All of the early Sunday NFL GameDay quotage is in so let’s start with NFL Network’s GameDay Morning which was quite watchable with Deion Sanders subbing for Michael Irvin today.
News and Sound Bites From Week 16 Edition of NFL GAMEDAY MORNING“The only thing you can do is go out there and play better, and hopefully prove some people wrong.” – Jay Cutler on not being considered an elite quarterback“He can be the best. He is just now getting going and he is going to take off like a rocket.” – Mike Martz on how good Jay Cutler can be in his system“We all love you and appreciate your career, but you have one thing left to prove: let it go.” – Steve Mariucci on Brett FavreNFL GameDay Morning, the FIRST pregame show on the air Sunday morning is in its third season on the air at 9:00 AM ET, taking viewers straight up to kickoff. New host Rich Eisen joins analysts Warren Sapp, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and special guest Deion Sanders to bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews.Sunday Sitdown: Marshal Faulk 1-on-1 with Bears QB Jay Cutler and Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz: NFL Network analyst Marshall Faulk sat down with Chicago QB Jay Cutler and offensive coordinator Mike Martz, whom Faulk played for in St. Louis. The three discussed the initial concerns about the hiring of Martz as offensive coordinator in Chicago, the progress Cutler has made this season and the Bears’ first NFC North division title since the team went to the Super Bowl in 2006.“I talked about it with Lovie [Smith] and I voiced my concerns with him because as a player, I know what I can do well and that wasn’t one of the things that I thought I could really do well: throw to a spot and do all of those things. … From our first conversation I just liked what he was talking about offensively. It’s worked out so far.” – Jay Cutler on his initial concerns with the hiring of Mike Martz as offensive coordinator“When you take a guy that is confident about his abilities, you don’t want to back him off that thought that ‘I can stick that ball right there.’ There’s a fine line between making a dumb throw and making a really tight, good throw, and he understands that. There’s a couple of throws he’d like to take back but I think by and large he’s made terrific progress.” – Mike Martz on the progress of Jay Cutler this season“Coming off the year [last season] with all of the interceptions, to go out there and say ‘Alright go to this spot, that guy will be there,’ it was hard. – Cutler on the difficulties learning to trust the offensive system“The guys know me well enough on this offense. They know whenever I throw a pick, I’m going to go back and look at it; I’m going to talk to everyone that’s involved with it and we’re going to figure it out. The picks are going to happen. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. They’re going to happen out there, but you want to limited them and you don’t want to do them at critical times.” – Cutler on if he worries about how his body language following an interception is interpreted by his team“Picks are going to happen out there. You want to limit them and you don’t want to do them in critical times.” – Cutler on interceptions“He can be the best. He is just now getting going and he is going to take off like a rocket.” – Martz on how good Cutler can be in his offensive system“It gets to you a little bit. After last year, I wouldn’t expect anything but to be left off that list. The only thing you can do is go out there and play better, and hopefully prove some people wrong.” – Cutler on not being mentioned among the elite quarterbacks in the league“What every quarterback has to do: limit turnovers, be efficient on third down and in the red zone. Just lead this team, make them believe in what we’re trying to do out there.” – Cutler on what he needs to do for the Bears to have success in the playoffsTo view Faulk’s interview with Cutler and Martz, please visit:Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:“There is no such thing as an elite quarterback on a [team with] great defense. You can’t make the mistakes that you need to make in order to mature as a quarterback. Those tight throws that you have to fit in there, you have to learn how to do it by throwing it. … As long as he’s with the Bears, Jay Cutler will not be an elite quarterback. He’ll be a good quarterback, he’ll be a quarterback with a lot of talent, but elite? I don’t think he’ll reach that status.” – Marshall Faulk on if Jay Cutler will be an elite quarterback“You cannot be an elite quarterback unless you win Super Bowls, or your name is Dan Marino.” – Deion Sanders noting that to be considered elite, a quarterback must win a championship or post Hall of Fame statistics“I don’t see it as the games Michael Vick missed; I look at it as the games Kevin Kolb started and the fact that he won. When you’re valuable to your team and you’re out, your team is supposed to suffer, they are supposed to lose those ballgames.” – Marshall Faulk on why Philadelphia QB Michael Vick will not win the MVP“That’s what he gives the Philadelphia Eagles: always a chance to win, no matter what.” – Deion Sanders on Philadelphia QB Michael Vick“The Patriots, they thought they were rebuilding too. They did not know that the young guys were going to step up and do what they’ve done thus far.” – Marshall Faulk on the New England Patriots“This defense with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the back end, they cannot compete with Tom Brady. The guy is just too good and too effective.” – Deion Sanders on the Pittsburgh Steelers“They’re not as good as they were a year ago. They don’t have the momentum.” – Deion Sanders on the New York Jets“He understands what this means to LaDainian Tomlinson, to Jason Taylor, the guys that came to this team to win a Super Bowl. The ball is in his hands and everyone’s dreams are in that ball. He must take care of it.” – Marshall Faulk on Jets QB Mark Sanchez“You surprised us all last week after your streak was over. You were injured and you were hurt and you still wanted to play and compete; that didn’t surprise everybody because we know your love for game. But there was nothing to play for – no playoffs, Adrian Peterson wasn’t there, there was a blizzard outside. And you got hurt again. Well, I’ve heard you say many times ‘there’s nothing left to prove.’ And for 20 years, you’ve done it all. Most fans agree with that, there’s nothing left to prove. I, for one, say there is something left to prove. Brett, you need to prove that you’re okay saying goodbye. You need to prove to us that it’s time and you know it’s time and you’re at peace with it where you say, ‘I’ve done everything I can, I’ve given everything I got and it’s time for me to sit back and what somebody else. Brett, prove to us that you can do that. We all love you, we appreciate your career, but you have one thing left to prove – let it go. Let it go.” – Steve Mariucci’s message to Brett Favre“They’re the second best team in the AFC. They’re the only other team besides the San Diego Chargers, if they get in, that can actually beat the New England Patriots.” – Deion Sanders on the Baltimore Ravens“He should be playing, but that doesn’t say that you don’t worry about it.” – Steve Mariucci on if Packers QB Aaron Rodgers should play today vs. Giants“Allow him to play. He should be on the field because he’s cleared. I know these doctors do not want to put themselves in harm’s way by putting this man out on the field [prematurely] and even more than that, I wouldn’t put myself out on the football field if I myself was a little woozy in the head because this game we play is way too fast and too violent to not be on all cylinders out there.” – Warren Sapp on if Aaron Rodgers should play today vs. Giants“He can’t leave it all up to Sam Bradford. I know that they’re going to put eight in the box but Steven and his offensive line, they must step up and get it done today.” – Marshall Faulk on St. Louis RB Steven Jackson against the San Francisco 49ers“Today he’s got to get back in the pocket. He’s at home against Houston. I know they want to see him throw the football to find out if he can do that.” – Steve Mariucci on Denver QB Tim Tebow against the Houston Texans“As a first round pick, he has a future in Denver because they’re going to allow him to go out there and earn some of this money.” – Marshall Faulk on if QB Tim Tebow has a future in Denver“When you start practicing both of them and splitting reps, that’s hard for either one of these quarterbacks to get good enough to win games.” – Steve Mariucci on the San Francisco QBs Alex Smith and Troy Smith“Too many guys are missing for this team to make that late push.” – Marshall Faulk on the Indianapolis Colts“They’ve come back to the pack a little bit. …The league has caught up with these guys.” – Deion Sanders on the Indianapolis Colts“Now as a team, you feel like there’s not a game you’re ever out of. You can win every game, you don’t get down when you’re behind. You’re confidence level is through the roof, and that’s where the Eagles are offensively and defensively.” – Marshall Faulk on the Philadelphia Eagles after their comeback win over the New York Giants“Those things don’t happen every week and the Eagles can’t rely and count on that happening every week. They can’t dig that hole; they have to play well from the get-go.” – Steve Mariucci on the Philadelphia Eagles last week against the New York Giants“If anybody has a chance to beat the Falcons in the Georgia Dome, it’s the Saints.” – Steve Mariucci on New Orleans Saints-Atlanta Falcons on Monday night“He’s living every 300-pounders dream right there.” – Warren Sapp on Patriots G Dan Connolly’s 77-yard kickoff return Week 15 vs. Green Bay“I know Jerry Jones. He does not settle for mediocrity. He has a billion dollar stadium and he has to fill that stadium with people. He sells hope. He gives those Dallas Cowboy fans a lot of hope in what’s to come.” – Deion Sanders on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones“They’re a confident team; they’re just looking for consistency.” – Steve Mariucci on the Cleveland BrownsAlbert Breer Report:On the New York Giants against the Green Bay Packers:Eli Manning normally isn’t the most demonstrative of players. He’s got the nickname “Easy” for a reason. That’s also why Giants players took notice this week when he called a team meeting for the first time in his seven year career. When I talked to Eli he wouldn’t divulge the details but several players told me the message was two-fold. First, everything is still in front of the Giants. They win here today and they go to the playoffs. This is the type of situation they’ve thrived in the past with their backs against the wall and on the road. And second, they played 52 minutes of pretty good football last week against Philadelphia. It’s a matter of turning those 52 minutes into 60 here against the Packers.Michael Lombardi Report:On the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Tennessee Titans:Here at Arrowhead the word “playoffs” is not allowed to be spoken within the locker room or within the organization. Todd Haley says no way are we going to acknowledge the playoffs even though one win and a San Diego loss gives them the AFC West title. Matt Cassel a critical player today, he’s undefeated at home this year, he’s thrown 10 touchdowns and one interception. The Titans are going to put all the pressure on him to win the game and stop this No. 1 rush attack for the Kansas City Chiefs. As for the weather, it’s frigid, it’s cold but it’s very playable, no wind here at all.On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:Brady or Vick for MVP? – NFL GameDay Morning debates who will win the MVP award: Tom Brady or Michael Vick?http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81d32970/Vick-or-Brady-for-MVP?module=HP_videoSabol’s Shot – Steve Sabol examines how the New England Patriots have been successful in cold weather.Can Cutler Become an Elite QB? – NFL GameDay Morning debates if Chicago QB Jay Cutler can become an elite quarterback in the NFL.Mariucci’s Message to Brett Favre – Steve Mariucci delivers a message to his former quarterback Brett Favre.
And we’ll have more quotage coming up.
