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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, November 5th, 2017

NOTES & QUOTES FROM FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA ON NBC – WEEK 9

“Sign Colin Kaepernick. You don’t have good quarterback play. When you have a mobile quarterback, your offense looks different. There is a mobile quarterback out there to get.” – Tony Dungy on the Texans

“I would lose all respect for my coaches and my organization if there was a guy out there that actually started in the Super Bowl that is better than the guy that we have.” – Rodney Harrison on Texans

“When you don’t respect your coach, players will quit on you. I believe the Giants just flat out quit.” – Harrison

“This is a team that was really built around two Jays – Jay Ajayi and Jay Cutler. They are down to one Jay now. It’s really going to fall on Jay Cutler to pick this thing up.” – Cris Collinsworth on the Dolphins

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 5, 2017 – Following are highlights from Football Night in America, which aired prior to tonight’s Week 9 Sunday Night Football matchup between the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins. Mike Tirico opened the show live from inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla. He was joined on site by the Sunday Night Football team of Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya.

Dan Patrick co-hosted Football Night, the most-watched studio show in sports, from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn. He was joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy; two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison; and NFL Insider Mike Florio of NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk. Paul Burmeister reported from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on the Chiefs-Cowboys game.

Football Night featured Harrison’s interview with Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry, and Tafoya’s interview with Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio.

Following are highlights from Football Night in America on NBC:

ON POSSIBILITY OF TEXANS SIGNING QB COLIN KAEPERNICK

Dungy: “Sign Colin Kaepernick. You don’t have good quarterback play. When you have a mobile quarterback, your offense looks different. There is a mobile quarterback out there to get.”

Harrison: “I agree with you. As a player, I would lose all respect for my coaches and my organization if there was a guy out there that actually started in the Super Bowl that is better than the guy that we have. How do you have confidence in your coach? How can you trust what your coach is trying to sell, the system that he is trying to sell, when he is not doing everything in his power to win football games? Sign Colin Kaepernick, he gives you a great opportunity. Very similar to what Deshaun Watson is.”

Patrick: “But I don’t see that happening, not with this owner, Bob McNair…given McNair’s stance on the anthem and Colin Kaepernick, is that possible?”

Florio: “I’m told for now there’s been no contact of any kind between the Texans and Colin Kaepernick. It would be safe to say it’s not likely to happen.”

Patrick: “But you have Kaepernick’s attorney, who says if somebody signs him, this is going to go away.”

Florio: “That was the case a couple of weeks ago. I’m told as we get further along with this collusion grievance that the thinking is it would have to be a real offer, not something that feels hollow, but an opportunity to come in and play, and the numbers would have to be right. It’s not as automatic as it was a couple of weeks ago.”

Patrick: “Where do we stand with the collusion case?”

Florio: “We’ve heard so many names in the past few days that it’s dizzying. All of the different owners, the Commissioner, who will be questioned by Colin Kaepernick’s lawyers. But here’s the thing to remember. The NFL has yet to chime in. They have the right to object. They have the right to oppose. They have the right to go to the arbitrator and say, ‘Here’s why this witness shouldn’t be questioned, here’s why that witness shouldn’t be questioned,’ so that fight is likely looming.”

Watch: http://www.nbcsports.com/video/colin-kaepernick-signing-houston-texans-not-likely-happen

ON GIANTS

Harrison on allowing a Rams’ TD on 3^rd-and-33: “This is unbelievable. They’re playing a prevent (defense), and all they have to do is just tackle this guy. Look at Eli Apple. He wants no part of it. He flat out quit.”

Dungy: “They did look like they quit, but they’ve been dysfunctional the whole way through – players getting suspended, not being able to play, punts blocked, breakdowns, a lack of hustle…this was embarrassing today.”

Harrison on head coach Ben McAdoo: “When you don’t respect your coach, players will quit on you. I believe the Giants just flat out quit. You can’t come in as a coach and say, ‘It’s my way or the highway,’ because players will not respond. In this league you have to earn your respect. Tony Dungy earned his respect. Bill Belichick earned his respect. He has to do the same thing. He can’t come in and try to bully these guys. These guys are young, they’re rich, and they’re not going to listen to a coach trying to bully his way around.”

ON BRONCOS

Harrison on head coach Vance Joseph taking the blame for Denver’s 51-23 loss to Eagles: “He said it starts with him. I don’t believe it starts with him in this case. This is a veteran defense. They have a lot of great leaders – Von Miller, Chris Harris, Aqib Talib. (Joseph) just came in. This defense has already been established. They gave up 80 points the last two weeks. The offense is clearly affecting the defense. But that’s when you look at your leadership.”

Dungy: “He made a change at quarterback and it didn’t work, it actually almost looked worse today. I don’t know where Denver goes from here. But if they’re going to salvage their season, it’s got to be those defensive players stepping up.”

Harrison: “Who do you start next week?”

Dungy: “I’m hoping Paxton Lynch is healthy and he starts. I think that’s what they have to do.”

Florio: “I’m told that John Elway and Vance Joseph are considering all of their options. It’s the first four-game losing streak of the Elway era. The options basically come down to Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch. Osweiler protected the ball, only two turnovers, down from four with (Trevor) Siemian, and Lynch hasn’t practiced with the first team in more than two months. He’s only been back a week-and-a-half, so for now it’s looking like Osweiler, but all options are open for the Broncos.”

Watch Florio on the Broncos QB situation: http://www.nbcsports.com/video/brock-osweiler-likely-be-tabbed-broncos-starter-week-10-vs-patriots

ON EAGLES

Dungy: “I’m on the ‘Wentz Wagon’ now.”

ON SEAHAWKS

Dungy on Seattle’s defense allowing game-winning TD late in fourth quarter: “Last drive, I am still upset looking at it. I don’t like non-smart football and this was not smart by Seattle. They are up, (the Redskins) need a touchdown, they’ve got to go 70 yards, and two plays in a row (the defense is in) bump and run.”

Harrison: “It’s just unbelievable. I would say play zone, keep two safeties deep.”

Dungy: “You’re pass rushing like crazy, he has no time to throw and you give him two quick easy throws to go 70 yards. This was on the Seattle defense.”

ON CHIEFS

Harrison: “I am concerned. I do not like the fact that early in the year, they were using their young running back Kareem Hunt – they didn’t today, and to me, it just puts a lot of pressure on Alex Smith. Alex Smith is a good player. He is not a great quarterback. You cannot put that type of pressure on him.”

ON PANTHERS

Dungy on QB Cam Newton: “I saw a guy who was into it. He was emotional, he was fired up. I thought Mike Shula and that offensive staff did a good job of putting some plays in to get him going.”

Harrison: “He took control of the game, kept the ball in his hands and in the critical moments he said, ‘You know what, I am going to run the ball and get first downs.’ What I like about it is he is sliding when he is running, but I’m still a little skeptical because you cannot have your quarterback be your leading rusher every week.”

ON COWBOYS

Florio on when RB Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension may start: “Nobody really knows at this point…last Monday night, a judge ruled that Elliott’s suspension begins. They took it to Appeals Court. It’s a three-step process. Step one – Elliott wins. He gets to play today. Step two comes this week – a motions panel with three judges. They don’t know who the judges are yet. Three judges from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether he can play or not play, and then there’s another step after that. He can be suspended, and then un-suspended, and back and forth we go as we’ve gone for the last six months.”

ON RAIDERS-DOLPHINS

Collinsworth on Dolphins: “This is a team that was really built around two Jays for a little while – Jay Ajayi and Jay Cutler. They are down to one Jay now. It’s really going to fall on Jay Cutler to pick this thing up. It’s so interesting to me, they have three number one picks along that offensive line and you’d think they would ride that – they really can’t. Those are more pass blockers, a little bit more finesse players. As much as anything in this game, I think everything sort of rides on Jay Cutler and his ability to get this offense going again.”

Collinsworth on the Raiders: “This is probably the most stunning story of the year for me. There really hasn’t been that major injury that could explain it. They were 2-0 going into that Washington game (on Sunday Night Football), and since then, but for a miracle comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs, would have lost (all of their games since then). I have a hard time explaining it, but I think the way they get out of is by going back to who they are, and that’s run the football. This is a powerful, overwhelming offensive line. Four of the five get paid at least $10 million a year, so when you’ve got Marshawn Lynch sitting behind that group, it’s time to let them go out and do some work.

Michaels on Raiders: “I’m not saying tonight is do-or-die, but it’s pretty close.”

Dungy: “If they want to get to the playoffs, they better win this game. The loser of this game is not going to the playoffs.”

Florio on Ndamukong Suh: “There was a report last week that the owner is done with Ndamukong Suh, and after this year they’re going to move on. The team came out and said that’s not the case. My understanding after talking to people close to the situation is that they love this guy, top to bottom of the organization. They are behind him. They love his leadership, working with young players, he’s not selfish, he’s very different when you know him than the perception and the image that he’s had over the years.”

Watch Florio’s comments on Suh: http://www.nbcsports.com/video/miami-dolphins-deny-ndamukong-suh-trade-rumors

RODNEY HARRISON WITH JARVIS LANDRY

Landry on head coach Adam Gase’s comments that Miami’s offense is the worst in the NFL: “It’s embarrassing. The things that we’ve put out so far is embarrassing, especially with the talent level that we have.”

Harrison: “You’ve described your playing style as being ‘angry’. Why are you so angry?”

Landry: “I was young back then. Maybe ‘angry’ was not the word that I wanted to use. It’s kind of like when you played the game, you know? I watched you play for numerous years. From the hits…just putting it out there for your teammates, the sacrifice. You got noticed not only just for doing the spectacular thing, but for doing it consistently. For me, that was my mindset. Stand out on film. When they turn on the film, they’re going to see 14.”

Landry on where he ranks himself among all wide receivers: “I believe I’m the No. 1 receiver in the league, honestly.”

Harrison: “You believe you’re the best receiver in the league?”

Landry: “Yeah. I feel like this – personally, I can’t expect anybody else to have that confidence about me if I don’t have it about me. And that’s something I truly believe in. I know the work that I put in. I just, honestly, I think for me, it’s about opportunities.”

Harrison: “I’m heading back to Atlanta and I’m going to tell Julio Jones you said you are the No. 1 receiver in this league.”

Landry: “Tell him. Tell everybody. Go ahead and tell everybody.”

Watch: http://www.nbcsports.com/video/jarvis-landry-what-dolphins-put-out-embarrassing

MICHELE TAFOYA WITH JACK DEL RIO

Del Rio on growing up in the Bay Area and now coaching the Raiders: “It’s an incredible honor, privilege, for me…it’s my childhood team. I sat in the stands, my dad would take me occasionally. And to be able to be in charge and to lead it, it’s hard to describe. But when I walk out in that Coliseum, a place where I played a high school championship game, it’s special for me every time.”

Del Rio on what’s missing that Oakland had last season at this time: “Mojo (laughter). It’s just a little bit of not making some of the plays that have you win some of the close games that we’ve lost, especially our division games.”

Tafoya: “So, that’s what mojo is?”

Del Rio: “Yes, it’s making plays and having fun, and you gain confidence as you go.”

Del Rio on the final moments of the Kansas City game: “Well, nerve-wracking, suspenseful, exciting. I said after the game, ‘You know you’re alive when you’re in that moment.’ And you know you’re putting your neck out there. And if it doesn’t go right, you’re going to hear all of that. But when it does, which it did, it’s going to be awesome.”

Del Rio on the accuracy of his reputation as ‘Blackjack Del Rio’: “It’s accurate. Well, because I’m a competitor.”

Del Rio on his aggressiveness rubbing off on his players: “Oh, I think it does, yes. And if there’s a moment where I’m not being aggressive, they’re like, ‘Coach, what happened?’ I’m like, ‘No, Derek (Carr), we can’t go every time.’ To me, it’s really simple. As the head coach, if you think it’s the right thing to do for your football team, to give you the best chance to win, then you’ve got to have the guts to do it.”

Watch: http://www.nbcsports.com/video/raiders-del-rio-expects-lynch-have-strong-second-half-season

–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA–