Football Night in America Preview – Week 12
“Definitely a game to look forward to.” – Welker to Costas on facing his former team
Costas Narrates Manning-Brady XIV Essay
“They are still amongst the most compelling figures in all of sports.” -- Costas
NEW YORK – November 24, 2013 – Bob Costas interviewed Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker for tonight’s Week 12 edition of Football Night In America, which will preview Broncos-Patriots, and include highlights, analysis and reaction to earlier Week 12 games. Welker, in his first season with the Broncos after spending six years with the Patriots, has caught passes from both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, who meet as opposing quarterbacks for the 14th time tonight.
Costas also narrates an essay that examines the Manning-Brady rivalry though the years. “We’re again about to watch the two best quarterbacks of their generation -- and two of the best ever -- go at it again tonight,” Costas says. He adds, “they are still amongst the most compelling figures in all of sports.”
Football Night, the most-watched pre-game show in sports, airs each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC with Costas hosting the program live from inside the stadium. He will be joined on site by Sunday Night Football commentators Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst), as well as former NFL Executive of the Year Scott Pioli, who served as Director, and later as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Patriots from 2000 to 2008.
Dan Patrick co-hosts Football Night from NBC’s famed Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Patrick will be joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, two-time Super Bowl winner and Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward, Peter King of Sports Illustrated, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on NBCSN and NBCSports.com. Carolyn Manno will report from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on the Cowboys-Giants game.
INTERVIEW: Below are excerpts from Costas’ interview with Welker. If used, please note the mandatory credit: “In an exclusive interview airing tonight on Football Night In America.”
WES WELKER WITH BOB COSTAS
On if he circled this game when the schedule came out: “At the time, I didn’t pay much attention to it. I knew we would see them eventually, and definitely a game to look forward to.”
On how long it took to be in sync with Peyton: “It didn’t take too long. I think a lot of times when you play in the league for a long time and have success with it; you kind of see the same things. You understand coverages. At the end of the day, it’s whatever he sees is what I need to do. For the most part, it came pretty quickly.”
On being familiar with the Patriots: “It goes both ways there. Obviously I’m familiar with a lot of those guys, and their scheme and what they will do. At the same time, they saw me every day in practice, so they have a good idea on me too.”
On if he was motivated by being undrafted: “I think so. At first coming in, I just wanted to make a team. It’s something that kind of gives you that edge, and makes you want to go out there and compete and prove everybody wrong. It’s funny, the thing about Tom (Brady, who was drafted in the sixth round), I’m like, ‘Dude, you got drafted. You make a big deal about the sixth round, but you got drafted.’ But we have fun with that and everything else.”
--FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA--
