We have your quotage from the NFL pregame shows. At least most of the Sunday shows. Let’s start as always with NFL Network’s Gameday Morning.
News and Sound Bites From Week 8 Edition of NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
“This team is as good as the ’96 (Green Bay Packers) team.” – Brett Favre on the 2009 Minnesota Vikings
“I have never been as disappointed after the game, including the Super Bowl (XXXII). I didn’t want to end it like that, but that wasn’t enough to come back.” – Brett Favre on the 2007 NFC Championship loss to the Giants being the worst in his career
“Home field advantage belongs to Brett Favre.” – Steve Mariucci on Favre giving Minnesota the advantage against Green Bay
“This team is very dangerous right now. They are the best in the NFC East.” – Mariucci on the Dallas Cowboys
“He might inject some energy into this team. They may go out and play with a different sense of urgency.” – Marshall Faulk on QB Vince Young starting
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’ – Steve Mariucci 1-on-1 with Vikings QB Brett Favre:
Old friends reunited when NFL Network’s Steve Mariucci sat down with Vikings QB Brett Favre to reminisce on his 16-year career in Green Bay, discuss his long-anticipated return to Lambeau Field and the emotions that come with the homecoming:
“There was a lot of attention on that game, as there will be on this one, but some of the sting has been taken off.” – Favre on how meeting the Packers for the first time in Week 4 has affected the Week 8 meeting
“I really don’t know. I understand we are the visitor, but all I ask for is respect. What I did there, it goes without saying that I’m proud of it. You may hate the Vikings, but just respect what I’ve done.” – Favre on what he expects with his return to Lambeau
“It looked easier when some else did it.” – Favre on the ‘Lambeau Leap’
“When I left the next day, I have never been as disappointed after the game, including the Super Bowl (XXXII). I didn’t want to end it like that, but that wasn’t enough to come back…when we lost, the last thing I wanted to think about was football, even though I knew I would think about it every day.” – Favre on his toughest loss being to the Giants in the 2007 NFC Championship Game
“I’m very satisfied with what has happened throughout my career, what I’ve accomplished; I don’t feel I have to prove anything.” – Favre on if he has anything left to prove to the Packers
“There’s no other reason for me to be playing. I figured, ‘Hey, I can’t get there sitting at home.’” – Favre on coming back to win the Super Bowl
“It doesn’t surprise me, but I was hoping it would be a little easier.” – Favre on the Vikings’ success
“As far as pure running back, I’ve never seen anything better. He is as explosive as anybody I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen anyone stop and go full speed in two steps.” – Favre on RB Adrian Peterson
“This team is as good as the ’96 (Green Bay Packers) team. Not one team out there can say they have every piece to the puzzle, you never can say that. It’s the teams that have great chemistry, play very well together, believe in what they’re doing, have a little luck along the way – all those things go into winning.” – Favre on the Vikings’ potential
To view Mariucci’s entire interview with Favre, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d813d91c1/Sunday-sit-down-Brett-Favre-pt-1 – part I
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d813d9313/Sunday-Sit-Down-Brett-Favre-pt-2 – part II
‘Super Bowl Journey,’ Week 8 Edition – TE Chris Cooley’s Rehashes His Week 7 Ankle Injury and the Recovery Process in Front of Him
“I’ve never been injured; I’ve never even missed a practice. I’m disgusted that I’m not going to be able to play with this team.” – Cooley
To view Cooley’s latest Super Bowl Journey, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d813d58d4/Super-Bowl-Journey-Broken-dreams
To view previous Super Bowl Journey editions from all five contributors, please visit: http://sbjourney.nfl.com/
Michael Lombardi Pregame 1-on-1 with Dolphins Head Coach Tony Sparano:
“We’ve got to finish games. We’re playing good teams and that requires you to play four quarters.” – Sparano on the Dolphins
“We have to be able to stop the run and run the football. The Jets are doing a nice job right now running the football, so time of possession and turnovers will be critical.” – Sparano on the key factors of the game
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:
“He might inject some energy into this team. They may go out and play with a different sense of urgency.” – Marshall Faulk on Titans QB Vince Young starting vs. the Jaguars
“He does not have the supporting cast that a Matt Ryan had last year, a Joe Flacco had, or even Ben Roethlisberger had when he came out as a rookie. The pieces of the puzzle are not all in place.” – Steve Mariucci on Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell
“This team is very dangerous right now. They are the best in the NFC East.” – Mariucci on the Dallas Cowboys
“There’s a lot more things going on than just sticking it to Ted (Thompson).” – Faulk on Brett Favre focused on a win after last week’s loss to New Orleans
“I have a problem with Bud Adams jumping in. He’s not on the practice field and I would rather that be left up to the coaches…[but] I don’t understand why Jeff Fisher is so against playing Vince Young.” – Michael Irvin on Titans owner Bud Adams naming Vince Young starting QB
“This has been a Cinderella story.” – Steve Mariucci on the Denver Broncos
“Ray Lewis in the middle has always been the heart of this ball club. He’s got to rally the troops.” – Warren Sapp on the Baltimore Ravens
“Miles, you are a number one. The numbers tell us so.” – Irvin on Cowboys WR Miles Austin being a number one wide receiver
“As a head coach, you can’t be afraid of losing your job by having a guy that might be a better coach sitting behind you.” – Faulk on the importance of having an experienced coaching staff
“When you look at Cleveland, it’s not like they don’t have talent. They just don’t have ‘the way.’” – Irvin on the Cleveland Browns
“You’ve got to keep coaching, you’ve got to keep teaching. You’ve got to win the little battles. You may not win the game, but you get guys a little bit better each week and teach them something he can benefit from.” – Mariucci on the focus of a coach of a struggling team
“They know the competitor in Favre. They know that this guy is going to come to work and it doesn’t matter what’s wrong with him, how he’s feeling, you’re going to get the best of Brett Favre. How do you not clap for a guy like that?” – Faulk on if Packers fans should cheer for Brett Favre
“Home field advantage belongs to Brett Favre.” – Mariucci on Favre giving Minnesota the advantage against Green Bay
“The game itself is enough to get me up and ready to play. I don’t need anything else.” – Sapp on motivating factors
“Simplicity. They are very simple. There are about six plays they run.” – Marshall Faulk on the success of Peyton Manning and the Colts offense
La Canfora’s News Reports:
- The situation between RB Larry Johnson and the Kansas City Chiefs is over. We’ll get an announcement Monday, but all sides decided to compromise. The policies dealing with social media and communication through the mediums such as Facebook and Twitter is a brave new world and there will be cases in the future where this could be an issue. Johnson was going to have a grievance hearing, but neither the Players Association, the NFL or the Chiefs thought it was a good idea to go that route. So Johnson still will not be around the facility until Nov. 9 serving a suspension, but will only lose one paycheck rather than two.
- Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware’s mega-contract is probably the last that we see in this calendar year. The reality is it’s really hitting home for a lot of players out there that while people think 2010 possibly being an uncapped year will be a cash grab, that’s not necessarily the case. A group of players across the league are trying to get new contracts, negotiating with teams, but teams are looking at these players from the 2005 and 2006 draft class and saying, ‘if there’s an uncapped year, we’re going to own your rights for another year or two, we don’t need to do an extension right now.’ No one wants to wade in right now unless they have to because they don’t know what that next CBA will look like and what the economic climate will be. Broncos QB Kyle Orton may get his deal, but for the most part teams are pretty much shutting it down.
For additional thoughts from La Canfora, check out his blog at http://blogs.nfl.com/category/jason-la-canfora/.
Then, it’s ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown quotes.
2009 ESPN “Sunday NFL Countdown” Notes and Quotes — Week 8
ESPN’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 Favre handle return to Green Bay?
Carter: “What I’m concerned about is how does he handle surroundings that aren’t familiar to him — staying in the Paper Valley Hotel, the worst hotel in the NFL? That 30-minute bus ride on Route 41 when you get off on Lombardi Drive. That amount of time when he has to sit there and think about all the things that transpired, that he helped orchestrate … I think he’s going to have great trepidation going into this football game, and he might loose it before he gets to the field.”
Jackson: “Nineteen years of NFL history, he’s done everything. This is one thing that he has not done – gone back to Lambeau Field as the opponent. Greatest quarterback, statistically in the history of football, going back with the arch rival. This is not Wayne Gretzky. This is not Joe Montana going to Kansas City … He has infused something else here. When you tell me that this is the best team ‘I’ve ever played on, when I’ve been with you for seven weeks vs. those championship teams with the Packers.’ You did something to those fans. You extracted your revenge over in Minnesota. They are looking to extract some sort of revenge today when you hit that field in Lambeau.”
Johnson: “Brett Favre played for the Green Bay Packers. Now he plays for the Minnesota Vikings. The hype machine is still rolling in terms of drumming things up to try to make this bigger than what
it really is. Brett Favre is not worried about it. He’s already beaten them. He’s going to go in their house and he is going to try to win another game … It is all about wining championships. He is not worried about fans. Brett Favre will always be able to sell jerseys … Nothing will change for Brett Favre except he is a Viking right now.”
Ditka: “There’s no loyalty in sports. Her is the thing – ‘Brett is going home.’ I don’t get it, because, if he was home, he’ll still be there. He’s not there. They chose to move him out of there. It wasn’t his doing in the beginning. He did help it. All they’ve got to worry about is that the division is on the line.”
Berman: “He’s an underdog at Lambeau Field. That is interesting if you take it on the football front.”
Former Packers on Brett Favre’s Homecoming: Reporter Tom Rinaldi asked legendary Packers (Willie Davis, Jerry Kramer, Fuzzy Thurston) and former teammates (Leroy Butler and Antonio Freeman) what they think of Favre’s return to Green Bay. Some highlights:
Jerry Kramer – Packers Guard 1958-68: “It maybe years from now, when we are sitting in the shade on the porch, before we really understand it and come to grips with it. But right at this point, it is unacceptable.”
Willie Davies – Packers Defensive End 1960-69: “I was very supportive of the Packers moving on and I still feel that way today, even in Brett Favre playing well. But going to the Vikings, probably has made it the most distasteful thing that any fan would imagine.”
LeRoy Butler – Favre’s teammate 1992 – 2001: “It looks like you are married for 25 years, you divorced and married her sister. He’s with the divorced (wife’s) sister. You can’t do that.”
Fuzzy Thurston, Packers Guard 1969-67 (despite his throat cancer surgery offered his strong opinions:
Rinaldi: When he comes out into Lambeau Field in that uniform, describe in your mind, what you’d see?
Thurston: “I’ll see something that would bother me every day for the rest of my life. Because, I loved Brett as a Packer, I loved him as a person and I never saw a better football player. And for him to be in a Viking uniform, turns my heart real cold.”
Rinaldi: When you think of Brett Faver now, what do you think?
Thurston: “Traitor. I think of him as a traitor.”
Who made out better – Favre or Packers?
Johnson: “They both made out pretty well. You got a quarterba
ck that somehow got to Minnesota, where he tried to get to a year ago. You got the Packers, in the front office, that moved ahead with their future in quarterback Aaron Rodgers.”
Jackson: “I’m not ridiculously unaware of the way Green Bay is. This is a different place to play football. I think there’s been something lost. And when you hear it coming from Packers’ greats and Packers fans, there’s something lost. He gave something away.”
Ditka: “When I got fired from the Bears, I made a statement: ‘This too shall pass.’ In time, everything does. All wounds will heal. You’re right, there’s a lot of anger right now. There’s a lot of open wounds up there in Green Bay, and I understand all that. But, my God, this guy has the right to live his life as well as anybody else. The Packers initiated the move to get him out of there. He didn’t initiate the move. He did initiate the move to get to Minnesota. Now, he’s coming back. Let’s have a good football game.”
Blueprint to stop undefeated Colts:Ditka: “You want to beat Peyton Manning, you keep the ball away from him … Miami had the ball for 45 minutes, he had it for 15, he wins the football game. This guy strikes fast.”
Jackson: “We get so used to watching them be undefeated that they are undefeated, with Peyton Manning, and they are still under the radar.”
Johnson: “There’s still a blueprint out there. I think the New England Patriots, they own it. The San Diego Chargers, own those blueprints. Somebody’s got to get a hold of that. Get to the quarterback … When you get to him, Tom Brady, he’s average. When you get to him, Phillip Rivers, he’s average. You get to Peyton Manning like the Patriots of old, like the Chargers of old, then you have the opportunity to sack him.”
Two straight losses for the Giants: Are you concerned?
Johnson: “When I look at the young receivers of the New York Giants, I’m a little concerned. When you look at them … they were playing pretty good. You said, ‘Okay, no Plaxico Burress, no problem.’ And then I look at Eli Manning and the possible heel injury. I look at his body language when things aren’t going well. It starts to make me wonder, is the ghost of Plaxico Burress in the back of his mind.”
Jackson: “When they were in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, it was all about their ability to rush the passer. That’s how we left that stadium – men, did they get after Tom Brady. They got two sacks the last two games – one per game. Those were the two games they lost. Get back to rushing the passer.”
Carter: “Last week’s game against the Cardinals, it was hard for me to say it, but the Cardinals outhit the Giants … If the Cardinals and other teams are going to outhit the Giants and their physicality, that would give me some concerns.”
Over to Fox NFL Sunday which had an interview with Brett Favre as NFL Network did.
Favre Tells Bradshaw: I Did It All in Green Bay. There Was No Unfinished BusinessLong on Packers: They Made the Right Choice Moving On
Bradshaw on Vince Young: I Don’t Think He’s an NFL Quarterback in His State of Mind
Strahan on T.O. Looking to Best Cowboys’ WR in Stats: It’s Sad
Glazer Reports Broncos Agree to Return Marshall’s Fine Money
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Today all eyes descend on Lambeau Field as Brett Favre returns to face the Packers in a Vikings uniform. Co-host Terry Bradshaw flew to Minnesota to get Favre’s thoughts on what is sure to be an emotional return:
Brett Favre on leaving Green Bay: “In all honesty, I did it all there [Green Bay]. I would’ve loved to have gone back to the Super Bowl and have that opportunity again. It didn’t happen but for the most part there was no unfinished business…There’s no reason for me to ever say anything negative about that place.”
Click here to watch Bradshaw’s complete one-on-one interview with Favre on FOXSports.com: http://tinyurl.com/yaawfam
Co-host Terry Bradshaw following his interview with Brett Favre: “Maybe both the Packers and I were wrong about Brett this off-season. If we’re hurt or rejected, the most wonderful thing is to run into someone’s arms that cares about you. That was the Minnesota Vikings for Brett Favre.”
Analyst Howie Long on the Packers moving on with Aaron Rodgers: “There’s no question that that the Packers made the right choice – and it was a tough choice – moving forth with the young quarterback and they are happy with him. But I have to tell you, I don’t know that Aaron Rodgers makes those two throws that Brett made this season already to pull games out for the Vikings.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on the pressure and hype getting to Favre: “It’s such a big game emotionally for both of teams. Sometimes when you want something so badly it just ends up eating at you and you get uptight. The offensive players in particular can get uptight, even Brett Favre. Maybe not going out for pregame warm-ups might keep him loose before the game.”
Analyst Michael Strahan on what Green Bay needs to go to win the game: “You guys laughed at me last week when I said Pittsburgh had to forget Adrian Peterson and make Brett lose the game. They attacked Brett with blitzes and got big turnovers. That’s how they were able to win. Pittsburgh defense is No. 8 in the league. Green Bay’s defense is actually No. 3. They need to go after Brett Favre.”
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Co-host Terry Bradshaw & analyst Howie Long react to the 0-6 Tennessee Titans naming Vince Young as their starting quarterback today:
Bradshaw: “I don’t think Vince Young is an NFL quarterback in this state of mind. I didn’t like him coming out of college other than his athletic ability and I don’t think he’s the answer but for an 0-6 team. But I have no problem with him starting and playing in this game.”
Long: “Maybe it’s the father in me but look at where Vince Young was a year ago and where he is now. I’m happy Vince Young is a functioning, able participant in the game today.”
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NFL Insider Jay Glazer on the Titans players’ reaction to owner Bud Adams demanding that Vince Young start at quarterback: “This is not being met with open arms. The locker room and coaching staff don’t agree with this move. Jeff Fisher told Kerry Collins straight out, ‘look, my hands are tied here.’ But the players and coaches say it’s not Kerry Collins’ fault, its wide receivers dropping balls, lineman are missing blocks etc.”
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Analysts Howie Long and Michael Strahan on Terrell Owens’ recent comments that he would be happy with his season as long as his stats are better than Dallas’ Roy Williams:
Long: “Doesn’t that speak volumes? Why wouldn’t he set the bar a little higher? Why not say Miles Austin?”
Strahan: “He just conceded that Buffalo isn’t going to do much there. He’s saying ‘I just want to beat one guy’ and that’s sad.”
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FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer on the latest news on the Denver Broncos and Pro Bowl WR Brandon Marshall: “The Denver Broncos have decided to rescind fines levied on Pro Bowl WR Brandon Marshall earlier this year and actually return fine money they’ve already taken. The total given back and rescinded equals approximately $73,000. The fine comes from a suspension and heavy fines for behavior exhibited this pre-season. He was suspended by the team for what coach Josh McDaniels at the time called “detrimental” conduct. Winning apparently really does cure all ills, especially in Denver.”
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Co-host Terry Bradshaw on former No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith throwing three touchdowns last week to win the 49ers starting job: “He looked good in that game last week because he had time to look good. Alex shouldn’t have been the first player picked in the draft anyway. That put a lot of pressure on him.”
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Analyst Jimmy Johnson on Tony Romo’s solid performance against the Falcons after some bad games this season: “Every quarterback needs a supporting cast and this season, Romo’s supporting cast has been undependable. From injuries in the backfield and the receivers that have let him down. Now he has a healthy backfield and guys like Miles Austin are making big plays. He finally has some people he can depend on.”
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Analyst Jimmy Johnson on Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme: “Carolina has a problem. They gave Jake Delhomme a five-year extension for over $40 million dollars. They have no out.”
Right now, we don’t have CBS’ NFL Today quotage or NBC’s Football Night in America. Once they come in, they’ll be published right here.
Here is NBC’s Football Night in America quotage. Still don’t have CBS’ right now.
FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA NOTES & QUOTES; WEEK 8
Dungy on Cowboys and Eagles: “They are playing great…setting up a big showdown game next Sunday night.”
Harrison on Derek Anderson: “You’ve got to cut him.”
NEW YORK – November 1, 2009 – Following are highlights from NBC Sports' "Football Night in America." Host Dan Patrick, 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 eighth week. Tiki Barber reported from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, site of the Eagles-Giants game. "NBC Sunday Night Football" had a bye due to game four of the World Series but returns next week with the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys in a game that will determine first place in the NFC East.
ON BRETT FAVRE
Harrison: "He didn't get caught up in the emotion and the passion of the game. He played within himself and he allowed his teammates to make plays. He didn't go out and try to do too much."
Dungy: "...Not the touchdown passes, forget that. No interceptions. No mistakes. He played under control today."
ON THE BRONCOS
Patrick to Dungy: "You just bought into the Broncos a couple of weeks ago. Are you still buying or now you're renting?"
Dungy: "I'm still buying Denver but I thought John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens did a tremendous job. They had two weeks to prepare and I thought he had a great plan...I thought they had the perfect style to give Denver problems."
Harrison: "Tony told me that he felt that this was the blueprint for stopping the Denver Broncos. I don't think it's the blueprint. It's one isolated game...I still believe in this team."
Patrick to Dungy: "Do you believe they are still in the upper echelon of teams?"
Dungy: "I do..."
ON THE GIANTS
Patrick: "This is a team that's been humbled. You get humbled in New Orleans. You get humbled at home against Arizona. You get roughed in the division against Philadelphia. This is a veteran team. This isn't supposed to happen."
Barber: "They should be better than this. Coach Tom Coughlin and (LB) Antonio Pierce after the game ripped the defense for how poor their tackling was."
Harrison: "As a result of [the Giants poor defense], Eli is playing out of character. He's putting too much pressure on himself to go out there and put the team on his back...I have to look at the sense of urgency from the New York Giants. They lost three consecutive games. They're third in their division. And not only are they losing, they look really bad doing it."
ON THE EAGLES
Dungy: "These guys have a ton of weapons. Michael Vick is a great weapon and he can't get off the bench."
ON THE COLTS
Dungy: "Peyton was a little bit off. He missed some deep balls that he normally hits and that made it a tight game. One other little known fact, San Francisco's offensive line coach, Chris Foerster, worked on the Indianapolis staff. And coaches, more so than players, can give information to their team...He can talk about their protections and ways to rush and beat those offensive protections. And he knows some of the code words. Those code words that we're not allowed to give away."
Patrick (joking): "That Peyton gets upset about every time you hint about telling us."
ON JOSEPH ADDAI'S TOUCHDOWN PASS
Addai as told to King: "I've been great on it this year in practice for the first time – five-for-five in practice, including on Thursday of this week when Peyton Manning gave me a little bit of advice. 'Hey, roll out and sell the run. You're going to throw it too quick.'"
Patrick (joking): "Great coaching by Coach Caldwell."
Dungy (joking): "We couldn't get it right when I was there."
ON DEREK ANDERSON
Harrison: "You've got to cut him. Eric Mangini needs to make a statement. His quarterback's playing terrible. I don't think I can remember a time when a quarterback only completed...six passes and had two interceptions. Cut him. Make a statement. He looks lost out there. He has no confidence...I don't care how much you paid him. You've got to get rid of him."
King: "There's no question they'll go after a quarterback [in the draft]."
ON THE JETS POSTGAME COMMENTS
Dungy: "My mother used to say, 'When you win, say very little. When you lose, say less. Bart Scott said too much today. When a team beats you twice, give them credit and go home...And I have to disagree with Rex Ryan, they didn't outplay Miami. Miami's got three-return touchdowns. That's part of the game. They've got more points than you do."
ON VINCE YOUNG
Dungy: "I don't want to say I told you so but (joking)...I thought Vince played beautifully today...And the other thing he does, he helps Chris Johnson because those backside defenders can't chase as much. They've got to honor Vince Young on the bootleg."
ON NEXT WEEK'S COWBOYS-EAGLES MATCHUP ON SUNDAY NIGHT
Dungy: "Philadelphia and Dallas going in opposite directions from the Giants. They are playing great, both teams, in all three phases setting up a big showdown game next Sunday night."
On Saturday night, Dungy brought the Coach's Clicker to halftime of the Washington State - Notre Dame game and broke down two Jimmy Clausen completions, including a touchdown.
Dungy: "Jimmy really reminds me of Drew Brees, just a guy who is accurate. He's smart. He's fiery out there, and takes control of the situation."
When NFL Today quotage comes in, if at all, I’ll post it.
