Youth Football Safety and Helmet Replacement Partnership Launches

Partnership between NFL, NFL Players Association, USA Football, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA), NCAA, National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), Rawlings, Riddell, Schutt, and Xenith is supported by U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission

As part of a joint commitment to player safety, a group of sports entities and equipment manufacturers has entered into an unprecedented partnership to create a youth football safety and helmet replacement program for youth in underserved communities.  The initiative will remove helmets that are 10 years old or older and replace them with new helmets at no cost to the beneficiary leagues and will provide coaches with the latest educational information to help keep their young athletes safer and healthier.   

In its first year, the program is being piloted in four markets: the California Bay Area, Gulf Coast region, Northern Ohio, and the tri-state region around New York City.  The NFL, NFLPA, NCAA and NOCSAE have committed a combined total of approximately $1 million to the program in its first year. The pilot program is designed to provide valuable information on the state of youth football helmets, including the number of helmets 10 years old or older in use.  As of 2012, NAERA members will no longer recondition or recertify any helmet that is 10 years of age or older.  NOCSAE will collect the helmets when removed and use them for ongoing research programs.

USA Football, the sport’s national governing body and the Official Youth Football Development Partner of the NFL and NFLPA, will lead the execution of the program. Other partners in the initiative are the NFL, NFL Players Association, CDC, NAERA, NCAA, NOCSAE and the SGMA.  Equipment manufacturers Rawlings, Riddell, Schutt, and Xenith are providing discounted helmets.  To learn more or apply for helmets, visit www.usafootball.com/playersafety

The effort, initiated by CPSC Chairman INEZ TENENBAUM, is expected to educate thousands of youth football coaches on vital health and safety issues and provide nearly 13,000 new helmets to youth football players in low-income communities in 2012.  Helmets will be distributed beginning in July.

“We are pleased to be part of this initiative, which will give children in underserved communities access to new helmets, and to reach coaches and parents with educational information to help protect young athletes from head injuries,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “This program is part of our focus on player safety at all levels of the game. We are proud to join with these well-respected organizations to make the Helmet Replacement Program a reality.”

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NFL Minicamp and OTA Dates Announced

Following are the rookie and veteran minicamp dates for 2012, as well as the organized team activity (OTA) dates.

Clubs are permitted to hold a rookie minicamp on one of the first two weekends after the NFL Draft and conduct one mandatory minicamp for veteran players.  Clubs with new head coaches, however, are permitted to conduct one additional voluntary minicamp for veteran players.  There is no restriction on the number of minicamps a club may hold for rookie players.

For the complete release, click here

Four Players Suspended for Participation in Saints’ Pay-For-Performance/Bounty Program

Four players – Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith, and Jonathan Vilma – were notified today that they have been suspended without pay for conduct detrimental to the NFL as a result of their leadership roles in the New Orleans Saints’ pay-for-performance/bounty program that endangered player safety over three seasons from 2009-2011. Participation by players in any such program is prohibited by the NFL Constitution and Bylaws, the standard NFL Player Contract, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

For the complete release, click here

More Than 40,000 High School Football Players to Participate in Nationwide NFL Character and Skill Development Program

NFL High School Player Development Program Presented by the National Guard To Be Held at 200 Sites in all 50 StatesThis Spring and Summer

More than 40,000 high school football players will focus on character development, life skills and on-field techniques from May-August as part of the NFL High School Player Development (HSPD) program which is presented by the National Guard through the NFL Youth Football Fund.

Since its inception in 2001, the HSPD program has provided participants with a curriculum that focuses on inspiring excellence in the classroom, community, and on the playing field.  The program, which is funded by the National Guard through the NFL Youth Football Fund, is free for students and will be implemented at more than 200 sites in all 50 states and Puerto Rico this spring and summer.

The character development and life skills portion of the week often features guest speakers and discussions on life after high school.  Students also will take part in a Center for Disease Control (CDC) session about player safety, including concussion treatment and management.

For the complete release, click here

NFL & TV partners honored by National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Sept. 11 remembrance and salute

COMMISSIONER GOODELL ACCEPTS PRESTIGIOUS “CHAIRMAN’S AWARD” FOR “EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING AND OUSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE” AT SPORTS EMMY CEREMONY

NFL MEDIA WINS TWO SPORTS EMMY AWARDS 

Commissioner ROGER GOODELL accepted on behalf of the NFL and its television partners the “Chairman’s Award” presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at last night’s Sports Emmy ceremony in New York. The NFL is the first sports organization to win this prestigious award.

The league and its TV partners were honored for “working together to remember the heroes of September 11 and mark the 10th Anniversary of that day with dignity and honor.”

NFL Media also won a pair of Sports Emmy awards last night with NFL Network and NFL Films earning honors for Men of Mettle from Ed Sabol’s Last Football Movie (Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics), and Sound FX: All Access (Outstanding Post Produced Audio). NFL Films, the most-honored filmmaker in sports, increased its total to 107 Sports Emmys. NFL Network has won 10 Sports Emmys in its eight-year history. 

The Chairman’s Award-winning September 11 remembrance featured special tributes originating from the three locations most affected by the terrorist attacks: Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA, The Pentagon in Arlington, VA, and Ground Zero at the 9/11 Memorial in New York. 

All games in each of the broadcast windows featured an NFL Films-produced introduction narrated by Academy Award-winner ROBERT DeNIRO and followed by performances of “Taps” by representatives of the U.S. Armed Forces from or near the sites of the attacks. The ceremonies were complimented by live shots of players and coaches from each of the 13 stadiums, followed by moments of silence and the playing of the National Anthem with American flags covering the entire field at each stadium.

The project was overseen and produced for the league by NFL vice president of production & operations Glenn Adamo. The theme for the presentation of “Taps” was developed by Scott Katz, who brought the concept to the league office and served as the lead director. NFL Films director of remote operations Dave Shaw led the operations and logistics for the project.

Previous recipients of the Chairman’s Award, which recognizes organizations and individuals for “excellence in broadcasting and outstanding public service to the greater community,” include the McNeil/Lehrer News Hour, CNN, and 60 Minutes.

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NFL Network sets records for all three days of 2012 NFL Draft

NFL Digital Media Properties Traffic Up 46%

NFL Network set records for ratings and viewership on all three days of the 2012 NFL Draft and posted a record three-day average of 757,000 viewers – up 34 percent from 2011, according to The Nielsen Company.

The network kicked off with a record 1.44 million viewers for its coverage of Thursday night’s first round – up 38 percent from last year. NFL Network viewership was up 46 percent on Day 2 and 31 percent on Day 3.

The NFL’s digital media platforms — including NFL.com, NFL Mobile Only From Verizon and other NFL mobile products — set a record with its three-day draft coverage as unique visitors jumped 46 percent compared to last year (and 56 percent increase over 2010).

2012 NFL Draft Round 1 highest-rated ever; More than 25 million watch first round

NFL Network & NFL Digital Properties Set Records

First-round coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft drew a combined total viewership of 25.3 million viewers on ESPN and NFL Network, according to The Nielsen Company.

The networks posted a record combined average rating of 5.28 – an 18 percent increase over last year’s first round (4.46 average rating).

The combined two-network average of 8.1 million viewers is up 16 percent from last year (7.0 million) and ranks as the second-most-watched first round ever (8.3 million in 2010).

NFL Network’s first-round coverage drew a record average of 1.4 million viewers – a 40 percent jump over last year’s previous record (1.0 million viewers).

The NFL’s digital media platforms — including NFL.com, NFL Mobile Only From Verizon and other NFL mobile products — set a record with its first-round draft coverage as unique visitors jumped 53 percent compared to last year (and 41 percent increase over 2010).

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Tebow or Romo? At least one of QBs in Saturday’s debut of “The Top 100 Players of 2012″ on NFL Network

Debut Episode This Saturday at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network Following NFL Draft

‘The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions’ Follows Each Episode at 9:00 PM ET, Featuring Commentary from NFL Network Analysts, NFL Players & Fans

Weekly Series Counts Down Top Players in Today’s Game as Voted on by Current NFL Players — Airs Every Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET Following April 28 Debut

39 New Players Crack the 2012 List

The votes are in and the players have spoken: at least one of these two quarterbacks – TIM TEBOW of the New York Jets and TONY ROMO of the Dallas Cowboys – is ranked among players No. 91-100 as voted by their fellow players in Saturday’s debut episode of The Top 100: Players of 2012 Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings debuting at 8:00 PM ET immediately following NFL Network’s live coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft.

For the second year, current NFL players have weighed in to determine the top players in today’s game on the new season of the returning series. After Saturday’s season debut, the NFL Films-produced series continues at its regular time on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET, beginning May 2.

Also in the debut episode:

• A trio of 1,000-yard tailbacks
• A three-time Pro Bowl lineman
• A Green Bay Packers offensive player

Immediately following each episode LIVE at 9:00 PM ET will be The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. Host Lindsay Rhodes and a rotating roster of NFL Network analysts and current NFL players discuss and debate the latest group of players to be unveiled from NFL Network’s Los Angeles studios. Fans have the opportunity to join in the debate and voice their own opinions and reactions on Facebook and Twitter, and vote for their own Top 100 on NFL.com/Top100.

The 11-part series which counts down from 100 to 1, unveiling 10 players in each one-hour episode. The season-finale unveiling the top 10 is split into two special one-hour episodes on Wednesday, June 27 at 8:00 PM & 9:00 PM ET.

A wide range of current NFL players present each selection and discuss the qualities which makes each player deserving of his ranking.

In the new Huddle page on NFL.com, fans can discuss The Top 100 list and voice their opinions on whether or not NFL players got it right. Huddle, a Top 100-specifc social media content page, allows viewers to share Top 100 content, and communicate across social media platforms. Additionally, fans can discuss and debate the players revealed during each episode using the hashtag #NFLTop100.

On NFL.com, viewers can vote on each player ranking and whether it should be higher or lower. Voting results from viewers will be revealed starting halfway through the list on Wednesday, May 30. Viewers can also pose questions for NFL Network analysts and player guests by tweeting their questions to @nflnetwork. An on-air social media crawl will display selected questions and the analysts will answer questions in every episode.

Provided below are some facts regarding The Top 100: Players of 2012 list:

• For the first time, all 32 teams are represented with at least one player on the list. Seattle and Buffalo players were not represented in 2011.
• The Top 100: Players of 2012 features 39 new players
• 24 players with a combined 31 Super Bowl rings.
• For the second consecutive year, the University of Miami, Fla. is the most-represented university (9 players).

For the complete press release and show schedule, click here.

Emmy-nominated “NFL Turning Point” renewed for 2012, 2013 & 2014 seasons

Dan Patrick returns as host

Show to air throughout NFL playoffs with four episodes added per season

Emmy Award-nominated NFL Turning Point, the NBC Sports Network’s program that utilizes NFL Films’ unprecedented access to examine the turning point of high-profile NFL games every week, has been renewed for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons with more episodes added to allow the program to air throughout the NFL playoffs, NFL Films and the NBC Sports Group announced today.

With Football Night in America’s Dan Patrick returning as host, the 60-minute NFL Turning Point will make its 2012 season debut on Wednesday, September 12, and will air a total of 22 episodes, running weekly on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET throughout the entire NFL season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl. The season finale, scheduled to air on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, will look back at the turning point of Super Bowl XLVII. During last year’s inaugural season, NFL Turning Point aired 18 times, primarily on Thursday nights and only aired one program during the playoffs, which was the week prior to the Super Bowl.

“We were so pleased with NFL Turning Point’s quality and performance during its inaugural year that we worked with our partners at NFL Films to increase the number of episodes this year, allowing fans to watch the show throughout the NFL playoffs,” said Jon Miller, president, programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “NFL Turning Point is a cornerstone of the NBC Sports Network’s new original programming and representative of our commitment to the highest quality production standards. The Emmy Award nomination for the show’s first season is validation of that commitment and a tribute to our partners at NFL Films, who are true master storytellers.”

Said NFL Films President Steve Sabol, “Last year we had a great rookie season, but as Paul Brown once told me, ‘In the NFL, the biggest jump comes between the first and second year.’ We hope NFL Turning Point makes that type of leap this fall.”

Following its debut season, NFL Turning Point was nominated for Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology in March by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The Sports Emmys will be awarded this Monday night in New York City.

Each week, NFL Films utilizes its unprecedented access to cover games in its traditional behind-the-scenes, award-winning style. The crucial moment in each game — its turning point — is examined in-depth and from all angles using NFL Films’ unmatched cinematography, sideline and on-field audio as well as postgame access to players and coaches.

33 NFL Greats to Announce Second & Third Round Draft Picks in Primetime; One Fan to Help Announce Pick of His/Her Favorite Team

The National Football League announced that 33 legendary NFL alumni, one representing each team and two representing the St. Louis Rams, will announce live on Friday, April 27, second- and third-round Draft picks from Radio City Music Hall.  This continues a successful program that began last year in which each selection in the second round is announced by a former player.

The NFL alumni scheduled to be on-hand to make the announcements from the podium feature six Pro Football Hall of Famers, including two from the Class of 2012.

For the complete release and list of players, click here