Haley firing not good for Mayfield, Winston’s flaws are correctable

Haley firing was a setback for Mayfield

“This is a pretty bold measure at the halfway point.  It’s enough of a shakeup to fire your head coach with a 3-36-1 record.  But to fire the offensive coordinator at the same time you’re trying to develop your franchise quarterback?  I don’t understand why (Todd) Haley had to go also.”

Tonny Grossi, ESPN Cleveland, long-time Browns beat reporter

Stafford has stats but not enough victories

“He’s 63-69 as a starter, and that’s not good enough for Matthew Stafford.  Way too much inconsistency and far too many losses.  I like the way he throws the football, and he’s a competitive quarterback.  But he makes too many mistakes each week.  He doesn’t put his team in a position to have a chance to win.”

Rich Gannon, NBCS Monday QB

Winston’s flaws can be corrected

“If I’m the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it’s a tough call but I want Jameis Winston because I see the greatness in him.  He’s very mobile – people don’t get that – and he can make all the throws.  He has one problem, he always misses high.   All his interceptions come from that, and it can be corrected.  All these people say you can’t help accuracy.  Bullcrap.  You can help people get better.”

Phil Simms, Showtime’s Inside the NFL

The most valuable deadline acquisition was Golden 

“I think Golden Tate even at this age (30) is a better, more explosive receiver than Nelson Agholor.  He has more ability after the catch, more ability to break tackles.  He’s a wide receiver in a running back’s body.  He’s not total speed on the outside, but he’s speed enough on the outside to where if you play man to man, Carson Wentz will see that this guy can get off the line of scrimmage and accelerate.”

Chris Simms, NBCS Pro Football Talk

Chris Simms recalls an X-rated performance by Patriots

“I took the worst beating of my career in a game against New England in 2005.  Vince Wilfork hit me in my pelvic bone.  My genitals were purple and yellow for two weeks.  It was the LA Lakers down there.”

Chris Simms

Martin Truex will not retaliate against Logano

“Martin Truex Jr. is one of the nicest guys and a great racecar driver.  He has a different code he lives by.  He’s not ‘Take no prisoners.’  He wants to win, and he wants to look at himself in the mirror and say, ‘I did that by my set of rules.’  Martin Truex has carried himself all year long as the champion of the sport.  He has three races left with Furniture Row, and then he goes on to Joe Gibbs or wherever.  It’s not in his DNA to retaliate against Joey Logano.  He’s not going to do anything.”

Kyle Petty, retired car-racer, on NBCS NASCAR America Live

Rockets lacking energy

“The energy is different between this team and last year’s team.  It’s like the life is sucked out of this team.  I don’t think they’re a real good ballclub right now. We’ll see how they do when James Harden gets back, but right now it’s not good.”

Tracy McGrady, former Rockets star, on ESPN’s The Jump