News and Sound Bites From Week 12 Edition of
NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
“No doubt in my mind, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history, when you look at what he’s done…in today’s game….” – Michael Irvin on Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
“It’s invigorating to have that kind of competitiveness and be able to compete on this level.” – Patriots head coach Belichick on still having the passion for winning
“I want them to be successful. We’re not in the business of ending careers. We’re trying to extend careers.” – Commissioner Goodell on the NFL’s conduct policy
“Jeff Fisher might have waited too long to save the [Titans’] season, but he saved Vince Young’s career by making him sit on the bench.” – Marshall Faulk
NFL GameDay Morning, the FIRST pregame show on the air Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM ET with a new four-hour expanded format, taking viewers straight up to kickoff. Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Jason La Canfora and hosts Spero Dedes and Stacey Dales bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews.
‘Sunday Sit-Down:’ Michael Lombardi 1-on-1 with Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick:
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks with Michael Lombardi about his coaching style, what drives him to be the best and being mentioned as a mentor to some of the top coaches in the pro and college game:
“I’m happy for them and without their contributions to the program that I was in, whether it was at Cleveland or New England or somewhere else along the way, I know they meant a lot to my success and without them, we wouldn’t have had as good a program as we had.” – Belichick on the assistant coaches he has worked with in the past
“Billy Donovan, Urban Meyer – different kinds of guys that aren’t pro coaches… exchanging ideas with them has worked well, too.” – Belichick on his relationship with various other coaches, including at the college level
“I do, and he passes on words of wisdom from time to time, but I think the best advice that he’s ever given me, and he continues to say this, is ‘do what you believe in.’ I know that’s his philosophy, and sometimes that’s a good reminder.” – Belichick on talking regularly with former basketball coach Bob Knight, who is an influence in his life
“I do. It sure beats working. You come in here every day and there’s a new challenge. Getting your team ready for the new opponent, the dynamics of each game and each season, it never gets old. It’s invigorating to have that kind of competitiveness and be able to compete on this level.” – Belichick on still having the passion for winning
“I think about him sometimes. I think about him being there or not being there, but it was a great opportunity for me to share with him, and it was tremendous for me as a kid, to grow up and be part of his teams.” – Belichick on celebrating wins with his father Steve before his 2005 passing
For a video link of Lombardi’s interview with Belichick, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d8148c8c2/Sunday-Sit-Down-Bill-Belichick-Pt-1 – part I
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d8148c955/Sunday-Sit-Down-Bill-Belichick-Pt-2 – part II
Quotes from Commissioner Goodell Roundtable Discussion with Joe Theismann, Rod Woodson and Michael Irvin:
“The good news is that both sides are talking. The owners’ negotiating team and the players’ negotiating team are talking on a regular basis. They put all the issues on the table and there’s an understanding of what’s working and what’s not working and now, we have to find solutions.” – Goodell on the current status of the CBA negotiations
“Even though the equipment is improved, sometimes the players don’t take advantage of that. They want to wear the helmets that they feel more comfortable in. We need to get the players to use the best equipment. The second issue is [players] have to make sure medical personnel know when they have an injury. The players have to raise their hand and say, ‘You know what? I got hit and I don’t feel 100 percent.’” – Goodell on player safety
“We have to limit the OTAs and the offseason training. Also there’s a very interesting development that one of the coaches came up with that I think is going to start becoming more of the norm. They monitor how many plays players play each season and the more plays you play, the more time you have off in the offseason. I think it’s a great idea that has a lot of merit.” – Goodell on limiting offseason training, as it relates to player safety
“It starts from the fact that I like our players. I enjoy being around them. I admire them and respect them for what they do off the field as much as what they do on the field. I want them to be successful. We’re not in the business of ending careers. We’re trying to extend careers.” – Goodell on his relationship with players and player discipline
To view Commissioner Goodell’s discussion with Theismann, Woodson and Irvin, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d8148c6dc/Commissioner-roundtable-discussion
To view video of the NFL GameDay Morning crew discussing the NFL’s movement to limit injuries, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d814905a1/Injury-discussion
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:
“They may have to take the route that high schools take – you get a concussion, you sit out two games. Period.” – Marshall Faulk on concussions and Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger being ruled out vs. Baltimore
“We’re all starting to see what the NFL is doing about considering how this is affecting players after their careers. I like what the NFL is doing. Ben has given us some great games, but you do worry about him a little bit.” – Michael Irvin on the NFL’s emphasis on concussion safety and Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger
“We’ve got to be collectively concerned about this, make good decisions and not rush guys back in there because it’s too important.” – Steve Mariucci on concussion safety
“The way the NFL is handling everything by making sure everyone is careful with head injuries, it has made the locker room a better place for the players.” – Michael Irvin on the NFL’s stance on handling concussions and head injuries
“He’s building bridges between the union and the league on this matter.” – Jason La Canfora on Commissioner Goodell and his emphasis on concussion safety
“Anytime he gets the hand off from Vince, I hold my breath.” – Steve Mariucci on Titans RB Chris Johnson
“Ricky is having his best games without Ronnie.” – Marshall Faulk on Dolphins RB Ricky Williams and his performance without RB teammate Ronnie Brown
“No doubt in my mind, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history, when you look at what he’s done…in today’s game, with free agency and everything, you cannot question what this man has accomplished.” – Michael Irvin on Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
“When you look at Bill and situational coaching, there’s probably nobody in the league that’s better…but let’s be honest. There’s a little black cloud over Bill Belichick’s head. Just like when we talk about, in baseball, they mention Barry Bonds, although we don’t know, and Roger Clemens, although we don’t know. With Bill Belichick, we do know and we can’t let that black cloud go away.” – Marshall Faulk on Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
“When you say something in this league, as a player or a coach…sooner or later what goes around comes around and you’re going to have to eat crow because there’s a lot of competition in this league.” – Steve Mariucci on comments from Jets head coach Rex Ryan on the Patriots
“That’s what you want to see out of your quarterback.” – Michael Irvin on Lions QB Matt Stafford Week 11 performance vs. Cleveland
“They change blocking rules for this guy.” – Michael Irvin on WR Hines Wards and being the toughest player in the NFL
“He has the New Orleans Saints playing at a new level.” – Michael Irvin on QB Drew Brees being on his short list of MVP candidates
“The move was very timely. It was the right time to do and maybe they can get on a run.” – Steve Mariucci on the Tennessee Titans making the switch to QB Vince Young
“They should have had a package for this young man because he’s too exciting not to be on the field.” – Warren Sapp on Titans QB Vince Young
“By that team going through what it did, now they believe in Vince Young. He’s like a savior for this team.” – Michael Irvin on the Tennessee Titans and QB Vince Young
“Jeff Fisher might have waited too long to save the [Titans’] season, but he saved Vince Young’s career by making him sit on the bench.” – Marshall Faulk on Titans head coach Steve Fisher and his decision to sit Vince Young for the first part of the season
“When you have a head coach like Wade Phillips who’s not a dictator, you have to manufacture pressure.” – Michael Irvin on the Dallas Cowboys in December
“Good luck with changing both coordinators in the season. That’s not a recipe for success.” – Steve Mariucci on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
‘Super Bowl Journey,’ Week 12 Edition – RB Maurice Jones-Drew Returns Home
“It’s always going to be home to me.” – Jones-Drew on returning to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he grew up in nearby Antioch, CA, to face the 49ers
To view Jones-Drew’s latest Super Bowl Journey, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d8148c9e1/Super-Bowl-Journey-MJD-comes-home
To view previous Super Bowl Journey editions from all five contributors, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-journey
The NFL GameDay Morning Crew Share Their Picks for MVP and Toughest Player:
Most Valuable Player Picks:
Marshall Faulk 1. Titans RB Chris Johnson
2. Saints QB Drew Brees
3. Colts QB Peyton Manning
Michael Irvin 1. Colts QB Peyton Manning
2. Vikings QB Brett Favre
3. Saints QB Drew Brees
Steve Mariucci 1. Patriots QB Tom Brady
2. Broncos LB Elvis Dumervil
3. Saints S Darren Sharper
Warren Sapp 1. Vikings QB Brett Favre
2. Colts QB Peyton Manning
3. Packers CB Charles Woodson
NFL’s Toughest Player Picks:
Marshall Faulk Redskins LB London Fletcher
Michael Irvin Steelers WR Hines Ward
Steve Mariucci Vikings QB Brett Favre
Warren Sapp Patriots DT Vincent Wilfork
News Reports from Jason La Canfora:
- For a timeline for what happened this week regarding Ben Roethlisberger, he suffered a head injury last Sunday, but was deemed ok to fly home with the team. On Monday, he was checked by independent doctors at the University of Pittsburgh medical center. They revealed that Roethlisberger had suffered a concussion, but he looked good by all their testing and by their accounts, he was deemed ok to practice Wednesday. Roethlisberger practiced Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as he normally would with the starters. I’m told he was joking around and felt good, with no complaints of discomfort. However before leaving the building on Friday according to my sources, he expressed some concern to head coach Mike Tomlin about returning and possibly taking another blow to the head. On Saturday, he met with the team again before meetings, where it was determined that he would not start. Later in the day, they agreed that he would be the third emergency quarterback Sunday night to go in if need be.
- There are a lot of people who believe Dolphins VP Bill Parcells will explore his options after this year. He can get out of his contract if he likes and we’ve already seen Cleveland talking about looking for a football ‘czar,’ as well as four or five other teams looking to change people atop their management paradigm. If he were to leave Miami, Carl Peterson is a name to keep an eye on. Long-time runner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Peterson could go to Miami. He has a strong relationship with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and GM Jeff Ireland used to work with Peterson in Kansas City, so that would be a natural transition.
EXTRA POINTS:
- NFL Network’s First International Game Telecast Features New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football from Toronto: Following Denver’s 26-6 Thanksgiving night win against the New York Giants, Matt Millen and Bob Papa head across the northern border as the Buffalo Bills host the New York Jets from the Rogers Centre in Toronto Dec. 3 at 8:00 PM ET. NFL Network is home to Thursday Night Football featuring eight live regular-season primetime games. This season, Thursday Night Football includes the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers at division rival Cleveland Browns on December 10, the Dallas Cowboys visiting the unbeaten New Orleans Saints on Saturday, December 19 and San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans in a special Christmas night tilt. Thursday Night Football begins at 8:00 PM ET, with the special Christmas game starting at 7:00 PM ET.
- NFL RedZone – Bringing Fans Every Touchdown From Every Game: NFL RedZone is hosted by Scott Hanson from the new state-of-the-art NFL RedZone studio at NFL Network’s headquarters in Los Angeles and debuts today at 1:00 PM ET/10 AM PT. Produced by NFL Network, NFL RedZone whips around every NFL game on Sunday afternoons delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments as they happen and in high definition. When a team goes inside the 20-yard line, fans see the crucial plays live. The channel keeps fans up-to-date in real time, switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a chance to see every important play. NFL RedZone is available on AT&T, Comcast, DISH Network, RCN, Verizon and other distributors. For more information visit: http://redzonetv.nfl.com/. Fan comments on the New York Times blog asking for reviews of NFL Network’s new NFL RedZone can be found at: http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/reviews-of-redzone-channel/
- Sunday Night Football Extra Returns: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens will stream live on Sunday Night Football Extra on NFL.com and NBCSports.com. Complementing that stream will be a number of extra features to enrich the viewing experience including additional camera angles, in-game highlights, picture-in-picture technology, live statistics and other interactive elements. Sunday Night Football Extra will also include in-game studio updates from the NBC Football Night in America team and NFL Network talent.
NFL GameDay Morning begins the NFL Network schedule on Sundays, which will now be called “NFL GameDay.” Following NFL GameDay Morning will be NFL GameDay StatZone at 1:00 PM ET, NFL GameDay Scoreboard at 4:00 PM ET, NFL GameDay Highlights at 7:30 PM ET and NFL GameDay Final at 11:30 PM ET.
NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive Internet home of NFL videos and NFL Network.
Contacts: Brenna Webb, 310-841-4807 brenna.webb@nfl.com
– NFL NETWORK –
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