We’re doing the NFL Sunday pregame quotage late, but it won’t going up on Sunday nights/early Monday morning after this week. It usually will go up as soon as they’re received, but today was a busy day.
Anyway, we begin as always with the NFL Network quotage from NFL GameDay First and NFL GameDay Morning, the first pregame shows on Sunday.
QUOTES FROM WEEK 1 EDITIONS OF NFL NETWORK’S NFL GAMEDAY FIRST & NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
Quick Quotes from NFL GameDay First & NFL GameDay Morning
“This might be the best defense ever.” – Steve Mariucci on the Seattle Seahawks defense
“For the first time in Rex Ryan’s career as a head coach, his offense is now better than his defense.” – Sterling Sharpe on the New York Jets
“According to the sources I’m speaking with, including many in the 49ers locker room, Jim Harbaugh may already be losing the players. There are some serious doubts about whether Harbaugh is actually ‘all-in’ like he professes.” – Ian Rapoport on San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh
“Absolutely. Absolutely. This is the NFL. It’s happened to everybody so why would I not think that would happen to me.” – Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on if he understands he may get released by the team one day
“A whole lot of things remind me of Troy Aikman…He never lets what he did become bigger than who he is. But on game day, when the game is on the line, there is a hyper focus that both these guys reach to bring the best out of everyone around them.” – Michael Irvin on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman
“This defense is too good. It’s Super Bowl or bust for Tom Brady. I expect them to be in the Super Bowl this year.” – Michael Robinson on the New England Patriots
“He didn’t let it deter him from what he wanted to do. He still wants to be one of the best quarterbacks of all time.” – Michael Robinson on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson losing in his first career NFL game.
***For complete quotes from ‘NFL GameDay First’ & ‘NFL GameDay Morning,’ see below***
Quotes from NFL GameDay FirstEvery Sunday morning at 7:00 AM ET, NFL Network is first on the field with NFL GameDay First. Host Melissa Stark, co-host/analyst Sterling Sharpe, and analysts Shaun O’Hara and Michael Robinson provide the first analysis of the day’s games, while NFL Network reporters stationed across the league report from stadiums with the first on-location reports of the day.
“For the first time in Rex Ryan’s career as a head coach, his offense is now better than his defense.” – Sterling Sharpe on the New York Jets
“What stood out most to me was how physical this team was. We had a motto last year on our offense. It was to play on a level that the opposition wasn’t willing to go, therefore incapable of matching. That’s what I saw Thursday.” – Michael Robinson on the Seattle Seahawks’ 36-16 victory over the Green Bay Packers
“We actually lost the opening game to the Cardinals and on the plane ride back, Russell [Wilson] could hear the players; everybody was saying, ‘We need Matt Flynn in there, we need a more experienced quarterback.’ But he didn’t let it deter him from what he wanted to do. He still wants to be one of the best quarterbacks of all time.” – Michael Robinson on playing with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson when he was a rookie
“The one team that can even challenge the Seahawks is the New England Patriots. That’s because of their defense and their quarterback. Tom Brady, the plays that he makes with receivers – we don’t even know their names half the time – puts him in a category to be able to challenge the Seattle Seahawks.” – Michael Robinson on the Seattle Seahawks’ greatest opponents
“This defense is too good. It’s Super Bowl or bust for Tom Brady. I expect them to be in the Super Bowl this year.” – Michael Robinson on the New England Patriots
“A whole lot of things remind me of Troy Aikman…He never lets what he did become bigger than who he is. But on game day, when a game is on the line, there is a hyper focus that both these guys reach to bring the best out of everyone around them.” – Michael Irvin on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady
“The Texans think that Jadeveon Clowney is ready for this moment. They see a more complete player than a lot of other people anticipated going into the 2014 season. In fact, talking to people within the organization, they think that he is farther along as a run defender right now than he is as a pass rusher.” – Albert Breer on number one overall pick Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney
“I am concerned for [Robert Griffin III] because not only did he not play great in the preseason, he took a ton of hits. We have been telling RG3 since he came to the NFL: protect yourself; when you get out of the pocket, go down, slide, throw the ball away. I am concerned. I don’t think he is going to finish the season. I don’t think he will play 16 games.” – Shaun O’Hara on Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady with NFL Network’s Andrea Kremer
Today on NFL GameDay Morning, NFL Network’s Andrea Kremer sat down with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to discuss his future, winning his third Super Bowl championship 10 years ago, his thoughts entering his 15th season and more.
On the self-talk going on in his head as he gets ready to start his 15th season:
“A lot of it is really, ‘God Tom, you’re not very good, you have to work harder at this; what are you doing, that was a bad play.’ I think that’s a lot of motivation for me is to always feel like I have to prove it to myself first. Every day in practice I’m trying to make the right throws, the right reads, the right footwork, the right emotional level because to sustain that for four or five months over the course of the season is a tough thing to do. But you have to do it; you have to find the balance. I wouldn’t say it’s an easy thing to do but if you want to play this position at a high level, you have to commit to those things.”On if it feels like it’s been 10 years since the Patriots last won the Super Bowl:
“Yeah, it does feel like a long time. I think to win that last game of the year, that’s what we’re all trying to be able to do at some point. You don’t play this game to come in second place. I’m proud of the fact that we are in it and we got a chance every year, but I don’t think anyone is going to be satisfied around here until we close the deal.”On how Tom Brady the quarterback who won three Super Bowls in his first five seasons compares to Tom Brady the quarterback who has not won a Super Bowl in the last 10 years:
“What I realize now is hard it is to win that Super Bowl. Obviously a lot of things have to go right, a lot of guys have to be playing really well at the right time, and we’ve certainly had our opportunities. We’ve been really close on two occasions; we’ve been to plenty of AFC Championship Games and didn’t have an opportunity to really close it out. You start the year, you’re as hopeful as anybody and I think we’re obviously very hopeful this year. But I think my beliefs and what I feel like I want to bring to the team is what I’ve always brought: try to be as consistent, dependable a player as I could be.”On how will he know when it’s time to walk away from playing football:
“I think if I feel like I can’t play at the level that I expect [of] myself, then I’m not going to play anymore. I want to be a great asset to a team; I want to bring a lot of value to a team that I’m playing for. And if that team doesn’t feel like I’m a value to them, then maybe there is another team out there that may see that.”On if he would play for another team:
“I’ve been very privileged to play for this team, so my focus is on this year. There comes a time for a lot of people. Michael Jordan played for the Washington Wizards – who would have ever imagined that? Joe Montana played for the Chiefs. Randy Moss, one of the great players ever, played for [five] teams.”On if there is a part of him that understands he may get cut by the Patriots one day:
“Absolutely. Absolutely. This is the NFL. It’s happened to everybody so why would I not think that would happen to me. Hopefully a team could value what I bring to it and then you try to go out there for as long as you can and do it. But if a team doesn’t see that, the NFL is supply and demand. That’s what it’s always been.”On how he would finish this sentence – “Without football, my life is…”:
“Boring [laughing]. It’s kind of a year-round thing for me. I think about it when I wake up in the morning, before I go to bed at night. A lot of the decisions over the course of the day are football-focused. If you want to try to continue to play football for a long time, which I certainly want to do, you have to do all of the right things.”To view the entire interview with Brady, visit: http://on.nfl.com/1qFyNQ9
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning
NFL GameDay Morning is the most comprehensive pregame show on Sunday morning, airing at 9:00 AM ET for four hours on NFL Network and taking viewers straight up to kickoff. Host Rich Eisen joins analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin to bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews. Additionally, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport provides the latest inside information from around the league. This week, NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest joined the show from Sun Life Stadium to preview Patriots-Dolphins.
“[Robert Griffin III] makes the statement today that this year will not be like last…The definition of an athlete I always say is one who meets and beats all challenges. Today he will meet it and he will beat it because he’s healthy.” – Michael Irvin on Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III
“The most dangerous thing in the National Football League is a managing playmaker, which is what Russell Wilson is and which is what [Robert Griffin III] is trying to learn how to do. And when he does learn that is when his career and everything will take off…He has to go from always believing his talent and gift can win a play for him, to understanding when to use that talent and gift.” – Michael Irvin on Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
“This might be the best defense ever.” – Steve Mariucci on the Seattle Seahawks defense
“What we’ve learned is that you can’t beat this defense with just a great quarterback. I think that’s what we’ve seen in these last two games [Super Bowl XLVIII and Week 1].” – Kurt Warner on the Seattle Seahawks defense
“By Week 5 or 6, he may take over the starting position from Ben Tate because he can hit the homerun ball better than anybody else that they have.” – Marshall Faulk on Cleveland Browns rookie running back Terrance West
“Geno [Smith] had better playmakers in college than what he has right now.” – Marshall Faulk on New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith
“You have to step up and prove to me that you are a [number] one [wide receiver]. I didn’t know if you were the one, the two or the three in Denver. You have to be the one in this offense.” – Marshall Faulk on New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker
“That window is wide open. They still have opportunities to win, they’re always in the playoffs and are going to be in the playoffs. And for the window to shut, another quarterback has to shut that window.” – Marshall Faulk on if the window of opportunity to win another Super Bowl is closing for quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport
On San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh:
“According to the sources I’m speaking with, including many in the 49ers locker room, Jim Harbaugh may already be losing the players. There are some serious doubts about whether Harbaugh is actually ‘all-in’ like he professes. He says he is about the team, the team, the team; the players now wonder is that actually the case. They have dealt with a lot over the last couple of years; some of the way he’s treated them, some lack of respect and all because they are winning, they are fine with it. But some of the players wonder if they lose, will it all spiral out of control? Let me give you an example of this. Harbaugh took the team across the country to spend several days in Baltimore to practice with his brother. Is that about the team, or is that about him? His contract status is in doubt, did not agree to an extension with the 49ers. He does have two years left on his deal but it is worth asking: is this the last year for Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco?”On a contract extension for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant:
“According to sources on both sides of this, this did not get done. Dez Bryant does not have the contract extension he wanted so he is officially in a contract year. This is why: Dez Bryant set a self-imposed deadline. He wanted to have a deal before the first game or he would not negotiate during the season. That seems to be the case; no deal is expected. Dez Bryant is going to play it out. He may make the Cowboys really pay. The discussion is, is Dez Bryant a top-five receiver? He has said I’ve proven that; thus far they have not given him the guaranteed money – the security – that he believes he deserves going forward.”On the status of a new drug policy:
“There is going to be no deal today. That much we know, mainly because first of all there is no agreement but also any deal would have to be voted on by the 32 player reps for the union. Most of those guys are busy today. So the union and the NFL both want to strike a deal. They are both ready to do a deal if they can come to an agreement. One potential sticking point is the NFL wants automatic suspension or automatic discipline for DUIs; the NFLPA does not want to give up due process. As far as what the new drug policy may look like: higher thresholds for marijuana suspensions which may be good news for Josh Gordon, and then have amphetamine use be considered a substances of abuse rather than a PED which could mean no suspension for Wes Welker. All of these will be judged individually going forward.”On if there is a possibility that players currently suspended now could have their suspensions lifted with a new drug policy:
“It is possible. If a deal is struck this week we may see Wes Welker, Orlando Scandrick, maybe Josh Gordon, although he may get a reduced suspension rather than do away with it. We may see them next week.”On Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton:
“I’m told the Panthers are leaning against playing Cam Newton today. No firm decision; Ron Rivera still wants to take it up as close to game time as he possibly can, but they may hold him out. He’s been dealing with a rib issue this week; he’s been sore, he’s had trouble getting loose several days. He wants to play, thinks he can play, players think he can play but Ron Rivera is thinking of the next 15 weeks as opposed to just today.”On the Oakland Raiders’ decision to start rookie quarterback Derek Carr over Matt Schaub:
“The decision was made publically by the Oakland Raiders when they informed players that Derek Carr would be their starter on Monday. The thought was that the Raiders wanted to see Matt Schaub throw, see how his sore elbow held up before they made a decision. But I am actually told by Raiders sources this decision was made Saturday night – two days before they were even set to see Matt Schaub throw at all. So what that means to me is that they wanted to go with Derek Carr. They essentially used Matt Schaub’s elbow as cover. They believe that Carr is their future. When I talked to a fellow general manger in the NFL, he said this is their guy, this is exactly who they thought he was when they drafted him. The Raiders expect huge things from Derek Carr.”On the Cleveland Browns’ plans for rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel:
“There is a Manziel package; it has been practiced this week, it is ready. The Browns are willing to use it if they believe it is necessary…He wouldn’t come in for a series; it wouldn’t be like what Tim Tebow and the Jets did. He might just run in for a play or two; 2-and-5 come in, shake things up a little bit and then go back out. That is something the Browns know the Steelers struggled this week preparing for, had to spend some time on. But one thing the Browns are very cognizant of, they know this Brian Hoyer’s team. They don’t want to put any doubt in his mind. So if the Browns are up, it’s a good game – you may see Manziel. If they are losing by a lot, you are not going to see Manziel. They don’t want to make it seem like they’re taking it away from Brian Hoyer.”On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay First & NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:
Week 1 Bold Predictions – The NFL GameDay Morning crew give their Bold Predictions for Week 1:
http://on.nfl.com/1tCKOJN
Sunday Statements – The NFL GameDay Morning crew provide their Sunday Statements for Week 1:
http://on.nfl.com/WzBF6wHow to Know When to Call It a Career – NFL Media’s Andrea Kremer joined Kurt Warner in-studio on NFL GameDay Morning to discuss when to know when to call it a career:
http://on.nfl.com/1oUEg1E
Difficulties for a Rookie Quarterback – On NFL GameDay First, Melissa Stark, Sterling Sharpe, Shaun O’Hara and Michael Robinson discuss playing with rookie quarterbacks:
http://on.nfl.com/1qFmtzpStark Reality: Playoff Dreaming – Heading into Week 1, Melissa Stark describes how all 32 teams have playoff hopes for this season:
http://on.nfl.com/1rUvpCzWhat to Expect From Robert Griffin III in Year 3 – The NFL GameDay First crew of Melissa Stark, Sterling Sharpe, Shaun O’Hara and Michael Robinson discuss what to expect from Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III in his third season:
http://on.nfl.com/1qFt3pvIs Jim Harbaugh Really ‘All-In’? – NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport provides the latest on San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh:
http://on.nfl.com/1qxDUmANFL Discussing New Drug Policy – NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport provides the latest regarding Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Cam Newton and a new drug policy:
http://on.nfl.com/1pDREXZIs it the End of the Current Quarterback Era – NFL GameDay Morning discusses if the window is closing for quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees:
http://on.nfl.com/1uc4sv4Players Only: Emotions of First NFL Game – NFL GameDay Morning’s former players Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin recount their emotions of playing in their first NFL game:
http://on.nfl.com/1thBNSwRivalry Renewed: 49ers vs. Cowboys – Melissa Stark looks back at the longstanding rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, and Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci provide their own memories of playing in the game:
http://on.nfl.com/1tCQYcSU Know It – Former Hurricanes Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin discuss if the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense will be better this season than last year, and Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler:
http://on.nfl.com/1wdhWpJTwittervention – NFL GameDay Morning’s new segment features Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci inspire players to win today by tweeting at them:
http://on.nfl.com/1CFAaoa
ESPN’s quotage is next.
