Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs game on Nov. 17 moved to primetime By Daniel Petty The Denver Post November 1, 2013 The Denver Broncos game scheduled for Nov. 17 against the 8-0 and division rival Kansas City Chiefs has been moved from 2:05 p.m. to a 6:30 p.m. primetime game on NBC, the NFL announced on Friday. Joan Niesen previously reported that CBS has protected this game and the other one in Kansas City on Dec. 1 from being rescheduled to NBC’s Sunday night game. The Dec. 1 game is — as of now — still set for 11 a.m. It’s not immediately clear what changed. The Broncos will play in primetime the following weekend, too, on Sunday against the New England Patriots at 6:30 p.m. on the road, also on NBC. “We were informed by the league that this change was made to ensure the largest possible television audience would see the Broncos’ game against the Chiefs,” Broncos spokesman Patrick Smyth said. “Teams can play a maximum of six primetime games, which is what the Broncos are now set to play. This won’t have any impact on our Sunday Night Football game scheduled at New England the following week.” Since 2006, the league has used flexible scheduling policy — “flexing” — on Sundays from weeks 11-17 to allow NBC to select any of the Sunday afternoon games to move to Sunday night. Changes can be announced no later than 12 days prior to that weekend. Games in week 17 are given even less notice — six days ahead of time. In addition to the Broncos move, the Green Bay Packers-New York Giants game is moved to 2:25 p.m. MT on FOX, and the San Diego Chargers-Miami Dolphins game is moved to 2:05 p.m. MT on CBS.

Chiefs-Broncos on Nov. 17 moves to Sunday night Associated Press November 1, 2013 NEW YORK (AP) — The Chiefs-Broncos game in Week 11 is moving to prime time. The NFL said Friday that Kansas City's matchup with Denver on Nov. 17 would be on NBC's "Sunday Night Football." The Green Bay Packers and New York Giants were originally in that slot, but were moved to 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox. Also, the Chargers-Dolphins game was moved to 4:05 p.m. on CBS. Starting in Week 11, the league's flexible scheduling policy allows it to move a more appealing game to Sunday night. "We had originally protected the Kansas City-Denver game for Week 11," CBS Sports said in a statement. "After discussions with the NFL we made a one-time accommodation so that the game can be seen by a national audience, which we could not provide during our regionalized singleheader weekend." The Chiefs, 8-0 and the NFL's last unbeaten team, visit Buffalo this week. The Broncos (7-1) are off.

LB Vontaze Burfict fined $21K Associated Press November 1, 2013 NEW YORK -- Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was fined $21,000 by the NFL on Friday for his hit Sunday on New York Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill with the crown of his helmet. Burfict was called for a personal foul, his fifth of the season, in the Bengals' 49-9 rout. New York wide receiver David Nelson was fined $7,875 for unnecessary roughness. On a running play, he lowered a shoulder into Cincinnati's Adam"Pacman" Jones, and the two needed to be separated after the play. Denver's Wesley Woodyard and Atlanta's Osi Umenyiora and William Moore were all fined $15,750 for roughing-the-passer hits. The Broncos' Kevin Vickerson also was fined $7,875 for a late hit in that game. Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate was docked $7,875 for taunting, a result of his unsportsmanlike penalty in the Seahawks' win over St. Louis on Monday night. Tate had an 80-yard catch in the second half that was capped by him mockingly waving at safety Rodney McLeod as he ran to the end zone. Among others fined $7,875 by the NFL on Friday: Cleveland's Joe Haden (late hit out of bounds), Buffalo's Mario Williams (facemask) and Detroit's Joseph Fauria (unnecessary roughness).

A full look at half a Broncos season By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com November 1, 2013 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos reached the halfway mark of their season 7-1, happy with what they’ve done for the most part and still hoping there’s plenty more on the way. "We’ve got to just to keep plugging away and keep finding ways to win games," Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker said. But with eight games down and eight to go, the Broncos have already had some moments to remember, some they’d like to forget in all that’s been good, bad and in between. The rundown: First half MVP: Quarterback Peyton Manning, who is on pace to not just break most single-season passing records, but push the new marks into the places many believed they couldn't, or wouldn't, go. Manning is either tied or leads the league in completions (237), yards passing (2,919), yards per attempt (8.8), passing touchdowns (29), total touchdowns (30) and passer rating (119.4). His touchdown total is just one off the record at a season’s halfway point -- Tom Brady’s 30 after eight games in 2007 -- and his yardage total is the highest ever after eight games. Consider the 3,000-yard passing season was only born in 1960 -- Johnny Unitas threw for 3,099 yards in the NFL that year, the Broncos’ Frank Tripucka threw for 3,038 yards in the AFL’s inaugural season -- the fact Manning almost hit the milestone after eight games is staggering. He also sat out an entire quarter against the Eagles. Best new addition, draft edition: The Broncos, if they really want to be good over the long haul rather than some all-in, one-and-done salary cap disaster, are always going to have to walk the line between trying to keep the roster young and the siren song of bringing in veteran players as one-year rentals. The Broncos are still waiting for the impact they expected when they led their draft class with first-round pick Sylvester Williams and second-round pick Montee Ball, but cornerback Kayvon Webster has quickly risen to the head of April’s group. Webster played more press coverage than most college defensive backs

during his career at South Florida. And that has certainly helped his transition to the NFL game. He's shown speed, the willingness to play physical in the run game and is already a front-line special teams player. In all, he’s played 34 percent of the snaps on defense this season, with games like Dallas and Indianapolis where he played 85 and 72 percent of the snaps on defense, respectively. "I’m not surprised," said cornerback Champ Bailey. "You knew right away he had that confidence, that he felt like he belonged, but that he also has done the work. He studied, he’s learned and that’s the difference." Best new addition, free-agency edition: This is likely a tie between Welker and guard Louis Vasquez. Welker has already tied a single-season career-best with his nine touchdown catches over the first eight games and is already a Manning favorite when things get tight. And as defensive backs have increasingly played the Broncos receivers with more of a physical edge, Welker has been the most proficient of the group in freeing himself to play the ball. For his part, Broncos coach John Fox said Vasquez has played at a Pro Bowl level and there are plenty of personnel folks around the league who agree. He was the Broncos’ first target in free agency last March and he has shown why thus far, even moving to tackle when needed. Albeit he had somewhat mixed results on the outside, but his willingness to make the move and battle got the Broncos through a rough spot. Best quote, Broncos edition: "That’s Madden. That’s Madden football." Broncos tight end Julius Thomas on Manning’s seven-touchdown game against the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener. Best quote, opponents’ edition: "No, probably (Jim) Plunkett is probably the best. Go with that." Colts quarterback Andrew Luck when told his answer to the question if he was the best Stanford quarterback would be forwarded to John Elway, another former Stanford quarterback. Best play: When a team has scored a league-leading 44 touchdowns overall, 40 of those on offense, there are plenty of highlights to be found. But comb through all of them and the surprise element is worth a look. Manning’s 1-yard touchdown run against the Cowboys -- he ran a bootleg after not telling anyone on the offense he planned to do it -- is the choice. It was Manning’s first rushing touchdown in five years or as he put it; "If you do it every five years, it’s a good tendency breaker." Two biggest reasons to hang on to the worry beads: Start with the ability to protect Manning, especially in the team’s preferred three-wide set. Manning took far too much punishment in the three games before the bye and the best pass-rush teams the Broncos will face this season still remain on the

schedule. Defensively, whether it be injuries or other reasons, the Broncos have only sporadically reached playoff level so far this season. Many folks in and around the league also believe linebacker Von Miller’s weight gain has not helped his play in his first two games back, that the added upper-body bulk has robbed him of some of the fast-twitch quickness off the ball and flexibility to bend that has made him a special pass-rusher in his first two seasons. The Broncos need that guy. Two biggest reasons to believe: The offense has shown it can score on anybody, anywhere at any time. The Broncos are on pace to be the league’s first 600-point team, a pace they aren’t expected to hold, but add in their ability to score on special teams and you have a team whose lowest output this season was 33 points. Defensively, they have yet to play the 11 starters they expected to have in any game this season, whether it be because of injuries or Miller’s off-the-field troubles. The Broncos flashed their defensive potential against the Redskins just before the bye, and if they get that kind of effort in the games that really count in the coming weeks, they would be a significant title threat.

Rising rookies for second half By Mel Kiper ESPN.com November 1, 2013 I've been putting out my Rookie Rankings every two weeks through the first half of the season, and last week I highlighted a total of 35 first-year players. But many rookies who are going to go on to great careers still haven't seen a lot of action. There are a number of reasons guys come on slowly, such as a depth chart issue, a change of position or just the fact that most coaches hate to put too much responsibility on a first-year player. But you tend to see a lot of guys getting run in the second half. At this point -- and counting the preseason -- these rookies have been exposed to about the same number of games as they'd see in an entire college season, so it's not surprising that some come into their own at this time or later. Secondly, injuries on every roster are starting to pile up, and that provides the opportunity. A couple rules for my list: • I tried to take no players who have cracked the top 15 of the Rookie Rankings. • Many haven't been full-time starters, or even close. • I'm picking on both sides of the ball. With that in mind, here are my key names to watch. Offense Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona Cardinals Well, Ellington kind of jumped the gun on me with a big game against Atlanta on Sunday, when he went for 15 carries and 154 yards, including an 80-yard score where he showed off his elite open-field speed. Before this week, he hadn't carried the ball more than seven times in a game. I pegged him as a late-round pick who could actually have fantasy impact as a rookie after the draft, and I think he'll live up to that. A consistent run threat will really help Carson Palmer as well.  Kenny Stills, WR, New Orleans Saints He caught a total of seven passes over the first five games, but has six catches over the past two weeks, and went for 129 yards Sunday against Buffalo. Now that Stills has a better feel for the offense, Drew Brees should have a greater trust in him. Expect the targets to spike. David Bakhtiari, OT, Green Bay Packers I thought there was a chance the fourth-rounder from Colorado might end up at guard, and instead he has been on Aaron Rodgers' blind side. After a

rough start, including a messy performance against Cincinnati, he has picked it up significantly over the past few weeks and now looks as if he might stick on the left side. It's not just talent, it's about development. Vance McDonald, TE, San Francisco 49ers He hasn't gotten more than two targets in a game so far, but he has looked good when the ball comes his way. The 49ers like to pass out of the power looks, and I wouldn't be surprised to see McDonald get a lot more looks from Colin Kaepernick in the second half. He should benefit from matchups, as teams worry about Vernon Davis. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers He has played four games and hasn't carried it fewer than 13 times in any of them after opening the season on the shelf. If the Steelers can open some lanes up front -- and that's a big if -- Bell could go for 600 or more yards in the second half. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota Vikings They need to try to find ways to get the ball into his hands, both underneath, across the line of scrimmage, and certainly down the field. Josh Freeman can drive the ball down the field, and Patterson has to be a part of any plan to do so consistently. Just 13 catches so far is a bit shocking, really. Joseph Fauria, TE, Detroit Lions No, Fauria hasn't been a highly ranked rookie, though he has been a red zone TD machine. That's because he hasn't featured much at all in the offense outside of situations near the goal line. But he's seeing more time between the 20-yard lines, and his length and catch radius are the kinds of weapons Matthew Stafford is well-versed in exploiting. Brian Winters, G, New York Jets I said in my draft grades that I thought Winters would end up a starter relatively early in his career, and that's where he is on the depth chart now. He needs to play well to help the Jets get a semblance of a steady ground game going. Defense  Marcus Cooper, CB, Kansas City A bunch of commenters chided me for not having Cooper ranked higher given how good he has been when he's on the field. But that's just it: He needed to be on the field more. He played only 14 snaps through the first three weeks. But he's now seeing more time, and locking people up. Expect a big second half. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina Panthers The lesser-known of the two good rookie defensive tackles in Carolina, Short is only on the field about half the time, but he has flashed when there, and

has shown a knack for creating pressure from the inside. The Panthers are surging and Short and Star Lotulelei are a big reason why. Sio Moore, LB, Oakland Raiders Now that he's getting the reps, Moore is showing his explosiveness off the edge. He has 2.5 sacks over the past two games and is going to give the Raiders a difference-maker on defense in the second half. This is a versatile player. J.J. Wilcox, S, Dallas Cowboys He was bound to start at strong safety for the Cowboys given the state of the depth chart, and because Wilcox really is a talented kid. But coming from Georgia Southern to the NFC East -- yes, even this year's version -- is a major leap in competition, and Wilcox needed to get a feel for the speed of the game. Expect him to continue making strides in the second half. Kayvon Webster, CB, Denver Broncos Last year, Chris Harris burst onto the scene for the Broncos as a rookie, and this year it's Webster's turn. He has gained the trust of the coaching staff with steady play in recent weeks, and should be a big part of their nickel coverage packages down the stretch. Jon Bostic, LB, Chicago Bears Injuries to the Bears' linebacking corps have pushed the rookie from Florida into the starting lineup. He needs to play downhill and be more effective against the run, but his speed and length can be assets in coverage. I think he develops into a long-term starter for the Bears. Bennie Logan, DT, Philadelphia Eagles Isaac Sopoaga has been traded to the Patriots, so Logan will have to help fill the void for the Eagles. He ran hot and cold at LSU, but has a chance to see a lot more snaps. He has enough quickness to get into the backfield on occasion and deliver sacks. Steve Beauharnais (LB), Joe Vellano (DT), Chris Jones (DT), New England Patriots With Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork -- a pair of guys who didn't need to come off the field much -- now on the shelf, this trio of players will see major reps in the second half of the season. The two tackles already have seen a lot of the field, and done a really good job in my opinion, but Beauharnais hasn't. I'm interested to see if the rookie from Rutgers, who played alongside Bears rookie LBKhaseem Greene, can gain the trust of Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

Goodell joins Moms at Chicago clinic on football safety By Gary Mihoces USA TODAY Sports October 29, 2013 The Chicago Bears and the National Football League held a "Moms Football Safety Clinic" Tuesday night for about 200 mothers of local youth football players, opening the Bears' indoor practice facility to show concerned mothers that football can be played safely. "Moms are oftentimes the decision makers. They're the ones that are looking for information to help their children make better decisions, to make sure that they're playing safely,'' NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said while the mothers were going through drills aimed at safer tackling. Heightened concussion awareness in recent years has multiplied parents' concerns. But Goodell said the question of whether they should let their kids play isn't new. "My mom went through the same thing," Goodell said. "I played nine years. I wouldn't give up a single day of that. Moms were always rightfully concerned about their children, but there's never been a safer time to play football.'' PBS Frontline recently aired a documentary, League of Denial, which reported that for decades the NFL ignored and attempted to discredit medical reports of links between concussions and long-term health problems such as depression, dementia, Alzheimer's and the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In August, the league agreed to a $765 million settlement in concussion-related suits filed by more about 4,500 former players. Last week, an HBO Real Sports/Marist Poll reported one third of adults were "less likely" to allow their sons to play football because of head injury risk. Thirteen percent said they would not allow them to play. "Historically, youth football has fueled the NFL. Parents' concerns about the safety of the game could jeopardize the future of the sport," Keith Strudler, director of the Marist College Center for Sports Communication, said in a press release. Tuesday night, moderator Jane Skinner, who is Goodell's wife and a former Fox News anchor, noted the poll also found that 85 percent of adults said they would let their sons play football. "You may feel alone, but there are other people that agree with you,'' Skinner told the mothers.

Said Goodell, "The fact that 85 percent of their parents say, 'Yes we would let our kids play football,' is an indication that they want the right information and they're seeing the things that we're doing in our programs." During the free event, the mothers were taught about the signs and symptoms of concussions. In the instructional segment, they did drills using the techniques of Heads Up Football, a program launched this year by the NFL-supported youth organization USA Football. USA Football says Heads Up is underway in about 2,800 youth leagues with about 600,000 players and 90,000 coaches. The system teaches tackling with the shoulder while keeping the head to the side. Tuesday night's panelists included Diane Long, wife of Pro Football Hall of Famer/broadcaster Howie Long and the mother of two NFL players: defensive end Chris Long of the St. Louis Rams and guard Kyle Long of the Bears. Before the event, Diane Long summed up her advice to football mothers. "Basically, breath and have an open conversation with anybody involved in your kids' development, whether it's coaches, teachers," she said. "Nothing is different between the academics and the athletics. It's just be aware. Know what's going on and try to put the responsibility for their direction in responsible people's hands." That doesn't mean she still doesn't worry about her own sons playing. "Constantly," she said. "I'm a mother. I'm an Italian-Catholic mother. We worry about everything. … I watch with binoculars. … You're always worried, but you know you control the thing you can control, and there's a point at which you have to relax." Another panelist, Christine Golic, echoed the support for Heads Up. She is the wife of former NFL player and current ESPN broadcaster Mike Golic and the mother of former Notre Dame players Mike Jr. and Chris Golic. "As parents we want to keep our kids safe, but at the same time I think you have to let them live their lives and follow their dreams. And if your kid tells you, 'I want to play football,' I kind of feel like, who am I to say no, no, no because I might be a little afraid?'' She added, "There's not ever been a better time (to play football). We're more aware of what's going on." Elizabeth Pieroth, a neuropsychologist at the NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago, instructed the mothers on signs and symptoms of

concussions. Does she hear questions from mothers about whether they should let their kids play? "Constantly, all the time. People stop me in the grocery store … I see it almost every day," said Pieroth, a consultant for the Chicago's Bears, Blackhawks (NHL), White Sox (baseball) and Fire (soccer).. "I always say it's a very personal decision, that there's no wrong decision. … All I want is for parents to make an informed decision," Pieroth said. Pieroth said she talks with parents about the benefits of sports, their children's medical histories and the risks of concussions in various sports and by position. "And then ultimately, it becomes a very personal decision for the parents. … and some parents have a sort of very low level of risk tolerance and some have high," she said.

Chiefs at Broncos flexed into Sunday Night Football for Week 11 By John Breech CBSSports.com November 1, 2013 The undefeated Kansas City Chiefs are headed for Sunday Night Football. The NFL can begin flexing games in Week 11 and on Friday, the league announced that's exactly what its going to do. The Chiefs game in Denver, originally scheduled to be televised on CBS at 4:05 p.m. ET on Nov. 17, has been moved to the 8:30 p.m. Sunday night slot on NBC. The move will give the 8-0 Chiefs their second primetime game of the season. Kansas City beat the Eagles in a Thursday night game played in Week 3. After finishing 2-14 in 2012, the Chiefs were only slotted for one primetime game in 2013 and that's only because every NFL team is required to play on Thursday night football at least once. The Week 11 game will be the Chiefs first Sunday night game since Week 12 in 2011. As for the Broncos, the move means Denver will play on Sunday Night Football two weeks in a row. The Broncos play in New England in Week 12 on Sunday night and it's hard to imagine the NFL flexing a Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady game out of that spot. Including the game with the Chiefs, six of the Broncos 16 games will have been played in primetime by the end of the season. There were two other flexes announced on Friday: the Giants-Packers game in Week 11 that was originally scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET has been moved to a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff in New York. The Dolphins-Chargers game, originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff, has been moved to 4:05 p.m. ET.

Kerney aids players in future plans By Alex Marvez FOX Sports October 27, 2013 During his storied 11-year NFL career, Patrick Kerney witnessed some of his peers fail to make wise decisions toward their financial futures. Kerney hopes to prevent the same from happening with a newer generation of players. FOX Sports has learned that Kerney was recently hired as the vice president of player benefits and NFL legends operations within the league’s player engagement program. One of Kerney’s major focuses will be helping current and former players better understand the services offered them as part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association. “This is very consistent with the mission I set out on when I retired and went to graduate school,” Kerney told FOX Sports in a telephone interview. “There is a frustration with financial and benefit illiteracy throughout pro sports in general, particularly in the NFL. “The general outsider talks about poor decisions that athletes make with their money, especially with what they’re earning early in life. Really, a lot of times the players are just poorly informed when making those decisions.” Kerney cites players who opt out of the NFL’s 401K program as one example. Players can contribute a maximum of $17,500 a year toward that retirement fund. NFL teams also do a two-for-one match up to $24,000 for those players with at least two credited seasons. “The fact there isn’t 100-percent participation in the 401K program shows that guys don’t really understand what an incredible gift tax deferment is with zero-risk leverage,” Kerney said. “To younger guys and even some of the older ones, there’s such a wide swath of benefits available from the NFL that it can be overwhelming. We’ve got to create the proper messaging. Guys have to understand just how big a pie is out there for them even if they’re not in (financial) need.” Kerney, 36, completed a master’s degree in business administration at Columbia University following his NFL retirement after the 2009 season. Kerney was voted the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in sacks with 14.5. He also was a two-time All-Pro while playing for Atlanta (1999 to 2006) and Seattle (2007 to 2009).

“He understands the guys in the locker room,” said Troy Vincent, the NFL’s senior vice president of player engagement. “When you start talking about financial literacy and learning the benefits available, you have to have an understanding of how this affects you today and in the long-term. You have to have someone who can teach and educate in that area with passion and love and patience. Patrick will do that.”

Chiefs vs. Broncos Flexed into NFL Sunday Night Football Slot in Week 11 By Jeremy Sickel Yahoo! Sports November 1, 2013 COMMENTARY | Contrary to an earlier report by ESPN's Adam Schefter that CBS had decided to protect both games between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos this season (Weeks 11 and 13), the NFL announced on Friday that their first matchup on Nov. 17 (in Denver) would be flexed into the Sunday Night Football slot. Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride (SB Nation site) does a good job of tracking on Twitter how all of this came about so quickly. The Green Bay Packers-New York Giants game will be moved into the 4:25 p.m. spot on Fox, with the matchup between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins being played at 4:05 p.m. on CBS. Since 2006, NBC (through the league) is permitted to begin moving more attractive games into the Sunday night slot starting in Week 11. And there is no better matchup that week to thrust into the national spotlight than pitting the league's best offense and best defense against each other. Currently undefeated (8-0), the Chiefs have navigated through a soft schedule to the tune of a swarm of mixed reviews along the way. And most have pointed to the trip to Denver as Kansas City's first true test of the season. While the whole notion of an easy schedule is certainly debatable -- seeming that the Chiefs were not expected to be this good, nor in this position -- it was a no-brainer to somehow get this team more exposure as the wins continued to pile up. At worst, the Chiefs and Broncos will enter this game at 8-1 and 7-2 respectively. But if both teams win their lone game leading up to their Week 11 showdown, there will be a combined 17 victories to only one loss between them -- which only adds to the already intense atmosphere of an outcome that could not only help decide the AFC West, but the entire conference.

NFL flexes Week 11 Chiefs-Broncos tilt into 'SNF' slot By Marc Sessler NFL.com November 1, 2013 It's that special time of year again -- flex time. The NFL announced Friday that it's moving the Week 11 tilt between the Kansas City Chiefs and hometown Denver Broncos from 4:05 p.m. ET into the prized "Sunday Night Football" slot at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The game originally slated for "SNF," the Green Bay Packers at New York Giants, now shifts to 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox, while the San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins matchup will air at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS. The league has the option to shift teams into both prime-time and late-afternoon starts from Weeks 11 through 17, and this first switch is a winner. Instead of laying eyes on a downtrodden Giants squad, viewers have been handed a gem out of the AFC West, pittingPeyton Manning's high-octane Broncos attack against the sack-happy defense of the Chiefs. Chalk it up as a win for humanity.

NFL midseason predictions: Seahawks rule Super Bowl XLVIII NFL.com November 1, 2013 We've reached a midpoint in the 2013 NFL campaign. How will the rest of the season play out? Our analysts provide their predictions, covering the major individual awards, playoff teams for each conference and picks for Championship Sunday/Super Bowl XLVIII. SUPER BOWL XLVIII Judy Battista: Seahawks over Broncos. Nothing to change since the preseason. The Seattle defense will be the difference. Gil Brandt: Seahawks over Bengals. The pregame hype will be about the battle between two rising young stars at quarterback: the mobile threat of Russell Wilson vs. the pocket-passer ways ofAndy Dalton. However, I think Seattle's dominant back four ofRichard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor will be the difference. Albert Breer: 49ers over Bengals. Oh ... Maybe this is why my gut feeling in the NFC title game is what it is: I'm just stubborn and sticking to my preseason pick. No reason to back away from it now. A rematch of a classic Super Bowl (XXIII), this time in the cold, with San Francisco taking another nail-biter. Bucky Brooks: Seahawks over Broncos. The Legion of Boom is the only secondary capable of slowing down the Broncos' dynamic receiving corps. Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond maul Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker on the perimeter, while a fleet-footed set of rushers get after Peyton Manning in the pocket. Jeff Darlington: Broncos over Seahawks. We all rightfully have our concerns, based specifically on his career's history, about what will happen when Peyton Manning reaches the playoffs. I just believe he's playing legendary football right now with a worthy supporting cast. It began as Peyton's season ... and it will end the same. Elliot Harrison: Broncos over Seahawks. While Seattle matches up well defensively with theBroncos, the Seahawks' offense has been hit-or-miss. Russell Wilson needs help, and even with a great defense on his side, Seattle still would need to score 30 points to win. Doubtful -- unless Percy Harvin makes a huge impact. Should be a great game either way.

Daniel Jeremiah: Seahawks over Colts. In a rematch from Week 5, the Seahawks' defense gets the best of the Colts' offense, and Pete Carroll gets to celebrate his first Super Bowl victory. Kimberly Jones: Broncos over Saints. In a shootout, Peyton takes home the trophy on Eli's home field. Ian Rapoport: 49ers over Broncos. Once again, sticking with my preseason pick because I've seen nothing to change my mind. This year, the Niners make that final play on the goal line to secure this version's legacy. Adam Schein: 49ers over Broncos. After coming within a few yards last season, the Niners snag their Lombardi Trophy, and Jim Harbaugh can finally smile. Michael Silver: Seahawks over Bengals. I'm cutting and pasting what I wrote before the season, because it still looks pretty, pretty good: Seattle's secondary shuts down the Cincy passing attack and destroys Andy Dalton, but the MVP trophy goes to Russell Wilson after a decisive 'Hawks triumph.

NFL midseason predictions: Crowded race for last AFC wild card NFL.com November 1, 2013  We've reached a midpoint in the 2013 NFL campaign. How will the rest of the season play out? Our analysts provide their predictions, covering the major individual awards, playoff teams for each conference and picks for Championship Sunday/Super Bowl XLVIII. AFC EAST Judy Battista: New England Patriots. Shakier than usual, but still the best team in a weak division. Gil Brandt: Patriots. The Pats will win because of two important factors: 1) Tom Brady and 2) Bill Belichick -- one of the best football coaches of all time. Albert Breer: Patriots. The Patriots are on track for another season of 12-or-so wins, despite all the change. And as for the quarterback, I'll let Steelers CB Ike Taylor answer for me: "The numbers are down because people are hurt. ... That whole offense runs because of Tom Brady." Bucky Brooks: Patriots. Tom Brady single-handedly carries thePatriots to another division crown, despite missing key contributors on both sides of the ball. Jeff Darlington: Patriots. If there's one word to describe the Patriots' first half, it is this: grind. We've heard Tom Brady say it time and time again, but now that he's got Rob Gronkowski back in the mix, the grind will start to look a little more like the good old days. Elliot Harrison: Patriots. Despite all the issues this team has had, its still two games up with eight to play. The injuries on defense are huge, yet the great elixir will always be Tom Brady (as compared to the other AFC East quarterbacks). Daniel Jeremiah: Patriots. It hasn't been pretty, but New England always finds a way to win games. There isn't a serious challenger inside this division. Kimberly Jones: Patriots. The job the defense did against the Saints proves this is about more than just Tom Brady's magic.

Ian Rapoport: Patriots. Injuries up the middle of their defense, lack of skill-position talent on offense, wild inconsistency ... except in the win column. Adam Schein: Patriots. Print the T-shirts -- it's over. Always has been, even with the first-half struggles in the passing attack. The injuries on defense will hold New England back in the playoffs. Michael Silver: Patriots. This division was there for the taking. On any given Sunday, it looks like theBills, Dolphins or Jets might be capable of taking it. They won't. AFC NORTH Judy Battista: Cincinnati Bengals. With the ascendency of Andy Dalton, the Bengals now have the offensive firepower to match a smothering defense. Gil Brandt: Bengals. The Bengals have a solid defense and two promising rookies in tight end Tyler Eifert and running back Giovani Bernard -- and they also have an ascendant quarterback in Andy Dalton. Albert Breer: Bengals. Andy Dalton's performance over the last few weeks has turned some heads internally, and dulled some of the doubt that he can elevate those around him. He's not lacking for help, that's for sure -- few rosters are as well-balanced as this one. Bucky Brooks: Bengals. Marvin Lewis guides a young, talented roster to the top of the division by pushing all the right buttons down the stretch. Jeff Darlington: Bengals. The Bengals might be the quietest candidate for a legitimate postseason run at this point. While they are the favorite to win a division that's seen some drop-off from theSteelers and Ravens, they can't take the foot off the gas. Elliot Harrison: Bengals. Cincinnati very well might be the most talented team on paper, and now that Andy Dalton has picked up his play, it's difficult seeing any of the other clubs in the AFC North threatening. Daniel Jeremiah: Bengals. The Bengals have emerged as the class of this division, and with Andy Dalton's improved play, they could lock this one up soon. Kimberly Jones: Bengals. Explosive on both sides of the ball. Just ask the Jets. Ian Rapoport: Bengals. If Andy Dalton's recent play is him finally getting it -- rather than a hot streak -- look out.

Adam Schein: Bengals. The defense is excellent, andAndy Dalton has been great over the last three weeks. Michael Silver: Bengals. Sometimes, when the whole world can see a falloff coming (Ravens), the whole world isn't wrong. AFC SOUTH Judy Battista: Indianapolis Colts. Victories over the Broncos, Seahawks and 49ers -- plus the best young quarterback in the game -- make them a serious contender. Gil Brandt: Colts. The Colts' bright future comes down to this: They have Andrew Luck. Albert Breer: Colts. Had a hunch before the season thatAndrew Luck was about to go on a run of double-digit win seasons, a la Brady/Manning, and nothing's happened since to dissuade that notion. He's as good a young quarterback as we've seen in a long, long time. Bucky Brooks: Colts. Chuck Pagano promised to build a bully in Indianapolis when he took over the Colts in 2012. His team delivers on the promise by running roughshod over opponents over final month of the season. Jeff Darlington: Colts. Being in the same division as the miserable Jaguars, imploding Texans and mediocre-at-best Titans has its perks -- but the Colts seem capable of earning it on their own inAndrew Luck's sophomore season. Elliot Harrison: Colts. Tennessee could provide a threat, especially with the Colts missing Reggie Wayne. But no other team in the AFC South has comparable talent in the backfield (taking quarterback into account), as well as a defense that can pressure the opposing signal-caller. Daniel Jeremiah: Colts. The Colts already defeated three of the top teams in the NFL: San Francisco, Seattle and Denver. Despite the loss of Reggie Wayne, they will cruise to this division title. Kimberly Jones: Colts. They're the class of the AFC South, but can they overcome the loss of Reggie Wayne? Ian Rapoport: Colts. Andrew Luck is reaching the level where his play alone can make up for the key injuries Indy has suffered all season long. Adam Schein: Colts. Despite losing Reggie Wayne, Andrew Luck adroitly guides the Colts to a division title.

Michael Silver: Colts. Oops -- my first switch from the preseason. I picked the Texans. Turns out they're inadequate. Indy is better than people realize. AFC WEST Judy Battista: Denver Broncos. They survived Von Miller's suspension, and now that the defense is playing better, some of the pressure will come off the offense. Gil Brandt: Kansas City Chiefs. Alex Smith isn't flashy, but he gets the job done, and he has a good core around him. Arrowhead Stadium is probably the toughest place to play in football -- and that's including the Seahawks' home field. Albert Breer: Broncos. Mark it down:John Fox's crew is going to keep winning (and in most spots, winning big) with its intergalactic offense. The bigger questions -- Are they well-balanced enough? Can Von Miller transform the defense? -- likely won't be answered in full until January. Bucky Brooks: Broncos. Peyton Manning directs the NFL's most explosive offense to the league's best record while helping the Broncos win the most competitive division pro football. Jeff Darlington: Broncos. Don't let a loss to the Colts and an early deficit to the Redskins blind you from the way Peyton Manning started this season. It will, however, be interesting to see how Manning fares when the cold weather (and postseason pressure) hits. Elliot Harrison: Broncos. Denver just outscores everybody else. The Chiefs are in the lead now, but truth be told, they haven't played well the last couple weeks. As good as theChiefs' defense is ... Peyton Manning > Alex Smith. Daniel Jeremiah: Broncos. The Broncos' offense will always put up points and their defense should play better down the stretch. Kimberly Jones: Broncos. Gotta think last year's disappointing (and abrupt) ending is still spurring on John Fox's group. Ian Rapoport: Broncos. The Chiefs are for real, don't get me wrong, but Denver is a juggernaut. We'll see both in the playoffs. Adam Schein: Broncos. Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning. Michael Silver: Broncos. The Chiefs are 8-0 but haven't beaten a team that currently owns a winning record, and they must face Peyton Manning and friends twice.

AFC WILD CARD NO. 1 Judy Battista: Kansas City Chiefs. Powered by a great defense, but the lack of an explosive offense might stall them in the playoffs. Gil Brandt: Denver Broncos. I don't see how Denver misses out on the playoffs -- not with a quarterback who might be the best to ever play the game. (Not to mention the outstanding supporting cast around him.) Albert Breer: Chiefs. The defense is for real, and the offense is good enough to where Andy Reid and his staff can manage it into the playoffs. Sound familiar? A little like the last team Alex Smith piloted to the playoffs, the 201149ers. Bucky Brooks: Chiefs. Andy Reid guides the Chiefs back into the playoffs behind the top defense in the NFL. Jeff Darlington: Chiefs. Look, let's be clear: Just because I believe the Broncos will leapfrog theChiefs to claim the division title is not to suggest I'm not buying into Kansas City's success. I believe this is a team worthy of its 8-0 start -- but it's also a team in a uniquely strong division right now. Elliot Harrison: Chiefs. Kansas City isn't even allowing 13 points per game, and has a great home-field advantage. At 8-0, they merely need 2-3 wins to be a wild-card club. Daniel Jeremiah: Chiefs. There will be tougher games on the horizon for the Chiefs, but they will still find their way to 12 wins. Unfortunately, it won't be enough to win their division. Kimberly Jones: Chiefs. With two games left against theBroncos, can the Chiefs relegate Denver to this spot? Ian Rapoport: Chiefs. They won't stay undefeated, but they do what really good, playoff teams do: play tough, run the ball, don't turn it over, get takeaways. Simple but effective. Adam Schein: Chiefs. With the defense, Andy Reid and Alex Smith, the Chiefs' upside is to go to the Super Bowl. Michael Silver: Chiefs. Sometimes, when the whole world embraces a team as a trendy playoff pick, the whole world isn't wrong. AFC WILD CARD NO. 2 Judy Battista: San Diego Chargers. The Chargers survive a challenging second-half schedule, edging the Ravens (who have a tough second-half slate of their own) for the final spot.

Gil Brandt: Chargers. Philip Rivers is back. The Chargers have impressed in their first year underMike McCoy. Albert Breer: Baltimore Ravens. Maybe this is more of a hunch than anything else. Or a belief thatJohn Harbaugh will find a way to figure it out. The remaining schedule's fairly brutal, but looking at the AFC landscape, it's not hard to envision a nine-win team getting in. Bucky Brooks: New York Jets. TheJets' suffocating defense leads an improbable run to the playoffs, despite the presence of a turnover-prone rookie quarterback. Jeff Darlington: Jets. Take a bow, Rex Ryan. This would be no small feat under the pressure that you faced before the season started. Geno Smith is maturing into a nice quarterback, and Ryan is getting his team to play with swagger again. Elliot Harrison: Chargers. San Diego has a tough remaining schedule, with two games against the Broncos and two against the Chiefs. That said, the Chargers will finish 9-7, one game ahead of the Ravens, Dolphins and Titans. Daniel Jeremiah: Ravens. The Ravens still are searching for an offensive identity, but I believe they will figure things out in time to sneak into the last AFC playoff spot. Kimberly Jones: Jets. As the second wild card in the AFC, why not? Ian Rapoport: Tennessee Titans. I believe in Jake Locker being the difference maker for a team that's thisclose to turning the corner. He returns, and the defense keeps ballin'. Adam Schein: Ravens. Tough call over San Diego, but I can't imagine the Ravens will continue to slide. Michael Silver: Buffalo Bills. This is the year: EJ Manuel returns from his knee injury and sparks a late-season streak to break the league's longest playoff drought.

Study Calls for More Concussion Research By Alex Marvez NFL Communications October 31, 2013 A new study released today by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council calls for better data to help parents make informed decisions about their children participating in sports. The report, which was supported by a $75,000 grant from the NFL Foundation, provides a broad examination of concussions in a variety of youth sports with athletes aged 5 to 21. “The findings of our report justify the concerns about sports concussions in young people,” said Robert Graham, chair of the committee and director of the national program office for Aligning Forces for Quality at George Washington University, Washington, D.C. “However, there are numerous areas in which we need more and better data. Until we have that information, we urge parents, schools, athletic departments, and the public to examine carefully what we do know, as with any decision regarding risk, so they can make more informed decisions about young athletes playing sports.” “We commend the IOM’s recommendations and are proud to have supported the study,” said Senior Vice President of Health and Safety Policy Jeff Miller. “We have been engaged on the key issues discussed in the report. It calls for more research into diagnosis and prognosis of concussion, longitudinal studies, and education programs to increase concussion awareness and understanding. We are investing in all of those areas and will continue to work in partnership with leading organizations on youth sports safety.” AMONG the study’s findings: “Very little research has evaluated the relationship between concussions and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. There currently are no data to evaluate this relationship because existing post-concussion symptom evaluations do not assess suicidal thoughts.” “Whether repetitive head impacts and multiple concussions sustained in youth lead to long-term neurodegenerative disease, such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), remains unclear.” Concussion rates per 10,000 athletic exposures in college athletics according to the Datalys Center (2009-2013): field hockey (14.5%); wrestling

(12.4%); men’s ice hockey (8.2%); women’s soccer (6.5%) and football (6.3%).

NFL Network’s 10-Year Gains: 13 Games and 72 Million Homes By James Andrew Miller and Richard Sandomir New York Times October 27, 2013 When the NFL Network celebrates its 10th anniversary next week, uphill battles and predictions of doom will be distant memories for those who kept the National Football League’s channel from going under during its early cliffhanger years. Available in a modest 11.5 million homes when it started in 2003, the NFL Network now reaches more than 72 million homes with its most valuable product: 13 regular-season Thursday night games. “There was certainly serious and smart debate about whether we should do it,” said Steve Bornstein, the network’s president, recalling the skepticism among team owners who had never started a network before. “We were very clear that this wasn’t for the faint of heart. The great thing is that ownership never lost patience and gave us the time to make it happen.” The network began with original programming, including studio shows, before it started carrying eight games in 2006. In 2012, it added five more games. But that number could change, especially if owners grow restless about the comparatively low ratings the games are drawing on the league’s channel and are tempted by the enormous sums of money that N.F.L.-hungry cable networks like Fox Sports 1 and NBC Sports Network would pay for, say, eight games. “Nothing is off the table,” said Brian Rolapp, the chief operating officer of NFL Media who will succeed Mr. Bornstein next year. “Can we add games? Sure? Can we look for a partner for some of those games? Possibly.” In the meantime, Mr. Rolapp is looking to create more shows that are exclusive to the network, like the four-day scouting combine where college players are worked out before the annual draft, and innovations like the RedZone channel, which switches from game to game on Sunday afternoons as teams get close to scoring. “We spend a lot of time thinking about which franchises we can build and how we can build more tent-pole assets,” he said. The N.F.L. was hardly a scarce commodity on television before the network made its debut, but its games were always in service to CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN, and brought those networks some of their highest viewership every

week. The NFL Network would be different: it existed only to benefit the National Football League and to appeal directly to fans, players and coaches. Robert K. Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, viewed the network not only as a way to build a billion-dollar asset, but also as a defensive measure to keep any broadcast or cable networks from “squeezing us out.” “I always worried that one of our major partners might drop out on us,” he said. And, he added, there was a promotional aspect to a league-owned network that carries only football programming. “We needed a vehicle to use on our own to basically advertise our product,” he said. By electing to stay independent and not sell parts of the network to pay-TV providers to ensure distribution, the league had to engage in a series of ferocious distribution battles, most notably with the two largest cable operators in the country, Comcast and Time Warner Cable. The fight with Comcast ended in court; the battle with Time Warner Cable lasted nine years, with the cable operator saying the network was not worth the price for just eight games. “We actually underestimated the challenge,” said Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys’ owner. “We thought it would be a lot easier than it was.” Rich Eisen, the NFL Network’s lead studio host, said: “I didn’t think it would take nine years to be seen in my hometown of New York City. For a while there, we had better distribution in London.” David Bank, an analyst for RBC Capital Markets, said that the NFL Network had pulled off an “incredible feat” to get broad distribution and substantial subscriber fees. “From an analyst’s standpoint, that’s checkmate,” he said, adding: “All of a sudden, last year, its ratings were starting to be disruptive to other prime-time programming. They’ve gotten that far.” But, Mr. Bank said, the network should have carried more games earlier to accelerate its distribution. In its current state — 13 games, 17 studio shows and more than 70 on-air personalities — the NFL Network is not a major threat to ESPN, the sports media giant. ESPN charges subscribers $5.54 a month; the NFL Network’s fee is $1.13, according to SNL Kagan, the media research firm. ESPN’s revenue is $8.3 billion compared with the NFL Network’s $1.1 billion. And while viewership for the NFL Network’s games have more than doubled since 2006, to nine million so far this season, it is far from the 13.3 million who watch ESPN’s games and the 22.7 million who tune in to NBC’s Sunday night games.

Different as they are, ESPN and the NFL Network nearly became partners. In 2009, the league courted ESPN in a series of exhaustive negotiations that the league hoped would conclude with ESPN acquiring 50 percent of the NFL Network for $2 billion, according to league and network executives. To help entice ESPN, the N.F.L. offered to reduce the price of “Monday Night Football.” The new “Monday Night” contract, which starts next season, will have ESPN paying an average of $1.9 billion a season, plus $100 million annually for a wild-card playoff game. The executives involved in the talks said the N.F.L. offered to cut the fee to $1.5 billion a year, with the playoff game tossed in as a signing bonus. Perhaps even more attractive to ESPN than paying less was the N.F.L.’s suggestion that its “Monday Night” schedule would be improved. ESPN’s schedule has lacked the strength of NBC’s Sunday night games largely because the league turned “Sunday Night Football” into its marquee prime-time showcase. The N.F.L. wanted more than a big investor; it coveted some of ESPN’s college games. With football games from the elite Big Ten Conference or the Southeastern Conference, the NFL Network would have more live events — its 13 N.F.L. games provided only about 39 hours of live event programming — enhancing its status as a football channel. ESPN’s willingness to give up some of its best college games proved the most critical issue, and the network ultimately backed away, reluctant to cede a commodity as priceless as a part of its college football schedule — regardless of the benefits to its N.F.L. business. Talks got so promising that cases of Champagne were ordered and stashed away at N.F.L. headquarters in Manhattan for the anticipated celebration of an agreement. A senior ESPN executive acknowledged the discussions and said that in addition to concerns about distribution, the issue of which ESPN games would be shared proved too big an obstacle. This became clear to both sides after ESPN actually submitted a list of tentative college games to the league. After the talks ended, some league executives were convinced that ESPN was ultimately unwilling to become a full partner because it did not want to get involved in the contentious efforts to help the NFL Network gain additional distribution. For now, the NFL Network continues to expand. Ten years ago, it carried six hours of live programming during Super Bowl Week; this year, those hours are set to total more than 140. But perhaps its biggest coup has been its draft coverage, which has been more than competitive with ESPN. It was ESPN that turned that nonevent into an avidly watched TV tradition.

“We don’t pound our chests about anything,” said Mr. Eisen, a former ESPN studio anchor. “We take the sport very seriously, but not ourselves. Fans don’t want to see people who are so full of themselves, as they do at other places.”

10 years later, NFL Network is bigger – and better By Michael Lev Ocean County Register October 31, 2013 When they decided more than a decade ago to launch a league-owned cable network, NFL executives were taking a gamble. It was a calculated, billionaire-backed gamble, but a gamble nonetheless. Their assumption was that NFL fans’ appetite for football was so insatiable they would keep coming back for more – even during the six or so offseason months when there is no live football. The league was right. Fans can’t get enough. And NFL Network, which celebrates its 10th anniversary Monday, is thriving and growing in that football-mad environment. “Can you sustain it in the offseason? That was really the question,” said Mark Quenzel, NFL Network senior VP of programming and production, who was with ESPN at the time. “But I also remember thinking: If anybody can pull it off, it’s probably the National Football League.” The NFL is the most popular sports league in America, and it isn’t close. Still, there was a time when the NFL wasn’t the year-round topic of conversation it is today. Rich Eisen, who has been the face and voice of NFL Network since its inception, remembers a brainstorming session during his final days at ESPN in spring 2003. Someone suggested an NFL story for “SportsCenter” at a time when a lot of other events were going on, including postseason pushes in the NBA and NHL, the start of baseball season and March Madness. “They were laughed out of the room,” Eisen recalled. “Why in the world would we talk about the NFL? Now, I’ve lost track of the number of daily, live football shows that ESPN has on the air.” NFL Network, Eisen believes, “has been integral in proving that football is an everyday conversation piece.” The proof lies in its exponential expansion. • • • Eisen is reclining in one of several leather chairs positioned in front of a garage door-sized bank of TV monitors at NFL Network’s studios in Culver City. He has just finished serving as host of NFL Network’s four-hour Sunday

pregame show, “NFL GameDay Morning,” which follows a separate two-hour block of live programming, “NFL GameDay First.” Eisen and dozens of NFL Network employees and personalities, including Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp, gather to watch the eight early-window games on the league’s Week 7 schedule. It’s like a sports bar without the alcohol. Eisen takes it all in while monitoring his iPad, which sits on the right armrest of his chair; controlling the bank of TV screens with a tablet-sized remote control; and speaking to a reporter. He is asked how NFL Network has changed over the past 10 years. “It’s like television as a technology. It’s gone from black-and-white to high-definition color to 3D,” Eisen said. “There’s no comparison between the two – with the exception of, the sensibility is the same. We haven’t changed from the first show to the current show. We take football seriously, but not ourselves.” When NFL Network launched Nov. 4, 2003, the first and only in-house show it produced was the Eisen-hosted “NFL Total Access,” which aired for one hour Monday-Friday. NFL Network now produces more live content in a day than it did then in a week. The network estimates it will air more than 3,000 hours of live NFL coverage in 2013. At the Super Bowl this past season, NFL Network aired 140 hours of programming – 128 more than the first Super Bowl it covered, in 2004. It was there, in Houston, that Eisen realized the risk he had taken was a sound one. ESPN reached almost 100 million homes; NFL Network, at launch, only 11.5 million. But its guest list at Super Bowl XXXVIII was packed with A-listers, including George H.W. Bush, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. Eisen called his wife after the first day and told her: “You know, we’re going to be fine.” Today, NFL Network is available in more than 72 million homes. It’s unquestionably bigger. It’s also better. • • • Shortly after arriving at NFL Network, Eisen received a phone call from the league’s COO, who wanted to meet with him. They ended up playing golf together, and while Eisen was in a back-nine bunker, the COO, Roger Goodell, delivered this message: “We hired you to do the job that you did at ESPN. If you ever get a phone call or an email from anyone in the league telling you what to say, or what you said is something you shouldn’t have said, you call me and I’ll fix it.”

The NFL recognized that credibility was critical to its fledgling network’s success. In recent years, it has taken several steps to further enhance its journalistic credentials. Recent editorial hires include Andrea Kremer, who was tasked with covering health issues, including concussions, without interference; and Michael Silver, who was critical of the league’s owners during the 2011 lockout (which NFL Network impressively covered from both sides). The head of the network’s newsroom – which also includes NFL.com under the umbrella of NFL Media – is David Eaton, a former bureau chief at ABC News. “I don’t see the NFL network being this slanted, tell-me-everything-I-want-to-hear type of network,” said Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. “You can’t be an independent voice, but you can be a credible voice.” It’s impossible to predict what’s in store for NFL Network over the next 10 years. Its president and CEO, Steve Bornstein, is stepping down next year, to be replaced by Brian Rolapp, who comes from more of a digital background. Network executives say they want to tell more in-depth stories and explore new ways to deliver content. The “Thursday Night Football” package, which features 13 regular-season games, could be expanded and split between NFL Network and another cable outlet. Executive producer Eric Weinberger, who has been there from the start, summed up the state of NFL Network as it enters its second decade of existence. “We’re very proud of what we’ve done so far,” he said, “and very excited about where this is going to go.”

The transatlantic football swap By Joanna Tilley Aljazeera October 28, 2013 Walking down my road this week I spied a group of 30 beautiful women in matching blue lycra uniforms bundling into a minivan. This was not a sight I expected to see on a West London street. It was like I'd walked into a Hollywood movie. My mind raced. Who were these perfectly-formed ladies speaking in American? I've had a while to think about it and I'm almost certain they were cheerleaders. It seems the most rational explanation as on Sunday evening the Jacksonville Jaguars play the San Francisco 49ers in the International Series at Wembley Stadium. Whether NFL cheerleaders are staying on my road is up for debate. But there is no denying that American Football has arrived in London in a big way. Despite a busy fixture list of Premier League football – or soccer, whatever you say – most English sports fans know there is a NFL game being played on the weekend. NFL banners flutter above Regent Street and if you walk around central London you are sure to bump into an excited 49ers or Jaguars fan. Americans in London are hardly rare but what is interesting is that these American Football fans are not American, they are European. Ordering-in bulk While the NFL has been popular in Europe since the 1980s, Wembley started entertaining America's biggest and bulkiest stars in 2007. I spoke to Norwegian 49er fans Sebastian and Eric who were staying in Knightsbridge ahead of the main event. "I really liked the San Francisco 49ers when I first started watching the game four years ago, I fell in love with them," says 20-year-old Eric. "We've travelled to London to see the game. It's a bit cheaper and easier than the trip to San Francisco. I might have to save for that!".

Sebastian made the trip to London to join in the fun but he can also see the more serious side. "It's good publicity for the NFL to play a game in Europe. We have two other 49er fans in our hotel from Switzerland. There are many fans from Europe around as it's cheap to get to London and a good opportunity to see a different sport in a huge venue like Wembley." But what about English sports fans? How do they feel about NFL arriving on their doorstep? Al Jazeera English's production crew certainly don't have any complaints. Six are taking part in a fierce NFL fantasy football league. They have even created their own table which they have pinned to the wall in the director's control room. "There is a fanbase of more than one million in the UK and then there's the rest of Europe," says camera supervisior Craig Mellors, who is being named and shamed for his woeful display in fantasy football. "I support the Chicago Bears and went to see them play in 2011. I have always followed the game but it's expensive to get a ticket to Wembley." Despite tickets costing over $100, Wembley has not struggled to get bums on seats. Anything but. The 2013 fixtures sold out in two days, nine months in advance (the Pittsburgh Steelers played the Minnesota Vikings last month). On-going popularity for the Series has seen the Jacksonville Jaguars sign a contract from 2013-2016, and in 2014 there will be three games played at Wembley for the first time. NFL's London future is looking bright – so bright that rumours are still bubbling about a team setting up camp in the capital permanently. While speaking to Al Jazeera English sports correspondent Lee Wellings this week, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan did not close the door on this possibility. Exploratory "I don’t think you can rule anything out or in. This is an exploratory experimental phase to see what fans want and what the league can provide," said Khan. It is perhaps only fair American Football gets a taste of London after the rise of soccer in the United States.

"NFL is really big in the States – and now we are exporting our product to the UK. It is a good thing," American sports fan Ron Ringer tells me. "Soccer was not a big part of the USA but now it is. Beckham was principally responsible for soccer growing and becoming popular. There are more juvenile leagues now. "What seems to be happening is a cultural exchange between the U.S. and the United Kingdom." Ron has put his finger on it. And this transatlantic football exchange shows no signs of waning. In fact, with four American NFL owners running Premier League clubs (Fulham, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Arsenal) things are likely to get more integrated. But is there space for another brand of football, with the Premier League so strong in the UK? "It's not just about the sport, it is about American culture. Americans do things big and they know how to party. NFL games are just one long celebration," English Jaguars fan Sarah Knight tells me. "It's a totally different experience to watching a soccer match at Wembley. I think we have space for both." It could be a while before a NFL team sets up camp in the UK but signs are showing that demand for American Football has never been higher. And if that means more cheerleaders on the streets, very few sports fans – male ones at least – will be complaining.

Broncos’ Wesley Woodyard fined for hit against Redskins, apparently on Kirk Cousins By Mark Maske The Washington Post November 1, 2013 Denver Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard was fined $15,750 by the NFL for roughing the passer on a helmet-to-helmet hit on the quarterback last Sunday against the Washington Redskins, according to a person familiar with the situation. Woodyard’s fine letter does not specify which Redskins quarterback was on the receiving end of Woodyard’s hit, the person said. But Woodyard had a fourth-quarter hit on Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins that appeared to fit that description, although no penalty was called during the game. “It all happened so fast,” Cousins said Wednesday. “I feel like I’ve taken hits like that before. When I got up, I didn’t think anything of it. I patted him on the helmet and said, ‘Good hit,’ and just kept going. Then I saw after the game I had a lot of texts from people not saying anything about the interception, not saying anything about the loss. All they said was, ‘Boy, that was quite a hit.’ And I thought, ‘Man, it must have looked worse than it was.’ I didn’t have any repercussions from it. But it did look pretty bad once I saw it.” Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton was not fined for the fourth-quarter hit that knocked Redskins starting quarterback Robert Griffin III from the game with an injured left knee. No penalty was called on Knighton on that hit. Denver defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson and defensive end Malik Jackson were fined $7,875 apiece for late hits against the Redskins.

Three Broncos fined for Week Eight infraction By Josh Alper ProFootballTalk.com November 1, 2013

Broncos defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson said earlier this week that quarterbacks should be fined for flopping in an effort to draw flags for late hits. That change doesn’t seem like one we’ll be seeing anytime soon and it might not have helped Vickerson avoid league discipline this week anyway.PFT has confirmed with the league that Vickerson has been fined $7,875 for hitting Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III late in last Sunday’s Denver victory, but there wasn’t much flopping by Griffin as Vickerson made this one a no-doubter. Vickerson wasn’t the only Bronco to hear from the league this week. LinebackerWesley Woodyard owes $15,750 for striking Kirk Cousins, who came in after Griffin tweaked his knee in the fourth quarter, with a helmet-to-helmet shot. Defensive end Malik Jackson is also writing a check. He’s been fined $7,875 for a late hit on wide receiver Pierre Garçon, making it an expensive weekend for the Broncos defense as a whole.

Chiefs-Broncos get flexed onto Sunday Night Football By Darin Gantt ProFootballTalk.com November 1, 2013

Going into the season, there were reasons to think the Chiefs would be better, namely because they could barely be worse than in 2012. But now that they’re perfect, they’re suddenly a prime time draw. The NFL announced the Week 11 Chiefs-Broncos game on Nov. 17 has been drawn as the first flex-scheduled game of the year, replacing Packers-Giants on Sunday Night Football. At the moment, the 8-0 Chiefs and 7-1 Broncos are locked in a duel for the top of the AFC West, while the Giants have had to work to get back to 2-6. But as much as a major market helps, the allure of Peyton Manning against a potential undefeated team was more than the league was willing to pass on. The Packers-Giants game will move into the 4:25 p.m. spot on FOX, while Chargers-Dolphins will be played at 4:05 p.m. on CBS.

Five to Remember from First Half: Defense By Andrew Mason DeverBroncos.com November 1, 2013  ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- No one in the Broncos' locker room will tell you that the defense is where it needs to be yet. But after allowing more total yardage per game than all but two other teams and more passing yardage than anyone else in the first five weeks, things have stabilized in the last three, and the Broncos are 12th-best in the league in both categories since Week 6. It's not worthy of a parade; this defense was No. 2 in the league last year, and its members know excellence. But it's enough for the defense to believe it can soon resume pursuing its goals, especially with Von Miller and Wesley Woodyard back. "I think it’s about that time that we start putting up shutouts -- holding teams to under 17 points, which is our goal," said defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. "We feel like if we hold teams under that, we’ll win every game because our offense is going to score regardless." Until accounting for just 14 points allowed Sunday against Washington, that goal had been unrealized for the defense. But there were some individual moments worthy of note that offered a glimpse of what the defense could still be. 5. Nate Irving stuffs Baltimore RB Ray Rice early in the third quarter; Week 1. The offense had just marched 80 yards in six plays to a touchdown that put the Broncos in front, 21-17, but to this point, momentum in the season opener had swung back and forth. Worse, the defense had been burnt on first down toward the end of the first half; Baltimore had averaged 11.3 yards a snap on its last five first downs before intermission. Irving got the stuff for a 2-yard loss with a simple reading of the opponent's call. Irving's read was flawless; the opposite was true for then-Ravens left tackle Bryant McKinnie and fullback Vonta Leach, both of whom engaged with other defenders and completely ignored Irving. In the short term, the play helped steer Baltimore away from its core strength; they only ran four times after that after posting 16 carries in the first half. That was due as much to the offense finding its stride as anything the defense did, but this stop set the tone for a three-and-out that allowed Peyton Manning & Co. to sustain its momentum.

It also shows what Irving can do against a front line preoccupied with other defenders. Even with Miller back, the Broncos would be well-served to keep finding spots for Irving to contribute -- as they did last week, when he played 16 snaps. 4. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's second-quarter interception of Giants QB Eli Manning; Week 2. The interception itself wasn't spectacular; pressure forced an errant throw, and Rodgers-Cromartie was in the right place for the interception. But Rodgers-Cromartie demonstrated the essential cornerback trait: he forgot about the play before it. The significance of the play in the game was massive; it preserved the Broncos' halftime lead, and seemed to jolt the defense even after halftime; a blitz on the first snap of the second half led to a sack and a three-and-out. Moments such as this -- where the defense turned the momentum of the game -- were rare in the first half of the season. This particular swing was crucial; after Rodgers-Cromartie's interception and the third-quarter three-and-out that followed, the Giants offense never ran another play where it had a chance to take the lead. 3 and 2. Malik Jackson's two sacks in three plays of Jaguars QB Chad Henne; Week 6. Is it a cop-out to use two plays here? A bit, but they work so well together, and show Jackson's versatility. On the first, he lines up at left defensive end, doesn't follow the flow of the linemen, and instead focuses on the quarterback, allowing him to not avoid over-pursuit and be in perfect position for the sack. On the second sack, he stunts outside from working as a nose tackle. In between, he breaks free of Will Rackley to bring down Maurice Jones-Drew for a two-yard loss. Unlike the other plays, this sequence wasn't so much a game-changer as it revealed Jackson's potential. Jackson has forced a hurried throw once every 2.33 pass rushes, according to ProFootballFocus.com, and their metrics rank Jackson as the Broncos' second-highest-rated defender behind Von Miller. How they work together in the coming weeks will be worth watching. 1. Von Miller's fourth-quarter sack of Washington QB Robert Griffin III; Week 8. Perhaps the one true "highlight reel" play on my list, and the one that demonstrated what Miller's return does to the defense: when playing from ahead, it becomes a unit that is capable of as many big plays as the offense. With the potential to use a defensive front of Miller and Shaun Phillips outside and Jackson and Derek Wolfe at the tackles, the Broncos can attack with more speed than they have before, which should set up more errant or deflected passes, which leads to more takeaways, and, in the parlance of Marge Simpson, "happiness will follow."

Top 10 Defensive Plays of the First Half By Stuart Zaas DenverBroncos.com November 1, 2013 A rundown of the top 10 defensive plays from Denver's first eight games. With the Broncos on their bye week at the midpoint of the 2013 season, DenverBroncos.com is counting down the top 10 offensive, defensive and special-teams plays of the first eight games. The first list looked at the top 10 offensive plays of the season to date. Here's the order we came up with for the top 10 defensive plays thus far: 10: Kayvon Webster's pass breakup vs. Oakland On third-and-17 from the Oakland 13, Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor threw a deep pass intended for Brice Butler. Webster came in with a well-timed hit to force the incompletion. 9: Shaun Phillips' sack vs. Baltimore Phillips burst into the backfield to drop Joe Flacco in the season opener. The linebacker finished with 2.5 sacks in his Broncos debut. 8: Kevin Vickerson's tackle for a loss at N.Y. Giants With Denver trailing 3-0 in the first quarter against the Giants, Vickerson met running back David Wilson in the backfield on a first-down rush attempt. The 328-pound defensive tackle smothered the 205-pound running back for a 3-yard loss and set the tone for a three-and-out. 7: Von Miller's strip-sack of Robert Griffin III vs. Washington With the Broncos up by a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, Robert Griffin III dropped back to pass from his own 28-yard line. Around the end came Miller, who hit Griffin III and forced the ball loose for his first sack of the season. Derek Wolfe recovered the loose ball and the Broncos would go on to win 45-21. 6: Chris Harris' interception off Tony Carter's deflection at N.Y. Giants With Denver trailing 3-0 in the first quarter against the Giants, Vickerson met running back David Wilson in the backfield on a first-down rush attempt. The 328-pound defensive tackle smothered the 205-pound running back for a 3-yard loss and set the tone for a three-and-out. 5: Rahim Moore's interception off Terrance Knighton's QB hit vs. Washington Also in the fourth quarter versus Washington, the Broncos got to Griffin III to force another turnover. This time it was defensive tackle Terrance Knighton bursting through the offensive line to hit Griffin III as he tried to release a

pass. The ball floated over the middle of the field and Moore was there to gobble up the interception. 4: Malik Jackson's three-and-out vs. Jacksonville After Denver increased its lead to two possessions at 28-19, Jacksonville began its ensuing drive from the 20-yard line after a touchback on the kickoff. Three plays later, the Jaguars were punting thanks to three consecutive big plays from Jackson. On first down the defensive end dropped Chad Henne for a 7-yard loss. He followed that up with a 1-yard tackle for a loss on a Maurice Jones-Drew carry and capped the series with another sack, this one for 5 yards. Three plays, -13 yards courtesy of Jackson. 3: Chris Harris' diving interception vs. Baltimore After Harris picked off Joe Flacco just before halftime and returned it a franchise-record 98 yards for a score in Week 15 last season, Flacco threw 210 passes without an interception. On pass attempt No. 211, it was Harris who ended the streak with a diving interception that set up a Peyton Manning-to-Julius Thomas touchdown on the next snap to tie the game 7-7. 2: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's 75-yard pick-six vs. Washington Rodgers-Cromartie put the exclamation mark on the defense's dominating fourth quarter against the Redskins just after the two-minute warning. With backup quarterback Kirk Cousins in the game, Rodgers-Cromartie jumped tight end Jordan Reed's route to come up with the interception and take it 75 yards for a score to give Denver a 45-21 lead that would represent the final margin. 1: Danny Trevathan's diving interception to set up the game-winning field goal at Dallas The No. 1 play of the first half had equal parts to do with the impressive athleticism as well as the timing. With the game tied at 48 and approaching the two-minute warning, it appeared as though whoever would have ball last would drive for the winning score. On second down from the Dallas 14, Tony Romo dropped back to pass and fired a pass for tight end Gavin Escobar. Trevathan, who had left practice with a knee injury earlier that week, dove in front of the tight end and came up with the interception. That set up Matt Prater's game-winning field goal to deliver a 51-48 victory over the Cowboys. Let us know what you think of the list in the comment section below. Did we miss any plays? Were any ranked too high or too low? What would your top 10 list look like?

Broncos-Chiefs Game Moved to Primetime  By Brandon Moree DenverBroncos.com November 1, 2013 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Broncos will have one more regular season game in primetime this year than previously scheduled. The Broncos’ first matchup with AFC West rival Kansas City has been moved to Sunday Night Football. The game was originally scheduled for a 2:05 MST kickoff on Nov. 17 but has been moved to a 6:30 MST start. Currently, the Chiefs are 8-0 and in first place in the AFC West and the Broncos are right behind in second place at 7-1. The Chiefs play the Bills this Sunday and have a bye in Week 10 before playing the Broncos. The Broncos, who are off this week, will play a divisional game with the Chargers in Week 10. Week 11 is the first week of the season that NFL employs flexible scheduling. The Packers and the Giants were originally scheduled to play on the Sunday Night Football broadcast in Week 11 but that game has been moved to 2:25 MST and will air on Fox. The 2013 Sunday Night Football schedule originally included three Broncos’ games including the season-opening Thursday night game. The Broncos game in Indianapolis was on Sunday Night Football and the Week 12 matchup with the Patriots is also scheduled for Sunday Night Football.

Gray Matter Mailbag: Midseason MVP  By Gray Caldwell DenverBroncos.com November 1, 2013 The bye-week edition of the Gray Matter mailbag answers a fan question on the Broncos MVP candidates at the midway point of the season. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- It's the bye week, but there's still plenty of new content on DenverBroncos.com every day throughout this break. Perhaps the most exciting pieces of that content are the countdowns of the top plays on offense, defense and special teams from the first half of the season. So make sure you check that out. The content doesn't stop, but it's still the bye week for everyone in the organization. So before I head up to Breckenridge with my wife, let's get a quick Gray Matter mailbag in. As always, you can tweet me your questions using the hashtag #GrayMatter to @GrayCaldwell. Thanks for this week's submissions. Ah, sneaking two questions into one tweet. Brilliant strategy. The first one is an interesting question. Outside ofPeyton Manning, who very well may be the MVP of the entire league for the first half of the season, there are several viable candidates. Let's stick to the offensive side of the ball, since that group is on a record pace. I think it's between Knowshon Moreno and Wes Welker. Welker has scored in every single game this season and leads the league in receiving touchdowns. He's on pace for 100 catches for more than 1,100 yards, and that would be the sixth time in the past seven seasons that he has accomplished that feat. Moreno, meanwhile, leads the league with eight rushing touchdowns. He has also added another score via reception. His 743 yards from scrimmage -- 456 on the ground and 287 in the air -- rank seventh in the league. Both players' nine total touchdowns are tied for the league lead. Moreno has helped keep the offense balanced, but Welker has helped make the passing attack so dangerous. In other words, I'm going to chicken out and name two first-half MVPs not named Peyton Maning. As far as the aspect that needs the most improvement, I'd say turnovers and penalties. If the Broncos eliminate their own mistakes, it makes the team that much more dangerous. This is a question I've gotten a few times on Twitter, so thought it was a good one to answer. No, there's no chance Clady can come back for the

playoffs this year. He's on injured reserve without a designation to return. So he is officially out for the duration of the 2013 campaign, no matter how far the Broncos go. Peyton Manning said C.J. Anderson gave the offense "a spark when he popped in there," and Head Coach John Fox agreed that the rookie "did well." But he acknowledged that Anderson looked like a running back playing in his first NFL game. As far as whether Anderson will get another shot on the active roster or if Hillman will be active on game days -- or both -- it might be a game of numbers each week. The team clearly thinks highly of both players -- Anderson made the 53-man roster as an undrafted player and Hillman was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft -- so expect both to continue to get shots going forward. How it will play out in the immediate future, i.e. Week 10 after the bye, Fox wasn't ready to address that quite yet. “Again, I don’t know. We’re kind of day-to-day," he said. "During the bye week we won’t be rushing through any kind of gameday activations, so I don’t know if it’d be good to talk about that at this point."