Time to post NBC’s preview of tonight’s interviews in its stead. Tonight, Bob Costas talks with New England Patriots quarterback and hair model Tom Brady.
BOB COSTAS INTERVIEWS TOM BRADY – “FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” PREVIEW – WEEK 10
“You lose a game in Cleveland and you think you’re the worst quarterback in the world.” – Tom Brady to Bob Costas on motivation“Probably not.” – Brady to Costas on if he contemplates a haircut anytime soonNEW YORK – November 14, 2010 – Bob Costas interviewed New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for a two-part segment of tonight’s Week 10 edition of “Football Night in America,” which will also include highlights, analysis and reaction to Week 10’s afternoon games.“Football Night” airs each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with Costas, who won the outstanding studio host Emmy last year, hosting the program live from inside the stadium. In addition to his interviews, Costas is joined on site by SNF commentators Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) for reaction to the afternoon games.Dan Patrick co-hosts “Football Night” from NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios and is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach and Emmy-nominated Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. Alex Flanagan will report from the New Meadowlands Stadium on the Cowboys-Giants game.GREEN WEEK: “Football Night in America” will hit the “green light switch” tonight to kick off NBC Universal’s annual “Green Week,” part of the company’s ongoing environmental initiative, “Green is Universal.” A montage of NBCU green programming highlights will usher in the Week, where over 40 television and digital platforms across the company will feature environmentally-themed programming.BEST VIEWERSHIP EVER: “Football Night” (7:30-8:15 pm) is averaging 8.1 million viewers through its first nine weeks, its most ever for that time frame and up nine percent vs. 2009’s 7.4 million viewers.INTERVIEW: Below are excerpts from Costas’ interview with Brady.
TOM BRADY
Costas: Only one of your six wins is against a team with a winning record. How good are the Patriots?Brady: I didn’t know that. (Costas: Just the win over the Ravens). The Ravens are a good team. I think we’ve played some pretty good teams this year. I think what’s it’s shown this season is that anything happens on these Sundays. If you don’t bring your best, you’re going to get beat. We’re rolling going into Cleveland last weekend and didn’t play very well, and you lose.Costas: The next two games: the Steelers on Sunday night and then back home against the Colts. There’s a gut check right there.Brady: We’ve got a long history with both these teams. It’s going to be exciting this week in Pittsburgh. It gets no tougher than going into there. We’ve played some big games at Pittsburgh over the years. I think this one will be no different.Costas: What can Ben Roethlisberger do that you can’t and what can Peyton Manning do that you can’t?Brady: No one’s better than Ben outside of the pocket and what he can do making plays…It’s incredible the decision making he makes outside of the pocket. That’s something that’s very difficult for me because a lot of those things I can’t anticipate…Peyton doesn’t do much wrong. I love his command. I love the way he throws the ball, an extremely accurate passer. He’s a very competitive player. I’ve know that playing against him for a lot of years. Those are two of the best in the league.Costas: How often have you felt that someone was intentionally trying to take you out of the game?Brady: I’ve never felt that. My whole career, I’ve never felt that. The whistle blows to start the play and the whistle blows to end the play. To me, whatever happens, happens.Costas: How often do you think about the 19-0 that almost was?Brady: I never really think about it, to be honest. It was an incredible year for us. Regardless of whether we won that game or not, it was an incredible year…I want to play for a long time so hopefully that won’t be my last opportunity to play in a Super Bowl.Costas: The first few times I interviewed you, almost a decade ago, you were the 199th player taken, you knew the names of all the quarterbacks who had been taken ahead of you, and you’re fresh off your first Super Bowl win. Now, you’re almost as apt to be pursued by Access Hollywood as by Football Night. Which way was more fun?Brady: There’s a lot of things that I could do back in the day that I really enjoyed doing. I wouldn’t trade what’s happened over the last 10 years for anything in the world. I’m happily married with two beautiful boys and won a lot of football games in an organization that’s been the best organization in the league.Costas: What motivates you now?Brady: You lose a game in Cleveland and you think you’re the worst quarterback in the world. You couldn’t lead the team to victory. That’s pretty motivating right there.Costas: I’m obliged to ask because Billy Bush and Access Hollywood aren’t here. You answer anyway you want. Do we contemplate a haircut before the year is over?Brady: (Laughs) Probably not. As this winter time goes, I think the beard comes a little bit, the hair grows a little. It’s got to stay warm out here. We’re in New England. (Costas: It’s cold in Foxborough). I’m not in San Diego like Phillip Rivers. Peyton gets to play in a dome all the time. I’ve got to do things to keep warm. I’ve learned that from Favre. Favre’s always got the scruffy beard going so that’s what I’m going to do.
That will do it.
