Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Craftsman Notes & Quotes
Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams
Oct. 4, 2012 on NFL Network
From St. Louis Play-by-play Announcer: Brad Nessler; Game Analyst: Mike Mayock; Sideline: Alex Flanagan
Host: Rich Eisen; Analysts: Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin
Reporters: Alex Flanagan, Stacey Dales
Kurt Warner 1-on-1 with Cardinals Quarterback Kevin Kolb:
NFL Network analyst and former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner sat down for a 1-on-1 conversation with the current quarterback for the Cardinals Kevin Kolb on the trade from Philadelphia last season, the biggest difference in his play this season from last year, and more.
– “Sure. Yeah that crossed my mind. I had to plan for every scenario, but in this league if you’re going to have longevity, you have to be able to handle adversity. So Ken [Whisenhunt] and I had a conversation, it went well and we moved forward with it.” – Kolb on if there was a time when he thought his time in Arizona was over after the success of John Skelton and bringing in Peyton Manning for a free agent visit
– “It was special. It was an opportunity that I had been waiting for. Obviously coming from Philly and the things that had happened there, I was ready to start fresh, start new and then be able to put my stamp on wherever I went to.” – Kolb on the trade to Arizona
– “Every time I’ve felt like that in the past, it’s come back and slapped me. I felt like that in Philadelphia; that I played well enough to prove myself to get a starting job, played one half and [then] I was out. I just want to remain playing well. Of course the victories are the biggest thing and that’s what we’re after.” – Kolb on if he feels he has played well enough that it should be his job to lose
– “I really don’t think so because I had been through a lot in Philadelphia and gone through an offseason thinking that I was the starter until the first game when I got the concussion. What I wasn’t ready for was how much transition there was and how many differences there were just between teams and offenses.” – Kolb on if he felt the expectations from the trade and signing the contract extension with the Cardinals affected him
– “When you’re thinking and you’re not just playing and you’re not just reacting, you’re behind on everything and then you’re trying to make up with arm speed. That’s not how you play the game; it’s about anticipation. Looking back now, I can see myself a step behind everybody, especially early on, and then I got banged up again.” – Kolb on the main reason behind his struggles last season
– “Sure. I just have faith that regardless of what situation I get put in, I’m always going to keep a positive attitude because you never know when the next opportunity is going to arise. If you have a bad attitude, then you’re not going to succeed once you get that shot; I learned that in Philly, Andy [Reid] helped me with that when he made Mike [Vick] the starter over me. Experiences, they really help you throughout this league.” – Kolb on if he thinks it was a blessing in disguise that John Skelton was named the starting quarterback
To view Warner’s entire interview with Kolb, visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Arizona Cardinals-St. Louis Rams Pregame Analysis and Quotes:
– “He’s everything to this team.” – Marshall Faulk on St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson
– “When a team tells you we’re going to let you get your option regardless if you get it or not, that’s a message to you as to what you need to do in order to make this team or to be on this team next year.” – Marshall Faulk on the Rams voiding the final year of running back Steven Jackson’s contract
– “I love the demeanor he has. He is confident right now, he is not pressing… but he still has to convince me on the field. I still want to see him in a critical situation and he has to win a game for me. I like where he is at from a mental standpoint. I still want to see more from him on the field.” – Kurt Warner on Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb
– “They use Larry Fitzgerald to set the whole offense. He moves around the whole football field. I am looking for Larry to make a difference tonight.” – Michael Irvin on Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald
– “I love what Sam Bradford brings to the table; he’s a complete quarterback, he has good patience for a young guy and [someone] who has been hit a lot. But they don’t have the weapons around him. That’s where they need to build in the future.” – Kurt Warner on the current state of the St. Louis Rams
– “The defense is playing at a playoff caliber level already…If this defense can carry the offense for a little while longer and Kevin Kolb can get more comfortable, this team is a playoff team.” – Kurt Warner on if the Cardinals are a playoff team
– “What a great story he is. Every quarterback needs a security blanket, someone who against heavy blitz can win quickly. He is Wes Welker, Davone Bess – he is that kind of player. Sam [Bradford] loves him.” – Mike Mayock on Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola
Quick Quotes:
– “Peyton Manning gets Tom Brady this time because the supporting cast is better for Peyton Manning. The Patriots defense is their weak link. I look for Peyton to take advantage and outduel Tom Brady.” – Marshall Faulk on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady facing Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning
– “Offensively, it doesn’t seem like they can make the necessary in-game adjustments that they need to make to go to the next level.” – Deion Sanders on the 2-2 Dallas Cowboys
– “When things are not going right, where are the leaders to pull this team together? That leadership sometimes, you just can’t find it. If one of your leaders is the guy who throws five interceptions [in one game], you have an issue.” – Marshall Faulk on the Dallas Cowboys
– “The problems remain on the defensive side of the ball; the defense is what got them into two AFC Championship [games]. Mark Sanchez is the same guy. The problem is on the defensive side of the ball. Rex Ryan will fix that.” – Deion Sanders on the New York Jets
On NFL.com the following video clips from Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Craftsman are available for viewing:
Fitzgerald family fights on – Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald lost his mother in college to a fight with breast cancer. Now he is doing whatever he can to help others avoid going through the same pain his mother and family went through:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
St. Louis running back Steven Jackson’s impact – What impact will St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson have against the Arizona Cardinals? Thursday Night Kickoff debates:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams: Tools for Victory – The Thursday Night Kickoff crew break down the keys to tonight’s NFC West battle between the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams:
M&M’s Presidential Debate – Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin debate on some of the most crushing issues in the NFL, including which struggling playoff team from 2011 will rebound to make the playoffs in 2012:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Round 13: Manning vs. Brady – Will Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning outduel New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in their Week 5 matchup?:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
Which NFC East team is in the most trouble? – The Thursday Night Kickoff crew debates which NFC East team worries them the most headed into Week 5:
Tebow time in New York? – Is New York Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow the solution to the Jets’ offensive problems? Jay Glazer breaks it down:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-
NEXT WEEK ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT TENNESSEE TITANS — 8:00 PM ET
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