Football Night’s Barber reports that Ahmad Bradshaw was the third Giant present with Burress

HIGHLIGHTS FROM WEEK 13 OF NBC’s “FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA”

“It was originally reported that Derrick Ward was the third player involved in the situation, in fact it was Ahmad Bradshaw.” – “Football Night’s” Barber

“They have proven they can win without Umenyiora, they can win without Strahan, without Shockey, so they certainly can win without Plaxico Burress.” – “Football Night’s” Collinsworth

“I’d like to have somebody show me one time when an athlete was out in a public place and by having a gun, he either averted harm to himself or other innocent people.” – “Football Night’s” Costas

“I was an idiot for believing in the Jets.” – “Football Night’s” Collinsworth

NEW YORK – Nov. 30, 2008 – Following are highlights from NBC’s “Football Night in America” studio show, as host Bob Costas, co-host Cris Collinsworth, co-host Keith Olbermann, co-host Dan Patrick, analysts Tiki Barber and Jerome Bettis, and reporter Peter King of Sports Illustrated take a look at the day’s top storylines in the NFL:

COLLINSWORTH ON THE GIANTS: “Another statement day for the New York Giants. They have proven they can win without Umenyiora, they can win without Strahan, without Shockey, so they certainly can win without Plaxico Burress.

“I think they looked even better as a football team today simply because they distributed the football. They looked great.”

BARBER, REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON D.C., ON THE PLAXICO BURRESS SITUATION: “It was originally reported that Derrick Ward was the third player involved in the situation, in fact it was Ahmad Bradshaw. He was not involved with the shooting but he was at the scene. Also, the NYPD has taken an interest in this case because they’re not sure this was originally reported as a gunshot wound. In New York City any gunshot would, regardless of the circumstances, has to be reported to the police department.”

BARBER ON ANTONIO PIERCE: “At first he wasn’t cooperating with police but when faced with an obstruction charge, he decided to cooperate. And going forward, we think he should be clear of all charges.”

BARBER ON THE MOOD OF THE GIANTS TEAM: “The mood in the locker room was pretty jovial and upbeat because these guys feel like they can win without him and they have a lot of young guys who are eager to play.”

BARBER AND COSTAS DISCUSSING THE BURRESS INCIDENT:

BARBER: “Last week, Steve Smith, one of Plaxico’s fellow receivers, was attacked at gunpoint and robbed in front of his house so his mindset is ‘I have to protect myself, I’m a target.’”

COSTAS: “I’d like to have somebody show me one time when an athlete was out in a public place and by having a gun, he either averted harm to himself or other innocent people. Show me one time as against the dozens of times people came to grief for carrying guns.”

BARBER: “I’m in complete agreement with you. But a lot of these players grew up in neighborhoods that we’re not familiar with. They grew up with gangs. This what they know. When they feel threatened, their thought is to protect themselves and not rely on someone else to do it for them. I’m not saying it’s right but you have to understand the mindset.”

KING ON BURRESS’ CONTRACT: “This was a $23 million gunshot wound for Plaxico Burress. Twenty-three of the $27 million he got in his contract was all based on the future. There’s $1 million guaranteed money in signing bonus that’s due on December 10. The first real test of the Giants love of Plaxico Burress is whether they pay him that bonus in 10 days. I think he’ll play someplace in 2009 but I do think it’s highly unlikely that he’ll ever play for the Giants again.”

COLLINSWORTH ON THE JETS: “I was an idiot for believing in the Jets.”

ADRIAN PETERSON, TURNING THE TABLES IN AN INTERVIEW WITH JEROME BETTIS:

PETERSON: “You’ve been to the Super Bowl and played against a lot of great teams, what do the great teams have in common?”

BETTIS: “The key was the stars were the ones willing to do whatever it took. You’ve got to let them know that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to win because if you’re willing to do whatever it takes to win then those other guys will do whatever it takes.”

PETERSON: “I’m going to take that advice and use it.”

BETTIS ON PETERSON: “I got to see a lot of Walter Payton and he reminds me of Payton because he likes the physicality.”

COLLINSWORTH ON ‘STAR CAP’ SUPPLEMENT SITUATION: “You’re responsible for what you put in your body and I cannot imagine those players being anything but suspended.”

PATRICK ON THE BENGALS: “You could stop them. You could contain them.”

OLBERMANN ON MARK BULGER: “Renaldo Hill said after the game, ‘Bulger was telegraphing his throws. We knew where the ball was going.’ Well that makes one of you.”

PATRICK AND COLLINSWORTH ON CAROLINA:

PATRICK: “That’s an ugly 9-3 team.”

OLBERMANN: “I’m from Cincinnati. There’s no such thing as an ugly 9-3 team.”

COLLINSWORTH ON THE CHARGERS: “This is one of the great disappointments we’ve seen in several years in the National Football League what the Chargers have done this year.”

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA:
Michael Weisman is the executive in charge of production, “Football Night in America,” Sam Flood is coordinating producer and Bucky Gunts serves as director.