Let’s complete the quotage for Week 5 of the NFL season with NBC’s Football Night in America. Here’s what was said on Sunday evening.
NOTES & QUOTES FROM “FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” — WEEK 5
“The Redskins nickname is offensive to Native Americans. In 2013, we need to get that name changed.” – Tony Dungy“He’s thinking about making a mistake, not about making a play.” – Rodney Harrison on Tony Romo’s late-game woes“Eli and this offense, they’re just terrible.” – Harrison on the Giants“When he does something good, he’s Adam Jones. When he does something bad, he’s Pacman Jones.” – Dan Patrick
NEW YORK – Oct. 6, 2013 – Following are highlights for Football Night in America, the most-watched pre-game show in sports. Bob Costas opened the show live from inside Candlestick Park in San Francisco where the 49ers are hosting the Houston Texans. Costas was joined on-site by Sunday Night Football commentators Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst), as well as NBC NFL analyst and former Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward.
Dan Patrick co-hosts Football Night from famous Studio 8H at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios in New York City. He is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy; two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison; Peter King of Sports Illustrated; Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on NBCSports.com and NBCSN; and Scott Pioli, the former NFL Executive of the Year and newest addition to the NBC NFL team. Alex Flanagan reported from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on the Broncos-Cowboys game.
Following are highlights from Football Night in America:
ON REDSKINS
King on name controversy and team owner Daniel Snyder: “I’m told he’s resolute. He will not change the name.”
Florio: “I’m told there will be no discussion of the team’s name at the ownership meetings, either now or at any point in the future. If this ever goes down, I’m told to expect Commissioner Roger Goodell and a handful of select owners to approach Daniel Snyder privately.”Dungy: “I hope Daniel Snyder does reconsider and change it. The Redskins nickname is offensive to Native Americans. In 2013, we need to get that name changed.”
Patrick: “We’ve seen a lot of colleges back away from it, but it’s different with Daniel Snyder.”
Dungy: “It is, but we need to do that. I hope Snyder changes his mind.”ON COWBOYS
Patrick on Tony Romo’s late-game interception: “It has to be mental…right?”
Dungy: “It really is. You couldn’t play better football than he played today.”
Harrison: “He’s thinking about making a mistake, not about making a play.”ON SAINTS
Dungy: “At least for this week, they’re the best team in the NFC…They’ve got weapons.”
Harrison: “When you’re this explosive on offense, you don’t have to be great on defense. You just need to be good on defense, and it allows your defense to take chances, to be aggressive.”ON SEAHAWKS
Harrison on Richard Sherman (while watching highlights): “Richard Sherman, you claim to be the best defensive back in the National Football League, but look at this hustle, a lack of hustle; even Earl Thomas makes him cut back. There’s a chance that maybe he could strip the ball or make the tackle before he gets to the end zone.”
Dungy: “Sherman stops, it costs them a touchdown. That’s how you lose games on the road.”ON GIANTS
Harrison: “Eli and this offense, they’re just terrible.”
ON CHIEFS
Dungy: “It comes back to Andy Reid. Last year, they had good defensive personnel. They were -24 in giveaway/takeaway. This year, they’re +10 and that’s Andy Reid taking Alex Smith and telling him, ‘You’ve got to protect the football.’”
ON RAVENS
Dungy: “The thing that has me concerned is that offensive line. They’ve had some injuries. They’re not running the ball effectively with Ray Rice. That’s putting a lot of pressure on (Joe) Flacco. And the protection is not there.”
ON BENGALS
Patrick: “When he does something good, he’s Adam Jones. When he does something bad, he’s Pacman Jones.”
ON BUCCANEERS
Florio: “Whatever decision Josh Freeman makes, look for Josh Freeman to sign just through the end of this year, and then try to become a free agent next year; maximize his market by having a big year going someplace where he will be able to play.”
ON JAGUARS
Dungy: “I haven’t seen anything like this. We’ve watched them week in and week out, and you never feel like they’ve really got a chance to win the ball game. Getting Justin Blackmon back helped them. They’ve got some explosiveness on offense, but they’ve got a long way to go.”
ON PANTHERS
Harrison: “It’s just time to switch quarterbacks…Cam Newton has struggled time and time again. We’ve seen flash opportunities for him to get better, and just time and time again it just seems like he regresses.”
Dungy: “But, in those highlights you can’t blame Cam. They’re dropping passes, seven sacks; I like Cam Newton.”
Harrison: “I like him too. I didn’t say I didn’t like him. But it’s time for him to change teams.”ON 49ERS
Dungy on speaking with Jim Harbaugh about last year’s QB switch: “I talked to Jim before I talked to Colin, and I asked him about making the switch from Alex Smith. He said, ‘You know, Alex can make us a good team. Colin can take us to the Super Bowl.’”
ON TEXANS
Dungy: “J.J. Watt is just a special blend of size, speed, strength and an unstoppable motor. This guy does it all.”
Harrison: “I’ve watched a lot of tape and he’s the most dominant lineman I’ve seen since Reggie White.”
And that will do it.
