All 32 teams to play in primetime in 2012

New Spanish-language NFL RedZone channel to debut in ‘12

NFL Network will televise five additional regular-season games in 2012 as part of its Thursday Night Football package, NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL announced today. 

The Thursday Night Football schedule on NFL Network will now feature 13 games, all on Thursdays, from Weeks 2-15 (skipping Week 12). In previous years, the NFLN slate included at least one Saturday night game.  NBC will televise the Thursday night game on Thanksgiving in Week 12, in addition to the NFL Kickoff game.

“Adding these games to the NFL Network schedule will give more players, teams, and cities the primetime stage,” Commissioner Goodell said.  “Our fans can now get an early start on the NFL weekend in the season’s first 15 weeks.”

With the expansion of the Thursday Night Football schedule, all 32 NFL teams will now play at least one primetime game in 2012.  In addition, every club will play on one Thursday following a Sunday game.

Also in 2012, NFL Network will unveil a new Spanish-language NFL RedZone channel.  NFL RedZone, produced by NFL Network, debuted in 2009 and whips around to every NFL game on Sunday afternoons, delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments as they happen. The channel keeps fans up-to-date in real time, switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a chance to see the important plays.

Thursday Night Football averaged a record 6.2 million viewers in 2011 (not including over-the-air stations) – topping the average playoff viewership of other sports on cable. TNF has doubled average viewership from its inaugural season in 2006 (3.1 million viewers).

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Special Guest Analyst Packers CB Charles Woodson Joins NFL Network’s Roster of 21 Analysts, Hosts & Reporters

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network’s pregame show, NFL GameDay Morning will provide 8 ½ hours of live coverage starting at 9:00 AM ET with 21 on-air personalities who have won a total of 14 Super Bowl rings. NFL GameDay Morning is live from seven locations, including two sets at Lucas Oil Stadium. Additional locations include the Giants and Patriots team hotels, the NFL Tailgate, the Super Bowl Village, and with the fans at Super Bowl parties in New York and Foxborough restaurants.

NFL GameDay Morning features host Rich Eisen joined by Super Bowl winners Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp, along with Steve Mariucci. The special Super Bowl edition also includes host Melissa Stark on a second set along with Super Bowl winners Deion Sanders, Willie McGinest, Heath Evans and Brian Billick previewing the game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

Super Bowl-winning cornerback of the Green Bay Packers Charles Woodson joins the set as a special guest analyst to provide insight into the game and his own experience playing in last year’s Super Bowl.

Actor Dan Lauria returns in his role as Vince Lombardi to prepare the Giants and the Patriots for Super Bowl XLVI.

The following are highlights of Sunday’s Super Bowl pregame show on NFL Network:

9:00 AM ET  

• What to look for in Super Bowl XLVI with Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci

• Melissa Stark on “The Patriot Way” – how Bill Belichick turns spare parts into champions; includes interviews with Patriots Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater and Aaron Hernandez

10:00 AM ET

• NFL Films-produced feature goes “Back to the Future” to show the similarities between the Giants’ late-season runs in 2007 and 2011

• The NFL Season: A Biography examines the unique relationship between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his mentor Tom Martinez, who is waiting for a kidney transplant:

(Advanced preview of the feature): http://ftp2.nflfilmstv.com/filmsint/ftp-inet/flashplayer.html?s_video=Preview/the_season_more_than_a_mentor_v1_600ws.flv

• Analysts Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin highlight the key matchups

 11:00 AM ET

• Feature on how “The Catch” in Super Bowl XLII changed former Giants wide receiver David Tyree’s life
  

• Michael Lombardi on how Bill Belichick uses the Patriots’ loss in Super Bowl XLII to motivate his players
  

• Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders discuss the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012
  

• Players Only: The best and worst parts of Super Bowl week
  

12 Noon ET

• Actor/comedian and Boston sports fan Dennis Leary pays tribute to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady
  

• Steve Cyphers visits the Norman Lear Center for research and public policy at the USC Annenberg School for Communication to investigate why America was obsessed with Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow during the 2011 NFL season
  

• Deion Sanders, Brian Billick and Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson discuss how winning the Super Bowl has changed their lives
  

1:00 PM ET

• Steve Cyphers on the anxiety of the Manning Family on Super Bowl Sunday
  

• NFL Network analysts debate if Eli Manning wins Super Bowl XLVI, which Manning has achieved more in his career?
  

• NFL Films presents piece on the emotional year Patriots owner Robert Kraft has experienced with the passing of his wife and the Patriots winning the AFC title.

• Former New England linebacker Willie McGinest on the impact of the Kraft Family on the Patriots

2:00 PM ET

• Three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest sits down with his former teammate Tom Brady for a 1-on-1 interview
  

• Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin debate the hot topics of Super Bowl XLVI

3:00 – 5:30 PM ET

• Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Kurt Warner sits down with Super Bowl XLII MVP and former teammate Eli Manning for a 1-on-1 interview:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d8267a9e4/Sunday-Sitdown-Eli-Manning

• Essay written by Indiana native Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated  on what hosting the Super Bowl means to the Hoosier State

• Stars of the upcoming film “That’s My Boy,” Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg join the set

• Tale of the Tape: how the Giants and Patriots match up at quarterback (Kurt Warner), running back (Marshall Faulk), wide receiver (Michael Irvin), on defense (Warren Sapp) and coaching (Steve Mariucci).

• Super Bowl XLVI MVP picks

• Game picks                       

***Immediately after the NBC postgame show – NFL GameDay Final

Host Rich Eisen and analysts Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin provide analysis and highlights from the field, plus live interviews with all the stars of the game and the winning coach. Albert Breer, Stacey Dales and Lindsay Soto provide interviews following the game.

 NFL GameDay Morning Super Bowl Pregame Show Roster

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Pre-register now at NFL.com/fantasy

Super Bowl commercial introduces game

 NFL.com today introduced the NFL Perfect Challenge featuring a $1 million prize for picking the “perfect” fantasy lineup in any week of the 2012 NFL regular season. Fans may pre-register for the free game now at www.nfl.com/fantasy.

A special 30-second commercial during Super Bowl XLVI introduces the game, marking the first time the NFL has launched a digital product with a Super Bowl ad. The commercial was produced with Grey Advertising.

The new offering puts experts and beginners both in the game with a shot at the ultimate fantasy prize. With NFL Perfect Challenge, the NFL has created the first fantasy game for everybody.

NFL Perfect Challenge features an eight-player roster each week – with one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker, and one defense/special teams unit.  To qualify for the $1 million prize, fantasy team owners must pick that week’s highest-scoring player at each position (top two players at running back and wide receiver).

Scoring is based on the standard fantasy scoring in NFL.com’s fantasy football game. Each week is scored separately and fans may join at any point during the season.

NFL Perfect Challenge will offer additional prizes including a trip to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.

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For the first time, the NFL is publishing a Super Bowl XLVI Commemorative App presented by NFL Magazine. The tablet app is the ultimate NFL digital keepsake that chronicles the New York Giants’ and New England Patriots’ road to Super Bowl XLVI.

Available today on both Android and Apple products, the Super Bowl app offers season recaps for both teams, player video-highlight reels, interactive polls, Super Bowl history, and the best photos from each team’s championship season.

After Super Bowl XLVI, the app will celebrate the winning team with extended highlights of the game, expert breakdown of key plays, video of on-field interviews, presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the interview with the MVP and, NFL.com editorial coverage of its championship, an interactive 360-degree game day stadium photo, and more.

The Super Bowl XLVI app is on sale at a pre-game discount of $2.99 – less than half of the post-game price. Users can download the app by visiting the Android Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.nfl.sbxlvicommemorative) and iTunes App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id497584043?mt=8).

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In a special ceremony the day before Super Bowl XLVI, NFL Network will announce the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees on Saturday, February 4 at 5:30 PM ET on Road to Canton: Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2012 presented by Allstate.

From the Super Bowl Media Center in Indianapolis, Fran Charles hosts alongside Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Fouts and Warren Moon. They will be joined by the new enshrinees and current Hall of Fame members for interviews. In addition, the show will cover the process that determines who is inducted and the toughest decisions that were made this year.  Portions of the announcement ceremony will also be available live on NFL.com.

Allstate is in its first year as the presenting sponsor of The Road to Canton: Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement show. As part of its three-year partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Allstate is also honoring Hall of Famers with its “Hometown Hall of Famers” program, a national initiative that honors the hometown roots of pro football’s greatest players with special ceremonies and plaque dedication events in local communities.

Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 are Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Jack Butler, Cris Carter, Dermontti Dawson, Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Chris Doleman, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells, Andre Reed, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Dick Stanfel, and Aeneas Williams. For more information, please visit www.profootballhof.com.

Following the Hall of Fame announcement, NFL Network continues its live coverage at 7:00 PM ET with a one-hour NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl.  Then at 8:00 PM ET, the Super Bowl Saturday Night debuts on NFL Network.

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only network dedicated entirely to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log onto www.nfl.com/nflnetwork.

INDIANAPOLIS

Items carried by spectators will be carefully inspected. Everyone entering the stadium on Super Bowl Sunday will be subject to security screenings, including metal detectors, pat-downs, and other special security checks.   Spectators choosing not to consent to the NFL’s security requirements will be refused admission.

Certain items may not be brought into the stadium.  Small bags, subject to check, will be permitted but binocular and camera cases, among other items, will not be allowed.  Spectators are urged to carry nothing larger than a small purse or bag.  The NFL and Lucas Oil Stadium will not hold prohibited or excluded items for spectators (see attached for list of prohibited items).

Federal and state law enforcement resources and the U.S. military support area law enforcement, fire, emergency management and public health entities.  In addition, private security companies hired by the NFL also contribute to the high level of security applied to the Super Bowl.

Temporary flight restrictions will be in place on Super Bowl Sunday that will prohibit private aircraft from operating in a large radius around the sports complex.  No blimps or other aircraft will be allowed to circle the premises.

SUPER BOWL GAMEDAY FAN INFORMATION

Traffic flow, parking and stadium entry will be much different for the Super Bowl than during the regular season at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Stadium gates open at 2 p.m. (ET).  Fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays and expedite entrance for everyone. In-stadium festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. (ET) with kickoff at approximately 6:30 p.m. (ET).

Only people with tickets or credentials will be allowed within the security perimeter around Lucas Oil Stadium. Everyone entering the stadium, including children, must have a ticket for the game. The largest and most convenient checkpoint for entering the stadium is to the north inside the Indiana Convention Center with entry to the ICC near the intersection of Maryland and Capitol Street or Georgia and Capitol Street. Additional spectator checkpoints are located to the east and south.

Fans can go through any of the screening points on the security perimeter and then proceed to the gate marked on their tickets.  Fans will not be able to re-enter the secured perimeter once they leave.

Wheelchair attendees and their companions must have tickets designated “wheelchair.”

NFL FAN CODE OF CONDUCT PROGRAM

NFL teams implemented a fan code of conduct policy in 2008. The code of conduct will be enforced during the Super Bowl. The NFL is committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all fans. As such, guests are required to refrain from the following:

• Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal in nature

• Intoxication or other signs of alcohol impairment that results in irresponsible behavior

• Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures

• Interference with the progress of the game (including throwing objects on the field)

• Failing to follow instruction of stadium personnel

• Verbal or physical harassment of opposing team fans

Guests who are subjected to unruly fans, or witness violations of the Fan Code of Conduct, can quickly receive assistance by calling a special telephone number or sending a text to anonymously report fan conduct violations. These phone and text lines will be visibly posted in the stadium during the game. Fans also may visit one of the Guest Services/Information Booths at any point during the Super Bowl. NFL guest services staff will be on standby ready to assist.

 PROHIBITED ITEMS IN LUCAS OIL STADIUM FOR SUPER BOWL XLVI

The following list is a guide only.  It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

• Weapons of any kind
• Fireworks
• Camcorders
• Umbrellas
• Strollers
• Beach balls
• Frisbees
• Poles, Sticks
• Laser lights and pointers
• Containers of any type
• Coolers of any size
• Backpacks
• Bottles
• Cans, hairspray
• Camera cases and binocular cases/tripods
• Mace/pepper spray
• Banners
• Noisemakers, Horns

Cameras and Binoculars – Small cameras and binoculars will be allowed.  Camera cases and binocular cases are prohibited.  No spectator cameras with lenses longer than six inches will be permitted.  Camcorders are prohibited.

Electronic Devices – Spectators are strongly urged not to bring electronic devices into the stadium.  Any electronic device will be thoroughly inspected, causing delays for the spectator with the device.  Electronic devices include, but are not limited to, camcorders, televisions, radios, and computer tablets.

Prohibited items and items determined inappropriate for entry into the stadium will be the responsibility of the ticket holder and cannot be accepted or checked by the NFL or Lucas Oil Stadium.  All spectators are urged to secure these items in vehicles or hotel rooms.

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KELLY CLARKSON will sing the National Anthem and BLAKE SHELTON and MIRANDA LAMBERT will sing “America The Beautiful” as part of Super Bowl XLVI pregame festivities at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, February 5, the NFL and NBC announced today. The performance will be televised live on NBC prior to kickoff.

In addition, LENNY KRAVITZ and THE FRAY will help kick off Super Bowl XLVI as part of the pregame festivities at Lucas Oil Stadium.

More than 162 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year’s Super Bowl, the most-watched television program in history.  The pregame show, including the National Anthem and “America The Beautiful,” and Super Bowl XLVI will be broadcast worldwide.

Clarkson will make her Super Bowl debut.  She is among many great performers who have been honored with singing the Super Bowl National Anthem including: Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston, Harry Connick, Jr., Garth Brooks, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Jewel, Cher, Faith Hill, the Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, Dixie Chicks, Beyoncé Knowles, Christina Aguilera and many more.  (See below for a complete list of National Anthem performers from past Super Bowls.) 

Shelton & Lambert join VICKI CARR (Super Bowl XI), RAY CHARLES (Super Bowl XXXV), MARY J. BLIGE & MARC ANTHONY (Super Bowl XXXVI), ALICIA KEYS (Super Bowl XXXIX), FAITH HILL (Super Bowl XLIII), QUEEN LATIFAH (Super Bowl XLIV) and LEA MICHELE (Super Bowl XLVI) as the only artists to perform the song at the Super Bowl.

The NFL previously announced that MADONNA will perform in the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show.

The pregame and halftime shows are an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER.

SUPER BOWL NATIONAL ANTHEM HONOR ROLL

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The 2012 Pro Bowl also topped by 14 percent sports’ second-most watched all-star game in the past year (2011 MLB All-Star Game on FOX, 11.0 million viewers).

The top local overnight ratings for Pro Bowl are as follows:

1. New Orleans, 21.8 rating/29 share
2. Milwaukee, 17.6/25
3. Pittsburgh, 17.2/24
4. Charlotte, 12.1/18
5. Norfolk, 11.8/16
6. Cincinnati, 11.7/17
7. Las Vegas, 11.0/18
8. Jacksonville, 10.4/15
9. Sacramento, 10.2/17

                 10. Nashville, 10.1/14

The 2012 Pro Bowl was played the week before the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year.

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NFL fans will be able to experience all aspects of Super Bowl XLVI at SUPERBOWL.COM with dynamic live programming, community features, in-depth event coverage from reporters and expert analysts, plus an interactive trivia challenge.

THE SUPER BOWL XLVI OFFICIAL GUIDE PRESENTED BY VERIZON features a detailed guide to local restaurants, nightlife, and official Super Bowl events, with a 3D map of Indianapolis and an interactive 3D map of Lucas Oil Stadium for game day.  Follow all of the social media buzz, pin your parking spot and find your seating section in the stadium, plus much more.  You can get the app on your Android phone (http://market.android.com/details?id=com.nfl.sbxlviguide), Android tablet (http://market.android.com/details?id=com.nfl.sbxlviguidetab) or iTunes App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sb-xlvi-guide/id413928892?mt=8).

THE SUPER BOWL XLVI GAME PROGRAM PRESENTED BY CHEVROLET is a digital version of the iconic souvenir program optimized for a tablet. With additional interactive content, the Program chronicles the New York Giants’ and New England Patriots’ roads to Super Bowl XLVI, captures memories of past Super Bowls and recaps key moments from the 2011 season. “The Super Bowl XLVI Game Program Presented by Chevrolet” will be available for free in the Android Market and iTunes App Store.

SUPERBOWL.COM contains detailed information on events during the week, live streaming of Media Day and Radio Row, a visitor’s guide and how to buy Super Bowl XLVI tickets.  Fans may visit SUPERBOWL.COM to find out locations around Indianapolis of all official NFL Shops at Super Bowl XLVI as well as information about The NFL Experience presented by GMC, pro football’s interactive theme park.  Fans may follow @nfl and @superbowl on Twitter or go to www.superbowl.com/nflx for the most up-to-date information on player and celebrity appearances at The NFL Experience.

Fans may watch live online streaming of the week’s biggest events including Super Bowl XLVI Media Day, Super Bowl Live from Radio Row, the Commissioner’s news conference, and the announcement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012.

In addition to the unprecedented live Super Bowl streaming on NBCSports.com and NFL.com, the Super Bowl broadcast will be exclusively available to Verizon Wireless mobile customers in the U.S. via NFL Mobile only from Verizon.  The NFL Mobile only from Verizon app also includes exclusive live streaming of the Super Bowl XLVI radio broadcasts in English and Spanish, as well as on-demand Super Bowl XLVI video highlights. NFL Mobile only from Verizon users can get additional Super Bowl XLVI coverage on the application’s live 24-7 stream of NFL Network. For more information on mobile access, Verizon Wireless customers can visit: http://verizonwireless.com/nfl/.

NFL.com also features a powerful lineup, including senior writers Steve Wyche and Jason La Canfora, analysts Bucky Brooks, Gil Brandt and Elliot Harrison and national reporter Jeff Darlington.  Information and insight from NFL Network reporter Albert Breer, former front office executive Michael Lombardi and Super Bowl XXXV winning coach Brian Billick round out the comprehensive coverage.

On game day, fans around the globe can listen to international radio broadcasts of Super Bowl XLVI.  NFL.com will stream broadcasts from 10 countries including Spain, Germany, China, Russia and Japan. Additionally, Super Bowl commercials will be available on SUPERBOWL.COM at the end of each quarter.  Fans will be able to rate, comment on, and share the commercials.

For the twelfth consecutive year, fans will be able to vote for the Super Bowl XLVI MVP presented by Chevrolet on NFL.com.  In addition, fans also will be able to visit NFL.com on web-enabled mobile devices to vote for the MVP.  In the fourth quarter of the game, fans, along with a media panel, will select the MVP, who will be awarded the Pete Rozelle Trophy.  Combined votes on NFL.com and web-enabled mobile devices will count 20 percent towards the MVP.

Fans can test their Super Bowl knowledge with the NFL Two-Minute Trivia Super Bowl game.  To prepare for the challenge, check out the comprehensive history section that includes highlights from the first 45 Super Bowl games.

#  #  #

It all comes down to this.

On Sunday, February 5, the New York Giants and the New England Patriots will meet in Super Bowl XLVI (6:00 PM ET, NBC) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It marks a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14 in one of the most exciting Super Bowls in history.

“It’s a great chess match with two elite quarterbacks and two teams with great traditions and great histories,” says NBC’s AL MICHAELS. “It should be a terrific matchup.”

Super Bowl XLVI is the first Super Bowl in which both starting quarterbacks have won a Super Bowl MVP award. New York quarterback ELI MANNING passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns – including the game-winning 13-yarder to PLAXICO BURRESS with 35 seconds remaining – in Super Bowl XLII and was named the game’s MVP. New England quarterback TOM BRADY has been named Super Bowl MVP twice (XXXVI, XXXVIII) and is one of only four players in NFL history to win the award multiple times, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JOE MONTANA (XVI, XIX, XXIV), TERRY BRADSHAW (XIII, XIV) and BART STARR (I, II).

“I expect greatness from this game,” says NBC analyst CRIS COLLINSWORTH.

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