Debut Of '09 NFL Schedule Moving To Primetime

Friday, April 10, 2009


I seriously thought I'd be using that headline for the Draft before the release of next year's schedule, but whatever. Both the NFL Network and ESPN will be airing live specials to coincide with the release of the 2009 NFL schedule. Not only that, but ESPN is planning a whole three hours around the thing....

When the National Football League announces its 2009 regular season schedule, ESPN’s SportsCenter Special: Schedule Release will review the entire slate of games Tuesday, April 14 (7-8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and continuing from 8-10 p.m. on ESPN).

The three-hour SportsCenter Special will examine individual team schedules, key match-ups, Monday Night Football games, national TV games and other schedule highlights.

Trey Wingo will host the SportsCenter Special with analysts Ron Jaworski, Trent Dilfer, Merril Hoge and Tim Hasselbeck. A number of NFL players, including DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys), Joey Porter (Miami Dolphins), Brian Dawkins (Denver Broncos) and Richard Seymour (New England Patriots), are also expected to participate in live interviews.
That seems like a little much to me. I mean, I'll probably watch the first hour, but two more after that? I'm surprised they aren't working in Todd McShay and Mel Kiper, because lord knows they're every where else on the network. The NFL Network's show will only be two hours, and will probably be one of the last chances you'll get to see something on the channel if you're a Comcast subscriber.

Posted by Awful Announcing at 10:11 AM

8 Comments:

ugh, ESPN is single-handedly killing my interest in the NFL.

Sean OLeary said...
Apr 10, 2009, 10:26:00 AM  

It's not enough to show us the schedule. You have to bring 1500 people like ESPN always does to ANALYZE each teams' schedule.

And I don't have NFL Network because of Comcast.

I'll just watch it on mute.

TJX said...
Apr 10, 2009, 10:30:00 AM  

Is anyone surprised by this? This is ESPN we're talking about.

GMoney said...
Apr 10, 2009, 10:42:00 AM  

Analyst? Why? To compare who has the "toughest" scedule? Shit like this is why I am opposed to adding additional games to the NFL schedule.

walnuts said...
Apr 10, 2009, 11:12:00 AM  

3-hours for a schedule review.....seriously???

I love the NFL and all but all I need is to know my team's schedule, not some pea-brained analysis from the ESPNers, especially seeing as that a lot of what they say may become irrelevent after the draft.

Justin F. said...
Apr 10, 2009, 11:12:00 AM  

The first time I read this article, I went into it and I thought... "oh wow, they're moving up the Debut to Prime time... kinda overkill but no big deal."

I literally thought that, then I went on my merry way. Then I remembered... wtf? don't they do that anyway?

So I read the article again. ESPN is going to schedule a prime time show about the SCHEDULE?!?!?!?!?!?!? The SCHEDULE????

Has the WWL lost its minds?! It was bad enough... it was BAD enough when you had it in the middle of the day when nobody was watching. but now you gotta cut into your regular prime time programming to stand on a damn hill and announce the NFL schedule!

See, the NFL network... I dont have a problem with that. and I know they're doing the same thing. that's their network... and they don't have anything else going and its their sport. They should do an NFL schedule show.

Now, c'mon ESPN... don't you think that's a little half-assed? Just three hours? Thats ridiculous. I was waiting for the 32 part mini series on "the NFL Schedule". Part ONE: The Miami Dolphins... we can have that roll out for about... uummmm 5 hours. Then stay tuned tomorrow for Part TWO: the Cleveland Browns. Who wouldn't want to break down the Cleveland browns schedule game by game for 9 hours?! YEAH THAT's EXCITEMENT!!

And hey... why even confine it to a time slot... lets just roll out updates every 5 minutes during the Masters. "Ok Tiger Woods is about to line up for a birdie putt... OH WAIT LETS GO BACK TO THE STUDIO! Update!!! The Cardinals are going to play the Lions in Week 4... stay tuned for us to tell you what time the game starts... BACK TO YOU SCOTTY!!"

Honestly, ESPN could be a much better network if they just threw out all the other sports. I mean I know they've done NCAA games since its inception but bah! what a waste that is. They have guys who have 950 years of coaching experience, but no need, let's just create a separate network for them.. ESPNU... oh wait? they have that? ok f-it, let's just put it on "Classic".

Then ESPN can be the all football information resource like it should be!!! We'll even make the West Coast studio do NFL stuffs... yeah I know they dont have a team, but who cares? its the NFL SCHEDULE...

End sarcasm. Who in Gods name would really want to spend three hours of their entire day not only finding out the schedule, but then having 15 people analyze it?! What's to analyze??? Do we really care if Jets/Bungles is an early game or a late game in the first week of april?? This is the dumbest thing ever!

HONESTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave Medina said...
Apr 10, 2009, 4:13:00 PM  

Really? Really, ESPN? Do you really have nothing else to air? Un-!@#$%^&-believable!!!

Chango said...
Apr 10, 2009, 5:53:00 PM  

Bypassing the channel is a wonderful thing.

Steve Smith said...
Apr 13, 2009, 3:41:00 PM  

Post a Comment