“If you’re going to keep him in the pocket, you might as well play Kirk Cousins because you’re making him a robot.” – Rodney Harrison on RGIII
“Bill Belichick is the best adjustment coach in the league, so don’t bury the Patriots just yet.” – Tony Dungy
“Matt Ryan was the best I’ve ever seen him.” – Cris Collinsworth
“…He is so reckless with the ball. If I’m a teammate of his, I’m very disappointed…” – Rodney Harrison on Tony Romo
STAMFORD, Conn. – September. 7, 2014 – Following are highlights from Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports. Bob Costas opened the show live from inside Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., where the Broncos are hosting the Indianapolis Colts. Costas was joined on site by Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, NBC NFL analyst Hines Ward, and NBC Sports’ Josh Elliott.
Dan Patrick co-hosted Football Night from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1. He was joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy; two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison; Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com and NBCSN, and Peter King of Sports Illustrated. Carolyn Manno reported from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on the 49ers-Cowboys game.
Costas interviewed Broncos QB Peyton Manning, while Elliott interviewed Colts QB Andrew Luck.
Following are highlights from Football Night in America:
ON BRONCOS
Collinsworth on Broncos’ off-season additions: “You’re going to see a more explosive, a faster football team than what you saw in the Super Bowl.”
ON COLTS
Harrison on Andrew Luck: “This is a special kid because he’s not trying to be Peyton Manning. He’s trying to be himself.”
Dungy on Luck: “He is special, and he’s going to elevate into that level of great quarterbacks this year.”
ON PATRIOTS AND SAINTS
Dungy: “I had these guys going to the Super Bowl, both of these teams. They didn’t look like it today.”
Harrison on Patriots defense: “Bill Belichick, he has to be a little bit concerned. Not panic mode, but a little bit concerned.”
Dungy on Patriots: “Don’t get too panicked now if you’re ready to kill the New England Patriots. They didn’t play well. They had some offensive line problems. But Bill Belichick is the best adjustment coach in the league, so don’t bury the Patriots just yet.”
Dungy on Saints loss: “Drew Brees can take the blame if he wants to, but you have to point the finger at that New Orleans defense.”
ON FALCONS
Costas: “Even when they have been very good, in recent years, they’ve had trouble head to head in the division against the Saints. Big win for them, exciting overtime game today in Atlanta.”
Collinsworth: “Matt Ryan was the best I’ve ever seen him…(He) was getting out of the pocket, he was mobile. He was doing things I haven’t seen him do. This was his best performance.”
ON EAGLES
Dungy on offensive line: “Chip (Kelly) is going to work hard this week to get those sacks taken care of.”
ON BENGALS
Ward: “I’m still going to go with Cincinnati as my favorites in the AFC North.”
ON REDSKINS
Dungy on Robert Griffin III: “Robert Griffin did not put any pressure on the defense. He didn’t look comfortable. He didn’t make those big plays that we’re used to seeing.”
Harrison on RGIII: “I know there’s a balancing act, you want to keep him in the pocket and keep him healthy, but I think you’re taking away his biggest asset and that’s his ability to get outside the pocket and make those plays. If you’re going to keep him in the pocket, you might as well play Kirk Cousins because you’re making him a robot and he can’t use his instincts. That’s the thing that made him a great young quarterback.”
Dungy on RGIII: “He’s a creator, and if he’s not creating, he’s not the best he can be.”
ON COWBOYS
Harrison on Tony Romo: “They were terrible interceptions. Double teams, triple teams, and he is so reckless with the ball. If I’m a teammate of his, I’m very disappointed because it almost gets to a point like, ‘Are you serious? Do you even care the way we’re playing?’ because you don’t take care of the ball.”
ON BEARS
Harrison on Bears defense: “I’m not used to seeing a soft Chicago Bears defense get pushed and bullied around…They’ve got to play with some heart.”
Patrick on Antonio Brown return in which he kicked/stomped Spencer Lanning: “Everybody was Kung Fu fighting.”
ON TEXANS
Florio on Jadeveon Clowney: “We’ve confirmed that Clowney has a torn meniscus. It could be a 4-6 week absence. Surgery upcoming.”
ON CHIEFS
Harrison on team’s playoff prospects: “They’re done. After the very first game, and I’m not exaggerating.”
ON PANTHERS
Dungy on big winner of the day: “For me it has to be Derek Anderson, fills in for Cam Newton, goes on the road and leads the Panthers to a big road victory.”
ON BUCCANEERS
Patrick: “Same old Buccaneers?”
Dungy: “It looked like it today.”
INTERVIEWS: Below are excerpts from Costas’ interview with Manning, and Elliott’s interview with Luck. If used, please note the mandatory credit: “In an exclusive interview airing tonight on Football Night in America.”
PEYTON MANNING WITH BOB COSTAS
On moving beyond Super Bowl XLVIII loss to Seahawks: “I’m glad football is finally here. I’m not sure what’s worse – losing the Super Bowl, or having to talk about it all offseason. Opening night means that we can stop talking about last season, and truly move on to 2014.”
On knowing when to retire, regarding Tom Brady’s ‘When I suck, I’ll quit,’ comment: “I guess I’m along the same lines as Tom. I don’t want to be out there playing if I can’t help a team, make the throws that I think a quarterback has to make. At the same time, I’m not sure you have to play until you’re not a great player (anymore). I think you could stop before that point.”
On following up his “Football on Your Phone” performance with younger brother Eli, with “Fantasy Football Fantasy” this year: “The director of that commercial actually showed Eli and I a video of Jay-Z and Kanye (West), kind of like showing film – ‘this is what we’re looking for on this particular play.’ I was very uncomfortable…I can’t do what Jay-Z and Kanye are doing…their jobs are safe, let’s put it that way.”
To watch the interview, click here http://www.nbcsports.com/
ANDREW LUCK WITH JOSH ELLIOTT
On his long-time relationship with Peyton Manning: “I have an incredible amount of respect for him. Peyton’s obviously one of the best, if not the best, ever. I got to meet him when I was in eighth grade as a camper at the Manning (Passing) Camp…Any time the Colts were on TV, my dad would say, ‘I was a rookie when Archie (Manning) was a quarterback for the Oilers,’ and we felt in our family that we had to be Peyton fans and Colts fans because my dad knows them.”
On attending the World Cup this past summer: “I grew up in Europe, so soccer was a big part of my childhood. I’ve always loved soccer…so to get a chance to go to the World Cup and see the U.S. play, I think that’s really neat.”
On travel destinations following Brazil this past summer: “Hopefully Glendale, Ariz., for a Super Bowl.”
—FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA—
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