Chris Simms suspects Brady gets extra from Kraft’s ‘shell companies’

“I have a hard time thinking that Tom Brady is not paid through some other shell company by the Kraft family.  That’s one of those things that’s around NFL conversations.  . . . I do not have evidence of that.  . . . I’m speculating within Rumorville of the NFL.”

Chris Simms, NBCSN, Pro Football Talk  

 

“I don’t need to hear from NBC legal to know that you’re on dangerous ground when you start throwing out the suggestion that Brady is being paid extra money through shell companies.  You don’t even know what a shell company is.  . . . Some extra compensation would be a blatant violation of the labor deal.”

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk

 

Rodgers knows how to R-E-L-A-X

“I would tell them just to go home and have a Scotch.  That’s what I’m going to do.”

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers quarterback, on what he should say to fans disappointed by the team’s 31-17 loss to Washington

 

‘Why Jay Gruden did not make an effort to keep Kirk Cousins’

“He turned the ball over three times with two fumbles and one interception.  There’s a reason why Jay Gruden and the Redskins did not make an effort to keep Kirk Cousins in Washington.  They took on Alex Smith and a contract paying him close to $25 million a year.  There’s a reason why they had more faith in Alex Smith than in giving Kirk Cousins that long-term deal.  He’s got to step up and make plays in Minnesota.”

Steve Beuerlein, NBCSN Monday QB

 

NFL is ‘stupid’ on roughing-the-passer

“The balance of pro football needs to be preserved.  You need to be able to play defense.  I do not want a 58-46, four-hour-and-ten minute game, and that’s what the NFL is headed for if they don’t do something about this stupid enforcement of roughing-the-passer.”

Peter King, Pro Football Talk

 

“Whether it’s the roughing-the-passer or the helmet rule, it doesn’t seem like the decision-makers were in unison.  You hear from Jerry Jones; he thinks it’s gone too far.  Owners aren’t on board, players aren’t on board, coaches don’t know what the heck’s going on.  . . . It’s probably frustrating to the fans more than anyone, and I don’t think that’s good for our game.”  

Troy Aikman, on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption

 

Kaepernick collusion?

“His performance on the field wasn’t very good, on tape. You know he got beat out by Blaine Gabbert to start the (2016) season.  I think that says something.  But I am surprised he’s not in camp with somebody.  He probably will be soon.”

Jon Gruden, Oakland Raiders coach, on Colin Kaepernick

 

What field leadership is all about

“I thought Russ (Wilson) played really well controlling the tempo of the game — a lot of subtle things you might not have been able to see . . . They had to call timeouts a couple of times because they weren’t ready for what we were doing. . . . He was responsible for that happening.”

Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks coach, on QB Russell Wilson’s leading a 24-13 victory Sunday over Dallas.

 

Tiger Woods defies the odds, now favored in Masters

“Tiger Woods is not ever going to win another tournament.”

Woody Paige, sports reporter, on ESPN’s Around the Horn, in 2015.  He was proved wrong in the 2018 Tour Championship

 

“Now he’s back on track.  He’s already been designated as the favorite for the Masters.  The entire summer has been fantastic for him, and this was the culmination, in the last real tournament of the year.  Welcome back and I was wrong.”

Woody Paige, Monday’s Around the Horn

 

“I think he has to win another major tournament before everybody will accept this as the greatest comeback ever.  . . . Ben Hogan was hit by a bus and came back to win majors.”

Paige, when asked if Wood’s comeback is the most impressive in golfing history  

 

“Everybody’s got reason again to watch golf, especially on Sunday and he’s in the lead.  He looked like he was putting fear in golfers again.  Guys were looking at the scoreboard, and this time they had no answer.  This is a new Tiger.”

Kevin Blackistone, Around the Horn

 

“This was a guy who a year ago was saying he wasn’t sure he’d ever play golf again. To say he now needs a win in Augusta to solidify a comeback is a different bar than we had for Tiger Woods a full year ago.”

Kate Fagan, Around the Horn  

 

Baseball: Brewing a champion

“The Brewers at the start of the year, we wondered, ‘Do they have enough pitching?   Do they have any starting pitching?’  It’s good enough.  This team can go to their bullpen in the fifth inning if they want, they’re so loaded there.  They’re the best team in the National League right now.”

Tim Cowlishaw, Around the Horn