We have our full barrage of Sunday pregame quotage from the networks. All that we’re missing is from NBC’s Football Night in America and that will come later. Let’s post what we have and our first quotes come from NFL Network’s NFL Gameday Morning.
News and Sound Bites From Week 9 Edition of NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
“He’s like E.F. Hutton. When he speaks, you listen.” – Steve Mariucci on Ravens LB Ray Lewis
“I don’t play this game for [any] other reason but to win another championship.” – Ravens LB Ray Lewis on his motivation to win another Super Bowl
“He is the greatest middle linebacker to ever play the game.” – Warren Sapp on Ravens LB Ray Lewis
“He’s not the Eli we saw in the first five games and that is hurting this football team.” – Michael Irvin on Giants QB Eli Manning
“Everything that Dallas is about is on the line in this game.” – Michael Irvin on the Cowboys-Eagles matchup
NFL GameDay Morning, the FIRST pregame show on the air Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM ET with a new four-hour expanded format, taking viewers straight up to kickoff. Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Jason La Canfora and hosts Spero Dedes and Stacey Dales bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews.
‘Sunday Sit-Down’ – Marshall Faulk 1-on-1 with Ravens LB Ray Lewis:
Marshall Faulk sat down with Ravens defensive leader Ray Lewis for candid discussion on what keeps the 14-year veteran motivated each season, addressing the questions regarding Baltimore’s defense losing its step and the legacy he hopes to leave behind:
“It’s just pure competition. I don’t complicate the game of football. I train too hard with a certain mentality…My motivation is that man over there saying he’s going to whoop me. I doubt that.” – Lewis on what motivates him
“I don’t play this game for [any] other reason but to win another championship.” – Lewis on his motivation to win another Super Bowl
“When we piece those games together, we’re talking about three drives, less than 30 seconds in each ballgame with an opportunity to win. They are simple things. All of these things are so correctable.” – Lewis on the Ravens ability to bounce back from after three straight losses Week 4-6
“Coordinators don’t make plays. When you turn on the film, no coordinator has ever missed a tackle or blown coverage. Players do that.” – Lewis on the absence of former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan
To view Faulk’s entire interview with Lewis, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81401eb3/Sunday-Sitdown-Ray-Lewis-Part-1 – part I
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81401f6d/Sunday-Sitdown-Ray-Lewis-Part-2 – part II
‘Super Bowl Journey,’ Week 9 Edition – RB Maurice Jones-Drew Addresses His Critics and TE Vernon Davis Reflect on Growing Up in Washington D.C.
“People still say, ‘Oh, he can’t take it. He can’t handle the load.’ They just find ways to tell you what you can’t do, which is fine by me. The more you tell me I can’t, the more I’m going to want to do it.” – Maurice Jones-Drew on the people who doubt his ability to be the featured running back in Jacksonville
“Besides God, she’s the reason for everything [I’ve accomplished].” – Vernon Davis on his grandmother, who raised him
To view Jones-Drew’s latest Super Bowl Journey, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/jacksonville-jaguars/09000d5d81401e3d/Super-Bowl-Journey-The-naysayers
To view Davis’ latest Super Bowl Journey, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81401f9c/Super-Bowl-Journey-Vernon-Davis
To view previous Super Bowl Journey editions from all five contributors, please visit: http://sbjourney.nfl.com/
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:
“He’s going to get some attention. Kind of like the attention he got as one of the top picks in the [2005] draft.” – Marshall Faulk on Bengals RB Cedric Benson
“They are getting no movement up front (on the line).” – Warren Sapp on Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte’s slower start than in 2008
“That nine-time Pro Bowler will not allow a 100-yard rusher today. No way, no how.” – Steve Mariucci on Ravens LB Ray Lewis not allowing Bengals RB Cedric Benson a repeat 100-yard rushing day in second meeting with Baltimore
“They are only going to be as good as the ‘wildcat.’ The Saints and Jets shut it down by putting the corners in play.” – Faulk on the Miami Dolphins offense
“He’s like E.F. Hutton. When he speaks, you listen.” – Mariucci on Ravens LB Ray Lewis
“We’re not measuring him up to other linebackers, we’re measuring him up against himself and the things he’s done in this league. He’s set the bar so high.” – Faulk on Ravens LB Ray Lewis and his recent production
“He is the greatest middle linebacker to ever play the game.” – Sapp on Ravens LB Ray Lewis
“He makes others play great.” – Michael Irvin on Ravens LB Ray Lewis
“He was paid to be the No. 1 receiver and he should be, but he’s not by production. I had him when he was a rookie. He had eight touchdowns [his rookie season] and had eight TDs his sophomore year, too. I don’t see the improvement you need to see over the course of a player’s career. The other guys seem to be more in sync than Williams and that’s no one’s fault but his own.” – Mariucci on Cowboys WR Roy Williams
“When it’s on film, you cannot dispute what it is. What he needs to do is look in the mirror…I didn’t play receiver, but I caught a lot of balls. And when the ball was thrown in my area code, I picked up the phone.” – Faulk on WR Roy Williams and his production
“[Mike] Singletary has been the father in his life that he’s always needed.” – Irvin on the relationship between 49ers TE Vernon Davis and head coach Mike Singletary
“He’s not the Eli we saw in the first five games and that is hurting this football team.” – Irvin on Giants QB Eli Manning
“These young receivers are putting [Eli Manning] in a bad position right now. They must make plays for him and make them often.” – Sapp on the New York Giants wide receiving corps
“Everything that Dallas is about is on the line in this game.” – Irvin on the Cowboys-Eagles matchup
“They have to be good with the ball and nobody is better than Donovan McNabb at taking care of the football.” – Mariucci on the key to the Eagles-Cowboys game
“It will come down to Carson Palmer, his arm and if the offensive line can protect him.” – Faulk on the Bengals offense facing Baltimore
Next, Fox NFL Sunday which was in Afghanistan today.
Strahan on Riggins: He Just Needs To Shut UpJohnson: Redskins Will Keep Working And Get It Right
Long: Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff Has Hit With Every Draft Pick
Bradshaw To Bagram Airfield Soldiers: “We Love, Care About And Appreciate You”
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Analyst Michael Strahan on former Redskins player John Riggins who criticized Washington and Owner Daniel Snyder: “John Riggins is a Hall of Fame football player and everyone knows the problems of the Redskins but he made it a bit personal saying Dan Snyder’s heart was dark and all those things. I don’t know if it had anything to do with the fact that Daniel Snyder’s company bought a radio station where John Riggins had a show and then they cancelled his show. What John Riggins is saying now is personal and I think he just needs to shut up.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson added: “We’ve all questioned some of the decisions that have been made with the Redskins but you can’t question the passion and you can’t question the effort. Daniel Snyder will spend the money and they’ll keep working to get it right.”
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During today’s FOX NFL SUNDAY two-hour special from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, analyst Strahan was asked by Capt. Tabitha Stump of the Air Force about the woes of the Giants: “Right now they aren’t playing with a level of confidence. They have all the talent that Dallas and Philadelphia have but in terms of confidence they’re not keeping up with Philadelphia and they can’t play with Dallas right now because I don’t think in their minds they believe that they’re as talented. Once the Giants beat a team or get back on the winning track that division is still wide open.”
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Analyst Howie Long responded to a question from Lt. Tony Migliorini of the U.S. Coast Guard on the success of the 7-0 New Orleans Saints: “The Saints are a pretty good football team. I think the biggest difference in the Saints this year is they’ve got a new defensive coordinator in Gregg Williams. They’re playing great on that side of the ball and they’re running the football.”
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Long on successful management of the Atlanta Falcons: “Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff has hit on every draft pick, every free agent pickup and Head Coach Mike Smith and his staff are doing a great job down in Atlanta.”
Co-Host Terry Bradshaw added: “The Falcons were doing well earlier in the year then they played New England, that was their measuring stick and they lost. They came back and have lost to the Saints and Cowboys but to their credit they are talented and they are confident. The losses didn’t break them down; they still feel like they can win every game. Don’t forget, they made the playoffs last year.”
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Johnson, Long & Bradshaw discuss the resurgence of the Dallas Cowboys.
Johnson: “Right now Dallas’ offense is rolling pretty good. In a three-game winning streak, they’ve scored 101 points. They’re clicking on all cylinders.”
Long: “You talk about the quarterback friendly offense down in Dallas; the open receiver gets the football, what a novel concept. There’s no pressure to get the football to T.O.”
Bradshaw: “The great thing about Dallas the last three weeks has been the calmness by which they played. When you’re uptight and feel the heat from the critics and everyone around you, you tend to get worse. You have to relax. I think Tony Romo in the last three weeks has finally figured it out. Just let it happen. Just play ball.”
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SSGT Nikki Irvin of the U.S. Air Force asked each of the guys who they think will win the Super Bowl:
FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer: “Right now I’ve got to go with the New Orleans Saints.”
Johnson: “How bout them Dallas Cowboys!”
Strahan: “How bout the Saints!”
Long: “I’m going to go with the Vikings.”
Bradshaw: “I think we’re going to see a repeat this year and that’s because Pittsburgh is going to win.”
Co-Host Curt Menefee: “I’d also go with Pittsburgh to repeat.”
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Bradshaw asked Major General Curtis Scaparrotti what he’d like to say to the American people: “I’d want them to know that you can hear it here in this crowd that your soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard serving here in Afghanistan are determined and confident in their mission and they appreciate the great support of the American people, their families and all of you here supporting them while they do their job.”
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During this week’s edition of ‘Fired Up’ Glazer, Johnson, Strahan, Long & Bradshaw offered their thoughts to the servicemen & women of the military on what their experience this week in Afghanistan has meant to them:
Glazer: “Everywhere we went this week, we saw such incredible sacrifices from you guys, the troops. Make no mistake about it America, the bad guys are still out there and they’re gunning for us. Back home, we feel so safe. We feel safe because of you people who sacrifice your lives for us, sacrifice your families, some of which you only get to see for 15 days a year. This week I met a young man who is recovering from the fourth time he has been hit by a bomb and he’s trying to get back out their in the field. I said, ‘why?’ He said, ‘my brother to my right and my brother to my left. I have to get back out there for them.’ For your sacrifice, we will thank you forever.”
Johnson: “Your attitude is amazing. A group of soldiers came in on the second day and wanted autographs. They were so upbeat and so positive. I got to talking to them and they hadn’t had any sleep in two days because they were on a mission in Kandahar. I said, ‘why don’t you go to bed and get some sleep?’ They said, ‘we don’t have a bed but I have a sleeping bag, I’m fine coach.’ You think back to the States and a lot of people are saying, ‘poor me,’ complaining about the economy, one thing or another. If they want an attitude change, come half way around the world and see you guys!”
Strahan: “I’ve had a chance to hear about how you dodge bullets everyday and nothing really makes you nervous. I sat with the guys from the bomb squad they’re telling me how if you haven’t dealt with things blowing up three or four times you haven’t really been out in the field. It is something that is hard for me and all of us to put our heads around that kind of commitment and that kind of sacrifice for other people. I want everyone to understand that you don’t just do it for the U.S.A. but you do it for every country. That sacrifice and that love you have for yourself and every other country is something you can’t help but admire. You can’t but love it. We love you guys.”
Long: “The first morning we were here, we had the privilege of getting a briefing from General Scott Barini and his staff about the mission here in Afghanistan, and how important that
mission is. His eyes really lit up when he was talking about this generation of men and women who are serving here in Afghanistan and around the world. There are those fools around the world who would question the ability of this group of men and women to rise to the occasion like the so many previous generations in America. When you think of all that we ask of the men and women in our military, all the sacrifice they make; they’re family, the courage they show, you can make an argument as the General did, that this generation of men and women standing in this room and serving around the world are our country’s greatest generation.”Menefee: “While we sit back in America and watch newscasts that are filled with pop culture references, you’ve got to remember that we are in war on two fronts and halfway around the world someone’s mother or father or brother or sister or son or daughter is in harms way. We should all send out hope that someday soon all of these men and women will be back on American soil safe and sound.”
Bradshaw: “The thing that pushes everyone in this room today is about when you are going home and it’s about seeing your family. It’s about family. When you look up here, you see a FOX family and that means we love and care about one another. This is the FOX family and you are our military family. The bottom line is that it’s all about love. We love you. We care about you and we appreciate you.”
It was a little awkward to see Terry break into “God Bless America” at the end, but it turned out to be a great moment as the troops all sang.
Now, we have quotage from ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.
2009 “Sunday NFL Countdown” Notes and Quotes – Week 9ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed today’s of NFL action. Highlights:How will Cowboys handle “Big Game” stage?Carter: “The Cowboys are judged differently than a lot of other NFL teams. They are judged a lot like the BCS in college because they have to get style points. This is a great opportunity for this football team, but you don’t want them going into a big game with a wide receiver, another wide receiver, crying for the football. Talked to the wide receiver coach there, Sherm (Ray Sherman), he told me that the motto for the wide receivers this year is ‘shut up and get open.’ They are not concerned with who’s getting the ball. Whoever is going to get open in Dallas is going to get that football.”Jackson: “Human nature made Roy Williams speak out – ‘I make $45 million, I need to tell you that I am the number one receiver because the catches by Miles Austin indicates something different.’ I think that this is another defining moment for the Cowboys. I love that I hadn’t heard a peep from them for about a month. All of a sudden, here it is, the week of this game against the Philadelphia Eagles.”Johnson: “Now you have Roy (Williams) saying exactly what he believes – he’s the number one receiver, he should get the football … You remember me in my rookie year. I remember I wanted the football badly. I felt that. What I was trying to do was discredit (former NY Jets teammate) Wayne Chrebet, but it wasn’t him. It was me as a player. You (Carter) had an opportunity to talk to me on the field and teach me and said Keyshawn, ‘run the routes this way, stop looking like all that landing gear ‘ … That’s part of the problem. Look at yourself and say – ‘run the right routes, catch the football and the targets will be there.’ Miles Austin is doing that. If Roy wants to be the number one guy, he should step up to the plate and do that.”Ditka: “When you look at Dallas right now, everybody is saying ‘wow, look at all the talent they have.’ I don’t think they have anymore talent than Philadelphia. I think Philadelphia matches up with Dallas in every area.”Carter: “One thing that is different in this tripping than the other tripping that came from the other receiver is, last year, it caused a divide between the teams. T.O. had a lot of friends on the defensive side of the ball. Key (Johnson) you know, we’ll be doing the show, people will be texting us saying what T.O. was saying. They don’t have that yet in Dallas.”Which group is under more pressure – Bengals or Ravens?Jackson: “I think the offensive line, to repeat what happened in Week 5, opening up the holes for Cedric Benson. The more you run him, the more you take pressure off of the quarterback. 34 carries for a 142 yards, that’s what won that game in Week 5.”Ditka: “I think its Carson Palmer and his receivers. I think they’ve got to get a vertical game. They’ve got to push the ball down the field. They’ve got to get the Ravens out of stuffing the box with eight guys.”Carter: “I think it is the Ravens secondary. If you look at the amount of people that they are going to try to put on the line of scrimmage to take out that running game and the beating they took the first game – how many players can they commit to pass coverage? A lot of young players back there, a lot of inexperience, a lot of pressure on that secondary.”Johnson: “I think it is the front seven. When Ray (Lewis) steps up to the plate with (Terrell) Suggs, I think you get something. It protects that secondary, as we had an opportunity to watch against Denver Broncos last week. They had an opportunity to win that game because they m
ade Kyle Orton somewhat one-dimensional – not going down the field, kept everything in front of them, and created some turnovers. If they can do that, their secondary will not look average.”Is “Wildcat” offense a dying breed?Johnson: “You have a whole year of coach (Bill) Parcells, who now runs the team, here at ESPN asking me and Tommy (Jackson) all the time, writing down this thing – “This is going to work, this is going to work, I know a lot of football …” Also, you have a quarterback coach David Lee, who ran this as a coordinator in Arkansas … Then on the flip side, you have Dan Henning, who was my coordinator in Carolina. We ran it against the Atlanta Falcons about 60 times – some variation or formation. They understand the keys. They understand the angles, the snap counts … When you look at it, they’re committed to it. The rest of the league, they haven’t figured it out yet. They’re going into some sort of half-bird, half-cat situation.”Ditka: “It’s a copycat league. People are going to try it. If you are coach of a football team, the Wildcat, can it make us better? The first thing you say, will we commit the time to it? And do we have the personnel to operate it? It is not for everybody, but it is a big change up. Because, what you do, you put tremendous pressure on the defense.”Carter: “I think the rest of the league has made some type of commitment to the Wildcat, or some half-dog, half-cat, you’re talking about. But they haven’t made the commitment of the Miami Dolphins. The icing on the cake is that they drafted (quarterback) Pat White. We have not seen the effect of Pat White, but that is a steep price for an organization to pay to try to have the Wildcat …”Jackson: “Because you have a guy taking direct snap does not mean that it is Wildcat. Michael Vick last week took a direct snap, he ran a sweep, that is not the Wildcat. You talked about Pat White, I think that guy has to take that snap, has to be able to run in-between the tackles. He’s got to have enough strength to take the punishment to do it. I don’t know if Pat White can do that.””Ochocinco’s ‘gifts’ to Ravens defense: Good idea?Reporting from Cincinnati, Rachel Nichols said that Chad Ochocinco sent deodorants to some members of the Ravens defense. Nichols quoted Ochocinco as saying he sent the deodorants because ‘the Ravens have had troubles covering him in the past and this (the deodorants) was to help them get closer.’ Following Nichols live report, Countdown discussed Ochocino’s gifts:Carter: “It’s all part of the act. To me, I don’t care. I’m only concerned abut Chad’s focus when he is with his teammates. And, is he in shape? Because, when he is focused, with his teammates, and he’s in shape, he’s going to play well. How can I get upset? The head coach should say something to him.”Jackson: “It is about if the Ravens get upset. The last game that they played, at the end of that football, there was a personal foul by Ray Lewis, when he may have thought about taking it out on Ochocinco. That cost him a personal foul that led to the winning touchdown. You can’t let it get to you. That’s the key.”Johnson: “Child please! If you stink, you stink. That’s the bottom-line. Secondary is not very good and he feels that way, then, you stink.”Ditka: “He’s the only guy in the league doing it. If it was the right thing to do, everybody else would be doing it. Let me say one thing, I guessed I played in another era, but I know Tommy (Jackson) played and I watched him play. I know if he did that to Tommy, he’d get a big does of this (… hits fists together). I’ll be honest with you, you got to try to knock the guy out. I know that’s brutal.”Berman: “Some people call him Ocho-stinko. Here’s the proof, deodorant.”Team in more trouble making playoffs – Chargers or Giants?Carter: “San Diego – lack of consistency and the team they are chasing, the Denver Broncos. The Giants, we give them a lot of credit for the way they play hard and we don’t believe that Dallas or Philadelphia will run away with that division.”Jackson: “I look at the Giants and I look at their signature – the ability to rush the passer, not giving up big plays, which they’ve done that last three games. Those problems will be hard to fix, because the personnel is going to be hard to fix. If they can’t fix those things, they are going to have a hard time being the Giants we know to be five-and-0.”Johnson: “It is the San Diego Chargers. It is simple to me, LT isn’t LT and Shawne Merriman isn’t Lawrence Taylor. Their two best players from a couple years ago, what happened to them?Ditka: “I think it is the Giants. We expected more out of the Giants. They are in a tougher division. This is a must-win game for the Giants. If they don’t win this, their season is slowly slipping away.”
And we round out the Sunday morning quotage from The NFL Today on CBS.
NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 9 ON NOVEMBER 8
Boomer Esiason Calls for NFL Health Care Plan: “You have to protect the players against themselves.”
?QUICK HITS
(On saving players from themselves from coming back from injury too early; Brian Westbr
ook)BOOMER ESIASON: There are reports he is going to play but I don’t think Andy Reid is going to allow Brian Westbrook to play 13 days after coming down with a concussion against the Redskins. That’s a smart thing because we have to legislate against the players’ will to want to play. Brian Westbrook has a history right now of being an injured player. He has his replacements that are playing well. So what does he want to do as a player? He wants to get back on the field. We are all talking about health care. That seems to be at the top of the news everywhere we look. In the NFL there should be a health care plan that simply states this: If you get a concussion you should be down for four games, minimum. If you get a second concussion during the season, you should be placed on IR (Injured Reserve) and not allowed to play the rest of the year. Simple. You have to protect the players against themselves.
(On what team could go undefeated this year)
DAN MARINO: I’m going to say the New Orleans Saints. They are putting up 40 points-per-game. This is a team that has a great defense. They get turnovers. They have nine games left, six of them to losing-record teams. They have three tough games. They play two at home – New England and Dallas; and one on the road…I believe they have a real chance of going undefeated.
(On possibility of Tampa Bay not winning a game this year)
BILL COWHER: I never thought I’d see it again, Detroit first, but yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a chance to go 0-16. They’re 0-7 right now. They are starting a rookie quarterback in Josh Freeman. Their best chance, when you look at their schedule, will be playing at home against the New York Jets. You don’t think Rex Ryan is going to be salivating with blitzes against this rookie quarterback? I’m sorry to say, 0-16 could be right around the corner.
?“INSIDE THE GAME” WITH CHARLEY CASSERLY
(On NFL investigating incidents involving Raiders Head Coach Tom Cable)
CASSERLY: I’m told that next week Tom Cable will meet with Raiders officials and NFL officials to discuss his most recent incidents of alleged violence. It’s common practice in these situations for the NFL to have the man in question, Tom Cable, to go through a confidential, comprehensive medical evaluation which could lead to counseling sessions and/or life skill sessions. A final point here is this, if the Raiders determine that Tom Cable lied to them about any of these previous incidents, that could potentially give them cause for some type of action. The action could be a suspension or it could be termination. In fact, I could see some owners in the League terminating him for cause and not paying his contract if it turned out he lied to them.
(Latest on Rams Sale)
CASSERLY: Texas billionaire, Gerald J. Ford, a friend of Jerry Jones and the person who the SMU football stadium is named after, has been investigating and asking a lot of questions about the Rams operation and front office with the presumed idea that he may put a bid in for the team. If the Rams are to be sold this year for tax purposes, this is going to have to happen sooner than later because the League is going to have to have time to review the bid and approve it.
? BILL COWHER VISITED IRAQ THIS SUMMER WITH NFL/USO COACHES TOUR
(On Appreciation for U.S. Troops after taking trip to Iraq this summer)
BILL COWHER: You come back from this guys with an overwhelming sense of appreciation. An appreciation for your country, and appreciation for the men and women and the sacrifices they make. The NFL on Sundays means so much to them. For three hours they can kind of escape the reality of where they are and identify and react to their teams and their cities. The NFL is big over there. You come back here and it makes you appreciate all the little things you take for granted.
That concludes the quotage for now. When NBC sends the quotes and notes from Football Night in America, it’ll be posted here.
UPDATE, 10:05 p.m.: And here’s the Football Night in America quotage.
FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA NOTES & QUOTES; WEEK 9
Dungy on Michael Vick’s next team: “A dark horse is Buffalo.”
Michaels: “The best rivalry this decade…Indianapolis against New England.”
Costas Interviews Vick & Romo
NEW YORK – November 8, 2009 – Following are highlights from NBC Sports' "Football Night in America." Bob Costas hosted the show live from the Lincoln Financial Field. He was joined on site for commentary by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth. Co-hosts Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann, analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, and reporter Peter King were live from NBC's 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios, covering the news of the NFL's ninth week. Tiki Barber reported from Giants Stadium, site of the Chargers-Giants game.
ON NEXT WEEK'S INDIANAPOLIS-NEW ENGLAND "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" GAME
Michaels: "As this decade comes to a close, there's no question, the best rivalry game for this decade has been Indianapolis against New England."
Collinsworth: "Since Wes Welker has returned, not only has Tom Brady gotten hot, but we've also seen Randy Moss play some of his best football. So I think for the New England Patriots, they're playing every bit as good as the Colts."
Harrison on New England: "They're licking their chops next week. As terrific as the Colts offense is, look at their defense. They have two rookie cornerbacks starting. So Moss and Brady are very excited about that matchup."
Dungy: "New England is getting their passing game in gear just in time...It's going to be a great game. Moss looks like he's back in stride with Brady."
ON JIM CALDWELL GOING 8-0 AND TYING POTSY CLARK (1931 PORTSMOUTH SPARTANS) FOR BEST RECORD BY A COACH TO OPEN A CAREER
Costas: "In my opinion, Potsy Clark was always overrated."
Michaels: "He was the Sam Rutigliano of his era."
ON MICHAEL VICK'S LACK OF PLAYING TIME AFFECTING HIS FUTURE
Costas: "If this is an audition, you've got to get on stage."
Dungy: "I told Michael to just worry about this year. It's technically up to Philadelphia. If they want him back, he has to stay there. If they don't, there are some teams looking for quarterbacks – Cleveland, St. Louis and Washington. But I think a dark horse is Buffalo...They talked originally. There was some communication there. I think that could be a good spot."
ON JOEY PORTER'S PREGAME COMMENTS ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
Harrison: "He's pretty stupid or crazy to make a comment like that. If you go into that locker room, you best believe, behind those closed doors, those guys are saying, 'We're going to take Joey Porter away.' The last thing these guys need is added motivation...(Porter had) zero sacks today...Zero tackles today."
ON RODNEY HARRISON RUMOR THAT HE WILL RETURN TO NEW ENGLAND
Dungy to King (joking): "With Ty Law signing in Denver last week, there's a rumor that Rodney Harrison may be coming back for this game (Indianapolis). Can you check that out for me?"
King: "Rodney, can you dispel that rumor right now?"
Harrison: "Too old and too slow."
AFTER BEING PHYSICALLY JAMMED BY RODNEY HARRISON ON THE SET
Patrick: "What is this, the MMA? I don't know what the health care plan is for NBC but we're going to find out."
COSTAS INTERVIEWS MICHAEL VICK & TONY ROMO: "Football Night" host Bob Costas interviewed Eagles QB Michael Vick Cowboys and QB Tony Romo prior to the game.
VICK
Vick on doubting his abilities: "I would be lying if I said there wasn't some doubt there. I'm being realistic about the situation."
Vick on being a wildcat quarterback: "I won't be a wildcat guy. I can't. It's a different style of play. It's almost like a hit or miss type of thing. My position is quarterback. That's what I was born to do."
Vick on playing for the Eagles again next year: "It would be hard. It would be an everyday struggle. But I would have to take that time to hone my skills and get better. I'm excited about the opportunity I have moving forward whether it's with Philadelphia or another team."
ROMO
Romo on Miles Austin: "He wasn't on other people's radar but he was on ours. You could see it on a daily basis. The technique, ability and things of that nature were starting to come to the forefront once he got the opportunity."
Romo on his cap: "I'm letting the hair grow out a little bit. Three or four weeks ago we were talking with one of my buddies and I told him I wouldn't cut my hair until we lost. So we're on a little bit of a winning streak right now and I've got messy hair all over the place."
Costas: "So you if you go all the way to the Super Bowl, it will be shoulder length."
Romo: "It will be a good problem to have, if that were the case."
Costas: "It's better to be on NBC than TMZ, isn't it?"
ON NEW ORLEANS
Harrison: "I think the New Orleans Saints are the best football team in the National Football League."
Dungy: "I don't think they're the best team in the league..."
Patrick: "Who's the best team?"
Dungy: "Indianapolis."
ON ARIZONA
Michaels: "Arizona is the weirdest team in the National Football League right now. You never know what you're going to get."
ON THE GIANTS
Barber: "They're not in panic mode, they're in confusion mode."
ON CINCINNATI
Harrison: "The Bengals are for real. And Chad Ochocinco is back to All-Pro mode."
ON CHAD OCHOCINCO'S ATTEMPT TO "BRIBE" AN OFFICIAL WITH $1
King: "I talked to the league and the league is not concerned about it."
ON THE NFC PLAYOFFS
Collinsworth: "It's beginning to look more and more like if you're going to the playoffs in the NFC, you're going through a dome."
ON BALTIMORE
Harrison: "You can't say that they're dead after eight games but they're definitely on life support...They can no longer rely on that defense to win football games."
ON GREEN BAY
Dungy: "The Packers had the formula for losing to a winless teams. They did everything wrong."
ON TENNESSEE
Harrison on Vince Young: "The guy's been playing really good football."
Dungy: "Chris Johnson is a great player. I think the combination of Johnson and Young allow them to do some things...This guy is leading the league in rushing on a losing team. He doesn't even get his runs in the fourth quarter, usually. He's been amazing."
ON HOUSTON'S FAILURE TO RUN A PLAY THAT LED TO A REPLAY CHALLENGE
Olbermann: "Gary Kubiak...not happy with the call. He should be not happy with whoever decided to let the clock run down."
