FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 9/13/09
Bradshaw: I’ll Be Glad When Favre’s Retired and Moved On Because I’m Tired of It.
Johnson: Dallas Will Have a Good Year…And Win a Playoff Game.
Strahan: Running Game and Defense Will Carry the Giants in NFC East.
Long on Vick’s Return to the NFL: The Only Thing That’s Important – Did the Punishment Produce A Changed Man?
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Co-Host Terry Bradshaw unleashes his frustrations on the saga of Vikings QB Brett Favre: “I’m tired of it. My mom and dad are tired of it. We’re all tired of it. I wish it would go away. I’ll be glad when it goes away. I feel bad for the Green Bay Packer fans because of the way this guy is. I read back in May where Favre said, ‘I have given all I can give and I can’t give anymore.’ I’ll quote a great coach who once said when a player talks about retirement, he’s retired and I’ll be glad when he’s retired and moved on because I’m really fed up with it.”
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Analyst Howie Long on Michael Vick’s return: “Many of us have seen the revolting videos of the dog fighting operations overseen by Michael Vick. I felt then as I still do now, that Vick should have been severely punished, and he was. He served almost two years in prison, missed two years of his career, went into bankruptcy and still owes about $25 million to creditors. Yet, there are people out there that want their pound of flesh. To me the important part is – did the punishment produce a changed man? While early reviews say yes, only time will tell. I think the Commissioner did a very good job with a complex issue. His initial reinstatement schedule of anywhere from 1-6 weeks seems ambiguous at first but allowed him to gauge public reaction which has been milder than expected. He has the benefit of playing for Andy Reid, who from personal experience believes strongly in second chances. The bottom line is this, if Michael Vick were a middle of the road talent, chances are he wouldn’t have a job in the NFL. But Vick puts people in the seats both in stadium and in TV rooms. If he performs well on the field, the screams inside the stadium will drown out the pockets of protesters outside the stadium. And that’s fine, as long as he is also a productive citizen when no one is looking or cheering.”
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Analyst Michael Strahan picked the Giants to win the NFC East but has a concern: “The only thing I’m worried about are receivers. They’re young. Even the veteran guys – Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon are young guys. How will they perform? Is Eli Manning going to make them better players or will the receivers make him a better quarterback? The Giants have a great running game and a great defense. That’s going to carry them over.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on who to watch in the NFC East: “The Giants will struggle because Eli will struggle with those receivers. Dallas is going to have a good year. With Marion Barber and Felix Jones, they are going to run the football well…and they will win a playoff game this year.”
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FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer on NY Jets reaction to Favre’s comments and the organization’s plan if they had not drafted Sanchez: “People within the Jets headquarters were genuinely hurt because Brett Favre was a guy the organization had a lot of love for. In fact – I don’t even think Brett knows this – the Jets held Favre in such high regard that had they not gotten Mark Sanchez, the plan was to get Rex Ryan on a plane after the draft down to Mississippi and pretty much beg Favre to come back and play for New York this year.”
FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer on Andy Reid’s personal experience playing a role in signing Michael Vick: “Andy Reid said his own experience with his kids, a very highly publicized legal issue with his two boys played a role in signing Vick. Reid told me, ‘If anybody understands getting a second chance it’s me.’ Andy told me this morning that he has really relied on his son Britt to help him with the mind set of someone who has been in prison and some of the tell tale signs of whether you’re contrite and whether you’re really apologetic for what you’ve done.”
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Analyst Jimmy Johnson on the Wildcat formation in 2009: “Every single team in the league has to work on defending the Wildcat because they are liable to see it from an opponent. Everyone can run it at some point during the season.”
Co-Host Terry Bradshaw on the Wildcat: “I truly believe we’re going to see the Wildcat evolve a little bit more. Once teams find a running back or wide receiver that can really run this offense and throw it, I think passing is the next step in the Wildcat.”
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Long, Strahan, Johnson & Bradshaw weigh-in on a competitive NFC North:
Long: “There is no question [Jay] Cutler and [Brett] Favre are game changers in that division. To me, Aaron Rodgers looks unbelievable. The Packers look incredible on offense and [defensive coordinator] Dom Capers brings that 3-4. Capers has never had a secondary quite like this – particularly at the corners with [Al] Harris & [Charles] Woodson.”
Strahan: “I like Green Bay also and, I know everybody talks about Minnesota, but I think there is some distraction there with Brett Favre. Even though I think he [Favre] is a game changer, Green Bay has a young team that’s hungry, that understands and that’s been close to winning big games. I believe that they will win the division.”
Johnson: “I don’t like Chicago all that much. I do like Minnesota & Green Bay. It comes down to quarterbacks. Brett Favre is going to be 40 years old in October and he has faded down the stretch, he turns the football over. Down the stretch, Green Bay will make their presence known.”
Bradshaw: “The Favre thing is too much pressure for Minnesota’s head coach and the entire organization. You’re putting everything on one guy and saying, ‘this is our difference maker.’ When the Vikings traded for Herschel Walker, they thought all they needed was one more player and they would be going to the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers, I like what they’re doing, the Packers are my pick.”
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Co-Host Terry Bradshaw on the NFC South: “I’m going with the Saints. No one scores more touchdowns than the Saints and look for an improved defense with new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. They don’t get any better than him so I think it’s the Saints.”
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Bradshaw, Long, Strahan & Johnson predict AFC, NFC and Super Bowl matchups:
AFC Championship Game
Bradshaw: Pittsburgh vs. San Diego
Long: New England vs. San Diego
Strahan: New England vs. Baltimore
Johnson: Pittsburgh vs. San Diego
NFC Championship Game
Johnson: Philadelphia vs. Green Bay
Strahan: Green Bay vs. New York
Long: Green Bay vs. New York
Bradshaw: Green Bay vs. Arizona
Super Bowl XLIV
Johnson: San Diego vs. Philadelphia
Strahan: New England vs. Green Bay
Long: New England vs. Green Bay
Bradshaw: Still thinking…
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