Now let’s move to CBS which its own pair of pregame shows, one on cable and the other on broadcast. You know where they air if you’re a regular visitor to this site. You don’t come here for the motherly advice.
NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON
AND
“THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW” WITH ADAM SCHEIN, AMY TRASK, BART SCOTT AND BRANDON TIERNEY FOR WEEK 17 ON DECEMBER 29
NFL TODAY QUICK HITS
(On Rex Ryan returning next season to coach New York Jets)
BOOMER ESIASON: He is the identity of this franchise. He is their second best coach if you compare him against Weeb Ewbank. He’s gone to two AFC Championship games. The guy loves being the head coach of the New York Jets. He has to deal with so many things off the field. The media like him here. If they were going to go out and pay Bill O’Brien to come in here and replace him, I would say, okay, maybe I understand that. There isn’t another guy on the NFL landscape or college landscape that could take that position and do what he’s done with it.
(On Coaches on the Hot Seat)
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JASON LA CANFORA: There have been some reports that Bill O’Brien is the guy with the Houston Texans. I continue to be told the process is only undergoing. They still want to talk to at least two NFL head coaches, one of them Ken Whisenhunt, a former head coach. I think he could still end up getting that job, so it’s not a done deal there. There are six places that do have coaches on the hot seat: Washington and Minnesota, according to my sources, are virtually certain they make a move by Monday; and Tampa and Detroit. I can tell you their coaches and personnel in the front office are very much fearing for their jobs and believe there could be sweeping changes there. And in Tennessee, you’ve got new ownership; Mike Munchak, hanging in the balance. And Oakland, their owner Mark Davis almost fired Dennis Allen a year ago after a four-win season. They are likely looking at four wins again. Greg Schiano could end up getting some college jobs, in Tampa. And two coaches that aren’t going anywhere, according to my sources: Rex Ryan with the Jets, Jason Garrett with Dallas. The question for Rex will be does he get an extension? And as for Jason Garrett, I’m told even if they lose tonight, Jerry Jones does not plan on parting with his head coach.
(On Coach of the Year)
BILL COWHER: There have been so many really good jobs done this year, but to me there was one guy that was very special, that’s Ron Rivera…What he’s done down there is he’s building a football team. He’s building it with his guys, his philosophy, and the guy is on the verge of winning the NFC South and a No. 2 seed…But it’s a memo right now to owners, GMs – be patient with your coaches. If you have the right guy, allow him to change the mentality and institute his thoughts and beliefs. That’s what Ron Rivera has done in Carolina.
DAN MARINO: Andy Reid being let go, coming from the Eagles, and the way he’s handled Alex Smith and this team, and changing them and getting them in the playoffs from having the worst record last year. You look at Andy Reid, he’s done an outstanding job. The guy that should have some consideration is Chip Kelly; coming from college. What he’s done with Nick Foles as a young quarterback, and not starting Michael Vick, I think he should have consideration. But my guy is Andy Reid.
BOOMER ESIASON: Great choices. But I’m going to give you a guy nobody would expect to win this award because he wins every single year. Maybe this year could have been his best job, and that is Bill Belichick of New England. He’s got 12 guys on IR. Six of those guys are starters. He lost over 300 receptions from the year before plus 28 touchdown passes…You look at what they’re doing and they’re going to win their division for the 11th time. And if they do win today, it will be four consecutive years with a first round bye. Only two other teams have done that, and that is the 49ers and the Cowboys.
SHANNON SHARPE: My guy is Bruce Arians. He was “Coach of the Year” last year filling in for (Chuck) Pagano in Indy. He goes to Arizona. He takes Carson Palmer. We all thought Carson Palmer was done. We saw what he did in Oakland and we thought Carson Palmer has nothing left. He brings Carson Palmer in. He’s in a division with the 49ers – 11 wins; the Seahawks – 12 wins, now he has an opportunity, if he beats the 49ers, to get to 11 wins.
DAN MARINO SAT DOWN WITH DENVER BRONCOS PEYTON MANNING
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Reaction
SHARPE: He’s going to win his fifth MVP with two different teams. If he wins (another) Super Bowl before he retires, I believe Peyton Manning will be the greatest quarterback to ever walk this Earth.
COWHER: I will say he is the greatest, with all due respect to all the quarterbacks, because for what he did for 15 years. He called the plays. He set the protections. He was, indeed, an offensive coordinator, and did it for 15 years throwing nothing less than 26 touchdown passes. He’s won 20 playoff games. He doesn’t have to win another championship, in my mind, to be the best ever.
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THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW (TOPS) NOTES
(On Dennis Allen’s job status in Oakland)
Click to view: http://cbsprt.co/KegkcE
AMY TRASK: Continuity is important. I argued with Al (Davis) about that all the time. We had so many arguments, about a lot of things, but about the importance of continuity. But at some point, you have to say, ‘What is more important? Keeping the same person in place or evaluating and considering and making sure you have the right person in place?’
(On Rex Ryan):
BART SCOTT: He has a better winning record than Bill Belichick had when he was in Cleveland. People want to talk about his accomplishments and minimize them. To win with the quarterback situation that he’s had in the last two years and to be able to get this team to 7-8 this year shows to me that he’s the man for the job… Bad quarterbacks and decent receivers took you to two AFC Championships.
More quotage coming.
