NFL on CBS - Week 2, Sept. 19
Official press releases from CBS Sports. Phil Simms will be in Kansas City with Greg Gumbel and Armen Keteyian for the DENVER BRONCOS vs. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS. Dan Dierdorf, who will be in Minnesota along with Verne Lundquist and Bonnie Bernstein for the OAKLAND RAIDERS vs. MINNESOTA VIKINGS, has these thoughts on Week 2: NOTE: CBS Sports' Marcus Allen interviewed both Moss and Woodson for a feature for THE NFL TODAY.
Sept. 15, 1999
I'm not the least bit shocked about Monday night. With all the attention on filling John Elway's spot, the rest of the team let down. Brian Griese played a near fabulous game. When there is a lot of attention on a single player or position, it camouflages other problems. However, history says the Broncos cope very well. They started out slow last year, then got rolling all the way to the Super Bowl...Week No. 1 proved there's more to the AFC equation then the Broncos and Jets. Jacksonville, Miami, Indianapolis and New England all look good. I'll be shocked if Jacksonville doesn't play in the AFC Championship.
Vinny (Testaverde) will be back in camp next season and ready to go because a torn Achilles tendon isn't career threatening. This isn't doomsday for Vinny. Dan Marino tore his Achilles tendon in 1993 and came back a year later. Bill Parcells will find new ways to play with a different quarterback. That's coaching. Parcells built the Jets offense around Vinny. So it doesn't matter if it's Rick Mirer or Tom Tupa, Parcells will adjust his offense accordingly. He'll adjust and so will the players. Keyshawn Johnson, for example, will not see the same plays he did with Vinny because it will obviously be a different quarterback with a different level of talent.
I'm sure on that flight back to California there was a whole lot of reflection on not taking advantage of getting a big win against the Packers, on the road, as an underdog. Now, they have to go into one of the noisiest buildings to play against the Vikings, who are not exactly the easiest team to play at home either. The schedule makers were not Raiders fans. Oakland knew they had two tough ones early, but thought they may be able to catch each team in transition with some coaching changes in each place. Obviously that didn't happen in Green Bay, and they will have their work cut out for them in Minnesota.
CROSSFIRE
THE NFL TODAY's Randy Cross on Week 2
- The only reason injuries have become such a big story after Week 1 is because the quarterback for a New York team went down. A lot of people in New York are saying the Jets' season is over. If they don't make the playoffs everyone will blame it on the injuries. The Patriots have had more injuries the past two seasons in every key position than any team and have still made the playoffs, yet Pete Carroll is considered a wimp in New England. It's time to give him some credit...How long is it going to take these rocket scientists to figure out that astroturf isn't there because it's a favorable playing surface. It's there because it's cost efficient.
Following are the broadcast teams assignments for game coverage of Week 2 (subject to change):
WEEK 2 - September 19
DOUBLEHEADER
DIRECTOR | ||
| Oakland @ Minnesota | Verne Lundquist Dan Dierdorf Bonnie Bernstein | Lance Barrow Mike Arnold |
| Seattle @ Chicago | Kevin Harlan Sam Wyche | Bob Dekas Dick Cline |
| Jacksonville @ Carolina | Ian Eagle Mark May | Victor Frank Mark Grant |
| Indianapolis @ N. England | Gus Johnson Brent Jones | Bob Mansbach Suzanne Smith |
| Pittsburgh @ Baltimore | Don Criqui Steve Tasker | Jim Rikhoff Steve Milton |
| San Diego @ Cincinnati | Tim Brando Charles Mann | Ken Mack Larry Kamm |
| Denver @ Kansas City | Greg Gumbel Phil Simms Armen Keteyian | Mark Wolff Larry Cavolina |
| Cleveland @ Tennessee | Bill Macatee Beasley Reece | Al Szymanski J.D. Hansen |