We end the Sunday pregame quotage with what was said on Football Night in America. There was quite a bit of quotes to note.
NOTES & QUOTES FROM NBC’S “FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” – WEEK 12
“They’re not just beating people, they are crushing people.” – Bob Costas on Patriots
“I like Green Bay to win four of the next five games.” – Rodney Harrison
“They fired Lovie Smith but they got back to Lovie Smith philosophy today – run the ball and get takeaways on defense.” – Tony Dungy on Bears
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame tomorrow is going to announce the biggest gift in the 51-year history of the Hall.” – Peter KingSTAMFORD, Conn. – November 23, 2014 – Following are highlights from NBC’s Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports. Bob Costas opened the show live from inside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Costas was joined on site by Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth, 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 NFL Insider Peter King. Alex Flanagan reported from CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash., on the Cardinals-Seahawks game.
In addition, Bob Costas interviewed New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr., and Josh Elliott spoke with Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo.
Following are highlights from Football Night in America:
ON UPCOMING SEAHAWKS-49ERS GAME ON THANKSGIVING NIGHT
Dungy: “I don’t think either one of these teams can catch Arizona. The winner of this game Thursday night is in good position for a Wild Card.”
Harrison on Seahawks: “If they can stop the run, they can win this football game.”
Flanagan on Marshawn Lynch: “As for Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, he did speak to reporters. He was in his locker room after tonight’s game surrounded by reporters who threw him question after question. To each question he had a single word answer, “Yeah,” “No,” “Maybe,” but it’s enough to probably avoid another $100,000 fine.”
ON PATRIOTS
Costas: “There is no hotter team than the New England Patriots. Not that long ago, 2-2, the sky was falling in New England. Now they’ve reeled off seven straight wins. And they’re not just beating people, they are crushing people.”
Ward: “It’s hard to believe the AFC Championship Game won’t be in New England. The Patriots offense just ran through a tough Detroit defense with ease…I think (Brandon) Browner and (Darrelle) Revis are the best cornerback tandem in the NFL.”
Dungy on end-of-game play where Lions C Dominic Raiola dove at Patriots DT Zach Moore: “I was surprised the Patriots didn’t take a knee there at the end of the game and tried to score. That still doesn’t excuse going after a guy’s knee. There’s no place in the game for that.”
Harrison: “This is what Bill Belichick preaches from the very first day of training camp, playing 60 minutes. This is professional football. You’re getting paid millions and millions of dollars. This is not high school … (Bill Belichick) wants to lay a foundation for his younger players. That’s why he always finishes. It doesn’t matter if it’s Cincinnati, if it’s Indianapolis, if it’s the Denver Broncos, he’s preaching 60 minutes.”
Harrison on Belichick’s philosophy regarding Darrelle Revis: “He’s taken his best cornerback, Darrelle Revis, and he puts him on the number two wide receiver. And he completely shut Golden Tate down this week and last week he did the same thing to Reggie Wayne. What they’re doing is they’re taking Brandon Browner, they’re giving him help over the top, and he’s negating the number one receiver.”
Harrison: “The strength of this team might be the defense.”
ON PACKERS
Harrison: “I like Green Bay to win four of the next five games. They might struggle with the New England Patriots, but I look for them to win at least four of five.”
ON BEARS
Dungy: “It was funny to me, they fired Lovie Smith but they got back to Lovie Smith philosophy today – run the ball and get takeaways on defense.”
Patrick on Jay Cutler’s post-game remarks: “I think we’re so used to hearing guys programmed when they go into those press conferences, all of a sudden Cutler went unscripted there.”
Harrison: “It’s easy for the fans to blame Marc Trestman, but when you’re paying a lot of superstars a lot of money, they have to perform. You saw Matt Forte. They got back to making him the number one priority on offense.”
ON BROWNS
Harrison: “I respect everything they’ve done, but I still think they’re the third- or fourth-best team in that division.”
ON BENGALS
Dungy: “The Cincinnati Bengals really impressed me — the second week in a row, going on the road, a tough opponent and winning a big road game.”
Harrison on how to stop A.J. Green: “Maybe if you have Darrelle Revis on your team…He’s a complete wide receiver. Very physical and he can make all the catches.”
ON RAMS
Harrison on Shaun Hill’s late-game interception: “Jeff Fisher wanted the experience of a veteran quarterback. That’s why he put him in there and to avoid these types of mistakes. You just can’t throw this. You’re in perfect position for a field goal. Kick the field goal, go into overtime, trust your defense, but you can’t turn the ball over right there.”
ON FALCONS
Dungy on Falcons’ clock management: “They would have been better off letting Cleveland take the time out and then probably running the ball the next play, make them use another time out. You’ve got a great field goal kicker in Matt Bryant. You’re pretty sure you’re going to make it.”
Harrison on Falcons defense on final drive: “Keep it simple. Don’t bring out all these exotic plays.”
ON COWBOYS
Costas on Romo:“One thing no one can say about him is that he is not tough.”
Dungy on impact of DeMarco Murray: “Teams are not going in and saying, ‘We’ve got to stop Tony Romo.’ They’ve got to stop that running game first and that makes it easier for him (Romo).”
Harrison: “Best offensive line in football and best running back in football. Run the ball.”
ON GIANTS
Ward: “It’s rare to have a rookie wide receiver be the best player on your team considering (he) missed all of training camp and the first four games. I like this kid’s will to want to compete…He gave it to Richard Sherman (a few weeks ago). He went after him and competed with him all day, and really gave Richard Sherman all that he could handle.”
ON PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
King: “The Pro Football Hall of Fame tomorrow is going to announce the biggest gift in the 51-year history of the Hall. New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson will be giving the Hall a multi-million dollar donation. And the biggest thing, as far as I’m concerned, is he is providing some seed money for a residential village to be built on the Hall of Fame campus to help indigent and needy former players.”
That’s all.
