Thursday Night Football Notes
Play-by-Play: Bob Papa Analysts: Matt Millen, Joe Theismann Sideline: Alex Flanagan
Quotes from Houston Texans vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Dec. 2, 2010 on NFL Network
QUOTES FROM THURSDAY NIGHT KICKOFF PRESENTED BY SEARS PREGAME SHOW
From Philadelphia 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: Sterling Sharpe, Kurt Warner, Jay Glazer
Deion Sanders 1-on-1 with Eagles QB Michael Vick:
On the MVP talk surrounding him:
“Just the fact that it’s a possibility. Even though it’s something that I don’t wake up in the morning, come to practice saying ‘you know what, I’m going to try to play hard this week and do well so I can win an MVP this year.’ I think it’s just something that comes along as the season progresses and you move forward during the season.”
On the shooting which occurred on his birthday earlier this year and if he cried:
“It could have been strike three. It could have been over. … Yeah. I cried plenty of times. If there was 24 hours in that day, I shed 10 hours worth of tears. Honestly. That day changed me. You get to a point where you’re just tired of hearing your name mentioned in a negative light. I’m just like ‘what can I do to just turn this all around?’ Honestly, I was just like do the right thing. That was on my conscience, just do the right thing, stay out of the way, come back to Philadelphia, study some football, do something different and dedicate your life to change.”
On reaching out to Plaxico Burress and what he would tell him:
“I would if I could. Honestly, if I could reach out to Plaxico [I would], but us both being felons, it’s not the right thing to do right now. …[I would tell him] it’s going to be over soon. I see that he’s trying to get out a work release. He wants to get out. I understand everything that he’s feeling, everything that he’s going through. Wanting to be out, wanting to be with your family. You reach a point where you say ‘I get it, I got it, it’s been enough, I’ve had enough.’ But it’s going to be over soon.”
On if he thought he was bigger than the game during his time in Atlanta:
“You just feel like you’ve arrived and you feel like you know it all and you feel like nobody can tell you anything.”
On the idea that his transgressions and those of players like JaMarcus Russell having a negative impact on the draft status of players like Cam Newton:
“It’s unfortunate and I take sole responsibility for my actions. In society when you do things like that and because of who you are and where you’re from and your background, people pay attention to that. It’s bigger than me. We have to start understanding that we have to be role models. We are role models. We have to be examples for the kids that are coming along behind us and that’s part of the reason I’m playing the way I’m playing, dedicating myself to the way I’m playing, trying to do all of the things so when another kid has that opportunity they feel like they can trust them.”
On his thoughts before turning himself in:
“Probably the two hours before I turned myself in was the point in time when I was like everything I worked hard for in my life has been taken away. Not because of somebody else but because of me. Not because of the people I hung around but because of me. I have to do everything to make this right moving forward. It’s going to be tough; I don’t know how long this is going to last but I’ve got to lean on the Lord and put my faith in God and trust him to get me through this situation.”
On his thoughts on the people who don’t forgive him:
“It upsets me because I can’t change anybody’s feelings. I can’t do enough to change anybody’s feelings. I think time heals all wounds; maybe it will, maybe it won’t. But the only thing I can do is control what I can control and that’s taking care of my responsibilities and, like I said and I continue to say, being a part of a solution and not the problem. I was a problem at first and [now] I’m trying to be part of the solution.”
To view Deion Sanders’ 1-on-1 interview with Eagles QB Michael Vick, please visit:
www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81c97a60/Deion-Vick-conversation
Quick Quotes:
“They’re not themselves on offense, they’re not themselves on defense and Peyton’s not playing the way he’s accustomed to playing, but they get back to the basics better than any team in the NFL.”
– Marshall Faulk on the Indianapolis Colts and their playoff chances
“I love this team, but be careful because the New Orleans Saints are coming.”
– Deion Sanders on the Atlanta Falcons being the best team in the NFL
“This is the one game that the New England Patriots will miss Randy Moss stretching the field.”
– Deion Sanders on Patriots-Jets Week 13 matchup
“When you talk about consistency in December, there’s no team that’s more consistent than the New England Patriots.”
– Kurt Warner
“Andy Reid is the Bill Belichick of the NFC.”
– Sterling Sharpe on Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid
“I believe that this game is why you have Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Derrick Mason. This is why you have all of them because you can spread Pittsburgh out.”
– Sterling Sharpe on the Baltimore Ravens Week 13 matchup vs. Pittsburgh
“This is the best game of the season to date.”
– Steve Mariucci on the game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots
“It starts with their head coach. As the general, you have to have trust in [your players], let them work for you. That’s not what’s going on there. There’s a feeling of distrust, it’s a culture of distrust towards the head coach.”
– Jay Glazer on what’s wrong with the Denver Broncos and head coach Josh McDaniels
Jim Mora on Michael Vick, his former QB with the Atlanta Falcons
On the interview he had with Vick:
“I spent an hour with Mike in Philadelphia in a one-on-one interview. That hour was very compelling and informative to me because I learned a lot of things about Mike that, interestingly enough, I didn’t know when I coached him. But the cameras just melted away, all the people were gone. It was just two guys that really cared about each other spending some time talking with each other.”
On how Vick has changed:
“I absolutely feel like he’s a changed human being. We’ve all seen the dynamic person on the field, but I’m so proud of Mike and what he’s become off the field. He is remorseful for what he did, he is taking responsibility for what he did, and he’s really committed to moving forward with his life and being a positive person in this society.”
On Vick this season:
“He’s spending much more time on his craft, which is football. He’s got a steady relationship in his life. He’s got focus in his life, he’s eliminated all of those distractions that were eating away at his time to prepare for football games in Atlanta. To his credit, he hasn’t fallen back into that trap again. He’s kept those people out of his life, he’s kept those distractions, and I think that’s one of the major reasons he’s having success on the football field.”
Sir Charles Has His Say: Philadelphia sports legend and NBA analyst Charles Barkley shares his take on Michael Vick’s second chance in the NFL and the Philadelphia sports fan base:
“One of the dirty, dark secrets in America is people who go to jail. When they get out of jail, we never give them an opportunity to recapture their life.
We all make mistakes and [Michael Vick] he paid his dues. I always say, ‘once you have been to jail and paid your dues, you start back out at zero.’
Everybody’s not going to forgive him, everybody’s not going to like him, but you can say the same thing about Brett Favre, you can say the same thing about T.O., you can say the same thing about Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds. The notion that you can make everybody happy is absurd. Kobe Bryant had a bad rep a few years ago, Ray Lewis had a bad rep a few years ago. They kept doing their thing and winning and the perception changed. It’s just about winning and losing. That’s all it’s about.
Some people are going to love Michael Vick, some people are going to hate Michael Vick. But I’m really rooting for him.
Philadelphia is the greatest place in the world when you win. And if you lose, then it’s the worst place in the world.
He’s their guy now and I think they’re really pulling for him. But that being said, if you stink up the joint it’s going to be trouble for him.
I don’t think any athlete in the history of sports has fallen further than Michael Vick. The guy went to prison for two years. To come out of prison and play well is an accomplishment, a great accomplishment.
If he could hold up the Vince Lombardi trophy, I think it’d be one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in my life, to be honest with you.”
For video of Barkley’s take, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/philadelphia-eagles/09000d5d81c97a61/Sir-Charles-talks-Vick
Preview of Michael Irvin’s Interview with Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and WR Roddy White
“I think most of the guys in the locker room don’t worry about it too much. It doesn’t really matter what everybody says.” – Matt Ryan on not getting the national credit for being the best team in the league
“I’m not with the dances and all that stuff. I’m not over there on the sidelines yelling at Matt.” – Roddy White on not getting the attention that other high-profile wide receivers get
**Irvin’s full interview with Ryan and White can be seen Sunday on NFL GameDay Morning at 9:00 AM ET on NFL Network**
Houston Texans-Philadelphia Eagles Pregame Analysis and Quotes:
“The game in Washington D.C. catapulted him into an area where he does not necessarily belong right now. It’s a two-horse race [for MVP between] Tom Brady and Philip Rivers right now. Tom and Philip are the guys that are really making it happen.”
– Joe Theismann on if Eagles QB Michael Vick should considered a candidate for NFL MVP
“He is so much more than just numbers. He creates things. He creates opportunities for others…[The way] this guy is playing the position, it’s almost revolutionary.”
– Matt Millen on Eagles QB Michael Vick
“When he was not there, Kevin Kolb stepped in and won games for this team. So you think this is a pretty good team with without Michael Vick in there, but it’s an amazing team with him there.”
– Marshall Faulk on the Philadelphia Eagles and QB Michael Vick
“This is what I see…He is at peace with himself. He knows who he is right now and that’s a different Michael Vick now than I remember when he was back in Atlanta.”
– Matt Millen on Eagles QB Michael Vick
“He’s restoring his image, but that happens off the field more so than throwing touchdown passes [on the field], and Michael Vick has been doing that. It’s going to take time. He’s in the process, and as time goes on, people will understand he made a mistake but he’s a better man right now.”
– Steve Mariucci on Michael Vick restoring his image
“The redemption is Michael Vick now changing the culture that is deeply embedded and teaching young kids that dog fighting is not acceptable. That’s what redemption is for Michael Vick and he understands that and he’s making amends as much as he can.”
– Marshall Faulk on if Michael Vick has restored his image
“No one will ever completely forgive Michael Vick because many people can’t forgive themselves…it’s sad that [in] America, they just want to see everyone stripped. They don’t want him to make another dime because most of us are sad and people have no hope.”
– Deion Sanders on if Michael Vick has been forgiven by society
“The business side of me says you put a franchise tag on him…you do that and then you try to work on a long-term deal as you go along.”
– Steve Mariucci on if he would sign Michael Vick to a long-term deal
“It’s going to look like 7-on-7 to him and I expect him to pad his numbers tonight.”
– Sterling Sharpe on Eagles QB Michael Vick vs. the Texans defense
“No. What you do is you look at the history. Cortland [Finnegan] has been a guy that’s been initiating a lot of battles. They’ve had a thing going and Andre just reacted. I don’t think he should have been suspended on that particular instance.”
– Joe Theismann on if Texans WR Andre Johnson should have been suspended for altercation with Titans CB Cortland Finnegan
“Andre Johnson should have been suspended. The reason I say this is because he threw punches. When you throw punches in the National Football League, remember in the NFL, we are image conscious. You cannot allow this to go unpunished. $25,000 is steep, but it’s not steep enough…He should not be able to play tonight. This is a no fight league.”
– Sterling Sharpe on if Andre Johnson should have been suspended for altercation with Titans CB Cortland Finnegan
“[The NFL] fines guys for $25,000 each and every weekend. This was more egregious than the things we have seen – Richard Seymour punching Big Ben for $25,000. I thought that fine would be steeper than it is.”
– Steve Mariucci on the fines assessed to Houston WR Andre Johnson and Tennessee CB Cortland Finnegan
“He doesn’t have an Adrian, but he does have an Arian.”
– Rich Eisen on Texans WR Andre Johnson
“Having played against the Eagles defense so many times in my career, you understand that the coaches may change, the names on the back of the jersey may change, but what doesn’t change is the schemes. They’re all about blitzes.”
– Kurt Warner on what the Texans offense should expect from the Eagles defense
“We have all received second chances and I’m just thankful that he’s making the best of his.”
– Deion Sanders on Michael Vick
NEXT WEEK ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS VS. TENNESSEE TITANS
8:00 PM ET
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