And we move to CBS/CBS Sports Network’s quotage for Wild Card Sunday which aired just before the San Diego-Cincinnati AFC Wild Card Playoff game.
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 WILD CARD WEEK ON JANUARY 5
NFL TODAY QUICK HITS
(On rumors of Bill Cowher meeting with Washington about returning to coaching)
BILL COWHER: I never met with anybody. No one has called. I’m flattered when that happens, but I have no intention on coaching. I really like the job I have.
(On Head Coaching vacancies)
JASON LA CANFORA: Ken Whisenhunt…(is) a very hot name. The Titans want to interview him. But Detroit wants to interview Whisenhunt first. They think he’s the guy for the job, I’m told. He’s very interested in them. That could come together quickly. The Browns coaching search is going to focus on some college names this week, and not Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, but James Franklin of Vanderbilt, Gus Malzahn of Auburn, who is coaching in the National Championship on Monday. They would like to sit down with both of them. They view them as bright, young, offensive innovators who could make the switch to the NFL. The Browns spent Saturday with Josh McDaniels, another bright, young offensive coach, the offensive coordinator of the Patriots. They view him very highly. He has some strong ties with the front office. So he’s a real candidate there as well. Jay Gruden, as we mentioned last segment, he’s got the Phil Simms stamp of approval. Gruden is going to interview several teams this week including Washington, where he’s thought of as a top candidate. And I continue to hear the Redskins, high on Art Briles of Baylor as well. He’s still in the mix.
(On Lovie Smith and Bill O’Brien)
Click to View: http://cbsprt.co/KtGFnG
(On Colin Kaepernick and NFC Wild Card Game – San Francisco-Green Bay)
BOOMER ESIASON: To me, he (Colin Kaepernick) is the X factor for them all the way through the playoffs. He’s the most important player. The reason I say that is because he got his team to the Super Bowl last year. Most likely, he’s going to have to win all three games on the road before he gets to Super Bowl XLVIII. And today, how he handles the weather and how he throws the ball is going to be paramount to their success.
(On a Wild Card team reaching the Super Bowl this year)
Seven of the last eight seasons a team playing in the Wild Card round has reached the Super Bowl, will that be the case this year? THE NFL TODAY team gives their thoughts on which teams playing on Wild Card Weekend can reach the Super Bowl. Click to View: http://cbsprt.co/KrNjua
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THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW (TOPS) NOTES
(On Andy Reid)
BART SCOTT: He needs to take a look at himself and hire someone who understands situational football.
(On Jay Cutler Returning to Chicago)
AMY TRASK: There’s a good test to apply in situations like this. The ‘And do what test…’ Jay Cutler shouldn’t be the quarterback? And do what? You have to be able to answer that question. Your choices are: Do you re-sign Cutler? Do you look elsewhere in free agency? Do you look to the draft? Or do you make a trade? But you better be able to answer what you’re going to do if you decide to move on… Marc Trestman is tremendous with quarterbacks. He is one of the better communicators that I have ever worked with in terms of coaches and the manner in which he communicates with players and educates and teaches. Whatever potential Jay Cutler has or does not have, I believe Marc Trestman can bring that potential to its absolute maximum.
That’s it for the early Sunday quotage.
