Two NFL-centric Press Releases

I have two NFL-related press releases for you. Later tonight, I’ll provide linkage focusing on the DirecTV/Versus dispute that has left the sports network off the satellite provider.

First, ESPN says Monday Night Football gave the network its best exhibition season ratings in over a decade.

Monday Night Football: ESPN’s Most-Viewed Preseason Game Ever and Highest-Rated Since 1996

ESPN “Wins the Night” Among All Nets, Concludes Its Most-Viewed NFL Preseason Ever

Last night’s preseason telecast of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, a 17-10 victory for the Minnesota Vikings over the Houston Texans, earned a 6.0 rating, representing an average of 5,943,000 households (7,918,000 viewers – P2+), making it ESPN’s most-viewed NFL preseason game ever and its highest-rated since New England-Dallas on Aug. 12, 1996 – 6.6 rating.

ESPN’s MNF game was the most-viewed program of the night (broadcast or cable) among households, viewers, all key male demos, Adults 18-34, and Adults 18-49. Additionally, ESPN was the No. 1 network for the night (broadcast or cable) among households, viewers, and all key male and adult demos.

The game, which featured quarterback Brett Favre’s second start since joining the Vikings, ranks as the ninth most-viewed cable program of the year and ESPN’s third highest-rated/most-viewed program of the year among households.

ESPN’s four preseason games in August averaged a 4.3 rating, 4,233,000 households, and 5,516,000 viewers (P2+), representing increases of 41%, 45%, and 44%, respectively, over the 2008 preseason schedule. The four-game average is the highest-rated preseason for ESPN since 2006 (4.6 rating) and the second highest-rated of the past 15 seasons.

Additionally, this ranks as ESPN’s most-viewed NFL preseason ever.

MNF REGULAR SEASON

ESPN will kick off the 40^th season of Monday Night Football with a season-opening doubleheader on September 14 with a pair of Legacy Games celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the American Football League. ESPN’s new MNF commentator team of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (7 p.m. ET), followed by Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic and Steve Young calling the San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders (10:15 p.m. ET).

And here are highlights from an NFL Network conference call involving new analyst Michael Irvin and veteran analyst Marshall Faulk.

Excerpts from Monday Conference Call Featuring NFL Network Analysts Michael Irvin and Marshall Faulk Introducing NFL GameDay Sunday Programming

NFL GameDay Morning returns for its second season beginning Sunday, September 13 at 9:00 AM ET. This fall, NFL GameDay Morning expands to four hours and adds Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin to its all-pro lineup of Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci. Spero Dedes, alongside newcomer Stacey Dales co-host the first NFL pregame show on the air Sunday mornings, going straight to the stadiums for the latest news, reports and breaking stories from radio play-by-play announcers and analysts from all NFL teams.

Below are quotes from a conference call featuring Irvin and Faulk:

“If you meet him, you’ll remember the kid. He has a smile on his face. He loves and enjoys football. You can tell that he is excited. He understands about the opportunity he has of playing in the NFL.”

“There are not many players in this league, especially playing running back that when you put the ball in their hands, something good is going to happen. I’ve been watching Leon since he was wearing No. 3 at Florida State and I thought the guy had a knack when the football was in his hands, he was going to make a play. I call it the Barry Sanders’ effect. Whenever they handed the ball to Barry, you knew something good was going to happen. Even if it was a two yard game, it was the best two yard game you ever seen. Leon has a lot of that in him. He is learning how to run in between the tackles in the NFL.” – Faulk on Jets RB Leon Washington

“A lot of us look at Brett Favre with our hearts and we love him and we appreciate all that he’s done. But Green Bay is about to beat them again. That’s just how it’s going to end up. Green Bay is the best team in the North.” – Irvin on the NFC North race

“What I’ve seen from him thus far says that he will have an even better year this year. He has a running game because Ryan Grant will be in play and the offensive line is pretty good.” – Faulk on QB Aaron Rodgers potential this season

“I like the Green Bay Packers to win the North. If you ask, ‘Is Cutler the best quarterback?’ I’ll say he’s probably the better talent, but being the better talent doesn’t mean you’re the best quarterback.” – Faulk on the NFC North and QBs Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers

“I’m giving it all to Aaron Rogers in the North, period. Point blank. He has phenomenal talent and is a phenomenal player.” – Irvin on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay’s chance to win the NFC North

“I never ever, ever believe you get better getting rid of the type of talent that T.O. put up. He put up 36 touchdowns in the last three seasons. That being said, I also know – and I have three rings to show it – that you don’t win Super Bowls unless you’re all together as a team. And the Cowboys, from what I’ve read and what I’ve seen, are more together as a team this year. Hopefully that makes the difference.” – Irvin on the Dallas Cowboys

“Last year we just scratched the surface and going into this year with four hours, we intend to bring our viewers everything that they want to hear about their team and other games.” – NFL Network analyst Marshall Faulk on expectations for “NFL GameDay Morning” this season

“It’s always
the fresh new face that just comes off the football field and you want to put them behind a desk. So I really didn’t expect it to come along. Fortunately, [NFL Network executive producer] Eric Weinberger and those guys over at the NFL Network, they’re saying it’s not about putting on a fresh new face, it’s about putting on quality shows. Quality shows, that edify, but also entertain.” – Irvin on receiving the opportunity to work for NFL Network

“When you hear guys talking about walking away from the game, rarely do you hear them talk about missing playing more than they miss the locker room and being around the guys. Returning to TV in an analyst role will give me that opportunity to get that locker room back again.” – NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin on returning to TV

“You will see quarterbacks like Pat White and Michael Vick that are really going to benefit from this new innovation, if you want to call it that. It’s really just kind of like bell bottoms and straight legs – we keep going back, but we call it new.“ – Irvin on the Wildcat formation and its impact within the NFL

“Clearly it’s Philip Rivers’ team, but it doesn’t mean that L.T. can’t have the year that L.T. has been accustomed to having…All we’ve known about San Diego is you have to stop L.T. Now the transition is being made. Now it’s Philip Rivers’ team and this kid can throw the football. You have to start backing up and respecting his ability to throw the football.” – Irvin on Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers offense

“The toughest thing for a running back to do is play on a team that loves to throw the football and find your niche in whatever they ask you to do, whether its pass block, running a screen or catch passes. [Brian Westbrook] is able to be a complete player and help them in the passing game just as well as he helps in the running game.” – Faulk on Eagles RB Brian Westbrook

“As the physical parts of your game start to deteriorate and you see that you don’t have the capabilities of doing everything you once were able to do, the mental side is what gets you through…When you play football with your brain, it allows your talents to come out to fruition and for you to go out and excel far faster and greater than your opponent if they don’t have the knowledge that you have.” – Faulk on the mental side of football and the value of a strong football IQ

“Talent is a great thing and making plays are a great thing. But making plays as you’re winning games on your way to a Super Bowl, that’s superior stuff right there…It says that you not only know how to play great, but you also know how to help others and make others play great. And those are the guys that usually end up in Canton.” – Irvin on what sets great players apart

More later. Keep your RSS feeds updated.