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ESPN Monday Night Football Conference Call Highlights with Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski and Senior Coordinating Producer Jay Rothman

ESPN hosted a media conference call Wednesday, Sept. 1, with Monday Night Football play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico, analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski, and senior coordinating producer Jay Rothman to preview the 2010 season. The MNF team discussed players, personnel, key matchups, and a look ahead to the MNF schedule. Excerpts from the call:

On this MNF team and the season ahead …

Rothman: “We’re extremely excited to get the season going again and excited about where we left off last year. In fact I just got off the phone with a FOX analyst and he paid us the ultimate compliment by saying that your show is appointment viewing every Monday night…This is my 20^th season producing football, both college and pro, and I’ve never been with a team that has looked forward to working together, being together and doing the game together more so than these three guys. We have a blast. We have a blast working hard. We have a blast on the road having fun together and I think that comes off on the air. As many of you know, chemistry doesn’t just happen. You can’t just stick a bunch of guys together and make magic, but I think these three guys have done that and we’re excited for another year together.”

On the most overrated and underrated NFL teams entering the season…

Tirico: “Overrated, I think Arizona given their hype coming off the last couple years. When you talk about the only team to win an NFC playoff game the last two years, you think they are expected to do more, but I think their quarterback situation and losses are going to be too much to handle going forward…In the AFC side, I would say San Diego because the weakness in the division would pump them up, but I don’t like the chemistry there with the wide receiver, the left tackle and the people who are unhappy continually with contract issues and restricted free agents…Underrated, I would say right now in the AFC, I want to lean toward Tennessee because of what I saw them do in the preseason and how their style of football works with Vince Young…In the NFC, I’m going to lean towards San Francisco…When you start to look at what they can put on the field, Gore, Westbrook, Crabtree, Vernon Davis on the offensive side, the two linemen they drafted, Willis on defense, among others. That’s a team I would say is going to win the NFC West and a team nationally that is perhaps underrated going into the season.”

Jaworski: “I would say the San Diego Chargers. I do have some concerns with Vincent Jackson out and problems at left tackle. Phillip Rivers, that blind side of the quarterback is always critical to protection…Overrated, I think the Jets. They were a 9-7 team a year ago. Many people have them picked for the Super Bowl. Only time will tell if they continue to improve…Underrated teams, I think the Dolphins…I believe Tony Sparano has a good team down there. If Chad Henne comes through with a big year, they will be a playoff team and Super Bowl contender…Underrated as well, the Texans…one of these years they’re going to turn it around. I love the offense. I love Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. They’ve got weapons. If Steve Slaton can give them the 1,200 to 1,400 yards necessary in a running game by an individual, I think they have a chance to challenge the Colts for the AFC South.”

Gruden: “Two teams last year that finished high, I think the Minnesota Vikings obviously with Brett Favre coming in again late and Sidney Rice’s injury. They’ve had some injuries in their secondary. They’re not as young as they used to be. I think they’ve got some questions that will need to get answered quickly. I’m a little worried about the Vikings regaining the form they had last season. I also think the New England Patriots, even though they’ve got Tom Brady. They’ve already had a couple key injuries on defense. Ty Warren and Leigh Bodden, and I saw that defense not play particularly well…A sleeper team I like is the Carolina Panthers. I realize they’ve lost some good players, but they still have the best 1-2 running combination in football in (Jonathan) Stewart and (DeAngelo) Williams. I don’t ever see anybody score on these guys…They play hard, they play sound, they’re going to surprise some people.”

On all the attention the Jets are getting this preseason…

Jaworski: “As a former player, the bullseye gets bigger. When you’re playing against a team and they’re getting all of the recognition — pretty much speaking all bravado — you hear this and you see this and you really do get a feeling that you want to put them in their place, whatever place that may be. Quite honestly, I’ve been refreshed by the approach of the New York Jets. They’ve come right out in front. The things that coaches say behind closed doors, Rex Ryan is saying publicly…All that aside, there’s a quality football team in place and sometimes we are forgetting that. Defensively, they are outstanding. Some of the most unique defensive concepts you will see.”

Gruden: “A lot of the things I’ve heard from the Jets are entertaining. I think a lot of it is elevator music to be honest with you. It doesn’t really matter. I don’t think if offends anybody or stimulates any team, but I do think they have a lot to prove. They’ve added a lot of players and they’ve spent a lot of money on that football team. They had Brett Favre, they didn’t want Favre, and they got Sanchez. They didn’t want Thomas Jones, they get Tomlinson…They’ve added a bevy of outstanding football players from Santonio Holmes to Antonio Cromartie. They’ve spent a lot of money and put a lot of time putting that team together. It doesn’t really matter what they said or what TV show they’re hosting this week, they’re going to have to back it up because I know the Ravens are pretty good too. There’s going to be a lot of pride at stake in this game.”

On whether the Packers have enough to overcome the Vikings this year…

Jaworski: “There’s a real positive vibe coming out of Green Bay. Sometimes that chemistry in the locker room, belief in each other, can take you a long way. Then you pile on that with the talent they’ve assembled, particularly on the offensive side. Being out at practice with Jermichael Finley, I wish I could still throw the football to a guy like that. He’s going to be an amazing matchup problem for any defense the Packers have to face…In my opinion right now, they are better than the Minnesota Vikings, but time will tell.”

Gruden: “I’m a big believer in the Green Bay Packers. I don’t know that they’re going to win the division, but I think it’s going to come down to the last two or three weeks of the season…I really like the skill that the Green Bay Packers have. I think the offensive line has to prove it from week 1 to week 16…I want to see the Packers play well against a great quarterback. I know they played well against (Tony) Romo last year, but they didn’t play their best in the playoffs against (Kurt) Warner. They struggled in the two games against Brett Favre, and I thought Ben Roethlisberger had a huge day against them also. They feasted on a lot of young and inexperienced quarterbacks. I think it’s important for them to regain their swagger, their confidence…If they can do that, they can certainly win this division.”

From a coach’s perspective, on when it’s the right time to cut a veteran player…

Gruden: “It’s hard to release a veteran player. The big thing is you have to decide, ‘can he still play?’ A lot of these moves are salary cap related. First, you have to decide, ‘can he still play?’ Secondly, do you have a contingency plan in place? Sometimes a veteran can get by on savvy and experience. He understands the game so well, and you don’t have a plan in place to replace that. It’s hard, its emotional not only for you, but for fans and the football team, and you better have a contingency plan in place. I’ve heard enough about this rebuilding talk. I don’t believe in that in the National Football League. I don’t believe that’s ever been part of the NFL. You have to have a real strong belief in his ability – does he have anything left? Can he practice? And do you have a contingency plan in place because it’s going to be emotional.”

On the peak developmental age for a quarterback…

Jaworski: “I’ve always felt it was right around 29 or 30. I don’t have any specific data that I can say this is why, but being around the game since 1973 and playing the game as long as I did and breaking the game down, it just seems there’s a maturity level the quarterback reaches. The cerebral capacity now matches the physical capacity…right around 29-30 when it’s that perfect storm and your physical talent meets your mental talent and it all comes together.”

Gruden: “I’ve always believed it was the third or fourth year in the same system if you have a guy that has a really good system…When you look at Drew Brees, he excelled in his third year at San Diego under Schottenheimer and that group. Now in New Orleans, he’s had continuity in that system. Phillip Rivers, Peyton Manning – the guys that really dominate and excel are in the same system for three or four years and usually it’s that third or fourth year where they really hit it and they pick it up and become as good as they can be…If you have a system and you have continuity in that system and you can surround this quarterback with personnel, usually it’s year three or four of that system and not many teams are able to pull that off.”

On the Bengals and their wide receiving duo Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens…

Gruden: There’s not a defensive coordinator that hasn’t been burned by either one of those guys. People have a certain degree of fear of those two players…I think Cedric Benson has really been one of the best kept secrets in all of football. The comeback that he’s made is outstanding. His tape is excellent. He picks up blitzes, he hammers people between tackles and he shows some breakaway burst. I think the key is (Carson) Palmer…Palmer is an outstanding quarterback. I think he stays healthy and the Bengals have a chance to again win that division…I’d like to be in that locker room… You can only find out when your team loses. Are you going to be happier with eight catches and a loss or two catches and a win? We’ll find out over the course of a season. Everything sounds great and chummy right now, hopefully it works out because these two guys can really put a show on and give the Cincinnati Bengals a formidable pass offense.”

Jaworski: “It can work because when you have talented guys, you’re trying to make sure that they’re both happy. Quite honestly, you’re thinking about that. You come in at halftime and one guy has five catches and the other guy has not been targeted, and you’re thinking about that because these are high maintenance guys. But you also know that they’re very talented. From a talent level, every quarterback would love to have a couple guys that he can count on. Carson, he’s a vet. He’s had to deal with these situations. He knows how to handle these guys. He’ll probably laugh more than he’ll cry when dealing with them because that’s what keeps these guys motivated, when you’re having a good time. I think Palmer can handle anything. He’s a rock solid quarterback, a rock solid citizen and an excellent leader of the football team.”

On all the technology used in the NFL and the in-stadium experience versus watching it at home on television…

Tirico: “One of the things that HD TV has done is give people at home more of an at-stadium feel because you get a great look at the replays and, let’s be honest, the cost of tickets, as well. I think people have become comfortable with being engaged at home because of the growth of the industry we’re in, television. I think leagues are responding to that…Stephen Ross in Miami, as a managing partner of the Dolphins, has TV screens that people can lease and use during the game for their suite-holders that has the opportunity to bounce around the Sunday Ticket to the six or seven other games and follow other games as they sit in their seats. They’re trying to replicate the experience at home at the stadium. I think that’s a very aggressive and progressive move by Steve…I know what we see on Mondays, that it becomes a half-holiday for people in their town. They get off work early and spend time at the game, hang out, enjoy the game, and enjoy the city as well…Not just pro, but college football as well, they are starting to address, ‘how do we make the in-stadium experience better for fans?’”

On a proposed 18-game NFL regular season…

Gruden: “I don’t know who’s going to be playing in week 17,18 and throughout the playoffs, especially if you’re going to have a Super Bowl in New York, it’s going to be really cold after 18 regular season games…I’m in the minority. How else do you develop a quarterback? Where does he get to play? What snaps is he going to get? I realize four preseason games may be too many games, but every year there are some spectacular bursts from no place. Guys make teams as free agents undrafted. Guys explode onto the scene from the seventh round. You have to develop your game day depth…Somebody has to be the back up center. Somebody has to be the back up left tackle and right tackle. You need a guy that can come in and back up as a middle linebacker. You have to develop these types of players, and if you don’t you’re doomed. I think the preseason games are a good opportunity to do that. Coaches come and go today like they’ve never come and gone before. You’ve got a new play-caller, a new defensive coordinator, a new line coach, a new receiver; the dynamics of your offense have changed. Your team needs to come together too. Get them in training camp for three weeks just like they’ve done forever. Bring your football team along. I’m a big believer in the preseason.”

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