Inside the NFL Notes

From CBS / Showtime -

NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FROM WEEK FOUR OF INSIDE THE NFL ON SHOWTIME®

NEW YORK (Sept. 30, 2009) This week’s INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME – Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. ET/PT features “Sapp Shots” and a look at the “new” worst team in the NFL.

Host James Brown anchors INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME with All-Pro NFL greats Cris Collinsworth, Phil Simms and Warren Sapp serving as expert analysts. INSIDE THE NFL is being produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films with new episodes airing on SHOWTIME every Wednesday during the NFL season through February 10, 2010. Pete Radovich serves as coordinating producer. The executive producers are Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports, and NFL Films President Steve Sabol.

Following are excerpts transcribed from this week’s episode.

SAPP SHOTS

(Warren Sapp on Terrell Owens press conference after reporters tried to goad him into saying something about his teammates):

As we sit here and look at this, the goading that was going on, he was attempting to answer the questions in a fashion that was not going to throw someone under the bus. Because he realizes, I am on a one-year deal. It didn’t work that way in Dallas, it didn’t work that way in Philly or San Francisco, I have to be a better teammate. That is all the man is trying to do... you have to give him a little credit, fellas.

ON PHILADELPHIA QUATERBACK KEVIN KOLB

SIMMS:…here’s a guy that’s set an NFL record in his first two starts, threw for over 300 yards. He looked so impressive and then I turn the TV on and on every single highlight show what was the first thing said about the Eagles game? ‘Well Michael Vick was 0-2 and ran for 7 yards. And oh, by the way Kevin Kolb did this.’ So I’m just going to give him some credit for a job well done...I think everything he’s done these two games have shown the Philadelphia Eagles and all fans that he is absolutely worthy of being a very capable backup and being the next guy in line...nobody said anything about him before the game.

SAPP: After the two weeks performance by Mr. Kolb we all know one thing. You might want to save that $100 running down there to get your Michael Vick jersey, and you might do something with that No. 5 and put that one on eBay in a year because this kid can play quarterback. It doesn’t look like the wildcat, going in and out, is bothering his rhythm. That would be the biggest question I have for the starting quarterback when he comes back. Can you find your rhythm? Well Mr. Kolb can with Vick going in and out playing wildcat. Why can’t Donovan?

“NEW” WORST TEAM IN THE NFL

COLLINSWORTH: Let’s face it. Raheem (Morris) skipped a step. I think he’s a talented young coach but he went right from the secondary, he never was a defensive coordinator and went on to be head coach. Now we’re talking about guys like Mike Tomlin, Rex Ryan, great defensive coordinators, Jim Schwartz even. They came in and were effective…(On coaching by committee in Tampa): The ownership wants to maintain a little control over the whole thing. Josh Freeman had better be the answer. I know they’re going Josh Johnson first but they drafted him and right now when you look at this team, he better be the answer.

SAPP: You need a defense. That’s the one thing they’ve always had in Tampa was a defense. Now (Monte) Kiffin is gone, they give up 41 points a game, 400 yards...I’ll tell you what. They are playing a defense that I am unfamiliar with…

(On Cleveland being the Worst team in the League now that Detroit won):

Warren: Why would you go to Cleveland if you were a free agent? Do you go there for the weather? The Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame? We know the fine system is totally screwed up.

SIMMS:…I look at the Cleveland Browns. Quarterback problems. They don’t have the skilled players. They let Kellen Winslow go, and they don’t have anyone that is hitting the quarterback on a consistent basis. It is hard to win.

(On Cleveland not naming starting quarterback until Wednesday):

SIMMS: It takes away 50% of your power. Now it’s all just about physically delivering the goods. Because the quarterback, and I was taught this way by Bill Parcels, you’re the second most powerful person in the organization. The head coach has power, then the quarterback has the ability to influence all the other players by the way he works, the way he handles himself, the way he leads. And if he does that right, say he’s a hard worker just in the weight room, some free agent sees him, he works hard, maybe the free agent now runs down the kick-off team, makes the tackle and that’s the difference of winning or losing a football game...

(On the quarterback having that much power)

SAPP: Yes he does, There are thee people on the football team you don’t bother with, the head coach, the quarterback and the kicker.

SIMMS: He does have a lot of power because to everybody it’s the position, what it means and believe me when I tell you, when things go wrong, those players in the locker room, who is the first player they’re going to blame? They’re going to blame the quarterback.