Release

NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 2 ON SEPTEMBER 16

 

THE NFL TODAY’s host James Brown sat down with Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.  Click to view interview: http://cbsprt.co/Pp82MU

 

Michael Vick on talking about his team becoming a “dynasty”: When I mentioned the word dynasty, it's something that we all want to create.  It's not something that I just talked about.  We all talked about it as a team.  I don't think anything is wrong with being optimistic and believing.

 

(Reaction to Michael Vick)

 

BILL COWHER: I believe that Michael Vick is putting more pressure on himself.  That interview to me just reaffirms to me that he's trying to do this himself and that he wants to hand this to Andy Reid.  But it's not going to work that way.  They have some offensive line issues…If he tries to do it all himself the interceptions are going to come and the losses are going to come with it.   

 

SHANNON SHARPE: Just go play football.  It's time to stop talking about playing too cautious; trying to save Andy Reid's job.  Just go play football  

 

BOOMER ESIASON: That young man has come a long way from where he was, everything that he's been through, and everything that he's putting on his own shoulders to try to make this team his team and to create that dynasty.

 

 

QUICK HITS

 

(On Michael Vick)

BOOMER ESIASON: It's the week of Michael Vick in my estimation…He is overwhelmed by the pressure in Philadelphia.  

 

(On pressure of going 0-2)

BILL COWHER: If you talk about pressure.  I know it's only Week 2…The Green Bay Packers Thursday night won that game.  They avoid going 02.  They are 11.  Since 1990, going 02 means only 12% of the time you make the playoffs, so trust me there is pressure.  You look at New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and the New York Giants all penciled in to be in the playoffs.  If they lose today, they are not going to be in the playoffs.  They can't afford a pressure weekend.

 

 

 

(On N.Y. Jets-Pittsburgh game)

COWHER:  I think this Pittsburgh team is not the same team we've seen.  They are in some transition.  Number one on offense, you have a whole new offensive coordinator.  They have weapons, but on defense, there are new faces.  There is no Aaron Smith, no James Farrior.  You didn't have James Harrison last week.  Now Troy Polamalu and Harrison may be out.  I think they'll be a better team in November and December, but they're vulnerable now.  They're still good, but very vulnerable.

 

BOOMER ESIASON:  If I'm the New York Jets, I look at this as a great opportunity from an offensive perspective…This is opportunity knocking for the New York Jets right now.

 

 

► INSIDE THE HUDDLE

 

(On no-huddle offenses)

COWHER:  To me there are two reasons for it.  Number one, it negates the passrush.  It slows them down and makes them tired.  It takes the crowd noise out.  You look at it being used on the road with the quarterbacks, and the crowd cannot get into the game when you're in the nohuddle.  

 

(On Robert Griffin III)

SHANNON SHARPE: He's the real deal.  He's better than advertised.  My only concerns are they only let him throw the ball 25 times in the preseason.  Did they allow him to do enough?  They showed me they had allowed him to do what they needed him to do in order to show what he showed.  Now don't expect this kind of performance every single week.  

 

 

►“INSIDE THE NFL” WITH JASON LA CANFORA

 

(On HGH testing in the NFL)

Click on to view: http://cbsprt.co/PHKogE

 

* * * * *

 

CBS Sports Contacts: in studio at 212/975-1796