NFL needs to lift restrictions: Twitter is essential part of following draft

by Ed Sherman

April 26, 2013 by admin

Just minutes before the beginning of the NFL draft, Adam Schefter sent out the following tweet:

As one GM texted Tuesday, “Going dark.” As requested, we’ll resume tweeting after 1st round is complete. Enjoy draft on ESPN or @ESPNNFL.

That was it. The NFL reporter with the largest Twitter following at 2.24 million people shut it down during perhaps the biggest Twitter night of the year.

I can almost guarantee that won’t happen in 2014. If you’re ESPN, you can’t allow the NFL to place restrictions on your reporters and muffle your No. 1 Twitter guy.

Last night reaffirmed for me that being on Twitter is an essential part of following the NFL draft. If you’re not on Twitter when those picks start flying, you’re missing out. The tweets don’t detract from the coverage; they enhance it.

I … Continue Reading

Q/A with producer of Immaculate Reception documentary: Intense feelings 40 years later; Madden declines interview

by Ed Sherman

December 19, 2012 by admin

When Neil Zender tells people he is producing a documentary on the “Immaculate Reception,” the reaction usually is the same.

“It’s like Kennedy,” Zender said. “Everyone remembers where they were for the ‘Immaculate Reception.’”

Naturally, I tell Zender my story. I was 13-years-old on Dec. 23, 1972 and watched the game with my friend, Dale. He was a big Raiders fan, while I was beginning my infatuation with the Steelers. I recall going crazy when the ball miraculously fell in Franco Harris’ hands and he dashed in for the winning touchdown. It was one of my most profound memories as a young sports fan.

I’m sure you have yours, which is why tonight’s documentary A Football Life: The Immaculate Reception (NFL Network, 8 p.m. ET) figures to do a strong rating. Forty years later, the mystery over the most famous play in NFL … Continue Reading

Marcus Allen: New NFL Network documentary features ups (great runs) and downs (feud with Al Davis)

by Ed Sherman

December 12, 2012 by admin

Next up on A Football Life: Marcus Allen (Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network).

Here’s a link to the preview.

The essential information:

“If God put one person on this earth to be a professional football player, it would have been Marcus Allen.” – Marty Schottenheimer

As a Heisman Trophy winner, a first-round pick, a Super Bowl and league MVP, and a Pro Football Hall of Famer, running back Marcus Allen is one of the most talented and decorated players in football history.

NFL Network’s Emmy nominated series A Football Life continues Wednesday, December 12 at 8:00 PM ET with a chronicle of Allen’s football career, from his time as a two-way star at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Diego, California, to becoming the first running back in college history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a … Continue Reading

Tale of two legends: new documentaries examine careers and lives of Barry Sanders, Earl Campbell

by Ed Sherman

December 4, 2012 by admin

They had two different styles carrying the ball. Barry Sanders ran around people; Earl Campbell ran through them.

They also had two different lives after football. Sanders retired early long before his body burned out; Campbell wasn’t as fortunate. It is stunning to see the one-time beast in a football uniform struggle to walk.

The careers and lives of both legends are examined in two new documentaries. Still Standing: The Earl Campbell Story, produced by Ross Greenburg, airs tonight at 11 p.m. (ET) on NBC Network. Wednesday, Sanders is the latest subject of A Football Life on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET.

Here’s the rundown on both films. Highly recommended.

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NBC Sports Network presents Still Standing: The Earl Campbell Story, a riveting documentary about one of the greatest running backs in the history of

… Continue Reading

Rich Eisen special on NFL Network: Mixing celebrities and NFL; Who knew Rainn Wilson was a Seattle fan?

by Ed Sherman

November 23, 2012 by admin

Football and celebrities. Quite a concept.

Rich Eisen mines that territory regularly on his weekly podcasts. It gave him a great excuse to hang out with Olivia Munn for a show over the summer.

Eisen will do a TV version Friday on the NFL Network. Alas no Olivia Munn, but he will have Hank Azaria reviewing the history of the NFL as Jim Brockmire.

Here are the details:

NFL Network will air The Rich Eisen Thanksgiving Special on Friday, November 23 at 10:00 PM ET, featuring conversations with some of the biggest names in the world of sports and entertainment. Eisen, host of the Emmy-nominated NFL GameDay Morning pregame show and NFL Thursday Night Football, will delve into a variety of pop-culture subjects in a robust, spontaneous dialog with his guests.

Over one hour, The Rich Eisen Thanksgiving Special will expand

… Continue Reading

John Riggins: NFL Network film examines life of great back, unique character

by Ed Sherman

November 21, 2012 by admin

John Riggins truly was one of a kind as a player and remains that way as a person.

The latest edition of A Football Life examines Riggins’ Hall of Fame career (Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network).

“The biggest misconception is that he is a clown. He’s not a clown; he’s a showman instead. He knows intuitively the right thing to do and yet do it in a colorful way,” said John Kent Cooke Jr.

Here’s a link to the preview.

Here’s all the info from NFL Network:

NFL Network’s Emmy-nominated series A Football Life continues this week with a profile of the Hall of Fame running back John Riggins. Premiering Wednesday, November 21 at 8:00 PM ET, John Riggins: A Football Life explores the life of the running back known as ‘the Diesel,’ from his upbringing in … Continue Reading

Kremer, NFL Network to do four-part series on player health issues

by Ed Sherman

November 12, 2012 by admin

When the NFL Network signed on Andrea Kremer to become its player health reporter, I thought it was one of the most significant and unique network hires in recent years. The league essentially was bringing in a reporter to cover what could be potentially the most damaging issue to the future of football.

I did a Q/A with Kremer at the time, and asked her to fill me in on future stories. Turns out Kremer has a busy week ahead. Beginning Tuesday, NFL Network kicks off a four-part series, “The Health of the Game”, on Total Access (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 7-8 p.m. ET), and prior to Thursday’s night game. Kremer handles parts 1, 3, 4, while Steve Cyphers does part 2.

The timing couldn’t be better with three starting quarterbacks, Jay Cutler, Michael Vick and Alex Smith, getting knocked out of games Sunday with concussions.… Continue Reading

Hanging with Jimmy Johnson: New NFL Network film examines all of his twists and turns

by Ed Sherman

November 7, 2012 by admin

There are worse assignments than doing a film on Jimmy Johnson. For NFL Films producer Bennett Viseltear and his staff, it meant spending quite a bit of time at Johnson’s home in the Florida Keys.

“We did have one day when the seas were pretty rough,” said Viseltear of going on Johnson’s fishing boat. “It almost was a little too much for our cameraman.”

Thankfully, the crew survived and likely joined Johnson in some post-voyage beers.

The laid-back Keys made for an interesting setting for latest edition of A Football Life, the terrific documentary series on NFL Network. Wednesday’s show (8 p.m. ET) focuses on the complex career and life of Johnson.

Here’s a link with the preview.

You see the various sides of the driven, if not possessed coach in the college and pros, who eventually retreated to the relaxed lifestyle … Continue Reading

Fearsome Foursome: George Allen’s daughter narrates new NFL Network documentary

by Ed Sherman

October 10, 2012 by admin

The NFL Network looks at arguably the greatest defensive line in NFL history tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

The nickname, Fearsome Foursome, really says it all. Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones, Roosevelt Grier, and Lamar Lundy.

Here’s a link to the preview. Just to show how times have changed, not one of those guys weighed more than 285 pounds. At 260 pounds, Jones might be a quarterback in today’s game.

George Allen’s daughter, Jennifer, wrote and narrated the documentary. In an interview with Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News, she said:

“This project was the most fulfilling endeavor. I grew up respecting these men as both players and as men. Deacon Jones is like a great uncle to me. It was a pleasure to be able to talk with Susan Olsen and Phil Olsen, Merlin’s brother who played

… Continue Reading

NFL Network hires Andrea Kremer to cover health and safety issues

by Ed Sherman

October 9, 2012 by admin

This is an interesting development. Is the league really going to turn the spotlight on itself with its own network? Or is this just a token effort to show that the NFL is “serious” about its biggest problem.

Hope to have some answers soon. Meanwhile, here’s the release from the NFL Network:

NFL Network has added veteran sports journalist Andrea Kremer to its ranks, it was announced today. Kremer will be the chief correspondent in a newly-formed unit dedicated to covering NFL player health and safety issues. She will also contribute other reports and features on major topics across NFL Network programming.

“Andrea’s journalistic credentials, particularly in regards to reporting on the NFL, speak for themselves and we’re thrilled to add her talents to NFL Network,” said NFL Network Executive Producer Eric Weinberger. “Reporting on player health and safety across

… Continue Reading