“That’s probably a big reason I’m never going to be a fan of instant replay.” – Gruden on the Tuck Rule game
King’s Training Camp Tour Included Visits with the Raiders, Dallas Cowboys & Los Angeles Rams
“Football Morning in America” Runs Every Monday Exclusively on NBCSports.com
STAMFORD, Conn. – August 20, 2018 – Peter King’s latest edition of “Football Morning in America” on NBCSports.com includes visits with the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams as part of his annual training camp tour. This week’s column features interviews with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden on returning to football, NBC Sports’ new NFL rules analyst Terry McAulay on instant replay, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on leadership, and this week’s edition of “What I Learned” with Arizona Cardinals QB Josh Rosen.
The following are highlights from this week’s edition of “Football Morning in America”:
- Gruden on the tuck rule game against the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs on Jan. 19, 2002: “That’s probably a big reason I’m never going to be a fan of instant replay. Instant replay was [meant] to correct an obvious wrong. I don’t know how they worded it. But they shouldn’t have overturned that play. That’s a complete joke. Where’s the tuck rule today, Peter? It’s not even in the game. When you overturn a play for a rule like that, that’s no way to lose a game. Especially a playoff game.”
- Gruden on his coaching style at 55: “I’m trying to match the work ethic that I put forth 15 years ago, whatever it was, when I was here. That’s number one. You have to get everybody on board. I haven’t seen my wife in like three weeks; she’s got to be on board. It’s hard saying goodbye to my mom and dad in Florida. I miss them. Being honest with you. I kind of felt sad about that because I like looking out for them. But I’ve got to do this. Time’s flying.”
- Gruden on QB Derek Carr: “There’s no question that he’s got more talent than anybody I’ve ever coached.”
- Gruden on the changes in football since he last coached: “I don’t like what we’ve done to the profession, personally. I don’t like the CBA. I don’t like regulating hard work. By god, if a guy wants to come here in April and learn his plays? Wants to go out there and watch tape with me? I think he ought to be able to do that.”
- McAulay on a non-reviewed fumble Saturday in the Rams-Raiders game: “We knew the league was going to be more circumspect on replay this year, but to go this extent—this fumble wasn’t even stopped to be reviewed—is a big change. With my new job at NBC, I’m going to be much more cautious about saying a call should be reversed. Why have replay if it’s not going to reverse this play?”
- Prescott on the loss of Tony Romo and Jason Witten: “Tony Romo and Jason Witten gave me a good foundation, taught me how to be a leader and wear the star the right way. You have to do things the right way. Lead by example. We have such a young team.”
- Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett on LB Jaylon Smith’s recovery: “You can run in a straight line all day, but you need to move in spontaneous ways out there, and that’s what we’ve been seeing. Jaylon’s so much more fluid now.”
- Rosen on the direction of the NFL: “Our linebackers can play safety, safeties play linebacker. I feel like that’s just where the game is heading overall. Everyone’s a hybrid of some sort because for the most part, defenses had to figure out ways to stop Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady. Part of that is all the disguises they put out there. That’s what I’m learning.”
Read the rest of the column here.
A new “Football Morning in America” will post every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com. It was announced in May that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on NBCSN’s and NBC Sports Radio’s PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.
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