We haven’t done quotage in a while so let’s post in the order as the press releases come in. CBS came in first so we post their quotage from its pair of pregames.
NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, BOOMER ESIASON, BILL COWHER, TONY GONZALEZ AND BART SCOTT AND “THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW” WITH ADAM SCHEIN, AMY TRASK, LONDON FLETCHER AND BRANDON TIERNEY FOR WEEK 8 ON OCTOBER 26
“SEC ON CBS” RATINGS FOR MISSISSIPPI STATE WIN OVER KENTUCKY UP% +18
CBS Sports’ broadcast of the SEC ON CBS on Saturday, Oct. 25 (3:30 PM, ET), which saw No. 1 Mississippi State defeat Kentucky, 45-31, earned an average overnight household rating/share of 3.3/8, up 18% from last year’s 2.8/7 (Tennessee vs. No. 1 Alabama) in the metered markets.
QUICK HITS
(On concussion protocol)
BILL COWHER: I think we need to continue to encourage players of the long-term consequences of this. We need to educate and encourage them to tell the truth. Because the bottom line is there is accountability on their part. They have to be honest. When you look at players, one of the reasons they don’t come forward is because there are big games and they don’t want to miss big games. The other part of it is they feel like they’re letting down their teammates. I believe it’s time to increase the game day roster from 46 to 50. That would now take the pressure off the players and the coaches. We pay 53 guys anyway. Let’s use them.
(On N.Y. Jets and Percy Harvin )
BOOMER ESIASON: For me, it’s “Percy Day” over at Met Life Stadium. Who is Percy Harvin? He says he’s not going to change. I’m going to tell you who he is? He’s a malcontent. He drops passes. He’s not a great wide receiver, he’s underdeveloped and this just in time for Halloween here in New York for the Jets. Stick him in that Jet locker room and see what happens. It’s going to be absolutely insane here in New York for this young man. His third team in three years.
(On Seattle and Russell Wilson)
BOOMER: The only thing that will stop the noise will be going out and winning football games. This is a Super Bowl champion that, of course, is going to have all this distraction around him. He is a kid that’s beyond his years. He could be my quarterback anytime, and I have total confidence that he is going to be fine and weather the storm, if you will.
COWHER: Everybody thinks the minute you lose a game or two games in a row, that Seattle is done. The sky is falling. This team is fine. They’ve lost to Dallas, who has only lost one game; lost to San Diego, who has only lost two games; and lost last week to St. Louis because of some special teams gaffes. I think when you look at this team, they’re 3-3, relax. I think when it’s all said and done, they will be in the playoffs with 11 wins under their belt.
TONY GONZALEZ: Everybody says, the “Super Bowl hangover.” I’ll tell you what the “Super Bowl hangover” is, it’s called a target. That’s what happens the next year when you’re coming off the Super Bowl. Every team you play is going to be ready for you. All the fans are going to be ready for you. The media is now a target for you because they want to see you fall down. Every little thing that happens, they’re going to go out there and try to pick it apart. That’s what’s happening with Seattle right now. I have no doubt that they will right this ship and be going in the right direction. They have too much talent. They have too many mature guys on that team. They will go out and turn this thing around.
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THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW (TOPS) NOTES
(ON RACIAL ISSUES IN SEAHAWKS LOCKER ROOM):
BART SCOTT: Who gives out the black card in that locker room first of all? This is a problem that we have within our black society that we’re going to have to identify and address… That’s a sensitive subject that we have to address in the black community and as black athletes. Jonathan Martin had to deal with that last year too… We have to understand that we come in all different shapes, sizes and social classes. We like different genres of music. I’m appalled by it.
LONDON FLETCHER: I was very disturbed when I heard the comments… What does that have to do with winning and losing, which is what we’re all here for in the National Football League? It’s about winning and losing.
FRED SMOOT: That’s what makes the NFL so great – it’s colorless. Once you’re in that huddle, it doesn’t matter what color or creed or what religion you are. I don’t get it and I thought we were past this.
(ON WASHINGTON REDSKINS HEAD COACH JAY GRUDEN):
FLETCHER: I would have kept Kirk Cousins. Let him go through his growing pains and get through it because eventually, you’ll still need Kirk Cousins… (Gruden) flip flops too much as a head coach. One week, when Kirk came in and had success, he was asked, ‘Is Robert (Griffin III) going to get his job back?’ He said, ‘We don’t know.’ He goes with emotion too much. Now Kirk starts throwing a few interceptions, he benches him and brings Colt McCoy in… He wants to be stable, but in my mind, he’s too wishy-washy.
SMOOT: If you’re going to invest in someone, invest in the guy you drafted. You draft Kirk Cousins, he’s going to always be there for you. Now you want to put in Colt McCoy. You can’t get anything from Colt McCoy. Right now, I’m seeing a young coach that just wants to get a win. Instead of a young coach that wants to build on what his team is able to do with his own talent. That’s what great teams do. They build on their own talent.
We’ll post more as they come in.
