From the NFL Sunday studios
Highlights from yesterday's NFL studio shows, as provided by the networks:
ESPN's Cris Carter on the Colts: “What concerns me is that the running game has been the security blanket for the Colts, even when they won the Super Bowl. In that Super Bowl run, Peyton Manning threw seven interceptions. The running game saved that football team. We take it for granted, Indy runs the ball. And now they are not able to play with the lead. So they are not able to force teams out of their running game -- big problem in Indianapolis.”
NBC's Cris Collinsworth on the Bengals: "At least the Bengals move to 3-3 -- three bad losses, three good losses. In Cincinnati, we count that as .500."
NBC's Bob Costas on the Cowboys' Adam Jones: “He fires his agent, apparently because his agent demanded 10 percent of his bail bonds.”
CBS' Shannon Sharpe on the same topic: "Unplug the Pacman. He should not be playing today because Jerry Jones said, 'Pacman is an adult. He understands what we laid forth for him.' Around the clock security -- and you fight the security guy?"
Fox's Jimmy Johnson on the same topic: “Fire the bodyguard! These are grown men making lots of money. I’m all for counseling and mentoring but do you have to have bodyguards? Do you trust this player so little that you have to have four grown men follow him around making sure he stays out of trouble? You’ve got to be able to trust these players. They’ve got to take some responsibility and some accountability themselves and if they cant do that, get rid of them.”
Sharpe on choosing between Peyton and Eli Manning: "I say Eli. You look at the last five games last year -- the last game of the regular season and four playoff games, culminating with a Super Bowl win, and the first four games this year … Peyton’s body of work is Picasso, Rembrandt, Monet, whatever you want to use, but we’re not talking about the body of work. We’re talking about right now."
Fox's Terry Bradshaw on helping retired players: “I’ve had it with the NFL and the players association. I’ve had it with their lip service towards hundreds of old-timers. We have so many older players out there, guys my age and older who made this league great but there’s no money for the surgeries that they need to fix broken hips and to pay for artificial knees. Some old-timers simply need extra money just to keep their home and their families together. I know a lot of players from my era; Howie’s too, who are reaching out and raising money. A lot of these former players are doing a better job than the league and the union are doing. There isn’t a better business in America than the NFL. We all love this game. Millions of you watch and pay for suites and tickets and TV packages and that’s why the NFL will gross over $7 billion dollars this season. This league is so wealthy that I know at least 10 billionaires who own teams, any of which could write a check to fix this. We love pro football so much that its about time, like Warren Beatty preached in that great football move, “Heaven Can Wait,” that the commissioner should yell, ‘Hey, let’s be the good guys, lets take care of everyone.’ Take one percent of that $7 billion this year and next and there’s enough money to take care of every old player who needs it. Come on everybody, let’s be the good guys and do what’s right.”


Comments
With all due respect to Terry Bradshaw, I find it jarring that he is just now understanding how corporate America works. Fortunately for him, he has the resources to cover his medical issues. Coal miners, steel workers, delivery men, maintenance guys all develop job-related injuries but they don't get to cry about it on a major TV station. Hey, Terry, sports stars should try working for a living.
Posted by: jon hyatt | October 14, 2008 9:24 AM
Common sense. When was the last time common sense ruled the NFL?
Expecting grown up men to behave like grown-ups should be the norm. And Adam Jones is not the only one who is not being an adult here: what Terry Bradshaw says is right only up to a point. All workers think about their future: we have to, otherwise we will end up penniless and homeless. How comes that NFL players, earning in one afternoon what I earn in a year, can believe they do not need to save for their future?
Breaking news: football is a contact sport.
Come on, how can NFL players believe they will not need PLENTY of medical attention once retired? It is not unusual for a 40-year-old guy who has never played football at pro level (e.g. myself) to have joint problems and seasonal pains. What if you replace 10-15 years of work in an office/factory with the same period of being smashed to the ground by 250-pound guys?
From the above post by Jon Hyatt:
"sports stars should try working for a living"
I would not expect that much. But maybe saving a bit of money would not hurt them. And yes, corporate America (well, corporate 'anything') respects you only when you produce cash. Once you stop producing cash, you become useless.
Posted by: Claudio Piombetti | October 15, 2008 8:23 AM