On the NBC pregame show “Football Night in America,” former Bucs and Colts coach and now studio analyst Tony Dungy said that the Redskins among the teams who could be considering Eagles backup QB Michael Vick for the 2010 season.
Dungy: “I told Michael to just worry about this year. It’s technically up to Philadelphia. If they want him back, he has to stay there. If they don’t, there are some teams looking for quarterbacks – Cleveland, St. Louis and Washington. But I think a dark horse is Buffalo … They talked originally. There was some communication there. I think that could be a good spot.”
At least four NFL insiders have told me that if Philly were to let Vick go, he would get a long look in Washington depending on the new head coach.
Let’s take a look at the rest of yesterday’s to quotes from the pregame shows.
My e-mail box is full from people who were touched and just totally inspired by the gang at Fox and their Sunday pregame show live with our troops in Afghanistan. Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson and Jay Glazer were all a big hit and the quote of the show came when Sgt. Nikki Irvin of the U.S. Air Force asked each of the guys who they think will win the Super Bowl:
Glazer: “Right now I’ve got to go with the New Orleans Saints.”
Johnson: “How bout them Dallas Cowboys!”
Strahan: “How bout the Saints!”
Long: “I’m going to go with the Vikings.”
Bradshaw: “I think we’re going to see a repeat this year and that’s because Pittsburgh is going to win.”
Menefee: “I’d also go with Pittsburgh to repeat.”
ESPN’s Ochocinco’s ‘gifts’ to Ravens defense: Good idea?
Reporting from Cincinnati, Rachel Nichols said that Chad Ochocinco sent deodorants to some members of the Ravens defense. Nichols quoted Ochocinco as saying he sent the deodorants because ‘the Ravens have had troubles covering him in the past and this (the deodorants) was to help them get closer.’ Following Nichols live report, Countdown discussed Ochocino’s gifts:
Cris Carter: “It’s all part of the act. To me, I don’t care. I’m only concerned abut Chad’s focus when he is with his teammates. And, is he in shape? Because, when he is focused, with his teammates, and he’s in shape, he’s going to play well. How can I get upset? The head coach should say something to him.”
Tom Jackson: “It is about if the Ravens get upset. The last game that they played, at the end of that football, there was a personal foul by Ray Lewis, when he may have thought about taking it out on Ochocinco. That cost him a personal foul that led to the winning touchdown. You can’t let it get to you. That’s the key.”
Keyshawn Johnson: “Child please! If you stink, you stink. That’s the bottom-line. Secondary is not very good and he feels that way, then, you stink.”
Mike Ditka: “He’s the only guy in the league doing it. If it was the right thing to do, everybody else would be doing it. Let me say one thing, I guessed I played in another era, but I know Tommy (Jackson) played and I watched him play. I know if he did that to Tommy, he’d get a big does of this (… hits fists together). I’ll be honest with you, you got to try to knock the guy out. I know that’s brutal.”
Chris Berman: “Some people call him Ocho-stinko. Here’s the proof, deodorant.”
Over at CBS they got some good insight from local guy Charley Casserly.
CASSERLY: I’m told that next week Tom Cable will meet with Raiders officials and NFL officials to discuss his most recent incidents of alleged violence. It’s common practice in these situations for the NFL to have the man in question, Tom Cable, to go through a confidential, comprehensive medical evaluation which could lead to counseling sessions and/or life skill sessions. A final point here is this, if the Raiders determine that Tom Cable lied to them about any of these previous incidents, that could potentially give them cause for some type of action. The action could be a suspension or it could be termination. In fact, I could see some owners in the League terminating him for cause and not paying his contract if it turned out he lied to them.
Latest on Rams sale
CASSERLY: Texas billionaire, Gerald J. Ford, a friend of Jerry Jones and the person who the SMU football stadium is named after, has been investigating and asking a lot of questions about the Rams operation and front office with the presumed idea that he may put a bid in for the team. If the Rams are to be sold this year for tax purposes, this is going to have to happen sooner than later because the League is going to have to have time to review the bid and approve it.
The NFL Network had an interview between Marshal Faulk and the Ravens that brought some great lines:
“He’s like E.F. Hutton. When he speaks, you listen.” – Steve Mariucci on Ravens LB Ray Lewis.
“We’re not measuring him up to other linebackers, we’re measuring him up against himself and the things he’s done in this league. He’s set the bar so high.” – Faulk on Ray Lewis and his recent production
