NFL Notes

I have two NFL press release posts. First, a couple of quick notes. One from the NFL Network which states that Thursday’s Bears-49ers game was the most watched season opener for the channel. Of course, the NFL Network’s agreement with Comcast earlier this year had a lot do do with that.

BEARS-49ERS ON NFL NETWORK MOST-WATCHED THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SEASON OPENER

Game Ranks as Top Show on Cable with 5.2 Coverage Rating

Thursday night’s Chicago Bears-San Francisco 49ers game on NFL Network was watched in an average of 2.75 million homes – topping last year’s opener by 29 percent and ranking as the most-watched season opener in the four seasons of Thursday Night Football.

The game also posted a 5.2 coverage area rating topping all shows on cable for the day. All NFL Network Thursday night games since 2006 have been the top-rated show of the day on cable.

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log onto www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

Here’s quotage from Thursday Night Football on NFL Network.

Thursday Night Football Telecast Notes
Play-by-Play: Bob Papa Analyst: Matt Millen

Quotes from Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers

Nov. 12, 2009 on NFL Network

FINAL: 49ERS 10, BEARS 6

FIRST HALF QUOTES:

“They’re looking for some balance and they need Matt Forte to get going.”

– Matt Millen on the Chicago Bears offense

“He’s a Pro Bowler already, but he’s not as good as he’s going to be.”

– Matt Millen on 49ers LB Patrick Willis

“He’s usually the man in the middle, now he’s the man with the hands.”

– Bob Papa on 49ers T Aubrayo Franklin, who intercepted a pass from Bears QB Jay Cutler in the red zone

“He’s more comfortable in the shotgun. He sees the field better and makes better decisions from back there.”

– Matt Millen on 49ers QB Alex Smith

“The entire play doesn’t happen unless he gets one key block on the front end.”

– Matt Millen on key block by Bears C Olin Kreutz that resulted in 37-yard catch-and-run by RB Matt Forte

“He’s the most natural pass rusher they have. You can’t be a good outside pass rusher if you don’t take the in
side and he understands that.”

– Matt Millen on 49ers LB Ahmad Brooks

Halftime: 49ers 7, Bears 3

HALFTIME SHOW

Sneak Peek of NFL Network Analyst Michael Irvin’s 1-on-1 Interview with Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco:

“Our attitude. Everybody believes we going to win every game…Carson [Palmer] comes into the huddle with a swagger. He’s got that look in his eyes.”

– Ochocinco on the difference between this season’s Bengals vs. last season

“I’m no different than insurance. Insurance always comes through for you.”

– Ochocinco on his reliability

Ochocinco: “Me and Carson [Palmer] argue all the time.”

Irvin: “Do you?”

Ochocinco: “Like two old folks. All the time.”

Irvin: “Why?”

Ochocinco: “Because we expect perfection out of each other. When I mess up, he gets on me. When he throws that ball, I’m going to get on it.”

For a video clip from Irvin’s sitdown with Ochocinco, please visit:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/cincinnati-bengals/09000d5d81424c93/A-defiant-Chad

**Catch Irvin’s entire interview with Ochocinco on NFL GameDay Morning Sunday at 9:00 AM ET/6:00 AM PT on NFL Network**

THIRD QUARTER:

“What I like about Cutler is the game doesn’t get too big for him. He’s still going to take some shots with that arm of his and he’s got good confidence in it.”

– Matt Millen on Bears QB Jay Cutler

“Does he have the ability? Absolutely, he does. Can he make big plays? Yes, he can. But the bottom line is very few guys in this league can do it all by t
hemselves, they need some help.”

– Matt Millen on Cutler

“San Francisco has to be happy with the way their defense is getting to the ball.”

– Matt Millen on the 49ers defense

“He’s not afraid to block. In fact, he wants to block and he’s got some toughness to him. There’s a lot to learn as a young receiver in the National Football League and one of them is to learn to enjoy blocking. He’s not afraid; he’ll go right at [the defender]. I like that.”

– Matt Millen on 49ers WR Michael Crabtree

End of 3rd Quarter: 49ers 7, Bears 6

FOURTH QUARTER:

“The San Francisco 49ers defensive line has beaten them. They’ve gotten pressure and taken the running game completely away.”

– Matt Millen on the 49ers defense getting the upper hand over the Bears offense

“This Bears defense has kept them in the game. They’ve held [San Francisco] to 10 points.”

– Matt Millen on the Bears defense

“He’s one of the best teachers and football coaches I’ve ever been around.”

– Matt Millen on Bears defensive line coach Rod Marinelli

“His problems in the red zone continue. They beat him early in the game and they beat him late.”

– Matt Millen on Bears QB Jay Cutler’s two red zone interceptions on

QUOTES FROM THURSDAY NIGHT KICKOFF PREGAME SHOW

Host: Rich Eisen/Analysts: Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk

Play-by-play Announcer: Bob Papa/Game Analyst: Matt Millen

Reporters: Jason La Canfora, Scott Hanson

“If that’s my captain and if I’m on that team, I’ve got his back.”

– Marshall Faulk on 49ers TE Vernon Davis comments on the Bears defense

“He’s a motivator, he encourages and he’s a demonstrative-type coach.

– Deion Sanders on 49ers head coach Mike Singletary

“He understands the bottom-level player. He’s gotten the best out of that guy on his team when he played, so he knows how to do it now as a coach.”

– Marshall Faulk on the advantages on having a head coach like Mike Singletary

“He can, but the confidence factor has to be there.”

– Matt Millen on QB Alex Smith and his ability to lead the 49ers

“This Chicago Bears team is not who we thought they were, but this team can get it right tonight if they win this game.”

– Marshall Faulk on the Chicago Bears

“You have Michael Vick on the sideline and you can’t get a fourth-and-1? That’s his bread and butter.”

– Deion Sanders on the Philadelphia Eagles

“These skill players are all youngsters that are growing up together…this team is building. They’re not ready for the playoffs this year, but eventually they will be.”

– Steve Mariucci on QB Jay Cutler and the Bears offense

“We don’t know who the Patriots defense is as of yet. Peyton [Manning] will test that secondary.”

– Marshall Faulk on the Patriots defense

“Win or lose, they’re going to be right there [in the playoff picture].”

– Steve Mariucci on the Cincinnati Bengals and their Week 10 divisional matchup vs. Pittsburgh

“He’s one of the up-and-coming not good, but great linebackers in this league.”

– Marshall Faulk on 49ers LB Patrick Willis

“He basically has eight games left to prove that he can be the franchise quarterback they hoped he would be.”

– Rich Eisen on 49ers QB Alex Smith

“The Bears aren’t the same team they used to be. They don’t run the ball and they don’t stop the run. Frank Gore and the 49ers will run the football and they will stop the run if Matt Forte tries. Just ask Adrian Peterson, the 49ers are very stout against the run.”

– Steve Mariucci on the Bears vs. 49ers

Jason La Canfora Pregame 1-on-1 with Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith:

“Jay’s made a lot
of plays for us…we’ll count on him to bring us out of this hole.”

– Smith on QB Jay Cutler and his role in the Bears’ success

“We’re not pleased with our play, but we don’t listen to an awful lot of what other people have to say. We realize we have to get better. Vernon’s showing up today and we will too.”

– Smith on Chicago’s recent defensive performance and recent comments from 49ers TE Vernon Davis

‘Super Bowl Journey’ – Vernon Davis on his Relationship with 49ers Head Coach Mike Singletary

“I felt like he was my father, which is someone I never had around growing up as a kid. To me, he’s a father that every young man could imagine having.”

– Vernon Davis on Singletary

“Just from being around Coach Singletary, my whole game has changed. My whole attitude and approach towards the game is different.”

– Vernon Davis on his changed mentality and its effect on his game

“When we don’t do what we know is right to do, we’ve failed again. For him to respond, it lets you know he really wanted to be the leader he is and the player he is right now all along.”

– Coach Singletary on the result of the discipline he imposed on Vernon Davis last season

To view previous Super Bowl Journey editions from all five contributors, please visit: http://sbjourney.nfl.com/

Jason La Canfora News Reports:

• Mike Holmgren may not be getting back into coaching, but he will be getting back into football. There could be an opening in Seattle in a front office/team president/GM capacity. Holmgren loves the area and the team which he knows well. It’s something to keep an eye on and is part of the reason that it’s unlikely that he takes an opportunity in Cleveland or somewhere else. He wants to see all that’s out there. There’s more than one team that’s going to have an interest in him in more than one capacity.

• There’s definitely a possibility that former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan returns to the AFC West, particularly in San Diego. People close the Shanahan say that’s the ideal fit – he’s a west coast guy and knows the division. Plus, getting a shot at the Raiders twice a year wouldn’t be a bad thing. Shanahan loves the quarterback San Diego has in Philip Rivers, but it will depend on how things develop with the Chargers and Norv Turner. While the win for the Chargers last week was huge, it’s something worth keeping an eye on as Shanahan continues to keep an eye on the options that come his way.

• Regarding the $15,000 fine given to Falcons head coach Mike Smith, it’s standard practice in terms on any on-field conduct issue, whether it’s a coach or ancillary member of the teams staff or player. This got a lot of attention and it was somewhat physical and at that point as NFL Football Operations reviewed the situation internally, it was obvious that there was going to be a fine. Smith ended up getting fined more than anyone else involved in the incident and that’s not surprising because we are talking about a coach and not a player.

• It’s very possible that former Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden could return to the sidelines next year and the scenario that keeps coming up is Gruden reuniting with former Buccaneers GM Bruce Allen in Washington. It’s something people are talking about in the
  Tampa Bay organization. Notre Dame is another position that would be a dream job of sorts as well for Gruden, but those two in Washington could solve a lot of Dan Snyder’s problems and that’s a tandem that could be sold to fans as well, with ties to George Allen and a Super Bowl-winning coach.

• For years, people have talked about Bill Cowher returning to coaching in Carolina and that being a logical fit. Current Panthers head coach John Fox is entering his lame duck year and if they make a change there, that would certainly interest Bill Cowher. People close to him say he has the itch and wants to get back into coaching. A couple of other places that would interest Cowher: Houston – they have a good young quarterback and a solid nucleus in place. I’m told that Texans owner Bob McNair, if he makes a move there at some point, he really likes Coach Cowher. Also Chicago – I don’t think Lovie Smith is going anywhere and people in the league don’t think Smith is going anywhere, but if things fell apart and they make a move, that’s another scenario that would appeal to Cowher. The Bears have a quarterback and have some things in place that he likes.

• There’s several key dates coming up in San Francisco’s quest for a new stadium. They’ve published their environmental impact report and this is key. They need to get this certified and approved for the project to move forward. November 18^th, there’s a meeting with the planning committee. If that goes well, they hope to have a city council vote on the issue coming up in December and if that goes well, things are then turned over to the public for a public vote sometime in the Spring – maybe June 2010.

**Additional videos from NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football coverage of Bears vs. 49ers can be viewed on NFL.com**

• Restoring Glory: 49ers President Jed York looks to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and bring the franchise back to glory.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d814249c2/Restoring-glory

NEXT WEEK ON NFL NETWORK’S THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

MIAMI DOLPHINS VS. CAROLINA PANTHERS

ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 at 8:00 PM ET

Earlier this week, the NFL announced a time change for the Bears-Vikings game in Week 12.

TIME CHANGE ANNOUNCED FOR NOV. 29

BEARS-VIKINGS GAME ON FOX

The kickoff time for the November 29 Chicago at Minnesota game on FOX has been moved from 1:00 PM ET to 4:15 PM ET to accommodate broadcast patterns, the NFL announced today.

A final Week 12 schedule of games will be released no later than 12 days prior to that Sunday, as per NFL flexible scheduling guidelines.

Next, the network’s previews for Week 10 in the NFL.