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PETER KING OUTLINES 20 QUARTERBACK DECISIONS SHAPING NFL OFFSEASON AS DRAFT APPROACHES IN THIS WEEK’S “FMIA” COLUMN

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“There has never been an offseason like this one, which sets up a draft the likes of which we’ve never seen. Never has there been such a league-wide gold rush for quarterbacks.” – King on this offseason

“You need a really good quarterback to play the game that exists now. It leads to the need, and sometimes the desperation, of trying to find ‘that guy.’” – NFL Films’ Greg Cosell to King

“We’ve gone from wondering who would trade for Watson a month ago to…Will he play football at all in 2021?” – King on Deshaun Watson

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 12, 2021 – Peter King outlines 20 quarterback decisions across the league which are shaping the NFL offseason as the 2021 draft approaches in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King also discusses Aaron Rodgers’ time as the host of Jeopardy! and speaks with Virginia Tech CB and potential first-round pick Caleb Farley about his recent medical check as he recovers from surgery.

Across NBC Sports, Peacock’s weekday block of NFL programming from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET, which provides extensive NFL coverage, includes PFT Live featuring Mike Florio and Chris Simms live at 7 a.m. ET, followed by The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another, with Michael Holley and Michael Smith, at 3 p.m. ET, and PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday-Friday. ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest offseason news, NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show discusses offseason storylines. and the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast continues to rank 2021 NFL Draft prospects by position group.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:

QB DECISIONS

King on the offseason: “There has never been an offseason like this one, which sets up a draft the likes of which we’ve never seen. Never has there been such a league-wide gold rush for quarterbacks. Never has the draft gone 1-2-3-4 with quarterbacks at the top…And I doubt this will be the last time that so many quarterbacks go so high in a draft.”

NFL Films producer and analyst Greg Cosell to King on the increased demand of QBs: “In a league that has veered dramatically toward the passing game and toward three and four-receiver sets, it makes sense the quarterback becomes more in demand. You need a really good quarterback to play the game that exists now. It leads to the need, and sometimes the desperation, of trying to find ‘that guy.’”

King on teams becoming more willing to change QBs: “General managers are not risk-averse in this generation. They used to be, back in the eighties and nineties. I think Jimmy Johnson began to change that…In general, they have no fear about shaking up their roster, and quickly.”

King: “I’ve made a list of the 20 quarterback moves and prospective moves, just to show how much the market has been thrown into a tizzy in the last 10 weeks.”

1. Rams Jared Goff out, Matthew Stafford in.
2. Lions Stafford out, Goff in.
3. Cowboys Andy Dalton out, Dak Prescott in (through 2024).
4. Patriots Cam Newton in, but New England scouts rookie QBs hard.
5. Saints Drew Brees out, Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston the heir.
6 WFT Alex Smith out, Ryan Fitzpatrick in.
7. Texans Deshaun Watson status TBD, Tyrod Taylor in as a likely September starter.
8. Bears Mitchell Trubisky out, Andy Dalton in.
9. Colts Philip Rivers out, Carson Wentz in.
10. Eagles Carson Wentz out, Jalen Hurts in.
11. 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo more likely than not staying, TBD rookie quarterback in.
12a. Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa staying, likely getting solid shot in 2022 to be Miami’s long-term QB.
12b. Dolphins Jacoby Brissett in as a prime backup, and Brian Flores won’t be shy about playing him if Tua struggles.
13. Jaguars Gardner Minshew out, Trevor Lawrence in.
14. Panthers Teddy Bridgewater out, Sam Darnold in.
15. Jets Sam Darnold out, Zach Wilson (likely) in.
16. Falcons Do they commit to Ryan or do they draft his successor?
17. Steelers No one trustworthy is behind Roethlisberger. Best guess: Steelers will delay big decision till 2022.
18. Broncos Denver needs a QB of the future, but the Broncos might be able to trade back for draft capital they can’t refuse.
19. Seahawks Seattle, barring a mega-offer before August, enters 2021 with Wilson the starting quarterback.
20. Texans Tyrod Taylor likely to start the season as Houston’s starter. That’s all we can project right now.

 

King on the Falcons: “Do you believe (Matt) Ryan can take you to a Super Bowl? If so, you trade down from the fourth pick in the first round or sit at four and take the best player in the draft who’s not a quarterback. If you don’t believe it, you take the best quarterback available this year – because it may be years before you have a top-five pick in a quarterback-heavy draft again.”

King on the Steelers: “Pittsburgh has not fortified the position of heir to 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger, unless you trust Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins to be the heir – and I doubt sincerely the Steelers do.”

King on the Seahawks: “This is either crazy or logical, I don’t know which. But the Seahawks had more than one team inquire about trading for Russell Wilson, and nothing ever got close, and I don’t see the scenario of Wilson being dealt re-emerging till February 2022.”

UPDATES ON 11

King on Aaron Rodgers potentially hosting Jeopardy! long-term: “My feeling is the biggest hurdle for Rodgers is the show being on hiatus from July 20 to the end of January, give or take a couple of weeks, every year he continues playing football. Six-plus months, dark, is a potential issue, I would think. But if Sony loves Rodgers, anything’s possible.”

Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards to King: “It’s the ultimate compliment to Alex (Trebek) and to the franchise that Aaron is that forward with his thoughts, and so complimentary of the show…What I find fascinating about Aaron is his second career could be better than his first.”

King on Colts head coach Frank Reich’s foundation: “Colts coach Frank Reich and his wife Linda funded and founded a foundation called Knot Today to fight sex trafficking and child exploitation. As part of that, the Reichs spent $12,000 to buy a Labrador Retriever, Hunter, specially trained to sniff out SIM cards and other suspicious links to human traffickers…So many NFL players, coaches and teams do so many great things for the less fortunate. But I can’t think of a better charity for an NFL person than this one.”

King on the Falcons’ draft strategy at pick No. 4: “They will not force a quarterback…They’ll take a quarterback if they love one. Like, really love one. They understand that forcing a quarterback could lead to misery.”

King on the Falcons: “Do the Falcons truly NEED a quarterback? No. They’ve got a good one for, say, the next four years… If there’s a transcendent player they love, like Florida TE Kyle Pitts, they’ll take him.”

King on the upcoming NFL vote to give the Replay Official more power to influence calls: “The Competition Committee likes the power of suggestion inherent in giving the Replay Official more power. The Competition Committee does not like the Sky Judge concept – an eighth official in the crew, with the power to ‘throw flags’ from on high – because of the potential for a rash of fouls the NFL is trying to avoid.”

Virginia Tech CB prospect Caleb Farley to King on his medical check after recently undergoing a microdiscectomy: “I got a lot of positive feedback from the NFL doctors. The NFL doctors confirmed I would be ready for the season, and they told me this is definitely not a chronic thing.”

King on the Panthers and Sam Darnold: “I think it’s possible that the Panthers could still be in the Deshaun Watson derby, when/if his legal troubles go away…Darnold still has a chance to be good. He’ll play this year at 24 – he’s six months younger than Joe Burrow…But he’ll have to play well in 2021 for the Panthers to avoid looking for an upgrade next offseason.”

NEWS & NOTES

King on Deshaun Watson: “I think this past week revealed enough evidence in the Deshaun Watson case to suggest – suggest, I say – that there’s a good chance Watson will be suspended or put on the Commissioner’s Exempt List (rendering him ineligible to play) for at least part of the 2021 season. I can’t see another team trading for him until his legal situation is resolved.”

King on Watson: “We’ve gone from wondering who would trade for Watson a month ago to wondering two more dire things: Will he play football at all in 2021, and will he be found guilty of any charge of sexual assault, the kind of thing that would put a scarlet letter on Watson for the rest of his career?”

King on Florida QB Kyle Trask: “I’m starting to think Kyle Trask, the Florida quarterback, has a good chance to be the sixth first-round quarterback. Starting to think.”

Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:

    • PFT Live with NBC Sports’ Mike Florio and Chris Simms streams live on Peacock from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET on weekdays, followed by The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another at 3 p.m. ET, PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. At 6 p.m. ET, Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams Tuesday-Friday.
    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • The Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show continue the NFL discussion.

 

A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

—NBC SPORTS—

NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS ON GOLF CHANNEL (FINAL ROUND)

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“It’s been an incredible eight days, not just for golf in general, but more specifically golf in Japan.” – Brandel Chamblee

“He’s going to be a popular commodity come August when we’re there for the Olympics.” – Justin Leonard on Hideki Matsuyama

“They’ve come tantalizingly close to having major championship wins…Now finally, we’ve seen someone climb the highest mountain in golf.” – Chamblee on a Japanese Men’s Golfer Winning the Masters

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 11, 2021 – NBC Sports presented final round Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel. Hideki Matsuyama won his first Masters championship, marking his first major title, and becoming the first Japanese man to win a major championship.

The Masters – Final Leaderboard

Player Total
Hideki Matsuyama -10
Will Zalatoris -9
Jordan Spieth -7
Xander Schauffele -7


On Hideki Matsuyama (10-under, 2021 Masters champion)

Justin Leonard: “He earned it. He earned it with his play yesterday afternoon, he earned it with superior ball-striking, an incredible short game…Can’t imagine, as golf crazy as the nation of Japan is, they’ve had a pretty good eight days…To have Hideki Matsuyama win the Masters, of all the majors, he’s going to be a popular commodity come August when we’re there for the Olympics.”

Brandel Chamblee: “It’s been an incredible eight days, not just for golf in general, but more specifically golf in Japan — to see Tsubasa Kajitani win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur as a 17-year-old, and to see Hideki Matsuyama become the first player from Japan to win a major championship and win the Masters.”

Leonard on Matsuyama’s iron play: “It’s elite and has been consistently elite for a number of years…The level of consistency is hard to fathom he’s been that good for that long.”

Chamblee: “In general, the scrambling of Hideki Matsuyama was top-notch…Sort of quietly, he’s been one of the best scramblers on the PGA TOUR over the last three years, but this particular week, only one player in the field managed to get it up and down more often than he did.”

Rich Lerner: “It’s been said that through the years, the Masters doesn’t start until the second nine on Sunday. I think he won the Masters with what he did on the second nine on Saturday…That bought him margin for error and he needed every bit of it coming down the stretch today.”

Lerner: “What this Masters may have lacked in raw, white-knuckle, birdie-eagle excitement, it made up for in significance — Hideki Matsuyama becoming the first male player from Japan to win a major championship.”

On the importance of a Japanese golfer winning the Masters

Chamblee: “They’ve come tantalizingly close to having major championship wins…Golf in Japan is a frenzied activity…They love their sport…Men on a big stage winning one of the biggest events, they’ve been teased and now finally, we’ve seen someone climb the highest mountain in golf.”

Rex Kuramoto: “Men’s golf has been behind ladies golf because (Hinako) Shibuno won the (Women’s) British Open two years ago, and since that time, golf in Japan, the ladies have come first…But Matsuyama winning this Masters changes everything — Matsuyama will be the guy.”

On Will Zalatoris (9-under, 2nd)

Leonard on what’s most impressive about Zalatoris: “He’s got an impressive golf game, obviously. Great ball-striker. The distance that he hits the ball for not being a big guy with long arms or anything, it’s quite remarkable, but also kind of his mental outlook. He wasn’t shocked or surprised or overwhelmed to be here. He looked very comfortable out there yesterday, he looked comfortable again today.”

Chamblee: “It’s not often you see a rookie come along with a talent this luminous from a ball-striking standpoint, but that alone is not unique, right? It happens…In general, I’d say it’s his ability to treat every round as if it’s the same, and be the same every single round…His strategy, his ability to think properly under pressure at such a young age, those two are extraordinary.”

On Xander Schauffele (7-under, T-3rd)

Leonard: “The lessons he’s learning because he’s in the thick of the battle and in contention, they’re hard ones…He seems to hit a poor shot or (make a) bad decision at the wrong time…I think he’s becoming tougher through this process and that will serve him well down the road.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS ON GOLF CHANNEL (THIRD ROUND)

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“If Hideki Matsuyama goes on to win, this will be one of the more famous 30s ever shot here…Tomorrow has a chance to be the biggest day in the history of Japanese golf.” – Brandel Chamblee

“With the Olympics coming up in Tokyo this summer, he’s already a rock star, but this would put him in a stratosphere I don’t think anyone can imagine or put into words.” – Justin Leonard on Matsuyama’s importance to Japan if he wins the Masters

“I would say that this felt like a Sunday to me with all the sublime ball-striking.” – Chamblee on the third round

Live From the Masters Final Round Coverage Begins Tomorrow Morning at 9 a.m. ET and Continues in Primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 10, 2021 – NBC Sports presented third round Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel, as Hideki Matsuyama holds a four-shot lead after third round play.

Live From the Masters continues with final round coverage tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. ET and in primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

Throughout the week, GOLF Channel’s daily live coverage features more than 55 hours and includes pre-and post-tournament coverage through the final round on Sunday, April 11.

The Masters – Third Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Hideki Matsuyama -11
Xander Schauffele -7
Justin Rose -7
Marc Leishman -7
Will Zalatoris -7

 

On Hideki Matsuyama

Rich Lerner on Matsuyama’s play after the weather delay: “Really the only player who sort of adjusted his strategy. He went pin hunting…Matsuyama with a day to remember.”

Brandel Chamblee on Matsuyama’s back nine: “If Hideki Matsuyama goes on to win, this will be one of the more famous 30s ever shot here and it will certainly go down into Japanese lore as one of the greatest weeks in the history of that game…Tomorrow has a chance to be the biggest day in the history of Japanese golf.”

Justin Leonard on Matsuyama’s round: “It was something else…It’s hard to understand or put into words the amount of pressure that a professional golfer from Japan faces from the media in Japan…They’re just put on a pedestal that we can’t comprehend in the United States. Every time they tee it up, it’s like The Rolling Stones playing at Madison Square Garden…With the Olympics coming up in Tokyo this summer, he’s already a rock star, but this would put him in a stratosphere I don’t think anyone can imagine or put into words.”

On Justin Rose

Leonard: “I think he’s got to feel pretty good about his position…It’s time he can play a little more aggressively, and he’ll need to from the get-go tomorrow. He got off to a great start, so nerves aren’t an issue.”

Chamblee: “I’ve probably been more surprised watching Justin Rose play this week than I have pretty much anybody else because he came in here without any form…It’s almost like he’s turned himself inside out…From five to ten feet, where he’s had a career now of misses, he’s just looked beautiful…I think he’s going to have to draw on psychological reserves tomorrow.”

Leonard: “He still feels like he got it, like he could come away from here with a green jacket, and with the amount of pressure that’s on Hideki Matsuyama, he just may very well do that.”

Lerner: “He’s had a solid career, there’s no doubt…With a win tomorrow, it likely puts him in the Hall of Fame, and it goes from a really good career to a great career.”

On Will Zalatoris

Chamblee: “This guy has never played in the Masters and experience is supposed to get the better of you…and yet he hits a shot like that at the last (hole). You think about all the players that are here, these are the best in the world with enormous amount of experience here, and yet nobody in the entire field managed to hit more greens today than that man.”

Leonard on Zalatoris’ potential: “His poise, the way he’s handled the situations…To watch his game, to see how quickly he’s matured and this meteoric rise he’s made over the past two years, but I feel like he’s not getting ahead of himself.”

On Xander Schauffele

Leonard on Schauffele’s experience contending in past majors: “You get more comfortable, and that’s the hardest thing to do. I wouldn’t say you get completely comfortable, but you edge toward that line. I think for Xander Schauffele, he understands that being uncomfortable is a good spot, because it means it means something…I think there are a lot of players who can kind of take it or leave it, but Xander seems to kind of thrive off of it.”

On the Third Round

Chamblee: “I would say that this felt like a Sunday to me with all the sublime ball-striking…Just from the quality of play and the fact that it was the contrast of the forecast.”

Leonard: “It looked like it was going to be a test of survival today. Then, all of a sudden, with a little bit of break, a little bit of moisture, the wind dies down. All of a sudden, guys went flag hunting.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS ON GOLF CHANNEL (SECOND ROUND)

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“Yesterday’s round was a confidence builder. Today’s round was a character builder… today’s round was more important to him and his outlook for the rest of the weekend than yesterday was.” – Justin Leonard on Justin Rose

“Looking at the leaderboard, you almost have to consider Jordan Spieth the favorite.” – Leonard

“There’s just no shot out here that he cannot create.” – Brandel Chamblee on Justin Thomas

Live From the Masters Third Round Coverage Begins Tomorrow Morning at 9 a.m. ET and Continues in Primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 9, 2021 – NBC Sports presented second round Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel, as Justin Rose holds a one-shot lead after second round play.

Live From the Masters continues with third round coverage tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. ET and in primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

Throughout the week, GOLF Channel’s daily live coverage features more than 55 hours and includes pre-and post-tournament coverage through the final round on Sunday, April 11.

The Masters – Second Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Justin Rose -7
Will Zalatoris -6
Brian Harman -6
Jordan Spieth -5
Marc Leishman -5

On Justin Rose

Justin Leonard: “Yesterday’s round was a confidence builder. Today’s round was a character builder…to be able to get off to the start he did and right the ship…today’s round was more important to him and his outlook for the rest of the weekend than yesterday was.”

Brandel Chamblee: “When I talk about making mistakes at the Masters, it’s not just the technical mistakes, it’s keeping your wits about you when you get into trouble…that’s what he did early that allowed him to play well late and kept him on top of the leaderboard.”

On Jordan Spieth

Leonard: “There’s no guide to what he’s doing, especially off the tee, he’s free-swinging, shaping the ball both directions…the putting and chipping is marvelous. We thought we saw some signs, but this has been a rapid comeback — where looking at the leaderboard — you almost have to consider Jordan Spieth the favorite.”

Rich Lerner: “Three months ago, we had a hard time remembering when Jordan was great. He was in that deep of a hole. Now, I’m having a hard time remembering he was in a slump at all.”

Chamblee: “He has a scramblers sensibility with a tactician’s talent, he’s like part (Ben) Hogan, part Sevy (Seve Ballesteros).”

On Will Zalatoris

Leonard on Zalatoris’ rapid rise from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA TOUR: “Phenomenal talent…a year ago, Will Zalatoris was thinking about his next Korn Ferry start and tomorrow he’s playing in the last group in the Masters. What a meteoric rise.”

Chamblee: “It’s belief that gets you to the reality…when you put it all together and start to look at what he’s done in this short span of playing these (PGA) TOUR events, the ball striking adds up.”

On Justin Thomas

Chamblee: “There’s just no shot out here that he cannot create.”

On Rory McIlroy

Leonard: “I’m surprised at the lack of form…I know he’s been putting a lot of work in, obviously some work there still left to do and it needs to happen quickly.”

On the Second Round

Chamblee: “Friday’s give us time to talk about not just the good, there was plenty of good, but the bad and unprecedented…start with the good, Justin Rose, like Dustin Johnson, going for a very deserving second major championship…Jordan Spieth doing what Phil Mickelson did in 2006, win back-to-back weeks on the PGA TOUR, making one of them a major, and the Masters…the bad is pretty simple too, watching Dustin Johnson struggle, watching Rory McIlroy hit it worse than I’ve probably ever seen him hit it…and then there’s the unprecedented, with Hideki Matsuyama (looking) to be the first player from Japan to win a Masters.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS ON GOLF CHANNEL (FIRST ROUND)

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“He’s going to hit it right where it needs to be, and he’s going to find that sweet spot…Justin Rose can find these greens as good as Tiger Woods in his prime.” – Brandel Chamblee on Rose at Augusta National

“Sometimes coming in with little expectations, it frees a player up, and I think for Justin Rose, that’s probably what we saw today.” – Justin Leonard

“The way Bryson DeChambeau drove the ball today, he may pull an all-nighter…He has some work to figure out.” – Chamblee

Live From the Masters Second Round Coverage Begins Tomorrow Morning at 8 a.m. ET and Continues in Primetime at 7:30 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 8, 2021 – NBC Sports presented opening round Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel, as Justin Rose shot a seven-under 65 to take the first round lead.

Live From the Masters continues with second round coverage tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. ET and in primetime at 7:30 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

Throughout the week, GOLF Channel’s daily live coverage features more than 55 hours and includes pre-and post-tournament coverage through the final round on Sunday, April 11.

The Masters – Opening Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Justin Rose -7
Brian Harman -3
Hideki Matsuyama -3
Patrick Reed -2
Webb Simpson -2
Will Zalatoris -2
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -2

 

On Justin Rose

Rich Lerner: “On a day when a number of big names struggled, Justin Rose served up a mind-boggling reminder that he too, not long ago, was one of those big names.”

Brandel Chamblee: “The way Justin Rose is playing, he looked like vintage Justin Rose here. This looked like the guy who won the U.S. Open in 2013, and it looked like he might win several other championships.”

Justin Leonard: “Justin Rose (is) really the only one to generate heat on a fiery golf course here opening day.”

Chamblee on how Rose’s game plays at Augusta National: “That’s the kind of accountant that I’d like to have. He’s not going to cut corners. He’s going to hit it right where it needs to be, and he’s going to find that sweet spot. That’s what he does. This is a thinking man’s golf course…Justin Rose can find these greens as good as Tiger Woods in his prime.”

Leonard on Rose’s turnaround today: “We saw no semblance of this. He didn’t even know where his game was for the last month coming in here, but he used his experience and kind of walking the tight rope very nicely today at Augusta National…Sometimes coming in with little expectations, it frees a player up, and I think for Justin Rose, that’s probably what we saw today.”

On Bryson DeChambeau

Chamblee: “The way Bryson DeChambeau drove the ball today, he may pull an all-nighter. He’s burning the midnight oil many, many times at major championships, but he may be there until the sun comes up. He has some work to figure out.”

Leonard: “Bryson DeChambeau is trying to figure out how hard he hits a pitching wedge because today it looked like he had no clue…Those are the kinds of mistakes that you cannot make at Augusta National and expect to play halfway decent.”

Lerner: “At least to this point, Augusta National is not Bryson’s golf course.”

Chamblee: “It’s a square peg in a round hole for him. He’s linear, this golf course is abstract. I’m going to borrow an analogy from the GEICO lizard, and say this golf course fits him about as well as a porcupine in a balloon factory. It’s just not a good fit for him.”

On Rory McIlroy

Chamblee: “I’ve never seen him swing like he did today. I’ve never seen him this unorganized, I’ve never seen him miss shots the way he missed them today. I’ve seen him miss plenty of shots, I’ve seen him hit bad shots and make bad swings, but I’ve never seen him make worse swings than he did today…From a purely empirical standpoint, I’ve never seen him hit the ball that bad.”

On Dustin Johnson

Leonard: “The defending champion with quite a bit of work to do, but we know that he’s capable.”

On Lee Elder, who broke the color barrier at the 1975 Masters and served as today’s honorary starter

Damon Hack: “The beauty of the morning, the dignity of the man, and the love that was showered upon Lee Elder. Life has come full circle for Lee Elder, who joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (as) honorary starters in this 85th Masters, 46 years after he broke the color barrier at the 1975 Masters…Today was all about love and a soft heart, as he described it, and wanting to be an inspiration for the next generation and for all those who love this game.”

Chamblee: “When you see Lee Elder stand up on that tee today, he’s being honored for his significant role in helping change the game for the better. But he didn’t just get there because of his golf clubs. He got there, as Damon Hack just said, because of how he handled those indignities with grace. And that’s because of the content of his character.”

Leonard: “So today, by honoring Lee Elder, this was another step in the right direction for Augusta National and the Masters.”

On the first round

Leonard: “Wasn’t surprised that we had firm and fast greens…Wasn’t surprised we saw some eagles, and wasn’t surprised we saw some bogeys, some doubles, and even triples by one of our players that’s on the first page of the leaderboard. What was surprising was some of the struggles of a couple players in the Top 10 in the world.”

Chamblee on contenders: “It went from 88 in the field to about 10 or 12 having a chance to win this championship…This golf course requires such technical precision and such great strategy that it’s just very rare that you can couple those two. And after the first round, you are very clear at who has their technical skills and who has their wits about them.”

Leonard on the difficulty of Augusta National: “An inch here is like yards at another venue. An inch here makes all the difference – a difference between a seven and a three in Jordan Spieth’s case at 15 today.”

–NBC SPORTS–

THREE WEEKS TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: NBC SPORTS’ “ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY” FEATURES THE ARKANSAS DERBY LIVE THIS SAT., APRIL 10 AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

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NBC Sports Presents the 147th Kentucky Derby on Sat., May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss Join Ahmed Fareed

Arkansas Derby Is Final Major Derby Prep Race and Last of Four Consecutive Saturday Afternoons with Kentucky Derby Prep Races

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 8, 2021 – With three weeks until the running of the 147th Kentucky Derby, NBCSN presents exclusive live coverage of the $1 million Arkansas Derby this Saturday, April 10 at 7 p.m. ET from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Arkansas Derby concludes NBC Sports’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on four consecutive Saturday afternoons and is the final major Derby prep race. NBC Sports will present the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

The Grade 1 Arkansas Derby awards Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the top four finishers. Three winners of the $1 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, including Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015. Concert Tour (EVEN), who is trained by Bob Baffert and won Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes in March, headlines the field along with Brad Cox’s Caddo River (7-2). With a win in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Baffert would earn his seventh career Derby victory, breaking a tie with Ben Jones for the most ever by a trainer. Concert Tour’s owners Gary West and Mary West also owned Maximum Security, who crossed the finish line first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for interference.

Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who has won the Arkansas Derby twice, and Randy Moss.

NBCSN will also present highlights of the Count Fleet Sprint on Saturday, featuring Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Whitmore.

Coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

Following is NBC Sports’ upcoming “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep race schedule on NBCSN:

Race Date Time (ET)
Arkansas Derby Sat., April 10 7 p.m.

 

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS EDGE APP DEBUTS, FEATURING IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF NEW MLB SEASON, NHL AND NBA ANALYSIS AS PLAYOFFS APPROACH & PROSPECT NOTES HEADING INTO NFL DRAFT

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Industry Leading Player News and Fantasy Analysis with Customizable Filters & Alerts Highlight App Launch

NBC Sports EDGE App Available for Download Now in Apple App and Google Play Stores

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 8, 2021 – NBC Sports EDGE, the industry leader in fantasy sports information, has launched its new app, featuring in-depth coverage of the 2021 MLB season, NHL and NBA analysis as the playoffs approach, and prospect notes heading in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The NBC Sports EDGE app, which is available for download now in the Apple App and Google Play stores, features the latest player news and fantasy analysis for MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, college football, Premier League, Golf and NASCAR.

With the ability to favorite players and receive push alerts, the app allows customization for fantasy players to stay informed on all the important news pertaining to their players and teams.

Formerly Rotoworld.com, the new NBCSportsEDGE.com includes the latest player news updated  around-the-clock, injury reports, fantasy advice, and exclusive analysis. In addition, the popular Rotoworld magazines and draft guides now carry the NBC Sports EDGE name.

NBC Sports EDGE+ premium products include four available subscription tiers with an array of Draft, Season-long Fantasy, DFS, and Betting-focused tools. The plans, which are available for purchase now, include:

    • EDGE+ ROTO – Including draft and full-season tools, EDGE+ ROTO is available now annually for $3.99/month and features player profiles, rankings and projections, positional tiers, Start/Sit tool, custom scoring, and more.
    • EDGE+ PRO – Featuring all aspects of EDGE+ ROTO plus daily fantasy tools, the plan is available now annually for $7.99/month. Additional features include DFS optimizer, the all-new League Sync tool, customizable projections, and more.
    • EDGE+ MAX –EDGE+ MAX is available annually for $11.99/month and includes all aspects of EDGE+ PRO as well as the sports betting tools found in EDGE+ In addition to draft, season-long, and daily fantasy resources for football, baseball, basketball, and hockey, EDGE+ MAX includes betting tools for those four sports, plus college football and college basketball.
    • EDGE+ BET – With access to all the tools that help you sharpen your betting skills, EDGE+ BET includes the all-new EDGE Finder, top trends, and more. Betting tools include access to football, baseball, basketball, hockey, college football, and college basketball.

 

All plans include annual and monthly billing options. In addition to the subscription tiers, cheat sheets for all sports will continue to be free for all users with a Rotoworld account. For more information, go to NBCSportsEdge.com.

–NBC SPORTS–

MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS FROM ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY PRESENTED THIS SATURDAY LIVE AT 3 P.M. ET ON NBC AND PEACOCK

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Monster Energy Supercross Debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway Kicks Off Tripleheader at Storied Motorsports Track

Exclusive INDYCAR Coverage on Peacock Begins with 13 Hours of Indianapolis 500 Testing Coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tomorrow and Friday

Mecum Auctions Coverage in Houston Begins Tomorrow at Noon ET on NBCSN

NASCAR Hall of Fame Member Dick Berggren Featured on New Dale Jr. Download Episode Tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 7, 2021 – The 2021 Monster Energy Supercross season continues this Saturday from Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., live at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms. The race marks Monster Energy Supercross’ debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and kicks off a tripleheader at the storied motorsports track over the next week.

Earlier this week, NBC Sports’ Supercross play-by-play voice Leigh Diffey joined NASCAR America Motormouths to preview Saturday’s race and discuss the close battle atop the 450SX Class standings. Below are highlights:

Diffey on Monster Energy Supercross’ debut stop at Atlanta Motor Speedway: “From the initial images of the track, it’s going to be a very big (track)…for the riders, it’s a bit of a shakeup as far as them not doing as many indoor stadiums as they used to because…there have been a lot of outdoor venues this year.”  

Diffey on current 450SX standings leader Cooper Webb: “If you take the run of form that Cooper Webb has shown, he is not going to stop doing what he is doing…his low rate of unforced errors is incredible…he is very methodical and measured.”

NBC Sports’ Supercross analyst Ricky Carmichael will join tonight’s edition of NASCAR America Motormouths at 6 p.m. ET on Peacock to preview the race and remainder of the 2021 season.  

Broadcast Team

  • Play by Play: Leigh Diffey
  • Analyst: Ricky Carmichael
  • Reporters: Daniel Blair, Will Christien, Rutledge Wood

HOW TO WATCH

  • TV – NBC, NBCSN
  • Streaming – NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, Peacock Premium
Date Coverage Network/Streaming Time (ET)
Sat., April 10 Monster Energy Supercross – Qualifying (Live) Peacock Premium 9 a.m.
Monster Energy Supercross – Event (Live) NBC, Peacock Premium, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app 3 p.m.
Tues., April 13 Monster Energy Supercross – Qualifying (Live) Peacock Premium 1 p.m.
Monster Energy Supercross – Event (Live) Peacock Premium 7 p.m.
Monster Energy Supercross – Event (Encore) NBCSN, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app 10 p.m.
Sat., April 17 Monster Energy Supercross – Qualifying (Live) Peacock Premium 1 p.m.
Monster Energy Supercross – Event (Live) NBCSN, Peacock Premium, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app 7 p.m.

 

BROADCAST NOTES

  • Event Headlines: Cooper Webb (275 pts) leads the 450SX Class standings after winning five of the last six races, but is narrowly trailed by Ken Roczen (260 pts) with only five races remaining in the season. Defending champion Eli Tomac (234 pts) rounds out the current top three in the 450SX standings. The Western Regional 250SX Class standings are also close, with only six points separating the current leader Justin Cooper, and Cameron McAdoo and Hunter Lawrence in the top three positions.
  • Monster Jam Trucks at Atlanta: A pair of Monster Jam trucks will make appearances at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Supercross track and one truck, driven by Todd LeDuc, will perform a signature backflip on Saturday.
  • Peacock Premium, the new streaming home of Supercross, provides live and commercial-free coverage of qualifiers and races as well as on-demand replays.

INDYCAR TEST AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY ON PEACOCK – APRIL 8-9

Exclusive coverage of NTT INDYCAR SERIES on Peacock begins with a two-day Indianapolis 500 Open Test session from Indianapolis Motor Speedway tomorrow and Friday. Test coverage from the oval track at IMS begins at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday, continuing until 6 p.m. ET, while Friday’s test coverage will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET, totaling 13 hours over the two days. NBC Sports’ Leigh Diffey will call Thursday’s session alongside analyst Townsend Bell with Marty Snider and Kevin Lee reporting from the pits. Lee will handle play-by-play duties on Friday.

The series’ biggest stars are expected to participate, including reigning and six-time INDYCAR champion Scott Dixon, two-time INDYCAR champion Josef Newgarden, 2019 Indianapolis 500 champion Simon Pagenaud, and 2016 Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi, among others. In total, 32 car-and-driver combinations will participate in the two-day test at IMS.

For more information on INDYCAR on Peacock, click here.

MECUM AUCTIONS: HOUSTON

Broadcast Team

  • Host: Scott Hoke
  • Analysts: John Kraman, Stephen Cox
  • Reporters: Bill Stephens, Katie Osborne

HOW TO WATCH

  • TV – NBCSN
  • Streaming – NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app
Date Network Time (ET)
Thurs., April 8 NBCSN Noon*
Fri., April 9 NBCSN Noon*
Sat., April 10 NBCSN 12:30 p.m.*

*Same day-delay

BROADCAST NOTES

  • Houston Headliners: The three-day auction from NRG Center in Houston, Texas, features nearly 1,000 classic and collector vehicles ranging from entry-level collectibles to multimillion-dollar auctions, headlined by the 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air and 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible.

DALE JR. DOWNLOAD

NASCAR Hall of Fame Member Dick Berggren, a former NASCAR reporter and motorsports journalist, is this week’s guest on the Dale Jr. Download episode that airs tomorrow night at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Last week, NBC Sports announced that the remainder of Season Four of the Dale Jr. Download will premiere on Thursday nights on NBCSN. Click here for more details and a schedule.

Produced on-site at Dirty Mo Media Studios in Mooresville, N.C., the Dale Jr. Download on NBCSN takes viewers couch-side for the taping of the motorsports icon’s weekly podcast, featuring unparalleled perspective, candid commentary, and insight that fans have come to expect from Dale Jr.

Monster Energy Supercross, INDYCAR, and Mecum Auctions are part of NBC Sports’ “Home of Motorsports” programming throughout 2021, spanning NASCAR, IMSA, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, MotoGP, American Flat Track, Dakar Rally, and more.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC AND GOLF CHANNEL DELIVER MOST WATCHED VALERO TEXAS OPEN ON RECORD

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PGA TOUR Viewership on NBC Up 31% in 2021

ANA Inspiration Up 32% from 2019

Augusta National Women’s Amateur is Most-Watched Women’s Golf Telecast Since 2019 Women’s British Open

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 7, 2021 – NBC Sports’ coverage of amateur competitions and professional tours this past weekend on NBC and GOLF Channel delivered across the board ratings milestones, according to official national data provided by Nielsen.

NBC and GOLF Channel posted the most-watched Valero Texas Open on record (dating to 1999), with a four-round average of 1.4 million viewers, up 7% from 2019. NBC’s weekend coverage was up 16%, while GOLF’s early round and lead-in coverage was up 45% vs. 2019.

Viewership highlights from NBC/GOLF Channel’s coverage of the Valero Texas Open:

  • GOLF Channel’s first round was the most watched on any network since 2002.
  • GOLF Channel’s second round was the most watched on record (dating to 1999).
  • The most-watched third round since 2015, with 1.9 million viewers on NBC.
  • The most-watched final round on record, with 3.4 million viewers on NBC — up 24% vs. 2019.

NBC Sports continues to deliver significant viewership gains for the PGA TOUR in 2021. Through the Valero Texas Open, PGA TOUR coverage on NBC has delivered a 31% year-over-year increase and a 20% increase for GOLF Channel.

Season-to-date in 2021, 10 of 15 comparable events on GOLF Channel/NBC have registered year-over-year viewership growth vs. comparable coverage of the same event.

On the LPGA Tour, NBC Sports’ coverage of the ANA Inspiration delivered a 32% increase over 2019, as Patty Tavatanakit secured her first career major title with a course-record 62 on Sunday, holding off a final round charge from Lydia Ko.

Through five LPGA Tour events in 2021, GOLF/NBC is up 23% from the same point in 2020 (three events prior to the COVID-19 pause).

In addition, NBC Sports’ presentation of the second Augusta National Women’s Amateur averaged 996,000 viewers to rank as the most-watched telecast of women’s golf since the final round of the 2019 Women’s British Open.

*all viewership numbers are TV-only and do not include streaming metrics

-NBC SPORTS-

STEPH CURRY JOINS HOSTS DOUG SMITH AND WILL LOWERY ON SPECIAL MASTERS EPISODE OF “BEYOND THE FAIRWAY” PODCAST

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“We’re trying to fill that gap and be that support that can create a pipeline and get more representation on tour.”– Curry on How His SC30 Brand will Impact Golf

 “I was so excited that you used your platform, you used your own cash to really prop up this university.” – Smith on Curry Funding Howard University’s Golf Program

“It is unbelievable…It’s heaven.” – Curry on Augusta National Golf Club

Video of Episode Available Tonight on GOLF Channel Digital Platforms and On-Demand on Peacock Beginning Friday

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 7, 2021 – Three-time NBA champion and two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry joined co-hosts Doug Smith and Will Lowery on the latest episode of Beyond The Fairway podcast. In a special Masters edition of the weekly podcast, Curry discusses how he started playing golf as a kid with his dad, his work in funding Howard University’s golf program, his memorable first experience playing Augusta National Golf Club, and more.

The complete episode can be heard here. Video clips starring Curry, Smith and Lowery will be available tonight on GOLF Channel digital platforms, and the full interview will be available on-demand on Peacock beginning this Friday, April 9.

The Beyond The Fairway podcast aims to examine golf from different perspectives through interviews with celebrities, athletes and golf influencers and expanding the reach of the game. Previous episodes have featured NBA Hall of Famer Ray Allen, Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen, Grammy-award winning rapper Macklemore, Tiger Woods’ former coach Sean Foley, among others.

The following are highlights from Curry on “Beyond the Fairway”:

Curry on how he started playing golf: “It was always just my go-to in between obviously school, basketball, I played AAU baseball around the time I started playing golf, but it was really chasing my dad. Anytime he had a free moment, he was going out to the course. So, I started out just driving the cart with a little sawed-off putter…I eventually found the game for myself, started to play, obviously basketball from the time I was 13, which was the only sport I really played. It was the focus, but I was always searching for that free couple of hours to go to the course and play.”

Curry: “In high school, in the spring after high school basketball season right before AAU, I was on the school golf team for three years – my freshman, sophomore and senior years. So, that’s like a little known fact…I didn’t know what I was doing my first two years that I was out there, but my senior year I was the No. 1. So let’s say we didn’t go that far if I’m the No. 1 in high school, but it was nice to claim that spot.”

Curry on how his SC30 brand will impact the game of golf: “As you start to ask questions and do your homework on where the opportunity gap is in the game and getting more representation in the game, that’s what we’re trying to do…There’s so much talent at that early stage, especially in the black community and underrepresented communities. They get left behind because of access and support and equipment and coaching and even just the access to get to courses and just play and be around the right people, and so we’re trying to fill that gap and be that support that can create a pipeline and get more representation on tour.”

Smith to Curry on his funding to help Howard University’s golf program: “As a person that understands the financial strain of HBCU golf, having been on both sides of the ball – high-level D1 and high-level HBCU – we know the strains. When those announcements came out, just brother to brother, I was so excited. I was so excited that you used your platform, you used your own cash to really prop up this university.”

Curry on his first experience playing Augusta National Golf Club: “In 2015 after we won our first championship…myself and Andre Iguodala, the two biggest golfers on the team at the time, we didn’t need any extra motivation chasing the ring, but coach (Steve Kerr) told us, ‘Guys, if we win this championship, we have an invite and can celebrate at Augusta.’ We were both like, ‘What?’”

Curry on Augusta National Golf Club: “It is unbelievable. It’s wild because you know every hole already, you’ve seen it over and over again…It’s heaven.”

Curry on his prediction for this weekend’s Masters: “It’s tough. I’ve been thinking about it for a little bit, and to be honest, I like what Jordan Spieth is doing right now. He’s playing well enough to be in contention every week…I like where’s he at right now.”

Curry on if he could’ve had a professional golf career had he dedicated himself to the sport: “The thoughts do kind of rattle around in there if golf was the main thing…So, who knows? We’ll never know. I feel like I would’ve been scratching the surface. Let’s say the grind and the will that I have in basketball, I could take it out there and figure it out, so it’s a good alternate ending. I don’t know. We’ll never see that movie.”

Lowery to Curry: “I think we all want to know…When the sun sets on your (basketball) career, will you make a real push to try to get on some type of tour?”

Curry: “We’ll do another Beyond The Fairway with Ayesha (Curry) and we’ll ask that question.”

The Beyond The Fairway podcast is available for download on all major podcast platforms including: NBCSports.com/podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and iHeart.

Beyond The Fairway is part of NBC Sports’ slate of podcasts spanning the NFL, the NHL, NASCAR and other motorsports, MLB, the NBA, golf, rugby, and more.

–NBC SPORTS–