February 10, 2012

NBC Sports & The Martha Stewart Show Launch “Martha’s Sunday Night Football Sweepstakes”

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

NBC SPORTS & THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW LAUNCH “MARTHA’S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SWEEPSTAKES”

Fans of Football and Martha Win Trips to New York to See“The Martha Stewart Show” or NBC’s “Football Night in America”

NEW YORK – November 30, 2009 – NBC Sports, NBC local affiliates and “The Martha Stewart Show” have teamed up on a promotion that will give football and Martha fans unique and original football recipes and entertaining ideas to make “Sunday Night Football” a special viewing event. In addition, fans can enter to win a trip to New York to see a live taping of “The Martha Stewart Show” or NBC’s “Football Night in America” along with other daily prizes.

The two-week long promotion launches November 30 with a series of promos starring Martha that air nationally on NBC and locally across 11 participating NBC stations and affiliates including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas. Each affiliate will air Martha promos tailored to their market that drive viewers to the affiliate’s website for contest registration and Martha-inspired “Sunday Night Football” recipes.

“I’m a huge football fan and I know lots of women who love to watch the game as much as I do – especially during the playoff season,” said Martha Stewart when commenting on the promotion.  ”I’ve been lucky enough to attend several Super Bowl games and it’s a very exciting event. I’m delighted to be working with our station partners to give viewers access to our excellent recipes and fool-proof entertaining tips that are sure to make their Sunday night gatherings a huge hit with family and friends.”

Viewers who enter the contest through their affiliate website or the national URL, www.MarthaSNF.com, have the chance to win daily prizes that will help them prepare for Sunday Night, including Martha’s new best-selling cookbook, “Dinner at Home,” and footballs autographed by NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” and “Football Night in America” teams. Viewers are automatically entered to win the grand prize – a trip for two to New York City to see a live taping of either “The Martha Stewart Show” or NBC’s “Football Night in America” along with $100 in spending money.

“Martha’s Sunday Night Football Sweepstakes” is designed to bring additional NBC Universal assets to promote the NFL, with the goal of driving tune-in and awareness among casual fans.

“This partnership with Martha Stewart is part of a concerted effort to bring more of our company’s assets to help make Sunday night the night that families reserve for football,” said Mike McCarley, SVP, Strategic Marketing, Communications and Promotions, NBC Sports & Olympics. “The broad reach of our company is a big part of our success in connecting with many different types of viewers in ways that are relevant to them.”

THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW:
Celebrating its fifth anniversary in September 2009, “The Martha Stewart Show” is an Emmy-winning, nationally-syndicated, “how-to” series anchored by entertaining segments that both inform and inspire. Shot in front of a studio audience, the hour-long program features visionaries, creatives and everyday people who’ve accomplished extraordinary things, and sheds new light on subjects from cooking and entertaining to crafting and gardening.  ”The Martha Stewart Show” allows audience members, home viewers and special guests including renowned chefs, seasoned artisans and designers, authors, collectors, entertainers and experts from all walks of life to participate with host Martha Stewart in an interactive format that celebrates Martha’s sense of fun and love of teaching.  Martha Stewart and Mark Burnett are executive producers. Bernie Young is co-executive producer. The program is produced by MSLO Productions, Inc. in association with Mark Burnett Productions and is currently distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution to more than 95% of the country.

Filed Under: NBC

Week 14 Flex Scheduling: No Change in NBC Sunday Night Game; Rams at Titans Moves to 4:05 PM ET on FOX on Dec. 13

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

WEEK 14 FLEX SCHEDULING:

NO CHANGE IN NBC SUNDAY NIGHT GAME;

RAMS AT TITANS MOVES TO 4:05 PM ET ON FOX ON DEC. 13

The Week 14 NFL schedule was finalized today with the originally scheduled Philadelphia at New York Giants Sunday night game on NBC remaining in place. The St. Louis at Tennessee game on Sunday, December 13 moves from 1:00 PM ET to 4:05 PM ET on FOX.

Following is the final Week 14 NFL schedule:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 (WEEK 14)

PITTSBURGH AT CLEVELAND

8:20 PM (ET)

NFLN

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13

NEW ORLEANS AT ATLANTA

1:00 PM (ET)

FOX

DETROIT AT BALTIMORE

1:00 PM (ET)

FOX

GREEN BAY AT CHICAGO

12:00 PM (CT)

FOX

SEATTLE AT HOUSTON

12:00 PM (CT)

FOX

DENVER AT INDIANAPOLIS

1:00 PM (ET)

CBS

MIAMI AT JACKSONVILLE

1:00 PM (ET)

CBS

BUFFALO AT KANSAS CITY

12:00 PM (CT)

CBS

CINCINNATI AT MINNESOTA

12:00 PM (CT)

CBS

CAROLINA AT NEW ENGLAND

1:00 PM (ET)

FOX

N.Y. JETS AT TAMPA BAY

1:00 PM (ET)

CBS

WASHINGTON AT OAKLAND

1:05 PM (PT)

FOX

ST. LOUIS AT TENNESSEE*

3:05 PM (CT)

FOX

SAN DIEGO AT DALLAS

3:15 PM (CT)

CBS

PHILADELPHIA AT N.Y. GIANTS

8:20 PM (ET)

NBC

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14

ARIZONA AT SAN FRANCISCO

5:30 PM (PT)

ESPN

The flex schedule game time changes for this Sunday (Dec. 6) are Minnesota at Arizona on NBC at 8:20 and New England at Miami on CBS at 1:00 PM ET.

The NFL will utilize “flexible scheduling” on Sundays in Weeks 11-17.  Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups in all NFL Sunday time slots in those weeks and give teams a chance to play their way onto primetime and into the late-afternoon 4:15 PM ET time slot on CBS and FOX.

For each of the flexible scheduling weeks with the exception of Week 17, the NFL will announce the start times of games on Sundays no later than 12 days prior to that weekend.  To ensure a Sunday night game and doubleheader games with playoff implications in Week 17, the flexible scheduling decision for that Sunday may be made on six days notice.

###

Filed Under: FOX, NBC, NFL

2009 Supergirl Jam Premieres On FUEL TV November 30

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Top Female Action Sports Pros in Surf, Skate and Snow featured in
All-Girls Competition and Lifestyle Show

LOS ANGELES (November 25, 2009) – On Monday, November 30, at 8:00 p.m. EST, the 3rd Annual Supergirl Jam, the top, all-female action sports event series, will air as an hour-long special on FUEL TV.  Produced by ASA Entertainment, the show highlights the best moments from the 2009 Supergirl Jam series of events, including:  the Supergirl Pro Junior ASP surfing contest and Supergirl Pro-Am Jam skateboard street competition, as well as the Supergirl Jam snowboard rail jam, skateboard street and inline best trick contests.  The program will also feature behind-the-scenes action, athlete profiles and interviews with top female pros in skate, surf and snow.

The Supergirl Jam is the action sports industry’s only large-scale, all-female competition and lifestyle festival.  This unique concept showcases the skill, talent and personality of more than 100 of the top female action sports athletes in a competition series designed to promote and celebrate female strength, independence and empowerment.

The Supergirl Jam series was held in three locations throughout California, Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, CA; Woodward West in Tehachapi, CA; and at the world-famous Venice Beach in
Venice, CA.

FUEL TV’s 2009 Supergirl Jam broadcast will include athletes such as surfing stars Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana, CA), Stephanie Gilmore (New South Wales, AUS) and Malia Manuel (Kauai, HI); skateboarding’s Lyn-z Adams Hawkins (Cardiff by the Sea, CA), Leticia Bufoni (Sao Paulo, BRA) and Amy Caron (Huntington Beach, CA), snowboarding’s Chanelle Sladics (Newport Beach, CA), Leanne Pelosi (Calgary, CAN) and Laurie Currier (Wrightwood, CA), and inline skating’s Fabiola da Silva (Sao Paulo, BRA), Coco Sanchez (San Francisco, CA) and Fallon Heffernan (Jacksonville, FL).
The 2009 Supergirl Jam will air on FUEL TV twice on November 30, first at 8:00 p.m. EST and again at 11:00 p.m.  Repeat airings will follow on later dates. For more details, please visit www.supergirljam.com.

#  #  #

About ASA Entertainment:
Founded in 1994, ASA Entertainment, LLC (an Omnicom Company) is an action sports event, television and content production agency focused on creating and executing customized, turn-key marketing programs that range in scale from grassroots to global. ASA’s events, featuring skateboarding, freestyle BMX, inline skating, free-skiing, freestyle motocross, surfing, snowboarding and music, are broadcast domestically on CBS, Spike, VERSUS, FUEL TV, WGN, CBS College Sports and Fox Sports Net, and distributed during 937 hours of programming to more than 1 billion HH globally via 32 international broadcast partners. ASA’s productions span the spectrum from large, international competitions such as the LG Action Sports World Championships to amateur contests, lifestyle and branded entertainment events, demonstrations, exhibitions and mobile tours. As one of the most established organizations in action sports, ASA Entertainment develops premium content around the fastest growing sector of American sports. For more information, visit ASAentertainment.com or ActionSportsTour.com.

About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster’s ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products:
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About DC Comics:
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

Filed Under: FUEL TV

“[Vince Young has] always been a winner.” — Michael Irvin on NFL GameDay Highlights on NFL Network

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Week 12 (Nov. 29, 2009) – Quotable from NFL GameDay Final

& NFL GameDay Highlights on NFL Network

(Airs Sundays at 7:30 PM ET & 11:30 PM ET)

“He’s always been a winner. He’s learning how to play the game at this level.”

– Michael Irvin on Titans QB Vince Young, who is 23-11 (.676) as an NFL starter

“He has his swagger back. He’s a leader; he’s poised and sure of himself.”

– Deion Sanders on Titans QB Vince Young

“Vince Young moves to the next level of quarterbacks by making these late game drives.”

– Michael Irvin on Titans QB Vince Young

“Why aren’t we hearing his name in the MVP [race]?”

–- Deion Sanders on Titans RB Chris Johnson, who leads the NFL with 1,396 rushing yards and is ahead of former Rams RB Eric Dickerson after 11 games (1,320 yards) in his record-setting 2,105-yard season in 1984

“Revis is the No.1 or No. 2 best corner in the game.”

– Deion Sanders on Jets CB Darrelle Revis, who had two interceptions – returning one for a touchdown – against Panthers

“You have two great coaches, two great quarterbacks and two opportunistic defenses. It’s going to come down to the kickers.”

- Deion Sanders on Patriots-Saints on Monday Night Football

“The Minnesota Vikings are the best team in the NFC.  If there’s a weakness at all, it might be in their pass defense. So they might be vulnerable to teams that throw the ball very well, like Arizona next week, the New Orleans Saints or Green Bay Packers.”

- Steve Mariucci on Minnesota Vikings

“He likes it with no wind, no rain, no snow, in a dome.  He’s getting very comfortable there.”

– Steve Mariucci on Vikings QB Brett Favre

“They don’t need to bring [extra] pressure very often.  This front four can do it.”

- Steve Mariucci on Vikings pass rush

“It is Purple Rain.”

– Rich Eisen on Vikings’ 36-10 home victory over Chicago with musician Prince in attendance

“They have some young players on this team who are going to be good for a long time.”

- Steve Mariucci on Philadelphia Eagles

“Dennis Dixon is a versatile guy who can get out of the pocket and make things happen.  He has a rocket arm, great legs and pretty good accuracy. He hasn’t had the repetitions.”

- Deion Sanders on Steelers QB Dennis Dixon

“It’s amazing what he’s done without practicing.”

- Steve Mariucci on Steelers QB Dennis Dixon

“Not only can he run great routes, but he can run after the catch with the best in the game.”

– Deion Sanders on Steelers WR Santonio Holmes

***        Additional exclusive video clips from Sunday’s NFL GameDay are available on NFL.com.  Click on the video segments.  These videos include:

-       Highlights of Cardinals-Titans nail-biter which came down to final play of the game

-       http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81499804/NFL-GameDay-Cardinals-vs-Titans-highlights

-       Deion Sanders’ “Let’s Go Primetime”

-       http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-countdowns/09000d5d81499a1c/Let-s-Go-Primetime

-       And many more Week 12 game highlights and postgame video only on NFL.com.

What’s on Tonight…The NFL Head Coaches – 6:30 & 8:30 PM ET

  • Preview of Patriots-Saints Monday night game
  • Discussion of concussions
  • Why Eagles Opened Game with Onside Kick

7:30 PM -8:30 PM ET: NFL GameDay Highlights

Host: Rich Eisen Analysts: Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin

Following the late afternoon games, NFL GameDay Highlights offers analysis of the events of the day. Includes highlights from all completed games, insider commentary, on-field interviews and post-game press conferences.

11:30 PM -1:00 AM ET: NFL GameDay Final

Host: Rich Eisen Analysts: Deion Sanders and Steve Mariucci

NFL GameDay Final is the definitive exclamation point on Sundays providing unlimited highlights of all the games, plus post-game press conferences, interviews from the field and locker room, audio captured throughout the day and expert analysis.

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

“Sunday Night Football” Top Show For 10th Time in 11 Weeks

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” TOP SHOW FOR 10th TIME IN 11 WEEKS

SNF Again Powers NBC To Sunday Night Win

Tops Desperate Housewives on ABC by 62%

NEW YORK – Nov. 30, 2009 – Last night’s “NBC Sunday Night Football” was the No. 1 broadcast on Sunday night for the 10th time in 11 weeks with the Baltimore Ravens 20-17 overtime victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.  ”SNF” was again the No. 1 show of the night in the metered markets (excludes overruns of NFL day games) on a night that faced original programming including ABC’s Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters, CBS’s 60 Minutes and Amazing Race, and Fox’s Simpsons, Cleveland Show and Family Guy.  Head-to-head from 9-10 p.m., “Sunday Night Football” out-rated Desperate Housewives on ABC by 62 percent.

“Sunday Night Football” registered a 12.6 overnight rating and a 20 share (from 8:30-11:45 p.m. ET).  That rating is up 17 percent from last year’s Week 12 game, which featured Peyton Manning and the Colts defeating the Chargers 23-20 (10.8/17).

The rating peaked during the overtime period (11:30-11:45 p.m. ET) at a 14.2/27

TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR SNF WEEK 12:
1. Pittsburgh, 49.0/66
2. Baltimore, 36.2/52
3. Cincinnati, 18.7/28
4. Las Vegas, 17.6/27
5. Nashville, 17.3/27
6. San Diego, 16.6/25
7. Dayton, 16.4/25
8. New Orleans, 16.2/22
9. Washington D.C., 15.2/25
T10. Denver, 15.1/23
T10. Albuquerque, 15.1/21
12. Memphis, 14.8/20
T13. Columbus, 14.7/23
T13. Richmond, 14.7/22
15. Norfolk, 14.6/22
16. Cleveland, 14.2/22
17. Phoenix, 13.7/21
18. Sacramento, 13.5/22
19. Indianapolis, 13.3/20
T20. Dallas, 13.1/22
T20. Portland, 13.1/22

**Viewership numbers will be available when national ratings are released tomorrow.**

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Ratings

“I want them to be successful. We’re not in the business of ending careers. We’re trying to extend careers.” – Commissioner Goodell on NFL conduct policy — QUOTES FROM WEEK 12 EDITION OF ‘NFL GAMEDAY MORNING

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

News and Sound Bites From Week 12 Edition of

NFL GAMEDAY MORNING

“No doubt in my mind, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history, when you look at what he’s done…in today’s game….” – Michael Irvin on Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

“It’s invigorating to have that kind of competitiveness and be able to compete on this level.” – Patriots head coach Belichick on still having the passion for winning

“I want them to be successful. We’re not in the business of ending careers. We’re trying to extend careers.” – Commissioner Goodell on the NFL’s conduct policy

“Jeff Fisher might have waited too long to save the [Titans’] season, but he saved Vince Young’s career by making him sit on the bench.” – Marshall Faulk

NFL GameDay Morning, the FIRST pregame show on the air Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM ET with a new four-hour expanded format, taking viewers straight up to kickoff. Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Jason La Canfora and hosts Spero Dedes and Stacey Dales bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews.

‘Sunday Sit-Down:’ Michael Lombardi 1-on-1 with Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick:

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks with Michael Lombardi about his coaching style, what drives him to be the best and being mentioned as a mentor to some of the top coaches in the pro and college game:

“I’m happy for them and without their contributions to the program that I was in, whether it was at Cleveland or New England or somewhere else along the way, I know they meant a lot to my success and without them, we wouldn’t have had as good a program as we had.” – Belichick on the assistant coaches he has worked with in the past

“Billy Donovan, Urban Meyer – different kinds of guys that aren’t pro coaches… exchanging ideas with them has worked well, too.” – Belichick on his relationship with various other coaches, including at the college level

“I do, and he passes on words of wisdom from time to time, but I think the best advice that he’s ever given me, and he continues to say this, is ‘do what you believe in.’ I know that’s his philosophy, and sometimes that’s a good reminder.” – Belichick on talking regularly with former basketball coach Bob Knight, who is an influence in his life

“I do. It sure beats working. You come in here every day and there’s a new challenge. Getting your team ready for the new opponent, the dynamics of each game and each season, it never gets old. It’s invigorating to have that kind of competitiveness and be able to compete on this level.” – Belichick on still having the passion for winning

“I think about him sometimes. I think about him being there or not being there, but it was a great opportunity for me to share with him, and it was tremendous for me as a kid, to grow up and be part of his teams.” – Belichick on celebrating wins with his father Steve before his 2005 passing

For a video link of Lombardi’s interview with Belichick, please visit:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d8148c8c2/Sunday-Sit-Down-Bill-Belichick-Pt-1 – part I

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d8148c955/Sunday-Sit-Down-Bill-Belichick-Pt-2 – part II

Quotes from Commissioner Goodell Roundtable Discussion with Joe Theismann, Rod Woodson and Michael Irvin:

“The good news is that both sides are talking. The owners’ negotiating team and the players’ negotiating team are talking on a regular basis. They put all the issues on the table and there’s an understanding of what’s working and what’s not working and now, we have to find solutions.” – Goodell on the current status of the CBA negotiations

“Even though the equipment is improved, sometimes the players don’t take advantage of that. They want to wear the helmets that they feel more comfortable in. We need to get the players to use the best equipment. The second issue is [players] have to make sure medical personnel know when they have an injury.  The players have to raise their hand and say, ‘You know what?  I got hit and I don’t feel 100 percent.’” – Goodell on player safety

“We have to limit the OTAs and the offseason training. Also there’s a very interesting development that one of the coaches came up with that I think is going to start becoming more of the norm. They monitor how many plays players play each season and the more plays you play, the more time you have off in the offseason. I think it’s a great idea that has a lot of merit.” – Goodell on limiting offseason training, as it relates to player safety

“It starts from the fact that I like our players. I enjoy being around them. I admire them and respect them for what they do off the field as much as what they do on the field. I want them to be successful. We’re not in the business of ending careers. We’re trying to extend careers.” – Goodell on his relationship with players and player discipline

To view Commissioner Goodell’s discussion with Theismann, Woodson and Irvin, please visit:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d8148c6dc/Commissioner-roundtable-discussion

To view video of the NFL GameDay Morning crew discussing the NFL’s movement to limit injuries, please visit:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d814905a1/Injury-discussion

Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:

“They may have to take the route that high schools take – you get a concussion, you sit out two games. Period.” – Marshall Faulk on concussions and Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger being ruled out vs. Baltimore

“We’re all starting to see what the NFL is doing about considering how this is affecting players after their careers. I like what the NFL is doing. Ben has given us some great games, but you do worry about him a little bit.” – Michael Irvin on the NFL’s emphasis on concussion safety and Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger

“We’ve got to be collectively concerned about this, make good decisions and not rush guys back in there because it’s too important.” – Steve Mariucci on concussion safety

“The way the NFL is handling everything by making sure everyone is careful with head injuries, it has made the locker room a better place for the players.” – Michael Irvin on the NFL’s stance on handling concussions and head injuries

“He’s building bridges between the union and the league on this matter.” – Jason La Canfora on Commissioner Goodell and his emphasis on concussion safety

“Anytime he gets the hand off from Vince, I hold my breath.” – Steve Mariucci on Titans RB Chris Johnson

“Ricky is having his best games without Ronnie.” – Marshall Faulk on Dolphins RB Ricky Williams and his performance without RB teammate Ronnie Brown

“No doubt in my mind, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history, when you look at what he’s done…in today’s game, with free agency and everything, you cannot question what this man has accomplished.” – Michael Irvin on Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

“When you look at Bill and situational coaching, there’s probably nobody in the league that’s better…but let’s be honest. There’s a little black cloud over Bill Belichick’s head. Just like when we talk about, in baseball, they mention Barry Bonds, although we don’t know, and Roger Clemens, although we don’t know. With Bill Belichick, we do know and we can’t let that black cloud go away.” – Marshall Faulk on Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

“When you say something in this league, as a player or a coach…sooner or later what goes around comes around and you’re going to have to eat crow because there’s a lot of competition in this league.” – Steve Mariucci on comments from Jets head coach Rex Ryan on the Patriots

“That’s what you want to see out of your quarterback.” – Michael Irvin on Lions QB Matt Stafford Week 11 performance vs. Cleveland

“They change blocking rules for this guy.” – Michael Irvin on WR Hines Wards and being the toughest player in the NFL

“He has the New Orleans Saints playing at a new level.” – Michael Irvin on QB Drew Brees being on his short list of MVP candidates

“The move was very timely. It was the right time to do and maybe they can get on a run.” – Steve Mariucci on the Tennessee Titans making the switch to QB Vince Young

“They should have had a package for this young man because he’s too exciting not to be on the field.” – Warren Sapp on Titans QB Vince Young

“By that team going through what it did, now they believe in Vince Young. He’s like a savior for this team.” – Michael Irvin on the Tennessee Titans and QB Vince Young

“Jeff Fisher might have waited too long to save the [Titans’] season, but he saved Vince Young’s career by making him sit on the bench.” – Marshall Faulk on Titans head coach Steve Fisher and his decision to sit Vince Young for the first part of the season

“When you have a head coach like Wade Phillips who’s not a dictator, you have to manufacture pressure.” – Michael Irvin on the Dallas Cowboys in December

“Good luck with changing both coordinators in the season. That’s not a recipe for success.” – Steve Mariucci on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

‘Super Bowl Journey,’ Week 12 Edition – RB Maurice Jones-Drew Returns Home

“It’s always going to be home to me.” – Jones-Drew on returning to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he grew up in nearby Antioch, CA, to face the 49ers

To view Jones-Drew’s latest Super Bowl Journey, please visit:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d8148c9e1/Super-Bowl-Journey-MJD-comes-home

To view previous Super Bowl Journey editions from all five contributors, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-journey

The NFL GameDay Morning Crew Share Their Picks for MVP and Toughest Player:

Most Valuable Player Picks:

Marshall Faulk                        1. Titans RB Chris Johnson

2. Saints QB Drew Brees

3. Colts QB Peyton Manning

Michael Irvin               1. Colts QB Peyton Manning

2. Vikings QB Brett Favre

3. Saints QB Drew Brees

Steve Mariucci            1. Patriots QB Tom Brady

2. Broncos LB Elvis Dumervil

3. Saints S Darren Sharper

Warren Sapp               1. Vikings QB Brett Favre

2. Colts QB Peyton Manning

3. Packers CB Charles Woodson

NFL’s Toughest Player Picks:

Marshall Faulk                        Redskins LB London Fletcher

Michael Irvin               Steelers WR Hines Ward

Steve Mariucci            Vikings QB Brett Favre

Warren Sapp               Patriots DT Vincent Wilfork

News Reports from Jason La Canfora:

  • For a timeline for what happened this week regarding Ben Roethlisberger, he suffered a head injury last Sunday, but was deemed ok to fly home with the team. On Monday, he was checked by independent doctors at the University of Pittsburgh medical center. They revealed that Roethlisberger had suffered a concussion, but he looked good by all their testing and by their accounts, he was deemed ok to practice Wednesday. Roethlisberger practiced Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as he normally would with the starters. I’m told he was joking around and felt good, with no complaints of discomfort. However before leaving the building on Friday according to my sources, he expressed some concern to head coach Mike Tomlin about returning and possibly taking another blow to the head. On Saturday, he met with the team again before meetings, where it was determined that he would not start. Later in the day, they agreed that he would be the third emergency quarterback Sunday night to go in if need be.
  • There are a lot of people who believe Dolphins VP Bill Parcells will explore his options after this year. He can get out of his contract if he likes and we’ve already seen Cleveland talking about looking for a football ‘czar,’ as well as four or five other teams looking to change people atop their management paradigm. If he were to leave Miami, Carl Peterson is a name to keep an eye on. Long-time runner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Peterson could go to Miami. He has a strong relationship with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and GM Jeff Ireland used to work with Peterson in Kansas City, so that would be a natural transition.

EXTRA POINTS:

  • NFL Network’s First International Game Telecast Features New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football from Toronto: Following Denver’s 26-6 Thanksgiving night win against the New York Giants, Matt Millen and Bob Papa head across the northern border as the Buffalo Bills host the New York Jets from the Rogers Centre in Toronto Dec. 3 at 8:00 PM ET. NFL Network is home to Thursday Night Football featuring eight live regular-season primetime games. This season, Thursday Night Football includes the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers at division rival Cleveland Browns on December 10, the Dallas Cowboys visiting the unbeaten New Orleans Saints on Saturday, December 19 and San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans in a special Christmas night tilt. Thursday Night Football begins at 8:00 PM ET, with the special Christmas game starting at 7:00 PM ET.
  • NFL RedZone – Bringing Fans Every Touchdown From Every Game: NFL RedZone is hosted by Scott Hanson from the new state-of-the-art NFL RedZone studio at NFL Network’s headquarters in Los Angeles and debuts today at 1:00 PM ET/10 AM PT. Produced by NFL Network, NFL RedZone whips around every NFL game on Sunday afternoons delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments as they happen and in high definition.  When a team goes inside the 20-yard line, fans see the crucial plays live. The channel keeps fans up-to-date in real time, switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a chance to see every important play.  NFL RedZone is available on AT&T, Comcast, DISH Network, RCN, Verizon and other distributors. For more information visit:  http://redzonetv.nfl.com/. Fan comments on the New York Times blog asking for reviews of NFL Network’s new NFL RedZone can be found at: http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/reviews-of-redzone-channel/
  • Sunday Night Football Extra Returns: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens will stream live on Sunday Night Football Extra on NFL.com and NBCSports.com. Complementing that stream will be a number of extra features to enrich the viewing experience including additional camera angles, in-game highlights, picture-in-picture technology, live statistics and other interactive elements. Sunday Night Football Extra will also include in-game studio updates from the NBC Football Night in America team and NFL Network talent.

NFL GameDay Morning begins the NFL Network schedule on Sundays, which will now be called “NFL GameDay.”  Following NFL GameDay Morning will be NFL GameDay StatZone at 1:00 PM ET, NFL GameDay Scoreboard at 4:00 PM ET, NFL GameDay Highlights at 7:30 PM ET and NFL GameDay Final at 11:30 PM ET.

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

Contacts:                     Brenna Webb, 310-841-4807             [email protected]

– NFL NETWORK –

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Notes and Quotes – Week 12

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Notes and Quotes – Week 12
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed today’s NFL action. Some excerpts:
On whether the Indianapolis Colts have a fatal flaw …
Jackson: “Do they have flaws? Yes. They don’t run the ball great. They don’t defend the run great. … The main thing is no fatal flaw because as long as (Number) 18 is standing, they’re going to win almost all their games.”
Johnson: “They’re going to face more teams that push the envelope like the Chargers, like the Patriots, possibly the Bengals, and that could hurt them because the secondary is young and a little inexperienced.”
Carter: “I think it’s Peyton Manning. You’re talking about a football team that’s offensive dominated, relies on its passing game – almost 20 more attempts passing the ball than running the ball. What if Peyton Manning has a bad day? What’s going to pick them up? … This team, because it depends on his star power so much, I believe that is the fatal flaw.”
On whether the Steelers can win without Ben Roethlisberger …
Carter: “This offense is predicated on Ben doing the things that Ben does. I don’t think so. … It’s not a warm welcome into the National Football League when you have the third guy – not the second, but the THIRD guy. This is not a good spot.”
Jackson: “This offense is built around Big Ben throwing the ball on pace for almost 4,400 yards, playing Marino-like the quarterback position. … I’m going to a guy who’s never played football, at least at the professional level, and that’s all that counts here.”
Johnson: “Not gonna happen. … That thing we saw a year ago with Matt Cassel. That comes every blue moon.”
On Monday night’s Patriots-Saints game …
Carter: “The No. 1 thing New England’s defense has to be able to overcome is noise. This is not going to be your average noise. It’s going to be like a college football game. Anytime you have noise in a building like that, it affects your ability to think.”
Jackson: “The Patriots are great starters. I think that’s going to be difficult to do in that stadium. The Saints are great finishers, so I think that pressure – and I’m going to go all the way back for the last time to that 4th and 2 – at the end of the game, there is going to be a similar situation where you (are) going to have to get a stop if you are the Patriots. Let’s see if they can get it against Drew Brees and company.”
Berman: “The Saints, they could be great. … They have not played against the upper echelon quarterback this year. Now they’re going to get one in Brady.”
MNF analyst Ron Jaworski: “Tom Brady’s playing as good a football as he’s ever played. He started off a little bit slow, coming back from the knee surgery, but over the last five games he has been razor sharp and he’s getting the big plays out of Randy Moss and the possession plays out of Wes Welker.”
MNF analyst Jon Gruden: “Drew Brees almost broke Dan Marino’s passing record last year. This year he’s surrounded with skill and Sean Payton dials ‘em up. Drew Brees is at the top of his game. I can’t wait for this one.”
On Brett Favre’s season with the Vikings …
Jackson: “He doesn’t throw the interceptions and yet he plays the same game. He doesn’t turn down any throws. … Three picks on the year. He continues on that pace, they’re going to be real close to Miami, probably real close to our hotel.”
Following the feature on “anti-diva” NFL wide receivers Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne whose reserved style contrasts that of other notable players at the same position …
Johnson: “When I wrote the book (“Just Give Me the Damn Ball!”) coming out of USC, the book was not supposed to be about 1-and-15. It was supposed to be about 15-and-1 because I was used to winning, but obviously that changed, and things came along with that, playing in a big market and stuff like that. Then when I got Bill Parcells, I toned it down — just a little bit. I still pushed the envelope because I’m a competitor out there.”
Carter: “The wide receiver is a different position. From a personality standpoint, there are a lot of very, very selfish players playing wide receiver. I was very, very selfish because that is the nature of the job. You are relying on a lot of people to do the work, but also they have a lot of ability and they get discouraged because they have to rely on so many people, but they really want to showcase their ability.”
Jackson: “I don’t mind what you do. I don’t mind how you do it. I want production, not A production. Things for me are all about how you affect the team.”
From Concussion Roundtable Discussion with ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, analyst Merril Hoge and injury expert Stephania Bell …
Hoge, on suffering two concussions in a five-week period during his final NFL season: “When I came to the sideline, I was never unconscious. My facemask has been bent. They were switching my facemask and realized cognitively I was not responding properly. … They take me to the training room where I died — I flat-lined. My heart stopped. In the process of trying to resuscitate me, I started to breathe again. Now, they rushed me to the emergency room. I was in ICU for two days, but it was after that I was basically trapped in my home for six weeks. You could not take me around the block, and I would not be able to find my way home because I did not have the cognitive skills. I had to learn how to read again. In fact, months later if you would sit me down and take the inventory of the day I would not be able to recite that to you. So, there is a lot of cognitive issues that I dealt with, and it took almost two years to overcome those particular issues.”
Hoge, who testified during Congressional hearing on concussions last month, on steps that should be taken: “I challenged Congress to help me create a national standard, and this would apply to every level of football, from youth all the way to the National Football League. Once you complain of a symptom, you must be asymptomatic for seven consecutive days at exertion and at rest; you must pass a cognitive test and a neurological evaluation and all of this has to be overseen by a trained neurological doctor. … It would eliminate the pressure on the athlete and the team, and it would trickle all the way down into our youth programs, high school and college and so forth.
“It’s a tough game for tough people, but what we’re starting to see it’s not a dumb game, and it’s dumb to hide this particular injury. It could be fatal or it could be permanent. Players are recognizing that and they are starting to help the medical staff.”
On the NFC East leading Cowboys’ success the past few weeks despite past late season letdowns …
Berman (joking): “Dallas, congratulations. They’re champs again in November. Here comes December – Chargers, Saints, Philly. Let’s see. Let’s see.”
From Kenny Mayne’s tongue-in-cheek “Mayne Event” feature about ESPN MNF reporter Suzy Kolber training with American record-holding sprinter Tyson Gay in preparation for this week’s game. (In MNF opener, Kolber had to chase down Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to secure his post-game interview) …
Kolber: “My goal was to improve my speed and my delivery of open-ended questions. You never want to give a guy a yes or no question. This isn’t the ‘Today’ show.”
Kolber (under her breath while standing in sprinter starting block stance): “I’m getting you this time, Brady.”
For more information, visit ESPN’s NFL media kit here.
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Filed Under: ESPN, NFL

Football Night’s Bob Costas discusses ‘The Blind Side’ with Michael Oher and Ben Roethlisberger’s condition with Hines Ward

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA NOTES & QUOTES; WEEK 12

Costas discusses ‘The Blind Side’ with Michael Oher and Roethlisberger’s condition with Hines Ward

Harrison: “It really shocked me that he (Ward) questioned his (Roethlisberger) toughness.”

Dungy on Vince Young: “This guy’s a winner.”

NEW YORK – November 29, 2009 – Following are highlights from NBC Sports’ “Football Night in America.” Bob Costas hosted the show live from M&T Bank Stadium. He was joined on site for commentary by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth. Co-hosts Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann, analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, and reporter Peter King were live from NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios, covering the news of the NFL’s 12th week.

COSTAS INTERVIEWS OHER AND WARD: “Football Night” host Bob Costas interviewed Ravens tackle Michael Oher (the inspiration for the movie “The Blind Side”) and Steelers WR Hines Ward prior to the game.

WARD TO COSTAS ON BEING A DIRTY PLAYER
“I guess I get up under a lot of guy’s skin when I’m playing. People say that I like to hit people when they’re not watching. Well, I’m not going to tap on your shoulder and say, turnaround, I’m about to hit you. I apologize to everyone now. I’m not going to change the way I play.”

WARD TO COSTAS ON ROETHLISBERGER
“This game is almost like a playoff game. It’s almost a must-win. I could see some players or teammates questioning, like ‘it’s just a concussion. I’ve played with a concussion before.’ It’s almost like a 50-50 toss up in the locker room. Should he play? Shouldn’t he play? It’s really hard to say. I’ve been out there dinged up, the following week, got right back out there. Ben practiced all week. He split time with Dennis Dixon. And then to find out that he’s still having some headaches and not playing and it came down to the doctors didn’t feel that they were going to clear him or not. It’s hard to say. Unless you’re the person itself. I’ve lied to a couple of doctors saying I’m straight, I feel good when I know that I’m not really straight. I don’t think guys really worry about the future while they’re playing currently in the NFL…Trust me, the players want to go out there because these games you don’t get back. You’re never going to get this Baltimore-Pittsburgh game back. This is a big game. Unfortunately, Ben can’t play, so the 53 other guys have to rally the team and see if we can win one down here.”

ON WARD’S COMMENTS
Harrison: “It really surprised me. You look at Hines and Ben and they’ve been teammates for six years, won two Super Bowls together, and for him to question his quarterback’s toughness really shocked me. If Tom Brady had a hang nail, never would any of the guys question Tom Brady. So it really shocked me that he questioned his toughness.”

Dungy: “As a coach, that’s why you can’t listen to the players. You can’t listen to ‘Hey, I’m okay.’ You have to go with the doctors. Mike Tomlin I’m sure is going with the doctors view on this…The thing I don’t understand is why he’s the third quarterback tonight…The third quarterback would have played last week because they had two quarterbacks get hurt. I think if he’s out, he should be out.”

OHER ON BEING EMOTIONAL WHEN DRAFTED
“I had dreams about that moment coming years before. I dreamed about having my named called and waiting for that moment because I know how hard I worked to get to that point. It was so long and having to go through so many things. It was unbelievable. I couldn’t wait for it.”

OHER ON BEING A CELEBRITY
“I really don’t see it that way. When I’m going to get something to eat, people don’t recognize me. I feel like a regular person.”

RAVENS QB JOE FLACCO ON MEETING MICHAEL OHER’S MOTHER, WHO IS PORTRAYED BY ACTRESS SANDRA BULLOCK IN THE MOVIE “THE BLIND SIDE”
“The first time I met her, we were in an elevator in San Diego. She says, ‘Hi, I’m Michael Oher’s mom. You need to get rid of the ball faster.’ I said, what are you talking about (smiling)? I went up to Mike and said, ‘Mike, your mother just came up to me and is like, you need to get rid of the ball faster.’ He told her, just joking, nothing too serious. I liked it. It was funny. After the game, she sees me and she’s like, ‘Where’s the tattletale?’”

ON MICHAEL OHER
Costas: “He saw the movie. At first he said, he didn’t want to see it. He saw the movie a few nights ago. He told me that he liked the movie. He understands that there’s cinematic license taken. His one big objection…is that it made him seem like a babe-in-the-woods football wise. He contends, and I’m sure he’s right, that he had a much more nuanced understanding of the game when he first arrived to play high school ball and first moved in with the Tuohys than the movie makes it seem. And obviously he’s a more sophisticated person than presented in the movie.”

Collinsworth: “No question about it. You think he came out of the local country club when you meet him for the first time. I’ve seen a lot of remarkable stories during my day in the National Football League. But what this young man has been able to accomplish. What he’s been able to overcome individually, before he ever met the Tuohys. Then to go and live with that family and then become a member of the National Football League is among the most remarkable things I’ve ever seen in my life…This guy earns what he’s accomplished, not what anybody gave to him.”

Patrick: “You’ve got Bob and Cris playing Siskel and Ebert there.”

Dungy: “Michael Oher is not just a movie star. He’s a future star on the field in the NFL.”

ON CINCINNATI
Dungy: “I like Cincinnati. They’re winning. They’re playing good defense. They’re tough to score on. They’ve got Carson Palmer. I like where they are even though they’re not blowing people out.”

Harrison: “I’m not really sold…I don’t feel like Cincinnati has the experience to be that dominating force in the AFC.”

ON INDIANAPOLIS
Dungy: “Get that home-field advantage. Get healthy. Get rested. Don’t worry about an undefeated season.”

ON PHILADELPHIA
Olbermann: “What was Andy Reid thinking? The start of the game, an onside kick. He meant to do that?”

ON THE NFC EAST
Harrison: “It’s the most overrated division in the league. Everyone looks at the NFC East saying it’s such a physical, hard-nosed division. I don’t see that right now.”

ON VINCE YOUNG
Patrick: “Historians will note that it was Tony Dungy who said after Week 4 that Vince Young should be starting for the Tennessee Titans…Did Jeff Fisher listen to you?”

Dungy: “He didn’t listen to me right away…He has definitely sparked them. He’s a winner…Going back to his college career, this guy’s a winner. People have gotten on me about Tebow. I think Tebow is going to play the same way in the NFL. Winners win.”

ON BRETT FAVRE
Harrison: “Right now, he’s playing better than his three previous MVP seasons.”

Dungy on Favre as MVP: “I would vote for him.”

ON MIKE SHANAHAN, TIM TEBOW AND CHARLIE WEISS
King: “Buffalo general manager Russ Brandon interviewed Mike Shanahan for seven hours on Tuesday but very little has changed. Shanahan wants to wait until the end of the year. He doesn’t want to be pigeon holed into one job. He wants to see what the whole field is.”

Olbermann (joking): “Is he just waiting to find out where the greatest quarterback who has ever lived, Tim Tebow, winds up?”

King: “I talked to 17 general managers, coaches, personnel people over the last month. I said, ‘give me the overall pick that Tim Tebow will be next April in the NFL Draft.’ I averaged it out, it came out to number 33 overall. But two coaches of winning teams in the NFL told me in the last month that he will not get past our pick in the first round.”

Olbermann: “Is Charlie Weiss done and, if so, is he going back into the pros?”

King: “He’s certainly done at Notre Dame. I think he will go back into pro football, probably New England, Kansas City, or Carolina. I’ll give you one very, very dark horse – the Indianapolis Colts. Tony knows this. Peyton Manning and Bill Polian would love to tweak the Patriots and sign him.”

Dungy: “They’d definitely like to tweak the Patriots. We consider Charlie an Indiana Hoosier now that he’s been at Notre Dame all these years. We don’t consider him a Patriot.”

ON AUSTIN COLLIE
Olbermann: “The best Collie since Lassie.”

ON MATT RYAN’S INJURED BIG TOE
Patrick: “Sergeant Hulka isn’t always going to be there to be that big toe for us.”

###

Filed Under: NBC, NFL

ESPN Announces 2010 Old Spice Classic Field, including Five 2008-09 NCAA Tournament Teams

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

ESPN Announces 2010 Old Spice Classic Field, including Five 2008-09 NCAA Tournament Teams

ESPN Regional Television, a subsidiary of ESPN, announced today the eight teams in the field for the 2010 Old Spice Classic, to be held on Thanksgiving weekend at the Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex near Orlando, Fla.

The field for the fifth annual Old Spice Classic will include Boston College, California, Georgia, Manhattan, Notre Dame, Temple, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. California is ranked No. 23 in this week’s ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, while Notre Dame and Texas A&M also received votes.

Five of the eight teams announced reached the 2008-09 NCAA Tournament: Boston College, California, Temple, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. Notre Dame played in the NIT.

“The Old Spice Classic has established itself as a premier early season college basketball event, and we are excited to welcome another stellar and competitive field in 2010,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN Regional Television. “We look forward to bringing great basketball to the fans, as well as providing a memorable experience for the teams, coaches and staffs, and their families.”

The 2010 Old Spice Classic will feature 12 games through three days, Nov. 25, 26 and 28. Sponsors include Old Spice, ESPNU and Disney’s Wide World of Sports. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) will serve as the event’s sponsoring conference for the fifth straight year.

“In basketball circles, the Old Spice Classic has gained a deserved reputation as one of the top collegiate events during the holiday season,” Richard J. Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC, said. “The event combines top ranked teams, world-class facilities, 24/7 media coverage and the magic of a Disney World visit. The MAAC is pleased to continue its sponsorship of the Old Spice Classic.”

The Old Spice Classic features four games each day. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 28.

The tournament is a weekend-long affair at the Walt Disney World Resort, and participating teams are invited to the Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks and other event functions.

Previous winners of the Old Spice Classic: Gonzaga in 2008, North Carolina State in 2007 and Arkansas in 2006.

Additional information can be found on the Old Spice Classic Web site at www.oldspiceclassic.com. For more information on the Wide World of Sports, visit www.disneysports.com.

ESPN Regional Television/Event Ownership
The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 1,000 telecasts of sporting events. Programming includes football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events accounting for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (e.g. – SEC, BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, WAC).

ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several sporting events, including collegiate football events: the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas); MAACO Bowl Las Vegas; New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Papajohns.com Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.); Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); St. Petersburg Bowl; the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.); and The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards; collegiate basketball events: the 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.); Cancun Governor’s Cup; Charleston Classic (S.C.); DIRECTV SEC/BIG EAST Invitational; ESPNU Road to the Championship (Women; San Antonio); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Old Spice Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); SONIC All-College Basketball Classic (Oklahoma City) and BracketBusters; as well as the ESPN National Golf Challenge presented by Callaway. For more information, visit ESPNPlus.com.

Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

Bradshaw: The NFL Doesn’t Take Care of Retired Players

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 11/29/09

Bradshaw:  The NFL Doesn’t Take Care of Retired Players

Long: We’re Beginning To See Long Term Effects of Head Trauma in the NFL

NFL Insider Jay Glazer: Goodell Expected to Issue Stricter Guidelines Regarding Head Injuries

Strahan:  Giants Lack Enthusiasm and Leadership on the Field

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FOX NFL SUNDAY Co-host Terry Bradshaw on the NFL’s treatment of retired players: “It’s sad when an outside source for example, Congress, has to bring in the Commissioner of the NFL and ask him questions.  So instead of being proactive, the NFL is reactive.  They wait until someone else says, ‘you’ve got a problem’ and then they fix it.  Behind closed doors, they tell us, ‘we’re going to fix that, good idea’ but they don’t.  Mike Webster, my former center in Pittsburgh, passed away.  He had a lot of head problems.  He was living in a car, living under a bridge and did the NFL take care of him?  No.  Not at all.” 

Analyst Jimmy Johnson on concussions in the NFL: “Today there are so many people making decisions about concussions without knowing the long term effects.  As a coach, I would eliminate a lot of drills in practice where we’ve had concussions in the past.”

Analyst Howie Long added: “Our generation of players just didn’t say anything.  Now we’re beginning to see the long term effects of head trauma on previous generations.  The league is talking about expanding the season from 16 games to possibly 18 games.  I think the rosters are too small and need to be expanded.  If you decide to play 18 games, the roster definitely needs to be expanded and I think that you’d have to add an extra bye week.  This game is bigger stronger and faster.”

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FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer reports that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to issue strict in game guidelines regarding head injuries: “Roger Goodell is expected to issue a memo to all teams to expand the grounds for removal from a game due to head injuries.  Right now, if a player is knocked out during a game he can’t go back in.  The league wants to expand that.  If a player shows signs of head trauma or a concussion, is woozy or has memory loss he would be required to be removed from the game.”

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Analyst Michael Strahan on the New York Giants: “There is a lack of enthusiasm and a lack of fight.  The Giants need leadership on the field.”

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Strahan on whether Rams RB Steven Jackson is the best RB in the league: “It’s a fair argument and if he played in Minnesota, it wouldn’t be close because the Vikings have a great offensive line.”

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Johnson on the Lions leaving QB Matthew Stafford in during the Thanksgiving Day game: “He’s a rookie and is going to have to take his lumps and he’s going to learn from that.  And why ask for a problem if you put Daunte Culpepper in and he does well?”

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Bradshaw on the undefeated Saints playing at home against the Patriots tomorrow night: “I don’t think there is any way that the Saints lose at home.  They have more talent than New England and the Superdome will be loud.”

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Analyst Johnson was ‘Fired Up’ about teams being smart when choosing a Quarterback: “Once again, teams are going to be quarterback shopping in the NFL draft.  Keep this in mind: If you pick the wrong quarterback at the top of the draft and give him too much guaranteed money, your team will be ruined for years.  Look at Oakland.  They’re giving former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell $31 Million dollars guaranteed and they have the NFL’s worst record since 2003 and they’re not alone.  It took the Chargers years to recover from Ryan Leaf.  Desperate teams stretch and make mistakes at this position hoping they get a franchise player.  The point is this: there are bargains out there if teams look hard enough.  Remember, Tom Brady was a 6th round pick. Kurt Warner came from the Arena Football League and Tony Romo went undrafted.”

– FOX SPORTS –

Filed Under: FOX, NFL
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