News and Sound Bites From Divisional Playoff Sunday on
NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
“that’s NOT RUST, THAT’S CALLED THE RAVENS.” – Marshall Faulk on Baltimore’s defense — not the bye week — as the reason the Ravens defeated the Titans
“WE FEED OFF OF PEOPLE NOT GIVING US A CHANCE.” – Kurt Warner talking to special player correspondent Atlanta LB Keith Brooking, following the Cardinals’ win over the Panthers
“THEY (THE gIANTS) HAVE TO PUT PRESSURE ON DONOVAN MCNABB BECAUSE BRIAN WESTBROOK IS A MISMATCH FOR EVERYBODY.” -Bob Papa from New York on the key to today’s game for the “Word on the Street” segment
“IF JAMES HARRISON DOESN’T MAKE SOME SACKS TODAY, HE’S GOING TO JOIN EVERYONE ELSE WHO’S RECEIVED AN AWARD THIS YEAR…HE’S GOING HOME.” – Faulk on James Harrison being a critical player for the Steelers in today’s game against the Chargers
NFL GameDay Morning, the first information packed show on the air Sunday mornings, checks in at 9:00 AM ET on the only network dedicated entirely to football. Warren Sapp, Marshall Faulk and Steve Mariucci alongside hosts Spero Dedes and co-host Alex Flanagan with news reports by Adam Schefter, bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews on NFL Network. Special player correspondents Ty Law and Antwaan Randle El provided analysis from Sunday’s Division Playoff games.
Schefter’s News Reports:
- With his woeful performance Saturday night, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme made Tavaris Jackson look like Bart Starr. With his 0.0 quarterback rating, Delhomme now is in the argument for the worst game ever by a quarterback in a big spot. Now the question becomes what to do about Delhomme, especially considering that he carries a team high $11 million salary-cap figure for next season. If the Panthers release Delhomme, they would save a whopping $6.325 million against next season’s salary cap. Kerry Collins is an unrestricted free agent so the Tennessee Titans will have to get clarity on their quarterback situation. Both the quarterback losers from last night will be facing a cross roads in the off season
- Over and over, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher has insisted that he is not interested in returning to the sidelines in 2009. But now a potential landing spot has emerged for 2010. After Saturday night’s divisional playoff loss, Carolina coach John Fox now has two years and approximately $10 million left on his contract. Should the Panthers fail to win a playoff game again next season, as they have done in each season since 2006, pressure is going to mount on Fox and speculation is going to center around Cowher, who lives in Raleigh, N.C. The feeling always has been that Cowher would like to coach as close to home as possible – and he can’t get any closer than the Carolina job should it open. It would be rash, though not out of the question, for the Panthers to act now. And Cowher has steadfastly maintained that he is not returning for next season. Stranger things certainly have happened. But the Panthers could create an awfully attractive situation for Cowher in 2010.
- In the first game of Saturday’s AFC Divisonal Playoff, Baltimore and Detroit won and Tennessee, St. Louis and the New York Jets lost. Now that the Ravens go on, the Rams and Jets will have to wait to hire Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. However, Ryan will have a whirlwind 24 hours. After helping the Ravens to Saturday night’s win over Tennessee, Ryan is scheduled to interview today for the Rams and Jets vacant head coaching jobs. But with the Titans knocked out of the playoffs, the Lions now are free to talk again with Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz if they so chose. But now the system will not work against Schwartz the way it would have if the Titans had won Saturday night. Instead, the Titans lost, and Schwartz is now free to try to land his first NFL head coaching job.
- San Diego is going to have to discuss, if it hasn’t already, whether it is worth bringing back running back LaDainian Tomlinson with his contract structured the way that it is. Tomlinson is scheduled to count $9 million against San Diego’s salary cap next season. But if the team traded or released him, the Chargers would free up $6.725 million worth of salary-cap space – quite a bit for a team that would like to re-sign free-agent-to-be running back Darren Sproles and also will be trying to resign its quarterback Philip Rivers, as well as linebacker Shawne Merriman and wide receiver Vincent Jackson. San Diego is going to have to come up with the cap money somewhere and this could be it. The consensus in a random poll of league executives is that San Diego could conceivably get back a third round draft pick for LT.
- Though the Giants have $10 million worth of salary-cap space for 2009, both their top running backs, Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward, are unsigned for next season. Plus, quarterback Eli Manning is headed into the last year of his contract and is in line for one of the richest contracts in NFL history.
- Nearly five years later, the Quarterback Class of 2004 can start to be talked about in the same conversation with the trumpeted Quarterback Class of 1983. Already, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, New York’s Eli Manning and San Diego’s Philip Rivers have combined to win as many Super Bowls as the Quarterback Class of ’83 that included three Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks, Denver’s John Elway, Miami’s Dan Marino and Buffalo’s Jim Kelly. Now, Roethlisberger, Manning and Rivers – each of whom is playing in today’s Divisional Playoffs – has the chance to get the Quarterback Class of 2004 past the Quarterback Class of 1983 in terms of Super Bowl victories. The Class of 2004 also is early into its career. But it is shaping up as one of the finest trios of quarterbacks ever taken in one draft. This post-season can help to further cement it.
- Tony Dungy said that he would take about a week to make a decision about whether or not he will return again next year. A week has come and gone and he is back in Indianapolis, so we could have a decision at any time. Tony Dungy is now on the clock.
**To access the video link of Schefter’s ‘Around the League’ segment please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e09e95 **
Part Two of Warren Sapp 1-on-1 with Ravens LB Ray Lewis: NFL Network’s Warren Sapp sat down with Ravens LB Ray Lewis for a candid discussion on what keeps him at the top of his game after 13 years in the league:
“It’s what we do at the University of Miami, we raise each other.” – Lewis on his college career
“They were our days, the good, the bad decisions we made, we all made them.” – Lewis reflecting on his career
“Did they even need a defensive coordinator in Miami with you (Warren Sapp) and (Ray) Lewis on defense?” – Spero Dedes on the defensive talent of Sapp and Lewis on the same team
** To access the video link of Part Two of Sapp’s conversation with Lewis, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e0a180
For Part One, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e0356f
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:
“It’s a soft field. It’s like you are playing golf, at least how I play golf, there’s a lot of divots.” – special player correspondent New York Jets CB Ty Law on the playing surface in Pittsburgh
“It was complete domination on both sides of the ball.” – Steve Mariucci on Arizona’s win over Carolina
“That’s not rust, that’s called the Ravens” – Marshall Faulk on Baltimore’s defense, not the bye week, as the reason the Ravens defeated the Titans
“That doesn’t look like a running back.” – Warren Sapp on the arrival of Brandon Jacobs at Giants Stadium
“He is the Earth to Wind and Fire, he makes the running game go. They are a different team with him in there.” – Faulk on Giants RB Brandon Jacobs
“If the winds are going to affect the passing game, third down is the money down.” – Sapp on the game plan if wind should affect the Eagles-Giants game today
“It’s momentum; teams are winning then go on the road and continue to win. They don’t think about the severity of the game.” – Faulk on the success of road teams on Saturday
“We feed off of people not giving us a chance.” – Kurt Warner talking to special player correspondent Atlanta LB Keith Brooking, following the Cardinals’ win over the Panthers
“They (the Giants) have to put pressure on Donovan McNabb because Brian Westbrook is a mismatch for everybody.” -Bob Papa from New York on the key to today’s game for the “Word on the Street” segment
“Good offensive line play. Regardless of who the running back is they have to open up holes for him.” –Faulk on the key for the Chargers to be successful in Pittsburgh
“Mike Scifres, the punter, can win the field position battle by nailing the ball down close to the end zone.” – Faulk on the key for the Chargers to be successful in Pittsburgh
“He’s a great player, needless to say…he reminds me of Ed Reed, he can do it all.” – Mariucci on Pittsburgh safety Troy Ploamalu
“Tom Coughlin’s message, this year and last, is worry about what you can control.” – Papa on Tom Coughlin’s prepping the Giants for their game against the Eagles
“He’s not a track star, he’s a bench presser.” – Mariucci on the need for offensive lines to tire out star nose tackles for San Diego and Pittsburgh.
“He’s right at home.” – Sapp on Donovan McNabb’s future in Philadelphia
“The guys in the locker room understood the situation, how it went down and that Donovan took it like a pro. The team got better.” – Faulk on the Eagles reaction as a team following the benching of Donovan McNabb.
“He probably would have played better in the later games anyway, so the benching had nothing to do with it.” – Mariucci on Donovan McNabb’s play late in the season
“He is their most crucial player.” – Faulk on Eagles Brian Westbrook
“The interception maker, Asante Samuel.” –Faulk on a key player for the Eagles
“The most crucial player is not out there that much or the most flashy guy, it’s Kevin Boss…The tight end is the quarterback’s best friend.” – Sapp on the Giant’s most crucial player
“If he doesn’t make some sacks today, he’s going to join everyone else who’s received an award this year. MVP is home. Coach of the Year is home. Offensive Player of the Year is home. Offensive Player of the Year is home, so is the Rookie of the year. If James Harrison doesn’t make sacks today, he’s going home.” – Faulk on James Harrison being a critical player for the Steelers in today’s game against the Chargers
“Donny Football.” – Warren Sapp’s nickname for Donovan McNabb
“He is the best ever at avoiding interceptions.” – Mariucci on Donovan McNabb
“The only thing missing is Jerry Lewis taking the phone calls.” – Spero Dedes on the longest football pregame show on television NFL GameDay Morning.
“As a defender against Ben Roethlisberger, you have to remind yourself that you have to play a little bit longer, not just because of his scrambling ability, but because of his ability to withstand the first hit.” – special player correspondent New York Jets CB Ty Law on defending Ben Roethlisberger
“He’s the least intercepted quarterback in NFL history and when you have that on your side, you can do a lot of things.” – Sapp on Donovan McNabb
“He’s a leader…He believes he can fit the football into any spot.” – Faulk on Eli Manning
“He’s big, he’s strong, he’s tough and he’s smart, but most importantly he’s a winner.” – Mariucci on Ben Roethlisberger
EXTRA POINTS:
- Next week’s Conference Championship edition of NFL GameDay Morning will be on the air four hours on Sunday starting at 11:00 AM ET.
On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:
Eagles-Giants report: Steve Wyche has the latest weather and injury news from East Rutherford, NJ.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e09ea7
Giants Word on the street: Bob Papa, voice of the Giants, breaks down the keys to the Eagles-Giants game.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e0a024
Chargers-Steelers report: Kara Henderson and Ty Law have the latest weather and injury updates from Pittsburgh.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e09f07
3 Keys for San Diego: Marshall Faulk lays out three keys for the Chargers to beat the Steelers.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e0a223
3 Keys for Pittsburgh: Warren Sapp lays out his three keys for the Steelers to beat the Chargers.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e0a2ca
Cardinals report: Scott Hanson and Keith Brooking reflect on the Cardinals win and update Anquan Boldin’s hamstring injury.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e09f86
Brandon Jacobs’ story: Hear firsthand how Brandon Jacobs beat the odds to become a star NFL running back.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e0a50d
Westbrook reflects on 2008: Brian Westbrook chronicles the ups and downs of the Eagles season leading to the playoffs.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e0a438
On NFL.com the following video clips from Saturday night’s NFL GameDay Final are available for viewing:
Joe Flacco interview: Rookie QB Joe Flacco talks with Trent Green after the Ravens beat the Titans to advance to the AFC title game on NFL GameDay Final.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e07b83
Larry Fitzgerald interview: Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald discusses Arizona’s victory at Carolina with Keith Brooking on Saturday’s NFL GameDay Final.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e08049
Ray Lewis interview: Ray Lewis chats with the NFL GameDay Final crew after the Ravens advance on Saturday.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e06115
Let’s Go Prime Time: Deion Sanders counts down his Top 5 performances from Saturday’s wild-card action on Saturday’s NFL GameDay Final.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e084fa
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