For tonight’s Indianapolis-Washington matchup, Bob Costas conducted several interviews including one with DC NFL team coach Mike Shanahan and two members of the Colts’ defense. We have transcripts so you can read along as the interview airs during Football Night in America on NBC. Take a gander at what we have for you.
“FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” PREVIEW – WEEK 6
“You’ve got to be on top of your game to rattle him.” – Mike Shanahan to Bob Costas on Peyton Manning
“He made a great play on it. I couldn’t stop him. The rest is history.” – Reggie Wayne to Bob Costas on the Tracy Porter interception in the Super Bowl
Dwight Freeney & Reggie Wayne to critique “Football Night” analyst Tony Dungy
Dungy to draw comparisons between McNabb & Elway under Shanahan
NEW YORK – October 17, 2010 – Bob Costas interviewed Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan, and Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Reggie Wayne together for tonight’s Week 6 edition of “Football Night in America,” which will also include highlights, analysis and reaction to Week 6’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 “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 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 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on the Cowboys-Vikings game.
Dungy will break down the Redskins new offense, including the similarities between the way Shanahan is currently utilizing McNabb and how he used to utilize John Elway in Denver. Harrison, who faced a Peyton Manning-led Colts team 11 times when he played for the Chargers and Patriots, breaks down how to stop the Colts.
INTERVIEWS: Below are excerpts from Costas’ interviews with Shanahan, and Freeney and Wayne.
MIKE SHANAHAN
On if he can build a Super Bowl-caliber team in time for McNabb to still be close to his prime.
Shanahan: I had the same question when I went to Denver. We had a team that was 28th, 29th in defense and 10th or 12th in offense. People asked me the same question. I said, ‘Hey, we’re going to take this year by year; hopefully, rebuild this football team, give yourself a chance to get to the playoffs and, once you do, you got a chance. Hopefully, we’ll have a chance.
On if his two Super Bowl rings help with credibility with the Redskins players.
Shanahan: They understand that you have a system, that you’ve have had success. I think that gives you credibility. Collectively, I have been a little surprised, well not surprised, but I’ve been impressed with how our players have handled themselves on the day I got in here because they worked extremely hard to give themselves a chance to win those tight games.
Costas: Peyton represents a tremendous challenge, doesn’t he?
Shanahan: He does. You’ve got to be on top of your game to rattle him. And you have to keep him a little bit off balance. Sometimes, even if you do in the first half, he figures it out in the second half.
DWIGHT FREENEY & REGGIE WAYNE
Costas: That was an especially tough Super Bowl defeat. How long did it take you to shake it off, if you have?
Freeney: I don’t think you ever completely shake that off. Some guys use it as motivation. Some guys try to forget it, but I don’t know if you can ever just completely forget it.
Costas: Some people say that you broke off your route. What happened (on the Tracy Porter interception in the Super Bowl)?
Wayne: I saw him jump the route before I even came out of my break. So I’m trying to do my best to be a defender at that point in time. He got there too quick. I’m from New Orleans so I get it all day, everyday. He made a great play on it. I couldn’t stop him. The rest is history.
Costas: You get to critique the coach. Have you caught Tony Dungy on Football Night in America?
Freeney: It’s kind of strange to see him actually in front of the camera but he does a good job.
Wayne: One thing about him, he hasn’t held his tongue.
Costas: No. Does that surprise you? He’s been pretty outspoken.
Wayne: It does a little bit. You’re used to seeing him laid back, not saying much. But I guess when the camera’s on you have to say more.
Costas: Did Tony ever curse?
Freeney: Never. Never. He is what he is. What you see is what you’re going to get.
And we’re done for now.
