Before tonight’s primetime NFL game between Philadelphia and Atlanta, NBC’s Football Night in America features a Bob Costas interview with Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. As you’re aware, Vick played in Atlanta before being convicted on federal charges of dog fighting. Costas and Vick don’t discuss that issue at least in the excerpt we have here, but they do address Vick’s time in Atlanta. Here’s the press release from NBC Sports.
BOB COSTAS INTERVIEWS MICHAEL VICK
FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” PREVIEW – WEEK 2
The game still seems hard to me.” – Michael Vick to Bob Costas
“Sometimes I have to go back and watch what I do.” – Vick to Costas on his athleticismNEW YORK – September 18, 2011 – Bob Costas interviewed Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick for tonight’s Week 2 edition of Football Night in America, which will also include highlights, analysis and reaction to Week 2’s afternoon games, as well as a feature on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
Football Night airs each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with Costas hosting the program live from inside the stadium. In addition to his interviews, Costas is joined on site by Sunday Night Football commentators Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) for reaction to the afternoon games.
Dan Patrick co-hosts Football Night from Studio 8G at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios and is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, Peter King of Sports Illustrated and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com. Alex Flanagan will report from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on the Chargers-Patriots game.
Last week, Football Night drew 10.6 million viewers and a household rating of 6.4/11 (7:30-8:15 p.m. ET), up 15 percent and 19 percent, respectively, from last year’s opening Sunday night. The Adult 18-49 demo was a 4.3, up 26 percent from last year’s Week 1.
INTERVIEW: Below are excerpts from Costas’ interview with Vick.
Costas on when a play breaks down and Vick uses his athletic ability: What’s happening there?
Vick: “This may sound crazy to everybody, but sometimes I have to go back and watch what I do. It happens so instinctively. I’ve been blessed with abilities that very few are blessed with. I’m thankful for that…The game still seems hard to me so I think that’s a good thing because it will keep me striving to be my best.”Costas: How are things different for you even from a year ago?
Vick: “More settled…Basically, content…Just happy…(I’m) willing to put in the work now. I see things from a different perspective. That has definitely helped me to become the person that I want to become.”Costas: You’ve mentioned that you feel like you let the Falcons down regarding preparation.
Vick: “The way I work now, as far as preparation, if did it back then and put forth the effort, things probably would have been different. (I) wish I could have done more. You can’t turn back the hands of time. You can only move forward.”
And the next post will be NBC’s Football Night in America quotage sometime tonight.
