September 3, 2010

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Final Week of Preseason 2010 Features Live Doubleheader Between Patriots-Giants & Redskins-Cardinals Thursday Beginning at 7:00 PM ET — NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (9/1-9/7)

September 2, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (9/1-9/7)

FINAL WEEK OF PRESEASON 2010 FEATURES LIVE DOUBLEHEADER ON NFL NETWORK:

Patriots at Giants Thursday at 7:00 PM ET

Redskins at Cardinals Thursday at 10:00 PM ET

Series Premiere of The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players Friday at 10:00 PM ET

Trio of NFL Network Specials Tuesday, September 7:

Around the Table: 2010 Season Preview at 8:00 PM ET

Episode #2 of The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players at 9:00 PM ET

Sinner to Saint: Anthony Hargrove’s Super Bowl Journey at 10:00 PM ET

Final Preseason Game Line-Up LIVE Doubleheader with Patriots vs. Giants at 7:00 PM ET and Redskins vs. Cardinals at 10:00 PM ET Thursday

It’s the final week of the preseason and players around the league know this is their time to shine and possibly their last chance to impress.

NFL Network’s complete coverage of the 2010 Preseason comes to a close this week with 16 matchups, including a live doubleheader Thursday starting at 7:00 PM ET with the New England Patriots vs. New York Giants, followed by Redskins vs. Cardinals at 10:00 PM ET.

Giants rookie WR Victor Cruz has caught the attention of fans and defenders alike, leading the NFL this preseason with 251 yards and four TDs, while Patriots rookie TE Rob Gronkowski looks to follow up on a solid performance last week vs. St. Louis, where he tallied two touchdown catches.

Head coach Mike Shanahan and the Washington Redskins get their last preseason warm up in the desert versus the Cardinals, who still have position battles to settle, particularly at quarterback between Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson.

First Episode of NFL Network Series “The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players” Premieres Friday at 10:00 PM ET

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The highly anticipated debut of the NFL Films-produced series The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players has finally arrived with numbers 100 through 91 being revealed Friday, September 3 at 10:00 PM ET on NFL Network.

The series, rolling out over 10 one-hour episodes this fall, reveals the greatest players of all-time, counting down from 100 to 1, as determined by a blue-ribbon panel of knowledgeable football minds that includes Ernie Accorsi (former Giants General Manager), Cris Collinsworth (former player and NBC game analyst), Mike Brown (Bengals Owner), Pat Summerall (former NFL sportscaster), Dick Vermeil (former NFL head coach) and Peter King (NFL writer).

As each member of the Top 100 is revealed, their story is told by a single “presenter” – chosen from the worlds of sports, politics, film, television and literature – who possesses particular interest in that player and insight into his greatness. Featured presenters in the premiere episode include Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and John Randall, filmmaker Spike Lee, Senator Amy Klobuchar and former Packers GM Ron Wolf.

***Episode #2 debuts on a special date and time Kickoff week of Tuesday, September 7 at 9:00 PM ET before falling into its regular time Thursday at 9:00 PM ET September 16.***

Trio of NFL Network Specials to Air Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET Include Around the Table: 2010 NFL Season Preview at 8:00 PM ET and Sinner to Saint: Anthony Hargrove’s Super Bowl Journey at 10:00 PM ET

NFL Network’s primetime lineup Tuesday, September 7 features three network specials to get viewers ready for the 2010 season. At 8:00 PM ET, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin sit down to discuss the hottest storylines that sit as the framework to another exciting NFL season on Around the Table: 2010 Season Preview. No topic is left untouched as the foursome debate and discuss everything from Darrelle Revis status with the Jets to what Brett Favre’s return means for the Vikings.

At 9:00 PM ET, Episode #2 of The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players debuts on a special Kickoff week date and time, revealing 90-81 of Pro Football’s greatest, followed at 10:00 PM ET by Sinner to Saint: Anthony Hargrove’s Super Bowl Journey. This compelling one-hour special chronicles the life Saints DE Anthony Hargrove, who after being kicked out of the NFL following multiple failed drug tests, confronts his dark past and substance abuse issues to receive a second chance with the New Orleans Saints that materialized into a Super Bowl championship.

Told from Hargrove’s own words, the one-hour NFL Network-produced documentary also features interviews with Saints head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis, Rams RB Steven Jackson and numerous members of Hargrove’s support team including therapists, counselors and family members.

For a clip from Sinner to Saint: Anthony Hargrove’s Super Bowl Journey, please visit: http://ftp2.nflfilmstv.com/filmsint/ftp-inet/flashplayer.html?s_video=Preview/sbj_hargrove_trailer_83110_600ws.flv

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS: Coverage of Week 4 Preseason Doubleheader Thursday

Thursday, August 26

  • Michael Lombardi goes ‘Around the League’
  • Full coverage of Week 4 Preseason doubleheader featuring Patriots vs. Giants and Redskins vs. Cardinals

Friday, August 27

  • Jason La Canfora reports from NFL Network headquarters

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM: Chat with NFL Insiders as Preseason Winds Down

Thursday, September 2

  • CHAT: Steve Wyche (12:00 NOON ET)
  • CHAT: Bucky Brooks (2:00 PM ET)

Friday, September 3

  • CHAT: Vic Carucci (12 NOON ET)

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

Wednesday, September 1

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at New York Jets (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Preseason Game: New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens (HD)

Thursday, September 2

9:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans (HD)

12 NOON – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at New York Jets (HD)

3:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: New England Patriots at New York Giants (HD) – LIVE

10:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals (HD) – LIVE

Friday, September 3

1:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers (HD)

4:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Undrafted Players (HD)

5:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Single-Season Performances

6:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans (HD)

9:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Baltimore Ravens at St. Louis Rams (HD)

12 NOON – NFL Preseason Game: Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions (HD)

3:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys (HD)

10:00 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 1 (HD) – DEBUT

11:00 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 1 (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Preseason Game: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

Saturday, September 4

4:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions (HD)

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Roster Cuts (HD) – TWO HOUR SPECIAL

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders (HD)

Sunday, September 5

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans (HD)

5:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Worst Teams

6:00 AM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 1 (HD)

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: New England Patriots at New York Giants (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings (HD)

7:00 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 1 (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers (HD)

Monday, September 6

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals (HD)

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XLIV – New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

10:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:30 PM – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XLIV – New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

Tuesday, September 7

5:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns (HD)

8:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

11:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans (HD)

2:00 PM – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XLIV – New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XLIV – New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

5:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Around the Table: 2010 NFL Season Preview (HD) – DEBUT

9:00 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 2 (HD) – DEBUT

10:00 PM – Sinner to Saint: Anthony Hargrove’s Super Bowl Journey (HD) – DEBUT

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

2010 Monday Night Football Chalk Talk Series

September 2, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

2010 Monday Night Football Chalk Talk Series

Kickoff Event at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York September 13 with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Jets Owner Woody Johnson and ESPN President George Bodenheimer

The Monday Night Football Chalk Talk Series is back for its fourth year with seven planned events during the 2010 NFL season. The series will kick off Monday, September 13 at Cipriani 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan before the season-opening MNF game between the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

The MNF Chalk Talk Series renews a tradition that originally began in the 1970s with local luncheon events in the early years of sports television’s signature series.  On-air personalities in town to cover the game shared their insider perspectives with invited guests from the local community.  ESPN and the NFL launched the Chalk Talk Series in 2007 to showcase the teams and host cities participating in the weekly MNF primetime games.

This fall, ESPN commentators will participate in the luncheons, along with prominent alumni players from the competing teams, who will take part in panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions. The rotation of ESPN NFL experts will include Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski from the MNF booth, and reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya. Local ESPN Radio personalities in each city will also help emcee the programs.

An All Pro lineup will kick off the ESPN series Sept. 13 in New York. ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap will host with Greg Buttle, former Jets linebacker and co-host of 1050 ESPN Radio’s Jets Gameday show. Anticipated guests will include NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Jets Chairman and CEO Woody Johnson, and ESPN President George Bodenheimer. The MNF trio of Tirico, Gruden and Jaworski is scheduled to be part of the program, as are Jets alumni players Wayne Chrebet, Joe Klecko and Ken O’Brien, and former Ravens kicker Matt Stover.

“The Chalk Talk Series is a unique opportunity for ESPN to work with the NFL, the teams and sponsors to celebrate the game of football and the Monday Night Football franchise,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, programming acquisitions & strategy. “We are thrilled to continue this successful program for a fourth season with seven events this fall, including our first in New York before the primetime opener at the New Meadowlands Stadium.”

National sponsor Dick’s Sporting Goods will continue its involvement in the program for the fourth year, along with sponsors Bud Light, Geico, Snickers, Toyota and Head & Shoulders.

Following the opening event in New York, the series will continue at Carnivale Chicago before the Packers- Bears game (Sept. 27); at Sun Life Stadium in South Florida (Oct. 4) and at Cowboys Stadium (Oct. 25), site of the NFC East MNF matchup between the Giants and Cowboys, as well as Super Bowl XLV.  Some 300 guests will be part of each MNF Chalk Talk Series event with invitations going to local civic and business leaders, sponsors and fans.  Events are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. in most cities on MNF game days.

Chalk Talk Series events will also include an ESPN RISE Above Award segment. One male and one female student-athlete in each city will be honored with a student-athlete award for overcoming adversity and excelling in their sports while motivating teammates/classmates to excel as well. Deserving students will be identified by the MNF host teams; the recipients will be selected by NFL Community Affairs, Team ESPN and ESPN RISE, ESPN’s commitment to engage and elevate high school athletes by providing them with recognition, resources, information and inspiration to motivate them to improve their skills and achieve their goals on and off the field of play.

2010 Monday Night Football Chalk Talk Series:

Date Host City MNF Game Luncheon Site Time
Sept. 13 New York Ravens at Jets Cipriani 42nd Street 11:00 ET
Sept. 27 Chicago Packers at Bears Carnivale Chicago 11:30 CT
Oct. 4 Miami Patriots at Dolphins Sun Life Stadium 11:30 ET
Oct. 25 Dallas Giants at Cowboys Cowboys Stadium 11:30 CT
Nov. 1 Indianapolis Texans at Colts Union Station 11:30 ET
Nov. 8 Cincinnati Steelers at Bengals Cincinnati Music Hall 11:30 ET
Nov. 15 Washington Eagles at Redskins TBD 11:30 ET

ESPN’S MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

ESPN’s Monday Night Football is the most-watched series in cable television history.  In four seasons on ESPN, Monday Night Football has registered eight of the top 10 all-time biggest household audiences in cable history, led by the Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings telecast (10/5/09), which attracted cable’s largest household audience ever (an average of 15,136,000 million homes and 21,839,000 viewers). For the 2009 season, ESPN’s MNF delivered the 15 biggest household audiences (and top 14 among viewers) for cable television in 2009, averaging a 10.4 rating and 10,315,000 homes (14,382,000 viewers). It was also the first time on ESPN that the series averaged higher than a 10 rating and 14 million viewers for the season. Accompanying NFL content on ESPN.com, including “Monday Night HQ,” sparked an increase of Monday traffic to the site of 24% over the previous season with an average 84.6 million page views per week.

– 30 –

Filed Under: ESPN, NFL

Aikman: “Green Bay is the Team to Beat in the NFC North”

September 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

Reds Battle Cardinals in NL Central Race Saturday on FOX

Aikman, Johnson, Pereira, Shanks & Goren Preview 2010 NFL Season

Aikman: “Green Bay is the Team to Beat in the NFC North”

REDS-CARDS BATTLE FOR NL CENTRAL – It’s September and the home stretch is here as the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK presents three enticing matchups on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 4:00 PM ET. Triple Crown and MVP-candidate Joey Votto leads the Reds into St. Louis and look to put away Albert Pujols and the Cards. In Minneapolis, a pair of first-place teams look to solidify their playoff position as the Twins host the Rangers. Out West, the Padres aim to increase their NL West lead as they take on the Rockies. This week, the pregame show originates live from PETCO Park in San Diego with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins analyst Mark Grace in the booth.

For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX.  Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST COV.

Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals                          Dick Stockton, Tim McCarver                         44%

& Ken Rosenthal

Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Atlanta, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Greensboro, Greenville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond, St. Louis, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers: Travis Wood, LHP (4-2, 3.53 ERA) vs. Adam Wainwright, RHP (17-9, 2.30 ERA)

Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins                              Josh Lewin & Eric Karros                                37%

Target Field – Minneapolis, MN

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Myers, Hartford, Houston, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Portland, Providence, San Antonio, Seattle, Tampa

Probable Pitchers: Colby Lewis, RHP (9-11, 3.56 ERA) vs. Carl Pavano, RHP (15-10, 3.52 ERA)

Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres                       Chris Rose & Mark Grace                                18%

PETCO Park – San Diego, CA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco

Probable Pitchers: Jason Hammel, RHP (9-7, 4.32 ERA) vs. Clayton Richard, LHP (12-6, 3.50 ERA)

AIKMAN, JOHNSON, PEREIRA & SHANKS PREVIEW 2010 SEASON – NFL on FOX lead analyst and Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson, FOX Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira along with FOX Sports President Eric Shanks and FOX Sports Vice Chairman Ed Goren previewed FOX Sports’ NFL coverage and the 2010 season on a press call yesterday afternoon.

A replay of the entire call is now available by dialing 719-457-0820 and entering pass code 5222094 when prompted. The call can also be heard as an audio file by clicking on this link: http://video.foxsports.com/podcast/nflonfoxcall.mp3

TROY AIKMAN ON NFC NORTH

Packers – “I like Green Bay.  Aaron Rodgers is playing as well as anyone at the quarterback position.  I would expect his play to continue for the Packers.  Green Bay is the team to beat in the NFC North.”

Vikings – “Minnesota is awfully good but I’m a little concerned with Sidney Rice (hip surgery) going down. Percy Harvin (migraines) is a concern and that’s got to be a little unsettling as a quarterback.  Chester Taylor is a guy that they lost that’s more significant than what a lot of people have talked about.”

Bears – “I have tremendous respect for Mike Martz and the job that he’s able to do on the offensive side of the ball.  The turnovers and interceptions in particular are what needs to be cleaned up from Jay Cutler’s game and getting sacked as much as he has in a limited amount of time is another concern.  The Bears are a few players away from being able to contend.”

Lions – “Detroit is going to be a fun team to watch.  I have a vested in interest in Matthew Stafford, a local kid from where I live now, and would love to see him do well.  I think the Lions are starting to slowly put some players around him and the Lions could surprise a few teams.”

JIMMY JOHNSON ON PACKERS, VIKINGS, COWBOYS & NFC EAST

Packers – “I really like what Aaron Rodgers did last year and how good he’s looked in preseason.  The Packers have all the weapons offensively and I like their scheme on the offensive side of the ball.  I am a little concerned with some of the problems that they could have injury wise on defense.”

Vikings – “Even though they do have some concerns with the receivers, they still should be able to run the ball extremely well and they still play outstanding defense with the way they rush the passer.”

Cowboys – “You can’t be impressed with what the Cowboys have done in preseason but make no mistake about it that team is filled with talented players on both sides of the ball. Work ethic, toughness and chemistry on your team are what allow you to go out and play week in and week out.  The Cowboys are talented enough to turn it on once the season starts but I don’t know if they’ll have the consistency.  I am concerned about that offensive line and whether or not they can open up the holes and protect Tony Romo.”

MIKE PEREIRA ON UMPIRE REPOSITIONING

“The NFL first started experimenting with this in 1998 in NFL Europe and some preseason games.  Over the last year, they looked at the number of times the umpire got knocked down and felt that something needed to be done.  Now, we’re seeing that a couple things need to be worked out and maybe some things that weren’t anticipated. They need to figure out how to signal to the quarterback that the umpire positioned behind the offensive line is ready thus allowing the quarterback to snap the ball.  Secondly, they’re going to have to define what is normal position for the umpire in a hurry-up situation. Everyone knew adjustments were going to have to be made. It’s good they happened in Week 3 of the preseason so once we get into the season I don’t think it will be much of an issue.”

AIKMAN ON HIS EXPERIENCE OF STARTING AS A ROOKIE

“I was 0-11 as a starter. When you put the time in each week and you come off the field on Sunday and have nothing to show for it it’s hard. The hard part for a young QB is not to lose confidence. For me fortunately, Jimmy and the rest of the personnel people were able to put some good players around me in short period of time so the struggles didn’t last that long. I always considered that rookie season a blessing, it made me realize that winning in the NFL is hard. Even when we were winning Super Bowls, every week I knew that winning was hard.”

AIKMAN’S IMPRESSION OF BRADFORD & REACTION TO HIS WEARING NO. 8 BECAUSE OF HIM

“Sam is going to get hit. The Rams haven’t been very good. They have to get better players around him. You don’t want to see him get banged up. But if he goes through this experience with a team that isn’t very good, he’s learning and not holding back a team that has high expectations. I like him, a lot. I was surprised when I heard he choose No. 8 because of me. I had no idea that he even knew what I had accomplished as a player. It’s a big deal. Here you have a guy who’s had great success. He’s won the Heisman, he’s been the No. 1 pick in the draft and for him not to take his college number and take a number and say it was because of him looking up to me, it means a lot. I think he’s a heck of a talent, I like his demeanor, and I like his athleticism. I think he can be a real superstar.”

JOHNSON ON HIS EXPERIENCE OF STARTING AIKMAN AS ROOKIE QUARTERBACK

“We not only had a rookie QB, we had a rookie owner, a rookie head coach, a rookie running back and Troy’s back-up was a rookie. I didn’t have a lot of choices. We were a young team that was going to take some hits but I thought that was the best way for us to get better. I felt bad for Troy, especially in the Philadelphia game, but in the long run it made Troy a better player quicker than what he would have been if I put him on the sidelines. It made our team better because they all came together to where we had a chance to make the playoffs the next year if Troy had stayed healthy. Then we did make the playoffs and won the Super Bowl. We got good in a hurry because we played so many young guys.”

AIKMAN ON REPEATING AS SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS

“The reason not many teams repeat is because it’s hard to win it the first time. To get everything right and win a World Championship is extremely difficult. There’s a tendency to look at the player say that he’ll be fine because he’s proven he can do it. You don’t put as much emphasis on getting it right the first time. There has to be more of a self scouting and self awareness on how you are playing. When we were able to repeat we worked as hard, if not harder after we won our first Super Bowl. A lot of it had to do with and Jimmy and a lot of it had to do with the type of players we had. When we starting going downhill, even with the same guys in place, we didn’t put as much emphasis on the little things.”

– FOX SPORTS –

Filed Under: FOX, NFL

FOX Sports & St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Team Up For 2010 NFL Season

September 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

FOX Sports & St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Team Up

For 2010 NFL Season

America’s #1 Sports Network and Country’s Top Children’s Cancer Hospital

Tackle Childhood Cancer Together this Fall

Memphis, Tenn. – (August 31, 2010) – America’s #1 sports network and top children’s cancer hospital are tackling childhood cancer together this NFL season. This Fall, FOX Sports has teamed with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help kids who are sidelined by cancer and other deadly diseases. FOX Sports Supports, the network’s charitable initiative now in its third year, is a unique program that raises awareness, provides financial assistance and spurs volunteerism for health charities selected by FOX Sports employees.

“We are honored to partner with a tremendous organization like St. Jude for the 2010 NFL on FOX season,” said Bill Wanger, Executive Vice President, FOX Sports.  “Using our unmatched on-air talent, brand and reach, our goal is to raise awareness for St. Jude so they can continue to fight for all the courageous children and families affected by this terrible disease.”

Earlier this month, NFL on FOX on-air personalities Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Buck, Jay Glazer, Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long Curt Menefee, Pam Oliver and Michael Strahan visited St. Jude. The group learned first-hand about the hospital’s ground-breaking research, innovative treatments and first-class patient care, and filmed a series of public service announcements that will air throughout the entire football season including Super Bowl Sunday. In addition, FOX Sports will support St. Jude through numerous on-air mentions all season long and will also be involved in St. Jude events and activities.

“I played a long time in the NFL and have played with and seen a lot of tough and courageous individuals, but nobody can match the courage and determination of these wonderful children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Terry Bradshaw.

“I was awed by their spirit, attitude and determination and everyone at FOX Sports will do whatever it takes this season and beyond to help them conquer their battle against cancer.”

While at St. Jude the FOX team also met with patients in the fight of their lives against cancer and other deadly diseases. One patient they all could easily relate to was Shon, a 17-year-old high school football player from Mississippi.  One of the state’s top high school players in 2009, Shon was recruited to play offensive tackle for Auburn University.  Shon is currently being treated for ALL, the most common form of childhood cancer, and he’s unfortunately had to put his college football dreams on hold while he battles his disease.

“Cancer is like my opponent,” said Shon, who started playing football at age 5. “Right now, the doctors are like my coaches.  They give me a game plan so that when my treatment is over, I’ll have beaten cancer. The most important thing in my life right now is to get cancer out of the way so I can play football again.”

St. Jude treats patients, like Shon, from around the world, and no child is ever turned away because of a family’s inability to pay for treatment. The hospital largely relies on public donations to help keep that promise.

“We are so honored to have been selected by FOX Sports employees as their partner during this NFL season,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. “We’ve been finding cures and saving kids for nearly 50 years and this opportunity helps us recruit millions of football fans to join our team in the fight against deadly diseases like cancer.”

Football fans also can help settle the score against childhood cancer this season by visiting www.stjude.org/foxsports. It features exclusive behind the scenes footage from the talent’s visit to St. Jude, patient stories, photos and ways for the public to support the Hospital’s mission.

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the flagship network of the FOX Sports Media Group. As America’s top-rated network for sports for 13 straight years (1997-2009), FOX Sports boasts rights agreements with each of the nation’s highest-rated sports. FOX Sports is the exclusive national over-the-air television rights holder for Major League Baseball, including the All-Star Game, alternating League Championship Series and World Series (2007-2013); the National Football League’s NFC package, including the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowls XLV and XLVIII (2006-2013); NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from February through May, including the Daytona 500 (2007-2014); the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and the UEFA Champions League Final. Since its inception in 1994, FOX Sports has earned 82 Emmy Awards for production excellence. David Hill and Ed Goren are the Executive Producers of FOX Sports.  For the latest sports news, opinion and video, log on to www.FOXSports.com. Fans can gain more access to exclusive content by following FOX Sports on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX, http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX and http://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX and by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. In 2010, St. Jude was ranked the most trusted charity in the nation in a public survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a highly respected international polling and research firm. St. Jude was also named the nation’s top children’s cancer hospital in the 2010-11 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.


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Filed Under: FOX, NFL

Michaels, Collinsworth, Dungy, Harrison, Gaudelli Preview 2010 NFL Season

August 31, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

“As compelling a story as any in the NFL this season.” – SNF’s Michaels on Favre

“I can’t wait for somebody to get smacked in the mouth.” – Football Night’s Harrison

“I don’t want to come back in a next life because I’ll be in Mongolia in a sulfur mine working the night shift.” – SNF’s Michaels on how lucky he feels about working his 25th NFL season

NEW YORK – Aug. 30, 2010 – Marquee teams and storied rivalries highlight NBC’s 2010 NFL schedule, which begins next Thursday night in primetime with the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints hosting Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game. Coverage on NBC begins at 7:30 p.m. ET. The first “Sunday Night Football” contest of the season is a classic NFC East rivalry as the Washington Redskins with their new QB Donovan McNabb and head coach Mike Shanahan host Tony Romo and the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys.  Coverage starts with “Football Night in America” at 7 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports today previewed the season on a conference call with “Sunday Night Football” duo Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth along with “Football Night in America” studio analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, and SNF producer Fred Gaudelli.

For a complete replay of the call, dial 719-457-0820 and enter passcode: 54215765. Highlights of the call follow:

MICHAELS ON THE POWER OF THE NFL ON TV: “Everybody is stoked about the beginning of football.  It’s a spectacle on television.  The NFL is the king of television these days. Look at the ratings, we’ve done two preseason games and they’ve both won the week.”

COLLINSWORTH ON NFL KICKOFF GAME: “Probably the top four players in the league are (Drew) Brees, (Peyton) Manning, Chris Johnson and Brett Favre. We get two of the four in the opening night game.”

HARRISON ON GETTING THE SEASON STARTED: “There has been a lot of speculation, a lot of trash talking this off-season. I’m tired of the talking; it’s time to hit.  I can’t wait for somebody to get smacked in the mouth.”

ON BRETT FAVRE, THE YEAR HE HAD LAST YEAR AND COMING BACK FROM AN ANKLE INJURY:

MICHAELS: “One of the things he said that struck me was the fact that he’s given people a lot of ammunition to shoot arrows at him, because of all the procrastination. I think he’s concerned about some things, but, to me, if he felt the ankle was going to be such an issue that he couldn’t do or didn’t have the potential to do what he’s capable of, I think he would have walked away. I got the feeling that the ankle is good enough.  It’s not great. He’s 40-years-old, he’ll be 41 in October, but again that’s one of the key questions this year. What happens when he does take a hit? What happens if he twists the ankle? Brett Favre, here we go again, is going to be at least as compelling a story as any in the NFL this season.”

COLLINSWORTH: “What surprised me most watching him on tape getting ready for this game and watching all of the playoff stuff from last year, is that I was just amazed at age 40 how quick his feet were…he looked like he was 25 years old. That was my concern (with the ankle injury). When I was watching the (preseason) game, and, of course, he only played four plays in the game that we saw, so we didn’t get to see a lot of it, but will his feet be what they were a season ago which were pretty impressive?”

HARRISON: “The one thing that impressed me was not only his feet, but his ability to keep his eyes down the field and keep plays alive. I looked at film on the guy and he looked like he was a 26-27-28-year-old quarterback and it was amazing to me, because I know towards the end of my career how sore it would feel to get out of bed and to recover from games. That’s the thing that really concerns me with Brett Favre because before it could be the ribs, it could be the shoulder, the neck, the lower back, now all of a sudden he has something wrong with his ankle which really causes a whole host of other problems and concerns.”

DUNGY: “I think Brett is going to be fine physically, but 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions, he probably hasn’t had a year like that since ’96 or ’97. To think that he’s going to duplicate that, I just don’t think that is going to happen. I think he’ll come out and play well for them, but I would not expect to see that type of year. Last year was just a magical year.”

COLLINSWORTH ON DUNGY’S COMMENTS: “Tony, I thought that was almost the reason that he didn’t come back this year, more so than the ankle or the age or anything else, it was his own expectations and his own sort of fear. This guy has paranoia almost of letting somebody down and having a down year after his best year, as he called it. It was almost enough to make him stay home. It was a pretty remarkable conversation, almost like listening to Jerry Rice at the Hall of Fame Game talking about what a motivator fear was in his career and fear of failure and fear of letting somebody down. Brett was almost regurgitating the same kind of speech.”

GAUDELLI ON PACKERS: “The Green Bay Packers are a magical sounding team…when you look at them, there aren’t many more entertaining teams on television. That’s an offensive juggernaut up there. Especially when you do the games from Lambeau, the greatest setting in the National Football League. They’re a real attraction.”

DUNGY ON BROADCASTING: “I’m looking forward to this year as much as I’ve ever looked forward to coaching, because it’s a team effort putting these games together and trying to come up with a great broadcast. I feel like I’m with a great team with the whole Sunday Night crew.”

GAUDELLI ON NBC SPORTS FOOTBALL COVERAGE: “My philosophy is pretty simple. It’s to do what the moment calls for. If you’re sitting at home and something happens, you pretty much have in mind what you think should come next.  Or, if you’re confused, you’re hoping someone’s going to come on and either explain it to you verbally, like Al or Cris would, or show you a picture that immediately clears it up. And just remember that it’s a broad audience out there. There are a lot of people really into the X’s and O’s of football and we want to service them and then there are others who are into the personalities and the stories and we want to service them. But really just to do what the moment calls for and to do the right thing as much as you possibly can…our goal is to do it better than we did it the year before.”

MICHAELS ON GAUDELLI AND DIRECTOR DREW ESOCOFF: “The essence of this business is working with a group of people like Fred Gaudelli and (director) Drew Esocoff.  When we did the Arizona-Pittsburgh Super Bowl a couple of years ago, and Pittsburgh wins the game on an amazing catch by Santonio Holmes, who is the No. 4 receiver in Roethlisberger’s tree at that point, and our guys have every angle, whether he’s in bounds, whether he’s out of bounds, whether he’s caught the ball. Everything. All of the drama, the excitement of it, and I think the fact that we are able to do that, and we have people who can do that is what makes this so exciting.

HARRISON ON TOM BRADY AND THE JETS-PATS RIVALRY: “Tom Brady is an honest guy, but Tom really never comes out and blatantly says how much he hates a particular team, so obviously they are very tired and fed up with all the trash talking.  You better believe the Patriots have that game circled. They’ve always hated the Jets, but they hate them even more now.”

DUNGY ON BEING OPINIONATED: “A lot of people have opinions. I don’t think I’m an overly opinionated person. I guess some of the things I do have opinions about touched a nerve with people. That particular thing wasn’t directed at Rex Ryan, it was directed at language that goes across television. I’ve had those kinds of opinions in the past. I wouldn’t call myself controversial in the least, but apparently some people think so.”

MICHAELS ON 25th YEAR OF PLAY-BY-PLAY VOICE OF NFL’S PREMIER PRIMETIME PACKAGE: “I’m lucky, I love what I do. I have a job that people would die for and I understand that. I work with some phenomenal people. It’s a wonderful thing to go to work every week and be in an environment where the stadium is always full, the lights are on, and you know that a lot of people are watching. I’m like a fan. I’m excited for the season to start. I love sports, I love football, I love the strategy, I love when we get down to the final two minutes of a half or the end of the game when you’re trying to think along with the coach and all of that. That to me is what drives me and I’m still a kid at heart in that regard.  I don’t want to come back in a next life because I’ll be in Mongolia in a sulfur mine working the night shift.”

GAUDELLI ON MICHAELS: “To do it and get better every year, that’s quite an achievement. There have been some great broadcasters, but to do all the different sports that Al has done, obviously the NFL, Major League Baseball, the Olympics, the NBA Finals, the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Final. When you listen to Al Michaels, you know you’re listening to a big event and that is what makes it great to have him on our team.”

COLLINSWORTH ON MICHAELS: “It’s pretty remarkable that sometimes when the game does come down to the last two minutes or there is a controversial call by the referees, I’m even looking at Al. I’ll ask ‘Al what do you think the coach should do here or what do you think this referees call should be?’  He’s been on top of the details of the game in such a way that I think he’s unmatched…there is nobody better in the moment than what Al Michaels does. That’s probably why he’s been the lead announcer in all these sports for so long.”

MICHAELS ON CHANGES IN THE BUSINESS: “Technologically, it’s been phenomenal through the years. When I started Monday Night Football in 1986, there was no such thing as Cable Cam or SkyCam. There was no HD. I think those are two of the contributing factors right now. Football is such a visual treat. The images are so sharp. The camera above the huddle is incredible and the way we have the ability to isolate almost everything and anything.”

# # #

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” 2010 SEASON: Three appearances each by six marquee NFL teams, the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers; a rematch of the NFC Championship Game as the Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints host the Minnesota Vikings in the opening Thursday night game; the “Manning Bowl” rematch in Week 2; and storied rivalries including three NFC East games, Chargers-Colts, Vikings-Packers at Lambeau, Steelers-Ravens and Jets-Dolphins highlight the “Sunday Night Football” schedule.

Highlights of “Sunday Night Football” schedule:

  • Sixteen of NBC’s 17 scheduled games involve at least one playoff team from last season; eight of 17 include two playoff teams.
  • Fourteen of the 17 teams playing on “Sunday Night Football” had .500 or better records.
  • Three appearances from six marquee teams: Colts (vs. Giants, Redskins, Chargers), Cowboys (Redskins, Packers, Eagles), Eagles (49ers, Giants, Cowboys), Giants (Colts, Bears, Eagles), Packers (Vikings, Cowboys, Patriots) and Steelers (Saints, Patriots, Ravens).
  • A rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game between the Vikings and Saints to kickoff the NFL season on Thursday night, Sept. 9.
  • Peyton and Eli meet in the anticipated rematch of the “Manning Bowl” when the Giants and Colts face off in Week 2.  They last met in the network debut of “Sunday Night Football” in 2006 in a game that was seen by 22.6 million viewers, the third-most ever in the history of “Sunday Night Football.” Six SNF games involve one of the Manning brothers.
  • A matchup of two of the oldest NFL teams when the Bears and Giants meet in Week 4 in the New Meadowlands Stadium.  The Bears-Giants rivalry dates back to 1925.
  • Three matchups among bitter NFC East rivals: Cowboys-Redskins, Giants-Eagles, and Eagles-Cowboys.
  • The first “Sunday Night Football” trips to New Orleans, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Miami.

2010 “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” SCHEDULE

Regular Season – “Football Night in America” begins every Sunday at 7 p.m. ET

Thurs. Sept. 9               NFL Kickoff              Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

Sun. Sept. 12               Week 1          Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins

Sun. Sept. 19               Week 2          New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts

Sun. Sept. 26               Week 3          New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

Sun. Oct. 3                   Week 4             Chicago Bears at New York Giants

Sun. Oct. 10                 Week 5               Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers

Sun. Oct. 17                 Week 6             Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins

Sun. Oct. 24                 Week 7            Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

Sun. Oct. 31                 Week 8            Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints

Sun. Nov. 7                  Week 9          Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers

Sun. Nov. 14                Week 10        New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

Sun. Nov. 21                *Week 11        New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

Sun. Nov. 28                *Week 12        San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts

Sun. Dec. 5                  *Week 13            Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Sun. Dec. 12                *Week 14            Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

Sun. Dec. 19                *Week 15        Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots

Sun. Dec. 26                *Week 16        San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals

Sun. Jan. 2                   *Week 17        TBA

*Flex Week

Follow NBC Sports PR on Twitter at Twitter.com/NBCSportsPR

Follow “Sunday Night Football” on Twitter at Twitter.com/SNFonNBC

Become a fan of “Sunday Night Football” on Facebook at: Facebook.com/SNFonNBC

Filed Under: NBC, NFL

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets – New episode #4 this Wednesday

August 30, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS

SEPT. 1 EPISODE

HBO Sports, in association with NFL Films and the New York Jets, provides an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League in HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS.  The first sports-based reality series – and one of the fastest-turnaround reality series – continues its five-episode sixth season, presented in HD, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, with an encore play immediately following at 11:00 p.m.  The season finale debuts Wednesday, Sept. 8 at the same time.

Episode #4

Debut:  WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates:  Sept. 1 (11:00 p.m.), 2 (2:00 p.m., midnight), 3 (6:00 p.m., midnight), 4 (10:00 a.m., 10:45 p.m.), 5 (11:30 a.m.) and 6 (12:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 3:00 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Sept. 5 (11:30 p.m.) and 7 (7:00 p.m.)

The Jets visit Long Island for a scrimmage at Hofstra University and play Washington in their second home game of the preseason.  Tension mounts as competition for a spot on the regular-season roster intensifies.

A 24-person NFL Films crew is living at Jets training camp, shooting up to 1,000 hours of video over the course of the series.  Camera and sound crews are given unencumbered access to the players’ and coaches’ meeting rooms, training facilities, dormitories and practice fields.

Filed Under: HBO, NFL

CBS’s Simms on 18-game schedule and Mike Shanahan and Albert Haynesworth

August 30, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment


►THE NFL ON CBS lead analyst Phil Simms on the possibility of expanding the schedule to 18 games during CBS Sports’ pre-season game, Dallas vs. Houston, on Saturday night.

SIMMS: I think it’s a game where you slowly indoctrinate yourself in to the hitting and all the punishment that comes with it.  So it’s a little bit the first game; a little more and a little more.  You don’t go into boxing, hey my first professional fight I’m taking on Mike Tyson.  I’m ready for the real thing.  You don’t do that.  You slowly work your way into it.  I think it’s going to hurt the players if they change it drastically.

►On whether Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan handled Albert Haynesworth the right way or the wrong way

SIMMS: Looking at it right now, it worked out perfect.  He played the other night.  It looked like he played hard.  He started.

GUS JOHNSON: He said he didn’t want to play in a 3-4 (defense).  Now he’s playing in a 3-4.

SIMMS: Well, they’re paying him a lot of money.  It came down to, okay, do you want the money or not?  He’s coming to play.  He’s got pride.  You can’t be that good of a player if you don’t have pride.  So when he gets in there, he’s going to get it done.  Mike Shanahan sent a message to his football team that he was in charge.  He controlled it the right way as a head coach.  And I think the team is all sitting around saying, ‘Way to go Coach.’  Players want everyone to play under the same rules.    

Simms made his predictions for the upcoming NFL season during CBS Sports’ pre-season game, Dallas vs. Houston, on Saturday night.

AFC

East – New York Jets

North – Cincinnati

South – Indianapolis*

West – San Diego

Wild Cards – New England, Baltimore

NFC

East – Dallas*

North – Minnesota

South – New Orleans

West – San Francisco

Wild Cards – Green Bay, New York Giants

* Super Bowl – Dallas vs. Indianapolis

Filed Under: CBS, NFL

NFL Network’s America’s Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints Narrated By Brad Pitt Debuts Wednesday, Sept. 8 At 9:00 PM ET

August 30, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

NFL NETWORK’S AMERICA’S GAME: 2009 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS NARRATED BY BRAD PITT DEBUTS WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8 AT 9:00 PM ET

Head Coach Sean Payton, Jonathan Vilma and Drew Brees

Tell the Story of the Road to Super Bowl XLIV and What it Meant to New Orleans

BREES CHOOSES NEW ORLEANS AND LEADS SAINTS TO FIRST SUPER BOWL WIN

PAYTON TALKS ABOUT HIS GUTSY ON-SIDE KICK CALL IN THE SUPER BOWL

VILMA AND UNSUNG DEFENSE STOP THREE OF THE BEST QBs IN PLAYOFF VICTORIES

Why did Drew Brees choose to go to New Orleans? When did Sean Payton make the call for an on-side kick during the Super Bowl? The answers to these questions and much more will be unveiled when the inside story of the Saints remarkable Super Bowl-winning season is told by Drew Brees, Sean Payton and Jonathan Vilma on NFL Network’s newest episode of the NFL Films-produced Emmy award-winning series, America’s Game:  2009 New Orleans Saints.

Narrated by two-time Academy Award nominee Brad Pitt, America’s Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints debuts Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 9:00 PM ET, the night before the Saints kick off the 2010 NFL season against the Minnesota Vikings.

Super Bowl MVP Brees, linebacker Vilma and head coach Sean Payton recount their memories and inside stories about the Saints 2009 season that was capped off with the first Super Bowl win in franchise history. The one-hour America’s Game features exclusive video and sound of the Saints during team meetings, practices, games and inside the locker room leading up to and following Super Bowl XLIV.

Find out what Sean Payton did to make him think Brees would sign with Miami instead of New Orleans as a free agent, see previously unseen video from practice of the on-side kick that was successful in the Super Bowl, learn what pass in a commercial impressed Vilma about his quarterback and about the must-have item Payton never commands a sideline without.

Pitt, who has done extensive community work in New Orleans, lends his voice as narrator to America’s Game:  2009 New Orleans Saints to help tell the story of the season.  Frustrated with the lack of progress in rebuilding the Lower 9th Ward, where thousands of homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, Pitt established the Make It Right Foundation to build 150 green, affordable, high-quality design homes in the New Orleans neighborhood.

Below is a sampling of quotes from America’s Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints:

“I felt like this is where I belong, to be a part of not only the rebuilding of an organization, but also a city and a region.” – QB Drew Brees on his decision to sign with New Orleans in 2006

“I’ve never to this day heard the Superdome louder than that moment.  That’s when you knew that no matter who we were playing that day, they didn’t stand a chance.” – Brees on the 2006 win against Atlanta in the first home game following Hurricane Katrina

“It was magical.  You could feel what that game meant and what it symbolized.  New Orleans was coming back.” – Brees following the Atlanta win

“Somewhere between ‘Teenage Wasteland’ and ‘Pinball Wizard’, we decided that this was going to be the time to run this.” – Head Coach Sean Payton on halftime decision during Super Bowl XLIV to call the onside kick, “Ambush”

“You knew it was more than just us winning a game.  All of New Orleans won this.” – LB Jonathan Vilma on winning the Super Bowl

“If we—as a team and as a city—can be world champions when nobody ever thought we could, then man, we can accomplish anything.” – Brees on winning the Super Bowl

America’s Game, which won an Emmy Award for best sports series, delves deep into the story behind the making of Super Bowl champions. Each episode is a 60-minute documentary (available in high definition) featuring key members of the winning team telling behind-the-scenes accounts from their championship season. With classic NFL Films action combined with news clips and photos, highlights from team radio broadcasts, footage from inside team meeting rooms, sideline audio and other exclusive features, America’s Game provides an epic and intimate portrait of championship teams, in one groundbreaking series.

– NFL NETWORK –

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

ESPN The Magazine Dives Deep into the NFL: Ray Lewis on the Cover

August 27, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

With the Baltimore Ravens chosen as a favorite to win this year’s Super Bowl, linebacker Ray Lewis is ready to break out and claim the championship title everyone else is vying for. In the meantime, Lewis is featured in ESPN The Magazine’s photo-act “Faces Of The Game”—a photographic tribute to the stars, suits and surprises who make the NFL what it is today.  Photos

AND… “Five Days In The Life Of An NFL Coach” shines the light on Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini, who allowed ESPN The Magazine writer Seth Wickersham to have unfiltered access to his routine for a few days. Wickersham reveals the hard-working coach who is trying to improve his team—and himself. Also in The Mag’s NFL Preview issue, writer Alan Grant gives an in-depth breakdown of one of the most complex and lethal plays in football: the screen pass.

PLUS… ESPN The Magazine’s latest “NFL Confidential” survey is out:

- Who will win the Super Bowl? 29.6% foresee a repeat of last year with the Saints coming out on top.

- If you could be a superstar in another sport, what would it be? At 32.3%, baseball is the most popular answer, with basketball coming in at a close second with 29.2% of the votes.

- How many concussions have you had? What percentage have you kept to yourself? 54.1% of the players who took the survey have gotten concussions and of those, most went unreported (58.2%).
- What is home field advantage worth? 71.4% of players overwhelmingly agree the edge is a field goal.

Cover

NFL Deep-Dive:

The Analytically Correct Guide to Football

Dear NFL coaches, Need an edge? Our numbers show how to call plays even better. By Peter Keating

The Running Back Glossary

Hat level! Crossover step! To walk the walk, you gotta learn to talk the talk. By Mike Tanier

Texas Two-Step

Football Outsiders simulates 10,000 seasons to preview all 32 NFL teams.

“You Are Going to Get Worse Before You Get Better”

Chuck Noll and Mean Joe Green steeled buckling Pittsburgh. By Chad Millman and Shawn Coyne.

Unforgiven

Tackle Tony Washington’s fall from promising prospect to undrafted outcast. By Allison Glock

Scale of 1 to 10

Players rate a tristate Super Bowl.

Filed Under: ESPN, NFL

Lions Host Browns in Live Preseason Matchup Saturday at 5:00 PM ET — NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (8/25-8/31)

August 26, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (8/25-8/31)

LIONS HOST BROWNS IN LIVE PRESEASON MATCHUP SATURDAY AT 5:00 PM ET

Interviews with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Former NFL QB Kurt Warner on NFL Total Access Wednesday

Week 3 Preseason Game Line-Up Features Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions LIVE on NFL Network Saturday at 5:00 PM ET

The 2010 NFL preseason rolls on with Week 3 coverage featuring a number of exciting matchups as teams continue to get game ready with the regular season two weeks away. This weekend, NFL Network’s schedule is highlighted by 12 preseason games on Saturday and Sunday.

NFL Network continues to bring fans all the preseason action with 16 Week 3 matchups including the Lions playing host to the Browns live Saturday at 5:00 PM ET. Matthew Stafford looks to build on the solid rookie season as the Lions franchise QB, while 2010 top draft pick Ndamukong Suh continues to establish his place within the Lions defensive line. After an impressive debut with his new team last week, Browns QB Jake Delhomme continues to find his rhythm with the Cleveland offense and passing targets Ben Watson and Josh Cribbs.

In addition to the ten live telecasts this preseason, NFL Network features tape-delayed broadcasts of every preseason game so that no play goes unseen. Other games this week include QB Brett Favre getting his second taste of preseason action vs. Seattle, while the Vikings’ opening day opponent New Orleans Saints host QB Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers.

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS: Interview with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Former NFL QB Kurt Warner; Coverage from Special League Meetings

Wednesday, August 25

  • Interview with QB Aaron Rodgers on Packers Cam
  • Interview with former NFL QB Kurt Warner
  • Steve Wyche reports from the special League Meetings in Atlanta, GA
  • Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’

Thursday, August 26

  • Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’

Friday, August 27

  • Preview of the weekend’s Week 3 preseason matchups
  • Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM: Chat with NFL Network Insiders on Week 3 Preseason Matchups

Thursday, August 26

  • CHAT: Steve Wyche (12:00 NOON ET)

Friday, August 27

  • CHAT: Vic Carucci (12 NOON ET)

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

Wednesday, August 25

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Baltimore Ravens at Washington Redskins (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Preseason Game: Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks (HD)

Thursday, August 26

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Most Super Fantastic Follies of the Year – 2008

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: NFL’s Newest Follies

10:00 PM – NFL Follies: Best of Football Follies

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots (HD)

Friday, August 27

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Super Duper Football Follies

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Phenomenal Football Follies

10:00 PM – NFL Follies: The Son of Football Follies

10:30 PM – NFL Follies: The Football Follies

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

Saturday, August 28

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins (HD)

5:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers (HD)

8:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

11:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at New York Jets (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions (HD) – LIVE

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Follies Go Hollywood

8:30 PM – NFL Follies: Those Fantastic Football Funnies

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Fall Follies – 2007

9:30 PM – NFL Follies: NFL Symfunny

10:00 PM – NFL Follies: Talkin’ Follies

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings (HD)

Sunday, August 29

5:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Biggest Upsets

6:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Defenses

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Best of NFL Follies

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Football Comedy

10:00 PM – NFL Follies: Football Card Follies

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: San Francisco 49ers at Oakland Raiders (HD)

Monday, August 30

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (HD)

5:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Quarterback Controversies

6:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Snakebitten Franchises

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at New York Jets (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears (HD)

Tuesday, August 31

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Francisco 49ers at Oakland Raiders (HD)

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Francisco 49ers at Oakland Raiders (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Preseason Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN
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