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NBC Sports Presents Six Hours Of Super Bowl XLVI Pre-Game Coverage

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:06:14 +0000

Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya, Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy & Rodney Harrison preview Super Bowl XLVI with interviews, analysis and commentary

Super Bowl MVPs Aaron Rodgers & Hines Ward serve as guest analysts

Lenny Kravitz & The Fray perform live

Cast of The Voice and other celebrities make red-carpet appearances

TODAY’s Matt Lauer interviews President Barack Obama

Indianapolis, IN – February 2, 2012 – Bob Costas will open NBC Sports’ six hours of Super Bowl XLVI pre-game coverage with a live report from Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis at Noon ET on Sunday, Feb. 5. In the hours leading up to the game, NBC Sports will surround the Super Bowl teams with live team hotel and sideline reports, player features and interviews, and X’s and O’s analysis.

Coverage will also include the events surrounding the Super Bowl, including an interview with halftime performer Madonna, live musical performances, red-carpet interviews with music, television and film stars, reports from the festive atmosphere taking place just outside Lucas Oil Stadium, and more. NBC News’ Matt Lauer will also interview President Barack Obama during a special pre-game edition of TODAY airing late Sunday afternoon.

In addition to Costas, NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football team of Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya, and Football Night in America team of Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Peter King and Mike Florio will contribute to the pre-game coverage, with taped interviews and live on-site commentary and analysis. Liam McHugh, Alex Flanagan and Randy Moss will report from the team hotels, Doug Flutie will appear in field-set segments, and The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore will provide reports on the weather and event atmosphere.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, two Super Bowl MVPs who each played in last year’s game, will join NBC Sports’ coverage as guest analysts. Ward, who has played in three Super Bowls and won two, was named MVP of Super Bowl XL when he made five catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, who is an NFL MVP candidate this season, passed for 304 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s Super Bowl, helping the Packers defeat Ward’s Steelers, 31-25, and earning him the MVP award.

Following is a summary NBC Sports’ Super Bowl XLVI pre-game coverage:

THE GAME

Hotel & Arrival Reports: Randy Moss will provide updates from the Patriots team hotel, while Alex Flanagan will report from the Giants hotel. They will also report on their respective teams’ arrival at the stadium.

Field Set: Doug Flutie (playing quarterback), Cris Collinsworth (wide receiver), and Rodney Harrison (defensive back) will analyze the play of Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, acting out the X’s and O’s on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium.

Interviews: During the two weeks leading up to the game, NBC Sports conducted extensive interviews with Super Bowl XLVI players and coaches:

· Bob Costas interviews Tom Brady

· Dan Patrick interviews Eli Manning

· Tony Dungy sits with Tom Coughlin and visits with Victor Cruz at his former Paterson, N.J. home.

· Rodney Harrison interviews his former coach, Bill Belichick, and goes on the field with Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez.

· Al Michaels visits with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who has dedicated this season to his wife Myra, who passed away in 2011.

Hometown Hero: How does a player get to the Super Bowl? NBC Sports will visit the hometowns of five of Sunday’s featured players — Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants, and Tom Brady, Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker of the Patriots – by speaking with the people who made an early impact on their lives, including former coaches, teachers and neighborhood friends.

Steve Gleason: Peter King tells the story of former New Orleans Saints special teams standout Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. Gleason famously blocked the punt that led to an early touchdown the night the Saints returned to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. King chronicles the challenges facing Gleason and his family while battling the debilitating muscular disease.

Vince Wilfork: Get ready, America. Here come the Wilforks. NBC Sports visits the home of New England defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, and discovers the surprising personalities behind one the fiercest players in the league.

Mathias Kiwanuka: NBC Sports examines the compelling story of Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, who grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Cathedral High School, located roughly 10 miles from Lucas Oil Stadium. However, Kiwanuka’s true roots extend back to Africa and the compelling story of his grandfather, Benedicto Kiwanuka, the first prime minister of Uganda, and a man assassinated by the regime of notorious dictator Idi Amin while he served as Amin’s chief justice in 1972.

Behind the Quarterbacks: NBC Sports will examine the people behind Sunday’s successful quarterbacks by interviewing Eli Manning’s parents, Archie and Olivia, and Tom Martinez, who has served as Tom Brady’s mentor and personal quarterback coach since high school.

Additional Features & Interviews: In addition to the aforementioned features, additional pieces will air on wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz of the Giants, and tight end Rob Gronkowski and punter Zoltan Mesko of the Patriots.

Helmet Catch: Bob Costas interviews live former Patriots safety and current NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison along with former New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree, two men who are forever linked in NFL history due to Tyree’s famous and improbable “helmet catch” in Super Bowl XLII.

Commissioner Goodell: An excerpt from Bob Costas’ one-on-one interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell from Thursday night’s Costas Tonight: Live from the Super Bowl will air.

NFL Turning Point: The NBC Sports Network program, which normally highlights the “turning point” of a game by utilizing NFL Films’ unsurpassed access and production, will examine the “turning point” of the season for both the Giants and Patriots.

Road to the Super Bowl: Kicking off NBC Sports’ six hours of pre-game coverage at Noon ET is NFL Films’ Road to the Super Bowl. How did the New York Giants and New England Patriots advance to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis? Re-live the journey as only NFL Films can present it. Road to the Super Bowl begins with Kickoff Weekend and chronicles the 2011 NFL season utilizing NFL Films’ signature captivating video and sound from on the field, and in the locker room from exclusive player and coach wirings.

THE PRESIDENT

Interview: NBC News’ Matt Lauer will interview President Barack Obama from The White House during a special pre-game edition of TODAY airing late Sunday afternoon.

ENTERTAINMENT

Madonna: Bob Costas interviews The Material Girl herself, Madonna, who will perform in Sunday’s Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show. A world class entertainer, singer, songwriter, actress, producer, director and video visionary, Madonna has sold more than 300 million records in the course of her three decade career as The Material Girl. She is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her last tour was the most successful tour by a solo artist in history.

Red Carpet: Nick Cannon hosts NBC’s pre-game red-carpet coverage. Celebrities expected to attend include: Adam Sandler; Danny Devito from Universal Pictures’ upcoming film, The Lorax; Chris Evans from The Avengers; and the stars of NBC’s new primetime programs — Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Carson Daly of The Voice, which makes its second-season premiere immediately after the Super Bowl; Katharine McPhee of Smash, which debuts Monday night; and Jessica Simpson of Fashion Star.

Live Performances: Musical acts Lenny Kravitz and The Fray will perform live from the NFL’s Super Bowl XLVI Tailgate Party.

Top Chef: Bravo’s Emmy Award-winning culinary show, Top Chef, will be on-site in Indianapolis with host Tom Colicchio and two popular former contestants, Richard Blais and Antonia Lofaso, competing to create the perfect tailgate food. Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison will determine which of their tailgate preparations wins.

ATMOSPHERE

Zip Line: In addition to filing weather reports, The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore will provide reports on the fan atmosphere surrounding Lucas Oil Stadium, including a ride on the popular 800-foot zip line located in the Super Bowl Village in downtown Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Legacy: NBC Sports will examine how Indianapolis became a shining example of how the biggest of sporting events can provide the means to unite a community in astonishing ways. After the city was awarded the game in 2008, it used the Super Bowl to plant thousands of trees, fight cancer, redevelop an entire neighborhood, and bring hope to those in need. When the Super Bowl is over, its impact in Indianapolis will remain for a very long time.

Great Moments in Indiana Sports History: NBC Sports examines the role the state of Indiana has had on some of sports’ greatest moments. The personalities and events featured include Larry Bird, John Wooden, Bobby Knight, Hank Aaron, the Indy 500, and Hoosiers.

REGIONAL COVERAGE

The NBC Sports Group has regional sports networks in New York and Boston that will be providing robust local pre- and post-game coverage for Super Bowl XLVI.

SNY: Super Bowl coverage will begin on Sat., Feb. 4 with Big Blue Live, an in-depth pre-game show that will deliver football fans the latest news and developments from Indianapolis. The show will feature live commentary from a panel of analysts, players and coaches who will provide a comprehensive look at Super Bowl XLVI as well as break down all the key matchups for the game. Big Blue Live will also include highlights from earlier in the week, including exclusive interviews with players and coaches from both the Giants and Patriots.

Immediately following Super Bowl XLVI, SNY’s Geico SportsNite Big Blue Live post-game show will provide fans extensive coverage, including all of the post-game press conferences as well as exclusive on-field interviews and reactions from both the Giants and Patriots players and coaches. On-air talent for Big Blue Live will include former Giants Tiki Barber and Shaun O’Hara, NFL Insider Adam Schein and host Chris Carlin. In addition, SNY’s Giants reporter Mike Garafolo, Gary Apple and Jonas Schwartz contribute to Big Blue Live – reporting on-site from Indianapolis.

Comcast SportsNet New England: Super Bowl Sunday coverage will include special pre- and post-game editions of Chevrolet SportsNet Central Extra. The pre-game show will begin at 3 p.m. ET with the post-game show beginning immediately after the game. Both shows will originate on-site at Lucas Oil Stadium. Hosting will be: Michael Felger, Ty Law, Troy Brown, Tom E. Curran, Mike Giardi and Kevin Walsh. Bob Neumeier will be part of the SNC Extra post-game show as well from the CSN studios.

–NBC Sports Group–

ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown Features for Super Bowl XLVI

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:03:57 +0000

Chris Berman and Countdown Analysts Live at Pan Am Plaza in Downtown Indianapolis;

Monday Night Football’s Tirico, Gruden and Jaworski at Lucas Oil Stadium;

Special Guests Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, and IndyCar driver Graham Rahal

ESPN’s special four-hour Super Bowl XLVI edition of Sunday NFL Countdown featuring host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will preview the New England Patriots-New York Giants Super Bowl matchup beginning at 10 a.m. ET from Pan Am Plaza in downtown Indianapolis, Ind. The show will also include Monday Night Football’s Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski from a set at Lucas Oil Stadium. Additionally, Super Bowl-winning ESPN analysts Tedy Bruschi, Trent Dilfer, Bill Parcells, Antonio Pierce, Jerry Rice and Steve Young, and Merril Hoge, will contribute from an adjoining set at Pan Am Plaza with host Suzy Kolber. Reporters Rachel Nichols (covering the Giants) and Ed Werder (Patriots) will provide updates throughout the program from the team hotels. In all, ESPN’s roster of Countdown analysts has a combined 16 Super Bowl rings in 25 appearances in the NFL’s biggest game.

Special Guests:

Countdown will feature celebrity guest appearances at the Pan Am Plaza, including:

11:45 a.m. – Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, stars of the upcoming movie That’s My Boy will be on-set (Jets head coach Rex Ryan made a cameo appearance in the movie);

1:55 p.m. – IZOD IndyCar driver Graham Rahal will drive through downtown Indianapolis to deliver the Super Bowl XLVI picks to the set.

Planned Countdown features, in order of timing by quarter-hour (all times subject to change):

Bill Parcells on the Super Bowl coaches (10:30 a.m.)

Two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells will offer his unique insight on this year’s Super Bowl coaches – Bill Belichick (Patriots) and Tom Coughlin (Giants) – both of whom he mentored and had on his former Giants staff.

Quarterback Eli Manning’s Elusiveness (11 a.m.)

Though quarterback Eli Manning has managed to trip, stumble and spin his way into making spectacular plays for his team this season, elusive is not the first word that comes to mind when describing the Giants signal-caller. While his inside-the-pocket play may not be pretty, Manning’s unique ability to escape pressure has played a huge part in the Giants success this season. Nichols reports on the elusive side of Eli.

Chris and LaKeasha Draft (11:30 a.m.)

LaKeasha Draft, the 38 year-old wife of former NFL linebacker Chris Draft, lost her life to lung cancer one month after they were married last December. Reporter Jeremy Schaap tells the story of courage and true love shared by a dying wife and her loving husband, who played 12 years in the NFL.

Peyton Manning Conversation (12 p.m.)

In the first television interview this week after considerable recent speculation about his future, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning talks to NFL Live host Trey Wingo. He discusses his health, his future, and his younger brother Eli’s Super Bowl appearance this weekend in Indianapolis.

Introduced as a Team (12 p.m.)

Flashy, individual player introductions of high-profile players such as Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, and Ray Lewis had been part of the Super Bowl pre-game spectacle until Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001 when the New England Patriots demanded to be introduced as a team. Bruschi, a member of that first Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning team, reports how a united group of players changed a Super Bowl tradition.

Bill Belichick Conversation (12:15 p.m.)

In Bill Belichick’s 12 seasons as head coach, the Patriots have won three Super Bowls, gone undefeated in the regular season, and have set a number of offensive records. Countdown’s Keyshawn Johnson sits for a one-on-one interview where Belichick discusses his legacy as a five-time Super Bowl winner, quarterback Tom Brady, and New England’s 31^st-ranked defense.

Tim Tebow Conversation (12:30 p.m.)

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow became the season’s biggest story on the strength of an 8-5 record, turning the team’s 1-4 start into a playoff berth and Wild Card win at home over the favored Steelers. Tebow sits for an extensive conversation with ESPN’s Hannah Storm where he addresses the season, his performance and popularity.

“All In” (1 p.m.)

After 14 games the Giants were sitting at 7-7 and staring at the possibility of yet another late-season collapse. Then, a speech delivered by a local high school teacher during a chapel service on Friday night before their game against the Jets, changed the course of the season. In that speech, the speaker told them that in order to be committed to something you have to be “All In.” The last two words have become the team’s battle cry as the Giants have now won five straight games on their way to the Super Bowl, reports Rick Reilly.

Mayne Event – Motherly Love (1:15 p.m.)

Like most NFL players, Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson gets pumped up for battle by receiving a pregame speech. Unlike most NFL players, that speech comes in the form of an obscenity laced phone call from his mother. In a special Super Bowl edition of “Mayne Event,” Kenny Mayne goes behind the scenes to capture Tollefson’s unique ritual and examines the impact it has had on the player’s Super Bowl preparations in Indy.

Wide Receiver Demo (1:15 p.m.)

ESPN’s trio of former NFL receivers – Carter, Johnson and Hall of Famer Rice – discuss the pass catchers who will have the biggest impact on Sunday’s game in a demo field segment.

Tedy Bruschi and Antonio Pierce On-Set (1:30 p.m.)

The day their former teams renew their Super Bowl rivalry, ESPN analysts Bruschi and Pierce – former linebackers for the Patriots and Giants, respectively — discuss this year’s matchup and the experience of playing in Super Bowl XLII when New York upset previously unbeaten New England.

Tom Brady Super Bowl Soundtracks (1:30 p.m.)

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will lead his team to its fifth Super Bowl Sunday. In “Soundtracks,” Countdown features some of the best in-game audio of Brady from his past four Super Bowls.

Super Bowl Edition of C’mon Man (1:30 p.m.)

The Countdown crew offers a special edition of its popular weekly Monday Night Countdown segment C’Mon Man.

- 30 -

Justin Tuck and Deion Branch on INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:00:17 +0000

SUPER BOWL SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDING INTERVIEWS WITH NEW YORK GIANTS JUSTIN TUCK AND

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS DEION BRANCH

PLUS ATLANTA’S TONY GONZALEZ AND JIM ROME

SUPER BOWL SPECIAL EDITION PREMIERES TONIGHT AT 9 p.m. ET/PT

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 1, 2012) – Prior to their Super Bowl XLVI showdown, New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck and New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch sit down for interviews with James Brown, Phil Simms, Cris Collinsworth, and Warren Sapp on this week’s edition of INSIDE THE NFL.

Plus Atlanta Falcons Tony Gonzalez joins INSIDE THE NFL to give an on-field tight end demonstration, and the newest member of the CBS and SHOWTIME family, Jim Rome, joins to give his unique insight into this weekend’s Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

This week’s episode of INSIDE THE NFL premieres tonight, Feb. 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

INSIDE THE NFL, now in its 33^rd season, airs every Wednesday night through the NFL season on SHOWTIME for a total of 23 episodes, with multiple replays each week on SHOWTIME and SHOWTIME EXTREME^® and availability on SHOWTIME On Demand.

INSIDE THE NFL is produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films. The executive producers are CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus and NFL Films President Steve Sabol. Pete Radovich Jr., the Emmy Award-winning Creative Director for CBS Sports, serves as coordinating producer.

Following are excerpts from this week’s episode:

Tuck on rushing Tom Brady…

TUCK: You’ve got to be in his face. Some quarterbacks you don’t really care where the rush comes from. But with a guy like Tom, if you allow him to step up and step up into his throws, you’re going to have a long night. And I think that’s why it’s so important for our front four and particularly our defensive tackles, getting people right in his face so he has to be mobile in the pocket. That’s not his strength. When he is able to step up he is deadly. We’ve got some things in that hopefully can knock him off his point and make him be a little bit more of an athlete and I think we stand a better chance of having success against him when we are able to do that.

On his health going into Super Bowl XLVI…

TUCK: It’s the Super Bowl man, I’m great. We can get it all in after this and I can go get the MRIs and all that after this but you don’t ever want to regret having an opportunity like this. The adrenaline of this football game here, you are going to feel like 100%. I don’t care who you are. I expect (Rob) Gronkowski to play because he knows as well I know, playing in this game, I’m not worried about any of the injuries I’ve had. I’m going to go out there and give it everything I’ve got and I told our doctors 10 weeks ago, we’ll deal with that at the end of the year.

On Tom Coughlin coaching through the season while fans called for his termination…

TUCK: He has continued to be the Coughlin that everybody knows, but I think he’s done a great job of allowing his players to have a little bit more say-so. So he’s given us a lot of leeway to make some of the decisions about how we go about things in the locker room and with the Giants and I think it’s paid off for us.

Branch on the difference between playing for the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots…

BRANCH: To commend the guys, things didn’t work out the way we thought it would and I was traded to Seattle which I was very thankful to be blessed to go to another first class organization. You start noticing when you have a high turnover within an organization there is no stability, so therefore you are not producing on the football field. You are not producing wins. Those W’s turn to L’s…When Coach Belichick gave me a call and told me he was thinking of bringing me back, this and that, and trust me I was truly honored to have the opportunity to return to the team that drafted me with the same head coach and the same quarterback. The stability is there (and) the foundation for greatness with this organization

On the New England Patriots playbook…

BRANCH: It is a very complex offense, it is a demanding offense. I think we change so much stuff week to week and daily. There’s so much stuff that we go through during the course of the week and then Friday here it is, they spring another 20 plays on us, 48 hours before the game. That’s just part of being here.

SIMMS: You said it right. It is a memorization offense. One word tells everybody. A lot of offenses have a lot of words and they tell everybody what to do…You have to learn the whole concept.

Five Additional Games For NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:57:22 +0000

New 13-game Thursday night slate runs from Weeks 2-15

All 32 teams to play in primetime in 2012

New Spanish-language NFL RedZone channel to debut in ‘12

NFL Network will televise five additional regular-season games in 2012 as part of its Thursday Night Football package, NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL announced today.

The Thursday Night Football schedule on NFL Network will now feature 13 games, all on Thursdays, from Weeks 2-15 (skipping Week 12). In previous years, the NFLN slate included at least one Saturday night game. NBC will televise the Thursday night game on Thanksgiving in Week 12, in addition to the NFL Kickoff game.

“Adding these games to the NFL Network schedule will give more players, teams, and cities the primetime stage,” Commissioner Goodell said. “Our fans can now get an early start on the NFL weekend in the season’s first 15 weeks.”

With the expansion of the Thursday Night Football schedule, all 32 NFL teams will now play at least one primetime game in 2012. In addition, every club will play on one Thursday following a Sunday game.

Also in 2012, NFL Network will unveil a new Spanish-language NFL RedZone channel. NFL RedZone, produced by NFL Network, debuted in 2009 and whips around to every NFL game on Sunday afternoons, delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments as they happen. 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 the important plays.

Thursday Night Football averaged a record 6.2 million viewers in 2011 (not including over-the-air stations) – topping the average playoff viewership of other sports on cable. TNF has doubled average viewership from its inaugural season in 2006 (3.1 million viewers).

# # #

Live Coverage of Press Conferences Friday, Feb. 3 at 8:30 AM ET — NFL Network & NFL.com Super Bowl XLVI Notes & Quotes — Thursday, February 2

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:49:20 +0000

Live Coverage of Commissioner, Team Head Coaches, Walter Payton Man of the Year & Don Shula Coach of the Year Press Conferences Friday, Feb. 3 at 8:30 AM ET

Special Guests on Friday Include Adam Sandler, Clay Matthews, Matthew Stafford, Robert Griffin III & Others

Brady 6 & Bill Belichick: A Football Life Friday at 8:00 PM ET

Video Links from Thursday’s Seven-Hour Edition of Super Bowl Live

The following special guests appeared on Super Bowl Live on Thursday:

- Madonna:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d8268b31f/Madonna-ready-to-rock-Indy

- Former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d8268b737/Luck-Can-t-replace-Peyton-Manning

- Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82689a61/Tebow-time-in-Indy

- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d82689ac0/Swag-Newton

- Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82689c5a/Fitzgerald-talks-playoff-WRs

- Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82689f36/Montana-Brady-is-in-best-ever-discussion

- New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d8268a178/Brees-rebounding-from-loss

- St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d8268bd21/Fisher-ready-to-revitalize-Rams

- Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d8268b252/Strahan-Never-wrote-the-Giants-off

Special Guests Scheduled to Appear on NFL Network Friday, February 3

The following guests are scheduled to appear on NFL Network Friday, February 3:

- Actor Adam Sandler

- Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews

- Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford

- Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III

- Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck

- Former Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon

- Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday

- Model Kate Upton

- Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson

Live Coverage of Commissioner Roger Goodell, Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin Press Conferences Friday, February 3 at 8:30 AM ET

NFL Network provides live coverage of Commissioner Roger Goodell, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin’s press conferences on Friday, February 3 at 8:30 AM ET.

Former NFL head coaches Steve Mariucci and Brian Billick are live from the Media Center to discuss the comments of each head coach, detail the preparations each team is making heading into Sunday and more.

Additionally, the press conferences for the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Don Shula Coach of the Year awards will be covered.

Below is a schedule of the press conferences NFL Network will carry live:

8:30 AM – New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

9:00 AM ET – Walter Payton Man of the Year

9:15 AM ET – Don Shula Coach of the Year

9:30 AM ET – New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin

11:30 AM ET – Commissioner Roger Goodell

NFL Films-Produced Documentaries Brady 6 & Bill Belichick: A Football Life on Friday, February 3 at 8:00 PM ET

Before the New England Patriots face the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, get ready for the game with Patriots-related documentaries Brady 6 and Bill Belichick: A Football Life on Friday, February 3.

At 8:00 PM ET, Brady 6 examines the career of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady since he was selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft and the stories of the six quarterbacks who were taken ahead of him.

Below are video links to segments from Brady 6:

- Draft Day:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-england-patriots/09000d5d825b6ec5/The-Brady-6-Draft-day

- Where are they Now?:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-england-patriots/09000d5d825b7012/The-Brady-6-Where-are-they-now

- Tom’s Turn:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-england-patriots/09000d5d825b6868/The-Brady-6-Tom-s-turn

At 9:00 PM ET, the first part of the critically acclaimed Bill Belichick: A Football Life airs, followed by the second part at 10:00 PM ET. The most-watched documentary in the history of NFL Network provides unprecedented access into the life on and off the football field of the head coach of the New England Patriots.

Below are video links to segments from Bill Belichick: A Football Life:

- Meet Bill Belichick:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/a-football-life/09000d5d822469c5/A-Football-Life-Meet-Bill-Belichick

- The Patriots go for it on 4th Down Against the Colts:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/a-football-life/09000d5d8227bb57/A-Football-Life-Belichick-s-gambles

- Belichick Takes a Trip Down Memory Lane:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/a-football-life/09000d5d82246b02/A-Football-Life-Belichick-takes-a-trip-down-memory-lane

Jack Del Rio Joins Brian Billick on The Coaches Show LIVE from the NFL Experience Friday, February 3 at 6:30 PM ET

The new defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos Jack Del Rio joins former NFL head coach Brian Billick live on The Coaches Show Friday, February 3 at 6:30 PM ET from the NFL Experience.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 NFL NETWORK’S SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

8:00 AM – The Rich Eisen Podcast

8:30 AM – Super Bowl Live – LIVE coverage of Super Bowl press conferences

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick press conference
NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year press conference
NFL Don Shula Coach of the Year press conference
New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin press conference
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell press conference

12:30 PM – Super Bowl Live – LIVE from Super Bowl Media Center

6:00 PM – Playbook

6:30 PM – The Coaches Show – LIVE

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl – LIVE from NFL Experience

8:00 PM – Brady 6

9:00 PM – Bill Belichick: A Football Life – Part I

10:00 PM – Bill Belichick: A Football Life – Part II

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl

12 MIDNIGHT – Super Bowl Classic: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots – Super Bowl XLII

3:00 AM – Playbook

3:30 AM – The Rich Eisen Podcast

– NFL NETWORK –

2012 ESPNU National Signing Day Rewind: Notes, Quotes and Photos

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:45:49 +0000

2012 ESPNU National Signing Day Rewind: Notes, Quotes and Photos

ESPNU’s National Signing Day Special provided the day’s most comprehensive coverage with 10-hours of programming that included 15 ESPNU150 player interviews, 11 recruits making their exclusive commitment on air, reporters at 13 college campuses and more than 35 interviews with head coaches.

Throughout the day hosts Rece Davis and Dari Nowkhah were joined by an assembled team of experts in scouting, recruiting, playing and coaching college football. Senior national recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill and recruiting analyst Craig Haubert discussed major recruits and programs alongside former head coaches Mike Bellotti, Randy Shannon and Butch Davis; college football analysts Rod Gilmore and David Pollack; regional recruiting coordinators Corey Long, Jamie Newberg; and ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach.

ESPNU 150 Players Quotes and Commitments…

No. 17 Josh Harvey-Clemons, committed to Georgia

“I didn’t get any sleep. I went to sleep at three-something in the morning…just thinking about it,” on making his decision.
“Nobody that’s a great player should leave your state” said Luginbill on Clemons’ decision to stay in Georgia.

No. 18 Tracy Howard, committed to Miami

“I looked at the overall picture of it from an academic standpoint to an opportunity standpoint. I’ve got a great rapport with the coaches…why not do it here, in my hometown, in my city.”
“People just don’t understand how much pressure there is on top 30 players to stay in the state. In Dade, Broward and Palm Beach county, those kids have such an allegiance. It’s very hard for those kids in South Florida to leave,” said Butch Davis on Tracy’s decision to play at Miami.

No. 10 Eddie Goldman, committed to FSU

“I’m going to be surrounded by a lot of talent. I’m just going to do my best to contribute…Go Noles!”
“The last few days we started feeling better. He was a very unique recruit. He really listened, he really paid attention, a lot of eye contact during the visits…We don’t ever promise to play, we promise an opportunity,” said Jimbo Fisher later in the day on ESPNU.

No. 3 Dorial Green-Beckham, committed to Missouri

“The whole atmosphere has been outstanding for me to fulfill my dreams at the University of Missouri…it’s a big opportunity to be you, to have all my friends and family, mom and dad, to follow me no matter where I go.”
“To have this caliber player stay home…it’s going to pay dividends for future recruiting classes,” said Butch Davis on Beckham’s decision to play at Missouri.

No. 9 Andrus Peat, committed to Stanford

“I was really impressed by the coaching staff and I felt really comfortable on campus and I think it’s just a great opportunity for me to reach my full potential athletically and academically…It’s an offensive man’s dream. Just the way they play football.”
Luginbill on Stanford’s national recruiting success, “What Stanford has been able to do. They have won. They have been to BCS bowl games…now what I want to see is how good of a football team is Stanford going to be without Andrew Luck.”

No. 29 Kwon Alexander, committed to LSU

“I woke up this morning with a smile on my face, knowing what team I was going to go to,” on his decision.
LSU recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson explained watching Kwon’s announcement to Holly Rowe “We were nervous, it (his suspenders) looked a little red, a little blue, it looked like it might be auburn colors, but then we were really excited, once we knew (it was LSU).”

Trea Elston, committed to Ole Miss

“It’s been a hard decision. I just prayed and my family prayed for me and I made my decision last night…I chose Ole Miss because I felt like family there.”
“From Oxford to Oxford,” commented Nowkhah on Elston’s hometown to college town.

No. 33 Thomas Johnson, committed to Texas A&M

“It’s a great school, great academics, I think they are going to give me the greatest opportunity to produce…( I knew) as soon as I set foot on campus.”
“There may not be a better receiver in this class at getting off the line of scrimmage than Thomas Johnson” said Luginbill on what he will bring at the next level.

No. 47 Nelson Agholor, committed to USC

“My coach told me to ‘go with your feeling, go with your heart’…I am excited to catch passes from a Heisman candidate, Matt Barkley.”

“These guys are ready to play. They are made for instant success…All the guys on the roster have to be ready to play football next year,” said Bellotti on the USC team.

No. 61 Avery Young, committed to Auburn

“That’s the question…I think I am going War Eagle baby, all the way!” on where he was going to school.
“I think Avery Young has a huge ceiling for potential,” said Luginbill.

Coach interview highlights…

Dabo Swinney on the Clemson team’s future, “Our players are our greatest ambassadors. We won this conference for the first time in 20 years, and first time in 20-plus years we have had back-to-back top 10 classes. Hopefully that is a real sign of what is to come for us.”
Urban Meyer on impact of NCAA sanctions on Ohio State, “It was all damage control and probably for two or three weeks. That was something we didn’t expect, something we didn’t have control over, but what we had to do was go out and talk to them, be proactive and hit it on the front end, not the back end.”
Meyer on Ohio State’s class, “Very very solid. I don’t like to use the word ‘great’, but at the end of the day I think we are going to be ranked high…I love our defensive line. That’s the strength of this team.”
Lane Kiffin on the USC recruiting class. “The guys we signed today were not concerned about depth charts or playing time. They were excited to be playing with the best.”
Steve Spurrier on his 2012 South Carolina class, “Good solid class. A lot of good players at a lot of different positions.”
UCLA coach Jim Mora on recruit Ellis McCarthy, “He’s a kid who has size, strength and speed and plays with tenacity. It seems he really loves the game and we are just excited he’s going to be playing defense for us.”
Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, “Best size that we’ve gotten, being our fourth year. We probably addressed our needs better than we have before.”
Newly named Rutgers coach Kyle Flood on his first week, “Someday I’m going to write a book. It’s going to be called, The Four Days that Changed My Life.”
Tennessee coach Derek Dooley on positions filled today, “It’s a rare deal where we don’t sign an offensive lineman. I don’t think it will ever happen again, but over the last 20 months we’ve brought 11 offensive lineman…We felt like we need to put our emphasis on offensive skill and defensive football players.”
Les Miles on how he would describe his LSU recruiting class, “What we needed. We needed to answer some questions and we did that.”
Florida coach Will Muschamp on surprise commitments, “On signing day you never know what’s going to happen.”
Brian Kelly on recruits choosing Notre Dame, “It’s a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision.”
James Franklin on Vanderbilt’s class within the SEC, “We’re in the SEC. It’s a completely different animal. Being in this conference, seeing what we are up against, I think it’s a positive for us.”
Baylor’s Art Briles on the next Robert Griffin III, “I don’t think there is another one, but we were so fortunate to have him for the last few years.”
Mac Brown on Texas, “We are a better football team tonight, than we were this morning.”
Al Golden on the type of players he wants at Miami “It’s easy to go to a school on top and it takes a little more courage to be someone that fashions themselves as someone who can build it.”

ESPNU Recruiting Quotes…

Luginbill on the Alabama recruiting class: “The Crimson Tide: the rich keep getting richer.”
Butch Davis on recruits concerns about a team’s depth chart, “Absolutely one of the biggest turnoffs. When kids are worried about the competition – how many guys are playing at a certain position? It really bothers you because they don’t have enough confidence that they are going to come in and be that guy. I love the guy who looks at the roster and says ‘I don’t care who’s on the roster, I’m going to beat them all.”
Longhorn Network host Lowell Galindo on the day at Texas, “For the first time, in a long time, its positive pandemonium in Texas.”
Pedro Gomez reporting from Penn State, “New coach Bill O’Brien said he couldn’t care less about the rankings. He just wants players who are interested in being at Penn State.”
Haubert on players like Torshio Davis decommitting, “They (LSU) rarely lose in-state players and for Texas to be able to get a player off the edge who can be a real speed rushing threat, I think that was a bit of a shock coming in to today.”
Shannon on Florida recruiting, “You go in, you sell your program and what you are trying to accomplish… Everyone will tell you it’s a battle between the three (Florida) schools. It’s not. It’s everybody.”
“Everybody is going to celebrate tonight. Every coach thinks they have a great class,” said Butch Davis on what’s ahead for the coaching staffs after National Signing Day.
Luginbill’s biggest surprises of the day, “Texas Tech, I think Tommy Tuberville did a great job adding play makers… And most notable, Rutgers. Rutgers came in to today with an already strong class…It’s one thing to keep the good guys in the fold, it’s another thing to go out and secure the best guy in your state.”
Pollack’s biggest surprises, “How about Stanford, improving their power and getting a few of the best offensive lineman in the country, and then Harvey-Clemons – What is he going to do? Poor kid, it’s a tough spot.”

More information on ESPN RecruitingNation’s Final Top 25 Rankings here.

ESPNU
The 24-hour college sports television network airs more than 650 live events annually and offers over 600 original studio shows. ESPNU has seen a steady increase since its inception on March 4, 2005 and is now in over 73 million households. The brand is also available in high definition on ESPNUHD, now in over 20 million homes. The network has long-term carriage agreements with all 10 of the top multichannel TV providers – Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV (Channel 208), DISH Network (Channel 141), Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS TV and AT&T U-verse.

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NFL Network at Super Bowl XLVI: What’s on ‘NFL GameDay Morning’ — Sunday, February 5 at 9:00 AM ET

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:23:38 +0000

Kurt Warner 1-on-1 with Giants Eli Manning & Willie McGinest Sit Down with Tom Brady & Much More on 8 ½ Hour Pregame Show

Special Guest Analyst Packers CB Charles Woodson Joins NFL Network’s Roster of 21 Analysts, Hosts & Reporters

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network’s pregame show, NFL GameDay Morning will provide 8 ½ hours of live coverage starting at 9:00 AM ET with 21 on-air personalities who have won a total of 14 Super Bowl rings. NFL GameDay Morning is live from seven locations, including two sets at Lucas Oil Stadium. Additional locations include the Giants and Patriots team hotels, the NFL Tailgate, the Super Bowl Village, and with the fans at Super Bowl parties in New York and Foxborough restaurants.

NFL GameDay Morning features host Rich Eisen joined by Super Bowl winners Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp, along with Steve Mariucci. The special Super Bowl edition also includes host Melissa Stark on a second set along with Super Bowl winners Deion Sanders, Willie McGinest, Heath Evans and Brian Billick previewing the game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

Super Bowl-winning cornerback of the Green Bay Packers Charles Woodson joins the set as a special guest analyst to provide insight into the game and his own experience playing in last year’s Super Bowl.

Actor Dan Lauria returns in his role as Vince Lombardi to prepare the Giants and the Patriots for Super Bowl XLVI.

The following are highlights of Sunday’s Super Bowl pregame show on NFL Network:

9:00 AM ET

What to look for in Super Bowl XLVI with Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci

Melissa Stark on “The Patriot Way” – how Bill Belichick turns spare parts into champions; includes interviews with Patriots Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater and Aaron Hernandez

10:00 AM ET

NFL Films-produced feature goes “Back to the Future” to show the similarities between the Giants’ late-season runs in 2007 and 2011

The NFL Season: A Biography examines the unique relationship between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his mentor Tom Martinez, who is waiting for a kidney transplant:

(Advanced preview of the feature): http://ftp2.nflfilmstv.com/filmsint/ftp-inet/flashplayer.html?s_video=Preview/the_season_more_than_a_mentor_v1_600ws.flv

Analysts Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin highlight the key matchups

11:00 AM ET

Feature on how “The Catch” in Super Bowl XLII changed former Giants wide receiver David Tyree’s life

Michael Lombardi on how Bill Belichick uses the Patriots’ loss in Super Bowl XLII to motivate his players

Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders discuss the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012

Players Only: The best and worst parts of Super Bowl week

12 Noon ET

Actor/comedian and Boston sports fan Dennis Leary pays tribute to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady

Steve Cyphers visits the Norman Lear Center for research and public policy at the USC Annenberg School for Communication to investigate why America was obsessed with Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow during the 2011 NFL season

Deion Sanders, Brian Billick and Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson discuss how winning the Super Bowl has changed their lives

1:00 PM ET

Steve Cyphers on the anxiety of the Manning Family on Super Bowl Sunday

NFL Network analysts debate if Eli Manning wins Super Bowl XLVI, which Manning has achieved more in his career?

NFL Films presents piece on the emotional year Patriots owner Robert Kraft has experienced with the passing of his wife and the Patriots winning the AFC title.

Former New England linebacker Willie McGinest on the impact of the Kraft Family on the Patriots

2:00 PM ET

Three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest sits down with his former teammate Tom Brady for a 1-on-1 interview

Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin debate the hot topics of Super Bowl XLVI

3:00 – 5:30 PM ET

Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Kurt Warner sits down with Super Bowl XLII MVP and former teammate Eli Manning for a 1-on-1 interview:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d8267a9e4/Sunday-Sitdown-Eli-Manning

Essay written by Indiana native Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated on what hosting the Super Bowl means to the Hoosier State

Stars of the upcoming film “That’s My Boy,” Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg join the set

Tale of the Tape: how the Giants and Patriots match up at quarterback (Kurt Warner), running back (Marshall Faulk), wide receiver (Michael Irvin), on defense (Warren Sapp) and coaching (Steve Mariucci).

Super Bowl XLVI MVP picks

Game picks

***Immediately after the NBC postgame show – NFL GameDay Final

Host Rich Eisen and analysts Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin provide analysis and highlights from the field, plus live interviews with all the stars of the game and the winning coach. Albert Breer, Stacey Dales and Lindsay Soto provide interviews following the game.

NFL GameDay Morning Super Bowl Pregame Show Roster

Michael Irvin: Analyst (3 Super Bowl rings)

Deion Sanders: Analyst (2 Super Bowl ring)

Marshall Faulk: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)

Kurt Warner: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)

Warren Sapp: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)

Charles Woodson: Guest Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)

Willie McGinest: Analyst (3 Super Bowl rings)

Brian Billick: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)

Heath Evans: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)

Steve Mariucci: Analyst

Rich Eisen: Host

Melissa Stark: Host

Fran Charles: Host

Michelle Beisner: Reporter

Albert Breer: Reporter

Stacey Dales: Reporter

Steve Cyphers: Reporter

Jason La Canfora: Reporter

Michael Lombardi: Reporter

Ari Wolfe: Reporter

Steve Wyche: Reporter

– NFL NETWORK –

Super Bowl XLVI Predictions from ESPN

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:09:38 +0000

ESPN on-air personalities offer their predictions for Super Bowl XLVI and the votes are split right down the middle. Of the 34 ESPN picks, 17 chose the Patriots, while 17 selected the Giants as the anticipated winner of this year’s Super Bowl game in Indianapolis:

Picking the Patriots:

Chris Berman, Host, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown: 27-23: “Much respect to the Giants, but I think Tom Brady is ready to top even himself.”

Tedy Bruschi, NFL Live analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker with the Patriots: 27-24: “Stephen Gostowski writes his name next to Adam Vinatieri in the book of Super Bowl heroes with a game-winning kick as time expires.”

John Clayton, ESPN.com senior NFL writer: 24-20. “It’s hard to beat Tom Brady three times in a row at his game of comeback football in the fourth quarter. Though I worry about the Patriots’ defense, I think Brady and Bill Belichick will find a way to squeak out a victory.”

Colin Cowherd, Host, ESPN Radio’s The Herd: 28-27: “The media coverage and the tenor of the Super Bowl has been overwhelmingly New York, and I sense an upset.”

Trent Dilfer, Monday Night Countdown analyst and Super Bowl champion quarterback: 28-27: “My brain tells me the matchups are in the Giants’ favor, but my gut tells me the revenge factor wins out.”

Herm Edwards, NFL Live analyst: 31-27: “From what I’ve seen the past five weeks, the Giants are the best team going into this game, BUT it’s going to boil down to red zone offense. I see Tom Brady throwing four touchdowns and Eli Manning throwing three.”

Jon Gruden, Monday Night Football analyst and Super Bowl champion coach: 30-27: “I don’t think you can get Tom Brady twice in the same game.”

Tim Hasselbeck, NFL Live analyst: 27-24: “Even though I see this as a bad matchup for the Patriots, I believe their ability to control the tempo on offense will be the difference in the game and will prevent Tom Brady from getting hit too often.”

Eric Mangini, NFL Live and First Take analyst, and former assistant coach with the Super Bowl champion Patriots: 34-31: “The Giants have become the trendy pick and I understand why. Tom Brady, however, is going to have better answers to the problems New York can create and he will take advantage of the Giants’ inconsistent disguise. Both teams will score a lot of points and it will probably come down to who has the ball last.”

Kenny Mayne, Sunday NFL Countdown contributor: 31-30: “I take New England by one point because that’s the minimum a team can win by and I see it as a pick ‘em game. If Ed Hochuli can explain in 30 minutes or fewer how a team can win by less than a point I will believe him and make that my prediction.”

Sal Paolantonio, NFL correspondent: 31-27: “We’re in the middle of a trilogy. Super Bowl XLII was a new hope, and you can’t have a ‘Return of the Jedi’ without the ‘Empire Strikes Back’.”

Ryen Russillo, Scott Van Pelt Show co-host: 24-20: “The Patriots will have a similar game plan to what they did against Baltimore to neutralize the Giants’ front.”

Adam Schefter, NFL Insider: 27-16. “The Giants are the better and more complete team. But they also have to figure out a way to beat Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the memory of Myra Kraft.”

Mark Schlereth, NFL Live analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion: 27-24: “Everything points to the New York Giants but Bill Belichick will have a one-back plan that attacks the Giants’ NASCAR front and keeps pressure off Brady.”

Mike Tirico, Monday Night Football play-by-play commentator: 28-22: “It’s hard for me to think that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will lose their second Super Bowl in four years to the Giants.”

Scott Van Pelt, SportsCenter anchor and ESPN Radio host: 23-20: “The entire basis of this pick is Tom Brady and that’s ridiculous.”

Trey Wingo, NFL Live and NFL PrimeTime host: 27-24: “Every matchup favors the Giants, so of course I’m going with the Patriots.”

Picking the Giants:

Michelle Beadle, Co-host, SportsNation: 28-25: “The Giants will ride the momentum train and the backs of their defense — and I don’t like the Patriots.”

Cris Carter, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst: 27-24: “All I can say is ‘salsa’.”

Mike Ditka, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst: 24-17: “The Giants are better on both sides of the ball, and the Patriots are going to have a tough time scoring a lot of points against this defense.”

Mike Golic, NFL Live analyst and co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning: 24-20: “Right now the Giants are playing better than the Patriots, and I think they’re a more balanced team. It could come down to who has the ball last, but I have a lot of faith in Eli if they have the ball last to do what he did in week 9 against the Patriots.”

Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning and SportsCenter anchor: 34-20: “I like the Giants in a big way – a big way for Big Blue. They are the healthier team, and that’s the most important factor. They’re the hotter team, and, frankly, they’re the better team. I like the Giants and I don’t think it’s that close.”

Merril Hoge, NFL Live, NFL Matchup and NFL PrimeTime analyst: 27-20: “The NFL is about matchups and all the matchups are in the Giants’ favor, and they just need to execute.”

Gary Horton, ESPN Scouts Inc.: 23-17: “The difference in this game is the evolving three-wide receiver package the we didn’t see early on. The Giants can match the Patriots offensive explosiveness and they are playing at a higher level.”

Tom Jackson, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst: 24-20: “All of the emotional intangibles are in the Patriots’ favor but I believe the Giants are a better football team – and a healthier team.”

Ron Jaworski, Monday Night Football and NFL Matchup analyst: 27-21: “Eli’s on a roll and Hakeem Nicks has a big game against the Patriots’ makeshift secondary.”

Suzy Kolber, NFL32 host: 27-24: “Finally healthy, the Giants defense is the force they hoped it would be before the season started. Their unique pass rushing ability can get Brady off his mark. Offensively, no quarterback has been more clutch this season than Eli Manning and he’s complimented by two additional weapons that weren’t available to him when they beat the Patriots in week 9.”

Steve Levy, SportsCenter anchor: 31-30: “Eli is now just as cool as Brady, although in a different way.”

Chris Mortensen, NFL senior analyst and NFL32 co-host: 34-24: “Everybody wants to talk about the last time these two teams played in the Super Bowl. That’s irrelevant. This time the Giants are just the better team. They have played a tougher schedule and are more battle-tested.”

Antonio Pierce, NFL Live analyst and Super Bowl XLII champion with the New York Giants: 29-27: “Eli Manning in the fourth quarter doing what he has done all year long – throw a game-winning touchdown.”

Rick Reilly, Contributor, Monday Night Countdown: 25-24: “Sixty-five thousand people will learn to salsa at Lucas Oil Stadium.”

Jerry Rice, NFL Live analyst and four-time Super Bowl champion: 28-21: “The Giants are too strong on defense with Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Osi Umenyiora, who hopefully shows up for the football game. Also, the Patriots don’t have the secondary to keep up.”

Stuart Scott, Anchor, SportsCenter, and Co-Host, Monday Night Countdown: 31-27: “I always expect greatness out of Tom Brady, but I just don’t know how New England’s secondary is going to contain Manningham, Cruz and Nicks.”

Damien Woody, NFL Live analyst and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots: 27-24: “The Giants have two things in their favor: a hot quarterback in Eli Manning that can expose a poor New England secondary and a pass rush that can get after Tom Brady.”

Note: Game predictions for ESPN’s Keyshawn Johnson and Steve Young will be revealed during this weekend’s Super Bowl Sunday edition of Sunday NFL Countdown (10 a.m. ET).

Other ESPN predictions…

ESPN.com writers:

Dan Graziano, NFC East ESPN.com blogger: Giants, 31-24.

“The Giants weren’t the best team in the NFL for most of this season, but they have been for the past six weeks. Eli Manning should torch an overmatched New England secondary. Frankly, the Giants’ past two opponents were tougher than this one.”

James Walker, AFC East ESPN.com blogger: Patriots, 27-24

“I picked the Patriots in the preseason, so there’s no point in backing out now. I doubt Tom Brady will have two bad games in a row, especially against an inconsistent Giants secondary.”

Kevin Seifert, NFC North ESPN.com blogger: Giants, 27-21

“The Giants’ defensive line overpowered the Patriots four years ago and is in position to do the same Sunday.”

Jamison Hensley, AFC North ESPN.com blogger: Patriots, 31-20

“Tom Brady didn’t play well in the AFC Championship game and he remembers losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl four years ago. A motivated Brady is a dangerous one. He will prove that you don’t need a defense to win a ring.”

Pat Yasinskas, NFC South ESPN.com blogger: Giants, 28-24

“Most people think Bill Belichick is the best coach in the world. I think Tom Coughlin’s at least as good and a victory against Belichick will open the way for Coughlin to get the recognition he deserves.”

Paul Kuharsky, AFC South ESPN.com blogger: Giants, 27-23

“Hardly rocket science, but I envision the New York pass rush and the New England pass defense being the biggest factors in the game. Still, with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady cast as ‘underdogs’, the Patriots are scary.”

Mike Sando, NFC West ESPN.com blogger: Patriots, 27-23

“I’ll stick with my preseason prediction/guess, so New England, it is. But all the pressure is on the Patriots, same as four years ago.”

Bill Williamson, AFC West ESPN.com blogger: Patriots, 27-17

“Eli Manning won’t grab another Super Bowl ring on Tom Brady’s watch. Brady adds to his legacy as one of the best Super Bowl performers of all time with a masterful performance against a strong defense.”

Jeffri Chadiha, ESPN.com National NFL writer: Giants, 28-24

“New York has enough defense to control Tom Brady and Co. New England can’t say the same when it comes to stopping the Giants’ balanced offense.”

Ashley Fox, ESPN.com National NFL writer: Giants, 27-24

“The Giants are on a Packers-esque roll and the Patriots haven’t lit the playoffs on fire. Manning will torch the New England secondary to get his second ring in big brother’s house.”

Greg Garber, ESPN.com senior writer: Giants, 16-13

“Revenge is swee — oh, wait. Giants’ defense is marginally better than the Patriots’.”

Mike Reiss, ESPNBoston.com Patriots writer — Patriots 30-20

This reminds me of the Nov. 13 game at the Jets, a contest in which many predicted trouble for the Patriots but the team came through. I think they do it again. While there is respect for the Giants’ pass rush, it’s not like opponents have been completely shut down by the unit. I expect some points from a faster-paced attack and quarterback Tom Brady to play better and limit mistakes. On the opposite side, the improved defense limits the run and forces Eli Manning into some long-yardage situations and that’s when the Patriots can dial up some pressure. Promises to be a good one.

Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPNNY.com Giants writer: Giants, 31-27

“Eli Manning is a better quarterback than he was in SB XLII. He also has more dangerous receivers. The Patriots won’t be able to stop Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz or Mario Manningham — someone will be open — and they don’t want to give Manning the ball for a last-minute drive again. Much of the attention has been on the Giants pass rush but the secondary and linebackers will come up big like it did against Green Bay.”

Rich Cimini, ESPNNY.com NFL writer: Giants, 31-27

“The Giants are more balanced on both sides of the ball. Eli Manning should pick apart the Patriots’ patchwork secondary, but don’t be surprised if the running game — Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs — emerges as the story.”

*** To view more ESPN expert picks, visit ESPN.com by clicking here.

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Fans Can Re-Live Super Bowl XLVI With The Swipe Of A Finger As NFL Launches First-Ever Commemorative Super Bowl App

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:09:17 +0000

Tablet App Features Extended Game Highlights, Key Play Breakdown, Interactive 360 Degree Photo and More

For the first time, the NFL is publishing a Super Bowl XLVI Commemorative App presented by NFL Magazine. The tablet app is the ultimate NFL digital keepsake that chronicles the New York Giants’ and New England Patriots’ road to Super Bowl XLVI.

Available today on both Android and Apple products, the Super Bowl app offers season recaps for both teams, player video-highlight reels, interactive polls, Super Bowl history, and the best photos from each team’s championship season.

After Super Bowl XLVI, the app will celebrate the winning team with extended highlights of the game, expert breakdown of key plays, video of on-field interviews, presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the interview with the MVP and, NFL.com editorial coverage of its championship, an interactive 360-degree game day stadium photo, and more.

The Super Bowl XLVI app is on sale at a pre-game discount of $2.99 – less than half of the post-game price. Users can download the app by visiting the Android Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.nfl.sbxlvicommemorative) and iTunes App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id497584043?mt=8).

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Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Announced Live on NFL Network

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:57:14 +0000

Enshrinees Unveiled Saturday, February 4 at 5:30 PM ET on

Road to Canton: Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2012 presented by Allstate

In a special ceremony the day before Super Bowl XLVI, NFL Network will announce the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees on Saturday, February 4 at 5:30 PM ET on Road to Canton: Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2012 presented by Allstate.

From the Super Bowl Media Center in Indianapolis, Fran Charles hosts alongside Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Fouts and Warren Moon. They will be joined by the new enshrinees and current Hall of Fame members for interviews. In addition, the show will cover the process that determines who is inducted and the toughest decisions that were made this year. Portions of the announcement ceremony will also be available live on NFL.com.

Allstate is in its first year as the presenting sponsor of The Road to Canton: Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement show. As part of its three-year partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Allstate is also honoring Hall of Famers with its “Hometown Hall of Famers” program, a national initiative that honors the hometown roots of pro football’s greatest players with special ceremonies and plaque dedication events in local communities.

Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 are Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Jack Butler, Cris Carter, Dermontti Dawson, Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Chris Doleman, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells, Andre Reed, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Dick Stanfel, and Aeneas Williams. For more information, please visit www.profootballhof.com.

Following the Hall of Fame announcement, NFL Network continues its live coverage at 7:00 PM ET with a one-hour NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl. Then at 8:00 PM ET, the Super Bowl Saturday Night debuts on NFL Network.

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.