Thursday Night Football Telecast Notes
Play-by-Play: Bob Papa Analyst: Matt Millen
Quotes from Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Dec. 17, 2009 on NFL Network
FIRST HALF:
“As long as they have Manning, they’ve got a great shot.”
– Matt Millen on if the Colts ability to go undefeated
“Maurice Jones-Drew is the engine that makes this offense go.”
– Millen on Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew
“The simplicity of the Colts offense is reduced to one guy and that’s Dallas Clark. The Colts want to see how the defense will cover him and who they take out of the box, then Manning works from there.”
– Millen on the Indianapolis Colts offense
“This guy is the most deceptive guy in all of football. He’s clever. He’s the smartest.” – Millen on Colts QB Peyton Manning
“You have got to be 100% right when you play Peyton Manning and you have to get pressure.”
– Millen on the Jaguars pass rush vs. Colts QB Peyton Manning
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ‘SPRINT HALFTIME SHOW’
Host: Rich Eisen Analysts: Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk
QB Drew Brees and New Orleans Music Legend Harry Connick Jr. Share What the Saints Mean to the city of New Orleans
“It’s much more than football. It’s really a socially significant event that’s going on with the football team.” – Connick Jr.
For a clip of Connick Jr. and Brees on the Saints and the city of New Orleans, please visit:
http://ftp2.nflfilmstv.com/filmsint/ftp-inet/Preview/game_changers_90_sec_rough_121709_600k.wmv
QUOTES FROM THURSDAY NIGHT KICKOFF PRESENTED BY SEARS PREGAME SHOW
Host: Rich Eisen Analysts: Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk
Play-by-play Announcer: Bob Papa Game Analyst: Matt Millen
Reporters: Jason La Canfora, Scott Hanson
Quotes from Rich Eisen’s Interview with Cowboys TE Jason Witten:
“We’re a group that makes a lot of plays and have had success….We’re a good offense and have a lot of weapons that make plays. These next three games, we have to continue to do that.”
– Witten on criticism of Cowboys’ offense
“They’ve earned their record, but we’re still a confident team.”
– Witten on facing the undefeated Saints
“He believes in this team. It shows in the way he coaches and how he prepares us. We’re a well prepared team, we just have to go out and execute.”
– Witten on head coach Wade Phillips
For a clip of Eisen’s interview with Witten, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d8150c582/Boys-ready-for-Saints
Jason La Canfora’s Pregame 1-on-1 with Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio:
“There’s nothing easy about it. They’re a fine football team and that’s why they’ve won more games in the last decade than anybody else. We have been a team that’s played very well against them and after we win tonight, that will be a split over the last two years.”
– Del Rio on the Indianapolis Colts
“He’s a champion in everything he does.”
– Del Rio on Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew
“The guys have worked really hard all year. It’s been a resilient group. We’ve got a lot of new faces and a lot of young guys, but they’ve worked very hard and the staff has worked very hard.”
– Del Rio on the Jaguars being in the playoff picture
Quick Quotes:
“That’s easy to say when you have them on your fingers already.”
– Matt Millen, in response to NFL Network’s Michael Irvin saying he would give up his three Super Bowl rings for an undefeated season
“As a kid, we had the Saints and the [New Orleans] Jazz. When the Jazz left, all we had were the Saints…the city is rallying around what the Saints are doing.”
– Marshall Faulk, a New Orleans native, on what the Saints mean to the city of New Orleans.
“I started at cotton candy and eventually I moved up to popcorn.”
– Faulk on working as a vendor in the Superdome as a kid
“After Hurricane Katrina, people had to migrate to something. They needed hope and the team brought it.”
– Deion Sanders on what the Saints mean to the City of New Orleans
“The year they won the Super Bowl, they had to play for position and didn’t have home field advantage. They ended up winning the Super Bowl because they went out and competed the entire time…I don’t care if you’re Peyton Manning or Dwight Freeney, you can’t just turn it on and off when you want to.”
– Marshall Faulk on why the Indianapolis Colts should not rest their starters
“The Chargers have the best team in the AFC.”
– Steve Mariucci on the San Diego Chargers
“It doesn’t matter who the receiver is. Drew Brees is going to throw it to his favorite receiver and that’s the open receiver.”
– Marshall Faulk on Saints QB Drew Brees
“No team asks more of its quarterback than the Colts do.”
– Steve Mariucci on the Colts QB Peyton Manning
Jason La Canfora News Reports:
- There’s going to be more change in the Washington Redskins organization for sure. Thursday’s resignation of Vinny Cerrato and announcement of new GM Bruce Allen is the first of other dominos to fall. In regards to the head coaching position, I continue to hear Mike Shanahan as the person to watch to replace Jim Zorn. Shanahan is already putting a potential staff in place as he is working behind the scenes and is ready to come back and I continue to hear that comeback to be in Washington, perhaps as a team president and head coach, similar to the role that Joe Gibbs had a few years back. Jon Gruden is another name you’ll hear and he will be there for a broadcast Monday, which will make for an interesting dynamic, but I’m told Gruden will be a broadcaster in 2010 and is not interested in coaching right now. He’s not trying to get out of his contract right now and even if he wanted to, it’s nearly impossible for 2010.
- Mike Holmgren and the Cleveland Browns are continuing their talks in regard to the Browns General Manager position. There’s definite interest there and I’m told that there’s a lucrative offer on the table. I’m told it’s more a matter of time than an ‘if’ with this situation. Holmgren wants some security and wants to know where he stands before the holidays and Randy Lerner has been conducting this search for a while now.
- It’s a very real probability that a team will end up in Los Angeles. Look for the LA ownership group to start sending out multiple offers to teams that they feel may be interested when the season ends. I’m told they could get something up and running in LA as soon as 2010 with temporary leases, but people close to that group are thinking closer to 2011. The stars would all have to align to get something done in 2010, but 2011 is more probable.
**Additional videos from NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football coverage of Steelers vs. Browns can be viewed on NFL.com**
- Pilobolus: Colts vs. Jaguars – A theatrical look at the Week 15 matchup between the Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pilobolus/09000d5d8150c5e4/Pilobolus-Colts-vs-Jaguars
UPCOMING NFL NETWORK GAMES:
DALLAS COWBOYS VS. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 at 8:00 PM ET
SPECIAL THREE-HOUR PREGAME SHOW AT 5:00 PM ET
CHRISTMAS NIGHT SPECIAL
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS VS. TENNESSEE TITANS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25 at 7:00 PM ET
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