QUOTES FROM THURSDAY NIGHT KICKOFF PRESENTED BY SEARS PREGAME SHOW
From Atlanta Host: Rich Eisen; Analysts: Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders
Reporters: Alex Flanagan, Kara Henderson
Play-by-play Announcer: Bob Papa; Game Analysts: Matt Millen, Joe Theismann
From Los Angeles Host: Fran Charles; Analysts: Brian Billick, Jay Glazer, Sterling Sharpe, Kurt Warner, Jason La Canfora (remote)
Deion Sanders 1-on-1 with Ravens LB Ray Lewis: NFL Network’s Deion Sanders sits down with former Ravens teammate Ray Lewis for a candid discussion on his evolution as a player and individual through his 15 seasons in the NFL:
“The only thing that’s on our mind right now is whoever is on our schedule for the next week.” – Lewis on Baltimore’s focus as a team
“Physical. Very physical. We’re here to do one thing. If you’re going to catch it, if you’re going to run it, we’re going to hit you.” – Lewis on the Ravens defense playing style
“I’ve never stopped loving it, from day one. I’ve never been the fastest or the biggest or strongest, so my thing was always work. And that’s still to this day.” – Lewis on what keeps him passionate about the game
“I don’t think it’s about what you say to the guys, it’s about fitting the pieces to the work. So you actually say, ‘now who’s a Cowboy? Who’s really a Cowboy? When you turn on the film, who do you see really fighting?’” – Lewis on the state of the Dallas Cowboys
“I don’t blame coaches for anything that a player controls. It’s hard to blame a coach for effort. I can have anything there is. But when you’re talking about pure effort and I turn on the film and I see somebody not running to the ball or somebody not taking the hit. That’s the coach’s fault? No, that’s on me. If I’m the leader of that team, that’s on me.” – Lewis on where responsibility lies regarding a team’s effort on the field
To view Sanders’ interview with Ravens LB Ray Lewis, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d81c0b86f/Ray-Lewis-conversation
Rich Eisen 1-on-1 Interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:
On Ray Lewis’ comments regarding the fines given to players for illegal hits:
“I have great respect for Ray Lewis and the way he plays the game. He plays the game tough and within the rules and I speak to him frequently about these issues. I would tell you that we’re not automatically fining anybody. We look at this very closely. We are focused on certain techniques which we think could be dangerous in the game. This is not unusual in our history in the NFL; we have made changes going back to the ‘70s, ‘60s, and back further than that. To make the game safer, whether it’s the head slaps or chop blocks, you take out things that can lead to an injury and have an increased risk of that injury. And we’ll continue to do that. We’re not going to relent on making sure the game is as safe as possible.”
On the possibility of ejecting players during the game for illegal hits:
“No. The Competition Committee and the Membership is focused on that. We think it’s too much to put on the officials. They have the authority to be able to do it, they have for several years. We’re not making any changes to that. But we really think this needs to be studied. We need to look at the individual film that we get both from broadcast and coaching video, and look at it closely to make sure that we understand what the player was doing, exactly what technique he was using, and did he have another option to hit the player and then rip away.”
On why there isn’t publically more urgency to reach a new CBA deal:
“I think there needs to be more of a sense of urgency. There are discussions going on. I think they have to be more productive though. It’s not just about whether you’re having meetings, it’s about productivity. We need to reach an agreement that will allow the players to continue to have success, to allow the teams to continue to have success, and to make the game better and bring more football to more fans.”
On the deadline to reach an agreement:
“A lot of negotiations wait until the 11:59 [mark], and I think that’s a mistake in this case. I think uncertainty is bad for the game, I think it’s bad for the players, I think it’s bad for the fans. I think we need to reach an agreement sooner rather than later because it starts to hurt and impact the game and the fans. I think that’s why we need to get this done sooner rather than later.”
On if he anticipates a quick conclusion on the Jenn Sterger situation:
“I’m never pushed much by timelines. I think what you have to do is be fair, you have to try to get all the facts, and make a smart decision. I think what we need to do here is make sure we have all those facts from as many different sources as we can. I’ll get an update tomorrow.”
To view Eisen’s interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, please visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d81c0ba0c/Commissioner-talks-fines
Quick Quotes:
“I’m happy and I’m elated. It means a lot.”
– Deion Sanders on being inducted into the Atlanta Falcons’ Ring of Honor
“This is a workable situation, but it’s not a healthy situation.”
– Brian Billick on the relationship between Redskins QB Donovan McNabb and head coach Mike Shanahan
“We in the media do a better job defending Donovan McNabb than Donovan McNabb does.”
– Sterling Sharpe on Redskins QB Donovan McNabb and his relationship with head coach Mike Shanahan
“For Tennessee, it’s going to be very, very sketchy. Randy [Moss], as they say on the street, is going to have to ‘get in where he fits in.’ They’re not going to design a lot of plays for him.”
– Sterling Sharpe on WR Randy Moss’ potential impact with the Tennessee Titans
“Randy Moss is a big loss for this Patriots team, especially against a team like the Steelers.”
– Kurt Warner on Patriots vs. Steelers Week 10 matchup
“Make no mistake; Randy Moss can still take the top off a defense. He may have lost a step, which means he’s going to beat you by three steps instead of four.”
– Brian Billick on Randy Moss
“There’s a team in New York – and I’m not talking about the Jets – home and on the road, passing game, defense; I believe in those guys. Those guys got it going on.”
– Deion Sanders on the New York Giants
“You guys are gutless. If you want to make a statement like that, put your name to it instead of hiding behind the term ‘gutless.’ So if you don’t like the coach, tell him. If you’re going to say it publicly, put your name to it because that just makes you wimpy and gutless in my mind. That whole organization is a ship that’s coming apart.”
– Joe Theismann on Vikings players anonymously voicing their displeasure for head coach Brad Childress
“When I look at Jason Garrett, I say you have to do three things: you have to have them accountable, you have to make them compete, and you have to create an identity for this football team.”
– Sterling Sharpe on new Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett
“Don’t play the race card. Let’s not play that.”
– Deion Sanders, responding to author John Feinstein’s comments regarding QB Donovan McNabb being benched by Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan being tied to race
“He’s the closest thing to Ray Lewis on the offensive side of the ball that I’ve seen in the NFL.”
– Kurt Warner on Ravens WR Anquan Boldin
“I played against Ray [Lewis] earlier in his career. [Physically] he has lost a step, but mentally he’s gained two on the field. He’s smarter, he knows where to go, he can change plays.”
– Marshall Faulk on Ray Lewis
“He’s the leader; we know that. He’s the vocal leader but he’s also a leader by example and production.”
– Steve Mariucci on Ray Lewis
From Jay Glazer:
On Vikings players criticizing Minnesota head coach Brad Childress…
There’s been this sort of feeling towards Brad Childress for quite some time, but when you’re winning, it really covers it up. What the players really have a big problem with right now is they say for years Childress, whenever one of the players comes out and says something dumb or inflammatory, he’ll bring it into a meeting, hold it up, read it in front of everybody in the team meeting and say ‘Do not be a distraction to the team.’ Well right now, [the players believe] Brad Childress is the biggest distraction. He’s breaking his own cardinal rule.
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