Friday, April 15, 2011
NFL lead negotiator Jeff Pash, quoted on ap.cjonline.com regarding yesterday's mediated negotiations: "We had a full day. It was constructive to get together. The chief magistrate judge is working very hard, and I give him a lot of credit for really trying to move the parties toward a solution."
Titans RB Chris Johnson remains hopeful that QB Vince Young could still be back with the club next season, as quoted in The Tennessean: "It is not etched in stone that Vince is going to be gone, so I am not sure what they are going to do at quarterback. A lot of things have changed in the last few months, so maybe Vince will be back?" Added Johnson: "At first it was set in stone when Coach (Jeff) Fisher was here because he didn't want Vince back. It was an either-or situation then. Now that Coach Fisher is gone, everything is up in the air. We'll just see what happens."
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, quoted on startribune.com on his optimism that a deal for a new stadium will get done: "We're confident that we have the parts in place to get this done this session. We're right now in the process of working with several potential [local] partners.They're very much willing and able to get this deal done."
Potential UFA RB Ricky Williams feels he can still bring a lot to the table for a team in need of a veteran back, as quoted on SunSentinel.com: "I have things to offer that a rookie can't offer. I think I bring positivity. I think I bring leadership. I've proven I can play at a high level consistently."
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Colts TE Jacob Tamme, who is working out during the work stoppage at Indiana University Health Sports Performance in Carmel, Ind., explaining that, while it's not ideal, the complex offers almost everything the Colts facility does, as quoted in The Indianapolis Star: "What you have at an NFL complex is every single thing you could need as far as the combination of training, rehab and what you could call 'prehab,' the injury prevention stuff. Cold tubs, hot tubs, things like that.'' Added Tamme: "[The Carmel complex] doesn't have everything, but it's pretty darned close. In fact, they just put in a cold tub the other day.''
Packers TE Tom Crabtree, quoted in the Green Bay Press-Gazette on electing to stay in Green Bay and work out with teammates during the lockout: "I just wanted to try to keep things as normal as I can as far as football goes and as far as working out. I didn't want to be back home in Ohio because when you're back home, you're not in your normal routine. Here, you're working out with guys that know what it takes."
Patriots QB Tom Brady, revealing on ESPN's "The Brady 6" what went through his mind when he was finally selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft: "I don't have to be an insurance salesman."
Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara, quoted on USATODAY.com joking about giving Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who convinced Amukamra to switch from running back to cornerback, half of his soon-to-be wealth: "Definitely I think I owe him half of whatever I get." Amukamara continued: "As soon as I got there, I thought I would play running back. When coach Pelini got there, he was open to me playing offense but said, 'I can see you being a great defensive back and playing for a long time (in the pros).'"
Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware, explaining why he decided to give his portion of the NFLPA lockout fund - $60,000 back to his fellow players — as quoted in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "We have $60,000 that is supposed to be paid to us. I gave my money back to help out other guys that don't have as much money. That is going to help out and bring us closer to together."
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Ravens RB Ray Rice, explaining why the coaching staff does not have to worry about him slacking during a lockout, as quoted in The Baltimore Sun: "I feel I'm in great shape. Our facility is great, but I'm a guy that our coaches know I get after it when it comes to working out. I think they trust that I'm going to come back in shape." Added Rice: "I'm not one of the guys they have to monitor and ask, 'Is he working out?' I think in the back in their mind, they know the guys that are working out and the guys they have to worry about."
Former Cowboys Pro Bowl TE Jay Novacek, quoted in the Dallas Morning News on his confidence in QB Tony Romo: "Romo's an outstanding quarterback. Who would you trade him for outside of the few elite quarterbacks now playing? Winning Super Bowls is a team effort. All players have to contribute. He just hasn't had the team." Novacek went on to endorse the job owner Jerry Jones has done building the club: "He won three Super Bowls. How many NFL owners have done that? Has he made mistakes? Yes. Who hasn't? But he's done a lot for the National Football League."
49ers new head coach Jim Harbaugh is not concerned with QB Alex Smith's ability to brush criticism off and keep getting better, as quoted in The Sacramento Bee: "Well, the question is, 'Do you have baby deer skin or skin like an armadillo?. That's where the rubber meets the road there. If someone doesn't like me or doesn't cheer loud for me - is he going to be deep and emotionally scarred by that? I mean, most true competitors, most men like that would take offense to somebody inferring that about him." Added Harbaugh: "He's a tough son of a gun. I watched four really solid years of every snap the guy took - getting hit in the pocket, picking himself back up, playing under adversity, fierce competitor. I don't think (booing) will affect the guy."
Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy, quoted on tampabay.com discussing the two-week relief mission to Rwanda he embarked on with Titans DE Derrick Morgan, as quoted by The Associated Press: "It was life-changing. You kind of re-evaluate what's important to you because of how some people live over there. We complain about so much, but we have it so good and don't even realize it." Added McCoy: "This trip is not for everybody. But I really, really encourage people to go. … It was so satisfying. I can't wait to go back."
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik, quoted on Buccaneers.com after receiving a four-year extension on Monday: "I am appreciative of the confidence the Glazer family has in the direction of the franchise. I am looking forward to working into my 20th year as a proud part of this community and organization. The mission is to continue building this team into a lasting contender and to bring championships back to the Tampa Bay area."
Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis has taken up training for boxing during the NFL work stoppage, as quoted on BostonHerald.com: "We have so much time on our hands nowadays," Green-Ellis said. "Besides waking up and going through your normal football training, the rest of the day is free. I go do boxing. It's a great experience." Added Green-Ellis: "They really put me through it. There's no sitting down. I like it, and it's especially good for my core, that's where it starts. Working on hand/eye coordination, my footwork in there, keeping up my good cardio, different things for my shoulders - it helps out. And I like being able to hit the pads. They push me to my limits and past my limits."
Saints WR Robert Meachem, who played the entire 2010 season on an injured ankle that required surgery this offseason, discussing his preference for a 16-game season, as quoted in the Tulsa World: "I'm a 16-game guy. The human body is built for certain things, but I don't know if it's built for 18 games. If you have 18 games and the playoffs, I don't see that working at all." Added Meachem on 2011 being a contract year: "No pressure. I hand the pressure over to God and I just go play. He blessed me with the ability to play, so that's what I do. ... I'm going to give it all I've got and hope that I'm still with the Saints. I love the Saints and I love the fans. But if God wants me to go in a different direction, I'll go."
Cowboys WR Troy Bergeron, quoted in The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune on his decision to join the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators during the lockout — Bergeron has caught 22 balls for 372 yards and 13 TDs in only three games: "I'm just trying to make a living. I don't have time for this lockout thing to get settled; I have bills to pay." Bergeron continued: "It was a good opportunity for me. I knew I was going to have to find some kind of job. I've got money saved up, but nobody in my position has years and years of money saved up."
Jaguars reserve OL Kevin Haslam, discussing his weightlifting routine with '09 first-round OLT Eugene Monroe, as quoted in The Florida Times-Union: "I go heavy; everything he [Monroe] does is extra heavy. He almost killed me on the front squat yesterday."
Monday, April 11, 2011
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has his doubts about the star power in this year's draft class, as quoted on Cincinnati.com: "There's some depth but at the end of the day I don't think there are going to be the stars that people think there are. That's probably a better thing overall. There's some hard-playing guys."
Steelers WR Hines Ward, quoted in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on how "Dancing With the Stars" is helping him stay in shape: "I'm getting in shape, staying in shape. This is great rehab. I'm not sliding on the floor or anything or jumping up and down. I'm not going to do any crazy stuff like that. This is actually helping my footwork." Ward added this on getting together with teammates if the labor impasse drags into the summer: "Ben [Roethlisberger] and I will make sure that the wide receivers and him get together, spend a week together and throw at a high school somewhere. We want to be ready so when something does happen, we at least threw the ball around, ran some routes."
University of Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett, who has scared off some NFL teams because of character concerns, explaining how he hopes to impress teams during private visits, as quoted on twincities.com: "The key is to just be forthright, and hopefully they can understand who I am as a person. When I'm questioned about my leadership or character, I ask them to look at my experience at Arkansas, where I had the chance to be a two-time captain. That was voted on by my teammates, and I believe they looked at me as a leader. I believe in myself as a football player and leader." Mallett went on to discuss his positive meeting with the Vikings last week: "I was really impressed by the organization, and the talks we had were positive. I enjoyed talking football with them and showing them what I know and what I can do as a quarterback. I feel that's a place where I could thrive."
Vikings VP of player personnel Rick Spielman, quoted on NFL.com revealing that the club is not worried about the surgically repaired hip of WR Sidney Rice, a potential free agent whom the club hopes to ink to an extension once a new CBA is in place: "I just keep everything internally on where (Rice) is at medically, but I'm sure if we felt any concerns medically, we wouldn't be discussing extensions with him." Added Spielman: "We've always talked about Sidney being a very important part of our football team. We've always been pretty agressive with the guys that we have drafted that become very good players for us and hopefully that will work out."
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