October 25, 2009
NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE,
BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 7 ON OCTOBER 25
►“SEC ON CBS’s” RATINGS ROLL WITH TIDE OVER TENNESSEE
CBS Sports’ coverage of the SEC ON CBS on Saturday, Oct. 24, which saw No. 1 Alabama defeating Tennessee, 12-10, earned an overnight household rating/share of 3.7/8, up 9% from last year’s 3.4/8 (No. 9 Georgia vs. No. 11 LSU).
►THE NFL TODAY’S JAMES BROWN INTERVIEW WITH NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL VIA SATELLITE FROM LONDON
(On whether NFL is looking to add more games played in London and other cities)
Commissioner Goodell: The success we’ve had here in the U.K. over the last three years, if it continues to grow and we continue to build a bigger fan base, I think if we can continue that, we will look to add multiple games here. Again, we’re just feeding the demand for our sport. We would love to be able to see multiple games in this market.
(On whether NFL is looking specifically to put a franchise in London and how soon that might be)
Commissioner Goodell: I think we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves there, as far as getting a franchise here. If we can continue to be successful with every step, if we do play multiple games here in London and they continue to build on the success we already have and our fan base grows, yes, it’s realistic to think that could happen someday. But it’s down the road.
(On whether NFL will be back in Los Angeles; and whether it would be expansion or relocation)
Commissioner Goodell: Well, we do think that the developments in California were positive this week. We’re grateful for the leadership there, particularly the Governor who did sign that bill. But the reality is there’s a lot more work to be done. It’s clear a stadium can get built now and get over the hurdles of environmental and other challenges. But we really have to figure out how to finance it. And that’s the big challenge right now. It would probably be an $800 million stadium. That is going to be a real challenge for us. We’ll do one step at a time. This is a positive development. Hopefully someday we’ll be able to get back to Los Angeles because we know we have millions of fans in Southern California
(On potential League action against Oakland Head Coach Tom Cable despite being absolved of criminal charges)
Commissioner Goodell: We’ve been monitoring it the whole way. This has been a criminal matter and the DA says they’re not going to pursue it any further at this stage. We will look into that decision. We will follow up on it. And, if any action is necessary, we will take that.
(On what the NFL would do if a team experienced a major flu outbreak on game day)
Commissioner Goodell: We’ve been working on this for a long time with our competition committee and our medical consultants. The reality of it is, we do everything we can for the health and safety of our players, but there could be a competitive issue if something like the swine flu struck a team, and a number of players were unavailable. If more than six players were unavailable at any given time, we do have a procedure in place to allow them to sign players on short notice and bring them up with their practice squad or sign them from the street. I think there are procedures in place should that happen. Our most important issue is to make sure it doesn’t happen. We’ve had some concerns with a couple of players’ health…but the reality is we’ve been able to contain it effectively with good medical help and that’s our hope.
►More with Commissioner Goodell during an in-game interview in London with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
Nantz: Do you see having multiple games (in London) next year?
Commissioner Goodell: Yes I do. It’s possible that we extend the series to two games for 2010.
►QUICK HITS
(On Washington Head Coach Jim Zorn)
BILL COWHER: The head coach is the face of the team. He’s out there to give directions and answers. Three weeks ago when Sherman Lewis was brought in, it began the undermining of Jim Zorn as head coach and offensive coordinator. When he was faced this past week with the stripping of the play calling, he had two choices: No. 1 you say no, and that could lead to his firing; or No. 2 you can say, if that’s part of the contract and they can do that, you accept it, you leave the room and endorse it. He didn’t do either. And in doing so, he lost his dignity and he lost his credibility. To me, he lost his ability to be a head coach and lead this football team. He’s nothing more than a figure head right now.
BOOMER ESIASON: If I were a player under those circumstances, he has just been marginalized by the ownership and general manager of that team.
SHANNON SHARPE: There’s enough blame to go around, but let’s start at the top with the owner Daniel Snyder because he thinks you can win the Super Bowl by spending the most money on the first day of free agency. And that has never worked. Then you have Vinny Cerrato. He has a situation where he has a radio show. I don’t think a Player Personnel or General Manager should talk about the inner workings of what’s happening in the organization. Maybe Jim Zorn is in over his head, but when you hire the offensive coordinator before you hire the head coach, there’s the problem right there. You don’t go to the grocery store, put the stuff in the basket and then start marking your list down. You get the list first. Then you go shopping. They hired the offensive coordinator first, then hired the coach. That’s wrong.
►“INSIDE THE NFL” WITH CHARLEY CASSERLY
(On Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford needing surgery)
CASSERLY: In my opinion, get the surgery now. It’s a five-month rehab that will put you healthy one month before the draft; no complications in the surgery. I think he’ll still be a high number one pick in next year’s draft.
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