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Home , DeMarco Murray, Good Morning Football, LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Irvin, Rex Ryan, Rich Eisen

NFL Network Media Conference Tuesday, September 13, 2016 LaDainian Tomlinson running game with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry and what you think they can do there? LADAINIAN TOMLINSON: I think with those two guys, they can really -- I believe they can control the pace of play and really win a time of possession game and THE MODERATOR: Thanks for joining us today on really help their defense out and kind of try to win reactions for the first week of action in the NFL and a games in an ugly fashion. They're not going to throw preview of . Joining me on the the football all around the park, I don't believe. call today, Steve Mariucci, LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshall Faulk. I think Marcus is going to continue to take the next step and the next progression of being an NFL Before I turn it over to those guys, a few quick NFL and will be able to handle a little bit more. But I think Network programming notes presented by Bud Light, he enjoys the luxury of having those two guys. You can Thursday Night Football kicks off with and just play ugly football and just beat people up for four the hosting the on quarters. Thursday, September 15th on CBS. It's also simulcast on NFL Network and streamed on . I think it will pay dividends in the fourth quarter where they probably will be able to keep the lead if they have Thursday Night Football this season features 13 it or keep games close to winning in the end. divisional match-ups and 11 playoff teams from 2015, and all games will be televised nationally by NFL STEVE MARIUCCI: Yeah, that was, like you said, an Network, either exclusively or as a simulcast of the ugly game. Not a lot of great offensive plays. The respective CBS or NBC broadcast. Titans did hold to 31 yards rushing. But I think as the season wears on, will Also as announced this morning by the NFL and Nike, have more touches. He only had five rushing attempts all Thursday Night Football games this season will for three yards. DeMarco Murray had 42 yards feature Color Rush uniforms. For more information on rushing, which he's going to be their feature back. Color Rush, you can visit NFLcommunications.com. But I like the one-two punch that they're going to have. TNF game day airs every Thursday at 6 Eastern on They're going to need it. With , we've NFL Network with Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, seen him. We've seen him very good at times last year and , followed by Thursday as a rookie, and as long as they continue to try to push night kickoff at 7:30 p.m. every Sunday on NFL the ball down the field and get the ball to their Network, you can catch Mooch along with Marshall and receivers, I think we're going to have a little bit more the rest of the guys on NFL Game Day Morning at 9 success running the football. Only had 64 yards a.m. Eastern, and you can catch L.T. and the rest of his rushing and Marcus had 19 of them himself. So I think crew on NFL Game Day Prime at 11:30 p.m. Eastern. it's a work in progress. I think as the season wears on, and Marcus develops into more of a passer, that that Finally, is now part of NFL Network's running game with DeMarco Murray and Henry will new morning show, , which airs really flourish. Monday through Friday at 7:00 a.m. Eastern. Nate joins Kay Adams, Peter Schrager and Kyle Brandt Q. I wanted to ask both of you whether you thought every morning from studios in Manhattan. there was a double standard being applied to as a passer with regard to some of the Now, questions for Mooch, L.T. and Marshall. blows he took the first week and the fact he's so much bigger and stronger than everyone and he Q. Mooch and L.T., I know the Titans regular doesn't get protected the way other season opener didn't go as they wanted it to. But are protected? wanted to ask you about the potential with the STEVE MARIUCCI: Yeah, boy, we've had that

Rev #3 by #349 at 2016-09-13 18:50:00 GMT page 1 of 6 discussion and we'll continue to among the player sometimes to make a judgment call and say, man, was safety advisory committee. We discuss these things. that a little bit too much? Did Cam get hit? Was it too We've got a conference call coming up here next week. bad? It's hard for them. But I do think there is a bit of We discuss rules, injury trends, the whole thing. I'm a double standard in that case. sure the Cam Newton thing is going to be a topic of the conversation because he did get hit in the head, helmet Q. I was looking for some comments on Texans to helmet several times, and one was called, but it was after their opening win? They have a game coming offsetting penalty because his throwaway didn't get to up against Kansas City which beat them twice last the line of scrimmage. year and lost convincingly in the Playoffs. I'm wondering if you think Houston's improved It seems to me a helmet to helmet should override any sufficiently to really score against the Chiefs this other penalties. It's more severe. In college, we have time around or how you see that game shaping up? targeting penalty, and a guy gets suspended for a STEVE MARIUCCI: Well, I think Houston's a heck of a game. So we need to look at -- everything's about football team. I really do. I think when it's all said and player health and safety, and we're trying to eliminate done they're going to be right in the playoff chase. We the hits to the head and using the head in tackling and know they have a heck of a defense. If J.J. Watt stays all those things and reduce the concussions. healthy, he hasn't missed a game. Get this in his five years, 96% of the defensive snaps he's played. That's In some areas we have, and in some areas we're still ridiculous for a defensive lineman. You suit up eight trying to improve it. defensive linemen usually to rotate, and this guy doesn't come out, and then Whitney Mercilus too, and So Cam, here's the thing that the defensive players and hopefully should stay healthy. It coaches will say. Cam, let's see, who else? Russell should be a terrific top three defense. Wilson, some of the running-type quarterbacks, RG3, they leave the pocket and they start running and start I really like Brock Osweiler, I think he's going to be very scrambling. They say we don't know if he's a passer or good in Bill O'Brien's system. He threw for 231 yards runner. Is he always protected as a passer, as a and a couple of . And as he rhythms up quarterback? Can we or should we hit him high? He with these young receivers, DeAndre Hopkins is terrific, is a big dude. He's bigger than most tacklers. But I but you get the rookies, from Notre Dame, hope there is no double standard. and Braxton Miller, the former quarterback at Ohio State, and he's going to be a heck of a receiver in due Officiating looks to be consistent, obviously. But there time. were three or four different plays where you got to go, wait a minute, wait a minute, why was that not called? I think this team is going to be really dynamic. And And we've got to find a way to emphasize this and Lamar Miller at . My God, I think they've reduce the hits to the head, no question. got weapons galore. So if this team stays healthy, they'll do a lot of damage. They'll be fine against the LADAINIAN TOMLINSON: I think there is a double Chiefs. I was surprised the Chiefs gave up that many standard in that case of running quarterbacks. You points against the San Diego Chargers. It was know, because they don't get the same treatment as a shocking to me. I think we all picked the Chiefs to win pocket passer would that leaves the pocket. If a pocket easily. But San Diego could have really won that passer leaves the pocket and he starts to run and game. throws it away and somebody comes and hits him in the head, more than likely that's going to draw a But, anyway, I've got a lot of confidence in the Houston penalty. They're going to protect, I believe, the pocket Texans this year. passers a little bit more. LADAINIAN TOMLINSON: Yeah, I think they'll get a And Mooch does have a great point. It's hard to know, really good test early on here with their offense. Like you know, if those guys are running or if they're going Mooch said, their defense, they're an experienced to throw it. A defender is just taught to go get the ball, group of guys that have been together for the most just go hit the guy. Because Cam is an imposing figure part. and a big guy, it's kind of that Shaq treatment. Oh, did he hit? It wasn't that hard when you're looking at it. But this offensive unit is new, with new pieces. Lamar But then we get the luxury of seeing replays and we Miller, Brock Osweiler, some rookie receivers. So see what really transpired over and over again, and it's they're going to get a test with their Kansas City like, wait a minute, that wasn't right. defense who has been to the Playoffs two of the last three years. And we know Kansas City typically plays But the speed of the game is hard for the refs

Rev #3 by #349 at 2016-09-13 18:50:00 GMT page 2 of 6 really good defense. that against the Saints.

The way they gave up yards mostly in the first half and Now the Saints, they don't have a lot of guys, they don't halfway through the third quarter, I think that's going to have a lot of playmakers, but showed you be a point of emphasis this week. Now the Chiefs he can just about win games with almost anybody. coaches are on those guys, I'm sure, about playing What did, I believe it puts them in the hunt better defense and how the bunch is right there with the Broncos. coming in and they're going to be explosive and they need to get it together. And I'm going to say this, what Kansas City did puts them in the mix because I didn't think they could score So it's going to be interesting to see how that game points like that. Kansas City used to be you get ten transpires and what we see from the Houston Texans points ahead, they can't come back. offense. What I saw in week one was fabulous. I love what Lamar Miller did. I love what Brock did. I love So now that dynamic has changed. The AFC West is what will Fuller did. They look dynamic. And if that's competitive. Every time the winner or the case, then this is a bunch now, I think that they whatever that division is comes out of there, that could possibly be there in the end. Because the division elevates and I believe the Oakland Raiders are division they play in, I think they could easily win that right there. division? They need Cooper, Carter and Murray to be healthy MARSHALL FAULK: Just on the Texans, we just have and be productive week-in and week-out, and they to decide what is success for the Texans. Is it making need the other guys to just kind of sprinkle in and play the Playoffs? Is it winning the weak AFC South their role. success, or are we going to start asking what we ask of our superstars, like J.J. Watt, to start carrying his team STEVE MARIUCCI: Yeah, I see them the same way. I throughout the Playoffs and not just be a guy that went up to their training camp and, I do that each year. during the regular season gets stuff done, but as we I could just tell that this team is becoming very, very move into the Playoffs, are we going to ask him to do confident. Not hopeful, but confident, and the that? Are we going to put the pressure on Osweiler? expectations are high. Very young team. When I What are we going to do when we look at the Texans? checked the roster then, there were only five guys over How are we going to visualize this team. 30 years old, and one was a long snapper and one was a kicker. Because the guy is great. I mean, we tout him. He played with a herniated disk in his back long before he It's a really young football team. So the sky is going to was supposed to. But for whatever reason, when the be the limit with Jack Del Rio over there, hometown Texans don't play well, he's okay. He gets a pass. So product. is it his team? Is he great? Is just winning the AFC South good enough? Is making the Playoffs good Marshall mentioned their triplets with Derrick Carr and enough? What is good? What are you guys willing to Latavius Murray and Amari Cooper, and we have to accept or are you guys going to start pushing him like keep in mind Michael Crabtree is a heck of a two. He's we push our stars? a heck of a two. All of a sudden, here's this Jalen Richard kid from Southern Miss, and he's going to Q. Coming off that really exciting finish in the contribute a little bit too. Oakland-New Orleans game, I wanted to get your thoughts on where you see the Raiders finishing I think they've got to get better on defense, and they up this year? A lot of people say this is the year can. Reggie McKenzie made a lot of emphasis in they kind of make the leap. Do you see them as improving that defense. You sign a division title contenders? Maybe not division but opposite Khalil Mack and you've got a couple of book playoff contenders. Or do you guys think they'll be ends there. You draft a safety, pick up a Reggie Nelson finishing out of the Playoffs? safety who has been a Pro Bowler. So they've got MARSHALL FAULK: I believe the Raiders are a playoff- some pieces and defense on the defensive side. They caliber team. Let's say what Jack Del Rio did in that gave up over 500 yards against Drew Brees, they've game can galvanize this team, and the confidence that got to shore up some things. you need to have as a team move be forward believing that you can win games like this, and let me say this, But maybe the West has the best division, guys. I think the culture in Oakland has changed. They expect to the NFC West is probably the best division, and the win games not just hoping to win games. And we saw AFC West is a heck of a division too. The Broncos still are very strong. Kansas City's going to be very strong,

Rev #3 by #349 at 2016-09-13 18:50:00 GMT page 3 of 6 San Diego's better than expected, but it really hurts kid's got something special. He missed a lot of the them to lose again. That is such a camp because of a broken rib, so it's 4th and 4 in this bummer for Keenan Allen. Gosh, he's got to keep his game, a big play near the red zone, and they get full dauber up. blitz. He knows he's short a guy in protection because he's in an empty set, and he gets stuck through an A- But Oakland's going to be right there when it's all said gap. and done. Don't know if they can win it all in that division, but certainly a wildcard spot. But in the future And somebody hit his ribs as he threw a completion for this will be the team to beat. a first down. Hit him right in the ribs. I was going oh, my God, is he going to get up? The very next play is a LADAINIAN TOMLINSON: I agree with Marshall and pass. So he really showed that, especially Mooch. I believe they will compete and be right there to Cleveland because they had a chance to draft him in the end to win that division. I don't know if they're and they chose not to, to show that he's got a little ready in terms of experience. But one thing I've done something to him. over the last two or three years in the draft, in a couple of pieces of free agency has really built this roster to be But it's not just . I was impressed, how strong and competitive. many times do you hear it's a quarterback driven league? It is. And now we've got some new faces. So I think as you continue to win games like they did on We saw Trevor Siemian win a game many people didn't Sunday, that builds a team morale, it builds the think he could win, replacing Osweiler and Peyton confidence of a team. And then you start to really Manning. He had one snap last year and that's it. believe that you're going to win each and every game. Beating Carolina's great defense, that was an eye- Even if you don't, you believe it. So I do think that if opener for me. Trevor Siemian's a young kid too. they are going to win that division and go deep in the Carson Wentz. Playoffs, the guys on defense, they're going to be all right on offense. They're going to continue to grow. We didn't talk yet about Dak Prescott. This kid came out of nowhere because when I visited the Cowboys in But the guys on defense, Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, training camp, he was third. He wasn't getting any reps those guys have to be special. They're going to have at all. Of course a couple of injuries and, boom, he to be special because what I've seen in the secondary starts in the preseason and looks like a million Bucks. is very vulnerable still. They may get a little better, but I So Dak Prescott, I think, is going to be a guy. think that's going to be a sore spot all year at times. They're going to give up some yards. How about Jimmy G. Over there in New England? Huge upset in Arizona in the desert. So we've got But if Bruce and Khalil can be special, then I think they some young quarterbacks that went, wow, these guys can win a division and possibly win a game or two in belong. They're going to be starters in this league. the Playoffs? We've got a new crop of youngsters coming up and we need that? Q. What are the biggest takeaways from Week 1? LADAINIAN TOMLINSON: My biggest takeaway is the Q. With Thursday Night Football starting up this way Carson Wentz played. It was truly remarkable to Thursday, what are some things that you're looking see a young guy who hadn't played since the first for in the Jets-Bills matchup? preseason game, was out with an injury and everything STEVE MARIUCCI: Well, with the Jets, they're both that transpired with being out of there coming off losses, right, and the Jets suffered a tough and then this guy's a starter. loss with the right at the end. The Jets were 10-6 last year. Heck of a football team. To do what he did, I know it's against the Browns, but Right on the bubble to making the Playoffs. they tried to rattle him. They blitzed him. They stood in the pocket and knew where to go with the ball. He was Then when you add another guy like Matt Forte, he cool. He was poised in the pocket. He looked like a rushed for 96 yards in that game, and we know he's a leader. He just looked like the quarterback of the future weapon in the passing game too. Nobody has more for that team. scrimmage yards in than Matt Forte when he's been in the league. So he had five more catches I just like what I've seen from the kid, and I think there and two to add to that. is a great upside to Carson Wentz. So I think Ryan Fitzpatrick has a bunch of weapons. STEVE MARIUCCI: Yeah, I do too. There were a Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker need to get the ball. couple plays in that game that made you go, whoa, this They only had three and two catches, so they've got to

Rev #3 by #349 at 2016-09-13 18:50:00 GMT page 4 of 6 find a way to score some points with all those weapons things. Everything else is going to kind of materialize. that they have. Fitzpatrick with his receivers. That's going to get better. The running game both sides, they're going to But they're a heck of a team. Of course here comes get better. Forte was great. Rex and the Buffalo Bills have got to find a way to get back to running the football. He only rushed for 65 But those three things that I'm looking out for. And yards. LeSean McCoy had 58. They led the league in you've got a short week. If it's Revis' (indiscernible) on rushing last year, and they need to get back to that a short week, I think it's not good. If it's a bad split, I because that's their recipe. Play a little defense, take don't know if Sammy Watkins can make it on Thursday care of the ball and run the football. They didn't do if he just had an injury on Sunday. Usually coaches much of that against Baltimore. hold guys out. Then just Tyrod, how do you make the adjustment? And oh, yeah, here's a guy who is a head LADAINIAN TOMLINSON: I think you look at this coach over there in who loves to bring division, I mean, we can say that New England's going pressure. So it's interesting what the game is going to to win it at this point. I mean, it's pretty safe to say that, afford us. right? So now you're talking about two teams that are going to be fighting for a potential wildcard spot. We Q. Marshall, I wanted to ask you about the potential know it's not going to be both of them. of the Titans run game with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry moving forward? So we can just eliminate. One of them is not going to MARSHALL FAULK: I like the one-two punch, and it make it in the wildcard spot. So who is the better doesn't matter who is one and who is two with me. team? That's what I'm looking to see. I think both Just on the whole, regardless of what you do, you have teams coming out off a loss is going to be pretty to protect the football. I mean, that's just I remember interesting to see because Buffalo's offense didn't do as a kid being told everybody's hopes and dreams are much. We thought they'd be a lot better with Tyrod in that football so protect it with your life. And they can Taylor in his second year in offense, but they didn't do be successful. The offensive line, really good at run much. blocking. You just can't turn the football over and help the other team beat you with how they play. When you look at the Jets, they played well, but they lost a tough game. So Ryan Fitzpatrick still made a Q. Do you think this will be a much of improved couple of those mistakes that has cost him throughout team? his career and really cost him, I think, a big contract in MARSHALL FAULK: As good as the Vikings are, first of the off-season and really made the Jets hesitate in all, yes. There is an improvement in Tennessee. But terms of paying them or bringing them back. as good as the Vikings are, you cannot allow their defense to score or give Shaun Hill a short field. The So can (indiscernible) finally overcome getting beat by record on him is you make him play more than six Rex Ryan and his defenses, beating his old teams? plays and he's going to give you an opportunity on Lot of story lines in this one. But I think I'll be looking defense. So they just have to do a better job at to see who emerges out of those two teams as the protecting the football? better team in that division to possibly fight for a wildcard spot. Q. What do you think about Derrick Henry? MARSHALL FAULK: I like him, I like him. All through MARSHALL FAULK: There's a couple of story lines college I kept labelling him another Alabama running really short, , and I said this from the start back. I don't want to speak too soon on it, but his this season, the second-year quarterback that wowed ability to make people miss in tight spaces is better us, their second year starting, what are they going to than I thought. I didn't think he possessed those be like? Can they answer the bell? Tyrod Taylor was a abilities. guy that just didn't play well. Had some drops, of course, but just didn't play well. Then I know it was Now you're not going to get a chance to really show A.J. Green, but somebody's got to talk about Darrelle -- them against the Minnesota defense that's well- Revis. I love Revis. But when you get touted to having coached. I mean Coach Zimmer might be one of the an island, really and what happens to you happens to best in our business at defensive football. But, yeah, I you, and yes, guys do have days, but it's the kind of like him now more than I did when he was coming out. days that they have. Q. Marshall, I asked Mooch and LaDainian about I saw separation, I saw -- I mean, it was bad. And Sam this earlier, I wanted to know if you thought there Watkins, his foot. What's wrong with it? How bad is it? was any kind of double standard applied to Cam And can he contribute to this team? I think those three

Rev #3 by #349 at 2016-09-13 18:50:00 GMT page 5 of 6 Newton in the way that he's treated as a passer? AFC North. You're talking about the Bengals who won And as a follow-up, assuming he can remain one this week on a field goal, but they've been in the healthy, what is the next step for him? He was Playoffs five years in a row for . That's already MVP, took a team to the Super Bowl -- quite an accomplishment over there in Cincinnati. obviously winning it -- but what ways do you see They're going to play the , Marshall him game growing? mentioned . My God, if Ben looks MARSHALL FAULK: I think it's the anticipatory throws. skinny, I don't know. I've got to get his diet. He looks Cam has such a strong arm and a lot of the time he'll lighter. I think he's on the same thing Marshall's on wait till the receiver comes open to throw the ball. I right now, and he is looking lean and mean. believe in order to beat the better defenses, that ball has to come out anticipating where your receiver is The Pittsburgh Steelers, they aren't going away. This is going to be. And it shows that the reps that you put in a good football team. So this is like an early playoff throughout the off-season and in practice are paying kind of a game. Cincinnati-Pittsburgh in week two. off. Then obviously they're both undefeated right now. The winner is going to have a leg up in that divisional race, Just like I said, his arm is so strong. He can fit it in which is always interesting. there a lot of the time. But in order to beat the Broncos defense and defenses of that caliber, the ball's got to LADAINIAN TOMLINSON: That's a good one, Mooch. come out of your hands before the defense anticipates The other one is the Packers and Vikings. Two teams what you are doing. that will be battling for that division. I think these are the top two teams in that division. But Minnesota, it's Q. Did you address the double standard? interesting to me, because they have really, if you look MARSHALL FAULK: I did. Sorry about that. Maybe it at the match-up between the Packers over the last was me. It's hard to call it double standard. I just couple of years, they have really handled the Packers. believe that the referees in general, they get caught when a guy is running or when a guy is capable of They have really taken control of that division in terms running the football and having success, what's the of being able to have the Packers' number. Can the borderline of throwing the flag. And they have to just Packers now reverse that? Can they, with no Teddy see him as a quarterback and not as a runner, but it is Bridgewater and possibly Shaun Hill being the what it is. He's just like the unathletic guy trying to run. quarterback, can the Packers take control of that He needs protection too. division? This is an early test for both teams. They're both undefeated, 1-0, so I think it should be a good Q. What other week two match-up are you looking one. most forward to or you find will be one that's most intriguing? MARSHALL FAULK: I'll go with this one. It's easy for me. You turn to the division that we talk about the most, and that's -Washington. I mean, Washington looked awful, not like okay awful, but awful, awful. I still can't figure out at what point in time, regardless of what your game plan is defensively that you don't have part of your game plan is to put your $70 million dollars corner on their best receiver. So that blew me away that they left Breland over here to basically -- he might need therapy after what Antonio Brown did to him. And then for Dallas, the on fen save line got pushed around.

I mean, I hadn't seen that. They got pushed around by the Giants, and that surprised me that this offensive line understanding that, hey, we are going to need you in this game so Dak Prescott is not forced to beat a team. And they got pushed around. I didn't expect much from Dallas's defense. Guys suspended, they don't have much there. But I was just surprised at that.

STEVE MARIUCCI: The game I'm looking at is in the

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