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Replay: Patriots Postgame Show Sun Oct 13 - 06:00 PM | Mon Oct 14 - 08:55 AM

Thoughts and prayers for the Dungy family

NFL players and owners offer their thoughts and prayers for the Dungy family.

Colts President Bill Polian"The thoughts and prayers of everyone in this building are with Tony and Lauren and their children and their extended family and for the reposed James' soul. This is a tragedy for the Dungy family, and by extension, for his football family here with the Colts."

Colts Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jim Irsay"Our Colts family is united in prayer and support for the Dungy family at this time. It is an unspeakable tragedy, and we will do whatever we can to assist Tony, Lauren and their children."

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning"Players were surprised and upset emotionally about it. Everybody said a team prayer for Coach Dungy and his family. It's laying on the hearts of all the players here today."

Colts receiver Brandon Stokley"It breaks your heart to see something like that happen to such a great person. We're just going to pray for him and ask everybody else to pray for him."

Colts center Jeff Saturday"It's an extremely sad day and an extremely sad time. We want to handle ourselves in the way Coach wants us to."

Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell"He's an amazing individual with great strength and integrity, even in the toughest times. He told us to carry on as usual."

BUCCANEERS OWNER/PRESIDENT MALCOLM GLAZER"On behalf of the entire Buccaneer organization, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Tony and his family. Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Dungys as they try to move forward from this most difficult time. We will be asking for a moment of silence from our fans prior to the Falcons game to honor the memory of James."

HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN(On the death of James Dungy)

"I really don't know what to say. All I can say is we're praying for him. It's just awful. I can only pray for him. I can't imagine ... I just can't imagine it. I really feel for him and I know the players do, too. I just wish him the very best."

FB MIKE ALSTOTT(On how well he knew James Dungy)

"He grew up around here. You know, from when he was a little kid, growing up all those years. [My] Deepest sympathies and prayers go to Tony and his family. I couldn't even imagine. I'm shocked."

(On how tough it would be to play a game on Sunday after this loss)

"It's not easy. I couldn't even imagine. Just my prayers, me and my family, and everybody around here, we loved Coach and his family. And whatever they've done individually for myself and in this organization and just this community. We have to take the time and really sit down and just take a moment and think about what he's done and where the situation's at and say a prayer. I can only imagine what he's going through. [I can't] even imagine what he's going through. But, it's a tough deal and Tony is ... I've never been around a person, individually, who's tougher. We love Tony and his family."

(On what he remembers about James Dungy)

"I remember he was at my waist, probably a little bit taller than that. I saw him grow like a weed. He was here all the time, day in and day out, hanging out in the locker room, hanging out with the players out on the football field, in the equipment room. It was just when James wasn't here, I was like 'Where's James?' you know. He was a part of this football team."

(On if he can imagine what Coach Dungy is going through)

"No. You can't put it into words. There are no words to describe it. I'm a father of three and I couldn't fathom it. I couldn't even imagine getting a phone call or being told. I couldn't even understand what I would possibly think."

LB DERRICK BROOKS(On hearing the news about James Dungy)

"Obviously, you know, our prayers from this organization go out with he and his family. In terms of finding out what happened to his son, again, it's very tragic this time of year to lose anybody. Like I said, we've kind of dealt with this in our own house and hopefully they'll be able to bring the people together and again, move on."

(On what he remembers of James being around One Buc Place)

"Obviously, he was a younger kid then, just full of energy and you always knew he was going to grow up to be a productive young man. It's Christ's will that things happen, for whatever reason. Like I said, I can only just right now extend my prayers and concern with Coach Dungy and his family."

(On if they were told as a group here this morning)

"Well, you know, you kind of spread the word throughout. So, everybody received the news and dealt with it as each individual did. So, we just kind of dealt with it in-house and spread the news throughout the players and the coaches. We just kind of kept it at that."

(On if anything could prepare you for this situation)

"Well, I don't think anything can prepare you to lose a kid. You know, if anybody knows a relationship with Christ, knows that he's going to him through it. You know it's so tragic. You know we just try to do all we can and respect their privacy. At the same time, you know, continue to keep them in [our] prayers. And as you said, he is a very great man."

LB SHELTON QUARLES(On his memories of James Dungy)

"I just remember him being a fun-loving guy. I remember him at a Christmas party, when I first got here, probably in like 1997 or 1998. I remember him dancing on the dance floor with some cleats on with no spikes in them. It was one of the funnier times with him dancing out there with some cheerleaders. It was pretty funny."

(On watching James Dungy grow up)

"He grew up to be a great young man and he will definitely be missed."

(On his reaction to the news)

"It was unbelievable. I called my wife right away so she could try to get in touch with Lauren [Dungy]. It's just unbelievable to have somebody like that pass away, that you are that close to.

(On having a family of his own and hearing the news)

"It's tough. It just makes you want to hug your kids a little tighter at night, and make sure you spend every possible [minute] that you can with them, when you have an opportunity. You never know when you are going to be taken away from this world, and it's a sad situation. But hopefully, knowing [Tony], and knowing the kind of man he is, he'll be able to recover and move on from this situation."

(On Coach Dungy's faith)

"That's the only thing that he has to hold on to in [this] particular time, other than family. I'm sure that will see him through in this terrible time."

(On Coach Dungy's ability to manage being a father and an NFL coach)

"He did a great job of that, and when he couldn't be home, that's why [the Buccaneers' locker room] always had his kids around. That's why we grew up with his kids also. He's a great guy, and he does a great job figuring out different ways to spend time with his family when he can't be at home. He was an inspiration to me and he helped me grow into the man that I am today, with the values he instilled. Not necessarily verbally, but from just seeing him in the workplace. All those things helped me become the man I am today."

(On if a family can move on from such a tragedy)

"[Football] definitely comes second. That's one of the things that [Coach Dungy] said, was that if you ever had a problem that was taking you away from football, then you need to go home and take care of family first, then come back and deal with football. In the levels of life, it's first your faith, then it's your family and then it's football. He's a true believer in that."

ARIZONA CARDINALS HEAD COACH DENNIS GREEN"I was devastated to hear of James Dungy's tragic passing. My thoughts and prayers are with the Dungy family, whom I know very well. Tony and Lauren are very strong people with strong beliefs. It seems like just yesterday when we were all together in Minnesota. I remember James, who was about 6 or 7 at the time, just loved being around the facility and the team and most of all being around his dad. I shared the news with our team this morning following our 9:30 walk-through and we held a group prayer for James and the entire Dungy family."

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS HEAD COACH MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER
"My family and I are feeling an unrecognizable sense of loss at the untimely death of Jamie Dungy. Pat and I pray for God's comfort and reassurance for Tony, Lauren and their family. The Dungy's faith and relationship with God will sustain them during this extremely difficult time, and our thoughts and prayers are with them."

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HEAD COACH BILL BELICHICK"On behalf of the organization and the team our sympathy goes out to Tony and his family. Our hearts are with him and our prayers are with him."

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