FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Who Will Win the 2009 Galloping Gobbler Award?
Packers & Lions Serve Up Special Thanksgiving NFC North Clash Thursday on FOX
Festivities Begins with America’s No. 1 Pregame – FOX NFL SUNDAY at 11:30 AM ET
Johnston: Teams That Play on Thanksgiving Benefit Down the Stretch
Strahan: Undefeated Saints Have Appeared More Vulnerable Than Vikings
THANKSGIVING DAY SPECIAL AIRS ON FOX – This Thursday, FOX Sports dishes out a Thanksgiving sized helping of football from Ford Field in Detroit, MI as rookie Matthew Stafford and the Lions host Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call the action and once again have the honor of presenting the game’s most valuable player with the NFL ON FOX GALLOPING GOBBLER AWARD. As one of the most hallowed trophies in all of professional sports, the Galloping Gobbler was first introduced on Thanksgiving Day in 2002 and won by Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith when he rushed for 144 yards en route to a 27-20 victory over the Washington Redskins.
Coverage begins at 11:30 AM ET with a special edition of FOX NFL SUNDAY co-hosted by Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee along with analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan. On Thursday’s show, the crew breaks down the Packers/Lions matchup and counts downs the top 10 Thanksgiving Day NFL moments. Comedian Frank Caliendo makes his annual Thanksgiving Day picks. Also reporter Pam Oliver sits with Packers star DB Charles Woodson to reflect on what the Thanksgiving spirit means to him through his charity work. At 12:30 PM ET, focus shifts to Ford Field where the Lions host the annual holiday clash, this year squaring off against their NFC North division rival Green Bay Packers. At halftime, the NFL and the United Way present a Motown 50th Anniversary Tribute featuring six of the brightest talents from the current roster of Universal Motown Records performing classics. Following the halftime performance, fans can visit NFL.com/Thanksgiving to find out how to download a copy of the halftime medley as well as music from each of the artists. Proceeds will benefit United Way.
NFL ON FOX GALLOPING GOBBLER AWARD
RECIPIENTS OF THE GALLOPING GOBBLER
2002 – Emmitt Smith, Cowboys RB
2003 – Dré Bly, Lions CB
2004 – Julius Jones, Cowboys RB
2005 – Michael Vick, Falcons QB
2006 – Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys QB
2007 – Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers QB
2008 – DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys DE
JOHNSTON: PLAYING ON THANKSGIVING DAY ALWAYS A POSITIVE – Having played in 10 Thanksgiving Day games, former Dallas Cowboy and current NFL on FOX analyst Daryl Johnston knows how beneficial it can be to a team in the playoff hunt. “Playing on Thanksgiving is a big plus because it gives those teams extra days off heading into December and that can play a major role in how well a team performs,” said Johnston. “The extra days off will give players more time to get healthy and come out fresh that first Sunday in December. They need to fight through soreness from previous week’s games to get ready for Thursday but it will be well worth it especially if your team is on the winning end.”
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29
NFL ON FOX STEAM ROLLS INTO WEEK 12 – On Sunday, Nov. 29 FOX Sports continues Week 12 with doubleheader coverage of six exciting matchups. At 1:00 PM ET, NFC East rivals meet when Donovan McNabb and the Eagles host the Redskins at the Linc. Looking to rebound from their overtime loss to the Giants, Matt Ryan and the Falcons welcome their NFC South rivals the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Georgia Dome. Steve Smith and the Panthers look to get back into the NFC playoff picture as they take on Mark Sanchez and the Jets in New Jersey. The Seahawks and Rams round out early game action on FOX. At 4:15 PM ET the NFL on FOX features two of the NFL fiercest rivals as Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears travel to Minneapolis to face Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen and the 9-1 Vikings. Also, Vince Young and the Titans welcome Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals to Nashville.
Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. The crew is joined by NFL Insider Jay Glazer who presents the latest league news and scoops in the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment. Reporter Pam Oliver visits with Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and his offensive weapons.
For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.
STRAHAN: “VIKINGS LOSS TO STEELERS GIVES THEM EDGE OVER SAINTS FOR BEST IN NFC” – “Minnesota and New Orleans are the two best teams in the NFC right now and if I had to pick one, I’d have to go with Minnesota,” said FOX NFL SUNDAY Analyst Michael Strahan. “The Saints have appeared more vulnerable and closer to losing than the Vikings have this month. Minnesota’s loss to Pittsburgh has helped them get back on track. That loss told them they had to work hard every week and they are vulnerable to losing if they don’t show their best stuff. If they turn over the ball, it can be their un-doing as well. I think losing at Pittsburgh earlier in the season could turn out great for Minnesota.”
For more from Strahan, click on http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10415402/NFC-East-not-playing-up-to-its-potential
BRANDON JACOBS TELLS FOX’S JAY GLAZER ON THE AFTER PARTY WHAT HE LEARNED DURING THE BYE WEEK – “We had some time to think about what had been going right the first five weeks and what went wrong the last four weeks,” said Jacobs on Monday’s “After Party with Jay Glazer” on FOXSports.com. “What I came up with was penalties. A lot of penalties and we turned the ball over an awful lot and you can’t win like that. We let San Diego back in the game, I thought we had that one won and a few stupid penalties put them right back in it. Penalties and turnovers will lose games for you.”
Click here to access today’s show: http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=0fce9f4b-19be-439b-8c61-404760af3bf3
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST/SIDELINE COV. TIME
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston 59% 1:00PM
& Tony Siragusa
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Carolina Panthers at New York Jets Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick 18% 1:00PM
& Chris Myers
The Meadowlands – East Rutherford, NJ
MARKETS INCLUDE: Boston, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, New York, Providence, Raleigh
Tampa Bay Bucs at Atlanta Falcons Dick Stockton, Charles Davis 12% 1:00PM
Laura Okmin
Georgia Dome – Atlanta, GA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Orlando, Tampa
Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams Ron Pitts, John Lynch 6% 1:00PM
& Nischelle Turner
Edward Jones Dome – St. Louis, MO
MARKETS INCLUDE: Portland, Seattle
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Joe Buck, Tory Aikman 91% 4:15PM
& Pam Oliver
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome – Minneapolis, MN
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan 5% 4:15PM
& Charissa Thompson
LP Coliseum – Nashville, TN
MARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Phoenix
ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE IN THE FOX SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT,
WE WISH YOU AND YOURS A VERY HAPPY & HEALTHY THANKSGIVING
– FOX SPORTS –
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