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NBC’s Football Night in America Quotage for Week 8

To round out our Sunday NFL pregame quotage, we have a long press release from NBC to give us what transpired on Football Night in America. Plus, NBC gives us the transcript of Bob Costas’ halftime soliloquy on the Oakland Raiders-Kansas City Chiefs which made no sense. See if you can make sense out of it or why he was hyping a game that wasn’t on his network next week.

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA NOTES & QUOTES – WEEK 8

“He did and he should have gone under the bus with him.” – “Football Night’s” Tony Dungy on if Rex Ryan threw his punter under the bus in a postgame press conference

“It was an awful decision by Mike Shanahan.” – “Football Night’s” Rodney Harrison on pulling Donovan McNabb

“They gave up.” – “Football Night’s” Dungy on the Cowboys defense

NEW YORK – October 31, 2010 – Following are highlights from NBC Sports’ “Football Night in America.” Bob Costas hosted the show live from the Louisiana Superdome and was joined on site for commentary by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth. Co-host Dan Patrick, analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, and reporter Peter King covered the news of the NFL’s eighth week live from NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios. Alex Flanagan reported from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on the Vikings-Patriots game. Costas’ halftime essay addressed next week’s meaningful Chiefs-Raiders game.

Click on the following links for:

Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth get spooked:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/39942375#39942375

Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Peter King on the Cowboys

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/39942514#39942514

Costas’ interview with Drew Brees:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/39939538#39939538

Costas’ interview with Mike Tomlin:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/39940121#39940121

Dungy’s interview with Ryan Clark:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/39942551#39942551

ON HALLOWEEN

Costas: “I am not 100 percent sure that Halloween really ratchets things up all that much in New Orleans. On the way over here I passed five people, three of them are dressed like zombies, two as Lady Gaga. I asked if they were going to a Halloween party and they said ‘its Halloween?’”

Michaels: “Every night in this city is Halloween or New Years Eve.”

Collinsworth: “When you think about it, we’re the freaks in the coat and tie out here tonight. This is pretty crazy.”

Costas: “A representative from the Guinness Book of World Records is on hand to certify tonight’s game as a record for the most people in Halloween costumes in one place at one time. Dan Patrick whose October 31, 1976 dorm party at Dayton somehow escaped notice.”

Patrick displays picture of Costas as a child in a cowboy costume: “And I’m glad, no picture or video. By the way, Bob, you got into the festive spirit back when you were a little guy. Cowboy Bob?”

Costas: “Quite a look. It was my audition for the Village People.”

ON COWBOYS

Dungy on Wade Phillips: “He was right to say they’re embarrassed because as a coach in that situation, you lose your starting quarterback you say, ‘We’ve got to run the ball and we got to play defense.’ They really didn’t do either. We saw the short yardage runs. They couldn’t get it in with Marion Barber and the defense really fell apart.”

Harrison: “Dallas, you’re at home. You’re 1-5. This is a desperation situation. When we looked at this game, no intensity, no sense of urgency and I looked at you and said, ‘Coach, these guys are quitting.’”

Dungy: “They did. And David Garrard now wants to go in and renegotiate his contract. They made him look like a Pro Bowler.”

Patrick: “Wade Phillips is a defensive minded head coach. They have been porous. They have been terrible on defense.”

Dungy: “Two weeks in a row, four touchdown passes by the opposing quarterback. This is a time when you have to dig down as a defender and say, ‘We’ve got to carry the team. Our offense is wounded and we’ve got to do it.’ And they gave up.”

King: “Just like Rodney noticed from a thousand miles away, David Garrard noticed the exact same thing about the Dallas Cowboys from across the line of scrimmage. He said to me and I quote, ‘It just looked like they weren’t into the game like an NFL team should be.’ He noticed that they had sort of a ‘woe is me’ kind of feel. The key thing that happened after this game is that Jerry Jones, who has steadfastly refused to ever say that there is any chance he would get rid of Wade Phillips during the season, seemed to leave a little bit of an open. After the game he said, ‘I wouldn’t have red blood in my veins if I wasn’t thinking about a lot of things right now.’ If he does make a change, it will either be Jason Garrett, the offensive coordinator as interim coach, or Joe DeCamillis, the special teams coach, just to finish the year.”

ON REDSKINS

King on McNabb being pulled at the end of the game: “Obviously Donovan McNabb’s contract is up at the end of this year and now the Washington Redskins have to be asking themselves, General Manager Bruce Allen and Coach Mike Shanahan, ‘Do we want to pay Donovan McNabb $15 million a year going forward if we don’t know if he should be in the game at the two-minute warning?’ And does Donovan McNabb want to play in Washington?’”

Dungy: “If I’m Donovan McNabb, I’m hot. I’m your starting quarterback. As a coach, I can’t take you out of the game when we have a chance to win if I believe in you. This tells me they don’t believe in him.”

Harrison: “What does it tell you about the coaching staff if they had the entire summer, spring, and two months within the season to prepare yourself? This guy is a veteran quarterback. He’s not a rookie quarterback. Never pull him out especially for Rex Grossman, are you kidding me?”

Harrison on Mike Shanahan’s decision to pull McNabb: “It was an awful decision by Mike Shanahan. Donovan McNabb is not a rookie quarterback. He’s a veteran guy. What type of statement are you making to your team saying that I am pulling my best player and sitting him on the bench in the most critical situation of the game.”

Dungy: “What you’re saying is ‘I don’t believe in my quarterback.’ And to me, you cannot do that unless you plan on making a quarterback change.”

Harrison: “Donovan grows bitter at this point. He has two weeks to marinate on this and he’s sitting there saying, ‘This happened to me in the past. That situation didn’t work out. Why would you replace me with Rex Grossman?’”

ON JETS

Patrick on Jets punter Steve Weatherford, who attempted a fake punt deep in Jets territory: “I don’t know if Rex Ryan threw his punter under the bus completely, maybe an arm or a leg or two.”

Dungy: “He did and he should have gone under the bus with him because that’s the coaches fault and the punters fault. You’ve got to punt the ball on fourth and 18.”

Harrison: “You’re the New York Jets. Don’t even give your punter that option. You’re one of the best teams in the league. You can play defense. You can run the ball. Just punt the ball.”

ON VIKINGS

Adrian Peterson to Alex Flanagan on Favre’s injury: “After he unbuckled his chin-strap, I saw him leaking a lot under his chin so I knew immediately he was going to go back and get that cleaned up, stitches or something…It was bleeding a lot so I don’t know the extent of the injury but it was coming out pretty fast.”

Harrison at halftime on Randy Moss’ postgame remarks about the Patriots: “Randy had stability. He had a great head coach. He had a great quarterback. They did a terrific job of protecting Moss from all of the distractions. Now he’s playing on a Minnesota team that’s 2-5 and facing a lot of uncertainty…he’s definitely going to get better numbers in New England.”

ON DOLPHINS

Dungy on today’s win says: “They can make field goals and they can beat the Cincinnati Bengals so that’s not saying a lot.”

Harrison: “But Tampa Bay went into Cincinnati and beat them too. I want to see if the Miami Dolphins are for real, they got the Baltimore Ravens and they got the Tennessee Titans next, we’ll see what happens.”

Patrick: “Well they got the Ravens where they want them, on the road.”

ON CHIEFS

Harrison on Matt Cassell: “It’s no surprise with me looking at Matt Cassel and that two-minute drill. When I played with him in New England, he used to give the defense fits going up and down the field not throwing interceptions. He didn’t throw any interceptions today.”

ON RAIDERS

Patrick: “You’ve got to figure, Oakland at 4-4, a team to be reckoned with.”

Dungy: “This is old Raiders football: great pass rush, power running game and some explosive passes to some fast receivers. Al Davis is smiling today.”

Harrison: “I like Jason Campbell and I hated him in Washington (laughs). But the guy is playing smart football and he is not turning the football over. He’s depending on the run, spreading the ball around. That’s what you have to do if you’re Jason Campbell. Avoid the turnovers.”

ON CHARGERS

Dungy: “This is the time they usually get going and they’re playing the way San Diego has always played. They have got to go to Houston next week and we’ll see if they can continue it but they were explosive today.”

Harrison: “This is a big win for San Diego but they are still playing inconsistent.”

ON SEAHAWKS

Patrick: “They did not look like a team that is one of the elite in the NFC.”

ON 49ERS

King: “This was probably Mike Singletary’s best day as head coach of the 49ers…You heard it here first, two weeks from today against the St. Louis Rams off their bye, I believe that the 49ers will go with Troy Smith, not Alex Smith, as their quarterback.”

ON SAINTS

Michaels: “They’re a different team without Reggie Bush. Forget what his numbers are, when Reggie Bush is in the lineup the other defensive coordinator has to spend a lot of time thinking about him.”

ON STEELERS

Costas: “I’m told the Saints do have a plan to throw James Harrison off. They’re all going to show up tonight dressed as Roger Goodell.”

Following are highlights of Bob Costas’ interview with Drew Brees:

On Super Bowl hangover: We knew that. It’s tough. Maybe the biggest trap that people fall into is just the fact that you think as Super Bowl champions you can just walk on the field and everybody is going to rollover for you and be intimidated by you. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. It’s still about us though. It’s about our ability to execute and to focus and to do all the right things on Sunday; to pay attention to the process throughout the week, our practice, our preparation. At this point, we obviously haven’t performed at the type of level that we know we can and we know we will.

On inconsistency and three losses: One of those was a pretty tight loss to Atlanta. The last two losses to Arizona and Cleveland have really been due to turnovers and other things that we…we know the difference between winning and losing in this league and what it takes to win football games…unfortunately, we have not done those things. It starts with taking care of the football, turnovers. It’s all about correcting those things and getting back on track.

On Twitter helping choose his newborn son’s name: Being in south Louisiana, I got a lot of the Bo recommendations, and not just Bo, but Beau and Beaux. So I thought that’s kind of variation of Bowen and, in fact, as a kid, Bowen might be called Bo.

Following are highlights of Bob Costas’ interview with Mike Tomlin:

On last week’s play where it appeared James Harrison changed his style of play and pulled up Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown: In that particular instance, they were painting a picture that they wanted to see. The way I viewed that play was that Ronnie Brown caught the ball clean and ducked out like a savvy veteran football player. He’s the person that eliminated the contact as opposed to James pulling off. I took exception to using James in that way.

On the NFL deciding to enforce greater discipline mid-season: When you start looking at things that you discussed in the off-season and adjusting during the season, you’re doing it from an emotional standpoint. Usually emotional decisions aren’t good ones. It was an overreaction to a couple of unfortunate incidents that occurred a few weeks ago.

Tomlin on changes in QB Ben Roethlisberger: As a player, I think he’s enjoying the monotony more. That’s natural. That’s human nature. When something is taken away from you, you have a greater appreciation for it once you have an opportunity to get it back. As a person, more than anything, it’s about taking an accounting of where he is and what’s important to him. A lot of times in life, we all get off the mark a little bit especially when you experience the kind of success that he has. It can be trap door, if you will. He’s really assessing and evaluating, not only what’s important to him, but who he surrounds himself with and how he conducts himself.

Tomlin on Super Bowl hangovers: I don’t know why people are surprised by that. It’s tough to walk the journey and win it one time let alone two times back to back. Your off-season is shorter. There’s more obligations in that off-season that happens to be shorter. There’s a lot of things that can get you off track when you are defending Super Bowl champs. To me, it’s not a shock at all.

Following are highlights of Tony Dungy’s interview with Steelers S Ryan Clark, who is dedicated to making a difference in his hometown of New Orleans:

Clark on wanting to make a difference: “Pastor Sterling Mealancon…talked about his vision, he talked about what he wanted to build here and I said ‘I want to help ya’ll build that building.’ So the first thing he asked me, I guess I don’t look much like a football player, ‘are you a contractor?’ And I was like no, not exactly.”

Sterling Mealancon on Clark’s help: “Ryan has been a tremendous help; I must say that without Ryan’s help not a lot of things that we have done thus far would have been possible.”

Clark on building houses for church members: “I thought that was amazing. I remember sitting here one day and he’s talking about putting members of the church in new homes. I had never heard of that ever, I’ve seen people building churches. I’ve seen people get more pews and more members into a church. But, never said you know what you never owned a home, you’re a single mom, you have children, let’s find a way to get you in that home.”

BOB COSTAS HALFTIME ESSAY

10-31

Football fans of a certain age can remember when every game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders was a big deal. Dating to the glory days of the old AFL and for a while, post-merger, they were actually the powers of their division. Their matchups were seen in primetime with Howard, Frank and Dandy Don on ABC. Or, in the late Sunday afternoon slot with NBC’s Curt Gowdy and Al Derogatis.

The “A” teams for what was then always an “A” game. Rumpled John Madden and dapper Hank Stram. Len Dawson and Daryl Lamonica… Fred Biletnikoff and Otis Taylor among their targets. Buck Buchanan and Ben Davidson… Willie Lanier and Ted Hendricks. A great and often bitter rivalry with a cast of characters the whole nation knew.

Well, it’s been a long time since the Chiefs were very good. And since a January 2003 Super Bowl appearance, the Raiders are a combined 33-87.

But wait… Now, Oakland’s won three out of four, which gets them to 4-4 just in time for a visit from the now 5-2 Chiefs. These teams sport no household names. And the last ongoing connection to their storied rivalry is Al Davis, apparently determined to go out with his boots on but whose team has surprisingly rebooted to the verge of contender status, giving this coming Sunday’s matchup at the Coliseum a certain throwback flavor. It might even be enough to spark a sellout so the Silver and Black can see the blackout lifted.

The Raiders and Chiefs in a meaningful game. Go figure. It’ll almost seem like old times.

We’re done. See you on Monday.

NBC’s Football Night in America Previews Week 8′s Interviews

Tonight on Football Night in America, Bob Costas talks with Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Mike Tomlin from the Pittsburgh Steelers. In addition, Tony Dungy interviews Steelers safety Ryan Clark. Here’s a preview.

“FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” PREVIEW – WEEK 8

BOB COSTAS INTERVIEWS DREW BREES & MIKE TOMLIN; TONY DUNGY SITS DOWN WITH STEELERS SAFETY RYAN CLARK

“It starts with taking care of the football.” – Drew Brees to Bob Costas regarding the Saints struggles

“He’s really assessing and evaluating, not only what’s important to him, but who he surrounds himself with and how he conducts himself.” – Mike Tomlin to Bob Costas on Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger

“Sunday Night Football” Attempts to set Guinness World Record

NEW YORK – October 31, 2010 – Bob Costas interviewed New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin for tonight’s Week 8 edition of “Football Night in America,” which will also include highlights, analysis and reaction to Week 8’s afternoon games. Tony Dungy interviewed Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who has committed his life to making a difference in his hometown of New Orleans.

“Football Night” airs each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with Costas, who won the outstanding studio host Emmy last year, hosting the program live from inside the stadium. In addition to his interviews, he is joined on site by SNF commentators Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) for reaction to the afternoon games.

Dan Patrick co-hosts “Football Night” from NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios and is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach and Emmy-nominated Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. Alex Flanagan will report from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on the Vikings-Patriots game.

VIEWERSHIP: “Football Night” (7:30-8:15 pm) is averaging 8.5 million viewers through its first seven weeks, its most ever for that time frame and up 13 percent vs. 2009’s 7.5 million viewers.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD: Fans attending “Sunday Night Football” tonight at the Louisiana Superdome will attempt to set the Guinness World Record for largest Halloween gathering, defined as a group of people in costume in one place. An official Guinness World Records® Adjudicator will be on site at the Superdome to validate the attempt. 

DREW BREES

On Super Bowl hangover: We knew that. It’s tough. Maybe the biggest trap that people fall into is just the fact that you think as Super Bowl champions you can just walk on the field and everybody is going to rollover for you and be intimidated by you. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. It’s still about us though. It’s about our ability to execute and to focus and to do all the right things on Sunday; to pay attention to the process throughout the week, our practice, our preparation. At this point, we obviously haven’t performed at the type of level that we know we can and we know we will.

On inconsistency and three losses: One of those was a pretty tight loss to Atlanta. The last two losses to Arizona and Cleveland have really been due to turnovers and other things that we…we know the difference between winning and losing in this league and what it takes to win football games…unfortunately, we have not done those things. It starts with taking care of the football, turnovers. It’s all about correcting those things and getting back on track.

MIKE TOMLIN

On last week’s play where it appeared James Harrison changed his style of play and pulled up Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown: In that particular instance, they were painting a picture that they wanted to see. The way I viewed that play was that Ronnie Brown caught the ball clean and ducked out like a savvy veteran football player. He’s the person that eliminated the contact as opposed to James pulling off. I took exception to using James in that way.

On the NFL deciding to enforce greater discipline mid-season: When you start looking at things that you discussed in the off-season and adjusting during the season, you’re doing it from an emotional standpoint. Usually emotional decisions aren’t good ones. It was an overreaction to a couple of unfortunate incidents that occurred a few weeks ago.

Tomlin on changes in QB Ben Roethlisberger: As a player, I think he’s enjoying the monotony more. That’s natural. That’s human nature. When something is taken away from you, you have a greater appreciation for it once you have an opportunity to get it back. As a person, more than anything, it’s about taking an accounting of where he is and what’s important to him. A lot of times in life, we all get off the mark a little bit especially when you experience the kind of success that he has. It can be trap door, if you will. He’s really assessing and evaluating, not only what’s important to him, but who he surrounds himself with and how he conducts himself.

Tomlin on Super Bowl hangovers: I don’t know why people are surprised by that. It’s tough to walk the journey and win it one time let alone two times back to back. Your off-season is shorter. There’s more obligations in that off-season that happens to be shorter. There’s a lot of things that can get you off track when you are defending Super Bowl champs. To me, it’s not a shock at all.

And we’ll have the final quotage from Football Night in America later tonight.

The NFL Today on CBS Quotage For Week 8

We conclude our early Sunday NFL pregame quotage with The NFL Today on CBS.

NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 8 ON OCTOBER 31

? QUICK HITS

(On Dallas and Minnesota)

BILL COWHER: You’re not going to win a playoff spot this week, but you can lose one. I think if you look at Dallas, look at Minnesota, these are two teams that don’t panic, don’t unravel, but they have to have a sense of urgency about them, because they could lose a playoff spot just like Tennessee last year.

(On whether Brett Favre starts today for Minnesota)

SHANNON SHARPE: I think this is more of an indictment on Tarvaris Jackson than it is Brett Favre’s streak. If they felt that Tarvaris Jackson could play well enough, he’d be starting. Here’s a guy that’s played with two broken bones in his ankle and they keep saying Brett Favre gives us the best chance to win… Maybe last year when he didn’t turn over the football and put you in harm’s way…I don’t see how he gives them the best chance to win with that situation.

(On Minnesota Head Coach Brad Childress)

COWHER: His credibility is at stake right now. There is no question. Brett Favre is on a short leash today.

(On Brett Favre playing)

DAN MARINO: Right now that’s still going to be Brett Favre. You saw all the throws he made last week.  He has been making some mistakes, but there are no more excuses. Brett, if it’s a bad ankle, whatever it may be, he has all the weapons he needs to win. He just has to find a way to dig down deep in New England, and stare them in the face and get into the playoffs.

(On Dallas and Wade Phillips)

BOOMER ESIASON: What happened last week lays at the feet of one, Wade Phillips. I’m sorry, that is the reality of this business. If you ask me, if they don’t turn it around now, I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Wade Phillips will be out of a job by the time the season end rolls around.

? “INSIDE THE GAME” WITH “NFL TODAY GENERAL MANAGER” CHARLEY CASSERLY

(On Brett Favre investigation)

CASSERLY: Jenn Sterger has agreed to meet with the NFL either next Thursday or Friday. In that meeting what she’s going to do is contradict Favre’s statement where he denied sending her elicit pictures. Next, Sterger’s group has identified the ex-Jet employee who passed along Sterger’s number to Favre without her consent. Another note, Sterger’s group is going to speak this week with somebody who can verify it, and possibly has some other information that can help Sterger’s case. And also, Sterger is considering suing the Jets and/or Brett Favre.

(On Tony Romo injury)

The Cowboys asked Dr. William Andrews to consult on this and give them a second opinion. Andrews agreed with the doctors from Dallas. First of all, he said surgery should not be done. The break is too close to the clavicle. Eight weeks is the recovery time. The Cowboys said there is no hurry to put him on IR (injured reserve list). They want to see how he recovers and what the record is when he gets healthy. 

That’s it.

The NFL Today on CBS Quotage For Week 8

We conclude our early Sunday NFL pregame quotage with The NFL Today on CBS.

NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 8 ON OCTOBER 31

? QUICK HITS

(On Dallas and Minnesota)

BILL COWHER: You’re not going to win a playoff spot this week, but you can lose one. I think if you look at Dallas, look at Minnesota, these are two teams that don’t panic, don’t unravel, but they have to have a sense of urgency about them, because they could lose a playoff spot just like Tennessee last year.

(On whether Brett Favre starts today for Minnesota)

SHANNON SHARPE: I think this is more of an indictment on Tarvaris Jackson than it is Brett Favre’s streak. If they felt that Tarvaris Jackson could play well enough, he’d be starting. Here’s a guy that’s played with two broken bones in his ankle and they keep saying Brett Favre gives us the best chance to win… Maybe last year when he didn’t turn over the football and put you in harm’s way…I don’t see how he gives them the best chance to win with that situation.

(On Minnesota Head Coach Brad Childress)

COWHER: His credibility is at stake right now. There is no question. Brett Favre is on a short leash today.

(On Brett Favre playing)

DAN MARINO: Right now that’s still going to be Brett Favre. You saw all the throws he made last week.  He has been making some mistakes, but there are no more excuses. Brett, if it’s a bad ankle, whatever it may be, he has all the weapons he needs to win. He just has to find a way to dig down deep in New England, and stare them in the face and get into the playoffs.

(On Dallas and Wade Phillips)

BOOMER ESIASON: What happened last week lays at the feet of one, Wade Phillips. I’m sorry, that is the reality of this business. If you ask me, if they don’t turn it around now, I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Wade Phillips will be out of a job by the time the season end rolls around.

? “INSIDE THE GAME” WITH “NFL TODAY GENERAL MANAGER” CHARLEY CASSERLY

(On Brett Favre investigation)

CASSERLY: Jenn Sterger has agreed to meet with the NFL either next Thursday or Friday. In that meeting what she’s going to do is contradict Favre’s statement where he denied sending her elicit pictures. Next, Sterger’s group has identified the ex-Jet employee who passed along Sterger’s number to Favre without her consent. Another note, Sterger’s group is going to speak this week with somebody who can verify it, and possibly has some other information that can help Sterger’s case. And also, Sterger is considering suing the Jets and/or Brett Favre.

(On Tony Romo injury)

The Cowboys asked Dr. William Andrews to consult on this and give them a second opinion. Andrews agreed with the doctors from Dallas. First of all, he said surgery should not be done. The break is too close to the clavicle. Eight weeks is the recovery time. The Cowboys said there is no hurry to put him on IR (injured reserve list). They want to see how he recovers and what the record is when he gets healthy. 

That’s it.

The NFL Today on CBS Quotage For Week 8

We conclude our early Sunday NFL pregame quotage with The NFL Today on CBS.

NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 8 ON OCTOBER 31

? QUICK HITS

(On Dallas and Minnesota)

BILL COWHER: You’re not going to win a playoff spot this week, but you can lose one. I think if you look at Dallas, look at Minnesota, these are two teams that don’t panic, don’t unravel, but they have to have a sense of urgency about them, because they could lose a playoff spot just like Tennessee last year.

(On whether Brett Favre starts today for Minnesota)

SHANNON SHARPE: I think this is more of an indictment on Tarvaris Jackson than it is Brett Favre’s streak. If they felt that Tarvaris Jackson could play well enough, he’d be starting. Here’s a guy that’s played with two broken bones in his ankle and they keep saying Brett Favre gives us the best chance to win… Maybe last year when he didn’t turn over the football and put you in harm’s way…I don’t see how he gives them the best chance to win with that situation.

(On Minnesota Head Coach Brad Childress)

COWHER: His credibility is at stake right now. There is no question. Brett Favre is on a short leash today.

(On Brett Favre playing)

DAN MARINO: Right now that’s still going to be Brett Favre. You saw all the throws he made last week.  He has been making some mistakes, but there are no more excuses. Brett, if it’s a bad ankle, whatever it may be, he has all the weapons he needs to win. He just has to find a way to dig down deep in New England, and stare them in the face and get into the playoffs.

(On Dallas and Wade Phillips)

BOOMER ESIASON: What happened last week lays at the feet of one, Wade Phillips. I’m sorry, that is the reality of this business. If you ask me, if they don’t turn it around now, I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Wade Phillips will be out of a job by the time the season end rolls around.

? “INSIDE THE GAME” WITH “NFL TODAY GENERAL MANAGER” CHARLEY CASSERLY

(On Brett Favre investigation)

CASSERLY: Jenn Sterger has agreed to meet with the NFL either next Thursday or Friday. In that meeting what she’s going to do is contradict Favre’s statement where he denied sending her elicit pictures. Next, Sterger’s group has identified the ex-Jet employee who passed along Sterger’s number to Favre without her consent. Another note, Sterger’s group is going to speak this week with somebody who can verify it, and possibly has some other information that can help Sterger’s case. And also, Sterger is considering suing the Jets and/or Brett Favre.

(On Tony Romo injury)

The Cowboys asked Dr. William Andrews to consult on this and give them a second opinion. Andrews agreed with the doctors from Dallas. First of all, he said surgery should not be done. The break is too close to the clavicle. Eight weeks is the recovery time. The Cowboys said there is no hurry to put him on IR (injured reserve list). They want to see how he recovers and what the record is when he gets healthy. 

That’s it.

World Series Provides Another Primetime Win For Fox

A game that started earlier and ended earlier on the East Coast led to a primetime win for Fox in the 8 p.m. to 9:52 p.m. time slot. While the game started at 6:57 p.m. officially, Fox was allowed to adjust for the period starting at 8 p.m., when primetime starts. So during that 112 minute span, 7.3 rating and a 13 share. Overall, the game received 11.5 million viewers which isn’t bad for a Saturday with heavy college football competition.

We have the press release from Fox Sports.

World Series Continues FOX Sports’ Primetime Dominance

Network Earns Another Easy Nightly Win

Game 3 Jumps +17% in Viewership Compared To ’08

New York, NY – Game 3 of the 2010 World Series earned a 6.7/13 household rating/share (11.5 million viewers) according to fast national ratings released by Nielsen Media Research. That’s a +17% jump in average audience and 10% increase in rating compared to 2008’s Rays-Phillies Game 3 (vs. 9.8 million viewers, 6.1/13).

Saturday night’s special family start time of 6:30 PM ET, the earliest start for a World Series game since 1987, powered the network to its third consecutive primetime win as FOX averaged a 7.3/13 (12.7 million viewers) (8:00 PM – 9:52 PM ET). Last night was FOX’s best average Saturday night rating in over a year.

Through three games, the 2010 World Series is averaging a 8.1/14 (13.7 million viewers), +11% better on viewership and +5% higher on rating when compared to 2008’s non-Yankees World Series (Rays-Phillies, 7.7/14, 12.3 million viewers). Saturday night’s telecast grew steadily throughout the night peaking at an 8.1/15 at 9:30 PM ET as the Texas Rangers won their first game of the series.

San Francisco led all markets with a 30.0/57 for Game 3 followed by Dallas with a 26.9/48. Sacramento continues to act as a third home market with a strong 21.0/39.

Coverage of Game 4 begins tonight at 8:00 PM ET on FOX from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, TX.

More later.

Fox NFL Sunday Quotage For Week 8

We have your Fox NFL Sunday quotes and notes for today.

FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 10/31/10

Johnson: I Thought About Benching Marino in His Final Season But Didn’t Out of Respect

Glazer Reports Romo Will Not Have Surgery This Season to Repair Broken Collarbone

Bradshaw: I Wouldn’t Play Romo the Rest of the Season, He Needs to Heal

Strahan: John Fox Should Coach the Cowboys Next Season

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Given Brett Favre’s current injuries and recent performance, Co-Host Terry Bradshaw and Jimmy Johnson don’t think the legendary quarterback should start today for the Vikings when they face the Patriots in Foxborough:

Bradshaw:  “We can’t get rid of him and he shouldn’t play today. As a right-handed quarterback, when you release the ball, your left foot takes all the weight.  He’s got two broken bones in his left foot and he has a bad elbow.  There’s nothing wrong with sitting down and letting the young kid play.” 

Johnson:  “He still makes some good throws but his bad plays outweigh his good plays and that’s why Tarvaris Jackson should be in there.”

During FOX NFL SUNDAY’s ‘Fired Up’ segment, former head coach Jimmy Johnson related his own experience with coaching an aging Hall of Fame quarterback:

“After my success in Dallas, I went to Miami and even though we made the playoffs three straight years and won a couple of playoff games, my Miami days were not without frustration.  Like Brad Childress, I had a Hall of Fame quarterback who could still throw but after so many surgeries couldn’t move.  Journeyman Damon Huard filled in during Dan Marino’s last season and went 4-1 because our defense ranked fifth overall.  In his last 14 starts, Dan was 6-8 with 25 turnovers, seven of which were returned for touchdowns.  I never admitted this but benching Dan crossed my mind and out of respect for him, I never did.  Because of Brett Favre’s many injuries, Childress faces the same dilemma today.  Brett Favre is the 30^th ranked passer in the NFL, hanging out with the likes of Jimmy Clausen and Derek Anderson.  You can’t tell me Tarvaris Jackson isn’t better than those guys.  The Vikings have enough talent to win the NFC North but Brett’s bad plays outnumber his good ones.  He can’t buy time on that fractured ankle.  His elbow is killing him.  Brett probably regrets coming back, unable to repeat last season’s magical numbers.  Don’t get me wrong, like Dan Marino, Brett Favre was one of the greatest players to play the game.  I just wish our last memory of Brett was of him jumping into teammates arms, not limping off the field in defeat.”

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FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer reports the Cowboys opted not to have quarterback Tony Romo undergo surgery to repair his broken collarbone and what that may mean: “In talking with different doctors and team trainers, they said with an injury like that, if you don’t put a plate in there to protect it, there’s still a good chance that if he takes a similar hit, it could break all over again.  What this says, is that Dallas is still hopeful that they could be in it down the road and that Tony Romo can come back by not ‘plating’ it.”

Co-Host Terry Bradshaw on what the Cowboys should do with Romo the rest of the season: “I had the same injury as Romo. Six weeks later I went back out when I shouldn’t have and got hit again. I had to have those bones pinned for four months. I wouldn’t play him the rest of the year. They need to let it heal.”

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Analyst Michael Strahan on who should coach the Dallas Cowboys next season: “A guy who already has a job, John Fox. I think it’s a perfect fit. He’s no slouch and not an easy coach.”

Analyst Jimmy Johnson offered a less specific candidate: “The answer to that question is whoever Jerry wants.”

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Analyst Jimmy Johnson thinks Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan deserves more credit for Washington’s 4-3 record:  “How in the world are they winning ball games?  Donovan McNabb has more interceptions than touchdowns, they’ve got the 31^st ranked defense but they are playing a pretty good defensive front.”

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Howie Long reacts to Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris declaring his team is the best in the NFC: “I loved his post-game speech. I think Morris gave the country a look at how fiery and intense he is.”

Analyst Michael Strahan counters: “I’m fiery and intense too but I’m realistic.”

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Co-Host Terry Bradshaw on Vince Young: “He did well for them last year and won a lot of football games. I don’t know why but I’m still not sold on him.”

Just waiting on CBS and we’ll be set for the afternoon.

College Gameday To Utah

Announced today by ESPN, College Gameday heads to a non-ESPN game and goes to the Mountain West for a game involving TCU and Utah, a game of unbeatens. This means that Kirk Herbstreit will pick this game and it also means he’ll have to fly out to be at ESPN on ABC’s primetime game at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Mike Humes of ESPN’s public relations department made the announcement on Twitter this morning. It marks ESPN’s third trip out West this season having been in Oregon and Los Angeles.

TCU-Utah will be aired on CBS College Sports, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. East.

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Quotage For Week 8

And we have your Sunday NFL Countdown quotage from ESPN complete with Halloween references

ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown Notes and Quotes: Week 8

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed today’s NFL action. Some excerpts:

On whether Vikings coach Brad Childress should start Brett Favre today…

Ditka: “You must play the player that gives you the best chance to win. … There’s a chain of command that starts with the head coach, and, if it doesn’t, get another head coach.”

Jackson: “I don’t think that Brad Childress has the authority to bench Brett Favre. … I think he’s gonna start, he’s gonna play, I don’t think he’s going to finish the game.”

Carter: “The question that Brett is going to have to ask himself right before that football game — ‘Is it about me or is it about my teammates?’. I think he’s going to play. I think it’s going to be about him.”

Johnson: “Brett Favre will probably make the decision for him – which is wrong. Brad needs to stand up and say, ‘I’m (going to) play the best guy who gives me the chance to win. Period.”

On Favre’s consecutive games streak as a factor for whether he starts for the Vikings…

Carter: “Football is a gladiator sport and the last 20 years Brett’s the toughest of the gladiators. He has a lot of pride in the streak but I don’t think it gets in the way today.”

Johnson: “He’s not playing for the streak. He feels that his leg is better than Tavaris’s two.”

Ditka: “My eyeball test tells me you can’t play in that condition. I want the guy with two legs.”

On whether the Dallas Cowboys can salvage their season…

Carter: “They don’t have anything they can really put their hat on as far as a team, so trying to recover, what are they going to do?”

Jackson: “The thing that they can’t do is use Romo’s injury as an excuse for what’s going to happen from here on out. They were 1-4 with Romo in the lineup.”

Johnson: “I say they’re cooked. This team may just win two games.”

Ditka: “If they’re not toast, they’re pretty well charred. … I didn’t know Jon Kitna was still playing football. I really didn’t. … Not that he can’t play, but it’s going to take a big effort to rally around him.”

Berman: “The lack of spirit from the players when Romo was hurt and rolling there in a game that was still up for grabs on Monday night was appalling.”

On the reason for the San Diego Chargers struggles this season…

Johnson: “No players. And when you don’t have players, you can’t win in this league… I put the blame on the general manager. He’s the guy in the offseason that made a decision not to sign certain guys, run certain guys off.” 

Jackson: “It looks like the opportunity has passed them by and AJ eventually is to blame.”

Ditka: “The front office is horrible to make the decisions it’s made.”

Berman: “I’m embarrassed for the Chargers.”

Additional comments…

Jackson: “The Patriots are the smartest, most focused football team in the league. Where you’ve got that dysfunction a little bit today for the Vikings at quarterback, none with No. 12, Brady.”

Jackson: “The most toughest-minded team in football, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that’s almost year-in, year-out.”

Carter: “The Saints without a deep ball, I believe they are just an average team.”

Countdown’s Halloween-inspired list of the NFL’s Top 10 Scariest Players:

1) Ravens LB Ray Lewis 

2) Vikings RB Adrian Peterson 

3) Colts QB Peyton Manning 

4) Titans RB Chris Johnson 

5) Eagles QB Michael Vick 

6) Steelers LB James Harrison 

7) Ravens NT Haloti Ngata 

8) Browns OL Joe Thomas 

9) Bears KR Devin Hester  

10) Patriots QB Tom Brady

Waiting on CBS and Fox to round out our early pregame quotage.

NFL Gameday Morning Quotage From Week 8

The Sunday NFL pregame quotage is starting to trickle in. Hello. Good Morning. Every time I think of NFL Gameday Morning, I think of their open. Unfortunately, it’s not available online otherwise I would embed it here.

Anyway, lots of quotes from NFL Network’s NFL Gameday Morning today. Check it out.

News and Sound Bites From Week 8 Edition of

NFL GAMEDAY MORNING

“That sounds like a coach that wants to drive someone to the airport, not pick him up.” – Rich Eisen on Brad Childress’ Postgame Comments Regarding QB Brett Favre

“Run the football and stop the run. That may not be exciting with the passing game of Peyton Manning, but that old school philosophy is winning and thriving and it will dominate today.” – Steve Mariucci

“The game got better because we asked the players to go back to your fundamentals, go to what you were taught.”  – Warren Sapp on Players Adjusting to League’s Stricter Enforcement of Rules Against Illegal Hits

“I don’t think he’s pressing too much. He’s got a very high expectation level as to how he wants to perform and how he sees our offense performing.” – Payton on Saints QB Drew Brees

‘NFL GameDay Morning’ Analysts Offer Their Top Five Players of All Time

NFL GameDay Morning, the FIRST pregame show on the air Sunday morning is in its third season on the air at 9:00 AM ET, taking viewers straight up to kickoff. New host Rich Eisen joins analysts Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Marshall Faulk and Steve Mariucci to bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews. 

Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:

“That sounds like a coach that wants to drive someone to the airport, not pick him up.” – Rich Eisen on Vikings head coach Brad Childress’ postgame comments regarding QB Brett Favre following Vikings’ 28-24 loss to Green Bay Week 7

“He threw the guy that is driving the bus under the bus and that’s a recipe for a crash and burn.” – Mariucci on Vikings head coach Brad Childress’ postgame comments regarding QB Brett Favre

“This has got to be Chilly’s decision, not Brett’s, not anybody else’s. Chilly has got to say, ‘I will determine who my starting quarterback is Brett and you will sit or start based on my opinion.’ Chilly’s got to be tough enough to say that.” – Mariucci on Vikings head coach Brad Childress’ decision to sit or start QB Brett Favre

“The game got better because we asked the players to go back to your fundamentals, go to what you were taught. We saw in Week 7 that they came out and did that.” – Warren Sapp on players adjusting to the league’s stricter enforcement of rules against illegal hits

“This guy is an intellectual quarterback who understands zone blitzing and the game of football. With the receivers that he has, he’ll spread out the Pittsburgh Steelers defense and he will be effective.” – Michael Irvin on Saints QB Drew Brees

“There’s an old school philosophy in this league; Run the football and stop the run. That may not be exciting with the passing game of Peyton Manning, but that old school philosophy is winning and thriving and it will dominate today.” – Mariucci on league-leading rush teams in the NFL

Teams Rushing More Than Passing (this season)

Rush plays            Pass Plays             % Rush

Chiefs**                       211                  158                  57.2

Steelers**                    185                  147                  55.7

Titans**                       216                  188                  53.5

Jets**                          193                  188                  50.7

Raiders                        236                  233                  50.3

**teams leading their division

“If the Cowboys were to make it to the Super Bowl, Jerry [Jones] would get all the praise. So why are we overlooking Jerry because he’s shopping for the groceries now?” – Marshall Faulk on the issues in Dallas

“When the Chargers get going, they are the best in the league and those number one rankings prove it.” – Irvin on the San Diego Chargers ranking first in the league in total offense, total defense and passing yards

“It’s not just one guy. Tennessee puts a plethora of defensive linemen out there that rush the passer.” – Sapp on the Titans defensive line

“We’ve seen him play and play well when he’s had any type of injury or was questionable; Brett Favre has shown up and had those memorable games that we love him for. These are the situations where when he’s injured, his focus gets better.” – Faulk on Vikings QB Brett Favre

“If he wins this game at New England with [Tom] Brady [having] 23 wins in a row at home, this will be one of his signature wins.” – Mariucci on Vikings QB Brett Favre

“Ultimately, it falls on the head coach and it’s never going to be any different. That’s why when you sign your name to the dotted line as a head coach, you’re ultimately responsible for all facets of your football team.” – Mariucci on who’s to blame in Dallas for Cowboys’ 1-5 record

“You take it one game at a time and it’s never been more true for the Dallas Cowboys. You can’t win the division today. You can’t go to the Super Bowl in your own house today. You have to win one football game. That’s where their focus has to be and should have been all week.” – Mariucci on the Dallas Cowboys

“These guys are masters in 1-on-1 coverage.” – Irvin on Packers WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver

“Most of the time, we use the Super Bowl champions as a measuring stick. Here, the Saints cannot lose this game and they have to use the Pittsburgh Steelers as a measuring stick.” – Irvin on the Steelers vs. Saints

“Two things Albert Haynesworth needs to do – shut up and play.” – Sapp on Haynesworth’s comments this week

“These two teams could very well end up in the Super Bowl together.” – Mariucci on the New York Giants and New York Jets

Analysts’ Pick for Most Likely Super Bowl Contender – Giants or Jets?

Marshall Faulk – New York Jets

Warren Sapp – New York Giants

Steve Mariucci – New York Jets

Michael Irvin – New York Giants

 

Kara Henderson Pregame 1-on-1 with Saints QB Sean Payton:

“Certainly there’s a frustration level when our record is 4-3. The players on this team, all of us, coaches included, have a high bar. When you start a new season after a Super Bowl championship, you know it’s going to be challenging.” – Payton on the Saints 4-3 record

“I don’t think he’s pressing too much. He’s got a very high expectation level as to how he wants to perform and how he sees our offense performing.” – Payton on Saints QB Drew Brees

NFL GameDay Morning Analyst Rank Their Top Five Players of All Time:

Michael Irvin

1. Jerry Rice
2. Joe Montana
3. Emmitt Smith
4. Ray Lewis
5. Jim Brown

“I call this guy a God in cleats.” – Irvin on Jerry Rice

Steve Mariucci

1. Joe Montana
2. Jim Brown
3. Jerry Rice
4. Reggie White
5. Jim Thorpe

“‘Joe Cool.’ He invented the comeback.” – Mariucci on Joe Montana

Warren Sapp

1. Jerry Rice
2. Reggie White
3. Bruce Smith
4. Deion Sanders
5. Peyton Manning

“Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, but where I played football, the other third was covered by Prime.” – Sapp on Deion “Primetime” Sanders

Marshall Faulk

1. Jerry Rice

“There’s no list. I’m going to say Jerry’s the best and everybody else can just get in line.” – Faulk on Jerry Rice

To view video of this segment, please visit:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81bbc843/Who-are-the-top-5-players-of-all-time

NFL Network’s The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players counts down the top 100 players of all time, as determined by a blue ribbon panel of football minds. Since the show’s debut September 3, each episode unveiled 10 players counting down from 100, with the players being presented by a figure in sports and entertainment.

The final 10 players will be revealed this Thursday, November 4 at 9:00 PM ET, immediately followed by a special roundtable at 10:00 PM ET hosted by NFL Films President Steve Sabol dissecting and analyzing the entire countdown with blue ribbon panelists Michael Lombardi (NFL Network analyst, former NFL front office executive), Ernie Accorsi (former Giants GM), Peter King (NBC analyst, Sports Illustrated senior writer) and Jarrett Bell (USA Today pro football writer). For an updated list and to see where the fans ranked each player, visit http://top100.nfl.com/.

 

On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:

The Game Has Changed – The NFL GameDay Morning crew talks about the adjustments players made last week after the rules on illegal hits were emphasized.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81bbc687/The-game-has-changed

NFL GameDay Morning Trick or Treat – NFL Network turns back the clock and gives the NFL GameDay Morning crew a Halloween surprise.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81bbc974/GameDay-Morning-trick-or-treat

Is Childress fed up with Favre? – Brad Childress had some choice words on Brett Favre last Sunday. Has he reached a breaking point with the veteran quarterback?

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81bbc9c6/Is-Childress-fed-up-with-Favre

Which QB should Vikings start? – Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk and the NFL GameDay Morning crew debate who the Vikings should start at QB vs. the Patriots, Brett Favre or Tarvaris Jackson.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81bbd01d/Which-QB-should-Vikings-start

More stuff is coming. Keep it here.

Quotage From MLB Tonight: World Series Edition

We have your quotage from MLB Network’s MLB Tonight after Game 3 of the World Series.

Following the Texas Rangers’ Game Three win in the 2010 World Series, the Rangers’ Colby Lewis and Josh Hamilton spoke to MLB Tonight, while MLB Network’s Dan Plesac and Harold Reynolds gave their analysis of the game. Reynolds also did a Diamond Demo on Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz’s base running in the second inning of the game, which can be seen here.

COLBY LEWIS ON HIS GAME THREE PERFORMANCE:

“Strike one opened up a lot of avenues for me. Once I got strike one, it felt like I could expand with the slider, flip the breaking ball in at times and it kept my balance, for sure.” View the complete interview here.

JOSH HAMILTON ON MITCH MORELAND:

“He’s a tremendous competitor. He’s somebody that’s stubborn. He’s very stubborn and that’s very good for a ballplayer.  He gets in there and battles and he’s done well. He’s rose to the occasion, the challenge and has been tremendous for us.”

DAN PLESAC ON COLBY LEWIS:

“I had a chance to talk to [Rangers pitching coach] Mike Maddux for about 15 minutes before Game Two and I said, boy, [Colby] Lewis was marvelous in that clincher against the Yankees. He looked at me straight and said, ‘He’s been marvelous for us all season long.’ He’s applied his craft, he’s a better pitcher and his time in Japan has made him use all his pitches. …This is a guy with good stuff, not great stuff, who’s not afraid to attack the strike zone with any of his pitches. He has the confidence he can throw a curveball or slider in fastball counts. He’s putting it together at the right time.”

HAROLD REYNOLDS ON COLBY LEWIS:

“On first pitch, most hitters are saying ‘I want a ball right here I can drive.’ [Colby] Lewis hit it on the outside, he nibbled, he moved it in and he changed speeds. He did such a great job of keeping hitters off balance.”

DAN PLESAC ON THE RANGERS BULLPEN:

“If the Rangers end up coming back and winning this series, you can look at that clutch performance from Darren O’Day. …You’re going to see a Ranger bullpen now with a lot more confidence. They’ve been battered around, but after a night like tonight, it was clean, it was crisp and they did what they’re supposed to do.”  

DAN PLESAC ON PAT BURRELL:  

“It seems like [Pat] Burrell is in one of those modes right now. He’s taking a lot of really good pitches and swinging at some bad pitches. He’s very indecisive. He has his mind made up on pitch to pitch if he’s going to swing or going to take.”

And I’ll have NFL pregame quotage sprinkled here throughout the day.

Providing Some Sunday Links

Yesterday was busier than I expected both personally and sports media-wise. I was out most of the day which prevented me from providing links, but then the Cablevision/Fox story broke and I give tremendous kudos to Brian Stelter of the New York Times who tweeted the news just as Game 3 of the World Series was about to air on Fox. And he was able to get statements from both companies and in particular, the extremely bitter statement from Cablevision that it acquiesced to Fox’s demands. Thanks to you, the traffic to Fang’s Bites was quite heavy for a Saturday and it’s much appreciated.

I published that statement up while I was in a movie theater, about to see “Red” with Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren and Richard Dreyfuss. Good movie, but blogging during the previews wasn’t quite what I had in mind, but it was important to get the news out as fast as possible. Here I am, trying to shade my iPhone so people won’t see the light in the dark theater and copying and pasting the press release from Cablevision. Thank goodness for the BlogPress iPhone app which allows me to blog at a moment’s notice.

Ok, to your links.

Mike Farrell of Multichannel News says the Cablevision/Fox accord was hashed out minutes before World Series Game 3.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel writes that Cablevision and Fox could not kiss and make up after firing off terse statements about the agreement.

Minutes after the Cablevision/Fox deal was announced, New York Times reporters Brian Stelter and Bill Carter gave an overview of how the agreement was reached.

Phil Swann at TV Predictions says Cablevision came to an agreement with Fox, then fired a shot across the company’s bow.

Richard Huff and Rich Schapiro of the New York Daily News says the agreement came in time for today’s Jets game against Green Bay which is airing on Fox.

Andy Edelstein of Cablevision-owned Newsday writes about the end of the carriage dispute.

In SB Nation New York, Steve Lepore at Puck The Media looks at how the Cablevision/Fox dispute affected the network’s ratings. 

Ok, we’re moving on from Cablevision/Fox and on to other sports media stories. I’m tired of these carriage dispute stories.

Bill Reynolds of the Providence Journal talks with legendary Boston Celtics TV voice Mike Gorman who got his start on WPRO-AM in Providence. 

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that a reluctant Sandy Koufax agreed to take part in a new documentary on Jews in baseball.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says the opening segment of Football Night in America with Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels is must see TV.

Phil Mushnick from the New York Post is blaming ESPN for everything that’s bad in society. He does make a good opening point, then sours into extreme bitterness.

Dan Mangan of the Post says brunette bombshell Jenn Sterger will likely meet with the National Football League to talk Brett Favre. Just get it done and over with, honey. And maybe help your dead show, The Daily Line, with a statement or two about the story instead of clamming up. I was on your side on this earlier, but stonewalling the NFL hasn’t helped you.

Chuck Gormley of the Cherry Hill (NJ) Courier-Post profiles the Vice President and General Manager of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. 

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic’s Wizards reporter about the team’s chances this season.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News reports that Fox Sports Houston will lose the Astros and Rockets in 2012-13.

Barry writes that the NFL TV partners don’t want to kill off the Cowboys despite their pitiful record.

Mitchell Schnurman of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram profiles the real owners of the Texas Rangers, the team behind front men Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan.

Bud Kennedy of the Star-Telegram says Fox is showcasing the Ballpark at Arlington in a way similar to how it showed AT&T Park in San Francisco during the World Series. 

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle says Dish Network subscribers could lose the local CBS affiliate later tonight.

David says Comcast SportsNet Houston will become a reality in the 2012-13 season.

The Daily Oklahoman has a video clip from an upcoming ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on former Oklahoma University running back bust Marcus Dupree.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says the ESPN on ABC crew gushed over Oklahoma’s quarterback last night. 

Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has video of a new ESPN NBA promo featuring Stuart Scott and the Bucks mascot, Bango.

Michael Rand in the Minneapolis Star Tribune talks with Dan Patrick. 

Dan Caesar at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Dish subscribers get Fox Sports Midwest back on their systems.

Matt Solinsky of the Desert Sun (CA) answers a reader’s question on the chances of seeing NFL Network on Time Warner Cable this season. 

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with disgraced track star Marion Jones about the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on her and her new book.

Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail says Rogers Sportsnet has chosen to reject Fox’s feed of the World Series and take MLB International’s.

Joe Favorito says NBC is choosing to put the Fright in Fright Night tonight.

Sports Media Watch has its Weekend Ratings Predictions.

SMW speaks with PromaxBDA President Jonathan Block-Verk about the upcoming Sports Media Marketing Awards.

Jonathan Stein at CultureMob would like to see Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia on DirecTV and so would I.

A good amount of links today. Enjoy your Sports Sunday.

Fox Statement On Agreement With Cablevision

In a more conventional press release, Fox makes this statement on its new carriage agreement with Cablevision. Fox’s signal returned just before Game 3 of the World Series.

Fox Networks and Cablevision Reach Agreement in Principle to Carry WNYW FOX5, WWOR My9, WTXF FOX29, FOX Deportes, FOX Business Network, and Nat Geo WILD

Viewers to see Game 3 of Major League Baseball World Series and
Sunday’s NFL on FOX with New York Jets against the Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles and Bethpage, NY – Fox Networks and Cablevision announced today that they have reached an agreement in principle for a new distribution agreement to provide more than 3 million households with programming from WNYW FOX 5 and WWOR My 9 in New York, WTXF FOX 29 in Philadelphia, and the cable channels FOX Deportes, FOX Business Network, and Nat Geo WILD. The signals for all stations and cable channels were restored Saturday prior to the first pitch of World Series Game 3 on FOX.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

This brings an end to one of the nastiest, bitter and rancorous disputes. It was fun to cover, but also tedious.

Cablevision remains bitter and we’ll see if the feelings linger in the next negotiation.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cablevision’s Harsh Statement

You want to read a rather bitter statement? Check this out from Cablevision in regards to its agreement with Fox. Wow.

FOX PROGRAMMING RETURNS TO CABLEVISION

BETHPAGE, NY, October 30, 2010 – Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today reached agreement with News Corp. to return Fox programming to Cablevision. The channels will return to Cablevision immediately and in time for tonight’s World Series game and tomorrow’s NFL match-up between the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers.

The company released the following statement:

“In the absence of any meaningful action from the FCC, Cablevision has agreed to pay Fox an unfair price for multiple channels of its programming including many in which our customers have little or no interest. Cablevision conceded because it does not think its customers should any longer be denied the Fox programs they wish to see.

Cablevision thanks its customers for understanding the reasons for the dispute and for staying with us. We are also grateful to the 175 government leaders who raised their voices to urge government intervention and binding arbitration to prevent this blackout. It is clear the retransmission consent system is badly broken and needs to be fixed.

In the end, our customers will pay more than they should for Fox programming, but less than they would have if we had accepted the unprecedented rates News Corp. was demanding when they pulled their channels off Cablevision.”

The channels returning to Cablevision are Fox 5 (WNYW), Fox 29 (WTXF), My9, Fox Business Network, National Geographic Wild and Fox Deportes.

This is quite interesting. Back later.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

BREAKING NEWS: Cablevision and Fox Strike Deal

Happening now, Brian Stelter of the New York Times is reporting that Cablevision and Fox have ended their two week dispute and have hashed out a deal.

Fox’s signal was being restored to Cablevision systems just before Game 3 of the World Series this evening.

This ends a rather hostile dispute that led to Fox pulling its signal from Cablevision systems in New York and the Philadelphia metro area two weeks ago and caused a war of words between the two companies.

If I get a statement, I’ll put it up. I’m at the movie theatre so expect more later.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

MLB Network Adds Angels Outfielder Torii Hunter to Analyst Lineup

For tonight and tomorrow, Anaheim Angels outfielder Torii Hunter joins MLB Tonight: World Series Edition.

Los ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM CENTER Fielder Torii hunter to Join MLB Network as a Guest Analyst October 30 & 31

Secaucus, N.J., October 30, 2010 – Four-time MLB All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter will join MLB Network’s MLB Tonight: World Series Edition as a guest analyst today and tomorrow, October 30 and 31. Hunter will join MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger, Sean Casey and Al Leiter on MLB Tonight on-field at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for MLB Network’s pregame coverage of World Series Games 3 and 4 between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants. A frequent guest on MLB Tonight, Hunter has made six career trips to the Postseason and was part of the 2009 AL West Champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Throughout the World Series, MLB Network will continue to air two-hour game rewinds the day after each game. MLB Tonight provides previews, analysis, highlights, interviews and press conference coverage before and after every game from MLB Network’s Studio 3 and from MLB Network reporters on-site at each ballpark.

Looks like my day has been planned for me behind my back. I’ll try to get linkage up later.

60 Minutes Looks At Superhorse Zenyatta

This Sunday, CBS News’ 60 Minutes will air a report on the thoroughbred mare Zenyatta who goes for history in the Breeders’ Cup next weekend. She’ll attempt to win her 20th consecutive race in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Zenyatta has won races not only over her fellow mares, but over male horses and goes into this year’s Classic undefeated. Here’s the preview from CBS News.

“HOW CAN YOU ARGUE WITH PERFECTION,” SAYS HER JOCKEY MIKE SMITH, WHO SAYS IF ZENYATTA WINS THE BREEDER’S CUP TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED SHE COULD BE THE GREATEST HORSE IN HISTORY – “60 MINUTES” SUNDAY

Jockey Believes Zenyatta has “Another Gear” and he Hasn’t Seen Her Fastest Yet

            He’s ridden winners in the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness, The Belmont Stakes – the famous legs of the vaunted Triple Crown – yet Mike Smith says one horse never in the winner’s circle in those races is the best mount he’s ever known.  And if he rides that horse, the 6-yr.-old Zenyatta, to her 20^th consecutive victory at next week’s Breeders Cup, the undefeated mare just may be the greatest horse of all time.  Bob Simon reports on Zenyatta’s quest for horse-racing history on 60 MINUTES, Sunday, Oct. 31 (7:00-8:00PM, ET/PT) on the CBS television Network.

            “She’s all [those victorious horses] and more. She means more to me than all those,” Smith tells Simon. “She’s Zenyatta. She’s incredible. She’s unbeaten. She’s done everything that we’ve ever asked of her,” says Smith, who has ridden her to 16 of her 19 victories.

            Last year, Zenyatta won the Breeder’s Cup Classic, considered the toughest race of the season.  This year, she’s not only a year older, but the only mare competing in the race, which attracts the best horses in the world. 

            “If she pulls this off, in my book– of course, I’m a little bit one-sided — but I think…she could be the greatest horse of all time,” Smith says.   That kind of career would put her up there with the most famous Triple Crown Winner, Secretariat, considered one of the greatest ever. But Smith thinks his mount could be even better than Secretariat after a Breeder’s Cup win.

             “If we can pull it off, she’s never been beaten. So how can you argue with perfection, you know?” asks Smith.

            Zenyatta has a reputation for running only as fast as she needs to win a race, always exploding in the stretch to pass the field.  Smith says this may be what keeps her healthy and happy, not having to do more than she has to.  It also indicates her top speed is not known yet.

             “I truly don’t believe I have [seen her fastest],” says Smith.  “In every race that I have ridden her in, I have always felt that there was another gear if I needed it,” he tells Simon. 

And we’re done until Saturday morning.

HBO Previews 24/7 Pacquaio/Magarito, Episode 2

On Saturday, boxing fans can see what Manny Pacquaio is doing in advance of his fight with Antonio Magarito next month. The series premiered last week and we have a preview of this week’s episode.

24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO

OCT. 30 EPISODE

            Episode #2

            Debut:  SATURDAY, OCT. 30 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)

            Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) and his team depart the Philippines and return to the familiar confines of Hollywood.  Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) and his squad step up the pace in Oxnard, Cal. as preparations continue for the Nov. 13 pay-per-view super welterweight title showdown at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex.

            Episode three of 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO debuts Saturday, Nov. 6 (10:45-11:15 p.m.), while the finale debuts Friday, Nov. 12 (9:30-10:00 p.m.), the night before the fight.  All four episodes will be available on HBO On Demand.

            The executive producers of 24/7 PACQUIAO/MARGARITO are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; producers, Jonathan Crystal and Abtin Motia; writer, Aaron Cohen.  Liev Schreiber narrates.

There will be two more episodes and that will be it.

College Football Action on NBC Sports and Versus

I’ll throw in two college football press releases in one post and they just so happen to be from future sister networks, NBC Sports and Versus.

NBC will carry Notre Dame hosting Tulsa and Versus has an intriguing Pac 10 matchup so let’s take a look at the releases, first from NBC Sports.

NOTRE DAME & TULSA MEET FOR FIRST TIME EVER THIS SATURDAY ON NBC

“They are exciting to watch and will provide a real test for Notre Dame.” – NBC Sports’ Mike Mayock on Tulsa

“Football Night in America’s” Peter King and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio Discuss NFL News at Halftime

NEW YORK – October 27, 2010 – Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist, LB Manti Te’o and the rest of the Fighting Irish take on the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa for the first time ever this Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (analyst) and Alex Flanagan (sideline) anchor NBC Sports’ coverage. Mayock is in his first season with NBC Sports as a Notre Dame game analyst. For additional information on Mayock, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2wdq2bo

NOTRE DAME-TULSA: The Notre Dame and Tulsa football programs will meet for the first time in the 122-year history of Fighting Irish football. The Golden Hurricane are the 138th different opponent in Notre Dame football history. The Irish have faced 68 of the other 120 teams currently competing at the FBS level.

MAYOCK ON NOTRE DAME: “The best matchup for Notre Dame is their wide receivers against Tulsa’s defensive backs. They should have a matchup advantage there.”

MAYOCK ON TULSA: “The Golden Hurricane have one of the most explosive offenses in the country. They are exciting to watch and will provide a real test for Notre Dame. What also strikes me is their balance. They give you a little taste of everything: run, pass, the option, reverses, trick plays.”

And here’s an NBC promo trying to hype this game.

And we have what Versus is saying about tomorrow’s matchup.

VERSUS’ COLLEGE FOOTBALL COVERAGE ON SATURDAY, OCT. 30, FEATURES A PAC-10 SHOWDOWN BETWEEN #13 STANFORD AND WASHINGTON

NEW YORK, N.Y. (October 27, 2010)-VERSUS continues its NCAA gridiron action on Saturday, October 30, when the Washington Huskies host #13 Stanford in Seattle, Wash., at 7 p.m. ET. For the first time in 40 years, Stanford has achieved a 6-1 record after defeating Washington State (38-28) last week. The Huskies are looking to make a comeback against another top-25 ranked team this week after losing to #18 Arizona (44-14) on October 23.

Ron Thulin will call all the game action and will be joined in the booth by analysts Glenn Parker and Kelly Stouffer. Lewis Johnson will report from the sidelines. College Football Central, which provides pre- and post-game coverage as well as halftime reports, will feature Kevin Frazier as host along with Roland Williams and Jeremy Bloom as the in-studio analysts.

There you go.

Doing A Late Night Friday Megalink Thing

Time to do the megalinkage on this Friday. Lots of things going on today into this evening and let’s get cracking. Of course, we have the Weekend Viewing Picks.

Now let’s do the links.

National

USA Today’s Michael McCarthy wants to know who’s your favorite NFL announcer.

Mike says this year’s World Series ratings are down 26% from last year’s.

David Biderman of the Wall Street Journal says there’s too much laughter on the Sunday NFL pregame shows.

Mike Farrell of Multichannel News looks at Dish and Fox coming to a new carriage agreement which restores several of its cable networks and prevents the broadcast network from being pulled.

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable says the FCC Chairman is pleased over the Dish/Fox agreement.

In Multichannel News, John says Cablevision is accusing Fox of conducting intimidation tactics.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell speaks to a sports executive who feels the Tampa Bay Rays should give away their all of their tickets next season.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Dave Kindred shares memories that shaped him as a sportswriter.

Marcus Vanderberg at SportsNewser says Game 2 of the World Series steered Fox to another primetime ratings win.

The Big Lead notes that not everyone at ESPN was thrilled with Hannah Storm’s ensemble on Tuesday.

Deadspin says The Daily Line’s cancellation really had nothing to do with the Brett Favre/Jenn Sterger story.

Jon Weisman of Variety says a long time CBS Sports Communications and PR person is leaving the network.

Sports Media Watch has an interview with HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg.

SMW says this year’s World Series is barely above 2008′s record low ratings pace.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media notes that Versus will continue to carry UFC events.

Joe Favorito compares and contrasts the marketing approaches of the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.

East and Mid-Atlantic

The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn talks with NESN’s Heidi Watney.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says ESPN will make a decision on the fates of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan after the World Series.

Richard wonders if the World Series can continue a head-to-head winning streak against the NFL this Sunday.

Stuart Elliot from the Times notes that Fox has sold out its inventory of Super Bowl XLV ads three months early.

Newsday’s Neil Best talks with former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath who’s embracing new and social media.

And Neil gives us some of his week in blogging and tweeting.

The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman says the viewers are the losers in the Cablevision/Fox battle.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post says Jets fans are the next victims in the Cablevision/Fox dispute.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says the World Series is now dependent on market size than actual matchups. I totally disagree with this.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says the DC NFL Team’s flagship radio station will add a delay so fans can sync up the TV broadcasts.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner says a CBS College Sports sideline reporter also pulls duty for CBS News.

South

Anne Blythe of the Raleigh News & Observer says several North Carolina news organizations are suing the University of North Carolina in regards to the NCAA’s investigation into the school’s football program.

The Dallas Morning News notes that ESPN Radio Hack Colon Cowherd blasted the Metroplex as a baseball area.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle previews the Monday Night Football matchup involving the Texans with ESPN’s Ron Jaworski.

The Daily Oklahoman’s Mel Bracht talks with ex-Oregon coach Mike Bellotti who will be with ESPN2 calling the Colorado-Oklahoma game.

Midwest

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike will be in town next month.

Mike Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press likes the early start time for Game 3 of the World Series.

At the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bob Wolfley says MLB Walking, Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig isn’t worried about the World Series ratings.

From Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman has his winners and losers in sports business and media.

Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune says a huge crisis was averted when Dish Network and Fox came to a deal on Friday.

Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says Halloween is perfect for a primetime NFL game.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Dan Caesar wonders if the World Series can beat the NFL head-to-head on Sunday.

Dan says Dish subscribers will be able to watch the St. Louis Blues and Missouri sports once again.

West

John Maffei of the North County Times says Saturday’s Armed Forces college football tripleheader on CBS College Sports could go a long way in deciding bowl games in December and January.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star writes that local Time Warner Cable customers can now watch ESPN online.

Jim notes that the World Series gets some direct NFL competition this Sunday.

Meg James at the Los Angeles Times looks at the Dish/Fox resolution.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with director John Singleton about his new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on disgraced track star Marion Jones.

Tom has his extensive media news and notes in his blog.

Tom says with tickets unsold for Saturday’s Oregon-USC game and Sunday’s Chargers contest, can the NFL really consider re-entering the L.A. market.

And that’s going to do it for tonight. 

Dish and Fox Hash Out A Deal

To avoid another embarrassing situation with another content provider, Fox hashed out a deal today with Dish Network restoring its regional sports networks and various cable channels back and also avoiding the pulling of several owned and operated local channels on Monday. Fox still is off Cablevision in New York and New Jersey, but it prevents the network from having to explain to Dish Network subscribers on another carriage dispute.

We have the press release from Fox and Dish.

DISH Network and Fox Networks

Reach Comprehensive Programming Agreement

   

Viewers Ensured Continued Fox Broadcasting

and Fox Television Stations Programming in Major Cities FX, National Geographic Channel, and Fox’s 19 Regional Sports Networks Immediately Restored to DISH Network Lineup 

Los Angeles and Englewood, Colo. — DISH Network L.L.C., a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) and Fox Networks, an operating unit of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS), today announced a wide-ranging distribution agreement to provide the third-largest video distributor in the United States with continued access to programming from Fox Broadcasting and Fox local television stations in major cities. The agreement also included carriage of FX, National Geographic Channel, and Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, which were restored for DISH Network viewers Friday.

“After prolonged negotiations to reach a fair deal, we’re pleased to enter into a long term agreement with Fox and to assure our customers that they can continue to enjoy these channels,” said Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH Network. “We thank our customers, our retail and channel partners, and our employees for their support through these negotiations, which we believe resulted in a fair deal that reinforces DISH Network’s position as the best value in television.”

“I want to thank our partners at DISH Network who worked tirelessly to help us reach a successful conclusion,” said Mike Hopkins, President, Fox Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing. “This agreement provides a strategic partnership between Fox and DISH to bring the best programming to DISH subscribers.”

The agreement ensures that DISH Network viewers will continue to have access to Fox’s live national and regional coverage of major sporting events including Major League Baseball’s World Series, the NFL on FOX, the NBA, the NHL, college football and basketball, as well as popular entertainment programming on FOX, such as Glee, House, and The Simpsons; Sons of Anarchy and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia on FX; and the Border Wars and the upcoming Great Migrations on National Geographic Channel.

DISH Network will continue to provide programming from the local Fox and MyNet television stations in the following markets: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore (MyNet 24 only), Boston, Chicago, Cleveland/Akron, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Gainesville (FL), Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Tampa, and Washington D.C.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

I’ll be back with more.

Another SF Giants Win Also Means A World Series Primetime Win For Fox

Just received this press release from Fox regarding the final ratings for Game 2 of the World Series from Friday. It tells us that Fox won the night with an 8.5 rating and a 14 share. Overall, 14.1 million viewers watched the game. While the game was down 27% from last year’s Yankees-Phillies matchup, Fox is really comparing it to 2008 where it’s up from Phillies-Rays.

It won the night overall, it won the 18-49 demographic and it’ll do well when it comes to the weekly ratings. We have the press release from Fox.

Network Hits Its Second Consecutive Prime Time Victory Among Households, Average Audience and Key Adults 18-49 Demo

New York, NY – Thursday night’s Game 2 of the 2010 World Series earned an 8.5/14 (14.1 million viewers) household rating/share to hand FOX its second consecutive win in prime time as well as its highest-rated and most-watched Thursday night since Game 2 of last year’s World Series. 

From 8:00 -11:00 PM ET, FOX easily topped all other prime time programming in households and average audience win the night. The network’s 4.1 in Adults 18-49 easily topped CBS (3.4), with ABC (2.9) and NBC (2.4). 

Compared to 2008’s Phillies-Rays Game 2 (the last non-Yankees World Series matchup), last night’s showdown between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers is up +11% in average audience (14.1 vs. 12.8 million viewers) and up +5% in rating (8.5 vs. 8.1). As expected, last night’s telecast is down -27% in rating (vs. 11.7/19) and -25% in viewership (vs. 18.9 million viewers) compared to Game 2 of last year’s Yankees-Phillies series. 

Through two games the 2010 World Series is averaging an 8.7/15 (14.6 million viewers) to rank it sixth among broadcast prime time programming for the week-to-date, keeping the World Series on track to deliver ratings equal to a top ten prime time hit. 

While Game 1 was billed as the premier pitching matchup of the Series, Game 2 delivered it as San Francisco’s Matt Cain and Texas’ C.J. Wilson battled for seven and a half innings before a late blowout by the Giants. Ratings grew from a 6.6/12 at 8:00 PM ET, then to an 8.7/14 at 9:00 PM ET, a 9.2/15 at 10:00 PM ET and peaked at a 9.6/16 at 10:30 PM ET. 

San Francisco led major markets with a 36.4/62 with Dallas checking in at a 30.9/47. World Series Game 3 from Arlington, TX begins Saturday night with coverage beginning at a special 6:30 PM ET start time. 

There you go.

DEVELOPING: Versus Cancels "The Daily Line"

Citing low ratings, Versus has canceled The Daily Line. It was touted as an alternative to ESPN’s SportsCenter. Premiering in April during the NHL postseason, The Daily Line settled into an 11 p.m. timeslot featuring multiple hosts including former Florida State University Cowgirl Jenn Sterger who eventually became a lightning rod over the Brett Favre sexting story. But with an average audience of 53,000 viewers and an 0.06 nightly rating, Versus could not justify keeping the show on the air.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal broke the news today saying Versus will most likely replace The Daily Line with a nightly hockey highlights show.

USA Today’s Mike McCarthy reports that the show will go off the air next Thursday.

When the story of the Favre sexting scandal broke, Sterger never once addressed the story on The Daily Line and it’s not known if she’ll keep her silence as the show leaves Versus. I have contended that if she ever broke her silence about the story on the show, it would lead to huge ratings, but with an 0.06 average, I wonder if her talking would be similar to a tree falling in the forest and no one around to hear it. Would she really make a sound?

Anyway, I thought the show wasn’t bad for what it was trying to accomplish, but overall, it comes down to viewership and The Daily Line didn’t have enough to survive.

I’ll have more on this in the days ahead.

Fox Sports Previews World Series, Game 3

On Saturday, Fox will air Game 3 of the World Series with a very reasonable 6:57 p.m. starting time in the East. It’s the earliest since 1987 when Game 6 of the World Series between St. Louis and Minnesota started at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. Since then, all games have been played at night.

We have some details on what Fox plans to do during game. I have deleted any reference to an annoying teen pop star who deserves no recognition and the same for the host of American Idol.

WORLD SERIES GAME 3 ON FOX

Coverage Begins Saturday at 6:30 PM ET – The Earliest for WS Game Since 1987

Kelly Clarkson, Raising Hope’s Martha Plimpton Perform During Game 3

FOX Sports presents coverage of Game 3 of the World Series at a special start time of 6:30 PM ET.

Texas native and American Idol Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson sings the National Anthem prior to Game 3 in Arlington. Martha Plimpton, star of FOX’s hit comedy RAISING HOPE, performs God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch.

Also during the broadcast, FOX Sports and MLB unveil the winners of their joint initiative, THE WORLD SERIES OF COSTUMES. Thousands of fans submitted photos of their children, 12 & under, in Halloween costumes and the three winners appear during the Saturday night’s World Series broadcast. The photo contest was judged by American Idol’s Randy Jackson and a national radio personality. Log onto www.mlb.com/halloween for more information.

And we’re done.

Amar’e Stoudamire To Present Top 10 on Late Show with David Letterman

New York Knicks star Amar’e Stoudamire will make an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight and we have highlights.

NEW YORK KNICKS STAR AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE PRESENTS THE “TOP TEN REASONS AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE IS EXCITED TO PLAY BASKETBALL IN NEW YORK” ON CBS’s “LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN,” FRIDAY, OCT. 29

Also Visiting Friday’s LATE SHOW Are Emmy Award-Winning Actor Michael J. Fox and Olympic Snowboarding Gold Medalist Shaun White

(Click Here to Watch a Preview of Stoudemire’s Top Ten List on Tonight’s LATE SHOW)

Amar’e Stoudemire, the newest member of the New York Knicks, presents the “Top Ten Reasons Amar’e Stoudemire Is Excited to Play Basketball in New York” on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN tonight, Friday, Oct. 29. 

Among the items Stoudemire presents include number 7:  “I really enjoy traffic”; number 6:  “There’s no better workout than running for your life in Central Park”; and number 5:  “If I played in Miami, I’d never get to touch the damn ball.”  Stoudemire’s entire Top Ten List can be seen on the LATE SHOW tonight (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

 Stoudemire, a five-time NBA All-Star, joined the Knicks as power forward in July 2010.  He and the team have their 2010-2011 home opener at Madison Square Garden Saturday, Oct. 30 against the Portland Trailblazers.

Also on the LATE SHOW Friday, Oct. 29, Emmy Award-winning actor Michael J. Fox, who guest stars on the hit CBS drama “The Good Wife” on Tuesday, Nov. 9, reveals how he almost lost out on the iconic role of Marty McFly in “Back to the Future”; and Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Shaun White talks about his newest video game, “Shaun White Skateboarding,” which will be released this week.

The LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN is a production of Worldwide Pants Incorporated.  Barbara Gaines, Matt Roberts, Jude Brennan, Maria Pope, Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel and Rob Burnett are the executive producers.

Official CBS Web site:  http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/

I’m always happy to post press releases from Dave. Hopefully Conan O’Brien too. From Leno’s Show of Hacks, not so much.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, October 30

Boxing
24/7 Pacquaio/Magarito – HBO, 10 p.m.

College Football Viewing Picks

English Premier League
Blackburn vs. Chelsea – ESPN2, 9:55 a.m.
Wolverhampton vs. Manchester City – Fox Soccer Plus, 9:55 a.m.
Arsenal vs. West Ham United – Fox Soccer Channel, 10 a.m.
Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur – Fox Soccer Channel, 12:30 p.m.
Everton vs. Stoke City – Fox Soccer Channel, 7:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
Fulham vs. Wigan Athletic – Fox Soccer Plus, 8 p.m. (same day coverage)

Golf
LPGA Tour/Hana Bank Championship, 2nd round – Golf Channel, noon (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia, 3rd round – Golf Channel, 7:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

MLB
MLB Tonight Live – MLB Network, 4 p.m.

World Series
Game 3/San Francisco Giants at Texas Rangers – Fox, 6:30 p.m.

MLB Tonight: World Series Live – MLB Network, 10:30 p.m.

MLS
Western Conference Semifinal
Game 1/Real Salt Lake at FC Dallas – Fox Soccer Channel, 5 p.m.

NBA
Denver at Houston – NBA TV, 8:30 p.m.

NHL
New York Rangers at Toronto – CBC/NHL Network (US)/MSG Plus, 7 p.m.
Florida at Montreal – CBC/RDS/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Boston at Ottawa – CBC/NESN, 7 p.m.
Nashville at Detroit – SportSouth/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Philadelphia – MSG Plus 2/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Carolina – FSN Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Carolinas, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at St. Louis – Fox Sports Midwest, 8 p.m.
Buffalo at Dallas – MSG Buffalo/KTXA, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Minnesota – WGN/KSTC, 8 p.m.
Columbus at Colorado – Fox Sports Ohio/Altitude 2, 9 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Phoenix – Sun Sports, 9 p.m.
Washington at Calgary – CBC/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, 10 p.m.
Anaheim at San Jose – Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Comcast SportsNet California, 10:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Los Angeles – MSG Plus/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

NHL on the Fly – NHL Network, 10 p.m.

Tennis
WTA Championships, Singles Semifinals – Tennis Channel, 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
WTA Championships, Doubles Semifinals – Tennis Channel, 8 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.

UFL
Hartford at Sacramento – Versus, 11 p.m.

Entertainment
5 Ingredient Fix: Getting Eggy With It – Food Network, 10:30 a.m.
Giada at Home: Halloween – Food Network, 1 p.m.
American Occult: Savage Sin – Discovery ID, 8 p.m.
48 Hours Mystery: The Preacher’s Wife – CBS, 9 p.m.
American Occult: Blood Lust – Discovery ID, 9 p.m.
48 Hours Mystery – CBS, 10 p.m.
American Occult: Evil Sacrifice – Discovery ID, 10 p.m.

Sunday, October 31 – Happy Halloween!!

English Premier League
Newcastle vs. Sunderland – Fox Soccer Plus, 9:30 a.m.
Aston Villa vs. Birmingham City – Fox Soccer Plus, 11:30 a.m.
Bolton vs. Liverpool – Fox Soccer Channel, noon

Golf
LPGA Tour/Hana Bank Championship, final round – Golf Channel, noon (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia, final round – Golf Channel, 7:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

MLB 
MLB Tonight Live – MLB Network, 5:30 p.m.

World Series
Game 4/San Francisco Giants at Texas Rangers – Fox, 8 p.m.

MLB Tonight: World Series Live – MLB Network, 11:30 p.m.

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series/Amp Energy 500 – ESPN, 1 p.m.

NBA
Utah at Oklahoma City – NBA TV, 7 p.m.

NFL Viewing Picks

Tennis
WTA Championships, Singles Final – Tennis Channel, 11 a.m./ESPN, 1 p.m. (same day coverage)
WTA Championships, Doubles Final – Tennis Channel, 1 p.m.

Entertainment
Nigella Kitchen: Suppertime and the Cooking is Easy – Food Network, 9 a.m.
60 Minutes – CBS, 7 p.m.
The Amazing Race 17: Run, Babushka, Run – CBS, 8 p.m.
Boardwalk Empire – HBO, 9 p.m.
Dexter – Showtime, 9 p.m.
CSI: Miami – CBS, 10 p.m.

NBC’s Football Night in America Previews Week 8

And we round out our NFL previews with Football Night in America talking about Steelers-Saints in New Orleans on Halloween. I’ll provide you with a bonus press release in this preview, but it’ll come after a jump break. First things first, we have NBC Sports’ preview of this Sunday night’s matchup of the last two Super Bowl champions, plus a video too!

THE LAST TWO SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS MEET ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS ON “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”

COVERAGE OF STEELERS-SAINTS BEGINS WITH “FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” AT 7 PM ET

“He’s like a big toy with a lot of different weapons.” – “Football Night’s” Harrison on Roethlisberger

“This has turned into a must-win game for the Saints.” – “Football Night’s” Dungy

NEW YORK – October 27, 2010 – The world’s biggest Halloween party hits New Orleans as the last two Super Bowl champions meet on “Sunday Night Football,” with Drew Brees and the defending Super Bowl champion Saints (4-3) hosting Ben Roethlisberger and the Super Bowl XLIII champion Steelers (5-1).

Calling Steelers-Saints will be six-time Emmy Award-winner Al Michaels (play-by-play), who is in his 25^th season as the voice of the NFL’s premier primetime package; 11-time Emmy Award-winner Cris Collinsworth, who last year, his first in the SNF booth, won the Emmy for outstanding event analyst; and sideline reporter Andrea Kremer about whom TV Guide said is “one of TV’s best sports correspondents.”

Coverage begins with “Football Night in America” at 7 p.m. ET Sunday with Bob Costas, who won the outstanding studio host Emmy last year, hosting live from inside the stadium. Dan Patrick will co-host “Football Night” from NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach and Emmy-nominated Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. Alex Flanagan will report from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on the Vikings-Patriots game.

“Football Night” (7:30-8:15 pm) is averaging 8.5 million viewers through its first seven weeks, its most ever for that time frame and up 13 percent vs. 2009’s 7.5 million viewers.

Ok, now we go to our bonus press release on NBC attempting to set a Guiness World Record after the jump.

Here’s that Sunday Night Football release on NBC Sports hoping to set a new World Record on largest Halloween gathering at the Super Bowl.

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” TO ATTEMPT GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR WORLD’S LARGEST HALLOWEEN GATHERING

Fans wearing costumes at Louisiana Superdome will be counted towards a Guinness World Record, can participate in Saints Costume Contest & appear on Costume Cam on NBCSports.com

NEW YORK – October 28, 2010 – Fans attending “Sunday Night Football” will attempt to set the Guinness World Record for largest Halloween gathering when the last two Super Bowl champions – the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints – meet at the Louisiana Superdome this Sunday on Halloween night on NBC.

An official Guinness World Records® Adjudicator will be on site at the Superdome to validate the game as the world’s largest Halloween gathering, defined as a group of people in costume in one place.

Fans need to wear a costume in order to be counted toward the world record. In addition to participating in the quest for a Guinness World Record, fans wearing costumes can participate in the Saints Costume Contest and may appear on “Costume Cam” on NBCSports.com.

The Saints are hosting a Halloween costume contest in Champions Square outside the Superdome prior to the game. Winners will win Saints prizes, including merchandise and pregame field passes. For more information, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2fle2uh.

That is it.

CBS Sports Previews NFL Week 8

Ok, we have something rather dangerous this week and it’s The NFL Today’s Shannon Sharpe going all Halloween on us. I’ll admit that I’m not a fan of Halloween and would rather have my fingernails pulled out with pliers than take part in another silly costume party. Not my thing. But CBS Sports is featuring Shannon in a Halloween-themed package. Not sure if it will work, but these contrived things look forced and unnatural.

Here’s a preview.

“THE NFL TODAY” VISITS SHANNON SHARPE’S HALLOWEEN HOUSE FOR TRICKS AND TREATS FOR WEEK 8 OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, OCT. 31

THE NFL ON CBS, broadcasting its 51^st year of the NFL, continues its 2010 NFL season on Sunday, Oct. 31 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).

The jack-o-lantern glows ever so bright,

Goblins and ghosts will be here tonight.

It’s time for all to Trick or Treat,

We’ll see what spooky friends Shannon will meet.

Find out Favre, Brady and Ochocinco’s fate,

Here on THE NFL TODAY, Week 8.

THE NFL TODAY features a visit to Shannon Sharpe’s Halloween House to check on what tricks and treats he has for Week 8.  Charlie Bloom produces.

James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY, along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY “General Manager” Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.

Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.

I’m not feeling this one. I’m sure you’re not either. Here’s what CBS’ Jim Nantz and Dan Fouts are saying about this week’s action. Some slim pickings for CBS this Sunday.

THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 8 (SUNDAY, OCT. 31) AUDIBLES WITH LEAD “NFL ON CBS” PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER JIM NANTZ AND DAN FOUTS

The CBS Television Network continues its 51^st year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 31 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.

THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action from the Jacksonville Jaguars-Dallas Cowboys game live from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

Throughout the 2010 season, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast all of its games each week in HDTV, the highest definition television format – 1080i lines of picture resolution – along with 5.1 digital audio.

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as executive producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

* * * * *

JIM NANTZ

(On parity in the NFL): Parity is nothing new around the NFL.  It has been a year where some whacky things have happened, but a year from now we’ll be saying the same thing about the 2011 season. 

(On Dallas): The whackiest thing that stands out so far involves the teams that were expected to be very good, who aren’t very good. The Dallas Cowboys have become the poster team for things gone bad. And, to make matters worse, they lose the guy who really gives them hope – Tony Romo. It’s hard to understand how Dallas is at 1-5 right now, with its one win being an impressive manhandling of the Houston Texans. The Cowboys’ expectations were off the charts and clearly they haven’t been met. I sensed that there was so much chatter out there at the beginning of the season of them becoming the first team to ever host the Super Bowl and play in it, that I thought was some bad karma, or maybe even worse, creating some undue pressure for the football team. I think so far it has helped doom the whole Doomsday plan in Dallas.

The buzz around the Metroplex this year was about its team hosting the big game at the end of the year. They thought it was going to be the Cowboys in the Super Bowl. Instead, it’s the Rangers in the World Series. 

Having said all of this, the NFL is unpredictable enough that even with a 1-5 team without Tony Romo, you cannot declare them dead. You cannot flatline them right now. A win on Sunday, a little momentum, win eight of your 10 last games, end up 9-7, who knows? In the NFC, 9-7 is going to get you a Wild Card berth. So let’s not rule Dallas completely out. 

DAN FOUTS

(On Tennessee-San Diego): The first thing is what’s wrong with the Chargers? The answer is turnovers and special teams. They are the No. 1 team in offense and defense as far as yardage-per-game is concerned, but they’ve just been killing themselves. Tennessee is playing as good as anyone in the AFC. Their big question is who is going to play quarterback this weekend.Will it be Vince Young or Kerry Collins? But I don’t think it really matters to Tennessee right now because they are playing so well. One thing is that they’ve had trouble beating San Diego, so that’s what makes this an interesting match-up. 

(On whether team discipline has been a problem): If you talk about discipline, then you’re talking about the coaches. These are the same coaches that have been there for awhile and have been the toast of the AFC West, so I’m not sure exactly what the problem is. But right now it’s pretty obvious that injuries have affected the special teams and it’s been kind of a snowball effect for the rest of the season so far.

That will do it.

NFL Viewing Picks For Week 8

NFL Coverage Maps Courtesy of the506.com

Blackouts: Detroit, Oakland, San Diego

Byes: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, New York Giants, Philadelphia

Fox NFL Sunday – Fox, noon

1 p.m.
CBS Coverage Map
Buffalo at Kansas City – Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker
Denver vs. San Francisco at London, England – Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf
Jacksonville at Dallas – Jim Nantz/Phil Simms
Miami at Cincinnati – Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots

Fox Coverage Map
Carolina at St. Louis – Dick Stockton/Charles Davis/Laura Okmin
Green Bay at New York Jets – Kenny Albert/Daryl Johnston/Tony Siragusa
Washington at Detroit – Sam Rosen/Tim Ryan/Charissa Thompson!!!

4:05 p.m.
CBS Coverage Map
Tennessee at San Diego – Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts

4:15 p.m.
Fox Coverage Map
Minnesota at New England – Thom Brennaman/Troy Aikman/Pam Oliver
Seattle at Oakland – Ron Pitts/John Lynch/Nischelle Turner
Tampa Bay at Arizona – Chris Myers/Brian Billick/Jaime Maggio

7 p.m.
Football Night in America – NBC

7:30 p.m.
NFL Gameday Highlights – NFL Network

8:20 p.m.
Pittsburgh at New Orleans – NBC, Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth/Andrea Kremer

midnight
NFL Gameday Final – NFL Network

DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket Channel Assignments
Sirius Satellite Radio Channel Assignments
XM Satellite Radio Channel Assignments

NFL RedZone

Fox Sports Previews NFL Week 8

Let’s do a preview of NFL Week 8 with Fox Sports.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

  

NFL on FOX Doubleheader Action Features Packers at Jets & Randy Moss’ Return to Foxborough as the Vikings Take on the Patriots – World Series Game 4 Follows 

AFC EAST LEADERS TAKE CENTERSTAGE – The 2010 NFL on FOX campaign rolls into Week 8 on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1:00 PM ET with doubleheader coverage of six enticing matchups - each presented in true HD. The action kicks off at the new Meadowlands Stadium as Mark Sanchez and the Jets return from their bye week with a five-game winning streak and host Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. In St. Louis, Sam Bradford leads the Rams into a clash with the Panthers. The 1:00 PM ET window closes with the Lions and Redskins facing off in Detroit. At 4:15 PM ET, the second half of FOX’s doubleheader kicks off in Foxborough as Tom Brady and the 5-1 Patriots host Adrian Peterson and the Vikings. Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call all of the action from Gillette Stadium. Head coach Raheem Morris declared the Bucs the “best team” in the NFC and this week they travel to the desert to take on the Cardinals. Coming off their colossal beating of the Broncos last week, Darren McFadden and the Raiders host the NFC West-leading Seahawks.

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. NFL Insider Jay Glazer presents the latest league news and scoops and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment. NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira is also on hand to go over any impactful officiating issues from the last week. This week’s show will preview scenes from the Broadway play Lombardi, including interviews with cast members.

LYNCH: NO ONE IS TRYING TO HURT ANYONE – In light of the NFL’s heightened enforcement of helmet-to-helmet rules, NFL on FOX analyst John Lynch is encouraged by what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has done. “I applaud the league for what they’re doing and I applaud the players for making an adjustment last Sunday, but believe me, there will come a time where there’s a bang-bang play and the helmet-to-helmet contact will be unavoidable. I’m anxious to see how the league will respond,” said Lynch. “All this talk has created the perception that the NFL has a bunch of people out there trying to hurt each other and that’s not the case at all.  I spoke with Commissioner Goodell last week and I told him I thought it was important that he comes out and changes that perception. I played for 15 years and I always thought one of the greatest things about the game was guys competed as hard as they could but no one was trying to hurt someone.  Very few people in my entire career intentionally tried to hurt someone and I think it’s blatantly obvious when they do. Moving forward these players need to be dealt with harshly and be suspended.” 

CBS Sports’ preview is next.