Let’s conclude with Football Night in America quotage for which NBC also debuted a new studio in the NBC Sports world headquarters in beautiful downtown Stamford, CT.
With Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth and Hines Ward in Denver and Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison in Stamford, we get the following quotage.
NOTES & QUOTES FROM FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA – WEEK 1
“If you’re going to keep him in the pocket, you might as well play Kirk Cousins because you’re making him a robot.” – Rodney Harrison on RGIII
“Bill Belichick is the best adjustment coach in the league, so don’t bury the Patriots just yet.” – Tony Dungy
“Matt Ryan was the best I’ve ever seen him.” – Cris Collinsworth
“…He is so reckless with the ball. If I’m a teammate of his, I’m very disappointed…” – Rodney Harrison on Tony RomoSTAMFORD, Conn. – September. 7, 2014 – Following are highlights from Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports. Bob Costas opened the show live from inside Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., where the Broncos are hosting the Indianapolis Colts. Costas was joined on site by Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, NBC NFL analyst Hines Ward, and NBC Sports’ Josh Elliott.
Dan Patrick co-hosted Football Night from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1. He was joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy; two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison; Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com and NBCSN,and Peter King of Sports Illustrated. Carolyn Manno reported from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on the 49ers-Cowboys game.
Costasinterviewed Broncos QB Peyton Manning, while Elliott interviewed Colts QB Andrew Luck.
Following are highlights from Football Night in America:
ON BRONCOS
Collinsworth on Broncos’ off-season additions: “You’re going to see a more explosive, a faster football team than what you saw in the Super Bowl.”
ON COLTS
Harrison on Andrew Luck: “This is a special kid because he’s not trying to be Peyton Manning. He’s trying to be himself.”
Dungy on Luck: “He is special, and he’s going to elevate into that level of great quarterbacks this year.”ON PATRIOTS AND SAINTS
Dungy: “I had these guys going to the Super Bowl, both of these teams. They didn’t look like it today.”
Harrison on Patriots defense: “Bill Belichick, he has to be a little bit concerned. Not panic mode, but a little bit concerned.”
Dungy on Patriots: “Don’t get too panicked now if you’re ready to kill the New England Patriots. They didn’t play well. They had some offensive line problems. But Bill Belichick is the best adjustment coach in the league, so don’t bury the Patriots just yet.”
Dungy on Saints loss: “Drew Brees can take the blame if he wants to, but you have to point the finger at that New Orleans defense.”ON FALCONS
Costas: “Even when they have been very good, in recent years, they’ve had trouble head to head in the division against the Saints. Big win for them, exciting overtime game today in Atlanta.”
Collinsworth: “Matt Ryan was the best I’ve ever seen him…(He) was getting out of the pocket, he was mobile. He was doing things I haven’t seen him do. This was his best performance.”ON EAGLES
Dungy on offensive line: “Chip (Kelly) is going to work hard this week to get those sacks taken care of.”
ON BENGALS
Ward: “I’m still going to go with Cincinnati as my favorites in the AFC North.”
ON WASHINGTON
Dungy on Robert Griffin III: “Robert Griffin did not put any pressure on the defense. He didn’t look comfortable. He didn’t make those big plays that we’re used to seeing.”
Harrison on RGIII: “I know there’s a balancing act, you want to keep him in the pocket and keep him healthy, but I think you’re taking away his biggest asset and that’s his ability to get outside the pocket and make those plays. If you’re going to keep him in the pocket, you might as well play Kirk Cousins because you’re making him a robot and he can’t use his instincts. That’s the thing that made him a great young quarterback.”
Dungy on RGIII: “He’s a creator, and if he’s not creating, he’s not the best he can be.”ON COWBOYS
Harrison on Tony Romo: “They were terrible interceptions. Double teams, triple teams, and he is so reckless with the ball. If I’m a teammate of his, I’m very disappointed because it almost gets to a point like, ‘Are you serious? Do you even care the way we’re playing?’ because you don’t take care of the ball.”
ON BEARS
Harrison on Bears defense: “I’m not used to seeing a soft Chicago Bears defense get pushed and bullied around…They’ve got to play with some heart.”
Patrick on Antonio Brown return in which he kicked/stomped Spencer Lanning: “Everybody was Kung Fu fighting.”ON TEXANS
Florio on Jadeveon Clowney: “We’ve confirmed that Clowney has a torn meniscus. It could be a 4-6 week absence. Surgery upcoming.”
ON CHIEFS
Harrison on team’s playoff prospects: “They’re done. After the very first game, and I’m not exaggerating.”
ON PANTHERS
Dungy on big winner of the day: “For me it has to be Derek Anderson, fills in for Cam Newton, goes on the road and leads the Panthers to a big road victory.”
ON BUCCANEERS
Patrick: “Same old Buccaneers?”
Dungy: “It looked like it today.”
And that will do it.
