NFL MONDAY QB, the first regularly scheduled NFL programming on CBS Sports Network, premiered last night, Monday, Sept. 10, recapping Week 1 of the NFL season – from a quarterback’s perspective.

          Led by THE NFL ON CBS lead analyst and Super Bowl XXI MVP, Phil Simms; Super Bowl XXXVII quarterback and 2002 NFL MVP, Rich Gannon; and 17-year veteran and 1999 NFL All Pro quarterback, Steve Beuerlein, NFL MONDAY QB brings together an elite roster of quarterbacks providing their unique and compelling opinions, breaking down the week’s games and focusing on how quarterback play impacted the games, key plays, clutch drives, crucial decisions, star performances, winning and losing efforts and much more. 

          CBS Sports Network Coordinating Producer Drew Kaliski produces. Steve Karasik and Tyler Hale serve as Executive Producers of NFL MONDAY QB.

             Following are excerpts from the show:

(ON PEYTON MANNING):

Phil Simms: If he would have just put a horseshoe on the helmet… nothing changed. He was still dictating everything. It was all the exact same plays we saw in Indianapolis, and of course he knows them very well. He taught them to all those coaches and players out there. And it was a great debut by Peyton Manning.

Rich Gannon: For 13 years this guy never missed a start. He played at an ultra-high level. I was out of football for a year and I think the experience, the wisdom, the knowledge, the know-how of playing that position is something that Peyton Manning has. I wasn’t surprised to see him play so well last night.

(ON SAM BRADFORD):

Steve Beuerlein: I played for six teams over my 17 years. You never get to the point where you really feel like you’ve got that offense mastered. You crave that stability and that opportunity to be in the same system year after year after year. A lot of these young guys are going through it early… I think Sam Bradford is going to prove everybody wrong. I saw enough that rookie year. He made some great throws, played well. If they can keep him healthy, get him in the right system, get that confidence going again, he’s going to be a player in this league.

Gannon: I think we’re screwing up some of these young quarterbacks. The development at that position is absolutely critical. You think about his first three years in the league: three different play callers.  And that’s a problem. You’re always learning new systems, there’s no continuity, there’s no carry over. And now it takes you some time. You walk to the line of scrimmage, you’re thinking about "was it two-jet protection?" You’re a couple steps behind in the process as you walk to the line of scrimmage. That’s not good for a quarterback.

(ON ROBERT GRIFFIN III):

Simms: I give so much credit to Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanahan, they coordinate the offense. And it looked like he was back at Baylor… The Shanahans made it easy for Robert Griffin III. Simple reads. Simple plays. Can he do that every week? No. Because now they (defenses) see that, they’ll try to stop that, they’ll try to make him hold the ball, throw the football down the field to make plays.

(ON ALEX SMITH):

Gannon: I’ve been so impressed with how Alex Smith has handled himself. This guy is a winner in San Francisco. He won 13 games last year, he takes care of the football, had a league-low five interceptions last year. Didn’t turn it over this week as well. He gives them the best chance to win each and every week.

Simms: It looks like he’s strong enough, his arm looks crisper, the ball comes out of there cleaner. That’s what really caught my eye more than anything. Physically this guy is getting better and he’s finally grown into his body where I think he’s what they want to call a franchise quarterback… I want to go back and play for Jim Harbaugh one day, because every quarterback he touches turns to gold.

(ON BLAINE GABBERT):

Beuerlein: I had about three or four of his games last year and I was not impressed with any one of them. I watched that game yesterday and he made some throws he couldn’t even think about making last year. He looked more confident. They changed the offense up. It fits him a little bit better. He feels like he’s the man there now. Another year of maturity, he’s going to do better this year.

Simms: These coaches determine the outcome for these quarterbacks. I saw Blaine Gabbert in his first preseason against the New York Giants. And after the first quarter I went, "he’s a different guy." Now why is he a different guy? The coach. The coach instilled some confidence in him, gave him an offense that fits him. And he’s so much more aggressive. Last year I’d watch him and go, "Oh my God, you throw hope passes. You’re big and strong. Show it. Let it go."

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