Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

Browns RB Jamal Lewis, quoted in The Medina County Gazette on the job head coach Eric Mangini has done preparing his team for battle this season: "Hey, this is his show, it's not mine. We're just the crop. If you don't take care of your crop, when it comes time to harvest, you're not going to make no money because the crop ain't no good. That's that. … I've been in more pads in half this season probably than I have been in three or four seasons in Baltimore." Lewis added: "I'm tired of it. I'm tired of dealing with the politics, I'm tired of dealing with the whole organizational thing, it's just tiresome. When you don't have to deal with it, why deal with it? If I'm going to come out here and work the way I work, then I want results, I want to be able to go out and work. That's not what's going on. I feel like it's just a waste of time for me."

Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, recounting one of his favorite stories from his time in Kansas City with Jared Allen, as quoted in the Detroit News: "He and I have had some shouting matches that will go down in infamy in Kansas City. But if there's a better defensive lineman playing in the league right now, I'd like to see him." Cunningham continued: "The funniest story I can tell you about him is the day he came to work with a Speedo and sunglasses — that's all he had on. Now you can imagine, Jared got out of his car that has those Texas longhorns on the front — an old Cadillac, I think — walks through the office, came down the elevator and walked into the team meeting. It was (head coach) Dick Vermeil's 70th birthday, and Jared goes up on the stage, grabs him and puts a kiss right on his lips. The players just went crazy. But that's him."

Buccaneers RB Earnest Graham, quoted in the St. Petersburg Times regarding his reduced role with the club that now features Graham playing FB: "I love the game. If they asked me, I would play linebacker. And I love the guys that I go to work with. It's not about who runs on the field first. It's about the goals that we have. You think about all those things first and then you think about how you can help the team reach that goal. That's what I do."

Jets RB Thomas Jones, explaining his powerful rushing style, as quoted in the New York Post: "I'm kinda like an animal or something who senses a prey's getting tired of chasing, and you know you're like going for the kill. That's how I feel if I'm in a zone in the third or fourth quarter … I know it's only a matter of time before something's gonna happen — long run, touchdown. … I've had that feeling ever since I've been playing football. That's one of those things where you get in a zone sometimes, there might not be great blocking, but if you're in that zone, you feel like as long as you don't get hit in the backfield you're gonna make something happen. It's great to be in that place, because you're just playing, you're not even thinking about what you're doing, you're just reacting."

Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Titans RB Chris Johnson, the NFL's leading rusher through Week Nine, quoted in The Tennessean on his lack of touchdown celebrations this season: "I can't go play no bongos or nothing like that when we are 0-6. The more wins we get the more things (fans) will get. I have a lot of things planned. … I feel like if we get a victory this week and next week, something will be coming very soon.''

Patriots DT Vince Wilfork, who has been very vocal about wanting a contract extension that keeps him in New England beyond this season, humbly responding to a reporter asking if he is playing the best football of his career, as quoted on BostonHerald.com: "I won't say that. My thing is, I just try to do what I can do to help my teammates. If that's getting better each week, I try. Lord knows I try my best. What I put out on the field, I want my teammates to feed off of. That's one thing; I lead by example. I'm not a big talker. I let my work speak for itself."

Broncos S Renaldo Hill, amazed by CB Ty Law's ability to pick up Denver's playbook in two days, as quoted in The Denver Post: "He's just able to apply so many different things. I'm not sure there's a coverage he hasn't seen. For him to get thrown in the fire and do that, I thought it was amazing. We were installing some of those things in the springtime, and for him to basically learn that in two days is clearly amazing."

Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth does not regret his participation in a sideline melee with the Falcons last Sunday, in which he defended CB DeAngelo Hall from several Falcons players (Haynesworth was fined by the league for his actions, as well as S LaRon Landry), as quoted in the Washington Times: "He's my teammate; I'm not going to let him get jumped or beat up. [Falcons coach] Mike Smith did have him hemmed up over there. I can't let an old man beat up my cornerback, so I had to go over there and save him."

Eagles QB Michael Vick, clarifying comments he made following Sunday's 20-14 loss to the Cowboys about his limited role in the offense, as quoted on Delawareonline.com: "Like I said two months ago, two years ago I wasn't even playing football and didn't know if I had a future in the NFL. So, like I said before, and I'll reiterate it once again, I'm happy to be able to put on a uniform. I'm happy to be standing at this locker. I'm happy to be able to sit here and talk to you guys and tell you guys how I feel. I don't know what else to say."

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, quoted in the Houston Chronicle explaining that turnovers are his biggest frustration with his club heading into the bye week: "I don't have the words to describe how frustrated I am. It's hurting our team. It's not one guy. It's not two guys. It's a little bit of everybody." Kubiak added: "Fixing that problem, being better in that phase over the course of the next seven weeks, will have a lot to do with what we're talking about come January."

Bears DE Alex Brown, upset after his team gave up 31 points in the first half Sunday, the second time in the past three weeks they have allowed 31 points or more in the first 30 minutes, as quoted on USATODAY.com: "We're not going out and earning our paychecks. We're not doing it. I'm sorry. I'm too upset. … We need to get better." Brown continued, saying the "D" showed a brief spark in the fourth quarter: "For five minutes there, we played like we can. We played like we believed we could win. Why can't we play like that from zero-zero? We're going to have a lot more of those games these last eight games if we can't figure that out."

49ers TE Vernon Davis believes his team's offense will have the advantage over the Bears "D" Thursday night, as quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times: ''We can destroy their guys up front. I don't see anything spectacular about their front line. We can handle [their linebackers] pretty well. I like [defensive end] Adewale Ogunluye — he's performing well, but he's the only guy I like in their line.'' Davis added: ''[The Bears] have given up a lot of points. There's an opportunity for us, especially there in their secondary, for us to make plays. We just have to go out and do it. Enough talking — go do it.''

Jets WR Braylon Edwards, quoted in the New York Post regarding his future beyond this season with the team: "I can see myself retiring here. I can see myself here. I like everything about it. I don't see myself wanting to go anywhere else."

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009

Cowboys LB Bradie James, quoted in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram explaining the difference in this year's team that will help them avoid another December meltdown: "There are lots of games where we had meltdowns. Now guys know 'You be the one to go make the play so we won't have a meltdown and won't come home wondering what went wrong,' midpoint, you want to know who you can rely on when the funk hits the fan. And we know we can rely on each other."

Lions head coach Jim Schwartz says there is no rift between Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, as quoted in the Detroit Free Press: "I've talked to the players. I haven't looked at TV copies or anything else. Good gracious, if there was a camera on every single person on every single play, you could read between the lines on a million different things." Schwartz added: "How many times does Dominic (Raiola) scream something at (a reporter) on the practice field or something like that? If that gets taken out of context, somebody might get a different perspective on that."

Panthers LB Na'il Diggs, quoted in the Charlotte News & Observer describing the loss of fellow ’backer Thomas Davis, who was lost for the season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sunday: "I haven't seen another one like him on any team I've played on or on another team — just flat out crazy talent, crazy athleticism." Diggs continued: "It is a big loss, but guys are going to have to step up and pick their game up. I've seen lesser athletes play that position in this defense, and [they] did OK. They're not a Thomas, but they get the job done. That's what we've got to have."

Steelers rookie DT Ziggy Hood feels blessed to be a part of such a special defense so early in his career, as quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "I wake up every morning and thank God I play with people like this. It's not only the kind of players they are, but the kind of people. To be able to play on a defense with a tradition like this is just unbelievable. It's a blessing."

Broncos CB Andre Goodman, quoted in the Longmont Times-Call explaining where things have gone wrong the past two weeks in the team's first two losses of the season: "Both offenses (Baltimore and Pittsburgh) came out and did the same thing in terms of trying to go no-huddle and trying to get us off our game plan a little bit, and we haven't adjusted well the last two weeks to the no-huddle offense."

Monday, Nov. 9, 2009

Cowboys CB Mike Jenkins, quoted in the Philadelphia Daily News following his team's huge NFC East victory over the rival Eagles Sunday night, in which Dallas' secondary was very successful in bottling up Philadelphia's explosive, young receivers: "A lot of people doubted our secondary coming into this game. We didn't sweat it at all. As long as that keeps going on — people keep disrespecting us — it's going to turn out like this."

Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco, talking about the importance of this week's contest with the Steelers, and revealing his plan to send the Pittsburgh secondary a gift package prior to the game, as quoted on Bengals.com: "I just want to say hello to Troy (Polamalu), Willie (Parker), Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark. I'm not sure if he (Clark) will be healthy yet, but please get healthy fast. This is a very important game for us. I was seeing it as a two-game season. We've got one down. Now it's a one-game season, as far as solidifying the division."

Colts TE Dallas Clark, quoted on Houstontexans.com after Sunday's 17-10 victory, in which the Colts ran 60 offensive plays in the first half alone: "I wouldn't say fun. When you run, I guess I heard, 60 plays in the first half, you are going to feel that Wednesday and Thursday. It's fun for a series. It was kind of a game-time decision trying to play some up-tempo and mix it up a little bit on them. It helped. I think we were wearing them down, but we were getting pretty tired as well. But, we were able to keep pressing and keep them guessing. I think it helped us. It was a good kind of a weapon for us and I think it definitely helped us get some tempo going."

Patriots QB Tom Brady, describing the 71-yard TD pass he threw to Randy Moss in the third quarter Sunday that made the difference in a 27-17 New England victory over the Dolphins, as quoted in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: "It's always nice for a quarterback when you see the back of No. 81 sprinting down the field once he gets by them."

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, quoted in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel after losing to the previously winless Buccaneers Sunday, and allowing QB Aaron Rodgers to be sacked six more times, bringing the total on the season to a league-high 37 sacks: "It has to stop. I'm sure you're tired of asking the questions, and I know I'm tired of talking about it. It's a reflection of coaching and playing, but it keeps showing up on Sunday. It has to end."