NFL Network: National media flocking to White for quips

10:10 am November 10, 2012, by D. Orlando Ledbetter

10412 ATLANTA: Falcons fans celebrate being 8-0 after defeating the Cowboys at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

FLOWERY BRANCH — I flipped on ESPN2 yesterday and my man Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless were embracing debate over whether the Jets should play Tim Tebow.

There was another clip where Stephen, my former NABJ basketball tournament teammate and 3-time NABJ champion, wouldn’t answer Lomas Brown’s question about whether if the Jets are going to make the playoffs.

The Jets are 3-5 mind you and look horrible.

But because their coach is a Carnival Barker and is fast with the quips, the Jets are on national television all the time.

The 8-0 Falcons, not so much.

Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner (33) celebrates his touchdown with teammate wide receiver Roddy White (84) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

Part of the reason is because with head coach Mike Smith, it’s about the football and not the one-liners. Also, quarterback Matt Ryan keeps it pretty bland, too. He’s cool as the other side of the pillow and loosens up as soon as the cameras click off.

So, all the Falcons have is wide receiver Roddy White, who’ll say just about anything and the affable Tony Gonzalez. I think Thomas DeCoud is a great interview, but a New York station called to set up an interview late last week and didn’t know the future Pro Bowler’s name or that he was second in the league in interceptions.

With the national media forced to pay attention, they’ve flocked to White and Gonzalez. White was on Jim Rome’s show and NFL Total Access on the NFL Network this week.

Here is the transcript of the entire interview NFL Total Access on NFL Network:

On his comments that the Falcons have ‘the pedigree to go undefeated’: “We have good enough players that we can pull this thing off. We’ve been playing well enough on offense, defense and on special teams to go out there and win games week in and week out. I feel like this team gets better week in and week out. So if we can just continue to do what we’ve been doing, go out there and play hard, and not have any setbacks, we can run the table. We think we can.”

On if they feel they can run the table and win the Super Bowl without losing a game: “We feel like we can do that. We’re going to take it one game at a time. This week is New Orleans so we’re going to have to go down there and get us a win to keep this streak going. We felt like coming into this season and going through the preseason we did a lot of good things. We just wanted to translate it throughout the season. It’s all coming together like we planned and we’re going out there playing ball. Guys are flying around, we’re going out there making plays and just loving each other. Just going out there every week and getting W’s.”

On Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan: “He’s just been consistent throughout the whole year. Every game he’s been going out there and hitting all of the reads, giving us opportunities to make plays on the outside, and keeping the chains moving. That’s all we want to do, just keep the chains moving, keep out third down percentage up. He’s been doing a heck of a job of doing that, just getting in the red zone and scoring points. Our defense has been doing a heck of a job getting us turnovers and with short fields he’s been doing a heck of a job of getting out there and scoring touchdowns. He does a heck of a job getting us off to fast starts too. He just has to continue to be what he is, and that’s consistent, and we’ll go out there and we’ll win games.”

On facing the New Orleans Saints this weekend: “It’s a rivalry game and we always get up for this one. These two teams kind of have a hatred for each other. When we get together, we like to mix it up. We just have to stay focused about what they’re doing on defense and go out there and be calm, cool and collected, move the chains. Don’t get too overly excited. They’ve given up some big plays this year, they’re giving up a lot of yardage but the last two games, they’ve gotten a lot of turnovers and a lot of sacks. We have to be focused, hit our Q’s, go out there and when we get the ball in our hands make plays.”

On the Super Bowl being in New Orleans this year: “I’m planning to get down there twice this year.”

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