This is what the networks are saying in advance on NFL Week 1. I’ll give you what CBS, Fox Sports and ESPN are either saying or covering on their pregame shows. Why not?
First, CBS Sports has highlights of its coverage plus some quotes from analyst Phil Simms.
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 1 (SUNDAY, SEPT. 13) AUDIBLES WITH “NFL ON CBS” LEAD ANALYST PHIL SIMMS
The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLIV, begins its Golden Anniversary 50th year broadcasting the NFL with regional coverage as THE NFL ON CBS kicks off its 2009 NFL season on Sunday, Sept. 13 (1:00-4:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.
THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action from the New York Jets-Houston Texans game live from Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.
Throughout the 2009 season, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast all of its games each week in HDTV, the highest definition television format – 1080i lines of picture resolution – along with 5.1 digital audio.
Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as executive producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
* * * * *
PHIL SIMMS
(On Rookie Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Matt Stafford): They have validated everything people have thought about them in the draft. If it had been up to me, not that I have the knowledge or resources that NFL teams have, I thought they were the first and second players in the draft. And from what I have seen, this pre-season backs up what I thought. Their talents are going to translate very well to the NFL. The most important thing is both teams have offensive coordinators that are going to build their offense around what they (Sanchez and Stafford) do best. I am looking forward to seeing what they do with Mark Sanchez this week. Brian Schottenheimer is the perfect match in every way. I like what he does as an offensive coordinator. He is young and wants to show off Mark Sanchez’s talents and personality. The big thing for Sanchez, which I’ll talk about this weekend, is the difference between the pros and college football. In the pros there will be long stretches where you have no chance to make plays. How you deal with those long stretches really determines the outcome of many games. You just have to wait and show patience. You might have to wait three weeks – you just hang in there and try not to throw any gas on the fire. And then when it’s your turn, you do it…
(On New York Jets vs. Houston): What is interesting about the game is that the Houston Texans have two 8-8 records back-to-back. They are somewhat of a trendy pick this year to make the playoffs and advance on their 8-8 records. My reaction? We will see. Going from 8-8 to 10-6 is like going from making $20,000 a year to making $100,000 a year. It’s a big, big jump. It usually takes stars, big time impact players, to make that happen. For Houston, Mario Williams and Andre Johnson are stars. There is a group of other guys that are close, but will they become impact players?
And this is what the NFL Today will feature on Sunday.
“THE NFL TODAY’S” SHANNON SHARPE JOINS SAN DIEGO’S ANTONIO CROMARTIE, TENNESSEE’S KEITH BULLUCK AND INDIANAPOLIS’S DWIGHT FREENEY IN AN EXTREME OFF-SEASON WORKOUT FOR WEEK 1 OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 13
THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLIV and broadcasting its Golden Anniversary 50th year of the NFL, kicks off its 2009 NFL season on Sunday, Sept. 13 (1:00-4:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).
THE NFL TODAY’S Shannon Sharpe joins NFL defensive stars Antonio Cromartie of San Diego, Keith Bulluck of Tennessee and Dwight Freeney of India
napolis in an “extreme workout” as they work to get in shape for the season. Training in the Santa Monica, Calif. mountains during the off-season, the players’ workout routine includes dragging 115-pound tires, flipping 150-pound tires and running uphill with wheelbarrows filled with 400 pounds of gravel. Deb Boulac is the producer.James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY “General Manager” Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.
Now, Fox Sports gives us some stuff from pregame show analyst Michael Strahan.
NFL on FOX Kicks Off Sweet 16th Seasons With Doubleheader Slate Loaded With League’s Top Stories:Giants, Cowboys, Favre’s Debut, Eagles, NFC Champ Cards
Strahan: Vick Can’t Be Too Productive For Eagles Or Else
NFL ON FOX KICKS OFF 16th SEASON WITH WEEK 1 DOUBLEHEADER ACTION – The NFL on FOX’s 16th consecutive season covering of the NFC package begins Sunday, September 13 with doubleheader coverage of seven games—each presented in crystal clear HD. The premier matchup of the day takes place at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ as Eli Manning and the defending NFC East Champion Giants host Jason Campbell and division rival Redskins at 4:15 PM ET. At 1:00 PM ET, coverage is highlighted by Brett Favre’s first regular season game under center for the Vikings when they travel to Cleveland to take on Eric Mangini’s Browns. In Tampa, Tony Romo and the T.O.-less Cowboys face rookie head coach Raheem Morris and the Bucs.
Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with the 2009 premiere of America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. NFL Insider Jay Glazer is back for another season of the latest league news and ‘scoop-age’ in the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment. In this week’s show, Bradshaw gives viewers, ‘What to look for in 2009.’ Also, Johnson breaks down the ‘Wildcat’ and gives viewers the inside info about last season’s trendiest offense. 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 and www.myspace.com/foxsports.
STRAHAN IS INTERESTED IN HOW REID HANDLES VICK PLAYING TIME – One of the biggest storylines heading into this upcoming NFL season on FOX is the return of Michael Vick. Vick is available to play for the Eagles in Week 3 and FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan believes that coach Andy Reid has to limit his playing time. “We all know he was amazing in the past and he’s looked pretty good in the preseason, but that’s a double-edged sword. He can’t play too much. I think the Eagles have to be careful with that. If he has too much success then Reid has a problem on his hands especially if Donovan McNabb stubs his toe and the fans start to call for Vick.”
And ESPN tells us the features it’s running on its various studio shows over the weekend.
ESPN’s Weekend and Monday NFL Stud
io FeaturesChris Berman’s Exclusive Interview with Tom Brady; Tedy Bruschi and Matt Millen make their Monday Night Countdown debut in Foxboro; Adam Schefter makes Countdown debut; and more
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown will preview the first weekend of the 2009 NFL season Sunday at 11 a.m. ET with Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson. Making his Countdown debut, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter joins senior analyst Chris Mortensen to provide the day’s headlines and league news.
The two-hour NFL pre-game show will include reports from Ed Werder covering Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns, Sal Paolantonio at the Philadelphia Eagles – Carolina Panthers game, and Michael Smith in Tampa for the Cowboys – Buccaneers game. Other highlights:
Chris Berman’s Exclusive Interview With Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady
Coming off a record-setting season in 2007 with 50 touchdown passes, Tom Brady’s 2008 season lasted barely nine minutes due to a season-ending knee injury. Following knee surgery and year-long rehab, the three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback is back at the helm of the Patriots offense. Brady sat down with Berman for an exclusive interview, his first one-on-one television interview since his injury, to be featured on Sunday NFL Countdown (11 a.m.), SportsCenter “Sunday Conversation” at 11 p.m., Monday Night Countdown (5 p.m.), and available on ESPN.com.
Favre: Why Come Back?
What motivates Brett Favre to keep coming back? And why can’t he let go? Greg Garber turns to Favre’s close friends, such as Michael Jordan, Evander Holyfield, Jerry Rice and Donald Trump, in search of answers.
Coaches Making Their Mark
Ed Werder examines how far new coaches go to put their imprint on their new teams, their motivations and how players react to a “new sheriff in town.”
Mayne Event: Philip Rivers’ Job Battle
Despite coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he threw 34 touchdown passes, San Diego’s Philip Rivers is worried about his job security. Kenny Mayne went to Huntsville, Ala., to meet the 15-year-old quarterback who beat Rivers in a summer skills competition and is now gunning for Chargers’ starting job, in this weeks “Mayne Event.”
Virtual Playbook: The “Wedge” Rule Change
In Virtual Playbook, returning for the second season, Tom Jackson breaks down the effect the “Wedge” rule change will have in the NFL this season.
Soundtracks – New Coaches
Eleven new head coaches will be patrolling NFL sidelines this season. Soundtracks” will feature the coaches in their first training camp.
Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em with Matthew Berry and Merril Hoge
ESPN’s fantasy football guru Matthew Berry and NFL analyst Merril Hoge return to debate which players to start or sit each week in the “Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em” segment.
Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson and Johnson will pick the biggest games of the day and tell fans which players will make the biggest impact in NFL’s Week 1 action. The list of game picks will be posted on www.espn.com/sundaycountdown after the show.
SPECIAL TWO-HOUR MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN, 5 P.M. ON ESPN
Monday Night Countdown will feature a special, two-hour season-opening edition with Berman, Carter, Jackson, Johnson, Mortensen and Schefter in Bristol and Stuart Scott, new Monday Night Countdown analyst Matt Millen, Tedy Bruschi, making his first Countdown appearance after joining ESPN this week, and Trent Dilfer at the MNF game in Foxboro, Mass. The pre-game show will lead into the kickoff of ESPN’s Monday Night Football doubleheader – Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (7 p.m.), featuring Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden, and San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders (10:15 p.m.) with Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic and Steve Young.
Reporters Suzy Kolber will cover the Bills and Wendi Nix will cover the Patriots. Michele Tafoya and analyst Marcellus Wiley will be in Oakland covering the Chargers and Raiders. Other highlights:
ESPN The Magazine’s “For Love or the Game:” Sammy Morris
Patriots running back Sammy Morris will featured in the season-opening edition of “For Love or the Game,” a Countdown segment that pairs a player with his significant other and a teammate to find out which of them knows more about the NFL athlete. Morris’ wife, Leslie, and his teammate Laurence Maroney battle to see who really knows Morris better.
Unmasked: LaDainian Tomlinson
“Unmasked,” the Monday Night Countdown segment that debuted last year, returns with LaDainian Tomlinson, one of NFL’s best running backs over the past decade. In his own words, Tomlinson discussed what is driving him to return to form in 2009.
Soundtracks: Best of Terrell Owens
Countdown captures the best on-the-field sights and sounds of Terrell Owens, one of the league’s most dynamic wide receivers
Virtual Playbook: Brady to Moss
Countdown’s Jackson takes viewers on the field to show how the return of Tom Brady will once again make him and Randy Moss the most feared passing combination in the NFL.
WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN SEGMENTS
TEAMS AT 20 – Every 20 minutes reporters Tafoya, Nix and Kolber will update news from the teams in their preparations for the game, beginning with NFL Live at 1:30 p.m.
FIELD PASS – Countdown offers an all-access look at pre-game preparations as the players get ready for kickoff. Analysts will also breakdown the important storylines and key players before the game.
C’MON MAN – Countdown personalities share their head-scratching plays from Week 1.
In addition, Monday Night Football’s Tirico, Jaworski and Gruden will preview the night’s match-up, with Mortensen and Schefter covering breaking news from around the league, and the Countdown analysts offering their “Lead Pipe Lock” predictions for the game.
NFL MATCHUP, SUNDAY 3 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M. ON ESPN
NFL Matchup, returns with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge as they preview the 2009 NFL season-opening weekend. Each NFL Sunday morning (3 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.), the trio will bring viewers inside the film room for the Xs and Os analysis of the matchups. The 30-minute program – taped each week at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey – highlights team strategy and game planning. Highlights:
- Bears @ Packers – Hoge explains how quarterback Aaron Rodgers, one of the sharpest quarterbacks in the preseason, should attack the Bears defense Sunday night.
- Redskins @ Giants – While the Giants don’t appear to have a wide receiver who can command a defense’s attention, Jaworski shows how quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants offense will run the ball no matter how many defenders the Redskins pack into the box.
- Bills @ Patriots – Jaworski reveals how New England uses formation and alignment to create mismatches in its passing game.
- Jets @ Texans – Though rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has New Yorkers excited about Jets football, Hoge offers insight into how more disciplined footwork will help Sanchez avoid erratic plays.
- Dolphins @ Falcons – The Falcons’ acquisition of Tony Gonzalez was one the biggest off-season moves. Hoge shows how Gonzalez’ size and athleticism create mismatches, making the Falcons offense the most versatile in the league.
- Vikings @ Browns – Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre are the premier players on the Vikings offense, but Jaworski explains how the screen game will be an explosive weapon for the Vikings all season.
- Cowboys @ Buccaneers – The Cowboys have had a pass-heavy offense the past few seasons and Hoge uses “the Coaches Clicker” to show how Dallas must use tight end Jason Witten in the running game to succeed.
- Tom Brady’s Knee – Jaworski points out how quarterback Tom Brady, though back after a season-ending injury, has looked a bit uncomfortable and protective of his knee at times this preseason.
Coming up next, Viewing Picks. A lot of them. Keep your RSS feeds updated.
