On Newsstands Friday: ESPN The Magazine’s 2015 NFL Preview Issue

To download cover: http://bit.ly/1WyOAR9

• In-depth analysis of all 32 NFL teams, Confidential insights from more than 100 NFL players, Cover profile of New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, The Mag’s 53-man Ultimate Roster, and more
• Powerful and unique insights from Pulitzer Prize winner Eli Saslow on Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, Brothers Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru on former 49ers linebacker Chris Borland
• NFL Preview Show Airs Tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2

On the cover:  In “How Darrelle Revis became the NFL’s savviest negotiator” senior writer Mina Kimes helps uncover what makes New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis the savviest negotiator in the NFL. Singular talent helps. But just as important is his fearlessness at standing alone.  The Mag explores how Revis has managed his own career better than any player in NFL history, flipping the NFL’s economic model on its head.

NFL Preview Issue Features and Highlights

NFL Cheating Confidential

More than 100 players were polled for their answers on various issues surrounding the Deflategate controversy. Among the takeaways:

• 72 percent feel the Patriots deflated the footballs prior to the AFC Championship Game
• Only 16 percent said they were ‘upset’ about it.
• 88 percent said NFL discipline should not solely be determined by Commissioner Roger Goodell

Suspended Reality 

Who is Adrian Peterson? In the insular world that he has created, the word “abuse” is never used, and the idea of breaking the NFL’s rushing record is not seen as outlandish. Can wishing away hate and doubt allow him to become the king he once was? By Eli Saslow

The Most Dangerous Man in Football

Reporters Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada trailed Chris Borland for the five months following his shocking retirement, as he embarked on a journey that drove him deeper into the NFL’s concussion crisis and forced him to confront the sport in ways he avoided while playing. What they discovered: Borland loves football, but the further he steps away from the NFL, the more pointless and damaging it seems. And if his views spread, the game may never be the same.

Here’s the Catch

Last year, rookie wide receivers were all the rage. Can this year’s class be just as good? The Mag breaks down the six first round rookie wide receivers, and how they’ll mesh with their new QB’s, by drawing up what he would view to be an ideal play for each combo. By Field Yates

The Ultimate 53-Man Roster: The Best Team $143, 253,373 Can Buy 

NFL Front Office Insider and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik assembles the ultimate 53-man roster, taking into consideration star players, role players, cap room – everything.

Team Previews

The Mag’s projections and analysis of all 32 teams which also includes NFL Nation’s “Gotta Ask” interviews from one player on each team.

NFL Preview Show on ESPN2

ESPN The Magazine’s NFL Preview Show Sponsored by Geico will air Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. NFL Live’s Trey Wingo will host the one-hour special with analysts Herm Edwards and Jeff Saturday, and NFL Insider Field Yates to discuss stories featured in the issue, as well as team outlooks and projections. The show will also feature senior writer Mina Kimes regarding her Darrelle Revis cover story, deputy editor Ryan Hockensmith to review the NFL Cheating Confidential, and Pulitzer Prize winner Eli Saslow to discuss his Adrian Peterson piece.

Also in this issue:

• Numbers: Peter Keating’s most recent column examines how it’s obvious to even the most casual tennis fan that Serena Williams is the best in the world. So as she goes for the Grand Slam at the US Open, Keating looks to compare Serena – who currently has nearly double the point of the second-ranked player, Maria Sharapova – with the all-time greats.
• CFB: With help from ESPN.com’s Chantel Jennings, The Mag makes the case for the three most-underrated college football players in the country, primarily focusing on USC quarterback Cody Kessler. If the senior can repeat his 39-5 TD-to-INT ratio—andlead the Trojans to the Pac-12 title game—he’ll emerge as a legit Heisman contender this season.
• Endurance: Morty Ain delves into the Marathon des Sables is a six-day, 150+ mile ultramarathon, held every year in the Sahara Desert. It’s considered the toughest foot race on Earth, and The Mag followed some of this year’s runners.

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Media Contact: Carrie Kreiswirth at (646) 547-4686 or carrie.b.kreiswirth@espn.com