Archives for November 2009

Exclusive Announcement Of HOF Semifinalists On “Pro Football Hall Of Fame: Road To Canton” Saturday On NFL Network

November 25, 2009 By admin

EXCLUSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HALL OF FAME SEMIFINALISTS ON

“PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: ROAD TO CANTON” SATURDAY ON NFL NETWORK

60-MINUTE SHOW PRESENTS FIRST-TIME TV ANNOUNCEMENT OF 25 SEMIFINALISTS

SATURDAY AT 1:00 PM ET & 9:00 PM ET

NFL FILMS’ STEVE SABOL & HIS CINEMATOGRAPHERS

LOOK BACK AT THE BEST SHOTS OF HALL OF FAMERS

For the first time ever, the announcement of the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 will be televised on “Pro Football Hall of Fame: Road to Canton” Saturday, November 28 at 1:00 PM ET with an encore at 9:00 PM ET only on NFL Network.

Paul Burmeister hosts the 60-minute show and leads a panel discussion analyzing who made the final 25 and who didn’t. Joining Burmeister are longtime Dallas Morning News NFL writer and Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin, former Philadelphia Daily News writer and NFL Films writer-producer Ray Didinger, who had a Hall of Fame vote for 15 years, and longtime Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Joe Horrigan.

Also in “Road to Canton,” NFL Films president Steve Sabol presents an essay entitled “Terrell Davis vs. History” in which he compares Davis’ career to the performances of three Hall of Fame running backs who had short careers: Ernie Nevers, Gale Sayers, and Doak Walker. In addition, Sabol hosts a roundtable with NFL Films’ most storied cinematographers – Bob Angelo, Donnie Marx, Hank McElwee and Bob Smith – to tell the stories behind their most iconic shots of the Hall of Famers.

NFL Network’s Rod Woodson, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009, hosts a segment in which he breaks down the candidates at defensive back and wide receiver.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 will be announced February 6, 2010 on NFL Network.

Throughout the Hall of Fame voting process, fans are invited to visit the Van Heusen Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan’s Choice at www.fanschoice.com to view and experience the most in-depth coverage surrounding the 2010 Hall of Fame Class selection.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation and J.C. Penney Company have teamed to provide the first-ever dedicated forum for fans to debate, discuss and voice their choice by voting for the Hall of Fame Inductee Class of 2010. The robust forum also includes stats on all candidates and opinions from football experts, Hall of Fame players and fans around the country.

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

-NFL Network-

Giants & Broncos Make Run For the Playoffs On Thursday Night Football At 8:00pm Et — NFL Network Programming Notes (11/25-12/1)

November 25, 2009 By admin

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (11/25-12/1)

GIANTS & BRONCOS MAKE RUN FOR THE PLAYOFFS

ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AT 8:00PM ET

Michael Lombardi 1-on-1 Interview with Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick

Sunday at 9:00 AM ET on NFL GameDay Morning

Roundtable Discussion with Commissioner Goodell,

Joe Theismann, Michael Irvin & Rod Woodson

on Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears at 6:30 PM ET

Giants-Broncos ’98, Vikings-Bears ’07 & Steelers-Ravens ’08

Featured on Greatest 4^th QTRS Saturday at 10:00 PM ET

NFL Classic Games Features Dolphins-Cowboys

Thanksgiving Game from ’93 Thursday at 9:00 AM ET

& Ravens-Pittsburgh ’08 Matchup Friday at 8:00 PM ET

THURSDAY NIGHT KICKOFF PRESENTED BY SEARS – THURSDAY 6:30-8:00 ET

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sits down with Joe Theismann, Michael Irvin and Rod Woodson to talk about many subjects including player safety. The roundtable discussion will continue on Sunday at 9:00 AM on NFL GameDay Morning.
Highlights from Packers-Lions and Raiders-Cowboys Thanksgiving Day games
Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels is wired for sound during Week 4 Broncos-Cowboys game
Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders talk about whether or not the Giants will continue to win and why the Broncos are in the midst of a losing streak

NFL GAMEDAY MORNING – SUNDAY 9:00 AM-1:00 PM ET: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick 1-on-1 with Michael Lombardi, second part of roundtable interview with Commissioner Goodell

Michael Lombardi sits down with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to discuss his 4^th and 2 call and to take a look ahead at the Monday night matchup against the Saints
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell joins Joe Theismann, Michael Irvin and Rod Woodson for a roundtable interview to discuss player safety and conduct issues, the Collective Bargaining Agreement and more
Is it Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees? Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci and Marshall Faulk debate who should be crowned the “ultimate” quarterback
On Super Bowl Journey, in anticipation of Sunday’s matchup against the 49ers, Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew prepares to return to his hometown by reflecting on his childhood growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area
Kara Henderson reports from Dolphins-Bills matchup
Steve Wyche reports from Colts-Texans matchup
Randy Moss reports from Bears-Vikings matchup
Michael Lombardi reports from Redskins-Eagles matchup

NFL Classic Games – Dolphins-Cowboys ’93 Thursday at 9:00 AM ET & Ravens-Steelers ‘08 Friday at 8:00 PM ET

NFL Classic Games kicks off Thanksgiving morning at 9:00 AM ET by highlighting a Dolphins-Cowboys game played on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. On a snow covered field, Cowboys DT Leon Lett attempted to recover a blocked field goal but muffed it, allowing Miami to take over at the Cowboys’ 7-yard line. Dolphins K Pete Stoyanovich kicked a 19-yard field goal for the 16-14 win.

Friday’s 8:00 PM ET edition features a Steelers-Ravens game that lacked a touchdown until Steelers WR Santonio Holmes caught a four-yard pass with 43 seconds left in the game to clinch Pittsburgh’s second straight division title and seal a 2008 sweep of the rival Ravens.

NFL Classic Games is the only show on television where fans can catch the complete network broadcasts of classic NFL regular season and playoff games.

NFL Films Presents: Climbing the Mountain – Saturday at 9:00 & 10:30 AM ET

This week, NFL Films Presents follows Seahawks head coach Jim Mora and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on their quest to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier. Also in this episode, while he never reached the top of the mountain in the NFL, former Redskins QB and current U.S. Senator from North Carolina Heath Shuler’s successful career on top of another hill – Capitol Hill – is featured.

NFL Films Presents, hosted by Steve Sabol, explores the depth of the NFL Films archive – the world’s largest sports film library – with unique perspectives on football’s greatest heroes and personalities as well as its history, humanity and humor.

Greatest 4^th QTRs – Saturday at 10:00 PM ET

This week’s Greatest 4^th QTRs highlights Week 12 matchups between the Giants-Broncos, Vikings-Bears and Steelers-Ravens with a look back at the following games:

New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos (1/13/1998): The Broncos were in the middle of a 13-0 season when Giants QB Kent Graham upset them with a game-winning touchdown pass to WR Amani Toomer with 60 seconds left.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (10/14/2007): In a game where Vikings RB Adrian Peterson rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns, it was Vikings K Ryan Longwell who stole the show by kicking a career-long 55-yard field goal on the last play to give Minnesota the 34-31 win.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (12/14/2008): Steelers WR Santonio Holmes caught a four-yard pass with 43 seconds left in the game to clinch Pittsburgh’s second straight division title and seal a 2008 sweep of the rival Ravens.

Greatest 4^th QTRs is a two hour compilation of three memorable fourth quarters in NFL history. Using NFL Films footage, Greatest 4^th QTRs preps viewers for the upcoming weekend’s games by reliving three of the most exciting finishes between teams set to faceoff on Sunday.

Greatest High School Rivalries – Friday 1:00-5:00 PM ET

Union High School vs. Jenks High School (2007 in Tulsa, OK): At 1:00 PM ET watch these two Tulsa squads play in 2007’s Backyard Bowl. Known for its fantastic finishes and for being one of the best high school football rivalry games in the country, this matchup went to overtime before Union came out on top 43-42.

Rockford High School vs. Muskegon High School (2007 in Muskegon, MI): At 2:00PM ET, the 2007 battle in which Rockford traveled to undefeated Muskegon, ranked in the top 10 nationally, and pulled off a stunning 28-21 upset is featured.

Pahokee High School vs. Glades Central High School (2008 in Belle Glade, FL): At 3:00 PM ET, the two schools known for producing NFL talent, such as Steelers WR Santonio Holmes, Patriots RB Fred Taylor and Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin is featured. 2008’s version of the Muck Bowl featured current University of Miami WR Travis Benjamin and current University of Florida CB Janoris Jenkins and saw Pahokee win 34-24.

Matter Dei High School vs. Servite Orange County (2008 in Anaheim, CA): At 4:00 PM ET, relive the game in which current USC QB Matt Barkley led Mater Dei in a win over their arch rival in 2008.

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS:

Wednesday, November 25

‘Official Review’ with NFL VP of Officiating Mike Pereira
A look at the top 10 statistical performances from Week 11

Thursday, November 26

Post-game reactions and analysis of Giants-Broncos

Saturday, November 28

‘Put up your Dukes’ with Jamie Dukes

Monday, November 30 – 90-minute Monday Night Football edition

Steve Wyche reports from Patriots-Saints game
Michael Lombardi goes ‘Around the League’
A look back on all of Sunday’s action and a preview of the Patriots-Saints game

Tuesday, December 1

Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’
A look at the top 10 plays from Week 12

THIS WEEK ON AROUND THE LEAGUE

Tuesday, December 1

Colts president Bill Polian on Colts Cam

THIS WEEK ON PLAYBOOK:

Wednesday at 6:00 PM ET – Recap Edition Playbook – Mike Mayock, Solomon Wilcots and Brian Billick discuss:

How the Patriots put the 4^th and 2 fiasco behind them to shut down the Jets
Why the Eagles were able to hang on against the Bears
A preview of the three Thanksgiving Day matchups

Friday at 6:00 PM ET – AFC Playbook – Brian Baldinger, Sterling Sharpe and Joe Theismann discuss:

How the Buccaneers could do serious damage to the Falcons’ playoff hopes
How the Saints can contain QB Tom Brady and the Patriots pass offense
How the Eagles can continue their quest for another NFC East division title
How the Vikings’ offense can dominate the Bears

Saturday at 12 NOON ET – NFC Playbook – Brian Baldinger, Sterling Sharpe and Joe Theismann discuss:

How the Bengals could be upset for a second straight week, this time by the Browns
How the Texans can control QB Peyton Manning and the Colts’ pass offense
Why Jets QB Mark Sanchez might continue to struggle
How the Chargers’ defense can lead the way against the Chiefs

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM: ‘Official Review’ online segment Wednesday

Wednesday, November 25

Bonus content from ‘Official Review’ segment with NFL VP of Officiating Mike Pereira

Thursday, November 26

NFL.com/Live – From Los Angeles, host Fran Charles along with analysts Jamie Dukes and Bucky Brooks provide expert analysis, commentary and live “look-ins” of Thursday Night Football. Mike Mayock provides “instant analysis” on key plays and fantasy expert Michael Fabiano provides fantasy-related insight. Solomon Wilcots and Scott Hanson contribute live reports from Invesco Field.

Friday, November 27

11:00 AM ET – NFL.com fantasy editor Michael Fabiano chat
12 NOON ET – NFL.com columnist Vic Carucci chat

Sunday, November 29

12 NOON ET – NFL.com fantasy editor Michael Fabiano chat

7:00 PM ET – NFL.com columnist Bucky Brooks chat

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

Wednesday, November 25

12 NOON – Playbook: Tuesday recap edition

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

2:30 PM – NFL Replay: Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants (HD)

4:00 PM – Sound FX: Week 11 (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Weekly Countdown: Week 11 (HD)

5:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

6:00 PM – Playbook: Wednesday recap edition

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Replay: Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions (11/22/2009) (HD)
9:30 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens (11/22/2009) (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Playbook: Wednesday recap edition

1:00 AM – NFL Weekly Countdown: Week 11 (HD)

1:30 AM – Sound FX: Week 11 (HD)

Thursday, November 26

9:00 AM – NFL Classic Games: Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys

12 NOON – America’s Game: 1990 New York Giants (HD)

1:00 PM – America’s Game: 1997 Denver Broncos (HD)

2:00 PM – America’s Game: 1998 Denver Broncos (HD)

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 2007 New York Giants (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard (HD)

6:30 PM – Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears (HD)

8:00 PM – Thursday Night Football: New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos – LIVE

11:30 PM – Kay Jewelers Post-Game Show (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access (HD)

Friday, November 27

8:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Innovations

9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Records That Won’t be Broken

10:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Football Myths

11:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Worst Teams

12 NOON – Sound FX: Week 11 (HD)

12:30 PM – NFL Weekly Countdown: Week 11 (HD)

1:00 PM – Greatest High School Rivalries: Union vs. Jenks 2007 (Tulsa, OK) (HD)

2:00 PM – Greatest High School Rivalries: Rockford vs. Muskegon 2007 (Muskegon, MI) (HD)

3:00 PM – Greatest High School Rivalries: Pahokee vs. Glades Central 2008 (Belle Glade, FL) (HD)

4:00 PM – Greatest High School Rivalries: Matter Dei vs. Servite Orange County 2008 (Anaheim, CA) (HD)

5:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

6:00 PM – Playbook: NFC edition

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (12/14/2008) (HD)

10:30 PM – Playbook: NFC edition

11:30 AM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12:30 AM – NFL Classic Games: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (12/14/2008) (HD)

Saturday, November 28

9:00 AM – NFL Films Presents: Climbing the Mountain (HD)

9:30 AM – NFL Weekly Countdown: Week 11 (HD)

10:00 AM– Sound FX: Week 11 (HD)

10:30 AM – NFL Films Presents: Climbing the Mountain (HD)

11:00 AM – Playbook: NFC edition

12 NOON – Playbook: AFC edition

1:00 PM – Road to Canton: Episode 2 (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (12/14/2008) (HD)

4:30 PM – Sound FX: Week 11 (HD)

5:00 PM – Playbook: NFC edition

6:00 PM – Playbook: AFC edition

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Players Not in the Hall of Fame

9:00 PM – Road to Canton: Episode 2 (HD)

10:00 PM – Greatest 4^th QTRs

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access (HD)

Sunday, November 29

7:00 AM – Playbook: AFC edition

8:00 AM – Playbook: NFC edition

9:00 AM – NFL GameDay Morning (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL GameDay StatZone (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard (HD)

7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Highlights (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

Monday, November 30

7:00 AM – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Replay Real-Time: Week 12 (HD)

5:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

6:00 PM – Up to the Minute (HD)

6:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD) – 90-minute Monday Night Football edition

8:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Strange But True: Body Shapes

10:00 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

10:30 PM – NFL Follies: Football Comedy

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD) – updated with postgame press conferences and analysis

1:00 AM – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

Tuesday, December 1

6:00 AM – NFL Total Access (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Replay Real-Time: Week 12 (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Weather Games

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Passing Combinations

4:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Single Season Performances

5:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

6:00 PM – Playbook: Tuesday recap edition

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Replay: Matchup TBD (HD)

9:30 PM – NFL Replay: Matchup TBD (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Playbook: Tuesday recap edition

1:00 AM – NFL Replay Real-Time: Week 12 (HD)

Grambling Meets Southern In State Farm Bayou Classic Saturday On NBC Sports

November 25, 2009 By admin

GRAMBLING MEETS SOUTHERN IN STATE FARM BAYOU CLASSIC SATURDAY ON NBC SPORTS

Paul Maguire returns to NBC Sports as analyst

NEW YORK – November 25, 2009 – A Thanksgiving weekend tradition continues as NBC Sports, for the 19th consecutive year, broadcasts the State Farm Bayou Classic between Southern University and Grambling State, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET from the Louisiana Superdome.

Paul Maguire returns to NBC Sports to serve as the analyst for Saturday’s game. Maguire’s last assignment for NBC was at Super Bowl XXXII where he served as an analyst as part of a three-man booth with Dick Enberg and Phil Simms. This is his third stint with NBC Sports having begun his broadcasting career with the network in 1971. He left to join ESPN in 1979 and re-joined NBC in 1986.

Lewis Johnson will host NBC’s coverage and Tom Hammond will provide play-by-play.

The first ever Bayou Classic, won 21-0 by Grambling, was played in New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium in 1974. Southern leads the all-time series, 18-17, but Grambling has won three of the last five, including last year’s Classic, 29-14.

One of the highlights of NBC’s broadcast is the renowned halftime show, during which the marching bands of both Southern University and Grambling State University put on an exciting display of talent. Weaved throughout the broadcast will be interviews with the head coaches and drum line battles between the bands.

MNF’s Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski Preview New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints Game

November 25, 2009 By admin

Monday Night Football Commentators Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski Preview New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints Game

ESPN’s Monday Night Football commentators Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski discuss the highly anticipated Monday Night Football game between Tom Brady and the New England Patriots (7-3) and Drew Brees and the undefeated New Orleans Saints (10-0) Monday, Nov. 30 on ESPN and ESPN HD (8:30 p.m. ET):

On quarterbacks Tom Brady and Drew Brees …
Gruden: “These two guys are CEOs – they understand everything that’s going on all the time, and the bigger the moment the better their performances. They are great talents and they are in great systems that accentuate their talents. They’ve been at it for a while and their supporting casts help a lot also.”

Jaws: “They both have a good supporting cast and they are both veteran guys in the same system for a number of years. There comes a point when your athletic talent meets your mental talent and I think they are both at the top of their games right now both physically and mentally. It’s not surprising that they are both having absolutely phenomenal years.

Tirico: “I was around both of these guys a little bit when I called their games in college. Even though they are at the top of their profession right now, people didn’t really think they were going to be the can’t miss guys like a Peyton Manning and No. 1 overall picks coming out. That’s what I enjoy about them. They have worked their way to this lofty status as two of the best in the NFL.”

On the similarities between Brady and Brees …
Gruden: “There are a lot of similarities above the neck. Both guys lead the civilized world in effort. They’re there before sunrise and they’re there after dark. They are tempo setters and leaders. They are both crunch time performers, but physically they are different. Tom is 6-4, 6-5, while Brees is six-feet tall and came up the hard way. The interesting thing about both of these guys is that they came into the league kind of obscure, and that has a lot to do with where they are today. Brady was a sixth round draft choice – really came out of nowhere and wasn’t the go-to-guy at Michigan. Brees was considered too short. People said his career was over when he left San Diego – nobody wanted him. Both guys use that as fuel to prove to everybody they made a grave error.”

On the potential keys to Monday night’s game …
Gruden: “The Saints defense is a lot different than it has been, and so is New England’s with the absence of guys like Seymour, Vrabel, Bruschi and Harrison out of the mix. You have a revamped secondary in New England and Bill Belichick knows that. They lost a lot of guys – big time, crunch time players – so they have adjusted their scheme to fit their personnel. They have some young guys playing in their secondary along with some veterans, and so do the Saints. The addition of Gregg Williams was really big. He has come in and totally changed the culture of the Saints defense with an aggressive, blitzing style, but they have some injuries too. Health is a problem for New Orleans. I think you have two great defensive coaches going after two great offenses.

Jaws: “They are clearly elite teams. Both have explosive players on offense, solid running games and I think it’s going to be a very high scoring game. It’s not very often that you look at a game and say it’s going to be in the 40s, but with these two offenses right now this one could be that kind of game. I also say that based on how both defenses are playing. New Orleans is banged up. They have a depleted secondary right now. You have got to believe that Tom is going to come out and spread the field and just try to bring the Saints’ fourth and fifth best corners on the field. That is not a good sign when you have Tom Brady coming in with a plethora of receivers and tight ends. On the other side, the Pats defense has been a little bit inconsistent this year. They are in a transition mode trying to find out who they are and playing younger players in the secondary, trying to break in a new defensive line and linebackers. They are not working in harmony like you are used to seeing the Patriots defense work. With Drew Brees’ ability to read coverage and get rid of the football, I expect him to have a big day as well. If you like quarterbacking and you like offense, you want to record this one. It could be one for the ages.”

Tirico: “The Patriots are so much different than what we saw week 1. That was an offense that wasn’t ready to hit the way they are hitting now. Their pass game was rusty. Tom was rusty. Tom’s confidence has built and his health has built. We forget that’s a pretty serious injury to come back from. And New Orleans now has the defense that is a perfect complement to its offense. … What I love about both teams is they have multiple guys who can beat you. To me, the team that wins the game is the one that comes up with the better defensive game plan because these offenses are going to score on everybody. Whose defense can come up with the game plan to try to take away what the other team does, and that’s a great chess match.”

On what has made the Saints so successful this year …
Gruden: “They’ve always been outstanding on offense but this year they are just more committed to the run and more balanced. They have two Pro Bowl guards – I don’t care what anybody says — and they can really get after you physically. Mike Bell is a punishing back, Pierre Thomas is a versatile back, and Reggie Bush is a magician, so they have three different kinds of backs. Shockey is back to total health which he hasn’t been since he was in New York, and Drew Brees is Drew Brees. They protect him, and they can run it and throw it, and that’s a problem for defenses. The big deal with the Saints has been their defense and their ability to run the ball in key situations – short yardage, goal line, protect the lead, run out the clock. They’re generating turnovers on defense. They’re gambling and they’re aggressive. They have really picked it up on that side of the ball. The Saints have everything you need to make a long run and have an unbelievable year.”

Jaws: “Offensively, they are playing well enough to get a lead early and force the defense into situations when the other team has to throw the football. By getting ahead, they force the other team to be one dimensional, which helps their defense out. They are also running the football a lot better. That’s the most overlooked aspect of the Saints right now, particularly in the second half. They are not only grinding games out, killing the clock on offense, but they are running the football even when they get behind like they did in the game against the Jets. They got back in the second half of that game by running the ball. That’s helping them. People will look at Brees and his numbers, but they are not a one dimensional team. The running game is also taking the pressure off Brees by avoiding those third and long situations.”

Tirico: “The Saints now have a defense that not only has the people but the style complements the offense. It’s an aggressive attacking blitzing defense, which means they may come up with a big play but even if they miss they are going to get the ball back in Drew Brees’ hands pretty quick.”

On the Patriots maintaining their consistency as one of the league’s elite teams …
Gruden: “Jerod Mayo is an up and coming star in the league. (Gary) Guyton has come out of nowhere to be a really good every down linebacker. It’s just a credit to Bill Belichick. They lost Scott Pioli in the front office, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to the Broncos, I don’t know how many people they’ve lost and they haven’t missed a beat. It starts at the top and we all know who’s at the top, and that’s Bill Belichick — and right next to him is Tom Brady.”

Jaws: “We all know the Belichick profile. It’s about team. He’s always able to fill in a gap when he does have a gap. Knowing Bill’s style and how he likes to manage his team, he sees where this team is going to be at the end of the season. A lot of teams are going week to week, saying win this game or that game, but Bill has a vision. He knows what this team should look like in December and going into the playoffs, and that’s why he’s always tinkering, moving guys in or out, putting guys inactive if they are not performing up to what his standard is. When you see that on the defensive side happening, you know he’s not happy yet. At the same time, he’s always had 15 or 16 starters and there’s been a rotation for the Patriots defense because Bill likes to put guys in a position that plays to their strengths. He’s always been good about rotating personnel into a game. You’re always going to get a turnover of players on the defensive side of the ball. Right now he’s still tweaking it, and, based on the number of players I see playing, he’s not quite there yet.”

On the similarities between coaches Belichick and Payton …
Gruden: “Anytime you coach a guy like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Drew Brees, you tend to be aggressive as a play caller. They just have tremendous confidence in their quarterback, and they should. These guys complete 70 percent of their passes, their NFL MVP candidates. Brees threw for 5,000 yards last season, and the other guy’s won three Super Bowls. They are aggressive play callers, but I don’t know if they would be that aggressive with just any other quarterback, but their history and their trust levels with these quarterbacks is special and in key situations they rely on them.”

Jaws: “We all know how well the Patriots have done this decade winning multiple championships and a lot of that has to do with Bob Kraft and their organization, that there’s the commitment to excellence and the commitment to winning. A lot of teams talk about it and say they are there to win, but not everyone really goes out there and does the job. Obviously, the Patriots have done this and what I’m seeing now in New Orleans over the last few years, I see an organization that’s committed with Tom Benson and Mickey Loomis, and the guy that has the keys and is driving the car is Sean Payton. They are now going out and making the moves necessary to be successful. You have to have that full-blown commitment to win and the Saints are getting it.”

On the importance of this particular game …
Gruden: “The magnitude of this game is huge. Bragging rights are important and all your peers are watching, and you know that. The Patriots don’t want anyone to go 16-0 but them. There’s going to be incentive for them to win this game. For the Saints, why wouldn’t you want to take out the New England Patriots on national TV to increase your credibility and maintain home field advantage? They are hard to beat in that dome and home field advantage for them in the NFC is huge. Even with Indianapolis having a commanding lead in the AFC, the Patriots would like to secure home field as well because of Gillette Stadium and Tom Brady. It’s hard for opposing teams to win there.

On whether Monday night’s Patriots-Saints game could be a potential Super Bowl preview …
Gruden: “Pick up a copy of the preseason ESPN Magazine. This is who I picked to be in the Super Bowl. I think it’s a reality. I like the continuity of the head coach and the quarterback, and in my opinion the battery of head coach and quarterback goes a long way to winning it all. You have that with both the Patriots and the Saints.”

On whether there will be a lingering effect on the Patriots as a result of the 4^th and 2 against the Colts two weeks ago …

Jaws: “It’s situations like that that motivate their football team. It makes them a little more angry. They are a very tight football team and they play for each other. It’s not a team that’s very concerned about what happens outside its own building. They are concerned about each other. They saw what was happening – people questioning Bill Belichick’s move. I guarantee those players will rally around Belichick. They love playing for him because they know that gives them the best chance to win a championship.

“You can’t coach by the book. A lot of it’s got to be instinct, understanding your talent and your team. That’s why Bill is so good and why he’s been successful. He does the unconventional, unorthodox thing and that’s what makes him special.”

On the Louisiana Superdome and New Orleans …
Jaws (who played in the Superdome in his lone Super Bowl appearance as a player): “It’s spectacular. It’s one of the greatest places to play. I will never forget the re-opening of the dome three years ago against the Falcons. I was at the tunnel when the Saints came out onto the field. Literally as those guys were coming out, my ears were hurting from the noise. The players looked like they were three feet off the ground running onto the field. There was an adrenaline rush and an excitement that I have never felt before at a football game that I wasn’t playing in. It was remarkable. That place is so noisy and they have some of the greatest fans in the world.

“They have been through so much in that community and they have rallied behind the Saints. Whenever we go meet with Coach Payton, Drew Brees and others, they talk so much about community. They feel such an important part of that giving back. They really have become the backbone of that community. It’s always exciting to go there and cover a game and be part of the atmosphere, especially this season with an undefeated team. It’s going to be wild.”

Tirico: “That dome gets loud. It gets boisterous. It can be difficult to play in, but it’s also a thrilling atmosphere. A big game in the Superdome reminds me of the old big games at the Orange Bowl. There are certain stadiums that host a game and it just feels big, and this is one of them.

“Every time I go back to New Orleans, it’s impressed upon me how that team — and the marriage with the Saints and the city — is so unique and so different. They are New Orleans’ Saints because they belong to the city. It’s everywhere you go. People are very proud, very prideful, of anything that is New Orleans, and the Saints were the first opportunity to show that the city was open for business – it still had its same soul and character and culture to it. The players have also adopted what the city is all about – the city struggles, the strife and the pride. Because Sean Payton and Drew Brees have been at the front of that, it’s made a really big impact. It’s a special place.”

On the specialness of this Monday Night Football game …
Tirico: “To the players, that Monday night stage is special, whether it’s in front of peers or family, it’s the only game of the night. We have seen star players have big games on Monday night week after week and year after year. With these two star quarterbacks at the absolute top of their profession, this is one of those ideal Monday Night moments waiting to happen in the perfect venue.

“This game has every ingredient – the quarterbacks, the high-powered offenses, what’s on the line for both teams as they head to the postseason, that underlying thing of the Patriots are the team that went undefeated in a 16-game schedule, two coaches who came off the Parcells tree, star players all over the field. Usually Thanksgiving weekend is this 96-hour barrage of football. Well, the great part of this year is it all kind of builds up to a crescendo and the best is left for last with this matchup on Monday Night Football.”

Senior coordinating producer Jay Rothman: “It’s rare that you get heavy weight matchups of this caliber, two great offenses and two great quarterbacks, and there is no greater place that rocks like the superdome. The place will be electric and we look forward to capturing it all. It’s a big time battle between two great quarterbacks and we know all of America will be tuning in.”

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CBS’s THE NFL TODAY Features Cowboys DeMarcus Ware on Thanksgiving

November 25, 2009 By admin

cbs50

“THE NFL TODAY” PREVIEWS THANKSGIVING DAY OAKLAND-DALLAS GAME WITH FEATURE ON

COWBOYS’ DEMARCUS WARE ON THURSDAY, NOV. 26

“Daughtry” Performs Live at Halftime in Dallas

“DR. COWHER” PUTS TOGETHER HIS “ULTIMATE QUARTERBACK” ON

“THE NFL TODAY” FOR WEEK 12 ON SUNDAY, NOV. 29

Victoria’s Secret Model Candice Swanepoel Visits NFL TODAY Set Live With Her Top Picks

The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLIV, continues its Golden Anniversary 50^th year broadcasting the NFL with THE NFL ON CBS on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26 (4:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, Nov. 29 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s studio show (3:30-4:00 PM, ET) and (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET) respectively, live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.

THE NFL TODAY previews its Thanksgiving Day game of the Oakland Raiders-Dallas Cowboys game by featuring Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware. Since the regular-season in 2007, Ware has led the NFL with 41 sacks. Last season, he led the league with a club record 20 sacks, and so far has seven sacks this season. But his on-field performance is only part of his season compared to the work he does off the field. Ware is very active in the NFL’s “Play 60” campaign which is focused on national youth health and fitness, whereby young fans are encouraged to be active for at least 60 minutes-a-day. On Wednesday, DeMarcus and his wife Taniqua will be gathering with a group of local kids from the Salvation Army and present them with their “Play 60” jerseys to wear on the field at the following day’s Cowboys game. Deb Gelman is the producer.

In addition, recording artist Daughtry will perform live during halftime of the Raiders-Cowboys game.

On THE NFL TODAY on Sunday, Nov. 29 (12:00 NOON, ET), “Dr. Cowher” goes into his lab and develops the ultimate quarterback by assembling parts taken from several current quarterbacks in the league. Among the parts and traits he is looking for are the best arm, head, courage and leadership skills. Jeff St. Arromand is the producer.

Plus, Victoria’s Secret Super Model Candice Swanepoel joins the guys live on the set to help them with their NFL picks.

James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL Insider Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.

Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as the executive producer for the Network’s coverage of the NFL. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

Jets-Patriots On CBS Most-Watched Show Of Week

November 25, 2009 By admin

JETS-PATRIOTS ON CBS MOST-WATCHED SHOW OF WEEK

NFL Games Top Ratings in 28 Markets

Last week’s CBS doubleheader game (mostly Jets-Patriots) was watched by 21.7 million viewers making it the most-watched program on television last week (Nov. 16-22). The NBC Sunday night game (Eagles-Bears) drew 17.3 million viewers and was the week’s fourth most-watched program.

NFL games topped the local ratings in 28 NFL markets last week. For the season, NFL games top the local market ratings 87 percent of the time – the highest percentage ever after 11 weeks.

Following are the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Nov. 16-22:

Week of 11/16-22			HH	HH	RTG
Market	Game	Date	RTG	SHR	Rank
New Orleans	Saints at Buccaneers	11/22/09	47.1	72	1
Pittsburgh	Steelers at Chiefs	11/22/09	42.6	74	1
Cincinnati	Bengals at Raiders	11/22/09	42.1	63	1
Minneapolis	Seahawks at Vikings	11/22/09	36.0	69	1
Boston	Jets at Patriots	11/22/09	34.7	59	1
San Diego	Chargers at Broncos	11/22/09	32.9	59	1
Milwaukee	49ers at Packers	11/22/09	31.9	61	1
Denver	Chargers at Broncos	11/22/09	31.5	59	1
Indianapolis	Colts at Ravens	11/22/09	31.1	57	1
Cleveland *	Ravens at Browns	11/15/09	30.3	46	1
Baltimore *	Ravens at Browns	11/15/09	30.0	45	1
Kansas City	Steelers at Chiefs	11/22/09	29.7	57	1
Chicago	Eagles at Bears	11/22/09	29.6	43	1
Dallas	Redskins at Cowboys	11/22/09	28.9	62	1
Philadelphia	Eagles at Bears	11/22/09	27.2	39	1
Buffalo	Bills at Jaguars	11/22/09	26.9	53	1
Washington, DC	Redskins at Cowboys	11/22/09	26.2	56	1
Charlotte **	Dolphins at Panthers	11/19/09	23.6	34	1
Tampa	Saints at Buccaneers	11/22/09	21.9	45	1
Phoenix	Cardinals at Rams	11/22/09	21.0	38	1
Atlanta	Falcons at Giants	11/22/09	20.2	36	1
Nashville	Colts at Ravens	11/22/09	18.8	35	1
Jacksonville	Colts at Ravens	11/22/09	18.3	33	1
St. Louis	Cardinals at Rams	11/22/09	17.8	35	1
Seattle	Seahawks at Vikings	11/22/09	17.0	40	1
Miami **	Dolphins at Panthers	11/19/09	16.5	26	1
San Fran-Oakland	49ers at Packers	11/22/09	14.5	40	1
New York	Falcons at Giants	11/22/09	14.2	33	1

* Local affiliate & ESPN combined

** Local affiliate & NFL Network combined

Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research

Notes from NBA TV’s Fan Night – Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

November 25, 2009 By admin

Notes from NBA TV’s Fan Night – Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Oklahoma City Thunder (104) @ Utah Jazz (94)

Voting is open on NBA.com for next week’s Fan Night match-up that will air on

Tuesday, Dec. 1. Fans can select between the following games:

Boston Celtics @ Charlotte Bobcats

Washington Wizards @ Toronto Raptors

Phoenix Suns @ New York Knicks

Golden State Warriors @ Denver Nuggets

Miami Heat @ Portland Trail Blazers

New Orleans Hornets @ L.A. Lakers

CLIP OF THE DAY (click on link below to watch)

NBA TV analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale on the Houston Rockets

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AutoTrader.com Pre-Game Show

Ernie Johnson, Kevin McHale and Chris Webber

Webber on the Utah Jazz fans: “It is very tough to play (in Utah). You really have to have poise to play there. They are very loud. They get on you. They know the game and they know your history. I think their fans read the game notes because they know how to push all your buttons.”

McHale on the Thunder’s improvement: “They are starting to defend better. That is the key to that team. They have to be able to stop people. Young guys in our league, they are trying to establish their career on the offensive end saying ‘I want to score the ball,’ and defense comes second. They are playing good on the defensive end and that is what is going to have to carry them through.”

Webber on the lack of cohesiveness on the Jazz: “I think it is two things. One, they haven’t had a chance to jell from last year and they probably haven’t been healthy in two years. Two, whenever it is not team first, that one point a game always matters, that one rebound a game, that one shot selection and if that seeps into the locker room you can see why this doesn’t look like the chemistry of old Utah teams. We can definitely say that this chemistry is not the same of old Utah teams.”

McHale on Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko: “(Kirilenko) is shooting the ball well, he’s defending now, and he’s rebounding. He’s blocking shots and getting steals. He is playing really nicely for them now and I think that is why you are going to see Utah turn the corner.”

The Fan Night crew interviewed Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant on Arena Link.

Durant on becoming a veteran: “I didn’t know what to expect on that first night playing against A.I. (Allen Iverson) and Carmelo (Anthony) for the first time (as a rookie). Year two and year three I was calmer and knew what I needed to do for my team to win. Each year, I got more comfortable.”

Durant on his goals for the season: “I have one goal and that is to get better. Every game, every shoot-around, every practice just to go hard and get better and I think everyone on our team has that mindset. So if we continue to think like that, I think the sky is the limit for us.”

Durant on being a free agent next year: “I would like to stay with Oklahoma City for my whole career. I love playing here and playing with my teammates and I will leave it at that.”

Durant on the Thunder’s improvement: “I think defensively we have gotten a lot better. We know the concepts and we help each other out. We play hard on both ends and that is the key to winning. We all like playing basketball with each other. We just go out there and have fun. I think that is the key to why we have a better record this year than we did last year and we just have to continue to get better each game.”

Durant on the adrenaline from taking a game-winning shot: “Kids dream about taking that last shot and winning. Everybody thinks that every time you get that last shot you are going to make it. Those times when I don’t make it are going to make me a better player and give me the confidence to take that shot next time and make it. My teammates trust in me that if I’m in that position again they will give me the ball and hopefully I will make it.”

McHale on the New Jersey Nets’ tough season: “I have watched (the Nets_ play and they have been fighting. I think they will win their share of games when they get healthy, but right now it is tough times.”

Webber on the outlook for the Nets’ season: “I feel for those guys. But if we are really going to be honest, unless they go on a 10-game winning streak very soon, their season is over. Maybe if you hypnotize the guys and make them think they are winning, but it is not a good feeling to be in that locker room. Hopefully fingers don’t start pointing. They are working hard, but it is an unfortunate situation.”

Webber on the Houston Rockets’ surprising start: “(The Rockets) have been showing that offense is your best defense. If they can get easy buckets they can stay in the game. They don’t have Tracy McGrady or Yao Ming and those are two of the best players in the NBA that are out, so scoring is tough.”

McHale on Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady returning to the game: “I would hold (Tracy) McGrady out as long as I can and just let him practice. The team is playing well. They have something good going on there and the players are feeling positive about themselves. There is no reason to bring him back until he is 100%. I mean lots of practices and a lot of time on the floor. I don’t think bringing him back at 75% saying that he is going to play himself into game shape is going to work.”

Webber on Tracy McGrady: “As a player, thinking about him he has to be one of the best players out of 400. So if you really look at him, out of 400 players, his mentality is probably on ‘go’ more than most. He has the alpha male attitude and he believes that he can come back. I believe in him but at that same time it is a difficult balance. It is about your team first and not you. I just remember there was never a time when I was more depressed than sitting behind that bench hurt and I know he is probably going through that. At the end of the day he is one of our great players and hopefully he preserves himself so we can watch him for the rest of his career.”

Webber on the passing of his former owner, Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin: “We actually did our first deal with a handshake. You have to remember he asked me to come from Golden State, a team that was winning. He helped the infrastructure of D.C. He gave jobs in D.C. As a man and an entrepreneur, he did a lot for the city. My prayers are with his family.”

McHale on Pollin’s impact on Washington, D.C.: “When (Pollin) changed the team from the Bullets to the Wizards and moved the team to an area heavily populated with crime, it showed he cared. I remember reading that thinking, ‘wow.’ He was proactive and I really admired that.”

***** ***** *****

T-Mobile Halftime Report

Johnson, McHale and Webber

McHale on the Thunder’s shooting percentage: “(Jazz coach) Jerry Sloan is going to say that’s got to come down but some of the shots (the Thunder) have made have been contested shots. They have made some tough contested shots, but Utah has to really make some tough defensive stands. The first team that makes some defensive stands is going to get some separation in this game.”

Webber on the Raptors’ team chemistry: “Toronto needs to get their chemistry going because they haven’t been playing as well as they could. It is good to see Hedo (Turkoglu) getting involved with (Chris) Bosh and the other guys. They are working on getting their chemistry together.”

***** ***** *****

NBA GameTime presented by Hyundai

Johnson, McHale and Webber

McHale on impact of tonight’s win for the Thunder in Utah: “That was a huge win for Oklahoma City. I don’t even think they know how hard it is to win in that place.”

NBA TV interviewed Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jeff Green via Arena Link.

Green on tonight’s win against the Jazz: “It was real tough to play in this building with the crowd that they have and the guys that have on that team with (Carlos) Boozer and (Deron) Williams. It was a great win for us.”

Green on his overall performance: “I’m feeling good. Three years in playing the four position, I’m getting accustomed to it. I had to put on a little muscle to battle those big guys but it is coming along well. It is putting our team in good position with match-ups on the offense end and it is working for us.”

Green on the impact that veterans have on the team: “We have a lot of veterans that are in good position. They are leading by example, coming in everyday to practice ready to work and they are teaching us a lot of things that young guys don’t know about the NBA game. Their impact on us is really big and that is why we are changing things around and winning by a lot closer games than we would have won last year.”

Webber on the impact of late Wizards owner Abe Pollin on Wizards forward Antawn Jamison: “This shows you that if you think basketball is just about paychecks and cars, and not about family and camaraderie, than you are an idiot. It is about having someone over you that believes in you through the tough times. It is about winning at the end of the day, but it is also about those people around you that cultivate your character while you are in the midst of the storm. I think that is why we saw that in (Antawn) Jamison’s face and heard that in his voice.”

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Boxing After Dark Saturday Night From Quebec City on HBO

November 25, 2009 By admin

hbo-sports

HBO SPORTS GOES NORTH OF THE BORDER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1977

WHEN HBO BOXING AFTER DARK^®: LUCIAN BUTE VS. LIBRADO ANDRADE II

AND JOAN GUZMAN VS. ALI FUNEKA IS PRESENTED SATURDAY, NOV. 28

HBO Sports travels to Canada for the first time in more than three decades to present a double dose of title action Thanksgiving weekend when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: LUCIAN BUTE VS. LIBRADO ANDRADE II AND JOAN GUZMAN VS. ALI FUNEKA is seen SATURDAY, NOV. 28 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT from the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The HBO Sports^® team of Bob Papa, Max Kellerman and Lenox Lewis will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 29 (8:45 a.m.) and 30 (11:40 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Nov. 29 (6:15 p.m.)

In the main event, super middleweight titleholder Lucian Bute (24-0-0, 19 KOs) squares off against Librado Andrade (28-2-0, 21 KOs) in a reprise of their Oct. 2008 encounter, with Montreal native Bute out to prove his controversial unanimous decision victory over Andrade was no fluke. Fresh from knocking out Fulgencio Zuniga, Bute is as sharp as ever heading into this highly anticipated 12-round showdown.

After losing to Bute last year, Mexican native and La Habra, Cal. resident Librado Andrade rebounded with a lopsided victory over Vitali Tsypko in April. Now, with revenge on his mind, Andrade is poised to dethrone his rival.

The opening bout features undefeated Joan Guzman (29-0, 17 KOs) and Ali Funeka (30-2-2, 25 KOs) in a hard-hitting 12-round lightweight title contest. A native of the Dominican Republic currently residing in Brooklyn, Guzman is returning to the late-night HBO spotlight, where he successfully defended his junior lightweight title against former champ Humberto Soto. Now, in just his second fight as a lightweight, he seeks a title belt in his third weight class.

Hailing from East London, South Africa, the formidable Ali Funeka is a lanky and powerful slugger looking to rebound from a tough loss to Nate Campbell on HBO in February. He is returning to his natural fighting weight in hopes of establishing himself as the best lightweight in the world.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Mike Sheehan.

® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc. HBO^® and all related programs, channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.

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ESPN’s Monday Night Football Wins the Night in Key Male and Adult Demos

November 25, 2009 By admin

ESPN’s Monday Night Football Wins the Night in Key Male and Adult Demos

Last night, ESPN’s Monday Night Football game – the Tennessee Titans’ 20-17 victory over the Houston Texans – earned an 8.9 rating, representing an average of 8,791,000 households (12,100,000 viewers – P2+). As it has each week this season, MNF led all the night’s programs (broadcast or cable) in all key male demos and people 18-34.

For 2009, MNF telecasts represent cable’s 11 most-viewed telecasts in terms of both household impressions and total viewers year to date. Through 11 weeks (12 games) of the NFL season, ESPN’s MNF is averaging a 10.2 rating and 10,097,000 households (14,018,000 P2+), up 12 percent, 14 percent and 14 percent, respectively, from last season.

ESPN.COM
ESPN.com had 74.1 million page views to NFL content accessed via computers and mobile devices for Monday thru Tuesday at noon — up 24 percent from the comparable time period last year. Specifically, page views for the NFL section on computers and mobile were up 9 percent from last year. Additionally, ESPN.com streamed 1.5 million NFL related videos.

UNDEFEATED SAINTS (10-0) HOST PATRIOTS NEXT WEEK ON MNF
Next week’s ESPN MNF game on Nov. 30 features one of the top matchups of the season when Drew Brees and the undefeated New Orleans Saints (10-0) host Tom Brady and the AFC East-leading New England Patriots (7-3) at 8:30 p.m. ET. ESPN’s game around the game coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. with NFL Live and continues throughout the afternoon.

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Commissioner Goodell Quotes from Roundtable Discussion with Joe Theismann, Rod Woodson and Michael Irvin on NFL Network

November 25, 2009 By admin

Commissioner Goodell Quotes from Roundtable Discussion with Joe Theismann, Rod Woodson and Michael Irvin on NFL Network

Below are quotes from an exclusive interview featuring Commissioner Goodell with Joe Theismann, Michael Irvin and Rod Woodson regarding a variety of league issues.

Portions of the discussion will be featured on Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears at 6:30 PM ET, prior to Giants-Broncos on Thursday Night Football. The interview will continue on NFL GameDay Morning Sunday at 9:00 AM ET.

Goodell on player safety and offseason training…

“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 his relationship with the players…

“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. Hopefully, the lessons they learn from football will help them throughout their life. If we can help people be better people, that’s a good thing.”

Goodell on the CBA talks…

“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.”

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