Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009

Jets CB Donald Strickland, angry about a block he received from Patriots OT Mark LeVoir Sunday, as quoted on Boston.com: "I think it was a real cheap shot. He really didn't have to go at my head like that, especially with the NFL's precaution about helmet-to-helmet contact." Strickland added: "It happened. It was a block and he took advantage of it. But I guarantee you the next time we play them it's going to be a different story. I'm making a point of emphasis to retaliate. That's the way I feel."

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, quoted by The Associated Press on the likelihood of the Saints eclipsing the offensive records that his team set during their perfect 2007 season: "It wouldn't surprise me if the Saints set whatever records there are, because I can't think of too many teams — I can't think of any, really — that are any more explosive than this team is. I've talked about the [2001] Rams and I've talked about the Chargers in the early 80s. But these guys, they can run with anybody."

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, comparing Ed Reed's decision to lateral on a punt return late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Colts to his own decision to unnecessarily burn a timeout in the same game, as quoted on Ravens.com: "He had no intention of flipping that ball before that ball was punted and when it was in the air. He just made a mistake. I kind of related it to my mistake. I think we both made an over-aggressive mistake in an anxious moment, trying to do something a little too fast to try to find a way to make something happen, and we both over-reached. He over-reached on that play. That's one play in the game. It's not the reason we lost the game, but I think it's indicative of things we can all do better."

Vikings backup QB Tarvaris Jackson, quoted on TwinCities.com explaining what he has learned from watching Brett Favre this season: "Just his patience. He's got great pocket awareness. That's something I've got to work on. I have to be able to find that comfortable spot in the pocket, and keep going through my progressions." Jackson added: "His creativeness and craftiness is all within the offense. He comes up with ideas, and it's coming from his experience of playing in this league."

Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

Titans PK Rob Bironas, quoted in The Tennessean after kicking a 53-yard FG with 47 seconds left Monday night to help the Titans win their fourth straight, 20-17 over the Texans (Bironas missed a 49-yard attempt earlier in the quarter wide left): "I don't think there's many games where I'm going to miss two. To get a second chance, it was great. It's good to win. We're a good team and we're starting to put things together."

Lions head coach Jim Schwartz, responding to Eric Mangini's claims that Detroit faked injuries to slow down the Browns' no-huddle offense in Sunday's 38-37 Detroit win, as quoted by The Associated Press: "He's way out of bounds on that. That couldn't be further from the truth. Both teams were running no-huddle, and the officials did a very good job of standing over the ball, so there was no need to do that."

Bears CB Charles Tillman, quoted in the Southtown Star regarding the team's slide, during which it has lost five out of six after starting the season 3-1: "I'm a little surprised. I didn't think I'd ever been sitting here talking about this. We still have a six-game season left, six-game schedule, and my advice is to watch us these last six games before you formulate an opinion."

Jets head coach Rex Ryan plans to involve himself more on the offensive side of the football, as quoted on recordonline.com: "I need to be more of the game manager than probably what I even realized before. There's been some people here that have been critical of that, and it's probably more accurate than I wanted to believe." Ryan added: "It's not a threatening deal or whatever. It's just something that my role needs to be this, and I think that's my responsibility. I oversee the whole football team. I really need to start doing that."

Monday, Nov. 23, 2009

Jaguars QB David Garrard, quoted on OrlandoSentinel.com after conducting his second game-winning drive in as many weeks Sunday in an 18-15 win over the Bills: "Any given play, we can make it happen. Guys know when we get in that situation it's not a loss. It's an opportunity for us to go make the plays to get the win. When I walk into that huddle, you can see it in everybody's eyes. Nobody has that glassy-eyed look. Everybody's focused and ready to roll."

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, who returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a TD in Sunday's shocking 27-24 win over the Steelers, quoted on kcchiefs.com discussing the number of Steelers fans waving Terrible Towels at Arrowhead Stadium: "We didn't like that at all. Coming into our house with those towels, we didn't like that so we wanted to go out there, Brian (Waters) brought us together before the game and said that our people sold their tickets to them, so we just wanted to go out there, set the tone and hopefully win the game."

Bills WR Terrell Owens, quoted on buffalobills.com after Jaguars WR Mike Sims-Walker asked for Owens' jersey at the conclusion of yesterday's game (Owens caught nine balls for 197 yards and a TD in a losing effort): "Everybody wants my jersey after every game. Obviously those guys have watched me throughout my career. He asked for it and I gave it to him." Owens continued: "It doesn't mean that I'm washed up. I take it as a compliment. I can still play this game with the best of them. Just put me in the right situation and I can make plays. I've always said that."

Giants C Shaun O'Hara, proud of the way his team fought Sunday in a 34-31 overtime victory over the Falcons that was New York's first win in over five weeks, as quoted on giants.com: "Those were two good offenses out there today. I'm just really happy the way this team kept fighting and kept battling.  Everybody has been down on us, but we never got down on ourselves. But that is what this game is all about. Eli did a great job today. He made some big time throws and receivers made some great catches. I just thought it was a collectively great effort to get this 'W,' it was something that we needed. We are going to enjoy it and then move on. We have a short week and another great challenge ahead of us."