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NFL To Provide Multi-Platform Experience For New Series

This week, NFL Network will premiere a new series, “The Top 100: Players of 2011″. This is a follow-up to “The Top 100: The NFL’s Greatest Players” and the format will be similar. As with the Greatest Players series, each of the Top 100 will be presented by players, coaches and reporters who admire the athlete. An example of this is ESPN’s Jon Gruden presenting Jerry Rice as “The G.O.A.T” in “NFL’s Greatest Players” and yes, Jon uses “This guy” or “this dude” several times.

Anyway, here’s the press release on how the NFL will use TV, the internet and mobile sites to get you ramped up about this new series that is produced by NFL Films.

NFL MEDIA UNVEILS MULTI-PLATFORM CONTENT & FEATURES FOR NEW NFL FILMS-PRODUCED SERIES, THE TOP 100: PLAYERS OF 2011

The Top 100: Players of 2011 Preview Show Airs Draft Week, Wednesday, April 27 at 8:30 PM ET on NFL Network
The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions Immediately Follows Each Episode Bringing Debate from Analysts and Fans
Launch of NFL.com/Top100 Website Features Interactive Voting Functions and Bonus Content, Also Available on NFL Mobile

With the debut of NFL Network’s newest series The Top 100: Players of 2011 two weeks away, several complementary programs and interactive features are set to launch on NFL Media’s variety of platforms in advance of the series premiere Saturday, April 30 at 8:00 PM ET, immediately following Day 3 coverage of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Brought to you by the Emmy award-winning producers at NFL Films, the 10-part series showcases the exclusive rankings of players determined by those that know them best – current NFL players. Following the series debut April 30, the series continues in its regular time of Sundays at 8:00 PM ET, beginning May 8.

While viewers have to wait until the April 30 premiere to see how the rankings unfold, here are interesting statistics on the 100 players that will be revealed over 10 episodes:

• Quarterbacks are only the third-most represented position on the list with 12. Wide receivers are the top position represented with 18 ranked players, followed by defensive ends with 13.
• The Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers are tops in team representation with 7 players
• Three 2010 rookies appear on the list
• 57 of the 100 ranked players are first-round draft picks
• Only one Heisman Trophy winner made the cut of 100.
• No kickers or punters made the top 100.

With 10 players featured in each episode, each player on the list is presented by an individual close to the subject, from a coach to a rival on the field. Some of the presenters include:

• Peyton Manning
• Bill Belichick
• Maurice Jones-Drew
• Larry Fitzgerald
• Sean Payton
• Brian Westbrook
• Andy Reid
• Terrell Owens

The new series not only gives players a voice on the best NFL players of today, but the surrounding content on NFL Media platforms includes interactive elements  that allows fans to share their thoughts on the series in a variety of ways and vote for their favorite players. Additional information on the series, including extra footage, video content and factoids on the rankings are also accessible to viewers and fans.

NFL NETWORK

The Top 100: Players of 2011 Preview Show Offers Advance Look Inside Series
Before the 10-part series gets underway, The Top 100: Players of 2011 Preview Show, airing Wednesday, April 27 at 8:30 PM ET offers a sneak peek into the players and stories fans can expect to see and hear. Hosted by Michelle Beisner on the streets of New York City, the 30-minute special takes an inside look into the making of the innovative new series that ranks today’s top 100 players, as determined by the players themselves, and offers an explanation as to how the list was developed.

The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions Blends Debate and Discussion by NFL Network Analysts and Fans
Immediately following each episode of The Top 100: Players of 2011, The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions takes a closer look at the countdown with analysis and commentary from NFL Network analysts, special guests and fans. The show will spark debates and give viewers a voice through the use of fan comments about the series posted on NFL.com, Facebook and Twitter. Other highlights include:

• Lindsay Soto hosts alongside a rotation of analysts including Brian Baldinger, Charles Davis, Jamie Dukes, Jay Glazer, Torry Holt, Warren Sapp and Solomon Wilcots.
• Live, real-time ticker scrolls fan comments and thoughts posted via Facebook, Twitter, NFL.com and text.
• “Who Got Snubbed” segment looks at players who analysts and viewers believed were overlooked in the countdown.
• Use of NFL.com fan vote rankings with analysis and comparison to player rankings.

NFL.COM

NFL.com/Top100 Provides Additional Footage, Content and More
As the online home of The Top 100: Players of 2011, NFL.com/Top100 is the primary avenue for fan engagement and interaction. Elements and features available at NFL.com/Top100 include:

• Fans can vote on their top 100 players of today, with the results of the fan rankings corresponding with that episode’s player vote being revealed on The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions. Online fan voting ends June 3, 2011.
• Links to NFL.com and NFL Network Twitter and Facebook pages where fans can also leave comments and ask questions that could be used on The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions.

NFL MOBILE

NFL Mobile Offers Live Top 100 Series Streaming, Fan Voting and Video Extras for the Viewer on the Go

• NFL Mobile users can watch every episode of The Top 100: Players of 2011 and The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions on their Verizon mobile device wherever they are. Customers who download and use NFL Mobile will have access to all content within the app, including the live stream of NFL Network and its 2011 NFL Draft coverage, video on demand and more, at no additional charge through September 1, 2011.
• Special bonus Top 100 content including video show teasers and clips from the series.
• In early May, both Verizon users and fans on other mobile carriers can also weigh in on the fan vote for the top 100 players of today via NFL Mobile or at m.NFL.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Top 100 Discussions Go Live on Facebook and Twitter

Followers of the NFL and NFL Network on Facebook and Twitter are encouraged to follow the series and interact with other fans through debates and discussions. Links to NFL and NFL Network’s Facebook (facebook.com/NFL and facebook.com/NFLNetwork) and Twitter (@NFL and @NFLNetwork) can be found at NFL.com/Top100. Other social media features include:

• During the live air of The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions, Select fan comments and reaction posted on Facebook and Twitter are aggregated in real time and will scroll throughout the show on the on-screen ticker.
• On Twitter, fans are encouraged to post their thoughts and questions on the series under the hashtag, #Top100.
• On Facebook, followers can visit the Top 100 tab where series extras, video clues and information can be accessed.
• Facebook users can also ‘check-in’ to each episode via Get Glue, earning stickers with each episode they tune into.

The Top 100: Players of 2011 Episode Schedule

*‘The Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reactions’ immediately follows each episode at 9:00 PM ET*

Episode #1 Saturday, April 30                    8:00 PM ET
(100-91) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #2 Sunday, May 8                         8:00 PM ET
(90-81) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #3 Sunday, May 15                        8:00 PM ET
(80-71) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #4 Sunday, May 22                        8:00 PM ET
(70-61) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #5 Sunday, May 29                        8:00 PM ET
(60-51) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #6 Sunday, June 5                        8:00 PM ET
(50-41) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #7 Sunday, June 12                      8:00 PM ET
(40-31) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #8 Sunday, June 19                      8:00 PM ET
(30-21) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #9 Sunday, June 26                      8:00 PM ET
(20-11) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

Episode #10 Sunday, July 3                         8:00 PM ET
(10-1) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions

And that will do it.

NFL Network/NFL Films/NFL.com Look At Their Sports Emmy Award Nominations

The NFL’s official outlets received their share of Sports Emmy nominations today. A first time nomination for NFL GameDay Morning in the Outstanding Weekly Studio Show category goes to NFL Network. NFL Films received nominations for the co-produced “Lombardi” documentary with HBO Sports. And NFL Films received two nominations for its work on the Showtime/CBS produced “Inside the NFL.” Lots of nominations spread around for NFL Media and we have the press release from the National Football League right here.

NFL MEDIA SCORES 15 SPORTS EMMY NOMINATIONS

NFL NETWORK’S ‘NFL GAMEDAY MORNING’ RECEIVES FIRST EMMY NOMINATION FOR OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY
NFL FILMS-PRODUCED ‘HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS’ EARNS FOUR NOMINATIONS & ‘LOMBARDI’ COLLECTS THREE
NFL.COM GARNERS TWO NOMINATIONS WITH ‘THE NFL SEASON: A BIOGRAPHY’ & ‘NFL.COM LIVE: 2010 SCOUTING COMBINE’

NFL Media, comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films and NFL.com, recorded 15 Sports Emmy Award nominations, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced today.

NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning – the first and most comprehensive NFL pregame show every Sunday – received its first nomination in the Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly category. NFL Network/NFL.com received a nomination for the weekly online series The NFL  Season: A Biography in its debut season in the Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming – Short Format category.

NFL.com’s second nomination came in the Outstanding New Approaches Sports Event Coverage category with NFL.com LIVE: 2010 Scouting Combine.

A year after earning its 100th Sports Emmy award, NFL Films received 12 nominations. The critically acclaimed series Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets earned four nominations in the categories of Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology, Outstanding Camera Work, Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Post Produced Audio/Sound. NFL Films also received two nominations for Inside the NFL: Sounds of the Year, which it produced along with Showtime and CBS, in the Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Post Produced Audio/Sound categories.

The NFL Films and HBO-produced documentary, Lombardi, earned three nominations in the Outstanding Sports Documentary, Outstanding Open/Tease and Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics categories.

Additionally, NFL Network and NFL Films also gained honors in the Outstanding Live Event Turnaround category, earning recognition with the exclusive, all-sound Sound FX: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets, and the Outstanding Edited Sports Special category, with the highly-praised Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football.

The 32nd Annual Sports Emmys Awards will be presented on Monday, May 2 in New York City at the Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Following is a list of the nominations:

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY
NFL GameDay Morning (NFL Network)

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE
NFL.com LIVE: 2010 Scouting Combine (NFL.com)

OUTSTANDING SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
Lombardi (HBO/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL
Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football (NFL Network/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT TURNAROUND
SoundFX: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets (NFL Network/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SERIES/ANTHOLOGY
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets (HBO/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING OPEN/TEASE
Lombardi (HBO/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING – SHORT FORMAT
The NFL Season: A Biography (NFL.com/NFL Network)

OUTSTANDING CAMERA WORK
NFL Films Presents: Shots of the Year (NFL Network/NFL Films)
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets (HBO/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING EDITING
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets (HBO/NFL Films)
Inside the NFL: Sounds of the Year (Showtime/NFL Films/CBS)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION/DIRECTION/LYRICS
Lombardi (HBO/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING POST PRODUCED AUDIO/SOUND
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets (HBO/NFL Films)
Inside the NFL: Sounds of the Year (Showtime/NFL Films/CBS)

One more Sports Emmy Nomination press release and I think you can guess who it will be from. First word, four letters ….

You Watched The NFL Scouting Combine in Record Numbers

This just in from NFL Network, we find that 6.6 million people watched last week’s Scouting Combine which is way up from the 5.2 million that watched last year. I only watch for Rich Eisen running the 40 on the last day, but this is stunning how people just love to watch the prospects for the upcoming season run, jump, throw and lift. We have the press release from the NFL.

RECORD AUDIENCE FOLLOWS 2011 NFL SCOUTING COMBINE ON NFL NETWORK, NFL.COM & NFL MOBILE

A Record 6.6 Million Viewers Watched Combine on NFL Network
9.3 Million NFL.com Combine Videos Viewed — a 50% Increase This Year
76% of “NFL Mobile” Subscribers Watched Video of Combine Events This Year
NFL Network, NFL.com & NFL Mobile Continue Momentum Following Successful 2010 Season

Fans enjoyed 2011 NFL Combine content on different NFL Media platforms in record numbers.  A record 6.6 million viewers tuned in to NFL Network’s exclusive coverage of the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine Presented by Under Armour – a 27 percent increase over 2010 (5.2 million viewers) and an 78 percent increase over 2007 (3.7 million viewers), according to The Nielsen Company.  There were 9.3 million views of NFL.com Combine videos by fans, a 50 percent increase compared to last year, and users spent 24 percent more time on NFL.com live. NFL.com’s mobile website, m.NFL.com, showed tremendous growth with 289 percent more unique users compared to 2010.  In addition, an impressive 76 percent of NFL Mobile subscribers watched video coverage of Combine events.

NFL Network, NFL.com and NFL Mobile’s exclusive coverage of the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine featured four days (Saturday, Feb. 26 – Tuesday, March 1) of workouts, interviews, analysis, breaking news and everything in between.

Sunday’s seven hours of live coverage featuring quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers was the most-watched Combine telecast of all-time with an average of 406,000 viewers on NFL Network — up 47 percent from last year.

The NFL Scouting Combine is part of NFL Network’s “Path to Primetime” programming leading into the 2011 NFL Draft in April.  The Combine viewership follows a successful 2010 season which featured:

• A record 63.4 million viewers watched NFL Network during the 2010 season (9/16/10-2/6/11).

• With a total day average audience year-to-year increase of 16 percent during the season, NFL Network had the highest percentage growth increase of any cable sports network.  NFL Network was the third most watched cable sports network behind ESPN and ESPN 2.

Network                      Ave. Audience Growth ’10 vs. ’09      Viewers (P2+)
NFL Network                         16%                                         163,000
ESPN                                      12%                                         1,441,000
ESPNews                               6%                                           68,000
ESPN 2                                   5 %                                          384,000
Golf Network                          2%                                           62,000
Versus                                     -15%                                        82,000
Fox Soccer Channel               -15                                           28,000
Speed Channel                       -19%                                        121,000
NBA TV                                   NA                                           52,000
MLB Network                          NA                                           26,000

• NFL Network’s fifth season of Thursday Night Football was the most watched in the network’s history with an average of 5.7 million cable viewers per game.

• A record 27.8 million total viewers watched NFL Network’s NFL GameDay programming on Sundays – an increase of 13 percent over 2009.

• NFL Internet Group, which includes NFL.com and its club sites, posted another record year and continues to be the most popular sports league on the web with an average of 17.1 million unique visitors according to ComScore.  The network peaked in December with 26.3 million unique visitors. The popularity of the videos continues to skyrocket as NFL.com’s total video streams grew 128 percent from last year.

• In the first season of NFL Mobile Only, a record number of fans turned to their mobile devices for NFL coverage as NFL Mobile is one of Verizon’s most successful apps.

So based on this, are the NFL owners really thinking of possibly losing a season? People want their football.

NFL Network’s Programs & Other Things Through Next Tuesday

Finally dug out, but not confident that I’ll be able to get to and from my driveway as the snow stuck quite a bit. We’ll see tomorrow. Anyway, throughout the night, I’ll be catching up on stuff that I could not get to while digging out of the big snowstorm today. Keep your feeds updated.

This is NFL Network’s programming schedule through early next week plus a few other things on NFL.com.

NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM PROGRAMMING NOTES (1/12 – 1/18)

NFL GAMEDAY HAS THE DIVISIONAL ROUND COVERED WITH MORE THAN 20 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING

Sanders, Theismann, Mariucci and Mayock on No Huddle: The Road to Dallas Thursday, Jan. 13 at 8:00 PM ET

Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck & Pittsburgh Safety Troy Polamalu Featured on ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ on NFL.com

THIS WEEK ON NFL GAMEDAY MORNING: Special Divisional Round Editions of NFL GameDay Morning on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 12:00 PM ET and Sunday, Jan. 16 at 9:00 AM ET

With more than 20 hours of live NFL GameDay programming, NFL Network is the destination for the most comprehensive coverage of the Divisional round of the playoffs. NFL GameDay Morning airs twice this weekend to provide you with all of the information and analysis you need to prepare for the second round of the playoffs. Host Rich Eisen joins Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp beginning Saturday, Jan. 15 at 12:00 PM ET. The crew previews the two Divisional matchups on Saturday – Ravens-Steelers and Packers-Falcons – as well as the two remaining games on Sunday.

NFL GameDay Morning also features contributing coverage of the Saturday Divisional games from Fox NFL Sunday and CBS’ The NFL Today pregame shows. Host Curt Menefee and analysts Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson comprise Fox’s coverage of the NFL, while host James Brown and analysts Dan Marino, Bill Cowher, Sterling Sharpe and Boomer Esiason preview the games for The NFL Today pregame show.

Below is a segment from last week’s NFL GameDay Morning with supplemental coverage from The NFL Today on CBS:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81d9e6bd/NFL-Today-Ravens-Chiefs-preview

On Sunday, Jan. 16 at 9:00 AM ET, the NFL GameDay Morning crew recaps the previous day’s action, previews Seahawks-Bears and Jets-Patriots, and looks ahead to both conference championships.

On Saturday and Sunday, NFL Network reporters provide reports from the following locations:

• Scott Hanson reports Pittsburgh on Ravens-Steelers
• Steve Wyche reports from Atlanta on Packers-Falcons
• Kara Henderson reports from Chicago on Seahawks-Bears
• Albert Breer reports from New England on Jets-Patriots

Capping off each day of the playoffs is NFL GameDay Final, providing the definitive exclamation point on the day’s action with unlimited highlights of the games, post-game press conferences, interviews from the field and locker room and expert analysis. On a special Saturday edition, Jan. 15 at 9:30 PM PT, former head coach Jim Mora joins host Fran Charles and analyst Deion Sanders to recap Ravens-Steelers and Packers-Falcons, as well as look ahead to Sunday’s games. On Sunday, Jan. 16 at 8:30 PM ET, host Rich Eisen joins Sanders, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin for NFL GameDay Final to provide the final analysis of the Divisional round and look ahead to both the NFC and AFC conference championship games.

No Huddle: The Road to Dallas Returns on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 8:00 PM ET

No Huddle: The Road to Dallas, a new weekly roundtable show in which NFL Network analysts discuss and debate the hot topics throughout the playoffs, returns with a new episode on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 8:00 PM ET. This week’s analysts include former Super Bowl winners Deion Sanders and Joe Theismann, former head coach Steve Mariucci and analyst Mike Mayock.

Below are video links to segments from Thursday’s show:

- Wild Card weekend revisited: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81d993dd/No-Huddle-Wild-card-weekend-revisited?module=HP_video

- Preview of Baltimore-Pittsburgh: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-playoff-x-factors/09000d5d81d99866/X-Factors-Ravens-vs-Steelers

- Preview of Green Bay-Atlanta: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-playoff-x-factors/09000d5d81d987ab/X-Factors-Packers-vs-Falcons

Here are select quotes from Thursday’s show:

- “Basically everybody insulted the Seattle Seahawks.” – Joe Theismann on the Seattle Seahawks prior to their win over the New Orleans Saints

- “He made a couple throws that were as good as any throw that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady has ever made.” – Mike Mayock on Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck

- “This is my favorite game of the year when these guys play two or three times.” – Mike Mayock on the Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers matchup

- “You’ve got to find a way to get him the ball. He’s a matchup nightmare for a linebacker. … He single-handedly destroyed the Kansas City Chiefs.” – Deion Sanders on Baltimore tight end Todd Heap

“I’m looking at Michael Turner not as the running back, not as the hammer; I’m looking at him more to be a personal protector for Matt Ryan.” – Joe Theismann on Atlanta RB Michael Turner

No Huddle airs every Thursday throughout the playoffs at 8:00 PM ET featuring discussion, debate and answering fan questions via Twitter. 

Special Playoff Programming: Playoff-themed Sound FX and Re-Air of Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers

Heading into the Divisional round of the playoffs, NFL Network gets you ready with special playoff-centered programming.

On Thursday, Jan. 13 beginning at 9:00 PM ET, watch episodes of Sound FX featuring prominent figures from the remaining playoff teams. Below is a listing of the episodes which will be shown:

- 9:00 PM ET: Sound FX: Wild Card Weekend – the on-field sights and sounds from the weekend’s thrilling games

- 9:30 PM ET: Best of Sound FX: Jets’ Rex Ryan – compilation of the best sights and sounds of current New York Jets head coach and former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan

- 10:00 PM ET: Best of Sound FX: Ravens’ Ray Lewis – enjoy the best of Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis as a preview of the Ravens game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here is a video link to a preview of the episode:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d81d911ff/Wired-for-greatness

- 10:30 PM ET: Best of Sound FX: Patriots’ Bill Belichick – the best on-field sights and sounds of current New England head coach and former Cleveland head coach Bill Belichick

On Friday, Jan. 14 at 9:00 PM ET, the Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers episode of the popular Top 10 series will re-air in anticipation of the Steelers game against the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The hour-long episode reveals the greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all-time, counting down from 10 to 1, and includes interviews with former NFL players and media personalities.

Below are video links to a few of the players included on the list:

- Hines Ward: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d81d17446/Top-Ten-Steelers-of-All-Time-Hines-Ward

- Joe Greene: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d81d2bbb6/Top-Ten-Steelers-of-All-Time-Joe-Greene

- Terry Bradshaw: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d81d2bb27/Top-Ten-Steelers-of-All-Time-Terry-Bradshaw

- Rod Woodson: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d81d17578/Top-Ten-Steelers-of-All-Time-Rod-Woodson

Latest Edition of ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ Features Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck, Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu, Al Michaels and Adam Carolla now available on NFL.com and iTunes

After a thrilling week of Wild Card games, ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ is back with a lineup of guests with Divisional round ties. The first guest on the episode is Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, fresh off a win over the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the opening round of the playoffs. Hasselbeck and the Seahawks now move onto Chicago to face the Bears, a team Seattle defeated 23-20 at Soldier Field in Week 6 this season. Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu calls in to preview the Steelers’ matchup with the Baltimore Ravens and to talk about Twitchange.com – an organization focused on helping make dreams come true for returning and fighting veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Sunday Night Football on NBC play-by-play announcer Al Michaels joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming playoff matchups and the NFL television ratings, as well as to offer advice for all up-and-coming play-by-play announcers. Wrapping up the podcast is Adam Carrolla to discuss what he would do if he were NFL Commissioner for a day.

Below are select quotes from this week’s episode:

- “There was a part in that game where they all of a sudden just looked like another team instead of looking like the world champs.” – Matt Hasselbeck on the New Orleans Saints

- “I’ll say this for all athletes, that while you’re still playing you rarely have time to really sit back and look back at your career while you’re in the midst of it. – Troy Polamalu on his thoughts on the impact he has on his team

- “I’m still pretty much a kid at heart in that regard and I get excited every time I show up at a stadium and the stadium begins to fill up.” – Al Michaels on the excitement of going to live games

For more information on ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast,’ please visit http://richeisen.nfl.com/ or go to iTunes to download the latest episode.

THIS WEEK ON AROUND THE LEAGUE and NFL TOTAL ACCESS: Green Bay CB Charles Woodson, Pittsburgh LB James Farrior and Chicago LB Lance Briggs

­­­­­­­­­­­

Wednesday, January 12

NFL Total Access:

• Packers CB Charles Woodson via Team Cam
• Albert Breer reports from New England
• Lindsay Soto reports from Chicago
• NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora

Thursday, January 13

Around the League:

• Steelers linebacker James Farrior via Team Cam
• NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora

NFL Total Access:

• Bears linebacker Lance Briggs via Team Cam
• NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora

Friday, January 14

Around the League:

• NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora
• Steve Wyche reports from Atlanta
• Scott Hanson reports from Pittsburgh

NFL Total Access:

• NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora
• Scott Hanson reports from Pittsburgh

THIS WEEK ON PLAYBOOK

Wednesday 6:30 PM ET – Playbook with Brian Baldinger, Solomon Wilcots and Michael Lombardi:

• How the Packers defense was able to stop Michael Vick
• How the Seahawks offense was able to overpower the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints

Thursday 6:00 PM ET – Divisional Sunday Playbook with Brian Baldinger, Joe Theismann and Brian Billick:

• Why the Jets won’t be able to stop the Patriots offense
• Why Mark Sanchez will struggle against New England’s defense
• How Jay Cutler can have success against the Seahawks defense
• Why the Seahawks offense won’t get off the ground against the Bears defense

Friday at 6:00 PM ET – Divisional Saturday Playbook with Brian Baldinger, Joe Theismann and Brian Billick:

• How the Ravens can have success passing the ball against the Steelers defense
• Why the Steelers will struggle to score against the Ravens defense
• How the Falcons offense can take off against the Packers defense
• Why the Packers can run the ball against the Falcons defense

Philadelphia QB Michael Vick and Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg Featured on the Latest Installment of ‘The NFL Season’ on NFL.com

The latest installment of ‘The NFL Season’ is now available on NFL.com. Despite a disappointing loss in the playoffs to the Green Bay Packers, the 2010 NFL season for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was one of re-birth and tremendous success. Starting the season as the backup to Kevin Kolb, Vick – the quarterback known more for his legs than his arm – was called into action in the Eagles’ first game and never looked back. With a more focused determination to the details of the position, Vick electrified the NFL with his dynamic play. The man behind Vick’s evolution as a quarterback was Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who through his tutelage of quarterbacks such as Brett Favre, Steve Young and Jeff Garcia has been given the nickname of “Quarterback Guru.” Through a dedication to drills before and after practice, Mornhinweg helped reinvent Vick into a pocket-passer, and the results were felt across the league. The success that both Vick and Mornhinweg had this season will lead to bigger and better things for each. For Vick, it will be a new contract. For Mornhinweg, it may be another shot at a head coaching position.

The latest episode can be found at: http://www.nfl.com/videos/philadelphia-eagles/09000d5d81d9e67e/The-Season-The-QB-Guru?module=HP_video

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM

Thursday, January 13

• CHAT: Bucky Brooks (2:00 PM ET)
• CHAT: Rod Woodson (4:30 PM ET)

Friday, January 14

• CHAT: Vic Carucci (12 NOON ET)
• CHAT: Pat Kirwan (1:00 PM ET)
• CHAT: Steve Wyche (2:00 PM ET)

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

Wednesday, January 12

6:30 PM – Playbook (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

9:15 PM – NFL Replay: Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (HD)

10:30 PM – Sound FX: Wild Card weekend (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Up to the Minute (HD)

Thursday, January 13

12 NOON – Sound FX: Wild Card weekend (HD)

12:30 PM – Playbook (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

2:15 PM – NFL Replay: Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (HD)

3:30 PM – Sound FX: Wild Card weekend (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Playbook: Divisional Sunday (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – No Huddle: Road to Dallas (HD)

9:00 PM – Sound FX: Wild Card weekend (HD)

9:30 PM – Best of Sound FX: Rex Ryan (HD)

10:00 PM – Best of Sound FX: Ray Lewis (HD)

10:30 PM – Best of Sound FX: Bill Belichick (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Playbook: Divisional Sunday (HD)

Friday, January 14

11:00 AM – Sound FX: Wild Card weekend (HD)

11:30 AM – NFL Films Presents: USA Football Episode 4 (HD)

12 NOON – Playbook: Divisional Sunday (HD)

1:00 PM – Best of Sound FX: Rex Ryan (HD)

1:30 PM – Best of Sound FX: Ray Lewis (HD)

2:00 PM – Sound FX: Wild Card weekend (HD)

2:30 PM – NFL Films Presents: USA Football Episode 4 (HD)

3:00 PM – No Huddle: Road to Dallas (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Playbook: Divisional Saturday (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Quarterbacks of the 80s (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

10:00 PM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #20-11 (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Playbook: Divisional Saturday (HD)

Saturday, January 15

9:00 AM – No Huddle: Road to Dallas (HD)

10:00 AM – Playbook: Divisional Sunday (HD)

11:00 AM – Playbook: Divisional Saturday (HD)

12 NOON – NFL GameDay Morning (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Follies: Festival of Funnies

5:30 PM – NFL Follies: 21st Century Follies

6:30 PM – NFL Follies: Super Duper Football Follies

7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL GameDay Overtime (HD)

12:30 AM – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

Sunday, January 16

8:00 AM – Playbook: Divisional Sunday (HD)

9:00 AM – NFL GameDay Morning (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Films Presents: USA Football, Episode 1 (HD)

1:30 PM – NFL Films Presents: USA Football, Episode 2 (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL Films Presents: USA Football, Episode 3 (HD)

2:30 PM – NFL Films Presents: USA Football, Episode 4 (HD)

3:00 PM – NFL Follies: Legends of the Follies

4:00 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard

8:00 PM – NFL GameDay Overtime (HD)

8:30 PM – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

Monday, January 17

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Controversial Calls

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Up to the Minute (HD)

6:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – TBD

10:00 PM – TBD

11:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access (HD)

Tuesday, January 18

12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Overtime Finishes (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Quarterbacks of the 80s (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Backfield Tandems

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Tight Ends

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Up to the Minute (HD)

6:30 PM – Playbook (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Field Pass Block (8:00-11:00 PM ET)

8:00 PM – NFL Replay (HD)

9:15 PM – NFL Replay (HD)

10:30 PM – Best of Sound FX: John Harbaugh (HD)

More stuff coming up throughout tonight.

New York Giants-Minnesota Vikings Available On Demand at NFL.com

The announcements about the New York Giants-Minnesota Vikings game just don’t stop. I would like to stop posting about it, but there’s yet another press release, this one from the National Football League. NFL.com will have the game on its website for 24 hours for those would want to see it.

New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings Game in Detroit Available on NFL.com at Midnight Monday

The New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings game in Detroit will be available to watch in its entirety on NFL.com at midnight* ET following the live Monday night game.  The game will be available for 24 hours on NFL.com without commercials and features the FOX Sports broadcast.

*If ESPN’s Monday Night Football game is still being played past midnight ET, the Giants-Vikings game will not be available on NFL.com until the Ravens-Texans game is over.

Ok, I hope this is the end of the posts on Giants-Vikings.

NFL Network’s Programs For You Over The Next Week

We have the programming schedule from NFL Network starting from tonight and heading through next Tuesday.

NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM PROGRAMMING NOTES (11/17-11/23)

FIRST PLACE CHICAGO BEARS VISIT MIAMI DOLPHINS ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AT 8:00 PM ET

Thursday Night Kickoff Pregame Feature on 25th Anniversary of the Classic Bears-Dolphins MNF Game and a Sneak Peek of Bill Parcells Documentary at 6:00 PM ET

Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football Premieres Friday at 8:00 PM ET

NFL VP of Officiating Carl Johnson Joins ‘Official Review’ On NFL Total Access, Tonight At 11:00 PM ET

‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ on NFL.com Features Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew & Actor Billy Bob Thornton

THURSDAY NIGHT KICKOFF – THURSDAY 6:00-8:00 PM ET

Following a record-setting opening game, Thursday Night Football returns at 6:00 PM ET with Thursday Night Kickoff. Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders and Kara Henderson are live on the scene at Sun Life Stadium, while Fran Charles, Brian Billick, Jay Glazer, Kurt Warner and Sterling Sharpe are live from Los Angeles. Jason La Canfora provides NFL news reports. The two-hour pregame features:

• NFL Films-produced feature on the Chicago Bears-Miami Dolphins game on Dec. 2, 1985
• Sneak peek of the upcoming documentary Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football

The pregame show also features NFL Network analysts previewing this week’s NFL action:

• Is Jay Cutler a franchise quarterback?
• Why isn’t Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall producing so far this season?
• Is Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick the MVP through Week 10?
• How are the Oakland Raiders winning?
• The Indianapolis Colts-New England Patriots rivalry revisited

The Halftime Show will air live from Sun Life Stadium. Eisen, Faulk, Mariucci and Sanders will discuss and analyze the first half of Bears-Dolphins, while Henderson and Alex Flanagan provide halftime reports.

·         Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins at 8:00 PM ET

Bob Papa (PxP), Matt Millen and Joe Theismann (analysts) with Alex Flanagan (sideline reporter)

BILL PARCELLS: REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE IN FOOTBALL – FRIDAY AT 8:00 PM ET

NFL-Films-produced Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football debuts on NFL Network Friday, November 19 at 8:00 PM ET. The 90-minute documentary features sit down interviews with Parcells and many others, a visit to his house, plus rare footage from practices, meetings, games and time away from the football field. Legendary actor Donald Sutherland is the narrator. The following is a partial list of people who were interviewed:

• Mickey Corcoran – Parcells High School basketball coach and longtime friend
• Bill Belichick – former assistant coach
• Curtis Martin – former running back with New England Patriots and New York Jets
• Sean Payton – former assistant coach
• Phil Simms – former New York Giants quarterback

THIS WEEK ON NFL GAMEDAY MORNING: A Look at the Colts-Patriots Rivalry in Anticipation of Sunday’s Game in New England

Sunday is NFL GameDay on NFL Network, starting at 9:00 AM ET with NFL GameDay Morning. Host Rich Eisen joins Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp for the first and most comprehensive pregame show every Sunday.

In anticipation of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, NFL GameDay Morning examines the rivalry between two of the top teams in the NFL. From 2001-2005, the Patriots defeated the Colts six consecutive times, including twice in the AFC Championship game on the way to two Super Bowl titles. In 2007, the two teams met again in the AFC Championship game, and this time the Colts were victorious. The rivalry between the Colts and the Patriots has it all: two of the best quarterbacks, quality head coaches and unforgettable moments.

• Kara Henderson reports from Minneapolis for Packers-Vikings
• Albert Breer reports from New Meadowlands Stadium for Texans-Jets
• Jason La Canfora reports from Pittsburgh for Raiders-Steelers
• Michael Lombardi reports from New England for Colts-Patriots

THIS WEEK ON AROUND THE LEAGUE and NFL TOTAL ACCESS: ‘Official Review’ with NFL VP of Officiating Carl Johnson

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Wednesday, November 17

NFL Total Access:

• ‘Official Review’ with Carl Johnson, NFL VP of Officiating
• NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora

Thursday, November 18

Around the League: Thursday Night Football preview

• NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora
• Thursday Night Football game analysts Joe Theismann and Matt Millen preview Bears-Dolphins from Sun Life Stadium
• Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders preview Bears-Dolphins from Sun Life Stadium
• Kara Henderson reports from Sun Life Stadium

Friday, November 19

Around the League:

• NFL Insider with Steve Wyche
• Albert Breer reports from New England

NFL Total Access:

• Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin interview via Team Cam
• NFL Insider with Steve Wyche

THIS WEEK ON PLAYBOOK: A Look at Bears-Dolphins, Packers-Vikings, Falcons-Rams, Giants-Eagles, Texans-Jets, Colts-Patriots and Raiders-Steelers Matchups

Thursday 12:00 AM ET – Playbook with Sterling Sharpe, Mike Mayock and Shawn Springs:

• Preview of the Bears-Dolphins matchup on Thursday Night Football
• Is Jay Cutler an elite QB?
• A look at the top rookie performances of Week 10

Friday 6:00 PM ET – NFC Playbook with Solomon Wilcots, Michael Lombardi and Brian Baldinger:

• How the Packers defense can shut down the Vikings offense
• How the Rams can ground the Falcons offense
• Why the Eagles offense can have its way with the Giants defense

Saturday at 6:00 PM ET – AFC Playbook with Solomon Wilcots, Michael Lombardi and Brian Baldinger:

• How Dustin Keller holds the key to a Jets win against the Texans
• Why the Colts won’t be able to slow down the Patriots offense
• How the Steelers can bounce back with a win against the Raiders

Episode #10 of ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ Features Interviews with Actor Billy Bob Thornton & Media Personality Dennis Miller

NFL Network host Rich Eisen is back with another exciting podcast this week, featuring interviews with Jacksonville Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew, actor Billy Bob Thornton and Jeff Schaffer, the executive producer of the successful show “The League” on FX. Jones-Drew discusses the Jaguars’ thrilling win over the Houston Texans on the last play and his Week 10 touchdown celebration dance. Thornton promotes his new movie “Faster” and talks about how his favorite team – the Indianapolis Colts – bounced back with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Schaffer offers his thoughts on Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles, Patriots-Steelers and Gus Johnson’s call of the Texans-Jaguars game, as well as playoff predictions.

For more information on ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast,’ please visit http://richeisen.nfl.com/ or go to iTunes to download the latest episode.

Episode Seven of ‘The Season’ on NFL.com Profiles New York Jets Running Back LaDainian Tomlinson’s Resurgence

The seventh episode of ‘The Season’ is now available on NFL.com. This week, New York Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson defies the myth that running backs deteriorate once they turn 30. At the age of 31, Tomlinson is having a resurgent season with the Jets and is a big reason why Gang Green ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game. After the least productive season of his 10-year career in 2009, Tomlinson was released by the San Diego Chargers. The perception was that at the age of 31 and limited by nagging injuries, Tomlinson’s career was finished. So far this season that has not been the reality, with Tomlinson proving to his new team and the rest of the NFL that he still has more than enough left in the tank.

Episode seven can be found at http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-the-season/09000d5d81c2b191/The-Season-L-T-s-resurgence?module=HP_cp2

Every week on NFL.com, a new webisode of ‘The Season’ will premiere, opening a new window into professional football to which fans and observers are usually not privy. The characters that will emerge over the next 12 weeks will spread across a broad spectrum – from quarterbacks to coaches, general managers to scouts, beer vendors to executives. ‘The Season’ is a project that’s not so much the story of the 2010 NFL season, but the tale of an NFL season – an important distinction. While who wins and who loses, who starts and who fumbles are all part of the story, they’re more incidental to the greater purpose of the piece – to provide a single, all-encompassing biography of a season.

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM: NFL.com/LIVE: Thursday Night Football

Thursday, November 18

• CHAT: Steve Wyche (12 NOON ET)
• CHAT: Bob Papa (TBD)
• CHAT: Albert Breer (2:00 PM ET)
• 8:00 PM ET – NFL.com/LIVE: Thursday Night Football Presented by Applebee’s:
• A live show throughout Bears vs. Dolphins with “live look-ins” of the action, reports from Kara Henderson and Steve Wyche on the field covering both teams, in-game highlights and analysis from Paul Burmeister, Jamie Dukes and Bucky Brooks in Los Angeles, plus ‘Instant Playbook’ from NFL Network’s Mike Mayock at NFL Films.

Friday, November 19

• CHAT: Fantasy Focus (12 NOON ET)
• CHAT: Vic Carucci (2:00 PM ET)

Sunday, November 21

• CHAT: Fantasy Focus (10 AM ET)
• 11:30 AM ET – NFL Fantasy LIVE with Michelle Beisner, Michael Fabiano and Dave Dameshek delivers the most up to date information for your fantasy team to have a record-setting day

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

Wednesday, November 17

9:15 PM – NFL Replay: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants (HD)

10:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 10 (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Playbook (HD)

Thursday, November 18

12 NOON – Playbook (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers (HD)

2:15 PM – NFL Replay: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants (HD)

3:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 10 (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears (HD) – LIVE

8:00 PM – Thursday Night Football: Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins (HD) – LIVE

11:30 PM – Kay Jewelers Postgame Show (HD) – LIVE

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access: Postgame recap of Bears vs. Dolphins (HD)

Friday, November 19

10:00 AM – NFL Classic Games: New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (11/15/09)

1:00 PM – Sound FX: Bill Parcells (HD)

1:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 10 (HD)

2:00 PM – America’s Game: 2004 New England Patriots (HD)

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 2006 Indianapolis Colts (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Playbook: NFC (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football (HD)

9:30 PM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #100-91 (HD)

10:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 10 (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Saturday, November 20

8:00 AM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 10 (HD)

8:30 AM – Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football (HD)

10:00 AM – Playbook: NFC (HD)

11:00 AM – Playbook: AFC (HD)

12 NOON – NFL Films Presents: Jerry Wolman (HD)

12:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Comebacks (HD)

1:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Raiders

2:30 PM – Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football (HD)

4:00 PM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #100-91 (HD)

5:00 PM – Playbook: NFC (HD)

6:00 PM – Playbook: AFC (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #100-91 (HD)

9:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Revenge Games (HD)

10:30 PM – NFL Films Presents: Jerry Wolman (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Sunday, November 21

‘NFL GameDay’

9:00 AM – NFL GameDay Morning (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL GameDay StatZone (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard (HD)

7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Highlights (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL GameDay Overtime (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

Monday, November 22

3:00 PM – NFL Replay Real-Time: 2010, Week 11 (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Up to the Minute (HD)

6:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

9:00 PM – America’s Game: 1992 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

10:00 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

10:30 PM – America’s Game: 1993 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access: Monday Night Football Pressers (HD)

Tuesday, November 23

12 NOON – NFL Replay Real-Time: 2010, Week 11 (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Revenge Games (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Traditions

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Comebacks

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Playbook (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Field Pass Block (8:00-11:00 PM ET)

8:00 PM – NFL Replay (HD)

9:15 PM – NFL Replay (HD)

10:30 PM – Sound FX: Mike Singletary (HD)

And we’re done here.

NFL Network’s Schedule Through Tuesday

You have the NFL Network’s programs plus various NFL.com chats for the upcoming seven days.

NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM PROGRAMMING NOTES (10/20-10/26)

CHAT WITH NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL THURSDAY AT 4:00 PM ET ON NFL.COM

MARSHALL FAULK 1-ON-1 WITH VIKINGS RB ADRIAN PETERSON ON nfl gameday morning SUNDAY AT 9:00 AM ET

The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players Continues Countdown with Numbers 21-30, Thursday at 9:00 PM ET

Rich Eisen Interviews Jon Gruden and NFL Executive VP of Football Operations Ray Anderson on His NFL.com Podcast

The NFL Season: A Biography Presented by SAP Airs Saturday at 10:30 PM ET

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson Takes Center Stage on NFL Network This Week

The dynamic Vikings running back nicknamed ‘AD’ for ‘all day’ is the focus this week on two NFL Network shows. Adrian Peterson sits down with NFL Network’s resident running back Marshall Faulk for NFL GameDay Morning’s ‘Sunday Sitdown’ at 9:00 AM ET where the two discuss Peterson’s progression in the Vikings offense, having QB Brett Favre back for a second year and the recent addition of WR Randy Moss.

As of Week 6, Peterson became the fourth Vikings player of all-time to reach 5,000 rushing yards and viewers get an inside look at dynamic running back in this week’s Sound FX: Best Of, which encores Friday at 1:00 PM ET.  The NFL Films-produced segment features a compilation of the best wired moments and sound bytes of Peterson on the field. 

In addition, Peterson and the Vikings’ upcoming game versus division rival Green Bay will be a topic of discussion on Playbook: NFC with Brian Billick, Sterling Sharpe and Brian Baldinger on Friday at 5:00 PM ET.

The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players Continues with Episode #8, Featuring Numbers 21-30 Thursday at 9:00 PM ET

Episode #8 of The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players debuts on NFL Network, Thursday at 9:00 PM ET, revealing numbers 21-30 on the list. Among the 10 players to be named this Thursday are three quarterbacks, including the youngest quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP honors, the last two of the Cowboys’ eight players on the list and a defensive icon who was as widely regarded for his work on the small screen as his accolades on the gridiron.

Tomorrow’s episode also features New York Yankees Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez who serve as presenters for two of the three quarterbacks unveiled. To preview the segment featuring Jeter, please visit:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-england-patriots/09000d5d81b6f161/Top-100-Tom-Brady

The first 70 players that have been revealed are as follows:

100. Joe Namath

99. Michael Strahan

98. Lee Roy Selmon

97. Derrick Brooks

96. Mel Hein

95. Larry Allen

94. Lenny Moore

93. Sam Huff

92. Michael Irvin

91. Fran Tarkenton

90. Kurt Warner

89. Ernie Nevers

88. Ed Reed

87. Elroy ‘Crazylegs’ Hirsch

86. Willie Davis

85. Marcus Allen

84. Joe Schmidt

83. Norm Van Brocklin

82. Ted Hendricks

81. Steve Young

80. Troy Aikman

79. Emlen Tunnell

78. Bruce Matthews

77. Tony Dorsett

76. Art Shell

75. Darrell Green

74. Marion Motley

73. Ozzie Newsome

72. Jonathan Ogden

71. Paul Warfield

70. Marshall Faulk

69. Bobby Bell

68. Mike Webster

67. Kellen Winslow

66. Willie Brown

65. Randy Moss

64. Herb Adderley

63. Jim Otto

62. Randy White

61. LaDainian Tomlinson

60. Terry Bradshaw

59. Mike Ditka

58. Steve Van Buren

57. Bart Starr

56. Eric Dickerson

55. Jack Ham

54. Forrest Gregg

53. Mike Singletary

52. Willie Lanier

51. Gene Upshaw

50. Terry Bradshaw

49. Mike Haynes

48. Red Grange

47. Ray Nitschke

46. Roger Staubach

45. Tony Gonzalez

44. Mel Blount

43. Alan Page

42. John Mackey

41. Rod Woodson

40. OJ Simpson

39. Gino Marchetti

38. Lance Alworth

37. Jim Thorpe

36. Raymond Berry

35. Chuck Bednarik

34. Deion Sanders

33. Sid Luckman

32. Jim Parker

31. Bruce Smith

The Top 100 is a ten-part series counting down the 100 greatest players in NFL history, as determined by a blue-ribbon panel of football experts, including former players, historians, scouts, team executives and writers. As each member of the Top 100 is revealed, their story is told by a single “presenter” – chosen from the worlds of sports, politics, film, television and literature – who possesses particular interest in that player and insight into his greatness.

THIS WEEK ON NFL GAMEDAY MORNING: Interview with Vikings RB Adrian Peterson

Sunday is NFL GameDay on NFL Network, starting at 9:00 AM ET with NFL GameDay Morning. Host Rich Eisen joins Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp for the first and most comprehensive pregame show every Sunday.

• ‘Sunday Sitdown’: Marshall Faulk 1-on-1 with Vikings RB Adrian Peterson
• Michael Lombardi reports from Atlanta for Bengals-Falcons
• Kara Henderson reports from Chicago for Redskins-Bears
• Jason La Canfora reports from Miami for Steelers-Dolphins
• Albert Breer reports from LP Field for Eagles-Titans

THIS WEEK ON AROUND THE LEAGUE and NFL TOTAL ACCESS: Interview with Jets LB Jason Taylor

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Wednesday, October 20

Around the League:

• Interview with Larry Weisman of Redksins.com
• Interview with the Miami Herald’s Jeff Darlington

NFL Total Access:

• LB Jason Taylor on Jets Cam
• Around the League with Jason La Canfora
• Scott Hanson reports from the Minnesota Vikings training facility

Thursday, October 21

NFL Total Access:

• Scott Hanson reports from the Minnesota Vikings training facility
• Albert Breer reports from the New England Patriots training facility
• Around the League with Jason La Canfora

The NFL Season: A Biography Airs Saturday at 10:30 PM ET

NFL.com’s original webisode series The NFL Season: A Biography makes its television network debut Saturday at 10:30 PM ET. The half-hour show is a compilation of the series’ first four webisodes, giving viewers an unprecedented panoramic view of the NFL season, from the first kickoff to the final whistle; the fifty-yard line to the upper deck; and the training room to the board room.

Among some of the sights, sounds and storylines touched upon on The NFL Season: A Biography is a unique look into Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs and some of the NFL’s most passionate fans and the drama-filled days surrounding Redskins QB Donovan McNabb’s return to Philadelphia in Week 3.

For more information on The NFL Season: A Biography, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/more/the-season/episode-2?module=HP_cp2

THIS WEEK ON PLAYBOOK: A Look at Giants-Cowboys, Steelers-Dolphins, Patriots-Chargers, Raiders-Broncos, Redskins-Bears and Vikings-Packers Matchups

Wednesday 6:00 PM ET – Playbook with Mike Mayock, Sterling Sharpe and Solomon Wilcots

• Kudos to Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall
• How the Cowboys can save their season
• Why Big Ben has the Steelers offense running like clockwork

Thursday 6:00 PM ET – AFC Playbook with Brian Billick, Sterling Sharpe and Brian Baldinger:

• Why the Steelers can dominate the Dolphins
• Why the Patriots don’t miss Randy Moss
• What’s wrong with the Chargers
• How the Broncos can salvage their season

Friday at 5:00 PM ET – NFC Playbook with Brian Billick, Sterling Sharpe and Brian Baldinger:

• Why the Bears offense will continue to struggle
• How the Giants defense can shut down the Cowboys
• Why Aaron Rodgers will be on the run from the Vikings defense

Episode #6 of ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ Features Interviews with Monday Night Football Game Analyst Jon Gruden, NFL Executive VP of Football Operations Ray Anderson and Radio and Television Personality Dennis Miller

NFL Network host RICH EISEN posted his sixth podcast of the season, featuring an interview with Monday Night Football game analyst JON GRUDEN who shared his thoughts on returning to an NFL sideline and why his alarm clock is always set for 3:17 AM. Also RAY ANDERSON discusses the league crackdown on illegal hits and other potential rule changes to further promote player safety.

Eisen is also joined by radio and television personality DENNIS MILLER, who provides his unique take on the latest headlines from around the NFL.

For more information on ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast,’ please visit http://richeisen.nfl.com/?module=HP_spotlight or go to iTunes to download the latest episode.

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM: Chat with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Thursday & NFL Fantasy LIVE Sunday at 11:30 AM ET

Wednesday, October 20

• CHAT: Mike Mayock (11:30 AM ET)
• CHAT: Jason La Canfora (12 NOON ET)

Thursday, October 21

• CHAT: Steve Wyche (12 NOON ET)
• CHAT: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (4:00 PM ET)

Friday, October 22

• CHAT: Fantasy Focus (12 NOON ET)
• CHAT: Vic Carucci (2:00 PM ET)

Sunday, October 24

• 11:30 AM ET – NFL Fantasy LIVE with Michelle Beisner, Michael Fabiano and Dave Dameshek delivers the most up to date information for your fantasy team to have a record-setting day.

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

Wednesday, October 20

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Replay: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans (HD)

9:15 PM – NFL Replay: Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers (HD)

10:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 6 (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Playbook (HD)

Thursday, October 21

12 NOON – Playbook (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans (HD)

2:15 PM – NFL Replay: Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers (HD)

3:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 6 (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Playbook: AFC (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 7 (HD)

9:00 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 8 (HD) – DEBUT

10:00 PM – Playbook: AFC (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Friday, October 22

12 NOON – Playbook: AFC (HD)

1:00 PM – Sound FX: Adrian Peterson (HD)

1:30 PM – America’s Game: 1985 Chicago Bears (HD)

2:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 6 (HD)

3:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

5:00 PM – Playbook: NFC (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

7:00 PM – Canadian Football League: Montreal Alouettes vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (HD) – LIVE

10:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Gunslingers

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Saturday, October 23

9:00 AM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 7 (HD)

10:00 AM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 8 (HD)

11:00 AM – Playbook: NFC (HD)

12 NOON – NFL Films Presents: The Ups & Downs of Football (HD)

12:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Gunslingers

1:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Defenses

2:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 6 (HD)

3:00 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 7 (HD)

4:00 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 8 (HD)

5:00 PM – Playbook: NFC (HD)

6:00 PM – Playbook: AFC (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Lefty Quarterbacks (HD)

9:30 PM – The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players – Episode 8 (HD)

10:30 PM – The NFL Season: A Biography (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Sunday, October 24

‘NFL GameDay’

9:00 AM – NFL GameDay Morning (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL GameDay StatZone (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard (HD)

7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Highlights (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL GameDay Overtime (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

Monday, October 25

3:00 PM – NFL Replay Real-Time: 2010, Week 7 (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Up to the Minute (HD)

6:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Super Duper Football Follies

10:00 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

10:30 PM – NFL Follies: Phenomenal Football Follies

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access: Monday Night Football Pressers (HD)

Tuesday, October 26

12 NOON – NFL Replay Real-Time: 2010, Week 7 (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Lefty Quarterbacks (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Gunslingers

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Defenses

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD) – LIVE

6:00 PM – Playbook (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Field Pass Block (8:00-11:00 PM ET)

8:00 PM – NFL Replay (HD)

9:15 PM – NFL Replay (HD)

10:30 PM – Sound FX: Andy Reid (HD)

One more NFL Network announcement coming up.

NFL Discusses Its Emmy Nominations

The combined forces of NFL Network, NFL Films and NFL.com are discussing the Sports Emmy Award Nominations. Quite impressive. Take a look at the list in this press release.

NFL NETWORK, NFL FILMS & NFL.COM EARN RECORD 18 SPORTS EMMY NOMINATIONS

‘NFL REDZONE’ EARNS NOMINATION IN DEBUT SEASON

‘NFL FILMS PRODUCED HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS’ EARNS FOUR NOMINATIONS

NFL.COM RECEIVES TWO HONORS IN OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING

NFL NETWORK EARNS NOMINATION IN OUTSTANDING SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

NFL Network, NFL Films and NFL.com recorded 18 Sports Emmy Award nominations, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced today. This total surpasses the 15 nominations the NFL received last year, setting a new record.

Following its debut season, NFL RedZone earned NFL Network a nomination in the Outstanding New Approaches Sports Event Coverage category. NFL Network/NFL.com received two nominations in Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming with NFL Weekly Countdown and the webisode On the Fringe – Fighting for their NFL Lives each receiving a nod.

NFL Network’s critically-acclaimed America’s Game series, produced by NFL Films, continued its run of success with America’s Game: 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers earning a nomination for Outstanding Edited Sports Special. America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions took home an Emmy in 2007 in the Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology category. 

NFL Films, which has earned 97 Sports Emmys, garnered 15 nominations including four nods for Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals. Inside the NFL, which NFL Films produces with CBS/Showtime, earned its second straight nomination for Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly, as well as for two features, Sounds of the Year and NFL Shots of the Year.

NFL Network and NFL Films also garnered honors in the Outstanding Sports Promotional Announcement category, earning recognition for the “2009 Football Season Never Ends – Run” and “Full Color Football: History of the AFL” creative.

The 31^st Annual Sports Emmys Awards will be presented on Monday, April 26 in New York City at Rose Hall at Lincoln Center.

Following is a list of the nominations:

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL

America’s Game: 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL Network/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SERIES/ANTHOLOGY

NFL Films Presents (NFL Network/NFL Films)

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals (HBO Sports/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY

Inside the NFL (CBS/Showtime/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING SHORT FEATURE

Inside the NFL: Sounds of the Year (CBS/Showtime/NFL Films)

NFL Films Presents: One Shot (NFL Network/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE

NFL RedZone (NFL Network)

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING

NFL Weekly Countdown (NFL Network/NFL.com/NFL Films)

On the Fringe – Fighting for their NFL Lives (NFL.com/NFL Network)

OUTSTANDING CAMERA WORK

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals (HBO Sports/NFL Films)

Inside the NFL: NFL Shots of the Year (CBS/Showtime/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING EDITING

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals (HBO Sports/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION/DIRECTION/LYRICS

Truth in 24 (NFL Films/Intersport/FX)

OUTSTANDING POST PRODUCED AUDIO/SOUND

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals (HBO Sports/NFL Films)

Inside the NFL: Sounds of the Year (CBS/Showtime/NFL Films)

Truth in 24 (FX/Intersport/NFL Films)

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT – INSTITUTIONAL

2009 Football Season Never Ends – Run (NFL Network/Motion Theory)

Full Color Football – History of the AFL (Showtime/NFL Network/NFL Films)

One more Sports Emmy Award nomination release coming up.

Press Releases That Are Here For You to Read

I have some press releases that are left over from Tuesday so let’s post them so I can sleep.

Starting with NFL.com, the website has a weeklong series devoted to five players hoping to make the grade.

PROFILES THE JOURNEY OF FIVE PLAYERS FIGHTING FOR AN NFL ROSTER SPOT

Training Camp Series Features Super Bowl XLII hero David Tyree, Vikings’ Ian Johnson, Falcons’ Coy Wire, Texans’ Boomer Grigsby and Cardinals’ Lance Long

The most interesting stories during training camp don’t always surround the stars; sometimes the best stories are about players trying to follow their dreams to make an NFL team. Starting this week and throughout training camp NFL.com will follow five such players battling to make their team’s roster.

Log on to NFL.com beginning this week for stories, features, interviews and videos as the On the Fringe series follows these players:

Monday, July 27 – RB Ian Johnson, Minnesota Vikings: The undrafted rookie hopes to earn a spot behind Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor.

Tuesday, July 28 – LB Coy Wire, Atlanta Falcons: He fought back from a near career-ending injury to captain the Falcons’ special teams but must continue to fight off younger players to retain his roster spot.

Wednesday, July 29 – WR David Tyree, New York Giants: Best known for his helmet catch during Super Bowl XLII, Tyree must re-earn his spot after missing the 2008 season due to injury.

Thursday, July 30 – FB Boomer Grigsby, Houston Texans: Cut by the Miami Dolphins after Week 1 last season, Grigsby thought his NFL career was over until the Houston Texans called during the spring.

Friday, July 31 – WR Lance Long, Arizona Cardinals: After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, Long hopes to make the jump to the Cardinals’ active roster in 2009.

Visit http://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/story?id=09000d5d8116ffad&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true to follow the five hopefuls throughout the 2009 preseason.

To Sirius NFL Radio which is going to be at every NFL training camp through August 19.

SIRIUS NFL RADIO TRAINING CAMP TOUR KICKS OFF JULY 29

Annual radio series will feature live on-site broadcasts from all 32 NFL team training camps

Plus live coverage of 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement

NEW YORK – July 28, 2009 - SIRIUS XM Radio, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, will kick off the fifth annual SIRIUS NFL Radio Training Camp Tour on Wednesday, July 29, featuring extensive coverage of all 32 NFL team camps plus the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

All programming is available to both SIRIUS and XM subscribers nationwide exclusively on SIRIUS NFL Radio, SIRIUS XM’s 24-hour NFL channel (SIRIUS channel 124 and XM channel 124 with the “Best of SIRIUS” programming package).

Over 22 days – July 29 to Aug. 19 – SIRIUS NFL Radio hosts will broadcast live on location from all 32 NFL training camp sites around the country, giving listeners access to their favorite teams and players as they prepare for the coming season. Each show will present an expert breakdown of every team, one-on-one interviews with players, coaches and franchise executives, and candid reports on rookies, veterans and free agents.

A full schedule detailing show times, hosts and locations appears below.

SIRIUS NFL Radio personalities on the tour include former players, coaches, front office executives and other insiders including: longtime Dallas Cowboys pro personnel executive Gil Brandt, former NFL defensive lineman Tim Ryan, former NFL front office executive Pat Kirwan, former NFL QB Jim Miller, former NFL defensive back Solomon Wilcots, former NFL lineman Ross Tucker, former NFL coach Dean Dalton, plus NFL experts Peter King, Adam Schein, Vic Carucci and Howard Balzer.

On Saturday, August 8, SIRIUS XM will present a full day of live coverage from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH for the 2009 enshrinement ceremonies. Listeners will hear live coverage as the class of 2009 is inducted – which includes wide receiver Bob Hayes, guard Randall McDaniel, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Derrick Thomas, owner Ralph Wilson and defensive back Rod Woodson.

A detailed tour map featuring camp locations, dates, times and featured hosts can be found at www.sirius.com/nfl. Fans can also interact with SIRIUS NFL Radio hosts and other listeners on SIRIUS NFL Radio’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/siriusnflradio) or by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/siriusnflradio.

As the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, SIRIUS XM broadcasts every NFL game live nationwide, from the preseason through the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl. Listeners can hear home and visiting team broadcasts, national radio broadcasts and Spanish-language broadcasts for select games.

2009 SIRIUS NFL Radio Training Camp Tour Schedule: (All times ET)

Wed, July 29: Buffalo Bills, Pittsford, NY

8-11am The Opening Drive with Ross Tucker and Peter King

Sat, Aug. 1: Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio, TX

11am-2pm Press Coverage with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt

New England Patriots, Foxborough, MA

2-6pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Sun, Aug. 2: Houston Texans, Houston, TX

12-4pm The End Zone with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt

Chicago Bears, Bourbonnais, IL

4-8pm NFL Rewind with Jim Miller and Dean Dalton

Mon, Aug. 3: St. Louis Rams, Earth City, MO

10am-1pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Howard Balzer and Jim Miller

Minnesota Vikings, Mankato, MN

1-4pm The Red Zone with Dean Dalton and Paul Allen

New York Giants, Albany, NY

4-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Tue, Aug. 4: Indianapolis Colts, Terre Haute, IN

12-3pm The Red Zone with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller

New York Jets, Cortland, NY

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Wed, Aug. 5: Cincinnati Bengals, Georgetown, KY

1-3pm The Red Zone with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller

Cleveland Browns, Berea, OH

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Thu, Aug. 6: Tennessee Titans, Nashville, TN

12-3pm The Red Zone with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller

Pittsburgh Steelers, Latrobe, PA

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Fri, Aug. 7: New Orleans Saints, Metairie, LA

3-7pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots

Pittsburgh Steelers, Latrobe, PA

7-10pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Sat, Aug. 8: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH

Live coverage from Canton begins at 8am

Sun, Aug. 9: Philadelphia Eagles, Bethlehem, PA

12-4pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Adam Schein and Ross Tucker

Mon, Aug. 10: Washington Redskins, Ashburn, VA

10am-1pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots

Carolina Panthers, Spartanburg, SC

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

San Francisco 49ers, Santa Clara, CA

8-11pm Late Hits with Randy Cross and Gil Brandt

Tue, Aug. 11: Baltimore Ravens, Westminster, MD

10am-1pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots

Denver Broncos, Englewood, CO

1-3pm The Red Zone with Ross Tucker and Jim Miller

Atlanta Falcons, Flowery Branch, GA

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan, Pat Kirwan and Randy Cross

Wed, Aug. 12: Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville, FL

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Seattle Seahawks, Renton, WA

8-11pm Late Hits with Ross Tucker and Jim Miller

Thu, Aug. 13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa, FL

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Fri, Aug. 14: Miami Dolphins, Davie, FL

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Mon, Aug. 17: Kansas City Chiefs, River Falls, WI

1-3pm The Red Zone with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt

San Diego Chargers, San Diego, CA

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller

Tue, Aug. 18: Green Bay Packers, Green Bay, WI

12-3pm The Red Zone with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt

Arizona Cardinals, Flagstaff, AZ

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller

Wed, Aug. 19: Detroit Lions, Allen Park, MI

1-3pm The Red Zone with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt

Oakland Raiders, Napa Valley, CA

3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

** Schedule subject to change. **

NASCAR fans can vote for the inaugural class to be inducted into the new NASCAR Hall of Fame.

NASCAR.com Announces Online Fan Voting for Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame

Fan vote marks the first time a major sport has allowed fans have taken part in Hall of Fame voting process

NASCAR.com announced today that fans will be able to take part in the voting process for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. This is the first time a major sport has allowed fans to be part of a Hall of Fame election process. Beginning today, July 28th, fans can log-on to http://www.nascar.com/hall to cast their vote for up to five legends for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. NASCAR fans collectively will represent one of the 51 ballots on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Committee. In an effort to educate fans on the accomplishments of the 25 nominees, videos, photos and bios are available on the site. Fans must register to vote and can only fill out a Hall of Fame ballot one time.

We get a release from Universal Sports touting its acquisition of the Vuelta a Espana, one of the biggest cycling races of the year.

Universal Sports Inks Four-Year Deal to Broadcast the Vuelta a Espana

Network Now Home to Two of the Three Grand Tours of Road Cycling

LOS ANGELES (July 28, 2009) – Universal Sports announced today it has inked an exclusive four-year multimedia deal to broadcast the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain), a three-week road cycling stage race that is one of the three Grand Tours of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. Universal Sports will broadcast throughout next month’s Vuelta, beginning with the start in Assen, Holland, on August 29, and ending in Madrid, Spain, on September 22.

The Vuelta will join the Giro d’Italia in Universal Sports’ cycling schedule, giving the network two of the three Grand Tours and firmly establishing Universal Sports as the cable leader in cycling coverage. Additional cycling events on Universal Sports include the Tour of the Basque Country, the Road Cycling and Track Cycling World Championships, other UCI Road and Track events, BMX World Championships, Mountain Bike, Cyclocross and more.

“We’re thrilled to have the Vuelta as part of our growing cycling lineup, allowing us to provide viewers with more of the world’s top cycling events, including two of the three Grands,” said Carlos Silva, president and COO of Universal Sports.

“Collectively between Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com, we’ll show every moment of this exciting competition, offering the most broadcast and online coverage of the Vuelta ever.”

Coverage will be led by David Michaels, executive producer of Universal Sports, who brings more than 30 years experience in producing international cycling events. Michaels produced Universal’s highly acclaimed coverage of the 2009 Giro d’Italia this past May.

Universal Sports will provide more than nine hours of Vuelta programming every day during the three-week event. Every stage will be shown LIVE at UniversalSports.com every morning and replayed on Universal Sports network. Each night, Universal Sports will show an enhanced stage replay in Primetime. Additionally, UniversalSports.com will have an online TRACKER that will show each rider’s location on the course, stage maps, and integrated videos. The site will also offer full-length videos, highlights, photos, recaps, and behind-the-scenes interviews.

Finally, here’s a preview of Thursday’s Homecoming program on ESPN.

Legend Tony Hawk Skates Home With Rick Reilly

Coinciding with the anniversary of his first 900 and the opening night of X Games 15, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk returns to San Diego on the next episode of ESPN’s original series – Homecoming with Rick Reilly. Hosted by 11-time Sportswriter of the Year Rick Reilly, the show challenges that old adage “you can’t go home again.” The episode will be televised July 30, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Filmed in mid-May, Reilly talked with the skateboarding pioneer about life as an outcast and his lonely time at the top in front of an intimate audience at Farb Middle School, Hawk’s alma mater. In the crowd was Hawk’s mom, Nancy, fellow members of the revolutionary “Bones Brigade” and X Games stars Bob Burnquist and Bucky Lasek. During the 1-hour show, Hawk gives Reilly a tour of Tony Hawk, INC, which includes a sneak-peek at “The Ride,” his new videogame that will be released later this year. After the interview, Hawk performs an exclusive private skate demo for the kids in the audience. Also captured on film are intimate moments between Hawk and his children as he skates with eldest son and rising street skater, Riley and one-year-old daughter, Kadence, who also enjoys a quick ride with daddy.

Excerpts from the Tony Hawk episode:

“Bones Brigade” member Lance Mountain on Hawk “What he’s done with skateboarding and has done for us, has benefited all the other kids that ever skated.”

Hawk on life at the top “If I didn’t win…they’re like ugh, he’s over, he lost…And there were guys who come up to me and say ‘Oh man, I’m just hoping to get second place.’ And that was supposed to be a compliment but it was crushing…It was lonely at the top…it was just difficult to be in that position at such a young age, and to have so much expected of me , that I just wanted to step back and go I don’t want to, I don’t want to compete.”

Hawk talking to the kids in the audience “If you’re doing something and it’s different and maybe its not the coolest thing but you really love doing it, keep doing it because no matter what if you keep doing what you love you’ll be happy in the end I’m living proof of that.”

NFL to Release Regular Season Schedule in Primetime

You knew this was bound to happen. The NFL has announced it will release the 2009 regular season schedule next Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Here’s the press release that I never received from the NFL and I had to copy from the NFL Media website.

EXCLUSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT OF 2009 NFL SCHEDULE IN PRIMETIME ON NFL.COM AND NFL NETWORK

SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT LIVE

TUESDAY, APRIL 14 AT 7:00 PM ET

NFL.com Unveils Team-by-Team and Week-by-Week Schedules and Live Chats

NFL Network Features Analysis, Interviews With Head Coaches, Fan Reactions & More

Which team will be the Cowboys’ first regular-season opponent in their new stadium? Who will Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson, Donovan McNabb and Kurt Warner take on in their season openers with the Colts, Vikings, Eagles and Cardinals, respectively? How does the road look for the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers as they try to return to the Super Bowl?

These questions and many more will be answered when the 2009 NFL schedule is released in prime time for the first time, exclusively on NFL.com and NFL Network, on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 PM ET. The entire 2009 schedule will be announced and analyzed on NFL.com and NFL Network during a two-hour primetime NFL Total Access: 2009 Schedule Release.

Just as the NFL Draft and NFL Scouting Combine have grown into highly popular off-season events, the NFL Total Access: 2009 Schedule Release is another opportunity for fans to connect with the NFL and to see for the first time where, when, and what time their favorite teams will play next season, as well as to analyze and debate the schedule.

For fans who want to see their team’s entire schedule right away to plan their football season, NFL.com is the place to visit on Tuesday at 7:00 PM ET. NFL.com will be the first site to have the complete team-by-team and weekly schedules of all 256 regular-season games, listing opponents, sites and times. NFL.com will feature interactive components by giving fans a voice through chats, fan forums and poll questions.

Other features on the website will include analysis by NFL.com reporters and breakdowns of the division schedules. NFL.com will include which games will be on CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC and NFL Network. There will also be printer-friendly versions of the team-by-team and week-by-week schedules.

NFL Network’s NFL Total Access: 2009 Schedule Release will feature host Rich Eisen and in-studio analysts, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Brian Billick, Jamie Dukes, Solomon Wilcots, and former Bucs general manager Bruce Allen, plus other special guests including former Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson.

Reporters will be spread across the country to get reaction. NFL Network reporters will be in Boston to get fan reaction on the Patriots’ schedule as Tom Brady returns from his injury, in Philadelphia for the announcement of the first regular season opponent McNabb will face without defensive leader Brian Dawkins, in Chicago for comments on Jay Cutler’s debut as he changes conferences, in Denver to talk about the new season under Josh McDaniels, and in San Diego, where the Chargers hope their impressive play to end the 2008 season translates to a fast start in 2009.

The special includes a look at the making of the schedule, plus interviews with head coaches and GM’s on how it affects their planning and preparation. Players also will also be interviewed and the top games will be debated.

Additional topics covered during the primetime special will include a look at the Steelers’ road back to the Super Bowl, which team will take on the Cowboys in their new stadium for the first time, who is playing in primetime and why, plus the most intriguing matchups of 2009.

NFL.com To Stream NFL Network’s Draft Coverage

In what can be described as only a good move, NFL.com will be streaming NFL Network’s coverage of the Draft later this month. I think this is good. While it’s not good in its battle with big cable, it allows fans to get an alternative to ESPN’s coverage.

I’ve watched NFL Network’s coverage and I think it’s pretty decent, although I do prefer watching ESPN for Mel Kiper, Jr. Here’s the NFL press release.

NFL.COM FEATURES NEW WAR ROOMS FOR FANS DURING THE 2009 NFL DRAFT

News, Chats, Analysis, Games and Video Provide the Complete Draft Day Experience

Live Streaming of NFL Network Draft Coverage both Saturday and Sunday

Fans can own every moment of the 2009 Draft with more exclusive video, interactive features, and information than ever before on NFL.com. For the first time, fans of every team can visit team-specific war rooms on NFL.com to chat about their favorite team’s needs and picks. The site also features enhanced content including chats with NFL.com’s expert analysts.

NFL.com’s live coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 25 at NFL.com/Live. NFL.com will stream the final 30-minutes of NFL Network’s five-hour NFL Total Access pre-Draft show followed by Rounds 1 and 2 of the Draft which begins at 4:00 p.m. ET. NFL.com’s coverage continues on Sunday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. ET with NFL Network’s telecast of Rounds 3 – 7.

NFL.com brings fans onto the Draft floor through a variety of exclusive video content. This behind-the-scenes material from Radio City Music Hall includes features on the Draft prospects on location in New York City, live shots of the team tables as they make their selections and exclusive video interviews from team headquarters throughout the weekend.

On Draft day, NFL.com enhances its free live coverage with an up-to-the-minute Draft Tracker that provides real-time selection information which can be viewed by pick, team, college and Draft round. In addition, fans will get exclusive pick-by-pick analysis from NFL.com’s Draft experts as original video.

NFL.com unveils a new feature for the Draft and is now giving users an opportunity to participate in team-specific Fan War Rooms. Within each War Room, fans can discuss their team’s Draft needs, comment on how the team is drafting and connect with other fans from across the world. In addition, fans can monitor the Draft day activity and buzz across all 32 War Rooms with an interactive map.

NFL.com is home to an extensive player database complete with profiles and scouting reports, Scouting Combine workout results and video clips from all of the 330+ participants, and Pro-Day tracking. NFL.com also offers the most complete history of the Draft available online, allowing fans to look back at NFL Drafts from 1936 to the present.

NFL.com analyst BUCKY BROOKS will offer pick-by-pick analysis through all seven rounds, and personnel expert GIL BRANDT will lead a marathon chat session, answering fans’ questions throughout both days of the Draft. Senior columnists VIC CARUCCI and THOMAS GEORGE will report live from Radio City Music Hall, and senior writer STEVE WYCHE will report from St. Louis, where he will chronicle the Rams’ first draft under new head coach Steve Spagnuolo.

So if you’re away from home and are stuck working at the office during draft weekend, you can keep up through NFL.com. Not bad at all.

2009 Sports Media Predictions

I figure it’s time make some sports media predictions for 2009.

The NHL Returns to ESPN – This has been speculated for so long that whenever a writer or blogger has discussed this topic, I have either turned the page or hit “back” on my browser. But I feel that NHL Czar Gary Bettman will finally listen to the NHL Players Association and put the league back on ESPN. He’ll agree to put games on ESPN2, urge NHL2nite to return and place Games 1 & 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals back on the mothership. To appease Versus, Bettman will give the network exclusive rights to one NHL Conference Championship series. ESPN and NBC will share the other series.

MLB Network Will Announce a Second Night of Live Baseball Games – As it currently stands, MLB Network will carry 26 Thursday night games, but after seeing ratings success in 2009, it will announce that it will add a second night of games, either on Tuesday or Saturday for the 2010 season. ESPN will grit its teeth and say nothing.

Ad rates will drop for Super Bowl XLIV on CBS – Due to the tough economy in 2009 and difficulties in selling ads, CBS will actually offer time on Super Bowl XLIV at a discounted rate, below the $3 million that NBC was selling for SBXLIII.

NFL.com will offer NFL Network games online for free - To expand the audience for Thursday and Saturday night games, NFL.com will stream them for free. It will become the second primetime NFL package to go online. Because Big Cable will again refuse to pick up the NFL Network, there will be no complaints from the pay providers.

Tennis Network offers all of its Grand Slam Tournaments online – Just as it did for the French Open, Tennis Network will provide online streaming for all of its Grand Slam coverage, not just from the outer courts as it currently does for the French Open, but Tennis Network will stream its on-air coverage on its website.

The 2016 Olympics are awarded to…. – Chicago. In October, the International Olympic Committee will honor the appearance of President Barack Obama at the 2016 selection by awarding the 2016 Summer Games to the Windy City. In turn, the IOC will open the bidding for the US TV rights and receive a record amount.

CBS and CBS College Sports Win the ACC Football rights – Coming off a weak season, ESPN will let its exclusive negotiating window lapse and this allows CBS to come in to snatch the ACC TV rights away from ESPN. The ACC will not get the money it was looking for. To appease the SEC, CBS will show ACC games in a 12 p.m. ET window, giving the network an afternoon college football doubleheader. CBS College Sports will show primetime games and Raycom will return to syndicate late afternoon games.

The NFL Splits Radio Rights – Westwood One citing cash flow problems will bow out of the bidding for the NFL radio rights ending a 21 year relationship with the league. ESPN Radio will buy the rights to Monday Night Football and the NFL postseason including the Super Bowl. The Content Factory wanting to add live sports to the Dan Patrick Show will purchase the rights to Sunday afternoon games, Sunday night, Thursday and Saturday night games and the Pro Bowl.

One More Sports League Will Announce Suspension of Play – It won’t be one of the Big Four, but another niche sports league will cease operation in 2009 due to the bad economy. It could be the WNBA, it could be World Team Tennis.

Citi Will Remove Its Name from Citi Field After the 2009 Season – Citigroup will remove its sponsorship of the new Mets stadium after the 2009 season following its failed request for another bailout. Congress will get wise to the wishes of its constituents and get tough with the financial institutions. As a result, Citigroup will cut back on sponsorships including Citi Field.

A Major Sports Radio Station Will Switch Formats – Due to the tough economy, CBS Radio will make major cutbacks following the loss of the NFL from sister company, Westwood One. Without the inventory, one major sports radio station in a major market will be forced to fire its entire staff and switch formats to a syndicated news/talk station.

That will do it for my predictions. On December 31, I’ll review them to see how I did.

A Fall-like Saturday Morning Linkfest

I got up this morning and saw it was 47 degrees in Rhode Island. It’s cold. The temps are warming up now, but this feels like mid-October.

Let’s do your links.

Newsday’s Neil Best thought it was funny that SportsCenter anchor Stan Verrett didn’t know “Duck, Duck, Goose”. Neil also previews what YES will show in its pregame for the Yankee Stadium farewell.

Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball talks about the first reversal under the Instant Replay system. Maury also looks at ESPN’s and MLB.com’s coverage of the farewell to Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union doesn’t like the way Fox is treating baseball as it heads to the postseason. Judging from the announcing assignments from last week and today, I have to agree.

Over to the great Sox & Dawgs blog which has this great picture of NESN’s Heidi Watney and the Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin together.

I’m smitten looking at the both of them.

Anyway, the point of linking to Sox & Dawgs was the fact that Ian of the blog has the video of NESN’s Dennis Eckersley correctly ripping Red Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon for refusing to pitch out of the bullpen.

The Sports Media Watch has its weekend ratings predictions. Paul Sen also notes that the ratings for MLB on Fox are in a downward spiral. And some more bad news for Fox. The SMW says Fox was the only network to experience a downturn in Week 2 of the NFL while all of the league’s other partners were up.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News does not feel a lot of people are logging on to watch Sunday Night Football Extra on NFL.com and NBCSports.com, but I disagree.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News mentions that members of the Oakland Raiderettes squad will be in town for an appearance.

Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record has the NFL games that will be seen in the local area on Sunday. And Ken lists the college games available in the Hudson Valley on TV today.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette who’s not just a media writer for the paper, remembers the late Cornell, RPI and Union hockey coach Ned Harkness who passed away Friday. A side note, Ned almost came to my alma mater, the University of Rhode Island to start a hockey program in the 1970′s, but was later turned down by the school. It would have been nice to have a major hockey program at URI in a state that is known as a hotbed for high school hockey.

Ken is a fan of the NHL Live radio program that is simulcast on XM Satellite Radio (and soon to join Sirius!) and the NHL Network.

Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News says Matthew Barnaby looks forward to joining ESPN to be its NHL analyst.

Joe Favorito likes the way the Women’s Tennis Association is bringing fans closer to its players through virtual video games.

Speaking of the WTA, the Women’s Tennis Blog says the Sony Ericsson Tour will offer live streaming video of 21 tournaments on its website starting next season. This is a good thing.

The next link from the Women’s Tennis Blog has nothing to do with sports media, but because I like Jelena Jankovic, I’m linking to it. Apparently, Jelena fell in love at the Summer Olympics in Communist China.

Larry Barrett of Multichannel News says FSN will launch a year long awareness campaign on diversity.

Apparently former CBS Sports host Pat O’Brien has left the celebrity gossip show, The Insider. This time for good.

That’s going to do it. I hope to have a recap for the second episode of The Amazing Race Asia sometime this weekend.

Thursday Stuffage

This is how to run a phone company. As promised, Verizon restored my internet access and I’m back online.

I still don’t have my line 2 back on my phone, but at least I talked to the assistant to Broadview Networks’ vice president who contacted me last night. I do hope I can get it back sometime today. I will continue to update you on this. I’m still not happy with Broadview and I will continue to recommend that you not use this company. It will take a long time for this company to regain my trust.

And on this anniversary of 9/11, let us not forget what happened. So many people died on that Tuesday morning and let us make sure that we remember the day and not allow the memory to fade. And while the memorial taking place at the Twin Towers site goes on, we also remember what happened at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. I certainly hope you find a way to remember the 9/11 today and actually, every day.

Let’s go on to your links.

First, David Whitley of the Orlando Sentinel correctly asks why do we not see the national anthem on TV? The networks request that the anthem be played before games go on the air so they can add more ad time and do their opens. Let’s put the anthem back on TV where it belongs.

At 2 p.m. ET, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will participate in a live chat on NFL.com. If I’m not too busy this afternoon, I’ll try to monitor it and try to provide some notes on it here.

Neil Best of Newsday looks at the possibility of Allianz buying naming rights for the new Giants-Jets stadium.

The Sports Media Watch has a look at the ratings for the U.S. Open women’s final. The SMW provides the ratings for various local markets for the NFL.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says FSN Wisconsin has set its schedule for the Bucks.

Tucker Echols of the Washington Business Journal reports that the Capitals are increasing their HDTV broadcasts to 50 this season.

The Washington Business Journal picks up a story from John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal talking about the poor ratings for the Nationals on MASN.

Jeffrey Flanagan from the Kansas City Star writes that the Chiefs are confident that their home opener this Sunday will not be blacked out.

Jon Solomon of the Birmingham (AL) Times notices that CBS prefers winning SEC teams to be on its air.

Pat Dooley of the Gainesville (FL) Sun talks with CBS SEC studio host Tim Brando.

Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union has ESPN’s Erin Andrews defending herself from accusations that she’s pro-Florida as she’s an alum.

Adam Rose of the Los Angeles Times talks with ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit.

The Log Cabin (AR) Democrat says Fox College Sports has signed an agreement to carry Southland Conference football games.

Zach Baker of the Tiffin (OH) Advertiser-Tribune profiles ESPN’s John Buccigross who is from the local area.

Mark McCarter of the Huntsville (AL) Times says NASCAR drivers are angry at ESPN for airing a testy exchange between Tony Stewart and his pit crew.

Mike Mulhern of the Winston-Salem (NC) Journal Reporter says TV ratings for NASCAR have fallen during the summer months.

The Daly Planet NASCAR blog calls for ESPN to take Dr. Jerry Punch off play-by-play and replace him with someone else.

From one of my Canadian readers, Noah Manly, he tells me that the Big Ten Network has gained approval to be distributed by one of the largest cable providers in Canada. Noah tells me, “Clearly this deal is incredibly insignificant in the big picture, but interesting as it could signal further international distribution down the line (and obviously great for underserved Canadian college sports fans).” Thanks to Noah for passing that along.

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the CFL is considering revamping its replay system.

Ben Fenton of the Financial Times talks about ESPN throwing its hat into the ring for the rights to the English Premier League.

That’s all for now. I’m glad to be back online.

Your Wednesday Night Linkage

Time to give you linkage now.

One of these days, I’ll have internet access at work again so I can give you these during the day, but in the meantime, I have to do links at night and provide you with news when I can. This is so silly, but Broadview Networks which is the worst phone company in the World continues to be incompetent. Today, I received a phone call instructing me to call in an “inside wiring request” so I can add my secondary line back on my phone. When I did, the person on the other end was confused and did not put in the request properly. Then I got another phone call telling me I had to rewire the office myself. I’m not a phone installer. After going back and forth, the person said he would tell the repair to put in the proper request. Now I don’t know if this is going to happen. I’m going on a week without internet access at work and this is just out of hand. Besides providing you with links, I also use the internet for business and clients cannot reach me until I get home. I want to thank Broadview for losing me thousands of dollars of business and being totally uncooperative. I will continue to pound the company here until my service is properly restored and then I will switch to another provider.

Enough of my rant. Now let’s do the links.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand says live streaming of sports is now into the stratosphere.

The Los Angeles Daily News’ Tom Hoffarth previews Showtime’s Inside the NFL season premiere. Tom says former Denver Broncos QB John Elway is now a blogger.

The Baltimore Sun’s Ray Frager did not like CBS’ pimping of its new CBS Scene restaurant during the NFL Today.

Newsday’s Neil Best says NFL Commish Roger Goodell will take part in a live chat on NFL.com Thursday. I wish I had internet access so I could live blog the event for you. Neil has Roger’s comments on Inside the NFL tonight. Neil has 1050 ESPN Radio host Michael Kay not expecting to pick up any ratings points on WFAN’s Mike Francesa. And Neil links to portions of Chris Russo’s talk with Howard Stern on Sirius Satellite Radio today. Bababooey to you all!

CNBC’s Darren Rovell notes that the Red Sox had the “richest” first pitch in history at Fenway Park on Tuesday.

I’ll stop there for now as I have to head out to run an errand, plus I wanted to get these up before Inside the NFL premiered on Showtime. I’ll give you a review of the show later tonight.

I will also give you more links later.

First Reaction to Sunday Night Football Extra Online

Right now, I’m liking what I’m seeing. I went to nbcsports.com and had no problems logging into the game. Of course, I went in early so I wouldn’t get locked out of the room.

You have five screens to choose from, the main broadcast channel which is what you normally see on TV. Then you have the cable cam screen overhead which I have always liked. Then a “star cam” which freelances and chooses anything to shoot. There’s the endzone cam and the sideline cam. Each camera has various shots, but they do stay with the action when there’s play on the field.

I do like this and what we’re seeing could definitely be a mainstay for SNF as long as NBC Sports has the contract.

If you want to go there without having to go to NBC Sports or the NFL’s websites, click here.

BREAKING NEWS: NBC Sports and NFL to Stream Sunday Night Football Online

Earlier this week, I wrote in my post titled “The Year of Watching Sports Online“, that the four major sports leagues have yet to put their products online for free. Well, that’s going to change in a hurry.

On Monday, NBC Sports and the National Football League will announce that the entire Sunday Night Football schedule including the opening season game on Thursday, September 4 between the defending Super Bowl champions New York Giants and Washington Redskins will be seen online at NBCSports.com and NFL.com.

Last year, the NFL allowed DirecTV to stream its Sunday Ticket package, but it was for a fee tacked on to the subscription price. And subscribers to Verizon Fios TV were able to watch NFL Network games online. In both cases, the games were restricted to subscribers of DirecTV and Verizon Fios only. But with this latest development, NFL fans throughout the US will not have to pay to see Sunday Night Football on the web and the games will be made available to anyone with a high speed internet connection.

Breaking the story for Monday’s edition, Terry Lefton and John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal write that this marks the first time that the NFL will stream its games in real time in the U.S. Lefton and Ourand add that the other NFL TV partners, CBS and Fox were not happy in learning the news as they wanted to stream their games this season as well. ESPN and NFL Network will not put their games online so as not to anger cable operators and dilute their products.

Sam Schechner and Matthew Futterman of the Wall Street Journal write that this will be an experiment in hopes of adding new viewers and adding interactive features.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reports that fans can choose from extra camera angles and multiple streams plus get highlights while the game is in progress.

Meg James of the Los Angeles Times writes that the NFL has finally joined the digital age.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes in his blog that NBC will most likely sell new online ads for the games and share the revenue with the league.

And blogger Joel Price, who got word of this weeks ago as an employee of the San Diego Chargers, says this latest move by the NFL will pay off big in the next few years.

With its streaming of the U.S. Open in June, Wimbledon and the U.S. Olympic Trials this month, the Summer Olympics next month and Sunday Night Football starting in September, NBC Sports can solidly say it’s the leader in streaming sports online. While ESPN360 has webcast many of the events seen on the ESPN family of networks, not everyone can access the service. NBC Sports can say anyone with an internet connection can log online and watch its events for free.

We’ll continue to monitor the fallout as this story continues to unfold. But this is major news that the NFL is going to allow streaming of one package of games.

Los Friday Megalinks

I’ve been in meeting today so I’m starting the megalinks late. Let’s get to them without further delay.

From USA Today, Michael Hiestand says the NFL has to cut its price per subscriber for the NFL Network for the cable providers to start putting the channel on basic. Here’s the listing for sports on TV this weekend.

Again, we’ll go East to West for the links.

Starting with the Boston Globe, Nancy Marrapese-Burrell writes about the Kraft family airing six of the seven Massachusetts high school Super Bowls being played at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro this weekend.

David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch suggests some talent hires for Comcast SportsNet New England.

Neil Best of Newsday talks with CBS’ Phil Simms and Fox’s Troy Aikman about New York Giants QB Eli Manning. In his blog, Best expands on Aikman’s comments about the NFL Network situation. Neil had a chance to catch the NFL Network broadcast of the Green Bay-Dallas game last night and says play-by-play Bryant Gumbel improved, but not by much.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post attacks the NFL for putting the Packers-Cowboys game on the NFL Network.

Laura Nachman talks about Tom McCarthy returning to the Philadelphia Phillies broadcast booth.

Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun has more than a few news and notes today.

Doug Nye from The State newspaper says the Best Bet for the weekend is South Carolina at Clemson college basketball on Saturday. And Nye goes over a new book written by the former Voice of the Gamecocks, Bob Fulton.

Dave Darling of the Orlando Sentinel laments the absence of the Big Three Florida schools from the conference championship football games this weekend.

David Barron in today’s Houston Chronicle writes that the NFL Network debate will rage again with next month’s Patriots-Giants game.

Eric Benderoff of the Chicago Tribune was frustrated with NFL.com’s presentation of the Green Bay-Dallas game last night.

Over to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where Bob Wolfley was critical of Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth on the NFL Network.

Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes that FSN North is changing its approach for its halftime shows during Timberwolves games.

Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin writes that more Minnesota Wild games will be made available on over the air TV.

Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) Morning News says the Utah coach’s show on KTVX-TV is an embarrassment in journalism.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune talks with David Norrie of ESPN/ABC about tomorrow’s USC-UCLA game. In his notebook, Posner says expect more of the same from the NFL Network, not being able to watch the games and more fighting between the league and cable. And here are last week’s ratings for sports in San Diego.

From the North County Times, John Maffei says this year’s USC-UCLA game doesn’t carry the importance it once did.

Christine Daniels in her Sound and Vision column in the Los Angeles Times also writes about the USC-UCLA game.

Tom Hoffarth from the Los Angeles Daily News talks with ESPN’s Steven A. Smith. And Hoffarth has more media notes in his Farther Off the Wall blog.

Up to Canada where William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment has become a circus.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says the ratings for Hockey Night in Canada are down thanks to the falling fortunes of the Maple Leafs.

That’s it for now. You can expect Primetime Viewing Picks, our last College Football Viewing Picks of the season, NFL Viewing Picks, College Basketball Viewing Picks, NFL Picks, Weekend Viewing Picks, the Amazing Race Asia Episode 2 Recap, Friday Night Update, Saturday morning links and anything else I can think of in the next 24-36 hours. Keep it here.

It’s a Tuesday Night Linkfest

Let’s check out the linkage for tonight.

Starting out with Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner in his Watch This! blog, he reviews the local coverage on radio, cable and local over the air TV of the Sean Taylor story.

A couple of things from Newsday’s Neil Best in his blog. First, he tells us that Mets radio announcer Tom McCarthy is leaving after two years to return to the Phillies radio booth. And he goes over the very poor commentary from Mike Francesca and Chris Russo on WFAN today on Sean Taylor.

Over on his Farther Off the Wall blog, Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News goes over the alternatives for NFL fans without the NFL Network to catch the Green Bay-Dallas game this Thursday. Meanwhile, fans in Green Bay will be able to watch the game on the CBS affiliate in town.

And here’s an NFL Media press release on the web feature on NFL.com allowing fans to see live cut-ins of the Green Bay-Dallas game this Thursday.

“NFL.COM LIVE: THURSDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”

FEATURES “LIVE LOOK-INS” OF NFL NETWORK GAMES

First-Ever Widely Available Live Online and Wireless

Video NFL Game Coverage in U.S. on NFL.com and Sprint

NFL Network’s Packers-Cowboys Game Thursday at 8:00 PM ET

For the first time ever, NFL.com and NFL Mobile on Sprint offer all fans live online and wireless video coverage of NFL Network games, it was announced today.

This Thursday night’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys on NFL Network at 8:00 pm ET will be featured on NFL.com Live: Thursday and Saturday Night Football presented by Sprint, offering NFL fans a unique way to experience NFL games.

For fans who don’t have NFL Network, the live broadband broadcast covers the game from all angles. NFL.com Live: Thursday Night Football will be anchored by a live, originally produced video program, complimented by various interactive applications, giving fans a look at NFL Network games (NFL Network game schedule below) and programming.

NFL.com Live is also available to fans on the go via NFL Mobile on Sprint, which will stream NFL.com’s video coverage.

The video program consists of live look-ins, a live studio show, and featured NFL Network programming:

· “Live Look-Ins” – Fans will get a live look at NFL Network game action at :15 and :45 past each hour and during select action in the “red zone” (inside 20-yard line). The NFL Network halftime show will also be shown on NFL.com.

· Live In-Studio Programming – Includes game highlights, analysis and previews of the NFL games ahead that week, in-studio guests, conversations with NFL Network talent on-site at the game, and answers to questions submitted by fans on NFL.com.

· Featured NFL Network Programming – Segments of NFL Network programs reviewing the previous weekend’s games and previewing upcoming action.

NFL Network’s DERRIN HORTON, JAMIE DUKES and ROD WOODSON quarterback the live NFL.com video coverage of NFL Network games from the network’s Culver City, CA studios.

Additional interactive features will enhance NFL.com’s live video program:

· Submit a Question – Select fan questions submitted on NFL.com will be answered by NFL Network analysts.

· Live Statistics – Real-time statistical updates accompany the video program.

· “Call the Play” – Fans can match their play calls with the teams, by “predicting” the upcoming play.

· Live Blogging – NFL.com and NFL Network experts – including those on-site at the game – provide live analysis and commentary.

· “Get NFL Network” – Allows users who want to get NFL Network to find information on how to get it.

“Our coverage complements the complete game telecast on NFL Network and will showcase everything NFL Network has to offer,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Digital Media BRIAN ROLAPP. “

As for all other NFL games, NFL.com will include live statistics and drive charts in Game Center, highlights, and extensive editorial coverage of NFL Network games.

NFL.com, the most popular sports league website, is produced by the NFL.

Andrew Krukowski of TV Week has a feature on the new NFL Network ads featuring former 49er great, Joe Montana.

Friend of Fang’s Bites, David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch talks with the outgoing Red Sox Director of Public Relations, Dr. Charles Steinberg, who’s leaving for a similar post with the Los Angeles Dodgers. One side note in his story, Scott speculates on the fate of Red Sox announcing butcher and Fang’s Bites target, Glenn Geffner. And another Friend of Fang’s Bites, LC over at 38Cliches wonders what the Steinberg move will mean for Goofner. Personally, I don’t think Goofie would go to LA right away as the Dodger radio booth is full for now (Vin Scully, Charley Steiner and Rick Monday), but as former St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Joaquin Andujar once said, “youneverknow”.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at the Alex Rodriguez contract with the Yankees and wonders if the team could ever collect its money back as A-Rod gets closer to Barry Bonds’ home run record.

Gina Keating of Reuters reports from the Reuters Media Summit that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NASCAR Chairman Brian France feel ESPN has much to improve upon.

The Baltimore Sun’s Ray Frager in his Medium Well blog looks at a poll conducted by the Sports Business Journal of its readership on its favorite sportscasters and sports shows. The results may surprise you.

And that’s it for tonight. See you tomorrow.