After watching the NFL action this afternoon, it’s time for the quotage from the NFL pregame shows today. I have all except for CBS which is strange. Let’s start as usual with NFL Network.
News and Sound Bites From Week 2 Edition of NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
“Now that I’m here, I’m glad that it happened.” – DE Richard Seymour on being traded from New England to Oakland
“With what we have here, the opportunity to play in this stadium like this, with over 100,000 fans here today, I expect these Cowboys to empty their bucket.” – Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones on the home opener in new Cowboys Stadium
“I don’t see what Carson Palmer has done in this league that has everyone so enamored.” – Warren Sapp on Bengals QB Carson Palmer
“For the first time in Bill Belichick’s history of coaching the Patriots, the defense might be a liability.” – Marshall Faulk on the Patriots
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’ – Faulk Sits Down with Raiders DE Richard Seymour:
NFL Network’s Marshall Faulk sits down with new Raider Richard Seymour for a candid conversation on being traded to Oakland, how the trade happened and the potential he sees in his new team:
“I was in shock. It was totally unexpected.” – Seymour on the trade to Oakland
“I personally wouldn’t done it that way, but that’s my way. He told me with a phone call and obviously that was his way of handling it. I’m not necessarily upset about it, I just wish the situation would have been handled in the offseason, if it was going to happen.” – Seymour on the way he was informed of the trade and his reaction
“We had a lot of different decisions to make and a short time to make them in. I was traded and was on the phone with [head coach] Tom Cable 30 minutes after I found out… From a football standpoint, they were trying to prepare for the Chargers, but at that point, I didn’t care about the Chargers, Raiders, Patriots, anyone. At that point, I was only focused on my family.” – Seymour on the transition to Oakland and the delay in joining the team
“Now that I’m here, I’m glad that it happened, I really am. The guys are amazing here, they’re so eager to win. They were motivated to play on Monday night. I said few things to them and I could feel the passion in that room.” – Seymour on joining the Raiders
“It’s exciting to see how the thing can unfold if we continue to put in the work we have so far.” – Seymour on the Raiders and their ability
To view Faulk’s entire interview with Seymour, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d812bc4ad/Sunday-Sitdown-Richard-Seymour
Spero Dedes and Michael Irvin Catch Up with Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones:
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones chats with Spero Dedes and Michael Irvin in an exclusive interview prior to Dallas’ season opener vs. the Giants in the new Cowboys stadium:
“I didn’t sleep for a week before those and haven’t slept for a week right now.” – Jerry Jones on the excitement he’s feeling before game vs. Giants
“With what we have here, the opportunity to play in this stadium like this, with over 100,000 fans here today, I expect these Cowboys to empty their bucket. I want it all with no reservations about it.” – Jones on what he expects from the Cowboys in their home season opener
“I kind of like my first-round pick – Roy Williams. That was our first-round pick this year and I can’t tell you how proud I am of him.” – Jones on the Cowboys personnel improvements in the offseason
To view the entire interview with Jones, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d812c01c6/Talking-with-Jerry-Jones
‘Super Bowl Journey,’ Week Two Edition – Giants DE Osi Umenyiora and Redskins TE Chris Cooley Face Off
The Super Bowl Journeys of Giants DE Osi Umenyiora and Redskins TE Chris Cooley cross paths as the NFC East rivalry between the Giants and Redskins kicked off in Week 1:
“I would rather knock Osi Umenyoira on his back. That would be a bigger accomplishment for me than catching two or three touchdowns. Just that feeling of being able to manhandle somebody, which doesn’t happen a lot for me, but when it does, it’s so cool.” – Cooley on Umenyoira and making a key block in a game
“Cooley is a good football player. He’s smart, savvy, knows exactly how to execute his blocks. He’s very dangerous down the field.” – Umenyiora on Cooley
To view the week two installment of Super Bowl Journey, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d812bc45b/Super-Bowl-Journey-Osi-vs-Cooley – part I
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:
“For the first time in Bill Belichick’s history of coaching the Patriots, the defense might be a liability.” – Marshall Faulk on the Patriots’ Week 1 performance vs. Buffalo
“Addition by subtraction does work.” – Michael Irvin on the Cowboys’ Week 1 performance vs. Tampa Bay
“Drew Brees is making a case for being the best quarterback in this league.” – Faulk on Saints QB Drew Brees
“Jay Cutler will play much better this week, but what I’m concerned about is the seven games they’ve played without Brian Urlacher, they’ve lost them all.” – Steve Mariucci on the Bears vs. the Steelers
“Brett Favre is a gunslinger and sooner or later he is going to want to pull out the six-shooter and shoot that ball down the field.” – Irvin on Favre being content with handing the ball off to RB Adrian Peterson
“Go catch and hold on to the football. It’s what’s separates the good from the great and since I was one of the greats, I don’t mind that ruling.” – Irvin on the officials overturning Raiders WR Louis Murphy’s touchdown vs. San Diego
“This was a great move for the Raiders and a great move for Richard.” – Faulk on the Raiders acquisition on DE Richard Seymour
“Oakland’s ability to run the ball is the way they can set the pace.” – Warren Sapp on the Raiders facing the Chiefs
“This team is tough and is built tough just like their head coach.” – Sapp on the San Francisco 49ers
“I don’t see what Carson Palmer has done in his league that has everyone so enamored.” – Sapp on Bengals QB Carson Palmer
“Joe Flacco threw for his first 300-yard game last week. Drew Brees does that before every breakfast.” – Mariucci on whether fantasy football enthusiasts should start Drew Brees or Joe Flacco
“Without him being 100%, this is a different offense.” – Irvin on WR Anquan Boldin and the Arizona Cardinals
“Right now, it’s Josh McDaniels 1, Jay Cutler 0.” – Irvin
La Canfora’s News Reports:
- LB Derrick Brooks spoke to Chicago this week and although the Bears are not going to sign him at this point, they have asked Brooks for a two-week window to assess their linebacking situation. If they have a li
nebacker get hurt this weekend vs. Pittsburgh, Brooks is on speed dial. Brooks badly wants to play for Lovie Smith and he’s a fit in the Tampa-2 system they run. Brooks feels like he still has something left in the tank, but at this point in his career, he’s going to be selective in where he goes. There are some other teams out there that have had some linebacker injuries that are some options, but Chicago looks like the best fit.
- Last week, the official made an incorrect call involving Patriots DT Vincent Wilfork. On the field, they determined Wilfork made a shot to the knee of QB Trent Edwards, that’s why the flag was thrown. After review, it was apparent that it was a legal hit to the torso. That’s one the officials would like to have back, but for the most part it was a strong opening week for the officials.
- From the Bills’ organizational standpoint, they view CB Leodis McKelvin as a special player who gets a lot of freedom. Part of what makes him great is that he’s a risk-reward type of guy. He’s going to play with aggression and try different things as a corner and a kick returner. The issue on Monday night was spatial awareness. The Bills didn’t have a problem with McKelvin running the kick back, but he was not aware of where he was. Earlier in the game, he took a knee because he was unaware of where he was. The only problem was him fighting for the extra yard in that particular situation and that’s been reinforced to him. However the Bills do not want to stifle McKelvin. They want him to continue to rely on his instincts.
For additional thoughts from La Canfora, check out his blog at http://blogs.nfl.com/category/jason-la-canfora/.
EXTRA POINTS:
- NFL Network’s ‘Head Coaches’ Share Their Take on Week 2 Matchups: NFL Network’s The NFL Head Coaches settles into its regular time of Monday at 6:00 PM ET with host Charles Davis alongside Steve Mariucci, Mike Martz and Jim Mora the weekly half-hour show features a trio of former head coaches –– who have been on the sidelines and experienced the ups and downs associated with being at the helm of a team in the National Football League. With 50 seasons of NFL coaching experience combined from three different coaching philosophies, NFL Network’s resident coaching trio share situations and experiences from their careers that remain applicable to today’s head coach.
- NFL RedZone – Bringing Fans Every Touchdown From Every Game: NFL RedZone is hosted by Scott Hanson from the new state-of-the-art NFL RedZone studio at NFL Network’s headquarters in Los Angeles and debuts today at 1:00 PM ET/10 AM PT. Produced by NFL Network, NFL RedZone whips around every NFL game on Sunday afternoons delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments as they happen and in high definition. When a team goes inside the 20-yard line, fans see the crucial plays live. The channel keeps fans up-to-date in real time, switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a chance to see every important play. NFL RedZone is available on AT&T, Comcast, DISH Network, RCN, Verizon and other distributors. For more information visit: http://redzonetv.nfl.com/?icampaign=redzone_mb
- Sunday Night Football Extra Returns: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys will stream live on Sunday Night Football Extra on NFL.com and NBCSports.com. Complementing that stream will be a number of extra features to enrich the viewing experience including additional camera angles, in-game highlights, picture-in-picture technology, live statistics and other interactive elements. Sunday Night Football Extra will also include in-game studio updates from the NBC Football Night in America team and NFL Network talent.
On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:
Tailgating Tips – Food Network’s Guy Fieri shares his tips for hosting the ultimate football tailgate:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d812bc273/Tailgate-101
This is the weekly news and notes from ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. Click on the pics for videos if you wish.
2009 “Sunday NFL Countdown” Notes and Quotes — Week 2
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed today’s NFL action.
Some excerpts:
Tom Brady vs. the Jets defense: How will it play out?
Ditka: “This guy (Jets head coach Rex Ryan) is creative with his defenses. You saw seven defensive backs out there last week. He’s going to apply pressure. You kill the snake by cutting off the head. That’s what they believe. They are going to go after (Tom) Brady. There might be some guys open, but if you’re lying on the ground, it’s hard to throw the football.”
Johnson: “If they (Jets) can get to Tom Brady before the three-step, five-step drop when he’s getting the football out of his hands quick, then, they’ll have an opportunity.”
Carter: “The Jets have to be a good tackling team … New England, they do throw the ball a lot. But most of those passes are thrown under 10 yards … If you watch the game, watch the tackling.”
Mark Sanchez vs. Patriots defense: How will it play out?
Johnson: “The (New England Patriots) personnel is not there right now. He (Patriots head coach Bill Belichick) just doesn’t have it right now. He has young players trying to learn what to do with this organization and learn how to play football … It just depends on the scheme and how they attack this young quarterback. (Mark) Sanchez is used to this. He is from USC, he played at a big time program. I’m pretty sure he is ready to embrace that.”
Carter: “I think there’s a carryover in what we’re seeing in the National Football League. Last year, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco – people are saying how can all these rookies be throwing the ball? This is beyond Belichick, because young passers have the ability to throw the ball better now. I’m a high school football coach, so I see it. Kids are going to more passing camps. Kids throw the ball more on Friday nights, which is a transition to the college game. More quarterbacks are throwing the ball in college. So now, we’re the beneficiaries. Sanchez, he’s in an era when kids are throwing the ball better. Belichick, if you don’t have the personnel, you are not going to be able to stop this kid. We will see, in the National Football League, guys coming into the league on a regular basis and they will be better throwers from the beginning.”
Who has the edge: Drew Brees or Eagles defense?
Following Ed Werder’s feature about quarterback Drew Brees’ passionate pre-game chant – “This Is New Orleans” – and how it puts him alongside vocal pre-game leaders, the likes of Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins, Countdown discussed the Saints’ signal caller:
Jackson: “Boomer (Chris Berman) and I did a special skills competition in Hawaii with the NFL quarterbacks and a lot of them really had a problem with accuracy – hitting the moving target, hitting the bulls’ eye. And then Drew Bees came up … his accuracy was unbelievable. At six feet tall, which is what he is, he is able to throw, like up on his toes, throw every kind of pass you can throw in this league. And that’s why teams struggle so much against him. Then, that fire that he showed to his teammates, you add that to the equation, you have, to me right now, the best quarterback in this league.”
Who will be missed more on their respective teams: Polamalo of Urlacher?
Carter: “There’s no player … like Troy (Polamalo). So, who are you going to miss the most? You’re going to miss the player that you’ve never seen before, because, you can’t account for him in certain spaces. He’s a special player. Special players can’t be replaced.”
Jackson: “I think Urlacher is special as well. He is the quarterback of the defensive unit. He’s not only involved In run-stopping, but pass-stopping as well. And then, I have to look at what that team needs. Both teams are going to get pressure. (Jay) Cutler is not going to respond as well to that pressure as Ben Roethlisberger does, who has actually gotten used to it and won the Super Bowl getting sacked almost 50 times.”
“8 IN THE BOX”
Berman, Jackson and Johnson debuted a new, fast-paced segment – “8 IN THE BOX” – featuring a series of questions and answers on NFL and other topics.
Tom Jackson on Cowboys tight ends vs. Giants pass rush
Jackson breaks down how the Cowboys two tight-end – Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett – formations will work tonight against the vaunted Giants’ pass rush, using the Virtual Playbook.
To Fox NFL Sunday and some interesting quotage especially from Jimmy Johnson who declared that the Arizona Cardinals were done right before they beat the Jacksonville Jags today. Check it out.
FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 9/20/09
Bradshaw: If Delhomme Doesn’t Improve, Expect Cowher in CarolinaJohnson: In Dallas, the Pressure is ALL on Wade Phillips
Strahan: Giants Won’t Be Intimidated By Stadium and Lights in Dallas Tonight
Long: Bears Fell in Love with ‘New Toy’ Cutler and Lost Their Running Identity
Glazer Reports McNabb Trying to Speed Up Healing for Week 3 Return
Co-Host Terry Bradshaw on Delhomme’s problems and Fox’s fate if he doesn’t turn it around: “Let’s go back to last year. Every time the Carolina Panthers lost a game, the following week Jake brought them back. He plays extremely well under pressure. What Carolina should do is run the football and get back to basics. If Delhomme plays another lousy game with those kinds of
turnovers, look for John Fox’s career with the Panthers to be over. Bill Cowher desperately wants to get back in the NFL. Cowher will go down to Carolina.”Analyst Jimmy Johnson added on the situation in Carolina: “John Fox better hope that Delhomme is back. He’s got no other option. They signed Jay Feely – he’s a journeyman backup that can’t play so he has to live and die with Delhomme.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson and Co-host Terry Bradshaw disagree on Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan’s approach to firing up his team through the media by saying he’s not going to kiss the championship rings of Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick.Johnson: “I love the swagger. I love him putting pressure on his coaches and players. You know, some coaches downplay it and say, ‘we’re not real good’ that way when they win they look pretty good. If you have a little success, it gives your players confidence after you win.”
Bradshaw: “I’m totally against it. You can get the results you want from your team without going public. You can do it in the locker room. For example, Chuck Noll never said a bad word about anybody [publicly]. But in the locker room one time before we played the Raiders he said, ‘we’re going to go out there and kick their you know what.’ It had the same effect but he didn’t take it public.”
Analyst Howie Long on Jay Cutler’s disappointing start for the Bears last week: “Cutler is a really talented quarterback. The problem was the Bears fell in love with their new toy and got away from their identity. Matt Forte is their identity.”Co-host Terry Bradshaw on the difficulty that Cutler may have had adjusting to the Bears offense: “The problem is when you come from a team that throws 35-40 times a game to a team that runs the ball, you have more pressure on every pass. And let’s not forget – where are his [wide receiver] weapons? The Bears have no weapons.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson offers a solution for Chicago: “Bring back Rex Grossman. He throws the same amount of interceptions.”
Jimmy Johnson picks Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, despite Brady’s offseason knee surgery, over Saints quarterback Drew Brees who threw for 6 touchdowns last week: “I’d take Tom Brady. Forget about the numbers. Numbers are for baseball. There’s only one thing that matters in the NFL – championships.”NFL Insider Jay Glazer reports that former New England Patriots backup QB Kevin O’Connell, who the Jets picked up to help prepare for the Patriots today, will be named team captain for today’s game. Glazer on O’Connell’s contributions to the Jets: “They certainly used him a lot this week. [Jets Head Coach] Rex Ryan had O’Connell sit down with every Jets coach and give them everything he knows about the Patriots. He was so useful; Ryan named him team captain for today’s game despite the fact that he’s the team’s No. 3 quarterback. I was told, ‘it’s just another way for Rex to shoot a shot across the field to the Patriots sideline.’ O’Connell was most helpful in blitz pickup and in playing Tom Brady this week.”
After only 1 week, analyst Jimmy Johnson doesn’t think the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals will do well this season: “I know it’s just one game but stick a fork in them, they’re done. They lost a couple of outstanding coordinators. They’ve got disgruntled injured receivers and a quarterback that’s just a couple years younger than me and he’s hurt. With their schedule, it’ll be tough for them to win 3 games by mid-season.”
Analyst Howie Long on the Cowboys’ offensive performance: “Last week was big for the Cowboys offense. The pressure was on Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett, Tony Romo and Roy Williams and Romo hit three different receivers for touchdowns longer than 42 yards. It’s amazing how much better that offense flowed in week one, like it or not. I know T.O. had 38 touchdowns over the last three years, people asked ‘Where would the big plays come from?’ but a lot of questions were answered on the Cowboys offense last week.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on Wade Phillips and the Cowboys defense: “The pressure is not on Tony Romo, Jerry Jones or the offense with Jason Garrett. It’s all about the head coach/defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. He’s got to sure up
that run defense. Tampa had 174 yards rushing against them last week. If the Cowboys don’t keep the running game of the Giants in check they’ll have a tough time tonight.”Analyst Michael Strahan on Giants vs. Cowboys: “The Giants are going to run the football. That’s what they do; take pressure off of Eli Manning and those young receivers. I know a lot has been made about the largest stadium with over a 100,000 fans but the players realize they’re not playing against the fans; they’re playing against the team on the field. So I don’t think the Giants will be intimidated by that at all.”
Co-Host Terry Bradshaw on Dallas: “Dallas will not lose this game; Jerry Jones will get his victory. The Cowboys will sure-up their defense. Jay Ratliff at nose tackle is about as good as it gets.”
FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer on McNabb injury in Philadelphia: “I think what the Eagles would like to do is sit McNabb next week against the Chiefs. They have the bye week so then he’d have three or four weeks where he gets the rest. But I’m being told that Donovan is really trying to accelerate the healing process and that he’s going to try and push to play next week.”FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer on Vick’s role in Week 3: “Even if Kevin Kolb plays poorly today, the Eagles have Michael Vick coming back next week but I’m told that Michael Vick will not start next week, the Eagles still want him to just come in and run the wildcat.”
Analyst Michael Strahan on Eagles defense: “I think the Eagles defense is what leads that team. The Eagles defense understands that Kolb is not their primary quarterback and they have to pick it up. Unfortunately it’s a week against the New Orleans Saints but I really do feel like the Eagles defense is up to the task. They understand that more pressure is on them than what’s on their young quarterback.”Analyst Howie Long on Jeff Garcia: “Getting Jeff Garcia is a big pick up. Jeff Garcia’s got a big chip on his shoulder and somewhat justifiably so. He’s won some big games in San Francisco, Tampa Bay and he was 5-1 in 2006 with the Eagles. It’s almost like people view him as that little tire in the back of your car for when you get a flat and there’s a warning on the tire that says, ‘you can only use this for 10 miles to get to the next gas station before you replace it.’ I never understood it, there are those who have said he’s not a pretty quarterback and he does have limitations but I think he’s a great pickup for them.”
Here’s your Football Night in America quotage from NBC.
FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA HIGHLIGHTS: WEEK 2
Dungy: "The stadium won't win the game. You've got to play."
Costas Interviews Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Jerry Jones & John Madden
NEW YORK -- September 20, 2009 -- Following are highlights from NBC's "Football Night in America." Bob Costas hosted the show live from the new state-of-the-art Cowboys Stadium. He was joined 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 second week.
ON OPENING A NEW STADIUM:
Dungy on the Colts opening Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008: "We did last year. Sunday Night Football. It was just one of those things. Everyone's excited. The fans are excited. We had a retractable roof that was going to open up. We forgot to play. The Bears blew us out. The stadium won't win the game. You've got to play"
ON GIANTS RUNNING BACK BRANDON JACOBS
Harrison: "I played 15 years in this league and I went up against many backs -- big, small, fast, whatever. And Brandon Jacobs is the most intimidating running back I've ever had to hit. I can't lie to you, a couple times I was afraid to hit him."
ON JETS-PATRIOTS
Collinsworth on the Jets performance: "It was no fluke. I watched the game today. Certainly Mark Sanchez deserves a lot of credit. He stood in there against that defense. Made big plays when he had to make them. But I think the real story is Rex Ryan. We have seen other defensive coordinators leave the Baltimore Ravens and not carry forward that kind of success. Yet today, for the second straight game, we're seeing Rex Ryan's defense really embarrass offenses, and one of the great quarterbacks in the league in Tom Brady."
King on the poise of Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez: "I talked to Sanchez after the game. One of things he said was his best advice all offseason coming into this year came from Derek Jeter at a Yankees game one night. He said, 'Do not believe the headlines.' So he hasn't believed them, hasn't read them."
Harrison on the Patriots: "There is a sense of urgency in that locker room but there is not a sense of panic. The Patriots have been there before. They know they still have a lot of veteran players and they always have a chance when you got number 12."
ON EAGLES QB SITUATION
Dungy: "Michael [Vick] will play but he won't start. He is going to have a package of things that h
e can do. I know Donovan McNabb is going to want to play but if I'm Andy Reid I keep Donovan out until after their bye and go with Kevin Kolb."
AS TOLD TO BOB COSTAS
Eli Manning on the effect that the loss of Plaxico Burress had on the team at the end of last season: "It's tough to say because when we didn't have Plaxico, we'd played well. When you lose one of your best players on your team, your number one receiver, it is going to hurt you. It is going to take away some things in key spots. He would make an outstanding play or make a tough catch or get something going. I'm sure we did miss him at times but we still could have played better football than we did at the end of the season."
Tony Romo on how the huddle is different without Terrell Owens: "I don't know that it's that much different. T.O. was an emotional player in the sense of he wanted to win badly. That's no different than the guys we have now. You're kidding yourself if people believe that every team doesn't have a guy who wants the ball all the time."
Jerry Jones live at the new Cowboys Stadium on what part of the fan experience makes him most proud: "The technology.Our fans are going to be able to sit in Section 1, Seat 3 and before they leave here they're going to have seen everything going on in this stadium as if they were right in the middle of it through the digital screen and the various other ways we've got to communicate with them. It's so important that if they're going to come that they have an experience that they don't have when they're watching it at home."
John Madden on his retirement: "There comes a time that just because you love it or just because you've done it for a long time that doesn't mean that you're going to do it forever. It was just time for me -- that's it, I'm not going to do it anymore. And I shouldn't do it anymore. When I say that I miss it that doesn't mean that I regret it. I don't regret the decision. But I miss it."
That’s it. Don’t know what happened to CBS quotage, but we move on.
