NFL TV has New Look this Season

Collinsworth in the NBC booth . . . Gruden to ESPN's MNF . . . Millen to NFL Network's Thursday Night Football . . . John Lynch on FOX . . . and a round of new studio talent.

The NFL in 2009 will see a lot of changes when it comes to its TV landscape. But one thing won't change -- the passion fans have to watch America's No. 1 sport.

Terry, Shannon, both Boomers (Esiason and Berman) et al. will be in their regular seats, but some new faces also will be on NFL TV screens.

A look at the NFL on TV in 2009:

Following JOHN MADDEN's retirement, CRIS COLLINSWORTH steps into NBC's booth to join AL MICHAELS on the network's Sunday Night Football broadcasts. "This job is an incredible opportunity," says Collinsworth, who won two Emmys in the past three seasons for his game analysis on NFL Network's Thursday Night Football. "It's an honor to be asked to do games at this level, particularly when you consider that John Madden wanted this to happen."

With Collinsworth moving to the NBC games, MATT MILLEN moves into NFL Network's Thursday Night Football booth alongside BOB PAPA. "Matt is as sharp as when he last broadcast a game," says NFL Network executive producer ERIC WEINBERGER.

Millen also joins ESPN's NFL Monday Night Countdown show and as a college football analyst.

A pair of Super Bowl winning coaches are moving to TV. ESPN kicks off the 40th season of Monday Night Football with Super Bowl XXXVII-winner JON GRUDEN joining MIKE TIRICO and RON JAWORSKI.

TONY DUNGY, Gruden's predecessor in Tampa Bay and winner of Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts, joins NBC's Football Night in America show.

Dungy is familiar with fellow NBC studio rookie RODNEY HARRISON. While with New England, the recently retired defensive back had three interceptions in six games against Dungy's Colts. How will Harrison deliver his message on television? "Just like I played the game," he says. "I'm going to be honest and I'm going to be forthright and I'm going to do it with passion. It's the only way I know and I know Tony feels the same."

CBS marks its 50th season of NFL coverage in 2009. Key dates on the CBS NFL calendar include Super Bowl XLIV from South Florida on February 7, 2010 and the October 25 New England Patriots-Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup in the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium in London.

FOX kicks off its "Sweet" 16th season covering the NFL and welcomes a trio of new game analysts. Nine-time Pro Bowl safety JOHN LYNCH and six-time 3,000-yard passer TRENT GREEN leave the field for the FOX broadcast booth while BCS on FOX and NFL Network analyst CHARLES DAVIS, who has called the past three national championship games, will handle NFL action as well this year.

NFL Network will televise its first-ever international game when the New York Jets visit the Buffalo Bills in Toronto on Thursday, December 3. JASON LA CANFORA, formerly of the Washington Post, joins NFL Network as a reporter.

ESPN will televise the 2010 Pro Bowl on Sunday, January 31 from South Florida.

It is the first time ESPN will show the annual All-Star Game since 2007. Former head coach HERM EDWARDS joins as a studio analyst and ADAM SCHEFTER joins as a reporter.

Inside the NFL kicks off its second season on Showtime a week earlier than last year -- with a season-preview episode on Wednesday, September 9 (9:00 PM ET/PT) -- and concludes three days after Super Bowl XLIV on Wednesday, February 10.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING RETURNS

The highly successful "flexible scheduling" format, which debuted in the NFL in 2006, will again be utilized this year.

In Weeks 11-16, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday night on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game will be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Monday nights.

A flexible scheduling move will be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the game may be announced six days prior. Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and give "surprise" teams a chance to play their way onto primetime.

NFL ANNOUNCER LINEUP FOR 2009

CBS

CBS' The NFL Today (Pregame): James Brown-Bill Cowher-Boomer Esiason-Dan Marino-Shannon Sharpe-Charley Casserly.

The NFL on CBS: Jim Nantz-Phil Simms; Greg Gumbel-Dan Dierdorf; other crews TBA.

ESPN

ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown (Pregame): Chris Berman-Cris Carter-Mike Ditka-Tom Jackson-Keyshawn Johnson-Chris Mortensen-Ed Werder-Sal Paolantonio-Adam Schefter-Michael Smith-Rachel Nichols-Bob Holtzman-Wendi Nix.

Monday Night Countdown (Pregame): Chris Berman-Stuart Scott-Cris Carter-Trent Dilfer-Mike Ditka-Tom Jackson- Keyshawn Johnson-Matt Millen-Chris Mortensen-Steve Young; Suzy Kolber- Adam Schefter-Michele Tafoya (Reporters).

NFL Monday Night Football: Mike Tirico-Ron Jaworski-Jon Gruden.

FOX

FOX NFL Sunday (Pregame): Curt Menefee-Terry Bradshaw-Howie Long-Jimmy Johnson-Michael Strahan-Jay Glazer (Reporter)-Frank Caliendo.

NFL on FOX: Joe Buck-Troy Aikman-Pam Oliver; other crews TBA.

NBC

NBC's Football Night in America (Pregame): Bob Costas-Keith Olbermann-Dan Patrick-Tony Dungy-Rodney Harrison-Tiki Barber-Peter King.

Sunday Night Football: Al Michaels-Cris Collinsworth-Andrea Kremer (Reporter).

NFL NETWORK

NFL GameDay Morning (Sunday Pregame): Spero Dedes-Marshall Faulk-Steve Mariucci-Warren Sapp-Jason LaCanfora.

Total Access (Pregame): Rich Eisen- Steve Mariucci-Deion Sanders-Marshall Faulk-Warren Sapp-Jason LaCanfora.

Thursday Night Football: Bob Papa-Matt Millen.

SHOWTIME

Inside the NFL: James Brown-Cris Collinsworth-Phil Simms-Warren Sapp

 

NFL 2009 | NFL TV has New Look this Season