"I'm disappointed that he didn't keep appealing, from a player's standpoint, because it kind of gives the commissioner a little bit more power than maybe was negotiated or settled" – Browns OT Joe Thomas, on Patriots QB Tom Brady's decision to finally accept the NFL's Deflategate suspension (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/31).
"It's just not worth it" – Bengals TE Tyler Eifert, on whether or not he would play in the Pro Bowl again (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 7/29).
"It's a tremendous honor. Every team has a little different philosophy retiring numbers, so I think it's great the Mets keep it very, very exclusive. It's that much more even special" – Baseball HOFer Mike Piazza, on his No. 31 being retired by the Mets (N.Y. POST, 7/31).
"In the NBA, the greatest players are at the forefront of the movement. In the NFL, the greatest players aren’t. Our great players are sitting back just taking the dollars, whether it’s Cam Newton or other guys" – Seahawks DE Michael Bennett, on the stances professional athletes take on social issues (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/31).
"That's their business, and I'm not going to discuss other people's business. They're going to do what they're going to do" – Packers Exec VP, GM & Dir of Football Operations Ted Thompson, when asked if he would like for LBs Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers to cooperate with NFL investigators regarding their alleged use of PEDs (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/31).
