FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
NFC East Crown Up For Grabs Sunday on FOX
Giants/Ravens, Saints/Cowboys & Redskins/Eagles Battle for Position
Brian Setzer Orchestra Spreads Holiday Spirit on FOX NFL SUNDAY
Bradshaw Reflects on Immaculate Reception During Sunday’s Anniversary
Skycam Makes High School Football Debut Saturday Night on FOX Sports Southwest
TEAMS LOCKED IN NFC EAST THREE-WAY TIE HIGHLIGHTED IN NFL ON FOX WEEK 16 –The penultimate weekend in the NFL regular season is here and FOX Sportsbrings fans doubleheader action of six matchups onSunday, Dec. 23. With the Cowboys, Redskins and Giants all locked in a three-way tie with 8-6 records, FOX Sports features all three of their Week 16 matchups. FOX heads to Big D as Tony Romo and the Cowboys host Drew Brees and the Saints in a possible shootout in Cowboys Stadium. Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and on-field analyst Tony Siragusa call the action from Irving. The Redskins, who may have the services of Robert Griffin III again travel to Philadelphia, to take on the Eagles. In Tampa, Josh Freeman and the Bucs host Sam Bradford and the Rams. Two of the league’s best RBs take center stage in Houston as Arian Foster and the Texans host Adrian Peterson and the Vikings. The second half of FOX’s doubleheader features Eli Manning and the Giants playing for their playoff lives as they take on the Ravens in Baltimore. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call the action from M&T Bank Stadium. Also, the Cardinals host Jay Cutler and the Bears.
Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s No. 1 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. NFL Insider Jay Glazer breaks the latest league news and scoops from the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio while NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira discusses the previous week’s important impactful calls and points of emphasis in officiating. Comedic prognosticator Rob Riggle provides his weekly picks segment.
This week, FOX NFL SUNDAY helps viewers get in the Christmas spirit with a very special guest as America’s No. 1 pregame show welcomes three-time Grammy award-winner The Brian Setzer Orchestra to Los Angeles, CA. This 18-piece ensemble delivers Christmas themed music live throughout the broadcast including hits like “Boogie Woogie Christmas” and “Jingle Bells.” To wrap up the show, the award-winning group performs in front of a live audience on a Christmas themed old New York street on the FOX studio lot. Setzer found tremendous success in redefining Christmas music for a generation desperately desiring something new and exciting around the holidays. The result was three best-selling holiday albums (Boogie Woogie Christmas, Dig That Crazy Christmas, Christmas Rocks! The Best of Collection) and an annual Christmas tour that has certainly become the most exciting annual rockin’ Christmas event on the planet.
Also on Sunday’s show, actor Danny DeVito opens the program to paint the Week 16 picture. On the 40th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, Bradshaw reflects on his role the famous play and how it still resonates today.
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.
GAME
New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston
Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, TX
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albany, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Detroit, Hartford, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tulsa, West Palm Beach
Minnesota Vikings at Houston Texans Chris Myers, Tim Ryan
Reliant Stadium – Houston, TX
MARKETS INCLUDE: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick 13% 1:00PM
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Greensboro, Greenville, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington
St. Louis Rams at Tampa Bay Bucs
Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, FL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Fort Myers, St. Louis
New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, MD
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albany, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals Dick Stockton, John Lynch
& Jennifer Hale
University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, AZ
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, St. Louis
LYNCH ON JETS QB SITUATION: IF TEBOW PLAYED WELL, THEY’D HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM –NFL on FOX analyst and nine-time NFL Pro-Bowler John Lynch appeared on Fox Sports Radio’s Dan Patrick show to discuss Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher’s comments earlier this week where he said didn’t care about the fans and also discussed why the New York Jets are going with their third-string quarterback Greg McElroy instead of second-string quarterback Tim Tebow.
Lynch on Urlacher saying he doesn’t care about fans:“At times as a player you get upset and frustrated with fans but of course you care about them. I’m sure at other times during his career he has said ‘we’ve got the greatest fans in the league. They’ve taken a beating by the fans and media but they’ve brought a lot of that on themselves. It’s a shame for a guy who’s been the face of that franchise for so many years.”
Lynch on New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan naming third string quarterback Greg McElroy as Sunday’s starter in favor of second string quarterback Tim Tebow: “I hate to say it but if Tim Tebow went out and played well then they’ve got a big situation on their hands. Not just from everybody saying, ‘where was this all season’ but in addition to that the frenzy that would happen going into the offseason. A big part of the problem with Tim is that he’s bad in practice and just doesn’t engender confidence from his coaches and players but if you put him out there in the game, usually good things happen.”
BILLICK: NFC EAST DRAMA? YOU CAN COUNT ON IT – The NFC East always finds itself in the headlines and the 2012 season is no different. As the Redskins, Cowboys and Giants head into the last two weeks of the season all tied at 8-6, NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick is curious to see how the division shakes out. “This has been a compelling year in the NFC East, with an unusually convulsive division race. Over the course of this season, every one of these teams has been left for dead. But going into the final two weeks, the Redskins, Cowboys and Giants are in a dead heat,” Billick writes. “My best guess is that New Orleans upsets Dallas, while the Redskins run the table, beating Dallas and taking the division. I also think New York will beat Baltimore and then hammer Philly to grab a wild-card spot at 10-6.”
To read more from Billick on the NFC East race click here: http://on-msn.com/XL24I6
FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST TO USE SKYCAM FOR SATURDAY’S UIL 5A DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP –The Skycam system traditionally used to enhance television coverage of NFL and NCAA football has made its way to high school football. FOX Sports Southwest’s telecast of Saturday’s UIL 5A Division I championship from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington at 8:00 PM CT between Allen and Houston Lamar is the first ever high school game to incorporate a Skycam. The Skycam system centers around a sophisticated, computer-controlled cable suspension system that supports, stabilizes and allows for three dimensional movement of a camera to capture overhead video of major events. Putting the viewer right in the middle of an event, aerial cameras deliver behind-the-quarterback camera angles and exciting new perspectives. FOX Sports Southwest uses the wire-flown camera on the final game of its nine Texas high school football state championships televised this week from Cowboys Stadium. Skycam is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.
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