Archive for November, 2012
Nov
25
Fox NFL Sunday Quotage For Week 12 of the 2012 Season
Let’s move to the NFL on Fox and its quotage from today. No videos this time.
FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 11/25/12
Johnson: RG3 Would Be My First Pick
Johnson, Long, Bradshaw, Strahan Debate Quarterback Controversy in San Francisco
Strahan: “If You’re Looking For a Head Coach, Mike Nolan Should Be at The Top of Your List”—————————————————————————————————
Analyst Jimmy Johnson would take RG3 if he was starting a football team: “He’s not going to be the MVP, I understand that. However, if I was going to start a team today as a rookie, Robert Griffin III would be the first pick on my football team. He’s got it all.”
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FOX NFL SUNDAY insider Jay Glazer reminded viewers what sparked last season’s Jim Schwartz/Jim Harbaugh confrontation and corrected reports that the NFL’s competition committee has the authority to change the challenge rule that perhaps cost Lions head coach Jim Schwartz and his team a win on Thanksgiving. Schwartz threw a challenge flag when Houston’s Justin Forsett scored on an 81-yard touchdown after two Lions tackled him. Replays showed Forsett’s knee and elbow hit the ground near midfield and the automatic review that accompanies every scoring play likely would’ve called the touchdown back. NFL rules state that throwing a challenge flag on a scoring play negates the review and is an unsportsmanlike penalty: “If there is one guy who should never forget the rule, it’s Jim Schwartz. People don’t realize that this exact same incident happened last year and that’s what caused the little fight between Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh with the whole handshake.”
Glazer on if the rule can be changed: “It’s been falsely reported that the competition committee can change this rule. They cannot change this rule. The owners can change it and Commissioner Goodell can change it but I don’t see it happening during this season. As one league executive told me, ‘you know what is better than changing the rules – knowing the rules!’”
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Analysts Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, Terry Bradshaw and Michael Strahan debated whether 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh is making the correct decision if he decides to bench quarterback Alex Smith (returning from injury) in favor of backup Colin Kaepernick:
Johnson: “Without question Kaepernick is the guy to be the starter. You can be safe and good or take a chance and maybe be great. Kaepernick won’t be as consistent but he gives you a chance to throw the ball down the field. If he’s going to be ready for the playoffs, you’ve got to play him now.”
Bradshaw: “I’m steamed if I’m Alex Smith. I’ve done nothing to hurt our football team. He has no reason to bench him, absolutely none.”
Strahan: “Personally, I went through this before with Kurt Warner and Eli Manning. It disrupts the team. When you’re a player and you see that they take a veteran that’s playing well, and put him on the bench for a younger kid it upsets the team and takes you a while to get over that as a player.”
Long: “It’s a quarterback friendly offense [in San Francisco] and they don’t ask a lot of the quarterback. For them to take the next step, the quarterback has to be able to make the bigger plays.”Later in the show, FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer reported on Alex Smith’s future in San Francisco: “About two weeks after this league year ends, Alex Smith is owed about 8.5 million dollars in bonus money. I can’t see them paying that for a backup. This could be the end of Alex Smith in San Francisco, if he doesn’t regain his starting job.”
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Analyst Michael Strahan believes Mike Nolan is a top candidate to eventually become a head coach: “As a defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan has done a great job to make sure the Atlanta Falcons are prepared with their schemes because they don’t necessarily have the horses that other teams have. If you’re looking for a head coach, Mike Nolan should be at the top of your list.”
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Analyst Long talked about Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano: “Greg Schiano is tough, he’s unrelenting and he doesn’t do things because that’s the way they’ve been done for years and years. It reminds me of a guy sitting up here at the desk [Jimmy Johnson].”
And we’ll complete our the Sunday afternoon posts with NBC’s preview of tonight’s Football Night in America interviews.
Nov
25
CBS’ Thanksgiving Day Game is The Highest Rated Contest on Turkey Day
CBS tells us that its broadcast of the Houston-Detroit game on Thanksgiving Day, the first of three games on network television on the holiday garnered the highest ratings on the holiday.
CBS says the game which went deep into overtime with Houston winning 34-31, received a 15.2 rating with a 36 share becoming the second highest rated Thanksgiving Day game on the Tiffany Network since it regained rights to the NFL in 1998.
Let’s take a look at the brief blurb from CBS Sports.
BOUNTIFUL RATINGS FOR “NFL ON CBS” WITH HIGHEST-RATED GAME OF THANKSGIVING DAY
THE NFL ON CBS scored the highest-rated game of Thanksgiving Day with its coverage of the Houston Texans 34-31 overtime win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday, Nov. 22. The game earned an average overnight household rating/share of 15.2/36, the second highest-rated Thanksgiving Day game for the Network in the metered markets since CBS re-acquired NFL broadcast rights in 1998 (15.3/38; Miami-Dallas; 11/24/11).
There you have it.
Nov
25
The NFL Today on CBS Quotage For Week 12 of the 2012 Season
CBS provides us with the notes and quotes from The NFL Today. Lots of stuff to digest.
NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 12 ON NOVEMBER 25
ON POSSIBLE FINE AND SUSPENSION OF NDAMUKONG SUH REGARDING PLAY ON MATT SCHAUB ON THANKSGIVING DAY
JASON LA CANFORA: This official review will begin in the League office on Monday. But there are people within the League office that have already looked at this repeatedly. They don’t think it looks normal to them. They think that looks like an illegal play. If that is the consensus, then the conversation begins to add a suspension. That’s been the track record for Suh. The real question may not be is he going to be suspended or not, but for how long?
Click to view report: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/video/nfl-on-cbs/E3D13li_oDkz
REACTION TO SUH
(On whether Ndamukong Suh should be suspended for Thanksgiving Day)
SHANNON SHARPE: I will go to my grave believing this guy did this intentional. Because you can see the extra extension that he gave. Now if he had just rolled over and let the motion take him and the side or back of his foot accidentally kicked the guy in the groin, no problem with it. But his history, I cannot give him the benefit of the doubt.BILL COWHER: I know you guys are all offensive players. The one thing I like about this guy, as a defensive player, he plays with a chip. And in my opinion, I know he has to clean it up. He’s constantly trying to say just get off me. He wants to get back to the next play. I know he’s got to clean it up…I would fine him, but I would not suspend him.
MORE INSIDE INFORMATION WITH JASSON LA CANFORA
(On NFL possibly changing replay rule for postseason after Houston-Detroit Thanksgiving Day game)
LA CANFORA: As we reported on the postgame show Thursday, there was already talk within the competition committee that we need to get this right for 2013. But since then I’ve learned there has been internal communication that maybe we can address this sooner, there is a league meeting coming up December 12 in Dallas. At that point they could recommend to owners, let’s nip this in the bud and change that part of the rule. If they did that, they wouldn’t change the rule for the regular season, because there would be a competitive imbalance there. It’s already affected games. It could come into play for the playoffs and moving forward.Click to view report: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/video/nfl-on-cbs/__oUIST3gMg4
(On New York Jets turmoil and attractiveness of GM and head coaching jobs)
LA CANFORA: I’ve talked to some execs that have studied that situation and they said, frankly, it could be something of a tough sell. As Coach Cowher pointed out, there has been a lack of discipline there. Talk to players that have been in that lockerroom in recent years, and they say the coaching staff is not willing or able to drop the hammer when they have to. And there is also a sense of entitlement in that locker room because there are so many bloated contracts handed out with huge guaranteed money that keep guys on that roster.Click to view: http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/nfl-on-cbs/PSMjhOqhgdt0
(On NFL tracking player data such as distance traveled, speed and acceleration and how they plan to use the data)
Click to view: http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/nfl-on-cbs/PkJncKcbGm05QUICK HITS
(On possibility of these being final days for Andy Reid in Philadelphia)
BOOMER ESIASON: Sorry to say, yes. I think all good things must come to an end. He’s been a great coach there. He’s been a great winner there as a head coach. But things get tired. When things get tired, change is needed. I certainly think it’s coming there in Philadelphia.THE NFL TODAY TALKS DEFENSE WITH DENVER BRONCOS
THE NFL TODAY sat down with Denver’s defensive corps of Von Miller, All-Pros CB Champ Bailey and DE Elvis Dumervil, plus LB Wesley Woodyard as they look to extend their five-game winning streak and inch closer to an AFC West title. Deb Gelman is the producer.
Click to view: http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/nfl-on-cbs/O8HQm_Itvume
A quick NFL on CBS ratings blurb next.
Nov
25
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Quotage For Week 12 of the 2012 Season
Now we move to ESPN which provides the notes and quotes for its three-hour pregame show otherwise known as Sunday NFL Countdown. It marked the return of Mike Ditka to the set, a week after he suffered a stroke.
The quotage can be seen below.
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Notes and Quotes: Week 12
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed today’s week 12 NFL games with Suzy Kolbe, analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski and NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Some excerpts from today’s show:
On returning to the Countdown set after missing last week following his mild stroke…
Ditka: “I’m glad to see myself back, believe me.”On Jim Harbaugh picking Colin Kaepernick over Alex Smith as the 49ers’ starting quarterback…
Jackson: “What you saw from Kaepernick on Monday Night was special. … I give Coach Harbaugh credit for having the guts to go out and do it.”
Johnson: “The problem is: you have one shot at it… You can’t continue to go back and forth with quarterbacks because the psyche of Alex Smith will get damaged.”
Ditka: “Harbaugh is doing what he thinks he has to do for the best of this team. He thinks Kaepernick has a higher ceiling, and that’s why he’s doing it, but he’ll use both of these guys before it’s over.”
Carter: “When you break down their roster, he’s (Smith) the weakest spot on their roster. … One thing you don’t have to worry about is Harbaugh losing the team because (Kaepernick) he’s a future star in the league. The wide receiver room, I think they’re pretty happy.”
Berman: “I’m not worried about this knocking him (Smith) off his pedestal. If it doesn’t work, they go back to Alex if they want next game. I think it’s okay.”On Jay Cutler returning to the Bears’ lineup after missing a game due to a concussion …Ditka: “You can’t count on the quarterback to play well if he’s playing on his back. This offensive line is horrible. … The ball has to come out quick today because if he takes another couple hits, he’s going to get another concussion.”
Johnson: “The one thing Jay Cutler has to do for himself – he has to protect himself. He has to learn to slide.”
Berman: “A proud defense that got shredded like that last week, I’d be shocked if Chicago’s defense didn’t play a superior game this week.”On the New England Patriots…
Jackson: “They have been singularly dependent on Tom Brady to win football games. … They are one of the best running teams in the game right now. If they take that with them into the playoffs, they will be very difficult to beat when they get to that final game, the Super Bowl.”On the Houston Texans…
Carter: “In four and a half days, they played almost 10 quarters of football. I believe this will pay off. The physicality of that football team will pay dividends in the postseason.”On the Dallas Cowboys…
Johnson: “They are not a very good football team – not good at all.”On the ruling that cost the Detroit Lions a win in Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game…Ditka: “It’s a horrible rule. It’s a rule that was made by people who never played the game or coached the game. It makes no sense at all. The idea of replay – just get it right! … They didn’t get it right. That’s an embarrassment to the league.”
On the Lions, Cowboys and Jets all losing Thanksgiving home games…
Berman: “That’s almost a quarter million fans who went to these games. They all went home upset. … All three home teams lost – what a waste.”On whether back-up Charlie Batch can hold the fort for the Pittsburgh Steelers until Ben Roethlisberger returns…
Johnson: “I was wondering why Charlie Batch wasn’t starting in the first place. You ask yourself the question: who would you rather have in the game: Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch? I’d rather have a proven Charlie Batch in the lineup.”
Carter: “Charlie Batch, to me he’s been a bad quarterback for a long time. … To think Charlie Batch is going to go out there and be a difference-maker, I believe we’re lying to the general public.”
Ditka: “If the game comes down to Charlie Batch winning or losing it, it’s all wrong then. They’ve got to win this game with their running game and their defense.”On the New York Giants, who face the Packers tonight…
Jackson: “They’re the best team in this division and these are the kinds of games this time of year when they start to prove that. I think that starts for them tonight.”On the Seattle Seahawks…
Jackson: “Seattle may be a playoff team. They have three division games left. They play all of them in Seattle where they are almost unbeatable. They need to find a couple of wins on the road. I think Miami and Buffalo may qualify.”On the Miami Dolphins offense…
Jaworski: “Until they can run the ball effectively, they’re going to be in trouble.”
The NFL Today on CBS is next.
Nov
25
NFL Network Quotage For Week 12 of the 2012 Season
Let’s post the first set of Sunday NFL pregame quotage from Week 12. As usual, it comes from NFL Network and its two early pregame shows, First on the Field and NFL GameDay Morning.
Take a look at what we have below.
News and Sound Bites From Week 12 Editions of FIRST ON THE FIELD & NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
“This is a mistake in not starting [Alex Smith]. He needs to be the guy.” – Kurt Warner on the San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks
“Jay Cutler hides those problems, but no one can cure those problems.” – Michael Lombardi on the Chicago Bears’ offensive line
“This is the team to beat.” – Steve Mariucci on the New England Patriots
Quotes from First on the Field
Every Sunday morning at 7:00 AM ET, NFL Network is First on the Field with Melissa Stark, LaDainian Tomlinson, Sterling Sharpe and Michael Lombardi providing the first analysis of the day’s games.
- “The Chargers are in a downspin. I’m concerned that Norv Turner is losing this team.” – LaDainian Tomlinson on the San Diego Chargers
- “He has thrown eight interceptions in two games, but the Falcons won both games. Matt Ryan is going to take some chances. I like his mental approach and his toughness. It’s like a pro golfer: you’re going to make some bogeys but you have to find a way to make some birdies.” – Michael Lombardi on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s recent play
- “Jay Cutler hides those problems, but no one can cure those problems.” – Michael Lombardi on the Chicago Bears’ offensive line
- “It’s all about Tampa Bay’s toughness. It takes mental toughness to come back the way they did against Carolina. This team has bought in all season long and they’re continuing to buy in.” – Michael Lombardi on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- “The team in Jacksonville isn’t very talented and so Gene Smith could be on the hot seat. Blaine Gabbert’s lack of development could ultimately be what causes Gene Smith his job.” – Michael Lombardi on Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Gene Smith
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning
NFL GameDay Morning is the most comprehensive pregame show on Sunday morning, airing at 9:00 AM ET on NFL Network and taking viewers straight up to kickoff. Host Rich Eisen joins analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin to bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews.
- “Week 12 of a season is not the time that you start playing with potential; potential is for training camp, preseason, for figuring out during that period of time, ‘Does he allow us the opportunity to win?’ Alex Smith, what he’s done over the last two years for this football team, this is a mistake in not starting him. He needs to be the guy and it’s going to be tough if [Colin] Kaepernick doesn’t play well today and now you’re coming back saying, ‘Alex, we’re going to put you back in there.’” – Kurt Warner on San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith
- “This is the team to beat. They proved it again on Thanksgiving.” – Steve Mariucci on the 8-3 New England Patriots
- “He has to play a perfect game because he’s not only helping his offense, he’s helping his defense as well. He has to put the pressure on Colin Kaepernick.” – Marshall Faulk on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees facing the San Francisco 49ers
- “The affect he has on the game is on every down…He’s just the overall pass rusher: speed, power, anything you want. He has it all.” – Warren Sapp on San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith
- “I used to think that the Pittsburgh Steelers had the best group of linebackers in the league. I’m changing my mind…This linebacker group is big-time in San Francisco.” – Steve Mariucci on the San Francisco 49ers’ linebackers
- “What the Giants’ problem is right now is they’re not using their screen game effectively…Their screen game will help their down the field passing and also their running game.” – Marshall Faulk on how the New York Giants can improve their running game
- “He has now taken the next step in learning how to run the ball between the tackles…That discipline now has gotten him the starting job.” – Marshall Faulk on Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller
- “He’s powerful, he’s strong and he can catch the football, but it’s his durability that makes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense dangerous.” – Marshall Faulk on Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Doug Martin
- “You tell Plax go to the corner and play some basketball during the football game. We’re tossing it up, you catch the ball. That’s what he can do.” – Michael Irvin on the impact wide receiver Plaxico Burress can have for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Front Office View with Michael Lombardi
On why the Chicago Bears can’t fix their offensive line struggles:
“The Bears put two first-round picks [into the offensive line]. Chris Williams from Vanderbilt a few years back – he’s no longer on the roster. They misevaluated him. And then [Gabe] Carimi from the University of Wisconsin, he was supposed to be the left tackle and they’ve kept him at right tackle. Now he’s been benched for Jonathan Scott. So it’s an evaluation. They signed Chris Spencer as a free agent – they’ve put resources into the line, they just have not evaluated the offensive line correctly. Always evaluate the evaluator and that’s going to be the key to lead whether they are having success [or not]. This has been a problem. When you have a quarterback as good as Jay Cutler, you better make darn sure you evaluate those offensive linemen because if he is not able to play, the Bears are in a lot of trouble. We’ve seen what’s happened with the backup quarterback.”On San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick:
“He has improved 1,000 percent. When you watched him at Nevada-Reno, he could run, he was athletic, he had a gun, but he was inaccurate and he was all over the place. Up until that game against Chicago, he displayed some of those limitations in preseason and the regular season; more run than pass. But against Chicago, Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman, the offensive coordinator, they did a great job of constructing the offense that suits his talent, made him throw the ball up the field and he did it with accuracy – something he didn’t do all of the time in college. Colin Kaepernick deserves a ton of credit for improving in that area and really ultimately overcoming any limitations he had. Now the sky is the limit.”On NFL.com the following video clips from First on the Field & NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:
Buccaneers’ Doug Martin Taking NFL by Storm – LaDainian Tomlinson traveled to Tampa Bay to meet with Buccaneers rookie running back Doug Martin and discuss his transition to the NFL:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/0ap2000000100001/Buccaneers-Doug-Martin-taking-NFL-by-stormDenver Broncos’ High Speed Offense Wreaking Havoc – Sterling Sharpe breaks down how big and fast targets are helping Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning tear apart opposing defenses:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/0ap2000000100002/Broncos-high-speed-offense-reeking-havocDepth Chart Dilemma: Steelers’ Quarterbacks Putting Pittsburgh in a Bind – Michael Lombardi and Sterling Sharpe discuss how the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation is putting the team’s playoff chances at risk:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000100007/Depth-Chart-Dilemma-Steelers-quarterbacks-putting-Pittsburgh-in-a-bindWho’s on the Hot Seat? – Michael Lombardi and Sterling Sharpe examine which coaches and general managers may be on the hot seat if things continue to go downhill:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000100005/Who-s-on-the-hot-seatNFL GameDay Morning Goes Birdwatching – The cast of NFL GameDay Morning checks in on the birds of the NFL:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000100006/The-NFL-GameDay-Morning-crew-goes-birdwatchingWeek 12 Bold Predictions – The NFL GameDay Morning crew gets bold with their Week 12 predictions:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000100013/Week-12-Bold-PredictionsWho Makes the Playoffs in the NFC? – NFL GameDay Morning examines the NFC playoff picture. Which two teams will fight their way to a wild card berth?
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000100004/Who-makes-the-playoffs-in-the-NFCWho Makes the Playoffs in the AFC? – Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin debate which two teams will fill out the AFC playoff picture:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000100003/Who-will-make-the-playoffs-in-the-AFCMore Valuable: Ben Roethlisberger or Jay Cutler – With both Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler banged up, NFL GameDay Morning debates which player is more valuable to their team:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000100010/More-valuable-Ben-Roethlisberger-or-Jay-CutlerColin Kaepernick’s Potential vs. Alex Smith’s Production – Which quarterback is a better fit for the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick or Alex Smith? NFL GameDay Morning debates:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/san-francisco-49ers/0ap2000000100018/Kaepernick-s-potential-vs-Smith-s-productionCoach’s GameDay Decisions – How will the Denver Broncos replace running back Willis McGahee? Will the New York Giants shut down the Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers? Steve Mariucci discusses:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000100009/Coach-s-GameDay-DecisionsBiggest Weakness for Playoff Contenders – The NFL GameDay Morning crew identifies the Achilles heel of teams capable of making the playoffs:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000100012/Biggest-weakness-for-playoff-contendersThe Marshall Plan – Marshall Faulk weighs in on how the New York Giants can improve their running game and more:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000100014/The-Marshall-PlanImportance of the Left Tackle – How important is the left tackle position to the offensive line? Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci break it down:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000100015/Importance-of-the-left-tackleSeattle Seahawks Road Woes – Why can’t the Seattle Seahawks win on the road? Rich Eisen and Steve Mariucci discuss:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/seattle-seahawks/0ap2000000100017/Seahawks-road-woesWhat is the Level of Concern in the Steelers Locker Room? – With an injury stricken team, how concerned is the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room? Our players have the answer:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/pittsburgh-steelers/0ap2000000100023/What-is-the-level-of-concern-in-the-Steelers-Locker-room
I’ll post more quotage as it becomes available.
Nov
25
Notre Dame-USC Gets A Huge Rating For ESPN on ABC
It’s the biggest overnight rating of the 2012 college football season by far, outdistancing the previous high for the season, Alabama-LSU on CBS.
Last night, the ESPN-produced Notre Dame-USC game on ABC received a stunning 10.3 overnight rating. This from ESPN PR maven Mike Humes.
Huge Saturday for ABC: Michigan-Ohio St does 6.3 overnight, Florida-Florida St a 5.6 & Notre Dame-USC a BIG 10.3
— Mike Humes (@MikeHumesESPN) November 25, 2012
ESPN’s Darren Rovell says last night’s regular season finale for both Notre Dame and USC outpaced two BCS games from last season.
ND-USC gets a 10.3 overnight rating. How big is that? Last year’s Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl averaged a 9.4 overnight rating.
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) November 25, 2012
The previous overnight high for this season was 7.0 for the Alabama-LSU game on CBS.
One has to think that having Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game in January will bring monster numbers for ESPN.
Nov
25
Report: Los Angeles Dodgers About to Hit Powerball With Fox
This coming from the always elusive Nikki Finke of Deadline.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers are about to sign a huge rights deal that keeps the team on Fox Sports Prime Ticket for the next two and a half decades.
According to Finke, the Dodgers will receive between $6-7 billion over a 25 year period that would begin after the 2013 season. The Dodgers would receive on average of $280 million per year over the life of the contract.
With Time Warner Cable potentially making a play for the rights, Fox and its owner News Corp. thought it was imperative to keep the Dodgers in the fold. Fox had signed the Dodgers when the team was owned by Frank McCourt, however, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig declared the deal null and void and forced McCourt to sell the team to a group that included former Sony Pictures President Peter Guber and former LA Laker Magic Johnson.
Finke reports that Fox had an exclusive 45 day negotiating period with the Dodgers that expired at the end of this month and used that deadline to its advantage.
Earlier this month, News Corp. purchased a 49% stake in the YES Network which has the rights to the New York Yankees. With this new deal, Fox Sports has rights to three MLB teams in the nation’s two largest markets, the Yankees, the Dodgers and the Anaheim Angels. In addition, Fox has a long term deal with the Texas Rangers.
We’ll await the official word, but Nikki Finke has solid sources and an announcement could be coming very soon.
Nov
24
Your NFL Viewing Guide For Week 12 of the 2012 Season
Well?
Well what? We’re back for another viewing guide. Do you want to ask a proper question?
Ok, who’s on bye this week?
No one. We’re done with the byes for the season. We have a full slate of games from now on.
Seriously? No more byes?
Seriously. We’re done with the byes for the rest of the regular season.
What about blackouts?
Oh, we have two. Despite Carson Palmer’s return to Cincinnati, Bengals fans won’t be able to watch their team play against Oakland. The game has been blacked out in the Cincinnati area.
In addition, the Atlanta Falcons game in Tampa Bay will be blacked out as well. This marks the 18th blackout out of 21 home games for the Buccaneers. And this despite the team winning its last four games and five out of its last six.
UPDATE, 10:35 a.m.: Totally forgot about a third blackout this week, in San Diego. The Ravens-San Diego game won’t be seen in San Diego and Los Angeles.
Which are your Games of the Week, my lord?
From CBS, I’ll choose the AFC North rivalry game between the most corrupt NFL organization in the world, the Pittsburgh Steelers (I keed) and my Cleveland Browns (Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots) and Baltimore-San Diego (Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts) where we await the final days of Norv Turner.
On Fox, there’s the aforementioned Atlanta-Tampa Bay game (Thom Brennaman/Brian Billick/Laura Okmin) and the national game, San Francisco at New Orleans (Joe Buck/Troy Aikman/Pam Oliver).
And the Sunday Night Football game between the last two Super Bowl champions, Green Bay at the New York Giants on NBC (Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth/Michele Tafoya).
Anything else I should know?
Well, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms get a rare Sunday off having worked the Thanksgiving Day game. However, Fox’s “A” team of Buck, Aikman and Oliver plus NBC’s Sunday Night Football team are working after calling games on Turkey Day.
Interesting quirk. Anything else?
No. Enjoy your football Sunday.
UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: We do have something else. Brian Billick’s back is acting up and he won’t be able to call today’s Atlanta-Tampa Bay game with Thom Brennaman and Laura Okmin. Charles Davis tweeted that he’ll be doing the analysis in Billick’s place. This just one day after Charles called the Stanford-UCLA game on Fox.
Nov
24
TNT Airs Knicks-Nets on Monday
After their original season-opening game was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy, the contest between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets at the new Barclays Center will be played Monday, November 26. TNT will air the game with Marv Albert and Steve Kerr with Craig Sager and his loud suits on the sidelines.
TNT begins its coverage with NBA Tip-Off at 7 p.m. ET with the game tipping off after 7:30.
Turner Sports has this press release for us.
TNT to Exclusively Televise Intra-City Showdown:
New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets on Monday, November 26, at 7 p.m. ETThe NBA on TNT will exclusively showcase the intra-city rivalry game between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. ET from Barclays Center. The game will mark the first meeting between New York and Brooklyn since the Nets moved to its new home this season. Marv Albert will call the action alongside analyst Steve Kerr and reporter Craig Sager. Monday’s telecast is the rescheduled opening week game which was postponed due to Hurricane Sandy.
Exclusive content, analysis from TNT announcers and replays of Inside the NBA are available on NBA.com (http://www.nba.com/insidethenba/). The broadband channel gives fans the inside scoop on players and storylines taking place around the league seven days a week. Additionally, check out the NBA on TNT pages on Twitter (http://twitter.com/NBAonTNT) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/nbaontnt) to see the latest NBA on TNT schedule, news and special features.
NBA on TNT Upcoming Schedule:
DAY/DATE TIME (ET) EVENT Monday, November 26 7 p.m. ET TNT NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal (analysts) New York Knicks @ Brooklyn Nets Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
That’s all from here.
Nov
24
The NFL on Fox Previews Week 12 of the 2012 Season
And let’s complete our previews for the NFL on Fox for this week. Fox Sports has the doubleheader as the network features San Francisco and New Orleans as the late game at 4:25 p.m.
Here’s what Fox is saying about Sunday.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Bradshaw Goes One-on-One With Brees Sunday at 12:00 PM ET
FOX SPORTS GOES FOR SECOND HELPING OF WEEK 12 ACTION – On Sunday, Nov. 25 FOX Sports continues its presentation of Week 12 action with doubleheader coverage of five intense matchups. It’s crowded at the top of the NFC North and two of those teams face-off when Adrian Peterson and the Vikings are in Chicago to take on the division-leading Bears. Meanwhile the 9-1 Falcons meet the 6-4 Bucs in an NFC South tilt. Closing out the first half of FOX’s doubleheader, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks bring their stringy defense to South Florida as they look to shut down Reggie Bush, Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins. FOX Sports kicks-off the second half of doubleheader in the Big Easy as Frank Gore, Alex Smith and the 49ers visit Drew Brees and the Saints, who are winners of three-straight. The NFL on FOX closes out Week 12 in the desert as the Cardinals host Steven Jackson and the Rams.
Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s No. 1 pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. NFL Insider Jay Glazer breaks the latest league news and scoops from the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio while NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira discusses the previous week’s important impactful calls and points of emphasis in officiating. Comedic prognosticator Rob Riggle provides his weekly picks segment.
This week on FOX NFL SUNDAY: Terry sits down with Saints QB Drew Brees to discuss the tumultuous Saints season that has seen them right the ship and win three-straight. Also, the network airs BEING: Jared Allen. In this edition, FOX Sports takes an off-the-field look at the Vikings eccentric defensive end.
For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.
LONG: 9-1 FALCONS ARE HARD TO TRUST – Atlanta has the best record in the NFC but FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Howie Long isn’t convinced they are the team to beat. “To say that Atlanta is resilient is the understatement of the year,” said Long. “They haven’t necessarily been a dominant team on the field but they find a way to win. The defense bailed out the offense against the Cardinals in a five interception game for Matt Ryan but they found a way. With the schedule they have remaining, they’ll be in the hunt for not only the division, but home field advantage in the conference. At 9-1, how good are the Falcons? No one has won more games in the first five years of his career than Matt Ryan but he hasn’t been successful. I still don’t know how good they are.”
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears — Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston & on-field analyst Tony Siragusa, going to 64% of USA, 1:00PM
Soldier Field – Chicago, IL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tulsa, WashingtonAtlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Bucs — Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick & Laura Okmin, going to 17% of USA, 1:00PM
Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, FL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Providence, Raleigh, West Palm BeachSeattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins — Chris Myers, Tim Ryan & Jaime Maggio, going to 12% of USA, 1:00PM
Sun Life Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Orlando, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, SeattleSan Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints — Joe Buck, Troy Aikman & Pam Oliver, going to 93% of USA, 4:25PM
Louisiana Superdome – New Orleans, LA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm BeachSt. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals — Dick Stockton, John Lynch & Jennifer Hale, going to 5% of USA, 4:25PM
University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, AZ
MARKETS INCLUDE: Phoenix, St. Louis
And that is all.
Nov
24
The NFL Today on CBS Features The Denver Broncos Defense For Week 12 of the 2012 Season
As we continue the Sunday NFL pregame previews, we’ll continue with the NFL Today on CBS. On Sunday, the pregame show will have a feature the Denver Broncos defense which has been out of the spotlight due to quarterback Peyton Manning.
We have the preview below.
THE NFL ON CBS, broadcasting its 53rd year of the NFL, continues its 2012 NFL season on Sunday, Nov. 25 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET) live from THE NFL TODAY studio in the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
One of the hottest teams in the NFL has been the Denver Broncos. While quarterback Peyton Manning gets most of the attention, Denver’s defense should not be overlooked. Led by 2011 Rookie Defensive Player of the Year LB Von Miller and his AFC-best 13 sacks, the Broncos lead the NFL with 35 sacks and are third in the AFC in total defense.
THE NFL TODAY sits down with Miller, All-Pros CB Champ Bailey and DE Elvis Dumervil, plus LB Wesley Woodyard as they look to extend their five-game winning streak and inch closer to an AFC West title. Deb Gelman is the producer.
James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY, along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY Insider Jason La Canfora, as well as Lesley Visser reporting.
Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.
Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports, and serves as the Executive Producer for THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
The NFL on Fox preview plus announcing assignments with regional splits is next.
Nov
24
ESPN Previews Week 12 of the 2012 NFL Season
As we get close to the home stretch of the 2012 NFL season, we have a look at ESPN’s previews of its programming for the weekend.
It begins with NFL Matchup which will air at 7:30 a.m. ET on Sunday on ESPN2, an hour earlier than normal as the network airs an English Premier League match at 8:15.
NFL Matchup – Vincent Jackson in the Slot; Giants 3rd Down Issues; Seattle’s Offense; and More
NFL Matchup host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hogewill preview the weekend’s key matchups by taking viewers inside the film room with X’s and O’s analysis Sunday, Nov. 25, on ESPN at 6:30 a.m. (ESPN2 at 8:30 a.m.). Highlights:
- Hoge Breakdown – Seattle’s Offense: Hoge explains a sequence of plays which exemplify how the Seahawks offense is predicated on a sustained rushing attack and a successful passing game off of run-action plays.
- “Between the Lines” – Jimmy Graham vs. Patrick Willis: Jaworski uses the telestrator to explain a key matchup for Sunday’s San Francisco at New Orleans game by revisiting last year’s NFC Divisional Playoff contest. He shows how 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis was matched up one-on-one with Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, a matchup both teams want.
- The Money Down – The Giants 3rd Down Offense: While the Giants sit atop the NFC East, they have lost two games in a row. Jaworski shows why Eli Manning has converted only 21 percent of their third-down plays in the last three games..
- “Jaws Playbook” – Andrew Luck: After setting the rookie record for most 300 passing-yard games, Colts Andrew Luck has shown his ability to make difficult intermediate to deep level throws, Jaworski explains.
- “Coaches Clicker” – Adrian Peterson’s Run: Hoge uses the clicker to show how Adrian Peterson broke free on a 61-yard touchdown run against the Detroit Lions – an indication of what Hoge argues will be a big game vs. the Bears.
- “Let’s See it Hoge” – Vincent Jackson in the Slot: After a dramatic overtime win in Carolina that included a touchdown catch by wide receiver Vincent Jackson at the end of regulation, Hoge shows how the Buccaneers line Jackson up in the slot to create mismatches.
- Tell Me Something I Don’t Know – Joe Flacco’s 20+-yard Attempts: Jaworski shows why Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is one of the best arms in the league with a passer rating of 126.6 on pass attempts thrown 20 yards.
- Tell Me Something I Don’t Know – Chris Johnson & the “Bone” Formation: In the last three games, 37 percent of Tennessee Titan Chris Johnson’s rushes have come out of the “Full House Bone” formation. Hoge shows the blocking schemes that helped Johnson rush for over 100 yards in his last two games.
Now to Sunday NFL Countdown which begins at 10 a.m. ET and hosted by Chris Berman with a whole host of analysts.
Chris Berman, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber, Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will preview week 12 on ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown on November 18 at 10 a.m. NFL Insider Adam Schefter and senior analyst Chris Mortensen will report the day’s news, and comedian Frank Caliendo will contribute his impressions of ESPN and NFL personalities.
Correspondents Ed Werder (San Francisco at New Orleans), Bob Holtzman (Pittsburgh at Cleveland), Sal Paolantonio (Atlanta at Tampa Bay), Rachel Nichols (Green Bay at New York Giants) and George Smith (Minnesota at Chicago) will report from game sites. Highlights:
- Adrian Peterson’s Comeback: After 11 weeks, the NFL’s rushing leader is Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) where some questioned whether he had enough recovery time before returning to the field. Countdown’s Cris Carter, a former Vikings receiver, traveled to Minnesota to get insights on a leading candidate for the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year.
- Coughlin’s Important Phone Calls: In 1991, Tom Coughlin was the head football coach at Boston College when the team’s safety Jay McGillis was diagnosed with leukemia.He died seven months later. Twenty years after McGillis’ passing, Tom Coughlin calls Jay’s mother, Pat, each Thanksgiving and Christmas, to tell her how great of a person her son was. Reporter Rachel Nichols on the story of a long-standing commitment by a two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach.
- When Tight Ends Dunk: Tight ends Vernon Davis (San Francisco) and Jimmy Graham (New Orleans) celebrate touchdown catches by dunking the ball over the crossbar. Graham is particularly adept at this skill than Vernon Davis. NBA Countdown’s Jalen Rose, a former NBA star, explores the mysteries behind dunking the ball in the NFL.
- “Soundtracks” – Peyton Manning: Fans will hear the on-field sounds as the Denver Broncos quarterback, was wired for in-game audio during his team’s week 10 victory at the Panthers.
- Eric Mangini’s Film Room – Packers at Giants: Former head coach of the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns Eric Mangini digs deep into game films to uncover keys for thes NFC playoff-bound teams.
The program will include live look-ins at quarterbacks Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Brandon Weeden, and running back Doug Martin and defensive end James Harrison during their pre-game routines leading into the 1 p.m. games. Additional segments include the “Mayne Event” as Kenny Mayne examines the Packers recent success with television commercials, Cris Carter’s “Where You At?, and Jaworski and Hoge’s Xs and Os “Eye in the Sky.”
And ESPN will finish Week 12 with Monday Night Football with a matchup between Carolina and Philadelphia. This is what you’ll see on Monday night with its coverage.
ESPN’s Monday Night Football: Philadelphia Eagles Host Cam Newton and the Panthers
The Philadelphia Eagles host Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on Nov. 26 at 8:30 p.m. In his first MNF appearance, Newton will face an Eagles team that is 14-9 on MNF under head coach Andy Reid. MNF’s booth team of Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Jon Gruden (analyst) will call the game from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia with sideline reporter Lisa Salters, who is a native of nearby King of Prussia, Pa.
MNF will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The game is also available on computers at WatchESPN.com and on tablets via the WatchESPN app for those who receive video subscriptions from an affiliated provider.
Chris Berman will host the two-hour pre-game show Monday Night Countdown at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN. NFL analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson and NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will join Berman in studio, while on-site host Stuart Scott, NFL analysts Trent Dilfer and Steve Young, columnist Rick Reilly and Salters will contribute to the program. Highlights:
- “Gruden Extra” with Dick Vermeil: Arguably, no one understands the pressure of coaching in Philadelphia quite like former Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil, who retired as Eagles head coach after seven seasons citing burnout. Vermeil joins Jon Gruden in the MNF bus to discuss the Eagles and coaching in Philadelphia.
- Rick Reilly Feature – Eagles Long Snapper Magician Jon Dorendos: Jon Dorenbos turned to magic after enduring a childhood tragedy. He has continued his love for magic to this day as a professional magician. Dorenbos’ main job is as Eagles long snapper, but as Rick Reilly reports, magic helped him overcome childhood trauma.
- “Soundtracks” – Cam Newton: After a record-setting rookie season, Cam Newton’s sophomore campaign hasn’t lived up to expectations he set after a record rookie season. In Soundtracks, Countdown relives key in-game audio from the quarterback’s first 26 career NFL games.
That’s it.
Nov
24
NFL Network Previews Week 12 of the 2012 Season
Time to post the Sunday NFL previews for Week 12. As usual, First on the Field and NFL Game Day Morning will start the NFL experience as the first pregame shows of the day.
Here’s what will be seen starting at 7 a.m. ET/4 a.m. PT on NFL Network this Sunday.
At 7:00 AM ET, NFL Network is First on the Field with Melissa Stark, LaDainian Tomlinson, Sterling Sharpe and Michael Lombardi providing the first analysis of the Sunday’s games.
This week, LaDainian Tomlinson examines the early success of Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Doug Martin
Also featured this week:
- Live reports from Minnesota-Chicago, Atlanta-Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh-Cleveland, and Denver-Kansas City
- R & R: Sterling Sharpe and LaDainian Tomlinson discuss the Denver Broncos offense and the impact of losing running back Willis McGahee
- Michael Lombardi on what is wrong with the Chicago Bears offense
- Depth Chart Dilemma: How will the Pittsburgh Steelers compensate for their offensive injuries?
At 9:00 AM ET, host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin take viewers up to kickoff on NFL GameDay Morning.
Featured this week:
- Stacey Dales live from Vikings-Bears
- Albert Breer live from 49ers-Saints
- Michelle Beisner live from Broncos-Chiefs
- Jeff Darlington live from Falcons-Buccaneers
- Aditi Kinkhabwala live from Steelers-Browns
ESPN’s previews are next.
Nov
24
ESPN Classic Airs All-Day Tribute To Hector “Macho” Camacho
In the wake of Hector “Macho” Camacho’s death earlier today, ESPN Classic will air his best fights all day Saturday. Camacho was shot while in his car earlier this week and slipped into a coma. He was declared brain dead on Friday.
Here’s the schedule.
ESPN Pays Tribute to Hector Camacho on ESPN Classic
ESPN will pay special tribute to former boxing titlist Hector Camacho today on ESPN Classic with eleven hours of programming beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Camacho passed away on Saturday at the age of 50. Camacho won Super Lightweight, Lightweight and Junior Welterweight world titles in the 1980’s and fought high-profile bouts against Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard.
The schedule below:
Date Time (ET) Program Network Sat, Nov 24 1 p.m.- 2p.m. 1989 Hector Camacho vs. Ray Mancini ESPN Classic 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. 1998 Hector Camacho vs. Ken Sigurani ESPN Classic 3 p.m.- 4 p.m. 1999 Hector Camacho vs. Patrick Goossen ESPN Classic 4 p.m.- 5 p.m. 1991 Hector Camacho vs. Greg Haugen-I ESPN Classic 5 p.m.-6 p.m. 1991 Hector Camacho vs. Greg Haugen-II ESPN Classic 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. 1990 Vinny Pazienza vs. Hector Camacho ESPN Classic 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. 1989 Hector Camacho vs. Ray Mancini ESPN Classic 8 p.m.- 9 p.m. 1999 Hector Camacho vs. Patrick Goossen ESPN Classic 9 p.m.- 10 p.m. 1998 Hector Camacho vs. Ken Sigurani ESPN Classic 10 p.m.- 11 p.m. 1991 Hector Camacho vs. Greg Haugen-II ESPN Classic 11 p.m.- 12 a.m. 1990 Vinny Pazienza vs. Hector Camacho ESPN Classic
That is all.
Nov
23
Weekend Viewing Picks
Saturday, November 24
Boxing
Championship Boxing
Welterweights: Ricky Hatton vs. Vyacheslav Senchenko — Showtime, 5 p.m.
World Championship Boxing
Welterweights: Andre Berto vs. Robert Guerrero — HBO, 10 p.m.
24/7: Pacquaio/Marquez 4, Episode 2 — HBO, 12:15 a.m. (Sunday)
College Basketball
Men’s
Battle 4 Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
7th Place Game: Memphis vs. Northern Iowa — AXS.TV, 1 p.m.
5th Place Game: Minnesota vs. Stanford — AXS.TV, 3:30 p.m.
3rd Place Game: VCU vs. Missouri — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
Final: Duke vs. Louisville — NBC Sports Network, 9:30 p.m.
Global Sports Classic, Las Vegas, NV
3rd Place Game: Cincinnati vs. Oregon — CBS Sports Network, 10:30 p.m.
Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, AK
Semifinal
CBS Sports Network, 1:30 a.m.
Las Vegas Invitational, Las Vegas, NV
3rd Place Game: Wisconsin vs. Arkansas– ESPN3, 8 p.m.
Final: Creighton vs. Arizona State — ESPNU, 11 p.m.
South Padre Island Invitational, South Padre Island, TX
3rd Place Game: UAB vs. TCU — CBS Sports Network, 5 p.m.
Final: Illinois State vs. Northwestern — CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m.
Colorado State at Washington — Pac-12 Network, 7:30 p.m.
Kent State at Nebraska — Big Ten Network, 9 p.m.
Cal State-Northridge at BYU — BYU TV, 9 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Washington State — Pac-12 Network, 9:30 p.m.
Wright State at Utah — Pac-12 Network (Mountain), 9:30 p.m.
Women’s
UConn vs. Purdue at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands — SNY, 8 p.m.
College Football Viewing Picks
College Hockey
Minnesota at Vermont — Fox Sports North/NESN, 7 p.m.
Cornell vs. Michigan at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY — MSG Network, 8 p.m.
Minnesota State at Wisconsin — Fox Sports North Plus, 8 p.m.
English Championship
Wolverhampton vs. Nottingham Forest — beIN Sport, 12:55 p.m. (same day coverage)
English Premier League
Sunderland vs. West Bromwich Albion — Fox Soccer, 7:30 a.m.
Manchester United vs. Queens Park Rangers — Fox Soccer, 9:30 a.m.
Stoke City vs. Fulham — Fox Soccer Plus, 9:53 a.m.
Aston Villa vs. Arsenal — Fox Soccer, 12:30 p.m.
Everton vs. Norwich City — Fox Soccer, 2:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
Wigan Athletic vs. Reading — Fox Soccer, 4:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
Figure Skating
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
NHK Trophy, Miyagi, Japan
Free Dance — Universal Sports, 4 p.m. (same day coverage)
Men’s Free Skate — Universal Sports, 8 p.m. (same day coverage)
Golf
European Tour: World Tour Championship, 3rd Round — Golf Channel, 3 a.m.
MLB
The World Series: History of the Fall Classic — MLB Network, 7 p.m.
NBA
Chicago at Milwaukee — WGN America, 9 p.m.
Utah at Sacramento — NBA TV, 10 p.m.
NBA GameTime — NBA TV, 7 p.m.
NFL
EA Madden Skills Challenge — NFL Network, 10 p.m.
Scottish Premier League
Motherwell vs. Heart of Midlothian — Fox Soccer Plus, 7:40 a.m.
St. Mirren vs. Dundee — Fox Soccer Plus, noon (same day coverage)
Skiing
FIS Alpine World Cup, Lake Louise, Canada
Men’s Downhill — Universal Sports, 1:30 p.m.
Sports Talk
SportsNation: Turkeys — ESPN2, 9:30 a.m.
SportsNation — ESPNU, 10 a.m.
Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29 — ESPN Classic, 6 p.m.
Entertainment
Top 20 Video Countdown — VH1, 9 a.m.
The Rundown — Cinemax, 9:20 a.m.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Cartoon Network, 9:30 a.m.
Top Gear: Vietnam Special — BBC America, 10 a.m.
Top 20 Video Countdown — VH1, 10 a.m.
Giada at Home: Share the Amore — Food Network, 11:30 a.m.
Red Tails — HBO, 7:45 p.m.
Too Cute!: Sweetest Animal Friends — Animal Planet, 8 p.m.
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King — Encore, 8 p.m.
The Spirit — IFC, 8 p.m.
Kelsey’s Essentials: Honey — Cooking Channel, 8:30 p.m.
Renovation Realities: The Saslow Job — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Redneck Island — CMT, 9 p.m.
Motives & Murders: The Body in the Bay — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
20/20 on TLC: Jaycee Dugard: In Her Own Words-Part 1 — TLC, 9 p.m.
Renovation Realities: The Jenkins Job — DIY Network, 9:30 p.m.
Family Under Construction: Backyard Disaster — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
How the States Got Their Shapes: Mess With Texas — H2, 10 p.m.
48 Hours: Presumed Guilty – CBS, 10 p.m.
Pit Bulls and Parolees: Trapped Below — Animal Planet, 10 p.m.
The Haunting Of…: Kelly Carlson — Biography Channel, 10 p.m.
Untold Stories of the E.R.: Crowbar in Head — Discovery Fitness & Health, 10 p.m.
Fatal Vows: Blood and Wine — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Wedding Band — TBS, 10 p.m.
20/20 on TLC: Jaycee Dugard: In Her Own Words-Part 2 — TLC, 10 p.m.
Family Under Construction: Cops and Robbers — DIY Network, 10:30 p.m.
Kyle Kinane: Whiskey Icarus — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Sunday, November 25
CFL
100th Grey Cup, Toronto, ON
Calgary Stampeders vs. Toronto Argonauts — TSN/NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
College Basketball
Men’s
DirecTV Classic, Anaheim, CA
5th Place Game: Xavier vs. Drake — ESPN2, 1:30 p.m.
7th Place Game: Drexel vs. Rice — ESPN3, 4 p.m.
3rd Place Game: St. Mary’s vs. Georgia Tech — ESPNU, 6:30 p.m.
Final: Pacific vs. Cal — ESPN2, 9 p.m.
Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, AK
Final: Northeastern vs. Charlotte — CBS Sports Network, 12:30 a.m.
Old Spice Classic, Orlando, FL
5th Place Game: Marist vs. Clemson — ESPNU/ESPN 3D, 11:30 a.m.
7th Place Game: UTEP vs. Vanderbilt — ESPN3/ESPN 3D, 2 p.m.
3rd Place Game: West Virginia vs. Oklahoma — ESPNU/ESPN 3D, 4:30 p.m.
Final: Davidson vs. Gonzaga — ESPN2/ESPN 3D, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Syracuse — Big East Network, 1 p.m.
Villanova at LaSalle — CBS Sports Network, 1 p.m.
Portland State at Oklahoma State — Fox Sports Oklahoma/Fox College Sports Central, 2 p.m.
Stony Brook at UConn — Big East Network, 4 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Illinois — Big Ten Network, 4 p.m.
Ball State at Indiana — Big Ten Network, 6 p.m.
Air Force at Colorado — Pac-12 Network, 8 p.m.
Portland at New Mexico — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain), 8 p.m.
Women’s
South Carolina Upstate at Kentucky — Fox Sports Net-regional (North/San Diego/South), 1 p.m.
College Football
BCS Countdown — ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
ESPNU BCS Countdown — ESPNU, 9 p.m.
College Volleyball
Women’s
2012 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship Selection Show — ESPNU, 4 p.m.
English Premier League
Swansea City vs. Liverpool — ESPN2, 8:15 a.m.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City — Fox Soccer, 10:15 a.m.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Ham United — Fox Soccer Plus, 10:53 a.m.
Southampton vs. Newcastle United — Fox Soccer, 1 p.m. (same day coverage)
Goals on Sunday — Fox Soccer, 1 p.m.
Figure Skating
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
NHK Trophy, Miyagi, Japan
Ladies & Men’s Free Skate — NBC, 2 p.m. (tape)
Pairs Free Skate — Universal Sports, 4 p.m. (same day coverage)
Kaleidoscope on Ice — CBS, 3 p.m. or 5 p.m.
Formula 1
Brazilian Grand Prix — Speed, 10:30 a.m.
Golf
European Tour: World Tour Championship, Final Round — Golf Channel, 3 a.m.
Skiing
FIS Alpine World Cup, Lake Louise, Canada
Men’s Super G — Universal Sports, 1 p.m.
Sports Talk
Outside the Lines — ESPNews, 9:30 a.m.
Entertainment
CBS News Sunday Morning — CBS, 9 a.m.
Sandra’s Restaurant Remakes: Big Flavor Heavy Hitters — Food Network, 10 a.m.
Maltin on Movies — Reelz, 10 a.m.
Cujo — AMC, 10 a.m.
Sandwich King: Boogie Bites — Food Network, 11 a.m.
The Best Thing I Ever Made: Rockin’ Roasts — Food Network, 11:30 a.m.
Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed — H2, noon
60 Minutes — CBS, 7 p.m.
2012 Soul Train Awards Red Carpet — BET, 7 p.m.
Behind the Music Remastered: Rick James — VH1 Classic, 7 p.m.
I Want That: I Want That Holiday Special — DIY Network, 8 p.m.
Once Upon a Time — ABC, 8 p.m.
The Amazing Race 21: Fishy Kiss – CBS, 8 p.m.
Downton Abbey Revisited — PBS, 8 p.m.
2012 Soul Train Awards — BET, 8 p.m.
Inside Underground Poker — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Yard Crashers: A Music Lover’s Holiday Yard — DIY Network, 8:30 p.m.
House Crashers: Holiday Party Headquarters — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
The Walking Dead — AMC, 9 p.m.
The Next Iron Chef: Redemption: Transformation — Food Network, 9 p.m.
Boardwalk Empire — HBO, 9 p.m.
Sins & Secrets: Carthage — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Drugs, Inc.: Hurricane Blow — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Snapped: Sheila Davalloo — Oxygen, 9 p.m.
Dexter — Showtime, 9 p.m.
Kitchen Crashers: Festive Firehouse Kitchen — DIY Network, 9:30 p.m.
Building Alaska: Roughing It on the Island — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
I Survived: Audrey; Todd; Kimberley — Biography Channel, 10 p.m.
Treme (season finale) — HBO, 10 p.m.
House Hunters Renovation: Quirky and Modern Bedroom Blend — HGTV, 10 p.m.
Unusual Suspects: Killings in Kentucky — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Alaska State Troopers: Grizzly-pendence Day — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Homeland — Showtime, 10 p.m.
Apollo Live (series premiere) — BET, 10:30 p.m.
Talking Dead — AMC, 11 p.m.
Lightmares — DIY Network, 11 p.m.
Comic Book Men: Tough S&*% — AMC, 11:30 p.m.
Nov
23
NFL Radio Games For Week 12 of the 2012 Season
Sunday, November 25
12:30 p.m.
Compass Media Networks
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Oakland at Cincinnati — Greg Papa/Tom Flores
Dial Global Radio
Seattle at Miami — Tom McCarthy/Tony Boselli
SportsUSA Radio Network
Minnesota at Chicago
3:30 p.m.
Dial Global Radio
Baltimore at San Diego — Kevin Kugler/Mark Malone
3:45 p.m.
Compass Media Networks
St. Louis at Arizona
4 p.m.
SportsUSA Radio Networks
San Francisco at New Orleans
7:30 p.m.
Dial Global Radio
Green Bay at New York Giants — Dave Sims/James Lofton/Hub Arkush
Monday, November 26
8 p.m.
Dial Global Radio
Carolina at Philadelphia — Kevin Harlan/Boomer Esiason/Tony Boselli
Nov
23
NFL Viewing Picks For Week 12, 11/25/2012
All Times Eastern
Pregame & Studio Shows
First on the Field — NFL Network, 7 a.m.
NFL Matchup — ESPN2, 7:30 a.m.
NFL GameDay Morning — NFL Network, 9 a.m.
Fantasy Football Today — CBS Sports Network, 11 a.m.
Fantasy Football Now — ESPN2, 11 a.m.
The NFL Today — CBS, noon
Fox NFL Sunday — Fox, noon
NFL Red Zone Channel — DirecTV Channel, 703, 12:55 p.m.
NFL RedZone — Check your local listings, 1 p.m.
NFL Today Postgame — CBS, 4 p.m.
NFL GameDay Scoreboard — NFL Network, 4 p.m.
Football Night in America — NBC, 7 p.m.
The OT — Fox, 7:30 p.m.
NFL GameDay Highlights — NFL Network, 7:30 p.m.
NFL GameDay Overtime — NFL Network, 11:30 p.m.
NFL GameDay Final — NFL Network, midnight
1 p.m.
CBS
Buffalo at Indianapolis — Marv Albert/Rich Gannon
Denver at Kansas City — Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf
Oakland at Cincinnati — Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker
Pittsburgh at Cleveland — Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots
Tennessee at Jacksonville — Spero Dedes/Steve Beuerlein
FOX
Atlanta at Tampa Bay — Thom Brennaman/Brian Billick Charles Davis/Laura Okmin
Minnesota at Chicago — Kenny Albert/Daryl Johnston/Tony Siragusa
Seattle at Miami — Chris Myers/Tim Ryan/Jaime Maggio!!!
4:05 p.m.
CBS
Baltimore at San Diego — Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts
4:25 p.m.
FOX
San Francisco at New Orleans — Joe Buck/Troy Aikman/Pam Oliver
St. Louis at Arizona — Dick Stockton/John Lynch/Jennifer Hale
8:30 p.m.
NBC
Green Bay at New York Giants — Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth/Michele Tafoya
DirecTV Sunday NFL Ticket Channel Assignments
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel Assignments
Nov
23
Black Friday Viewing Picks
College Basketball
Men’s
Battle 4 Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Consolation: Minnesota vs. Memphis– AXS.TV, 1 p.m.
Consolation: Stanford vs. Northern Iowa — AXS.TV, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinal: Duke vs. VCU — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
Semifinal: Missouri vs. Louisville — NBC Sports Network, 9:30 p.m.
DirecTV Classic, Anaheim, CA
Semifinal: St. Mary’s vs. Pacific — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
Consolation: Drexel vs. Xavier — ESPNU, 6 p.m.
Consolation: Rice vs. Drake — ESPNU, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinal: Georgia Tech vs. Cal — ESPN2, midnight
Global Sports Classic, Las Vegas, NV
Semifinals
Iowa State vs. Cincinnati — CBS Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
Oregon vs. UNLV — CBS Sports Network, 9 p.m.
Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, AK
Semifinal
Belmont vs. Northeastern — CBS Sports Network, 11 p.m.
Las Vegas Invitational, Las Vegas, NV
Semifinals
Arizona State vs. Arkansas — ESPN3, 7 p.m.
Creighton vs. Wisconsin — ESPN2, 10 p.m.
Old Spice Classic, Orlando, FL
Semifinal: West Virginia vs. Davidson — ESPN/ESPN 3D, 12:30 p.m.
Consolation: Vanderbilt vs. Marist — ESPNU/ESPN D, 3 p.m.
Consolation: UTEP vs. Clemson — ESPN2/ESPN 3D, 5:30 p.m.
Semifinal: Oklahoma vs. Gonzaga — ESPN2/ESPN 3D, 8 p.m.
Preseason NIT, New York, NY
3rd Place Game: Delaware vs. Pittsburgh — ESPN, 2:30 p.m.
Final: Kansas State vs. Michigan — ESPN, 5 p.m.
Central Florida at Florida — Sun Sports/SportSouth, 4 p.m.
Missouri-Kansas City at Ohio State — Big Ten Network, 6 p.m.
Loyola (MD) at URI — Cox Sports RI, 7 p.m.
Long Island University at Kentucky — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona Plus/North/South)/Sun Sports/Fox College Sports Pacific, 7 p.m.
Central Michigan at Utah — Pac-12 Network, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Michigan State — Big Ten Network, 8:15 p.m.
Women’s
Notre Dame at UCLA — Pac-12 Network, 3 p.m.
Nebraska at USC — Pac-12 Network, 5 p.m.
College Football Viewing Picks
College Hockey
Colgate at Merrimack — Fox College Sports Atlantic, 4 p.m.
Minnesota at Vermont — Fox Sports North/NESN, 7 p.m.
Minnesota State at Wisconsin — Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
College Volleyball
Women’s
USC vs. UCLA — Pac-12 Network, 9 p.m.
Arizona at Arizona State– Pac-12 Network (Arizona), 9 p.m.
Colorado at Utah — Pac-12 Network (Mountain), 9 p.m.
Stanford at Cal — Pac-12 Network, 11 p.m.
Oregon at Oregon State — Pac-12 Network (Arizona/Mountain/Oregon), 11 p.m.
Washington at Washington State — Pac-12 Network (Washington), 11 p.m.
Golf
European Tour: World Tour Championship, 2nd Round — Golf Channel, 3 a.m.
Hockey
WHL
Moose Jaw Warriors at Edmonton Oil Kings — NHL Network, 9 p.m.
Mixed Martial Arts
Bellator’s Road to the Championships 7 — MTV2, 8 p.m.
MLB
World Series Highlights: 2002, Anaheim Angels vs. San Francisco Giants — MLB Network, 12:30 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 2003, New York Yankees vs. Florida Marlins — MLB Network, 2:30 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 2004, Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 2005, Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros — MLB Network, 5:30 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 2006, Detroit Tigers vs. St. Louis Cardinals — MLB Network, 7 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 2007, Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies — MLB Network, 8:30 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 2008, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
NBA
Oklahoma City at Boston — NBA TV, 7:30 p.m.
NBA GameTime — NBA TV, 10:30 p.m.
NFL
NFL Films Presents: Dynamic Duos — NFL Network, 4:30 p.m.
Around the League Live — NFL Network, 5 p.m.
Playbook NFC — NFL Network, 8 p.m.
Playbook AFC — NFL Network, 9 p.m.
The Rich Eisen Thanksgiving Special — NFL Network, 10 p.m.
Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The ‘Lights — NBC Sports Network, 8 a.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network/Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain), 9 a.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Best of ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Entertainment
Facing Evil With Candice Delong: Stripped Bare — Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.
Frosty the Snowman — CBS, 8 p.m.
Cool Tools: The Top 25 — DIY Network, 8 p.m.
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown — Fox, 8 p.m.
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer — The CW, 8 p.m.
Gold Rush – The Dirt: Miners Cribs — Discovery, 8 p.m.
Sideways — Sundance Channel, 8 p.m.
Frosty Returns — CBS, 8:30 p.m.
Facing Evil With Candice Delong: Friends Til’ the End — Investigation Discovery, 8:30 p.m.
Hoops & Yoyo Ruin Christmas — CBS, 9 p.m.
The Happy Elf — The CW, 9 p.m.
Gold Rush: The Ultimatum — Discovery, 9 p.m.
Deadly Women: Mommy’s Little Helper — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Ghost Adventures: Union Station — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Killer Karaoke (series premiere) — truTV, 9 p.m.
Man Caves: Pilot’s Lounge Cave — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Mystery Diners: Valet Disservice — Food Network, 10 p.m.
Person to Person — CBS, 10 p.m.
Dateline NBC — NBC, 10 p.m.
Countdown to Apocalypse: Countdown to 12/21/12: Nostradamus — H2, 10 p.m.
Wives With Knives: The Beefcake and the Beauty Queen — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
20/20 — ABC, 10:01 p.m.
Jungle Gold: Desperate Measures — Discovery, 10:01 p.m.
I Want That: Image Snap — DIY Network, 10:30 p.m.
Health Inspectors: A Game of Chicken — Food Network, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: Cabarete, Dominican Republic — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Skin to the Max: Budapest, Hungary; Rome, Italy — Cinemax, 11 p.m.
Joan Rivers: Don’t Start with Me — Showtime, 11 p.m.
Black Hawk Down — Fox Movie Channel, midnight
Nov
22
NBC’s Football Night in America Quotage For Thanksgiving 2012
Kudos to NBC for being the only network to provide full quotage from today’s games. CBS did provide a couple of quotes, but overall, NBC came through with a full set of quotes for its Thanksgiving pregame show.
Here are the quotes from Thursday night’s show.
“FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” NOTES & QUOTES – THANKSGIVING
“It’s a bad rule.” – Tony Dungy on controversial play in Texans-Lions game
“This is just not a very good team.” – Rodney Harrison on the Dallas Cowboys
“This is a great addition to the tradition.” – John Madden on NBC’s first Thanksgiving night gameNEW YORK – November 22, 2012 – Following are highlights for Football Night in America. Bob Costas opened the special Thanksgiving night show live from inside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., where the Jets are hosting the New England Patriots.
Dan Patrick co-hosted the program from the field at MetLife Stadium and was joined by Football Night in America analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison.
John Madden narrated a special taped open just prior to kickoff.
Following are highlights from Football Night in America:
JOHN MADDEN OPEN
Tradition has never struck me as only being about the past. It’s always taking on new pieces from here, new pieces from there. Tradition is always evolving.
I think Thanksgiving is a great example of that.
A game like football comes along, years and years ago, and it seems like a great fit for the holiday.
So boom – they start playing football on Thanksgiving.
And the years go by, television comes along, and that becomes a big part of the whole deal.
So people watch the games while they eat and eat and eat all day …
They roast the turkey. Fry the turkey. Stuff it. Hey, we used to stuff it with a chicken stuffed in a duck, if you can believe it.
Some things are new, some things are familiar.
Football’s the same way.
There’s a lot of tradition, but it’s always evolving. It’s always growing. And that’s a big part of why people love it so much.
And it’s like we say at the table in my house. If you want more of something, hey, go have some more.
So a game tonight, in primetime, on NBC, two big rivals. To me – it’s a perfect new addition to the tradition.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE. ENJOY THE GAME.
ON REDSKINS-COWBOYS
Patrick on Robert Griffin III’s statistics: “Those are video game numbers.”
Harrison on the Cowboys: “We fall in love with this team because they’re physically talented, but we see time and time again the mental mistakes and it’s the mistakes by the best players. Part of leadership is showing poise and taking care of the ball. We’ve seen the fourth-quarter mistakes. I just believe this is just not a very good team.”ON LIONS-TEXANS
Dungy: “It’s a bad rule. It should be a penalty if you do that, but you should still get to review the play. Jim Schwartz knows the rule, but you have to keep your composure as a coach. You preach that to your players. You cannot throw the flag and cost your team seven points.”
Patrick: “It’s such a monumental play here and a big turnaround here, and it cost the Lions the game.”
Harrison: “As a player, you have to finish the play. The Detroit Lions, they play hard. They take on the personality of their coach. At times, they’re tough, they’re emotional. But they lack discipline, and once they get to the point that they can instill more discipline into this team, they’ll start winning these football games.”
Dungy: “…emotional coach cost them seven points.”
That does it.
Nov
22
The NFL Today on CBS Brief Quotage For Thanksgiving 2012
We have just one piece of quotage from Thanksgiving Day’s NFL Today on CBS. Just one paragraph from Thursday’s show plus a link.
Check it all out below.
(On recent overturned one-game suspension of Baltimore’s Ed Reed)
SHANNON SHARPE: This is something that had me upset the entire week. When I look at this, Ed Reed was fined, before he won his appeal, $423,000. For their alleged role in SpyGate, the New England Patriots were fined $500,000. This is a team that is valued at $1.4 billion. The New Orleans Saints, for their alleged role in BountyGate, were fined $500,000. This is a team that is worth $965 million. Ed Reed, I’m going to go out on a limb and say he is worth $12 million-$15 million. But you’re going to fine this guy $423,000 for a hit that I didn’t even think was that egregious. When you look at it, everybody that is in the NFL office on this side of the ball has a college degree. When it comes to determining who you are going to fine, and how much you’re going to fine them, I don’t want you to use your college degree, I want you to use common sense, that’s all.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON “THE NFL TODAY”
In 2011 during a physical it was discovered that Detroit Lions RB Jerome Harrison had a brain tumor. Harrison immediately returned to Detroit for surgery. Jerome and Michelle Harrison spoke for the first time and shared their remarkable journey with THE NFL TODAY on Thanksgiving Day.
Click to view: http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/nfl-on-cbs/BdBYg8d_uton
That’s it. Short and sweet.
Nov
22
NFL GameDay Morning Quotage For Thanksgiving 2012
Well, checking back over the e-mails from Thanksgiving, we do have quotage from NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning which had a 2½ hour edition on Turkey Day.
Thanks to NFL Network for providing the quotage today.
“Ndamukong Suh’s game hasn’t evolved. He needs to become a more complete player.” — Warren Sapp
“Jay Cutler isn’t fully appreciated until he is gone.” — Kurt WarnerQuotes from NFL GameDay Morning
Host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin aired a special Thanksgiving edition of NFL GameDay Morning leading up to the trio of NFL games today. Here are select quotes from the show:
“Jay Cutler isn’t fully appreciated until he is gone.“ — Kurt Warner on the Chicago Bears who are 14-5 with quarterback Jay Cutler and 1-6 without him in the last two years
“Ndamukong Suh’s game hasn’t evolved. He needs to become a more complete player.“ — Warren Sapp on Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh who has struggled the past two seasons after a strong rookie season
“Neither the Redskins nor Cowboys are close to being playoff threats.“ — Kurt Warner on the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys heading into their Thanksgiving Day matchup
“The Texans should lean on Matt Schaub [more] because they will need to in the playoffs.“ — Kurt Warner on the Houston Texans’ offensive game plan in their final six games of the regular season
“Andre Johnson is struggling with the press coverage. He has never struggled with that before.” — Kurt Warner on Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson’s season and he questions if Johnson is fully healthy
“Robert Griffin III runs by opportunity not necessity. Since he got hurt [this season], he is running smart.“ — Marshall Faulk on Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III
“Robert Griffin III has the advantage playing on the short week because of all the unique [skills] he has.“ — Steve Mariucci on the challenges facing the Dallas Cowboys defense
“DeMarco Murray is still the leading rusher for the Dallas Cowboys, which is [a problem].“ — Michael Irvin on the Dallas Cowboys offense. Running back DeMarco Murray has played only five games, rushing for 330 yards, this season because of injury
“Rob Gronkowski’s [injury] cost the Patriots a Super Bowl [victory] last year; they have to make sure it doesn’t cost them another one this year.” – Michael Irvin on the New England Patriots offense needing to find a way to overcome tight end Rob Gronkowski’s injury
On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:
Cowboys or Redskins as a playoff threat? – How far off are the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys from being playoff threats? The NFL GameDay Morning crew explains why inconsistency could play a role in both teams’ futures:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000098853/Can-Cowboys-or-Redskins-be-a-playoff-threat
Turkey Time – The NFL GameDay Morning analysts take a look at some predictions they made earlier this season and decide if they would like to take a mulligan or stick with their original thought:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000098872/Jive-turkey-timeNew York Jets honor Superstorm Sandy victims — Melissa Stark tells the story of a father-son bond and how the Jets will honor their family tonight:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000098866/Jets-honor-Superstorm-Sandy-victims
Who will step up for the Patriots without Gronkowski? — How will the New England Patriots deal with the loss of tight end Rob Gronkowski? Our analysts discuss which other skill players will help the Patriots pick up additional victories:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000098867/Who-will-step-up-for-Patriots-without-Gronk
Should Brady be in the MVP conversation? — Is New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady being ignored in the MVP race? See why our NFL GameDay Morning crew think that Brady is not getting MVP consideration now, but will later in the season:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000098868/Should-Brady-be-in-MVP-conversation
Who’s in bigger trouble: Steelers or Bears? — Are the Chicago Bears or Pittsburgh Steelers in more trouble? Find out if either team can weather the storm without their star quarterback:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000098854/Who-s-in-bigger-trouble-Steelers-or-Bears
Should there be a QB debate for the 49ers? — Should San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh start quarterback Colin Kaepernick over Alex Smith? Find out of our NFL GameDay Morning analysts think this decision could be an issue in the locker room:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000098869/Should-there-be-a-QB-debate-for-49ers
Who will be the most dominant team in the NFL? — The NFL GameDay Morning analysts debate who will be the most dominant team in the NFL for the rest of the season:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/0ap2000000098871/Who-will-be-the-most-dominant-team-in-the-NFL
And I’ll provide a brief snippet from CBS’ NFL Today from Thanksgiving.
Nov
22
College Football Viewing Picks For Week 13, 11/23 & 11/24/2012, All Times Eastern
Schedule Courtesy of Matt’s College Sports
Friday, November 23
Pregame & Studio Shows
Best of College Football 2012 — CBS, 1:30 p.m.
Fox College Football Saturday — Fox, 3 p.m.
11 a.m.
Syracuse at Temple — ESPN2 (Tom Hart/John Congemi)
Ohio at Kent State — ESPNU (Adam Amin/Tom Luginbill)
noon
Nebraska at Iowa — ABC (Mike Patrick/Ed Cunningham/Jeannine Edwards)
2 p.m.
Marshall at East Carolina — CBS Sports Network
2:30 p.m.
LSU at Arkansas — CBS (Tim Brando/Steve Beuerlein/Marty Snider)
3 p.m.
Utah at Colorado — FX (Mike Morgan/JC Pearson/Laura McKeeman)
3:30 p.m.
West Virginia at Iowa State — ABC (Dave Lamont/Kelly Stouffer)
Washington at Washington State — Fox (Craig Bolerjack/Joel Klatt/Petros Papadakis)
7 p.m.
South Florida at Cincinnati — ESPN (Mark Neely/Ray Bentley)
10 p.m.
Arizona State at Arizona — ESPN (Carter Blackburn/Rod Gilmore/Jemele Hill)
Saturday, November 24
Pregame & Studio Shows
College GameDay live from Los Angeles, CA — ESPNU, 9 a.m./ESPN, 10 a.m.
BTN Pregame — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.
ACC Blitz — ACC Network, noon
Fox College Saturday — Fox, 2 p.m.
College Football Special — CBS, 2:30 p.m.
BTN Football Postgame — Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
College Football Today — CBS, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 3 p.m.
Fox College Saturday — Fox, 6 p.m.
The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, 6:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 6:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.
SEC Tonight — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 10 p.m.
College Football Final — ESPN2, 1:30 a.m. (Sunday)
noon
Michigan at Ohio State — ABC (Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman/Quint Kessenich)
UConn at Louisville — Big East Network (Eamon McAnaney/David Diaz-Infante/Adam Amin)
Illinois at Northwestern — Big Ten Network (Eric Collins/Derek Rackley/Jon Jansen)
Indiana at Purdue — Big Ten Network (Josh Lewin/Chris Martin/J Leman)
Georgia Tech at Georgia — ESPN/ESPN 3D (Dave Pasch/Brian Griese/Jenn Brown)
Rutgers at Pittsburgh — ESPN2 (Beth Mowins/Joey Galloway/Paul Carcaterra)
Virginia at Virginia Tech — ESPNU (Tom Hart/John Congemi)
Tulsa at SMU — FX (Steve Physioc/Brian Baldinger/Jim Knox)
UAB at Central Florida — Fox Sports Net-national/WLVI/KICU/Fox College Sports Atlantic (Mike Gleason/Gary Reasons/Leslie McCaslin)
Kentucky at Tennessee — SEC Network, 12:21 p.m. (Dave Neal/Andre Ware/Cara Capuano)
12:30 p.m.
Miami (FL) at Duke — ACC Network
2:30 p.m.
Bayou Classic, New Orleans, LA: Grambling vs. Southern — NBC (Paul Burmeister/Rod Woodson/Lewis Johnson)
Baylor vs. Texas Tech at Arlington, TX — Fox (Justin Kutcher/Eric Crouch/Darius Walker)
3 p.m.
Idaho at Utah State — ESPN Plus (Trey Bender/Jay Taylor)
Maryland at North Carolina — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona Plus/North Plus/San Diego/South/Southwest Plus/Prime Ticket)/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/NESN (Rich Waltz/Keith Jones/Jenn Hildreth)
3:30 p.m.
Florida at Florida State — ABC (Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe)
Michigan State at Minnesota — Big Ten Network (Kevin Kugler/Glen Mason/Rebecca Haarlow)
Auburn at Alabama — CBS (Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson/Tracy Wolfson)
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma — ESPN (Bob Wischusen/Danny Kanell/Maria Taylor)
Wisconsin at Penn State — ESPN2 (Mark Jones/Brock Huard/Jessica Mendoza)
Vanderbilt at Wake Forest — ESPNU (Anish Shroff/Dan Hawkins)
Tulane at Houston — Fox Sports Net-national/WDCA/KICU/Fox College Sports Central (Ron Thulin/JC Pearson/Laura McKeeman)
Air Force at Fresno State — NBC Sports Network (Todd Harris/Anthony Herron)
4:30 p.m.
Southern Mississippi at Memphis — CSS/Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area/Houston/Mid-Atlantic Plus/Northwest)/The Comcast Network
6:30 p.m.
Stanford at UCLA — Fox (Gus Johnson/Charles Davis/Julie Alexandria)
7 p.m.
South Carolina at Clemson — ESPN, 7:15 p.m. (Joe Tessitore/Matt Millen/Shannon Spake)
Missouri at Texas A&M — ESPN2 (Steve Levy/Ed Cunningham/Kaylee Hartung)
Mississippi State at Mississippi — ESPNU (Clay Matvick/Matt Stinchcomb/Allison Williams)
8 p.m.
Notre Dame at USC — ABC (Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Heather Cox)
10:30 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at San Jose State — ESPN2 (Joe Davis/Tom Luginbill)
Nov
22
Thanksgiving Day Viewing Picks
College Basketball
Men’s
Battle for Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Quarterfinals
Missouri vs. Stanford — AXS.tv, 1 p.m.
Duke vs. Minnesota — AXS.tv, 3:30 p.m.
Memphis vs. VCU — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
Louisville vs. Northern Iowa — NBC Sports Network, 9:30 p.m.
DirecTV Classic, Anaheim, CA
Quarterfinals
Pacific vs. Xavier — ESPNU, 2 p.m.
Drexel vs. St. Mary’s — ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.
Rice vs. Georgia Tech — ESPNU, 9 p.m.
Drake vs. Cal — ESPN2, 11:30 p.m.
Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, AK
Quarterfinals
Belmont vs. Alaska-Anchorage — CBS Sports Network, 2 a.m.
Loyola-Marymount vs. Oral Roberts — CBS Sports Network, 9 p.m.
Texas State vs. Charlotte — CBS Sports Network, 11:30 p.m.
Old Spice Classic, Orlando, FL
Quarterfinals
West Virginia vs. Marist — ESPN2/ESPN 3D, noon
Vanderbilt vs. Davidson — ESPN2/ESPN 3D, 2:30 p.m.
UTEP vs. Oklahoma — ESPN2/ESPN 3D, 7 p.m.
Clemson vs. Gonzaga — ESPN2/ESPN 3D, 9:30 p.m.
College Football
Tuskegee at Alabama State — ESPNU, 4 p.m.
TCU at Texas — ESPN, 7:30 p.m.
Copa Sudaméricana
Semifinals
Universidad Católica vs. São Paulo — Fox Deportes, 5 p.m.
Tigre vs. Milonarios — Fox Deportes, 7:30 p.m.
Golf
European Tour: World Tour Championship, 1st Round — Golf Channel, 3 a.m.
MLB
World Series Highlights: 1993, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 1995, Atlanta Braves vs. Cleveland MLB Team — MLB Network, 2:30 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 1996, Atlanta Braves vs. New York Yankees — MLB Network, 3:30 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 1997, Florida Marlines vs. Cleveland MLB Team — MLB Network, 5 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 1998, San Diego Padres vs. New York Yankees — MLB Network, 6:30 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 1999, Atlanta Braves vs. New York Yankees — MLB Network, 8 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 2000, New York Mets vs. New York Yankees — MLB Network, 9:30 p.m.
World Series Highlights: 2001, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The ‘Lights — NBC Sports Network, 8 a.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network/Root Sports (Northwest/Pittsburgh/Rocky Mountain), 9 a.m.
Best of ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
UNITE: Black Friday Special — ESPNU, midnight
UEFA Europa League
Group Stage
Rubin Kazan vs. Internazionale — Fox Soccer Plus, 11:50 a.m.
Lazio vs. Tottenham Hotspur — Fox Soccer, 12:50 p.m.
Liverpool vs. Young Boys — Fox Soccer, 3 p.m.
Newcastle United vs. Maritimo — Fox Soccer Plus, 3 p.m.
AIK Solna vs. Napoli — Fox Soccer, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)
Olympique de Marseille vs. Fenerbahçe — Fox Soccer Plus, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)
Entertainment
The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS — CBS, 9 a.m.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — NBC, 9 a.m.
Big Morning Buzz Live — VH1, 10 a.m.
The Godfather — AMC, 11:30 a.m. & 8 p.m.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory — ABC Family, noon
The National Dog Show — NBC, noon
The Godfather, Part II — AMC, 3:30 p.m. & midnight
Holiday Shopping Survival Guide — HLN, 6 p.m.
Cool Tools: Holiday Special — DIY Network, 7 p.m.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving — ABC, 8 p.m.
I Want That: Hardware Special — DIY Network, 8 p.m.
Batman Begins — Fox Movie Channel, 8 p.m.
The Real Story of Thanksgiving — H2, 8 p.m.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy — Cinemax, 8:20 p.m.
I Want That: All in One Energizer — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Extreme Homes: Hollywood, Ruins, PVC Bubbles — HGTV, 9 p.m.
Secrets of the Secret Service — Military Channel, 9 p.m.
The Three Musketeers — Showtime, 9 p.m.
Mysteries at the Museum: MGM Fire; UFO Car; Prophecy Sword — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Symon’s Suppers: Brick Chicken — Cooking Channel, 9:30 p.m.
I Want That: Benchmark Table — DIY Network, 9:30 p.m.
I Want That: Image Snap — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Shocking Family Secrets: Around the World and Back (season premiere) — Discovery Fitness & Health, 10 p.m.
Ultimate Armored Car: The Presidential Beast — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
I Want That: Garage Vac — DIY Network, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: Playa del Carmen — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Dave’s Old Porn — Showtime, 11 p.m.
Reality Show: Animal Instincts — Showtime, 11:30 p.m.
Nov
22
The NFL Rules The Ratings, But We All Know This
For Week 11 in the National Football League, it’s another instance of games leading the weekly TV ratings. In this case, the late national window Sunday afternoon on CBS split between the Indianapolis Colts-New England Patriots and the San Diego Super Chargers and Denver Broncos was the most watched program for the week ending November 18.
The second most watched program was the Sunday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers on NBC.
Both windows saw big audiences.
We have the press release from the National Football League.
NFL GAMES RANK AS TV’S TWO MOST-WATCHED SHOWS FOR 10TH TIME IN 11 WEEKS
Games Top Local Ratings in 28 of 30 NFL Markets
NFL games were the two most-watched shows on TV last week (Nov. 12-18) with the CBS national telecast (Indianapolis Colts-New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers-Denver Broncos) topping all sports and entertainment competition with 23.6 million viewers followed by NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers) with 18.2 million viewers.
This marks the 11th time in 11 weeks that an NFL game has topped the viewership charts and the 10th time in 11 weeks that NFL games ranked 1-2 in viewership for the week.
For the season, NFL games rank as the 17 most-watched TV shows since Labor Day. Following are the most-watched programs this fall:
Program Viewers 1. NBC Sunday Night Football (Steelers-Broncos), 9/9 27.6 million 2. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Cowboys), 10/28 26.9 million 3. FOX Sunday National (mostly 49ers-Packers), 9/9 26.4 million 4. CBS Sunday National (mostly Broncos-Patriots), 10/7 24.5 million 5. FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Eagles), 11/11 24.3 million 6. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Giants), 11/4 24.2 million 7. CBS Sunday National (mostly Texans-Broncos), 9/23 24.0 million 8. NBC Wed. Night Kickoff Game (Cowboys-Giants), 9/5 23.9 million 9. CBS Sunday National (Indy-NE & SD-Den), 11/18 23.6 million 10. CBS Sunday National (mostly Jets-Patriots), 10/21 23.0 million 11. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-49ers), 10/14 22.8 million 12. NBC Sunday Night Football (Giants-Eagles), 9/30 22.8 million 13. FOX Sunday National (mostly Saints-Packers), 9/30 22.3 million 14. NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Falcons), 11/4 21.8 million 15. NBC Sunday Night Football (Lions-49ers), 9/16 21.3 million 16. NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Ravens), 9/23 21.3 million 17. NBC Sunday Night Football (Texans-Bears), 11/11 20.9 million 18. CBS NCIS (Season Premiere), 9/25 20.5 million Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company
Locally, NFL games topped ratings in 28 NFL markets last week. Following is the list of NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Nov. 12-18:
Week of 11/12-18
HH
HH
RTG
Market Game Date
RTG
SHR
Rank
Pittsburgh Ravens at Steelers 11/18/2012
47.5
66
1
New Orleans Saints at Raiders 11/18/2012
46.4
66
1
Boston Colts at Patriots 11/18/2012
43.1
65
1
Milwaukee Packers at Lions 11/18/2012
42.5
71
1
Baltimore Ravens at Steelers 11/18/2012
39.0
54
1
Denver Chargers at Broncos 11/18/2012
36.9
68
1
Indianapolis Colts at Patriots 11/18/2012
36.7
57
1
Buffalo Dolphins at Bills 11/15/2012
31.1
45
1
Cleveland Browns at Cowboys 11/18/2012
28.9
54
1
Kansas City Bengals at Chiefs 11/18/2012
28.6
52
1
San Diego Chargers at Broncos 11/18/2012
26.8
50
1
Houston Jaguars at Texans 11/18/2012
26.5
53
1
Dallas-Ft. Worth Browns at Cowboys 11/18/2012
26.3
52
1
Cincinnati Bengals at Chiefs 11/18/2012
25.6
47
1
Detroit Packers at Lions 11/18/2012
24.9
48
1
Atlanta Cardinals at Falcons 11/18/2012
24.1
46
1
Charlotte Bucs at Panthers 11/18/2012
23.9
44
1
Washington, DC Eagles at Redskins 11/18/2012
23.3
48
1
Philadelphia Eagles at Redskins 11/18/2012
22.0
43
1
Minneapolis Packers at Lions 11/18/2012
21.0
51
1
Jacksonville Jaguars at Texans 11/18/2012
21.6
35
1
Phoenix Cardinals at Falcons 11/18/2012
18.9
40
1
Nashville Chargers at Broncos 11/18/2012
18.1
26
1
St. Louis Jets at Rams 11/18/2012
18.0
37
1
Tampa Bucs at Panthers 11/18/2012
17.4
35
1
New York Jets at Rams +
bonus coverage11/18/2012
14.7
29
1
Miami Dolphins at Bills 11/15/2012
12.3
19
1
San Fran-Oakland Ravens at Steelers 11/18/2012
10.0
19
1
Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company
And we’re done.
Nov
22
Fox Sports Media Group’s College Football Games For Week 13 Including Announcing Assignments
Now to Fox Sports and what it will air this weekend. Lots of games and platforms. Check it out.
College Football on FOX Advance Programming Schedule
November 23-24All times Eastern unless otherwise indicated
DATE TIME GAME OUTLET Play by Play Analyst Sideline Friday, November 23 3:30 PM Washington at Washington St. FOX Craig Bolerjack Joel Klatt Petros Papadakis Friday, November 23 3:00 PM Utah at Colorado FX Mike Morgan JC Pearson Laura McKeeman Saturday, November 24 2:30 PM Baylor vs. Texas Tech (from Cowboys Stadium) FOX Justin Kutcher Eric Crouch Darius Walker Saturday, November 24 6:30 PM Stanford at UCLA FOX/FOX Deportes Gus Johnson Charles Davis Julie Alexandria Saturday, November 24 12:00 PM Illinois at Northwestern BTN Eric Collins Derek Rackley Jon Jansen Saturday, November 24 12:00 PM Indiana at Purdue BTN Josh Lewin Chris Martin J Leman Saturday, November 24 12:00 PM UAB at UCF FSN (National) Mike Gleason Gary Reasons Leslie McCaslin Saturday, November 24 12:00 PM Tulsa at SMU FX Steve Physioc Brian Baldinger Jim Knox Saturday, November 24 3:00 PM Maryland at North Carolina FS South Rich Waltz Keith Jones Jenn Hildreth Saturday, November 24 3:30 PM Michigan State at Minnesota BTN Kevin Kugler Glen Mason Rebecca Haarlow Saturday, November 24 3:30 PM Tulane at Houston FSN (National) Ron Thulin JC Pearson Laura McKeeman Saturday, November 24 7:00 PM Rice at UTEP FCS Atlantic Joel Meyers Ben Leber Lesley McCaslin
That’s going to do it.
Nov
21
ESPN’s College Football Games For Week 13 Including Announcing Assignments
We have the Week 13 college football schedule for the ESPN family of networks for what will be the last full week of games. While next week will have some games, many will be Conference Championship games. But we’ll get to that next week.
This is what we have for Week 13 on the ESPN platforms.
Showdown Saturday: Top Rivalries, Last Two Unbeatens, Three Games between Ranked Squads, No. 1 Notre Dame Playing for BCS Title Slot
“Showdown Saturday” will include 16 of the teams in the BCS Standings across ESPN networks, top rivalries, the last two undefeated programs, matchups between ranked teams, Notre Dame competing for a spot in the BCS National Championship and more. Highlights for Saturday, Nov. 24:
- An ABC tripleheader of three of the nation’s top rivalries includes two unbeaten teams and a showdown between two top 10 teams, each with one loss:
- Undefeated Ohio State will host rival No. 19 Michigan at noon ET. It marks the 109th meeting between the programs, and 95th straight, with Ohio State winning 8 of the past 10. Michigan won last year 40-34.
- In a matchup of one-loss teams, No. 4 Florida will travel to No. 10 Florida State at 3:30 p.m. It will mark the 57th meeting between the in-state rivals. The week’s game is the first time in 12 years both teams will be ranked in the top 10 when they meet.
- Undefeated No. 1 Notre Dame will take on USC for a shot at the Discover BCS National Championship at 8 p.m. It marks the 84th meeting between the squads with USC winning nine of the last 10 games against Notre Dame. The game will also be broadcast on ESPN Radio.
- ESPN’s tripleheader features three intrastate showdowns highlighted by two telecasts between ranked teams: No. 21 Oklahoma State at No. 13 Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. (also on ESPN Radio) followed by two-loss No. 12 South Carolina at one-loss No. 11 Clemson at 7 p.m. The action kicks off with Georgia Tech at one-loss No. 3 Georgia at noon.
ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, ESPN 3D and ESPN Radio Schedule
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network Thursday, November 22 4 p.m. Turkey Day Classic: Tuskegee vs. Alabama State
Joe Davis & Jay WalkerESPNU 7:30 p.m. TCU at No. 16 Texas
Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, David Pollack & Samantha SteeleESPN Friday, November 23 11 a.m. Syracuse at Temple
Tom Hart & John CongemiESPN2 11 a.m. Ohio at No. 23 Kent State
Adam Amin & Tom LuginbillESPNU Noon No. 14 Nebraska at Iowa
Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham & Jeannine EdwardsABC 1 p.m. Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan
Frank Giardina & Bob ChmeilESPN3 2 p.m. Buffalo at Bowling Green
Greg Franke & Tom ColeESPN3 2:30 p.m. No. 7 LSU at Arkansas ESPN Radio 3:30 p.m. West Virginia at Iowa State
Dave Lamont & Kelly StoufferABC 7 p.m. South Florida at Cincinnati
Mark Neely & Ray BentleyESPN 10 p.m. Arizona State at No. 24 Arizona
Carter Blackburn, Rod Gilmore & Jemele HillESPN Saturday, November 24 Noon No. 19 Michigan at Ohio State
Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman & Quint KessenichABC Noon Georgia Tech at No. 3 Georgia
Dave Pasch, Brian Griese & Jenn BrownESPN & ESPN 3D Noon No. 18 Rutgers at Pittsburgh
Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway & Paul CarcaterraESPN2 Noon Virginia at Virginia Tech
Tom Hart & John CongemiESPNU Noon Kentucky at Tennessee
Dave Neal, Andre Ware & Cara CapuanoESPN3 & SEC Network Noon Connecticut at No. 20 Louisville
Eamon McAnaney, David Diaz-Infante & Adam AminESPN3 * & BIG EAST Network Noon FCS First Round: Colgate at Wagner
Bob Picozzi & Rene IngogliaESPN3 12:30 p.m. Miami (Fla.) at Duke ESPN3 * & ACC Network 1 p.m. North Texas at Western Kentucky ESPN3 2 p.m. FCS First Round: Coastal Carolina at Bethune-Cookman
Jim Barbar & Cory ChavousESPN3 3 p.m. Boston College at NC State
Frank Giardina & Forrest ConollyESPN3 3 p.m. Maryland at North Carolina ESPN3 3 p.m. Idaho at Utah State
Trey Bender & Jay TaylorESPN3 * 3 p.m. FCS First Round: Eastern Illinois at South Dakota State
Shawn Kenney & John BuntingESPN3 3 p.m. FCS First Round: Villanova at Stony Brook
Dan Gutowsky & John GregoryESPN3 3:30 p.m. No. 4 Florida at No. 10 Florida State
Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Holly RoweABC 3:30 p.m. No. 21 Oklahoma State at No. 13 Oklahoma
ESPN: Bob Wischusen, Danny Kanell & Maria TaylorESPN & ESPN Radio 3:30 p.m. Wisconsin at Penn State
Mark Jones, Brock Huard & Jessica MendozaESPN2 3:30 p.m. Vanderbilt at Wake Forest
Anish Shroff & Dan HawkinsESPNU 3:30 p.m. BYU at New Mexico State
Peter Young & John FinaESPN3 3:30 p.m. Troy at Middle Tennessee ESPN3 5 p.m. South Alabama at Louisiana-Lafayette ESPN3 7 p.m. No. 12 South Carolina at No. 11 Clemson
Joe Tessitore, Matt Millen & Shannon SpakeESPN 7 p.m. Missouri at No. 9 Texas A&M
Steve Levy, Ed Cunningham & Kaylee HartungESPN2 7 p.m. Mississippi State at Ole Miss
Clay Matvick, Matt Stinchcomb & Allison WilliamsESPNU 8 p.m. No. 1 Notre Dame at USC
ABC: Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit & Heather Cox
Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie, and Joe SchadABC & ESPN Radio 10:30 p.m. Louisiana Tech at San Jose State
Joe Davis & Tom LuginbillESPN2 * Local blackout may apply
That will do it.
Nov
21
ESPN Secures College Football Playoffs For 12 Years
The BCS has run its course and when it finally ends in 2014, the four team college football playoff system will take over. To ensure its long and successful run, ESPN has signed a 12 year contract with the BCS which will oversee the system to air all college football playoff games which will include the semifinals and finals along with any bowl games that will be included in the rotation, but not involved in the playoffs.
ESPN will have rights to air the playoffs on all platforms, TV, radio, online, mobiles, tablets plus any technology that will develop within the contract. In addition, ESPN will have the rights to distribute the college football playoff internationally.
Let’s take a look at the official press release which was announced shortly after 1 p.m. ET
All Related Games Including National Championship, Semifinals And More
ESPN and the group that will administer the new college football playoff have reached an agreement in principle to present the playoff games and selected other games for 12 years on an exclusive basis across ESPN’s platforms. The agreement will begin after the 2014 regular season (including January 2015) and continue through after the 2025 regular season (January 2026). It includes the national championship game and semifinals, as well as other bowl games that will be part of the rotation to host the semifinals. Combined with previous deals for the Rose, Sugar and Orange Bowls, the arrangement would provide ESPN with rights to all games that are involved in the new post-season arrangement to determine a college football national champion.
The agreement was announced today by ESPN President John Skipper and Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the BCS and the future college football playoff.
ESPN would feature the games on ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Mobile TV and via WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox LIVE. Additionally, ESPN would have the rights to distribute the matchups on ESPN 3D, ESPN Deportes and around the world via ESPN International.
Specifically, the arrangement would provide ESPN with rights to:
- Championship Games: Coverage of each year’s championship game pitting the semifinal winners against each other on the Monday at least seven days after the semifinals at sites to be determined by the commissioners
- Semifinals: Coverage of two semifinals each year matching four seeded teams identified by a selection committee to be named by the commissioners. The semifinals will be rotated among six bowl games consisting of three “contract bowls” and three “host bowls” to be determined by the commissioners.
- Additional bowls in the playoff format: Coverage of all remaining games from the sites of the three “host bowls” during the years those bowls are not semifinal sites. Note: ESPN had previously secured the rights to the Rose, Sugar and Orange Bowl games for the same 12-year period (through January 2026).
- Related programming: Exclusive rights to branded content throughout each season, including the official team-selection announcement.
“Because of college football’s widespread popularity and the incredible passion of its fans, few events are more meaningful than these games,” Skipper said. “We are ecstatic at the opportunity to continue to crown a college football champion on ESPN’s outlets for years to come, the perfect finale to our year-round commitment to the sport.”
Hancock added, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with ESPN for 12 more years. ESPN’s outlets provide numerous opportunities to bring this iconic event to the fans. Folks are going to love this playoff and the attention ESPN will give to it.”
ESPN is in the midst of a four-year agreement for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). The network televises all five games from the current format, including the Rose, Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls, as well as the BCS National Championship Game. The two BCS National Championship Games on ESPN (2011, 2012) have generated the two largest audiences for any program in the history of cable television.
The new playoff will be administered by the Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and independent institutions.
The agreement in principle is subject to completion of definitive documentation and all necessary approvals.
More on this throughout the day.
Nov
21
NFL Viewing Picks For Thanksgiving Day, 11/22/2012
All Times Eastern
Pregame and Studio Shows
NFL GameDay Morning — NFL Network, 10 a.m.
The NFL Today — CBS, noon
Fox NFL Sunday — Fox, 4 p.m.
NFL GameDay Scoreboard — NFL Network, 4 p.m.
NFL Total Access — NFL Network, 7 p.m.
Fox NFL Sunday Postgame — Fox, 7:30 p.m.
Football Night in America — NBC, 8 p.m.
NFL Total Access — NFL Network, 11:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
CBS/Dial Global Radio
Houston at Detroit — Jim Nantz/Phil Simms (CBS); Kevin Kugler/Mark Malone/Hub Arkush (Dial Global)
4:30 p.m.
Fox/Dial Global Radio
Washington at Dallas — Joe Buck/Troy Aikman/Pam Oliver/Erin Andrews (Fox); Tom McCarthy/Tony Boselli/Scott Kaplan (Dial Global)
8:28 p.m.
NBC/Dial Global Radio
New England at New York Jets — Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth/Michele Tafoya (NBC); Ian Eagle/Boomer Esiason/Laura Okmin (Dial Global)
Nov
21
Wednesday’s Viewing Picks
College Basketball
Men’s
Cancun Challenge, Cancun, Mexico
3rd Place Game: Western Kenticky vs. DePaul — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
Final: Wichita State vs. Iowa — CBS Sports Network, 9:30 p.m.
Maui Invitational, Maui, HI
7th Place Game: Texas vs. Mississippi State — ESPNU, 2:30 p.m.
5th Place Game: USC vs. Marquette — ESPN2, 5 p.m.
3rd Place Game: North Carolina vs. Chaminade — ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.
Final: Butler vs. Illinois — ESPN, 10 p.m.
NIT Season Tip-Off, New York, NY
Semifinals
Delaware vs. Kansas City — ESPNU, 7 p.m.
Michigan vs. Pittsburgh — ESPN, 10 p.m.
Princeton at Syracuse — Big East Network, 7 p.m.
North Florida at Florida State — Fox Sports Net-regional (North Plus/South/West)/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus/NESN/Sun Sports, 7 p.m.
Morehead State at Kentucky — Fox Sports South/Fox College Sports Atlantic, 7 p.m.
Miami (OH) at William & Mary — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at St. John’s — Big East Network, 7:30 p.m.
UNC-Wilmington at Purdue — Big Ten Network, 8 p.m.
Texas-San Antonio at BYU — BYU TV, 9 p.m.
Idaho State at Utah — Pac-12 Network, 9 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at San Diego State — Fox Sports Net (Prime Ticket/San Diego)/Fox College Sports Pacific, 10 p.m.
College Football
CFB Daily — ESPNU, 1 p.m.
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
College Volleyball
Women’s
WAC Championship, San Antonio, TX
Idaho vs. New Mexico State — ESPNU, 5 p.m.
Arkansas at LSU — ESPNU, 9 p.m.
Golf
LPGA Tour: Handa’s Heroes — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.
MLB
Clubhouse Confidential — MLB Network, 5:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball: The Faith of 50 Million People — MLB Network, 9 p.m.
NASCAR
Inside NASCAR: Week 11 — Showtime, 11 p.m.
NBA
Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City — ESPN, 7:30 p.m.
NBA GameTime — NBA TV, 7 p.m.
NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
Around the League Live — NFL Network, 5 p.m.
John Riggins: A Football Life — NFL Network, 8 p.m.
Inside the NFL: Week 11 — Showtime, 9 p.m.
NFL Turning Point: Week 11 — NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m.
Sound FX: Week 11 — NFL Network, 10:30 p.m.
Soccer
International Friendly
Argentina vs. Brazil — beIN Sport, 6:55 p.m.
Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The ‘Lights — NBC Sports Network, 8 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network/Root Sports (Northwest/Pittsburgh/Rocky Mountain), 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 10 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/DanPatrick.com, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is Totally Nuts Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Sportfolio — Bloomberg, 9:30 p.m.
Jim Rome on Showtime (series premiere) — Showtime, 10 p.m.
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight
UNITE — ESPNU, midnight
UEFA Champions League
Group Stage
Zenit vs. Málaga — Fox Soccer, noon
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid — Fox Soccer/Fox Deportes, 2:30 p.m.
Arsenal vs. Montpelier — Fox Soccer Plus, 2:30 p.m.
Anderlecht vs. Milan — Fox Sports Net, 2:30 p.m.
UEFA Champions League Pregame — Fox Soccer/Fox Soccer Plus/Fox Sports Net, 2 p.m.
UEFA Champions League Highlights — Fox Soccer, midnight
Entertainment
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving — ABC, 8 p.m.
Survivor: Philippines — CBS, 8 p.m.
The Man with the Golden Gun — BBC America, 8 p.m.
Safe House — HBO, 8 p.m.
My Grandmother’s Ravioli: Eva Levitis – Russian Fare — Cooking Channel, 8:30 p.m.
Restaurant: Impossible: Poco’s on the Boulevard — Food Network, 9 p.m.
Combat Countdown: Surprise Attack — Military Channel, 9 p.m.
Border Wars:War Games — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Ghost Hunters — SyFy, 9 p.m.
Extra Virgin: Boys and Their Bikes — Cooking Channel, 9:30 p.m.
Sweat Equity: Garage Gym — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Private Practice — ABC, 10 p.m.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — CBS, 10 p.m.
Restaurant Stakeout: On It’s Last Leg — Food Network, 10 p.m.
American Horror Story: Asylum — FX, 10 p.m.
Hell on the Highway: A Cold Day in Hell — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Food Paradise: Manliest Restaurants 2 — Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
Transporter 3 — IFC, 10:15 p.m.
Sandra Lee’s Taverns, Lounges & Clubs: Bowling With the Punches — Cooking Channel, 10:30 p.m.
Sweat Equity: Retro Redo — DIY Network, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: East London — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Conspiracy Theory With Jesse Ventura: Time Travel — truTV, 11 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Nov
20
Monday Night Football’s Bears-49ers Game Does Well
While the game was a 32-7 blowout and not as close as the score indicated, ESPN still received very good numbers for Monday Night’s Chicago-San Francisco matchup.
Overall, ESPN received a 7.9 final rating which is up slightly from last year’s Week 11 game between Kansas City and New England which had a 7.8 rating. Viewership was up also, 12.47 million viewers for Monday’s game as compared to 12.344 million last year.
And for the local markets, Chicago had a combined 24.4 rating and San Francisco saw a combined 21.1.
We have the official press release from ESPN.
Bears-49ers Delivers 9.2 Rating and 12,472,000 Million Viewers
Last night’s ESPN Monday Night Football game – a San Francisco 49ers’ 32-7 win over the Chicago Bears – won the night among all television programs on broadcast or cable in all key male and adult demos. Similarly, ESPN led all television networks in those same categories.
The telecast delivered a 9.2 household coverage rating (7.9 US), representing an average of 9,067,000 households (12,472,000 million viewers – P2+), according to Nielsen. It peaked between 9:45–10 p.m. ET with a 11.2 coverage rating.
In Chicago, the game delivered a 14.5 rating on ESPN and a 9.9 rating on WCIU-IND, for a combined 24.4 rating in the market. In San Francisco, the game delivered a 8.2 rating on ESPN and a 12.9 rating on KPIX-CBS, for a combined 21.1 rating in the market. The top-10 metered markets (not including primary home team markets): Sacramento (19.5), Las Vegas (19.5), Milwaukee (15.8), New Orleans (14.7), Phoenix (12.2), Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News (12.1), Richmond (11.7), San Diego (11.5), Denver (11.2) and Baltimore (11.2).
Through the first 11 weeks of the NFL season (12 games), MNF is averaging a 9.7 household coverage rating (8.3 US), 9,505,000 households and 13,042,000 viewers, down slightly from the same point last season
ESPN Digital Platforms
ESPN also saw significant traffic across its digital platforms on Sunday and Monday:
- ESPN.com NFL section – An average minute audience of 29,000, a 26 percent increase from last year, reaching 3.4 million unique visitors
- ESPN.com Fantasy Football section – An average minute audience of 54,000, a 33 percent gain, reaching 2.6 million unique visitors
- ESPN mobile Web NFL section – An average minute audience of 44,000, up 72 percent, reaching 3.3 million unique visitors.
ESPN Deportes
ESPN Deportes’ Spanish language telecast of the Bears-49ers game delivered a 0.7 Hispanic household coverage rating with 38,000 Hispanic household impressions (58,000 Hispanic viewers – P2+). For the season, MNF on ESPN Deportes (12 telecasts) is averaging a 0.7 Hispanic household coverage rating with 38,000 Hispanic household impressions (59,000 Hispanic viewers – P2+). Ratings are up 17 percent over 2011, while viewership (P2+) is up 37 percent.Panthers-Eagles on MNF Next Week
ESPN’s MNF returns with a matchup of NFC teams as the Philadelphia Eagles host Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on November 26 at 8:30 p.m.
That’s it.
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