukong Suh has a chance to be Defensive Player of the Year: “I hope he does have a shot at Defensive Player of the Year, and I hope we’re not having a conversation about the extra-curricular activities, because he’s a great example of how numbers are overrated. Regardless of what he puts up numbers-wise, he is a disruptive force, and he’s the first thing you have to deal with Monday morning putting the game plan together.”
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Analyst Jimmy Johnson on what’s wrong with Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants: “Tom Coughlin has proven he’s an outstanding coach. His only problem is his stars are not playing like stars.”
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Analyst Michael Strahan on why the Saints have had success on defense: “Rob Ryan gets so much credit, being the defensive coordinator, and he’s been amazing, but Sean Payton has done a great job by telling him that less is more. Tone back some of the defenses. Let’s perfect what we have, and then we can continue to add.”
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Glazer on the connection between Saints head coach Sean Payton and Bears head coach Marc Trestman: “In 2007, Sean Payton brought Marc Trestman in, and since then, he has been preaching his gospel to all teams who will listen, saying, ‘This guy is head coaching material.’ He’s talked to other GMs since then, and this off-season, when Trestman landed on teams’ radars, Sean Payton talked to those GMs saying, ‘This is the guy for the job.’ Trestman needs to give him a little hug before the game today.”
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Long on the influx of talented young quarterbacks in the NFL: “As recently as four years ago, we were sitting here asking ‘Where are all the quarterbacks?’ And then you get Ryan Tannehill, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, RGIII and of course, Andrew Luck. For the Colts organization to hit on Peyton Manning and then get Andrew Luck – you’ve got a better chance of hitting on Powerball. If I’m asked to pick a guy out of all those players who all bring a unique skill set to the table, all get it done in different ways, I’d have to go with Andrew Luck. He’s a special player.”
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Johnson on Reggie Bush in Detroit: “By far the best free agent pickup last year was Reggie Bush. Reggie goes to a team that’s got Calvin Johnson outside, so he never has to worry about running against an eight-man front, it’s always open-field rushing.”
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Bradshaw on how the Lions have improved: “You just have to figure that good things are happening to the Lions. Their quarterback is smarter with the football, he’s protecting the football, and on third-down conversions, opponents are not getting 20 percent. You do that, you’re creating more opportunities for your offense, and that’s why today I think the Lions will beat the Packers.”
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Strahan on what the Packers need to do against the Lions: “Clay Matthews, one of the biggest playmakers in the game, needs more help on defense because their offense has struggled. Their line has been beat up, and you cannot afford to get behind and try to play catch-up, especially coming off a bye week, teams tend to start slowly. They have to come out and be as sharp as they would be if they didn’t have that week off.”
More quotage is on the way.
