The best quotes from around the league
Aaron Rodgers wants toughness, the Browns want a win, and Drew Brees wants a championship. All that and more as we recap some of the best quotes from Sunday's Week 9 action.
USA TODAY Sports Jeff Hanisch
Browns LB Chris Kirksey guarantees a win
He said: “We're not going to go 0-16. That's for a fact. We're not doing that. Things are going to get on a roll, and we've just got to keep fighting.”
We say: Oh really? After a 35-10 home loss to the Cowboys, and with Cleveland facing the Ravens, Steelers, Giants, Bengals, Bills, Chargers and Steelers (again) to finish out the season, it's tough to see where exactly the Browns may pick up that elusive victory.
Getty Images Getty Images
Antonio Brown wants his teammates to step up
He said: “They need to find a way to step in, step up and make plays. It’s been about eight weeks so far, and that’s what we’ve been seeing — double coverage. Today it was triple coverage with a linebacker coming over, and we just have to find ways to win. Other guys have to step up. It just shows that people got respect for me, but we have to find a way to win no matter what they do. It’s all about what we do.”
We say: Brown finished with seven catches for 85 yards and a score in Pittsburgh's 21-14 loss to the Ravens, but he clearly believes that others need to step up when opposing defenses continue to throw double- and triple-teams his way.
Getty Images Dylan Buell
Blair Walsh is tired of answering questions
He said: “You guys are going to ask me this question a million times: `Did it feel good? Did I make it? No. Do I have to? Yes. Do I want to? Yes. So, just, if you've got something else, please. Seriously.”
We say: Walsh missed his third extra point of the season Sunday and then had a 46-yard field goal blocked in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's 22-16 overtime loss to the Lions.
USA TODAY Sports Brace Hemmelgarn
Travis Kelce on his ridiculous ejection
He said: “As soon as the ref took off his hat, I knew I was out. Felt like an idiot. It was a terrible decision, but just have to learn from it and keep going.
“I can’t throw my flag on the ref but he can throw his all day long.”
We say: Kelce obviously lost it with the officials Sunday, but thankfully for the Chiefs his ejection was simply a sideshow in the team's 19-14 win over the Jags.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Kevin Jairaj
Doug Pederson promises to stay aggressive
He said: “I think I’ll stay aggressive. I think I have to. I think, again, there’s opportunities there to be had and there’s plays to be made. And these are all part of our growth process on offense. Rookie quarterback, young receivers, veteran offensive line. So at the same time, we’re trying to build this thing. We’re trying to do it right. And by putting them in these situations, they’re going to be better for this. They’re going to be better down the stretch — somewhere it’s going to pay off for us, it’s going to pay off for all of us. So I’m going to continue being as aggressive as I can and send a message to our football team that I trust them.”
We say: The Eagles failed to convert a fourth-and-2 in Giants territory in the second quarter, and had similar results later in the first half on a fourth-and-1 from the 6. The decisions to go for it weren't necessarily the problem, but the playcalling and execution both could have been much better.
Getty Images Mitchell Leff
Kenyan Drake had to have been a track star
He said: “I was trying to remember what my track coach said: to keep those knees up.”
We say: Drake looked like he had enough speed to beat anyone on the field during his 96-yard kickoff return for a score late in the fourth quarter which sealed the Dolphins' win over the Jets.
Getty Images Getty Images
Drew Brees wants to win a title
He said: “I want to win. I want to win a championship. I want to see this team come together and do something special. We've won four out of five and we've really grown over the last five weeks. I'm excited about the second half of the season. Here we are, halfway through 4-4 again. I feel like our best is yet to come. We've got some momentum now.”
We say: The Saints don't have the defense to legitimately contend this season, but it's nice that Brees is feeling good about his team after a destruction of the dismal 49ers.
Case Keenum hears the fans
He said: “It's frustrating, (but) I'm glad they care. I care, too. I put a lot into this, a lot of hours. It's something I've worked for my whole life. They have a right to feel however they want to feel.”
We say: The fans in L.A. were chanting for Jared Goff on Sunday, but for whatever reason, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher doesn't believe that the team's No. 1 pick is ready. That means Keenum will continue to get the reps, despite the fact that the Rams continue to struggle offensively with him under center.
Getty Images Getty Images
Nick Foles was ready
He said: “That's what football is all about. You're going to have weeks where you have injuries. You have to step up and make plays.”
We say: Foles started in place of the injured Alex Smith, but the Chiefs got the win nonetheless. Foles finished with 187 yards passing and a touchdown without an interception in K.C.'s 19-14 win over Jacksonville.
Getty Images Getty Images
Aaron Rodgers wants his team to show some more toughness
He said: “We've all got to be a little mentally tougher. I don't understand the way the sideline was after that first play. We go down, let's get a field goal and we'll win the game. It's 7-3 early on. We've got to be a little tougher. That's the mark of a team.”
We say: The Colts returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown on Sunday, and Rodgers seemed to feel like his team didn't have the mental toughness to be able to respond. Indianapolis came away with a 31-26 victory in Green Bay, after the Packres tried to rally in the second half to overcome their slow start.
Patrick McDermott
