Release
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 12 (SUNDAY, NOV. 24)
November 21, 2002
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 12 (SUNDAY, NOV. 24) AUDIBLES WITH ANALYSTS PHIL SIMMS AND RANDY CROSS
PHIL SIMMS
(On Oakland): They win in Denver on a Monday night and follow that by defeating a New England Patriots team that needed to win the game. To do what they've done the last two weeks tells me they have a chance to dominate down the stretch, positioning themselves as favorites when they start the playoffs. It's all about having good balance and a lot of weapons. Every team will say, "Oh, we have to execute well and not turn the ball over." But when you have to have that happen to win games, that tells me you are not a well-balanced football team and you don't have that chance to dominate in more than one or two areas. They (Raiders) can throw it at a level that we haven't seen in quite a while. The quarterback, receivers and pass protection are phenomenal. Forget the running game, because they don't have time for it. But they can stop the run. They have run stoppers, and they can overpower you with their pass rush. One thing I really like is that Trace Armstrong has come back nicely from his injury a year ago and is really getting into the swing of things. When rookie cornerback Philip Buchanon comes back from injury, along with Charles Woodson and Rod Woodson, that's a pretty good combination of people who can cover...(On play of backup quarterbacks this season): I will go back to what I've always said: Take the talent of the quarterback and judge it separately from the team. There are no exceptions. The Rams' Marc Bulger throws a clean football, a beautiful football. When he throws it to the head of the receiver, he throws it head-high. The ball doesn't get away from him. He's taken advantage of the experience he's getting, and now he's playing for a very physically gifted offensive team, and for a coach who knows how to get the best out of his offense. The same can be said for Tommy Maddox before his injury - a veteran playing for a good team. Chad Pennington worked hard as a backup with the Jets and is now playing well for a solid team. Why has it been working for these guys? There's a little bit of everything you throw in the mix. Do you think a David Carr, a Joey Harrington, a Jon Kitna, would prosper in these situations? I think it's safe to say yes. Because the talent level is better in those systems than what they are in now. Would Bulger be throwing for 350 yards a game with the Bengals? I don't think so. That being said, don't be shocked if Koy Detmer really plays well for the Eagles. Will he be Donovan McNabb? Of course not! I don't think the Eagles will fall apart without Donovan McNabb. They have good players and good coaches. Detmer has been in the league long enough and has enough experience. Maybe it's unfortunate that he has to start out on a Monday night game in San Francisco against a really good team. Of course, everybody will jump to a conclusion if he starts out poorly and they don't score 40 points and win the game. But let's give it time...FOR MORE SIMMS ANALYSIS LOG ON NFL.COM
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CBS Television Network...2
RANDY CROSS
(On Oakland): It was only 10 days ago that the sky was falling in Oakland and no one could figure out what "was wrong with the Raiders?" Well, a spanking of the Broncos and a roughing up of the Patriots six days later, and all is right in Oaktown, right? No one in the NFL can say at any time that things are right - never. (Can you say Green Bay and Minnesota?) I am sure the veteran leadership of Oakland will remember the lesson and embarrassment of their month in football "hell." And, over-confidence or a lack of intensity will not be a problem. When you look for incentive, all it takes is a look at the standings in the AFC to see the team that wins the AFC West will probably also hold the home-field advantage. The Raiders, the Broncos and the Chargers all have an equal shot and Kansas City will have a say in how this division "cannibalizes" itself...(On New York media and Chad Pennington): It occurred to me while reading the articles from around the NFL that the writers in New York have forgotten one of their own hype jobs. Why are they surprised Chad Pennington is such a hard worker and student of the game? They were the ones that wrote the articles about him being a coach's kid. They were the ones that wrote about how he got a key to the facility at Hofstra on the same day he met the press after being drafted. Wasn't it them that wrote of how this young quarterback was such a "tape rat" and how he spent long hours in preparation even though he was a backup? Now they may have to write articles about this quarterback because, well, he's a damn good quarterback...period. Let's view a strong work ethic for just what it is, an incredible edge and a huge responsibility. Pennington's willingness to dedicate himself to his craft to this degree is admittedly rare but it will be his ability to continue at that level and add responsibilities that may prove rarer still...(On Atlanta's quarterback Michael Vick): While everyone goes ga-ga over Atlanta's Michael Vick, and rightfully so, just think how good he will be when he becomes more comfortable in the pocket and learns how to pick defenses apart with his arm. In the pocket? Why bother? Besides your basic health issues, there is also the matter of a full-fledged wide-open offense. How about some wide receiver weapons to match? Just consider the challenge to any code breaking "Beautiful Mind" defensive coaches in the NFL when all of Vick's tools are developed?...(On AFC vs. NFC): Which conference is better - the NFC or the AFC? My own little theory is the NFC has teams with better records, but across the board the AFC has better teams. Because they spend so much time and energy knocking each other off, their records suffer...(Stop the Noise!): As in noise makers, that is. Having to sit through World Series games filled with the incessant "whap, whap, whap" sound of "Thunder-Stix" and other man made noise makers, I can see the rest of team sports assaulted by this marketing plague. If, in the case of the Minnesota Vikings, it is illegal to feed music through giant speakers at the Metrodome to "enhance" crowd noise and disrupt opposing offense, then please God tell me that we won't have to suffer through these noise makers in the NFL.
Following are the assignments for Week 12, Week 13 and Week 14 (subject to change).
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CBS Television Network...3
WEEK 12 - Nov. 24
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR 1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Jacksonville @ Dallas Don Criqui/Steve Tasker Ross Schneiderman/Cathy Barreto
·San Diego @ Miami Greg Gumbel/Phil Simms// Mark Wolff/Larry Cavolina
Armen Keteyian
·Buffalo @ N.Y. Jets Dick Enberg/Dan Dierdorf// Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
Bonnie Bernstein
·Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh Craig Bolerjack/Craig James Ken Mack/J.D. Hansen
·Tennessee @ Baltimore Tim Brando/Spencer Tillman Steve Scheer/Andy Goldberg
·Cleveland @ New Orleans Gus Johnson/Brent Jones Bob Mansbach/Mark Grant
4:00 PM, ET starts:
·Oakland @ Arizona Kevin Harlan/Randy Cross// Bob Dekas/Bob Lanning
Beasley Reece
·Kansas City @ Seattle Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots Victor Frank/Suzanne Smith
WEEK 13 - Nov. 28* (Thanksgiving Day) & Dec. 1
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR 12:30 PM, ET :
New England @ Detroit* Greg Gumbel/Phil Simms// Mark Wolff/Larry Cavolina
Armen Keteyian
WEEK 13 - Dec. 1
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR 1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Miami @ Buffalo Greg Gumbel/Phil Simms// Mark Wolff/Larry Cavolina
Armen Keteyian
·Tennessee @ N.Y. Giants Kevin Harlan/Randy Cross// Bob Mansbach/Steve Milton
Beasley Reece
·Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville Gus Johnson/Brent Jones Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant
·Baltimore @ Cincinnati Don Criqui/Steve Tasker Ross Schneiderman/Cathy Barreto
4:00 PM, ET starts:
·Houston @ Indianapolis Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots Victor Frank/Suzanne Smith
·Denver @ San Diego Dick Enberg/Dan Dierdorf// Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
Bonnie Bernstein
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CBS Television Network...4
WEEK 14 - Dec. 8 - DOUBLEHEADER
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR 1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Cincinnati @ Carolina Bill Macatee/Craig James Ken Mack/J.D. Hansen
·Buffalo @ New England Greg Gumbel/Phil Simms// Mark Wolff/Larry Cavolina
Armen Keteyian
·Houston @ Pittsburgh Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots Victor Frank/Suzanne Smith
·Indianapolis @ Tennessee Gus Johnson/Brent Jones Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant
·Cleveland @ Jacksonville Don Criqui/Steve Tasker Ross Schneiderman/Cathy Barreto
4:15 PM, ET starts:
·Denver @ N.Y. Jets Dick Enberg/Dan Dierdorf// Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
Bonnie Bernstein
·Oakland @ San Diego Kevin Harlan/Randy Cross// Bob Mansbach/Steve Milton
Beasley Reece
Sean McManus is President, CBS Sports. Tony Petitti is Executive Producer, CBS Sports. McManus and Petittti serve as executive producers of CBS Sports' coverage of THE NFL ON CBS.
CBS Sports Contacts: LeslieAnne Wade Robin Brendle Jerry Caraccioli (212) 975-5171 (212) 975-1533 (212) 975-7466
