“’Game manager’ has a negative connotation and it really shouldn’t because what is means is he’s smart, he does the right things, he takes care of the football…It usually refers to a quarterback who’s playing on a team with a good defense and they run the football.” – Steve Mariucci on 49ers QB Alex Smith being labeled a ‘game manager’
“The Chargers would take a game manager right now. The Indianapolis Colts would take a game manager right now. There’s a lot of teams – the Washington Redskins – would love a game manager right now.” – Marshall Faulk on 49ers QB Alex Smith being labeled a ‘game manager’
“He’s the leader of that defense and there will be an impact without Ray Lewis playing against the number one rushing team in the NFL. Don’t fool yourself, they need Ray Lewis.” – Deion Sanders on Ravens LB Ray Lewis
NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Jeff Fisher’s next head coaching opportunity & Saints’ franchise tag leverage over QB Drew Brees
The ‘Harbowl’ Caps off Thanksgiving Day Action with 49ers vs. Ravens ‘Thursday Night Football’ Tonight at 8:00 PM ET
NFL GameDay Morning makes its first-ever appearance on Thanksgiving with host Rich Eisen and analysts Michael Irvin, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders bringing fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews live from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Following the early Thanksgiving matchups in Detroit and Dallas, the group returns for Thursday Night Football Presented by Sears at 7:00 PM ET prior to 49ers-Ravens at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network. Brad Nessler has the call alongside Mike Mayock in the booth and Alex Flanagan on the sideline.
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:
“’Game manager’ has a negative connotation and it really shouldn’t because what is means is he’s smart, he does the right things, he takes care of the football…It usually refers to a quarterback who’s playing on a team with a good defense and they run the football.” – Steve Mariucci on 49ers QB Alex Smith being labeled a ‘game manager’
“That’s all he is and there’s nothing wrong with that…Frank Gore is the catalyst on that offense. That offense revolves around the 120 yards Frank Gore has averaged over those last six victories, if you take out the one game that he had against the Giants where he got hurt.” – Michael Irvin on if QB Alex Smith is a game manager of the 49ers offense
“The Chargers would take a game manager right now. The Indianapolis Colts would take a game manager right now. There’s a lot of teams – the Washington Redskins – would love a game manager right now.” – Marshall Faulk on 49ers QB Alex Smith being labeled a ‘game manager’
“The NFC East is so inconsistent. It’s going to boil down to the quarterback play. Mark my words – the quarterback play. If Tony Romo can continue what he’s been for the last five games, the Cowboys should win the NFC East.” – Deion Sanders on if the Cowboys can win the NFC East
“Alex Smith is having a career year, while Joe Flacco is riding that emotional roller coaster.” – Marshall Faulk on who is the better quarterback – 49ers Alex Smith or Ravens Joe Flacco
“He’s the leader of that defense and there will be an impact without Ray Lewis playing against the number one rushing team in the NFL. Don’t fool yourself, they need Ray Lewis.” – Deion Sanders on Ravens LB Ray Lewis
“John Elway has an idea and a vision as to what his franchise quarterback is going to look like and Tim Tebow doesn’t fit that script. He can’t play that character. If I’m building a team, that team, I’m going to make sure that I build it the way I want to, have the kind of quarterback that I want. I’m not just going to accept what is here right now.” – Marshall Faulk on QB Tim Tebow and his future in Denver
“The league is going to more and more passing every year and [Denver] has gone the other way and they’re running option football. If I’m John Fox or John Elway, their vision of offense and how they want to run this organization, it’s not option football, it never was.” – Steve Mariucci on QB Tim Tebow’s future in Denver
“If I’m making the decision, I’m going to lose my way. If I’m going to lose my job, I’m going to my job doing it my way, not any other way with any other people.” – Marshall Faulk on Broncos Executive VP of Football Operations John Elway and QB Tim Tebow’s future in Denver
“When they’re on offense, your defense is at their mercy. They are going to score, they are going to move the football down the field, but I believe you have to have some way to interrupt Aaron Rodgers…and just pray to God that he has a bad day.” – Marshall Faulk on how to beat the Green Bay Packers
“I don’t believe anyone is going to beat the Green Bay Packers. I don’t know of a way to beat the Green Bay Packers.” – Michael Irvin on how to beat the Green Bay Packers
“In most cities, that’s your quarterback. That shows you the blue collar nature of Detroit.” – Marshall Faulk on Lions DT Ndamukong Suh being prominently featured in Chrysler Thanksgiving ad in USA Today
The Harbaugh Family
Jackie and Jack Harbaugh will travel from their suburban home in Mequon, WI to Baltimore, MD to be close by as their two sons coach against each other at M&T Bank Stadium on Thanksgiving night for the first time. Jim will man the 49ers’ sideline, while John leads the hometown Ravens.
The NFL Season: A Biography tells a story about football, family, and a long coaching lineage that comes full circle beneath the Thursday night lights.
“He’d drop us off at school, he’d pull up to the curb and tell us to grab our lunch sacks. [He’d say], ‘Attack this day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind, men.’” – Jim Harbaugh on his father Jack
To view the latest installment of The NFL Season: A Biography featuring the Harbaugh family, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/features/
“Their father gave them a gift; by making them and teaching them how to compete. If we can instill competition in our kids, that’s all we want. We want them to go out in the world and compete.” – Marshall Faulk on the relationship between Jack Harbaugh and his sons, Jim and John
Bold Predictions
Deion Sanders: Ted Ginn, Jr. scores a special teams touchdown
Steve Mariucci: Rookies will dominate Thanksgiving
Marshall Faulk: Ray Rice will score two rushing touchdowns vs. the 49ers defense
Michael Irvin: The Dallas Cowboys will win in overtime
‘Inside Slant’ with Jason La Canfora
On Drew Brees and the status of his new contract:
We might be waiting awhile. A lot of people don’t realize in the CBA, there’s changes to how the franchise tag is applied and the equations that go into it; It’s no longer just the average of the five highest salaries from the year before. The franchise tag for a quarterback coming up, according to my sources, will be $14.5 million, which is a relative bargain. Jets QB Mark Sanchez is making $14.75 million this year. Colts QB Peyton Manning, between his options and his salary, could make $35 million a year from now. So Brees at $14.5 million, when you’ve got guys like Michael Vick averaging over $16 million, that has something to do with this. That’s a lot of leverage for the team and it could end up being a two year, $32 million deal because if [New Orleans] were to franchise Brees twice – 20% raise over that $4.4 [million] – you’re coming in right around $17.5 million, so that’s a very real possibility.
On the future of former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher:
There’s a chance he ends up in the NFC East. I can tell you he has very strong ties to Dallas’ ownership group, he’s got very strong ties to the Giants ownership group and talking to people close to him, those are cities and teams he’d be comfortable going to. Now, we don’t know what’s going to happen in that division, certainly it looks like whoever wins the division is going in [the Playoffs] and everybody else is going to have an unhappy owner; I don’t know if they’ll send two teams to the Playoffs, so depending on how that shakes out, there could be openings in that division. Some people think of Jeff Fisher as a small town guy because of Nashville; he’s a L.A. guy, he’s a big city guy. New York is not too big for him. People need to keep that in mind as we get to this period of jobs opening.
On developing story of Eagles CB Nnamdi Asomugha injury at practice today:
He was carted off with what appears to be a knee injury. I spoke to team officials there who said they’re just now beginning to ascertain what happened. Andy Reid is still on the practice field; practice is still ongoing at this time [12:30 pm ET]. The Eagles medical team is looking at Asomugha.
On the Chicago Bears QB position, had they picked up Kyle Orton:
The reality is that he would have been the number three [quarterback] there. Jay Cutler’s out, we know that. [Kyle] Orton would have just been doing the role that Josh McCown is doing now, which is be behind Caleb Hanie, hold that clip board and try to learn the system. They’re very comfortable in Caleb Hanie. Talking to people in that coaching staff, they feel like he’s going to make plays for them, they feel like he’ll be an effective game manager at the very least for them. There’s a lot of confidence in Hanie, so Orton would have been behind Hanie in that pecking order, no matter what.
On how soon Kyle Orton will take the field for Kansas City:
Not this week, but the week after [Week 14].
On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:
Leon’s Lett-down – What does Leon Lett remember about the Thanksgiving that Cowboys fans will always remember? Lett re-lives the day where he cost his team a win against the Dolphins.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Tebow’s future – Is Tim Tebow the answer in Denver? Our “GameDay Morning” crew decides whether Tebow should be the Broncos franchise quarterback.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
21st and Primetime – Check out Deion’s top five Thanksgiving moments on the special Turkey Day edition of 21st and Prime.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Greatness on the Road: Patriots vs. Eagles – Hope is still alive for the Eagles. Can Tom Brady and the Patriots travel into hostile territory and shatter Philadelphia’s momentum? Find out.
Playing Inspired – Who must play inspired today? Our analysts each choose a player who needs to step up for his respective team.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
M & M – Will Cam Newton or Andy Dalton win rookie of the year? Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin discuss that topic, along with choosing Alex Smith or Joe Flacco as their QB and whether the Bears or Texans are in worse shape.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Stafford the savior – Will Matthew Stafford carry the Lions to the playoffs? The NFL GameDay Morning crew discusses his leadership role for the Lions.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
NFC East favorite – Will the Cowboys win the NFC East? The NFL GameDay Morning analysts discuss the division and choose their division winner.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Is Alex proving his worth? – Is Alex Smith more than a game manager? The “GameDay Morning” crew digs deep into this topic and offers its opinion.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Bold predictions – Will Ted Ginn Jr. score a touchdown? Will the rookies dominate Thanksgiving? Each of our analysts has a bold prediction for today’s games.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
EXTRA POINTS:
- Baltimore Ravens Host San Francisco 49ers in the ‘Harbaugh Bowl’ on Thanksgiving Edition of Thursday Night Football:
For the first time in NFL history, two brothers will coach against one another when Jim Harbaugh and the division-leading San Francisco 49ers travel to face the John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens on a Thanksgiving edition of NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football Thursday, November 24 at 8:00 PM ET. Last week’s Thursday Night Football game between the New York Jets and Denver Broncos was watched by an average of 7.1 million viewers (not including over-the-air stations in New York and Denver). After two games, Thursday Night Football is averaging 6.1 million viewers, up 17 percent over 2010.
- Sound FX: Thursday Night Football Special Edition 49ers vs. Ravens airs Saturday at 8:00 PM ET: Experience an NFL game in a way only NFL Network can bring you on Sound FX: Thursday Night Football Special Edition 49ers vs. Ravens Saturday, November 28 at 8:00 PM ET. The one-hour show is an exclusive “all-sound” cut down version of the Thanksgiving Day Thursday Night Football game between the division-leading San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. Produced by NFL Films, the show offers a unique look into the first-ever meeting between NFL head coaching brothers, featuring more than a dozen players and coaches wired for sound throughout the game.
- Second Week 12 edition NFL GameDay Morning Sunday at 9:00 AM ET: Sunday is GameDay, beginning with NFL GameDay Morning at 9:00 AM ET. Join host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin on the first and most comprehensive pregame show on television, taking viewers straight up to kickoff with the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis, exclusive interviews and game previews. This Sunday, the group examines how Chicago and Houston will fare without their starting quarterbacks, are the 4-6 Eagles still alive in the Playoff chase and if the Bills Week 12 matchup against the Jets a must-win. The show also includes live reports from Philadelphia, Met Life Stadium and Jacksonville.
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.
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