Announced at the ESPN Upfronts in New York today, the network will unveil a new NFL studio show in August, “NFL Insiders” to be hosted by Suzy Kolber. ESPN’s NFL insiders, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen will be part of the show. Former NFL general manager Bill Polian will also take part. Other ESPN’ers who will be seen will be John Clayton and Ed Werder. Draftnik Mel Kiper, Jr. and all-around charlatan Todd McShay will appear in the offseason leading up to the NFL Draft.
The show will make its debut on August 5 and replace the horrible NFL32 on that date.
Here’s the ESPN announcement.
ESPN’s NFL Insiders to Debut in August with Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter
Suzy Kolber to Host New Daily, Weekday Show, Beginning Aug. 5
ESPN will debut NFL Insiders, a new one-hour weekday pro football-themed show, in time for the 2013 season. The year-round program will focus on the biggest NFL news stories and information each day, including front office decisions, coaching moves, trades, free agency, the NFL Draft, and more.
NFL Insiders will examine the league from the perspectives of people who make decisions and from those who are first to report the news. Scheduled to debut Monday, Aug. 5 – the day after the Pro Football Hall of Fame game – the new show will replace NFL32.
Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter, two of the most respected reporters in the NFL, will be featured prominently on NFL Insiders and will have an even greater platform for breaking league news. Fans will also gain an inside look into how teams operate from six-time NFL Executive of the Year Bill Polian, who has more than a quarter century of front office experience. Veteran host/anchor Suzy Kolber will host the show from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., headquarters.
“There is nothing more stimulating for a reporter than when you know you’re about to tell somebody something they haven’t heard until that very moment,” said Mortensen. “This is the essence of what Adam and I and this great team of contributors will bring each day to NFL Insiders, and we’re excited to get started.”
ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton and NFL insider Ed Werder will also have key roles, along with NFL Draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, who will appear regularly in the offseason during the lead-up to the NFL Draft.
“Whether it’s in season or out of season, fans crave NFL news and that’s exactly what NFL Insiders will have every day with a smart presentation and some of the most connected people in the league,” said Seth Markman, senior coordinating producer, who oversees ESPN’s NFL studio shows.
In addition to ESPN’s popular television personalities, the daily four-person NFL Insiders panel will draw from a roster of accomplished journalists, former front office executives and other league experts as regular contributors, including:
- Former Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage;
- Former St. Louis Rams general manager Billy Devaney;
- USA Today Sports NFL columnist Jarrett Bell;
- Sirius/XM radio host Adam Caplan;
- ESPN.com senior NFL writer Ashley Fox;
- ESPN.com NFC East blogger Dan Graziano; and
- ESPN Insider and ESPN Boston writer Field Yates.
NFL Insiders is the newest addition to ESPN’s comprehensive year-round NFL programming lineup. Other popular NFL-branded studio shows include Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, NFL Live, NFL PrimeTime, NFL Kickoff, NFL Matchup and Mike and Mike’s Best of the NFL. ESPN is also home to sports television’s longest running series Monday Night Football, entering its 44thseason this fall.
One more ESPN announcement is coming up.
