Time for our Sunday NFL pregame quotage. I noticed that today with Christmas being three days away, a couple of pregame shows chose to dress one of their panelists as Santa Clause. You had ESPN using Mike Ditka as “Ditka Clause” and NFL Network cast Steve Mariucci as “Santa Mooch.” Really? Can we try something else? In the words of a Monday NFL pregame show, “C,mon, man!”
Here’s the quotage from NFL Network.
News & Sound Bites From Week 16 Editions of NFL Network’s NFL GAMEDAY FIRST & NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
Quick Quotes from NFL GameDay First & NFL GameDay Morning
– “By far the most undisciplined quarterback in the National Football League.” – Kurt Warner on Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford
– “If this team gets in the playoffs, they are a very dangerous team.” – Steve Mariucci on the Miami Dolphins
– “You wanted to give him that power – he had that power and he made a decision that did not work…I can’t pay him $100 million and then say I have to stop you from trying to win a game.” – Michael Irvin on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo
– “Each and every week it’s something different. They have so many problems it’s hard to put a finger on one problem to fix.” – Marshall Faulk on the Dallas Cowboys
– “The head coach needs to be the voice of the program during the season. When the owner or the GM is the voice, then the head coach and the players have to continually react to that voice.” – Charley Casserly on the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones
– “I put this loss squarely on the shoulders of the Cowboys coaching staff.” – Sterling Sharpe on the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 15
– “Cam [Newton] has to be Superman the whole day. He has to match the play of Drew Brees.” – Michael Irvin on Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton
***For complete quotes from ‘NFL GameDay First’ & ‘NFL GameDay Morning,’ see below***
Quotes from NFL GameDay First
Every Sunday morning at 7:00 AM ET, NFL Network is first on the field with NFL GameDay First. Host Melissa Stark, co-host/analyst Sterling Sharpe, and analyst Shaun O’Hara provide the first analysis of the day’s games, while NFL Network reporters stationed across the league report from stadiums with the first on-location reports of the day. This week, Hall of Fame defensive end Richard Dent joined as a guest analyst.
– “I put this loss squarely on the shoulders of the Cowboys coaching staff.” – Sterling Sharpe on the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 15
– “I don’t think the Dallas Cowboys can win [perception-wise and in the media] unless they get in the playoffs and make it to the Super Bowl.” – Sterling Sharpe on the Dallas Cowboys
– “Jerry [Jones] needs to look at two things. One, the best talent they have had has come when Bill Parcells and Jimmy Johnson were coaching. Jerry Jones doesn’t go out and scout players; he listens to his people. I think he needs to make sure he has the right people talking to him because the talent hasn’t been as good as it was when Parcells and Johnson were coaching. The second thing is I think the head coach needs to be the voice of the program during the season. When the owner or the GM is the voice, then the head coach and the players have to continually react to that voice. I don’t think it’s anything Jerry says because I think he is very good with media, but I think the head coach should be the spokesperson for the team during the season.” – Charley Casserly on the issues he sees with the Dallas Cowboys
– “I have them being very vanilla but I think both these teams will try to win the game.” – Sterling Sharpe on the potential the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs could play each other twice in the span of three games
– “We’ve lost five different guys on the defense so right now we’re playing third or fourth-team guys. And we’re winning so we’re actually gelling at the right time.” – Richard Dent on the Chicago Bears
– “Reggie Bush said on a radio interview this week that the Lions were undisciplined. And when you speak to undisciplined, that goes right to the head coach. We’re in a business where we like to cast blame. Let’s fix blame and forget the problem. You want to fix blame on the Detroit Lions? Someone has to pay the price? It’s got to be Jim Schwartz.” – Sterling Sharpe on whether Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz could be in jeopardy of losing his job
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning
NFL GameDay Morning is the most comprehensive pregame show on Sunday morning, airing at 9:00 AM ET for four hours on NFL Network and taking viewers straight up to kickoff. Host Rich Eisen joins analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin to bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews. Additionally, NFL Media Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Silver provide the latest inside information from around the league.
– “You wanted to give him that power – he had that power and he made a decision that did not work. This is the other side of it. I can’t pay him $100 million and then say I have to stop you from trying to win a game.” – Michael Irvin on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and the comments in the offseason the team wanted him to have more of a say in the offense
– “What I do need Dallas to do is open up a lead and let DeMarco Murray become what Emmitt Smith was for us: the greatest finisher in a game. It removes from Tony Romo from having those late-game issues if you’re up and you’re able to run.” – Michael Irvin on the Dallas Cowboys
– “One week it’s [Tony] Romo throwing interceptions, the next week they can’t run the football, the following week the defense can’t stop anybody from running the ball and then they can’t stop anybody from throwing the ball. Each and every week it’s something different. They have so many problems it’s hard to put a finger on one problem to fix.” – Marshall Faulk on the Dallas Cowboys
– “This is all about the defense. This defense has nobody that steps up at critical moments.” – Kurt Warner on the Dallas Cowboys
– “There is no way and under no circumstance do you leave the field early for [any] reason at all. Period.” – Michael Irvin on Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant leaving the field before the end of the game last week
– “I expect the Carolina Panthers to control the football methodically – they’re the best in the business; they have the fewest three-and-outs in the league…Carolina will play well enough to win.” – Steve Mariucci on the New Orleans Saints – Carolina Panthers game
– “They have to keep the game close, keep it front of them and Cam [Newton] has to be Superman the whole day. He has to match the play of Drew Brees.” – Michael Irvin on quarterback Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers facing the New Orleans Saints
– “I don’t think there is a team in this league that has a quarterback that takes as many chances, that feels like he can make every throw…By far the most undisciplined quarterback in the National Football League. Makes a lot of plays but we also see what he does on the other side of things.” – Kurt Warner on Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford
– “If this team gets in the playoffs, they are a very dangerous team.” – Steve Mariucci on the Miami Dolphins
– “The Miami Dolphins must go on the road to Buffalo, a place that they haven’t had a lot of success, and play the type of football that they have been playing. Treat this game like it’s New England at home – that’s what they have to do…You have to go out there and win this game, and not expect to win this game.” – Marshall Faulk on the Miami Dolphins facing the Buffalo Bills
– “They’re in a must-win situation…I felt like it was very disappointing watching how they came out and played against the Steelers. The start of that game was horrendous.” – Marshall Faulk on the Cincinnati Bengals
NFL Media Insiders Ian Rapoport & Mike Silver
On Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray:
Ian Rapoport: “I’m told DeMarco Murray grumbled to teammates about not getting the ball enough. He doesn’t understand why [Tony] Romo always seems to choose pass instead of run. As Murray knows, he is 10-0 when gets the ball 20 or more times. I’m told the relationship between Romo and Murray is frosty, a little bit of a growing rift there. Surprising that some pettiness would creep in at a crucial point in the season but that’s what’s happening.”On Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett:
Mike Silver: “Jason Garrett went to Stephen Jones, the Cowboys Executive Vice President, on Monday and said we should have run the ball more in the second half. But they’re very sensitive to the fact that he didn’t. Even with a 26-3 lead over a Packer team without Aaron Rodgers, they don’t feel as though that lead was safe; they recognized that their defense is that leaky and if you talk to Cowboys personnel people, they tell you that we have guys on this team that would not start anywhere else – might not even play anywhere else – and so that’s why they stay aggressive. You feel for Jason Garrett; his boss Jerry Jones took away his play calling responsibilities but now it falls on him with his job on the line.”On Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick: Rapoport: “I am now told he is open to returning to the Eagles as a backup, mainly because he loves the situation, loves Chip Kelly and Nick Foles and him have a really good relationship. That is something he would consider next year. He also could be a stopgap starter for maybe three teams as this incoming quarterback class that people thought was going to be big-time is kind of crumbling.”
Silver: “Vick has handled this great and people have noticed. I talked to Brent Celek, the Eagles tight end, earlier and he said we all have a ton of respect for the way Mike has handled this; he’s been an amazing team player. Talked to a high-ranking Eagles source and he said Vick has been the consummate pro, so yes it’s possible Vick could be back. And they haven’t given up on Matt Barkley. He had a shoulder surgery coming out of USC. They want to see a full offseason and take a look at what they’ve got. It’s possible Foles, Barkley and Vick could be back. I’m told Vick at this stage of his career, though, needs to get a little bit more into the offense and stop relying on his feet obviously to make plays.
On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay First & NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:
– Week 16 Bold Predictions – The NFL GameDay Morning analysts provide their Bold Predictions for Week 16: http://on.nfl.com/197i4xM
– Week 16 Sunday Statement – The NFL GameDay Morning crew gives the top storylines it will be looking out for during Week 16: http://on.nfl.com/1dvQrh6
– Debacle in Dallas – The NFL GameDay Morning crew tries to pinpoint the one biggest flaw in the Dallas Cowboys play on the field: http://on.nfl.com/19Gmso3
– ‘Players Only’: The Problem with Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver Dez Bryant – The NFL GameDay Morning players take a deeper look into Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant’s actions after the loss to the Green Bay Packers: http://on.nfl.com/1bZ5u3O
– ‘Front Office View’: Should Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Continue to be GM? – Charley Casserly joins NFL GameDay First to give his thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys personnel and answers if Jerry Jones should relinquish some power: http://on.nfl.com/1hwbdjC
– Rift Between Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo and Running Back DeMarco Murray? – NFL Media Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Silver provide the latest regarding the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles: http://on.nfl.com/JVwN5V
– Who Wins the NFC South? – Sterling Sharpe breaks down the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers matchup, and explains why he believes the NFC South title will go to the Panthers: http://on.nfl.com/1l6qHee
– Figuring Out the NFC North – Shaun O’Hara, Sterling Sharpe and Richard Dent take a look at the three teams in contention from the NFC North and break down what each team needs to do to win the division: http://on.nfl.com/1gPzxQ0
– Doubt in Denver? – Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp and Kurt Warner debate if the Denver Broncos defense will prove to be the team’s Achilles Heel: http://on.nfl.com/1hwe1xj
– Is Detroit Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford the Most Undisciplined Quarterback? – Kurt Warner gives his thoughts on Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford: http://on.nfl.com/18GkYLL
– The Dangerous Dolphins – Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci take a look at the Miami Dolphins and explain how the team has become one of the most dangerous teams in the AFC: http://on.nfl.com/1bkgZ2m
– Are the New Orleans Saints Road Woes for Real? – Marshall Faulk and Mike Silver look at the New Orleans Saints and explain why their road struggles should be one of the team’s top concerns: http://on.nfl.com/1bZfBpk
– Minnesota Vikings Running Back Adrian Peterson & Arizona Cardinals Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald to Play – NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport gives an update on some injured stars: http://on.nfl.com/1fRlQwU
– Santa Mooch – Santa Mooch pays a visit to the NFL GameDay Morning set to spread some holiday cheer and hand out gifts to the guys: http://on.nfl.com/1kwo4Vs
And that is all.
