With this being the first NFL Sunday of the season, let’s do some linkage.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News notes that with a new NFL season starting, NFL Network’s RedZone has quadrupled its affiliate base from last season.
Mike writes that America is truly a football nation.
The Associated Press reports that CBS NFL Today analyst Shannon Sharpe is the subject of a temporary restraining order
Chris Berman tells Business Week’s Diane Brady how he almost left ESPN.
A few links to Pro Football Talk today. First, Mike Florio says record ratings for the NFL season opener should be a warning sign to the Players Association.
Michael David Smith of PFT notes that the New York Giants won’t be doing Hard Knocks next season or any season.
Michael has video of Dan Hampton apologizing for comments he made on last week’s edition of Pro Football Weekly.
Milton Kent of Fanhouse notes that Fox Sports will go all HD for the NFL meaning you’ll see it in letterbox format if you still have an old school standard def set.
Wayne Friedman of Mediapost suggests it’s time to abolish the silly NFL blackout rules.
Dr. Gloom and Doom of the New York Post isn’t thrilled about a new NFL season on TV.
Bob Raissman from the New York Daily News says Giants coach Tom Coughlin will be under a heavier media spotlight this season.
Neil Best sighting! Neil Best sighting! From Newsday, we have the best of Neil Best’s blogging from the week. One of these days, we’ll get more from Neil through that dreaded paywall.
Puck The Media’s Steve Lepore writes in SB Nation NY that the Giants will reign supreme in the New York area despite increased buzz on the Jets.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that the Australian Open will remain in the ESPN fold for a while.
Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record says the New York Football Giants have bumped the Mets off WFAN today.
Greg Connors of the Buffalo News handicaps the NFL on TV this season.
At the Washington Examiner, Jim Williams says the Baltimore Ravens will have a home for its live postgame show … on the web.
Jim goes behind the scenes with NBC’s Sunday Night Football crew.
Alan Binder of the Tuscaloosa (AL) News looks at the huge crowd that turned up Saturday for ESPN’s College Gameday.
Barry Horn talks with Al Michaels about his 25th season in calling primetime football.
I haven’t linked to Jerry Garcia at the San Antonio Express-News in ages. Here’s a story from Jerry about 3-D TV.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says ESPN on ABC’s Sean McDonough and Matt Millen did their homework on the Sooners.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has one NFL TV analyst feeling the marriage of Bears QB Jay Cutler and offensive coordinator Mike Martz is a bad fit.
Michael Rand of the Minneapolis Star Tribune talks with ESPN’s Jenn Brown, not just once, but twice.
Chad Cripe of the Idaho Statesman says ESPN College Gameday analyst Lee Corso caused an uproar yesterday when he said the show would be visiting Boise in two weeks. ESPN spokesman Mike Humes tweeted me that the site is in consideration.
By the way, Mike announced that this week’s College Gameday will originate from Auburn.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks at Mike Florio expanding his Pro Football Talk empire.
Matt James of the Fresno Bee says HDTV is beginning to lure people away from the stadium.
Sports Media Watch has its Weekend Ratings Predictions.
SMW has a few news and notes.
Chris Bryne of Eye on Sports Media was puzzled over a Fox Sports Net college football production.
The great Robert Littal of Black Sports Online notes that the New York Jets apparently made a reporter from Mexico’s TV Azteca (Ines Sainz), cry in the locker room.
Robert follows that up with Sainz tweeting about her experience.
That will do it for us today. Expect NFL pregame quotage later.
