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Inside the NFL- Coaching Carousel and Playoffs Notes

December 31, 2008 By admin

NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FROM

“INSIDE THE NFL” ON SHOWTIME

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 – at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Only On SHOWTIME

NEW YORK (Dec. 31, 2008)–-This week’s INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME – Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. ET/PT – will feature a look back at the life and contributions of the NFL luminaries that passed away in 2008.Included in the piece, produced by NFL Films and narrated by co-executive producer Steve Sabol, are longtime NFL Players Association president Gene Upshaw, Hall of Famers Sammy Baugh and Gene Hickerson, the first female NFL franchise owner Georgia Frontiere (Rams), Ernie Holmes and Dwight White of the Pittsburgh Steelers ‘Steel Curtain’ defenses, former New York Giants cornerback and broadcaster Dick Lynch and Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope among others.

This week’s INSIDE THE NFL also includes a special Sounds of the Game feature. With nearly 100 players and coaches mic’d up throughout the season, NFL Films has compiled the best of this exclusive content.

Plus INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME Insider Mike Lombardi gives his insight on the NFL coaching carousel.

Host James Brown anchors INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME with All Pro NFL greats Cris Collinsworth, Phil Simms and Warren Sapp serving as expert analysts. INSIDE THE NFL is being produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films with new shows airing on SHOWTIME every Wednesday during the NFL season through February 11, 2009.  The executive producers are Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports, and NFL Films President Sabol.

Excerpts from this week’s show are below:

(On Tampa Bay Collapse):

SAPP: You look at the Bucs, and the Bucs were built off defense and that is the one thing that collapsed on them. But even more than that I think the whole team is going through an identity crisis. They don’t know what they want to do on offense. And on defense they are not a cover-2 team anymore. The defensive line does not produce the sacks or put pressure on the quarterback to sit back there and play that cover-2.

(On Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo wanting to go for it on 4th and inches while Wade Phillips was calling for a punt):

SIMMS: It doesn’t look good for Wade Phillips because you are undermining the coach…I did that once in a game with the Giants with Bill Parcells, and I’ll never forget it. You always have to know who you are as a player. Don’t cross the line because you are the player and he is the coach…never think you are part of the process, when you do that as a player you get big troubles.

COLLINSWORTH: For Wade Phillips this was so indicative from the outside looking in to what the perception was of this organization. That is really Jerry Jones’ team. If he wants Roy Williams he goes out and gets him, if he wants “Pacman” Jones he goes and gets him. The player’s as they sit there and watch Wade Phillips mouth the words, whatever it is that he is saying, they are really thinking, ‘well what does Jerry think. It doesn’t matter what Wade Phillips thinks.’ And you can not win, you can not win. Think about when the Cowboys were good, they had Bill Parcells, they had Jerry Jones, they had Jimmy Johnson, and that combination of things, it worked. Because those two strong head coaches where strong enough to push Jerry to where he should be, in the owners box and not under control.

(On whether Eric Mangini should have been the fall guy for the Jets):

COLLINSWORTH: I think it was more on Brett (Favre). I think he got discovered. When he was good in Green Bay it was short, quick throws that he got out of his hand quickly. But if he had to, he could go down the field with deep threats at wide receivers. The Jets didn’t have those same deep threats and Brett didn’t have the same arm he had when he was in Green Bay. That combination finally got exposed and it cost them.

(On Baltimore-Miami):

SAPP: I have a message for you for the Miami Dolphins. Ray Lewis said ‘raise the hurricane warning flag, there are two hurricanes coming back and they are a full five category coming to town.’ Category five.  They are ready to go to work.

SIMMS: In Miami’s favor, they will be ready for the hurricane as it comes down, Warren. And they did play them not long ago, so they have that experience and that knowledge of what to do and what not to do. I think that is going to be very important against a defense that is unique and very talented.

(On Philadelphia being Cinderella):

COLLINSWORTH: They are more like Hercules right now, if you are going to go to fairytale time. I think Philadelphia is dangerous, because what they have proven this year is that they can stop the run on first down. They are No. 1 in the NFL stopping the run on first down and if you can do that, that means Jim Johnson can start dialing up those blitzes.

(On Coaching Carousel):

COLLINSWORTH: Mike Shanahan on the open market, how many jobs is he going to be the man for? If you had an interview, brought them all in and you are Pat Bowlen, you would probably hire Mike Shanahan.

LOMBARDI: Even teams that have coaches have to worry. If I were Jim Zorn in Washington, I would be a little bit nervous and make sure my parking spot was still there when I get there. Mike Shanahan would be a great coach for them…I think John Gruden is going to have to prove to the management, the front office, the Glazer family, that he can find a young quarterback to develop and bring along, or certainly Mike Shanahan can return to your old roots (to Sapp) in Florida and be a candidate there.

LOMBARDI: The Jets quarterback of the future is no where to be found. And that is what makes the Jets job not very attractive for potential coaches. Remember with all these jobs opening, the teams have to recruit the coaches as much as the coaches have to recruit the teams.

(Could Matt Cassel play for the Jets):

LOMBARDI: The Patriots are way to smart, and I’ve talked to people in the organization. They are going to franchise Matt Cassel. He’s an asset and they can control their ability to trade him if they franchise him.

#  #  #

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Filed Under: NFL, ShowTime

U.S. Army All-American Bowl Showcases Future Football Stars Live This Saturday On NBC

December 31, 2008 By admin

U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL SHOWCASES FUTURE FOOTBALL STARS LIVE THIS SATURDAY ON NBC

NEW YORK – December 31, 2008 – Ninety of the nation’s top high school football players take the field in the U.S. Army High School All-American Bowl Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The game which will air live on NBC from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, gives fans a sneak peek at football’s premier college prospects. The classic East vs. West match up has featured some of college football and the NFL’s best players including Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson and Brady Quinn.

Bob Papa will call the action with Pat Haden providing analysis. Also providing commentary are Lewis Johnson, Marty Snider and Tom Lemming.

The game will also be a deciding factor of which player will be crowned the Ball Park National High School Player of the Year and receive the coveted Hall Trophy. High school’s version of the Heisman Trophy, the Hall Trophy is named after all-time leading high school running back Ken “Sugarland Express” Hall who rushed for 11,232 yards during his high school career.

Filed Under: NBC, Prep

Sunday NFL Countdown and NFL Matchup Features

December 31, 2008 By admin

Sunday NFL Countdown and NFL Matchup Features

Saturday and Sunday Editions of Countdown and Matchup Preview NFL Wild Card Weekend

Sunday NFL Countdown Presented by IBM featuring Chris Berman, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson, will air two shows during the NFL Wild Card Playoff weekend, beginning with a one-hour Saturday show at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN. Chris Mortensen will provide headlines and league news, and Steve Young will contribute his weekly Sunday opinion segment, “Young is Restless.”

Saturday’s pre-game show will include reports from Bob Holtzman in Glendale, Ariz., for the Falcons at Cardinals and Ed Werder reporting from San Diego – the Colts at Chargers. Sunday’s pre-game show will include reports from Rachel Nichols in Miami for the Ravens at Dolphins and Sal Paolantonio reporting from Minneapolis for the Eagles at Vikings. Planned features:

Saturday, January 3:

Peyton Manning’s Letters

The Colts quarterback sits down with Countdown’s Tom Jackson to discuss the handwritten, appreciation notes he sends to retiring NFL players, and the growing list of players Curtis Martin, Marshall Faulk, Michael Strahan, John Lynch, Troy Brown, Warren Sapp, Will Shields, Steve McNair, Jimmy Smith, Jonathan Ogden, Frank Wycheck, Emmitt Smith and Trent Dilfer. The feature includes interviews with some of the recipients – Dilfer, Lynch, Martin and Brown – who address what the notes meant to them and their impression of Manning.

Sunday, January 4:

Dolphins Turnaround

The Miami Dolphins went from a 1-15 record last season to the AFC East division crown this year, completing one of the greatest turnarounds by a team in the NFL. Reporter Greg Garber heads to Miami to sit down with significant players (including Joey Porter) and journalists who cover the team to explain how the Dolphins mastered the art of the turnaround in 2008.

Ravens Quarterback Joe Flacco

ESPN’s NFL analyst Trent Dilfer, who won Super Bowl XXXV as the Baltimore Ravens quarterback, returns for a sit-down interview with current Ravens signal caller Joe Flacco and key members of Baltimore’s defense, and uncovers how the rookie quarterback won over seasoned leaders in the team’s defense – Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Ed Reed, et al.

Donovan McNabb “Unmasked”

In what has been a roller coaster season for the five-time Pro Bowler (surprisingly benched Week 12 in the Eagles 36-7 loss in Baltimore and criticized for admitting he did not know about overtime ties), Countdown “Unmasks” Donovan McNabb overcoming a tumultuous season.

Mayne Event: Kenny Goes to Minnesota

In a special Wild Card edition of his off-beat segment, Kenny Mayne spoofs the “coach in waiting” trend in the NFL and questions how far Minnesota will go to have a head coach in 2055.

Film Room: Ravens vs. Dolphins

Merril Hoge goes to the film room to explain why the Dolphins’ critically acclaimed Wildcat formation was ineffective against the Ravens defense in a 27-13 home loss in Week 7.

Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em with Matthew Berry and Merril Hoge

ESPN’s fantasy football guru Matthew Berry and Hoge preview which players to start or sit Sunday in “Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em” including, weekly trends and sleepers in the NFL.

Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson and Johnson will pick the biggest games of the day and tell fans which players will make the biggest impact in the NFL Wild Card Playoff matchups. The list of game picks will be posted on www.espn.com/sundaycountdown after the show.

Additional segment includes “Sunday Stretch,” a preview of some of the day’s key matchups and players as they warm up for their games.

STATE FARM NFL MATCHUP, SATURDAY 3 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M. ON ESPN;

SUNDAY 3:30 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M.

State Farm NFL Matchup (Saturday, 3 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.; Sunday at 3:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.), featuring host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge, will preview the Wild Card Playoff weekend by bringing viewers inside the film room for the Xs and Os analysis of the matchups Saturday and Sunday. The 30-minute program – taped each week at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, N.J. – highlights team strategy and game planning. This week’s features:

Saturday, January 3:

Falcons Offense vs. Cardinals Defense

The Falcons offense has made a complete turnaround from last year’s dismal season, largely due to the impressive play of quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner. Hoge shows how the Cardinals defense must defend the run and contain the double threat of Turner and Jerious Norwood in the backfield.

While establishing the run early is a key objective for the Falcons offense, the Cardinals defense will not overlook Atlanta’s big play threat in wide receiver Roddy White. Jaworski explains how the Falcons dictate matchups with play action for explosive passing plays.

Falcons Defense vs. Cardinals Offense

Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner remains a serious threat in the passing game when he can set his feet and throw from a comfortable pocket to his big play receivers. Jaworski examines how the Cardinals must handle the pressures of the Atlanta’s improved defense.

Colts Defense vs. Chargers Offense

Jaworski explains how Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers, the League’s highest-rated passer, will look to exploit the Colts secondary Saturday in San Diego via offensive schemes that create favorable matchups for their wide receivers.

Colts Offense vs. Chargers Deffense

Hoge goes back to their Colts-Chargers Week 12 matchup to show how the Chargers defensive pressure hindered quarterback Peyton Manning’s ability to hang in the pocket as the game progressed.

Sunday, January 4:

Ravens Offense vs. Dolphins Defense

Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who has been one of the main catalysts for a resurgent Ravens offense, has been one of the year’s biggest surprises in the NFL. Jaworski revisits the Ravens-Miami Week 7 game to show the Flacco’s subtle ability to read defenses and react accordingly.

The Dolphins’ defensive line must win the battle in the trenches this week against one of the league’s top rushing offenses. Hoge explains the Ravens’ run game and reveals how playing with three offensive tackles has increased their offensive production.

Ravens Defense vs. Dolphins Offense

Hoge goes “Inside The Matchup” to demonstrate how the Ravens defense, led by linebacker Ray Lewis, will apply pressure to disrupt the Dolphins’ “Wildcat” formation and shutdown quarterback Chad Pennington and his deceptive offense.

Eagles Defense vs. Vikings Offense

With more teams loading the box expecting to stop Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the league’s leading rusher, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson must make plays with his arm for his team to be successful. Jaworski explains the Vikings’ troubles against the blitz and reveals how they must counter one of the league best blitzing teams.

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Filed Under: ESPN, NFL

Adrian Peterson Interview, Plus Player Correspondents on NFL GameDay Morning This Weekend — NFL Network Programming Notes (12/31-1/6)

December 31, 2008 By admin

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (12/31-1/6)

NFL GAMEDAY TAKES OVER WILD CARD WEEKEND

Adrian Peterson Interview, Plus Player Correspondents on

NFL GameDay Morning 2 ½ Hours Saturday &

Four Hours Sunday Leading to Wild Card Games

NFL GameDay Final

Saturday at Midnight ET & Sunday at 8:00 PM ET

2008 Insight Bowl

New Year’s Eve at 6:00 PM ET

Chargers-Colts 2007 AFC Divisional Playoff on

NFL Classic Games Friday at 9:00 PM ET

THIS WEEKEND ON NFL GAMEDAY MORNING: NBC Analyst Cris Collinsworth Saturday

­­­

NFL GameDay Morning expands to Saturday and Sunday with complete coverage of Wild Card Weekend with ‘Word on the Street’ reports from all four stadiums and reporters providing late-breaking information. In addition, special player correspondents join NFL Network’s crew in the field to bring fresh from-the-field analysis and locker room interviews.

Saturday, January 3 • Falcons vs. Cardinals • Colts vs. Chargers – 2:00 PM ET special time

  • NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth joins NFL GameDay Morning crew to discuss the Wild Card matchups
  • Steve Wyche and player correspondent Willie McGinest report from Arizona
  • Lindsay Soto reports from San Diego
  • Marshall Faulk sit down interview with Colts QB Peyton Manning (encore)
  • Scott Hanson reports from Miami with a preview of Sunday’s Raven-Dolphins matchup
  • Kara Henderson reports from Minnesota with a preview of Sunday’s Eagles-Vikings matchup
  • A look back at the best plays of the 2008 Regular Season
  • Profile of AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan

Sunday, January 4 • Ravens vs. Dolphins • Eagles vs. Vikings­ – 4-hour show

  • Faulk is scheduled to do a 1-on-1 interview with Vikings RB Adrian Peterson
  • Hanson and player correspondent Rodney Harrison report from Miami
  • Henderson reports from Minnesota
  • Faulk, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci discuss:
    • Is this Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and head coach Andy Reid’s last stand?
    • What should Jets QB Brett Favre do?

NFL GameDay Morning is the longest, most comprehensive NFL pregame show on TV starting Saturday at 2:00 PM ET and Sunday at 9:00 AM ET on Wild Card Weekend.

The NFL GameDay Morning cast features analysis from Faulk, Sapp and Mariucci with reports from top correspondent Adam Schefter. Spero Dedes and Alex Flanagan will co-host the first hour.

NFL Classic Games, America’s Game and NFL Replay Highlight Wild Card Weekend Programming

NFL Network rings in the New Year with a focus on Wild Card Weekend. Among the highlights, NFL Network looks at on the Indianapolis-San Diego matchup – which marks the fourth meeting between the clubs in 14 months and the first three meetings were decided by a total of nine points.

Beginning Thursday January 1, at 10:00 PM ET, the Emmy Award-winning America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions tells the story of the 2006 Colts through the eyes of head coach Tony Dungy, quarterback Peyton Manning and center Jeff Saturday, who provide an intimate portrait of how these players became Super Bowl champions. The show is narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Donald Sutherland.

Friday morning at 8:00 AM ET, NFL Network will re-air the complete CBS telecast of the Week 7 matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins in which the Ravens defense stifled the Dolphins en route to a crucial victory over Miami, ending Baltimore’s three-game losing streak. Later that night, at 9:00 PM ET, NFL Classic Games features the complete CBS broadcast (Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf in the booth) of the Chargers’ 28-24 victory over the Colts in the 2007 AFC Divisional Playoff,  a rollercoaster game which featured five second-half lead changes.

On Saturday at 9:00 AM ET last year’s Week 10 Chargers victory over the Colts airs on NFL Replay. In this game, the Colts battled back from Manning’s record six interceptions, but ultimately fall short as Adam Vinatieri missed 29-yard field goal allowing the Chargers to win 23-21. At 10:30 AM ET, NFL Replay features this season’s matchup from Week 12, with the Colts winning on Vinatieri’s 51-yard field goal as time expired.

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS:

‘On the Road’ with NFL Total Access – Parts I and II (Monday, January 5 & Tuesday, January 6)

Home Depot ‘Neighborhood MVP’ – Cardinals QB Kurt Warner (Tuesday, January 6)

‘Around the League’ with Adam Schefter

THIS WEEK ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOW

  • Complete coverage and recap of bowl matchups
  • Wednesday, December 31 – pregame coverage of 2008 Insight Bowl ­– 5:00 PM ET special time

2008 Insight Bowl • Kansas vs. Minnesota • 6:00 PM ET • NFL Network

Announcers:                                     Paul Burmeister, Mike Mayock, Lindsay Soto (sideline)

Where to Watch: DirecTV – Channel 212

WDAF FOX-4 Kansas City

Comcast (Minneapolis-St. Paul) – Channel 180

Check your local cable listings

THIS WEEK ON PLAYBOOK: Ravens LB Bart Scott & Brian Billick Fills In for Brian Baldinger

AFC Focus (Thursday, January 1): Sunday Matchups

  • Brian Billick and Sterling Sharpe examine:
    • Can QB Tarvaris Jackson can lead the Vikings to victory
    • How the Eagles offense will end up putting points on the board against the Vikings
    • How Philadelphia’s defense will shut down Minnesota’s offense
    • How the Ravens will try to stop Miami’s Wildcat offense
    • Why QB Chad Pennington might have the right stuff to lead the Dolphins to a win
    • Why Ravens QB Joe Flacco will continue his success in the Playoffs
  • Solomon Wilcots is at the board with Ravens LB Bart Scott

NFC Focus (Friday, January 2): Saturday Matchups

  • Brian Billick and Sterling Sharpe on:
    • How the Cardinals offense could put a lot of points on the board against the Falcons
    • How Arizona can slow down Falcons RB Michael Turner
    • How the Falcons defense can disrupt QB Kurt Warner
    • How Matt Ryan has made the transition from college to the NFL with ease
    • Why the Colts running game could be their downfall in the Playoffs
    • How Indianapolis can get their running game back on track
    • How the Chargers success depends on  RB LaDainian Tomlinson
    • How RB Darren Sproles can help compensate for Tomlinson’s lack of production

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET):

Wednesday, December 31

12:00 PM – NFL Replay: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (HD)

1:30 PM – NFL Replay: Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints (HD)

3:00 PM – Team Cam

5:00 PM – College Football Now

6:00 PM – College Football: 2008 Insight Bowl (Kansas vs. Minnesota) – LIVE from Sun Devil Stadium (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL Total Access

10:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL Replay: Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets (HD)

Thursday, January 1

7:00 AM-3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10 Marathon:

  • Top 10 Outrageous Characters
  • Top 10 Weather Games
  • Top 10 Cornerback Tandems
  • Top 10 Team Turnarounds
  • Top 10 Receiving Corps
  • Top 10 Gutsiest Performances
  • Top 10 Most Feared Tacklers
  • Top 10 Elusive Runners

3:00 PM – America’s Game – The Missing Rings: 1969 Minnesota Vikings (HD)

4:00 PM – America’s Game – The Missing Rings: 1998 Minnesota Vikings (HD)

5:00 PM – Team Cam

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – Playbook: Sunday Matchups

9:00 PM – Live Wire (HD)

9:30 PM – Starting 11 (HD)

10:00 PM – America’s Game: 2006 Indianapolis Colts (HD)

Friday, January 2

8:00 PM – Full Game Re-Air: Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins (Oct. 19, 2008) (HD)

11:00 PM – College Football Now

12:00 PM – Live Wire (HD)

12:30 PM – Starting 11 (HD)

1:00 PM – Playbook: Sunday Matchups

2:00 PM – NFL Follies: Most Super Fantastic Follies of the Year 2008 (HD)

3:00 PM – Playbook: Sunday Matchups

4:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Clutch QBs

5:00 PM – Team Cam

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – Playbook: Saturday Matchups

9:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis Colts – 2007 AFC Divisional (HD)

Saturday, January 3

9:00 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (Week 10, 2007) (HD)

10:30 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

12:00 PM – Playbook: Sunday Matchups

1:00 PM – Playbook: Saturday Matchups

2:00 PM – NFL GameDay Morning

4:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Team Nicknames

5:30 PM – The Making of Super Ad 2008:

  • Inside look on how the NFL traveled the country in search of players and fans unique football stories to turn into commercials that will debut on Super Bowl Sunday. Several top stories are highlighted along with a montage of unique outtakes.

6:00 PM – 2007 Follies

6:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Records That Won’t Be Broken

7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard

12:00 Midnight – NFL GameDay Final

Sunday, January 4

8:00 AM – Playbook: Sunday Matchups

9:00 AM – NFL GameDay Morning

1:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Biggest Upsets

2:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Coaches Who Belong in College

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Football Factories

4:00 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard

8:00 PM – NFL GameDay Final

Monday, January 5

6:30 PM – NFL Total Access: 90-minute edition

Tuesday, January 6

4:00 PM – College Football Now

5:00 PM – Team Cam

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – NFL Replay: Wild Card Game 1

9:30 PM – NFL Replay: Wild Card Game 2

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

ESPN HD To Televise Second Annual Under Armour All-America High School Football Game

December 31, 2008 By admin

ESPN HD To Televise Second Annual Under Armour All-America High School Football Game at Citrus Bowl Stadium Primetime on Jan. 4th

Three-Time Grammy Award-Winning Artist Ludacris to Perform Live at Halftime

Practice Coverage on ESPNU Dec. 31 – Jan. 1; Skills Challenge on ESPN2 Jan. 2

The second annual Under Armour All-America High School Football Game, an ESPN and Intersport owned-and-operated all-star football competition spotlighting the nation’s top high school seniors, will be played at a new venue – Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. In addition, the 2009 game will be televised in high definition as part of a new, expanded three-hour prime-time window (8-11 p.m. ET) on ESPN HD. Dave Ryan (play-by-play announcer), Tom Luginbill (National Recruiting Director for ESPN Scouts, Inc. and ESPNU football recruiting analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) will call the action from Orlando.

ESPN HD’s prime-time broadcast not only will feature the nation’s top athletic talent, but also will include a special halftime performance by multi-platinum selling recording star and three-time Grammy Award winner Ludacris.

The inaugural game was played at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex (DWWS), which will continue to host the event’s practice sessions and the Burger King High School All-America Skills Challenge. The three-hour daily practice sessions will be televised live on ESPNU Dec. 31 – Jan. 1, from 3-6 p.m., as part of a special edition of ESPNU Recruiting Insider. The Burger King High School All-America Skills Challenge will take place on Friday, Jan. 2 (airing tape delayed on ESPN2 Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.). The Skills Challenge will consist of drill sequences by position for quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, defensive backs, linebackers and offensive and defensive lineman.

Of the 82 players selected by ESPN Scouts, Inc. to participate in the Under Armour All-America High School Football Game, 67 are ranked in the ESPNU 150 player rankings, including eight in the top 10: No. 1 Russell Shepard, QB (Houston, Texas) Cypress Ridge High School (Black Team); No. 3 Trent Richardson, RB (Pensacola, Fla.) Escambia High School (White Team); No. 4 Manti Te’o, OLB, (Honolulu, Hawaii) Punahou High School (White Team); No. 5 Garrett Gilbert, QB (Austin, Texas) Lake Travis High School (Black Team); No. 7 Jacobi McDaniel, DT (Greenville, Fla.) Madison County High School (Black Team); No. 8 Craig Loston, S (Aldine, Texas) Eisenhower High School (White Team); No. 9 Jelani Jenkins, OLB (Wheaton, Md.) Good Counsel (Black Team); and No. 10 Matt Barkley, QB (Santa Ana, Calif.), Mater Dei High School (White Team) to name a few. To view the entire White Team roster, please click here and to view the Black Team, click here.

In addition, several players will announce their college decisions on air during the televised Under Armour All-America High School Football Game activities: No. 30 Andre Debose, WR, Ray Ray Armstrong, S, and No. 143 Dyron Dye, DE, who all play for Seminole High School in Sanford, Fla. Branden Smith, CB (Booker T. Washington, Atlanta, Ga.), No. 31 John, Martinez, OG (Cottonwood High School, Salt Lake City Utah), Mark Brazinski, OC (Immaculata High School, Somerville, N.J.) and No. 8 Craig Loston, S (Eisenhower High School, Aldine, Texas) will also declare which school they intend to play college football.

Former NFL head coaches Marv Levy and Mike White will coach the teams in the 2009 Under Armour All-America High School Football Game. Levy will serve as head coach of the White Team, while White will coach the Black Team. Both coaching staffs, selected by ESPN Scouts, Inc., will consist of an offensive and defensive coordinator, with support from 19 high school coaches who have players participating in the game.

Tickets for this year’s game are $10 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

About Under Armour

Under Armour® (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand’s moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional natural fiber products.  The Company’s products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe.  The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.underarmour.com.

Filed Under: ESPN, Prep

RECORD-SETTER: NFL Games Top Local Ratings 88 Percent of Time in 2008

December 31, 2008 By admin

RECORD-SETTER: NFL Games Top Local Ratings 88 Percent of Time in 2008

NFL GAMES TOP RATINGS IN ALL 30 MARKETS IN WEEK 17

With playoff berths and positioning up for grabs, NFL games topped the local ratings in all 30 NFL markets last week (Dec. 22-28).

For the season, NFL games were the highest rated program locally a record 88 percent of the time – topping the mark set last season (86 percent). By comparison, NFL games topped local NFL market ratings 73 percent of the time five years ago (in 2003) and 55 percent of the time in 2001.

Nationally, NFL games accounted for four of the five most-watched shows among all programs last week. The FOX doubleheader game on Sunday (mostly Cowboys-Eagles) was the week’s most-watched show with 20.8 million viewers, followed by the Sunday night Broncos-Chargers game on NBC with 14.8 million viewers. The Week 16 ESPN Monday night game (Packers-Bears on Dec. 22) was fourth with 13.8 million viewers and Sunday’s CBS regional game (mostly Dolphins-Jets) was fifth with 12.7 million viewers.

Following are the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Dec. 22-28:

Week of 12/22-28

HH

HH

RTG

Market

Game

Date

RTG

SHR

Rank

Pittsburgh

Browns @ Steelers

12/28/08

43.2

73

1

Milwaukee

Packers @ Bears

12/22/08

39.6

58

1

San Diego

Broncos @ Chargers

12/28/08

37.4

58

1

Minneapolis

Giants @ Vikings +

Bonus Coverage

12/28/08

34.7

70

1

Indianapolis

Titans @ Colts +

Bonus Coverage

12/28/08

34.4

59

1

Baltimore

Jaguars @ Ravens

12/28/08

33.3

50

1

Philadelphia

Cowboys @ Eagles

12/28/08

33.1

55

1

Chicago*

Packers @ Bears

12/22/08

32.9

51

1

Nashville

Titans @ Colts

12/28/08

32.1

57

1

Boston

Patriots @ Bills

12/28/08

30.8

61

1

Denver

Broncos @ Chargers

12/28/08

30.6

49

1

Buffalo

Patriots @ Bills

12/28/08

29.9

56

1

Dallas

Cowboys @ Eagles

12/28/08

29.8

54

1

New Orleans

Panthers @ Saints

12/28/08

28.5

43

1

Charlotte

Panthers @ Saints

12/28/08

28.0

49

1

Miami

Dolphins @ Jets

12/28/08

26.4

49

1

Tampa Bay

Raiders @ Buccaneers

12/28/08

26.4

55

1

Atlanta

Rams @ Falcons

12/28/08

24.8

49

1

Cleveland

Browns @ Steelers

12/28/08

24.5

51

1

Cincinnati

Chiefs @ Bengals

12/28/08

23.5

45

1

Washington, DC

Redskins @ 49ers

12/28/08

23.0

42

1

Kansas City

Chiefs @ Bengals

12/28/08

21.8

46

1

Detroit

Lions @ Packers

12/28/08

21.3

44

1

Jacksonville

Jaguars @ Ravens +

Bonus Coverage

12/28/08

19.6

32

1

Phoenix

Seahawks @ Cardinals

12/28/08

19.5

40

1

New York

Giants @ Vikings +

Bonus Coverage

12/28/08

19.2

39

1

Seattle

Seahawks @ Cardinals

12/28/08

18.5

42

1

St. Louis

Rams @ Falcons

12/28/08

16.9

33

1

Houston

Bears @ Texans

12/28/08

14.6

32

1

San Fran-Oakland

Redskins @ 49ers

12/28/08

14.1

37

1

* Local affiliate & ESPN combined

Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research

Filed Under: NFL, Ratings

OTL: Cal Commitment Hoax

December 31, 2008 By admin

Kevin Hart Talks to ESPN’s OTL About “Going to Cal” Hoax in Exclusive TV Interview

December 31, 2008

On February 1, 2008, five days before National Signing Day, Nevada’s top-rated high school offensive lineman Kevin Hart announced his college choice – California — at a packed Fernley High assembly. Several days later he released a statement confessing to a 10-month hoax, a fantasy that he says, “got out of control.” Sunday’s Outside the Lines (9 a.m. ET ESPN, noon ESPNEWS) speaks with Hart in an exclusive television interview as he, for the first time, explains one of history’s strangest “recruitments.” Tom Friend reports.

While Hart did take unofficial visits to the Universities of Nevada, Oregon and Washington, he was rated as only a potential walk-on and was never offered a scholarship, yet had his parents and coaches believing him, each thinking the other was handling recruiting. Hart was eventually recruited by Feather River College, a junior college in Northeastern California where he has a chance to be starting right guard next season.

From Sunday’s Outside the Lines:

“I didn’t know what the process was for recruiting, and so we thought that the coaches were handling it, the coaches said they thought we were talking with the recruiter.” – Rick Hart, Kevin’s father

“I still don’t know why. Maybe ‘cause I knew I wasn’t going to be what I wanted to be. I didn’t know how to accept that. I didn’t know how other people would accept it.” – Kevin Hart, on perpetrating the hoax

“He didn’t do something that is so terrible that his life should be over at 18. He didn’t assault anyone. He didn’t rob anyone. He got caught up in a bad situation and was dishonest and that’s, again, regrettable, reprehensible, but not, to me anyway, completely unforgivable.” – Tom Simi, Feather River College head football coach

“I’m still not OK. It hasn’t been a year yet. It might not be 10 years until I’m finally OK. But maybe knowing what I did was totally wrong and a horrible thing is a good thing to be reminded of every day. I thought I’d never play again. I thought, you know, I’d be in the gutter somewhere.” – Kevin Hart

–30 –

Filed Under: ESPN, Football

BCS & NFL Wild Card Action Kick Off New Year on FOX

December 30, 2008 By admin

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NFC Wild Card Battle: Sunday on FOX

Eagles Swoop into Minneapolis to Take on Vikings

Billick: Tough NFC Teams Make Road to Super Bowl Repeat Bumpy for Giants

FOX’s Bowl Bash Kicks Off Jan. 1 with FedEx Orange Bowl; Week includes AT&T Cotton Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl, and Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

NFL ON FOX: WILDCARD WEEKEND – FOX Sports’ coverage of its 15th NFL postseason begins Sunday, Jan. 4 (4:00 PM ET) when Donovan McNabb and the surging Philadelphia Eagles take on NFL rushing champ, Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings. NFL on FOX’s lead broadcast team of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver are joined by Chris Myers to call this matchup from Minneapolis. The winner moves on to the divisional round to face either the Giants or the Panthers next week on FOX.

Coverage begins at 4:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY.  Co-hosts Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee join analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan to provide insightful opinions on the NFL. The NFL’s best insider, Jay Glazer, breaks the latest information from the FOXSports.com newsroom with updates on coaching and front office moves from around the league. Critically acclaimed comedic impressionist Frank Caliendo makes his entertaining playoff picks. This week, Johnson evaluates two of the league’s premier running backs as they prepare to meet in Minneapolis: Brian Westbrook and Adrian Peterson.

BILLICK: GIANTS’ ROAD TO SUPER BOWL REPEAT HAS MANY OBSTACLES – With the defending Super Bowl champions watching to see who emerges to face them at the Meadowlands next Sunday, NFL on FOX analyst and Super Bowl-winning head coach Brian Billick looks at the NFC playoff teams and sees a few that could end the Giants’ hopes to repeat as champions: “The Panthers have the physicality on defense and the one-two punch at running back. In the Minnesota Vikings, you’re talking about the No. 1 rush defense in the league.  Obviously they didn’t face the Giants with Brandon Jacobs and as we’ve seen that makes a big difference. But if Tarvaris Jackson can continue to play well, they too have a good one-two punch in the running game with Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. The Eagles have gone into the Meadowlands and won and could again. The Eagles are used to playing the Giants. There’s no intimidation, which can be a factor when you face a defending champion.”

GAME BROADCASTERS TIME

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings Announcer Joe Buck                          4:00PM

Analyst Troy Aikman

Sideline Reporter Pam Oliver

FOX’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL BASH KICKS OFF NEW YEAR’S DAY – FOX Sports’ third Bowl Bash kicks off the New Year with a total of five major bowl games over an exciting week. On Thursday, Jan. 1 coverage gets started with the FedEx Orange Bowl (8:00 PM ET) between Big East Champion Cincinnati and ACC Champion Virginia Tech. Friday, Jan. 2 features two exciting matchups with Texas Tech taking on the Ole Miss Rebels in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic (2:00 PM ET) and Alabama taking on Utah in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at 7:30 PM ET. On Monday, Jan. 5, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl pits Texas against Ohio State and next Thursday, Jan 8, the FedEx BCS National Championship will be decided when Florida and Oklahoma square off for the title.

BCS on FOX analysts Charles Davis, Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson today previewed this Bowl season’s most exciting games and storylines on the 2009 BCS on FOX Preview Press Call. For a full replay of the call, dial 719-457-0820 and enter passcode 2264310 when prompted.

BCS on FOX pregame analyst Barry Switzer on whether Bob Stoops’ lack of success in BCS Bowl games will motivate Oklahoma: “Anything that has happened in the past doesn’t have anything to do with this football team. This is a better team than the ones Bob has taken to bowl games in the past. Anytime you go to a BCS game, especially the Championship Game, you’re playing a team as good or better than you. The last two times Oklahoma has been in this situation they’ve played teams that I believe were better than them.”

BCS on FOX pregame analyst Jimmy Johnson on how he thinks Florida quarterback Tim Tebow would do in the NFL: “The more I watch Tim Tebow, the more I think he might be an NFL quarterback. A lot of people are projecting him to be in another position and if he is a quarterback, probably not being a first round pick. We all know he’s a tremendous competitor, has a great passion for the game and is obviously a physical presence. The more you watch him, the more you believe that he can be an NFL quarterback. If I was a GM, I would like to have him on my team.”

BCS on FOX lead game analyst Charles Davis added: “If a coaching staff didn’t think they could use Tim Tebow on their team, whether he can play quarterback or not, I would question them on how hard they want to coach. I can’t look at him and say, “well, I don’t know.” If you can’t get him to that level then that’s fine, but I think you’d be remised by not taking him and giving that an opportunity.”

DATE GAME BROADCASTERS TIME

Jan. 1     FedEx Orange Bowl

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Announcer Thom Brennaman                          8:00PM

Analyst Charles Davis

Sideline Reporter Chris Myers

Jan. 2     AT&T Cotton Bowl

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Ole Miss Rebels Announcer Pat Summerall                               2:00PM

Analyst Brian Baldinger

Sideline Reporter/Host Jeanne Zelasko

Sideline Reporter/Host Krista Voda

Jan. 2     Allstate Sugar Bowl

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Utah Utes Announcer Kenny Albert                                   7:30PM

Analyst Daryl Johnston

Sideline Reporter Chris Myers

Sideline Reporter Charissa Thompson

Jan. 5     Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Announcer Matt Vasgersian                            7:30PM

Analyst Tim Ryan

Sideline Reporter Chris Myers

Sideline Reporter Laura Okmin

Jan. 8     FedEx BCS National Championship

Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners Announcer Thom Brennaman                          7:30PM

Analyst Charles Davis

Sideline Reporter Chris Myers

– FOX SPORTS –

Filed Under: College Football, FOX, NFL

Wild Card Weekend Preview on NFL Network

December 30, 2008 By admin

WILD CARD WEEKEND PREVIEW ON NFL NETWORK

PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTING WILD CARD MATCHUPS INCLUDES:

  • THREE MOST RECENT COLTS-CHARGERS CONTESTS
  • EMMY-AWARD WINNING AMERICA’S GAME: 2006 COLTS
  • COMPLETE RE-AIR OF BALTIMORE RAVENS VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS
  • NFL GAMEDAY MORNING ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY

NFL Network rings in the New Year with a focus on Wild Card Weekend.  Among the highlights, NFL Network looks at on the Indianapolis-San Diego matchup – which marks the fourth meeting between the clubs in 14 months.

Beginning Thursday January 1, at 10:00 PM ET, the Emmy Award-winning America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions tells the story of the 2006 Colts through the eyes of head coach Tony Dungy, quarterback Peyton Manning and center Jeff Saturday, who provide an intimate portrait of how these players became Super Bowl champions. The show is narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Donald Sutherland.  Learn why Marvin Harrison suggested running the football late in that game and why Manning tell his backup to get ready against the Patriots in that conference championship game?

Friday morning at 8:00 AM ET, NFL Network will re-air the complete CBS telecast of the Week 7 matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins in which the Ravens defense stifled the Dolphins en route to a crucial victory over Miami, ending Baltimore’s three-game losing streak. Later that night, at 9:00 PM ET, NFL Classic Games features the complete CBS broadcast (Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf in the booth) of the Chargers’ 28-24 victory over the Colts in the 2007 AFC Divisional Playoff,  a rollercoaster game which featured five second-half lead changes.

On Saturday at 9:00 AM ET last year’s Week 10 Chargers victory over the Colts airs on NFL Replay. In this game, the Colts battled back from Peyton Manning’s record 6 interceptions, but ultimately fall short as Adam Vinatieri missed 29-yard field goal allowing the Chargers to win 23-21.   At 10:30 AM ET, NFL Replay features this season’s matchup from Week 12, with the Colts winning on Adam Vinatieri’s 51-yard field goal as time expired.  Peyton Manning passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns in that game. NFL Replay games are enhanced with exclusive material including distinctive shots and camera angles from NFL Films and its own sideline and on-field sound and postgame press conference sound bites.

Playbook takes a look at the X’s and O’s of the Wild Card games with Brian Baldinger, Sterling Sharpe and Solomon Wilcots.  Sunday’s games will be analyzed on Thursday at 8:00 PM ET and the Saturday matchups on Friday at 8:00 PM ET.

NFL GameDay Morning will also be expanded this weekend to lead into the Wild Card playoff games.   Spero Dedes, Alex Flanagan, Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci will be on the air two and a half hours on Saturday beginning at 2:00 PM ET and four hours on Sunday beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

NFL Network Schedule – Thursday, January 1

8:00 PM ET – Playbook (Sunday Games)

10:00 PM ET – America’s Game: 2006 Indianapolis Colts (HD)

Friday, January 2

8:00 AM ET – Full Game Re-air: Ravens-Dolphins (10/19/08) (HD)

8:00 PM ET – Playbook (Saturday Games)

9:00 PM ET – NFL Classic Games: 2007 AFC Divisional Playoff Chargers-Colts (1/13/08)

Saturday, January 3

9:00 AM ET – NFL Replay: Colts-Chargers (2007 Week 10)

10:30 AM ET – NFL Replay: Colts-Chargers (2008 Week 12)

1:00 PM ET – Playbook (Saturday Games)

2:00 PM ET – NFL GameDay Morning

Sunday, January 4

8:00 AM ET – Playbook (Sunday Games)

9:00 AM ET – NFL GameDay Morning

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log onto www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

# # #

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

NBC NFL Wild Card Saturday Doubleheader Features Falcons-Cardinals & Colts-Chargers

December 30, 2008 By admin

“These two teams that we’re doing, San Diego and the Colts, I could see them going to the Super Bowl.” – NBC’s Madden

“Peyton Manning Should Be the MVP of the NFL.” – NBC’s Madden

NEW YORK – Dec. 30, 2008 – NBC Sports will broadcast live coverage of NFL Wild Card Saturday Doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. ET with a special edition of the “Football Night in America” studio show followed by the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals (9-7) hosting the Atlanta Falcons (11-5) at 4:30 p.m. ET. At 8 p.m. ET, the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers (8-8) will host Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts (12-4), winners of nine games in a row.

The “NBC Sunday Night Football” team of Al Michaels (play-by-play), John Madden (analyst) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) will call the Colts-Chargers game from San Diego. Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Tiki Barber (sideline reporter) will call the Falcons-Cardinals game from Arizona.

Bob Costas (host), Keith Olbermann (co-host), Dan Patrick (co-host), analyst Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, and reporter Peter King of Sports Illustrated will analyze the playoffs from the “Football Night in America” studio at 30 Rock.

NBC Sports today held a media conference call with Madden and Collinsworth to preview the playoffs.

MADDEN ON THE COLTS AND CHARGERS: “These two teams that we’re doing, San Diego and the Colts, I could see them going to the Super Bowl, I really could. Both of them are peaking at the right time. For some reason, the Colts have been under the radar, and the Chargers have been too.

“When the Colts started out slowly, people kind of gave up on them and then maybe forgot about them. And then boom — Peyton Manning gets healthy, because he didn’t start out healthy, and they win nine in a row. It’s important that you’re peaking at the end of the season. The Colts right now are probably the definition of a team that is peaking coming into the playoffs.”

COLLINSWORTH ON PEYTON MANNING: “If you gave me a vote for the MVP, which nobody ever has, but I would love to do it someday, Peyton Manning would get my vote. With the injuries they’ve faced, with the struggles on defense that they’ve had at times, with the injuries on the offensive line, overcoming his own injuries and not going through training camp and all the preparation that he’s had to, I’m not sure that you could take any one player off of their team and have a bigger impact than if you took Peyton Manning off of this team.”

“I look at the Colts as really a four to five win team despite a lot of good players out there if you took Peyton Manning off and to me that sort of is the very definition of the MVP.”

MADDEN ON MANNING: “Peyton Manning should be the MVP in the NFL.”

COLLINSWORTH ON PHILIP RIVERS: “It’s interesting that Philip Rivers didn’t even make the Pro Bowl, and now that brings us to another point: that we vote for the Pro Bowl too soon. I mean when you voted for the Pro Bowl, Philip Rivers was four and eight or the San Diego Chargers were, and he was coming off a bad game.”

COLLINSWORTH ON THE NBC GAMES: “We have two tremendous matchups. Interestingly, two of the last three years we’ve seen teams come out of this Wild Card round and go on and win the Super Bowl. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if it happened again this time around because there certainly are some great teams at the bottom.”

MADDEN ON WILD CARD WEEKEND: “It used to be that Wild Card weekend didn’t mean much. The top four teams get byes and they’re not playing and the big games will be the next week and the week after when those guys play because they’ll probably be the Super Bowl teams. The last two out of three Super Bowl teams came out of the Wild Card and the blueprint is so fresh with the New York Giants. Just a year ago the Giants did this. They were not only in the Wild Card but they had to play every game on the road.”

COLLINSWORTH ON WILD CARD TEAMS: “On a neutral site, these are easy games to pick. I would take all four road teams, but you’re not talking about a neutral site. You’re talking about the playoffs and you’re talking about fans that are going to be a little fired up for the playoffs and you’re talking about some pretty good quarterbacks in there that have been down this road before with Chad Pennington and Kurt Warner and Philip Rivers playing so tough in the championship game a season ago. This is about as interesting as I can remember the Wild Card round being and the two games we have on Saturday are going to be fantastic.”

COLLINSWORTH ON ATLANTA-ARIZONA: “You’re going to see Atlanta try and pound the football at Arizona and Arizona of course with Kurt Warner and their great wide receivers throwing it all over the park in perfect weather.”

COLLINSWORTH ON INDIANAPOLIS-SAN DIEGO: “Indy-San Diego to me has become one of the real classic matchups in the NFL. Indy is always sort of the favorite. San Diego finds a way to make Peyton Manning look bad, except for this year they finally got over the hump with this team and went on a last second field goal. I think we’re going to see four great games but I especially like the two that we have.”

MADDEN ON WILD CARD TEAMS: “Sometimes the team that’s in the tougher division can be a wild card team and be the better team than a team that is in a weaker division and wins the division. I think that’s what we’re seeing here, that some of the wild card teams from some of the divisions are really stronger than the division winners in the weak division. All four road teams can be favorites in these games.”

MADDEN ON NORV TURNER: “Any coach has to be who they are and that’s the biggest thing. You can’t be a phony. If you’re a quiet, reserved type of guy you can’t be running around yelling and screaming, and if you’re one of those yellers and screamers you can’t be a reserved guy. You have to be yourself, especially if you’re going to be in it for a long time. If you’re not yourself then you’re a phony and players catch a phony right off the bat. Norv isn’t a phony.

“There’s 32 jobs and there’s not 32 Vince Lombardi’s. I’m not saying he’s one of the great head coaches of all time, but name me half of them in the league that are better than him.”

COLLINSWORTH ON TURNER: “The minute Norv Turner decides that he’s going to be Vince Lombardi and start screaming and yelling, those players are going to roll their eyes and go ‘are you kidding me?’ It’s over with at that point because now they know he’s trying too hard. It’s actually one of the strengths of Norv Turner that he’s maintained who he is. I think Norv Turner has earned the trust of this football team.”

COLLINSWORTH ON ATLANTA’S TURNAROUND: “I don’t want to sound like a therapist or anything but sometimes you have to hit rock bottom. I think this organization with the coach going out, the Michael Vick thing, the fans were starting to turn on them and then you sort of hit bottom. Then you have to do everything our high school football coach taught us about the game of football. We have to be in this together, we have to spend the extra time in the off-season. We have to work out more than the playoff teams did a season ago and find a way to make the whole thing work. You also can’t do that with out players. There’s no question that this season we have seen a transformation in some guys that have been given an opportunity with Atlanta.

COLLINSWORTH ON MATT RYAN AND THE FALCONS: “Everyone knows the story with Matt Ryan and what a remarkable one it is, but I can remember at the beginning of the season and the story was there’s no way this offensive line can protect Matt Ryan. Matt Ryan is going to die in his rookie year. I can remember hearing the stories about how bad they were, and yet when I put on the tape and watch them block for Michael Turner and for Jerious Norwood and for Matt Ryan, they’re not the greatest players in the world, they’re not all going to the Pro Bowl but as a team they’re pretty good. This is a team that has collectively found a way to turn it around. It’s what makes the NFL exciting.”

MADDEN ON JOE FLACCO: “Here’s the guy that is the most unlikely quarterback personality that I’ve ever met in my life. You know in high school and college he never owned a car. He never owned a car and he still doesn’t. When he finally got to Baltimore, someone gave him a car. He’s just a gym rat, and this is the first time that I remember a Baltimore Ravens defense ever liking their quarterback.”

MADDEN ON ANDY REID: “Isn’t funny how a coach in the NFL can go from losing his mind a month ago to being a genius a month later?”

COLLINSWORTH: “I only wish it could happen to me every once in a while.”

COLLINSWORTH ON DALLAS NOT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS: “I don’t want to turn this into a therapy session but I think there are a lot of reasons that it didn’t work. From an outsider’s standpoint, maybe the fact that it didn’t work is good for all of us who love sports. Look at this as a way of legitimizing the team concept and the idea that if you don’t put your team first and you’re putting yourself above the team, it’s never going to work. I think that’s what happened to the Cowboys this year.”

NFC – NO. 5 FALCONS (11-5) AT NO. 4 CARDINALS (9-7):
The Arizona Cardinals will be hosting their first home playoff game since moving to the southwest and first since 1947 when they were the Chicago Cardinals; the franchise’s last playoff appearance came in 1998. Arizona, which scored a franchise record 424 points, boasts a high-flying attack led by QB Kurt Warner and wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

The Atlanta Falcons are in the postseason for the first time since 2004, led by rookie QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner who ran for nearly 1,700 yards. The Falcons ended the season winning five of their last six, and eight of their last 10.

AFC – NO. 5 COLTS (12-4) AT NO. 4 CHARGERS (8-8):
The Indianapolis Colts, after starting the season 3-4, ran off nine straight victories to end the season as the NFL’s hottest team. It marked the sixth straight season the Colts have won at least 12 games. Peyton Manning finished with 4,000 yards for a record ninth straight season.

The Chargers also rode a winning streak to the postseason, coming from 4-8 to win their last four games and capture the AFC West title, including a 52-21 thrashing of the Denver Broncos in the season finale. For San Diego, it is their third straight division title.

The teams met last season in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game with the Chargers coming from behind to win 28-24. Billy Volek, subbing for the injured Philip Rivers, scored the game-winner on a quarterback sneak.

CREDITS: Fred Gaudelli is the producer of “NBC Sunday Night Football” and Drew Esocoff is the director. They will handle the Colts-Chargers game. This is Gaudelli and Esocoff’s third season at the helm of “Sunday Night Football.”

The Falcons-Cardinals game will be produced by Tucson-native Tommy Roy, who produced Super Bowl XXXII, the last NFL game on NBC prior to its return to the NFL in 2006. Roy also was executive producer for Super Bowls XXXII, XXX and XXVIII. John Gonzalez will serve as director. Gonzalez, currently the director for NBC’s Notre Dame football broadcasts, directed four Super Bowls for NBC, including Super Bowl XXXII alongside Roy

Filed Under: NBC, NFL
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