Release

NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 4 ON SEPT. 30

 

►“INSIDE THE NFL” WITH JASON LA CANFORA

 

(On what is next on NFL’s agenda)

JASON LA CANFORA:  Expect to hear more and more about the league's desire for an 18-game season.  It's something we've heard in the past.  When you talk to power brokers on either side of this issue, the players or the league, they point to a potential eventual tradeoff with Commissioner Goodell acquiescing some of his powers in exchange to get the 18 games.  The players are focused on commissioner powers right now coming out of this bounty scandal.  It would take major concessions from the league to get those 18 games.  

 

Click to view report: http://cbsprt.co/NYOJfs

 

QUICK HITS

 

(On return of referees)

BILL COWHER: Everyone is smiling now.  But I’m sure the honeymoon will be over with the first bad call.  The one thing they do bring when they come back is a sense of control.  All the skirmishes we’ve been seeing will not be tolerated.  The other thing they bring is accountability.  There are no more excuses for the players or coaches for losing games.  

 

(On Cam Newton)

BOOMER ESIASON:  There is no way that Cam Newton can stand there and look like that (after showing clip of Newton last week at press conference).  He's 011 in games which he's thrown interceptions.  I'm not worried about the interceptions.  I'm worried about how you come off the interceptions.  You are the face of your franchise.  You have to ignite the positivity within your fan base, the ownership, your teammates.  Because guys like Shannon look to John Elway.  Guys like Cris Collinsworth, believe it or not, looked to me.  And people looked to Dan Marino down in Miami as the face of the franchise.  And that is not how you want him to look.

 

SHANNON SHARPE:  You are right.  When you're the leader of the franchise you never want to give a defeated attitude.  You always want to stay positive.  Contrary to what they're telling him, that outside noise, you might not listen to it, but the team hears you.  They see you sitting on the sideline, when things are going bad, you're pouting.  But when things are going great, you're leading the marching band.

 

(On Jets’ loss of Darrelle Revis)

DAN MARINO: Other than losing a franchise quarterback for a team, this guy, his loss is the most devastating for the Jets because of how they play him defensively, man-to-man.  

 

 

(On Atlanta and QB Matt Ryan)

SHARPE: A quarter-way through the season, the quarterback that is playing the best in the National Football League is Matt Ryan.  I'm going on record saying, by Thanksgiving they will have the NFC South sewn up.  

 

(On Detroit’s Ndamukong Suh)

SHARPE:  I'd like to file a missing person's report.  I'm looking for Ndamukong Suh.  Anybody seen Ndamukong Suh?  

 

THE NFL TODAY’s Shannon Sharpe sat down with the Texans quarterback Matt Schaub to discuss how he felt not playing in last season’s playoffs, how his ear is after last week, and if the Texans have what it takes to make the Super Bowl.  Deb Gelman is the producer.  Click to view interview: Http://cbsprt.co/Pk8Dh6

 

 

* * * * *

 

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