Well the time is upon us. Super Bowl XLIV is here, and I wanted to pass along your full broadcasting schedule. I've broken it down by network (CBS, ESPN and NFL Network), so you can flip around during the day depending on where your interests lie.

CBS

The Road To The Super Bowl (Noon-1pm)
Phil Simms All-Iron Team (1pm-2pm)
Studio Show: Super Bowl Today (2-6pm) - James Brown, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, Charley Casserly; Reporters: Lesley Visser, Sam Ryan, Steve Tasker, Solomon Wilcots, Dick Enberg and contributor Katie Couric

SEGMENTS:

- THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS: James Brown takes a look at New Orleans four-and-a-half years after one of the nation's worst natural catastrophes, Hurricane Katrina
- PLAXICO BURRESS: Plaxico Burress sits down with Bill Cowher for his first interview since being sent to jail in September of 2009.
- DREW BREES: Katie Couric sits down with the Saints quarterback.
- REGGIE BUSH: Bush is interviewed by NFL Today analyst Shannon Sharpe.
- NEW ORLEANS DEFENSE: Lesley Visser sits down with Darren Sharper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith as they prepare to face the Colts high octane offense.
- PEYTON MANNING: Dan Marino visits with him and talks about Manning’s first Super Bowl win three years ago in Miami, the Colts’ decision not to go for a perfect season, and facing the team that his father Archie played for, the New Orleans Saints.
- DWIGHT FREENEY AND ROBERT MATHIS: Boomer Esiason sits down with Freeney and Mathis as they get ready to take on Drew Brees and the Saints.
- INDIANAPOLIS RECEIVING CORPS: Sam Ryan visits with the Colts’ receiving corps and discusses the role Peyton Manning has played in the quartet’s success.
- WYNTON MARSALIS: Jazz impresario Wynton Marsalis pays a special tribute with music and words to his beloved city of New Orleans.
- BARACK OBAMA: Katie Couric interviews the President before the game.
- GUY FIERI: Will prepare the “perfect tailgate food.”
- MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: Steve Winwood & Daughtry

SUPER BOWL XLIV (6:28pm Kickoff)- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Steve Tasker, Solomon Wilcots

ESPN

Mike and Mike in the Morning (ESPN Radio/ESPN2, 6am)- Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic
SportsCenter (ESPN, 7am)
Outside the Lines (ESPN, 8am)- Bob Ley Guest: Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer and former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Kyle Turley
The Sports Reporters (ESPN, 8:30am)- John Saunders and a panel of sports journalists
SportsCenter live from Sun Life Stadium (ESPN, 9am)- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski
Sunday NFL Countdown (ESPN, 10am-2pm)- Chris Berman, Tom Jackson, Mike Ditka, Keyshawn Johnson, Cris Carter, Steve Young, Trent Dilfer, Tedi Bruschi, Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden, Chris Mortensen, Adam Schefter, Suzy Kolber and Ed Werder

Special Guests:

– Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Rob Schneider, stars of the upcoming movie Grown Ups (11:30am)
- Celebrity chef and television personality Emeril Lagasse, who lives in New Orleans, will discuss Cajun Super Bowl cuisine (12:30pm)
– Grammy Award-winning musician Kenny Chesney, a close friend to Saints head coach Sean Payton, will appear on the show (1pm)

NFL Network

NFL GAMEDAY MORNING SUPER BOWL SUNDAY PREGAME FROM SOUTH FLORIDA (9am-5:30pm)- Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Rich Eisen
From the Sun Life Stadium booth: Fran Charles, Rod Woodson
From NFC and AFC hotels- Scott Hanson, Kara Henderson
From South Beach set- Alex Flanagan, Jamie Dukes, Tom Waddle

SEGMENTS:

- A look inside the Indianapolis Colts defense with Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Gary Brackett.
- How Colts WR Pierre Garcon and Saints LB Jonathan Vilma are bound together by the disaster relief effort in Haiti.
- A closer look at what the Saints organization and players mean to the city of New Orleans, straight from the fans.
- Steve Sabol gives his take on how the legacy of Colts icon Peyton Manning now includes taking on his father’s team in Super Bowl XLIV.
- Super Bowl Journey – Saints DT Anthony Hargrove visits the Miami rehabilitation facility that he was in a year ago.
- In Memoriam – A reflection on the NFL icons that were lost in 2009
- Sabol chronicles the best decade of Super Bowl matchups
_________________________________

Also, if you're planning on betting on the Super Bowl, be sure to check out the ridiculous props at Bodog.

Bryant Gumbel was filling in for Regis on Regis and Kelly today, and he dropped a bomb on the viewing audience. Gumbel announced that he has been receiving treatment for Lung Cancer. Via People....

The sportscaster and TV host, 61, said that he had surgery last month to remove a malignant tumor in his chest, a revelation prompted when Kelly Ripa asked Gumbel, subbing for Regis Philbin, to dance – and he begged off. According to Gumbel, part of his lung was removed, and he will be seeing his surgeon next week.

“We had told a few people, we told my family, obviously. I even kept it from my staff at Real Sports. So I’m okay for the time being. I’m hoping they greenlight me to play golf again.”- Bryant Gumbel

While I find it a bit odd that he decided to announce it on an ABC show that his filling in on, he does seem to be in good spirits about the whole thing. I obviously can't imagine what it would be like to hear that type of news, but I can guarantee I wouldn't be as cool with it as Gumbel. Good luck in beating it, Bryant.

Bryant Gumbel Has Lung Cancer (People)

Everyone knows the famous Herman Edwards quote, "you play to win the game," including Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. Josh, however, decided to update it for live television with just a bit of cursing last night (very NSFW)....

No one gets the NFL Network anyway, why not let curses on the air?

Josh McDaniels Video: “Win a Mutha—-in’ Game!” (Sports by Brooks)

I thought that Deion's whole thing was mentoring players coming into the league, heck he even had a television show about it. Well, it appears that going to Deion Sanders house now, and more specifically lying about it, can cost you your eligibility. Namely Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant's eligibility....

Bryant was ruled ineligible for violating N.C.A.A. bylaw 10.1 (d), which prohibits “knowingly furnishing the N.C.A.A. or the individual’s institution false or misleading information concerning the individual’s involvement in or knowledge of matters relevant to a possible violation of an N.C.A.A. regulation.”

Sanders said the suspension stemmed from a day he and Bryant spent together last summer. They met at an athletics center in Frisco, Tex., and later had dinner at Sanders’s home in Prosper, Tex. Sanders said the N.C.A.A. asked Bryant if he had ever been in Sanders’s home and Bryant said no.

Bryant could not be reached for comment through the university, but he said in its statement: “I made a mistake by not being entirely truthful when meeting with the N.C.A.A. I sincerely regret my mistake and apologize to my teammates, coaches, O.S.U. fans and the N.C.A.A.”

Well, that's a bit lame but I guess rules are rules. While I know Dez is probably upset, this could be a blessing in disguise for him. He's been battling some aches and bruises this season, and a mistake like this won't really cost him any spots in the Draft. Now he has time to heal, work out on his own, and get ready for the combine.

Oklahoma State Declares Star Receiver Bryant Ineligible (NY Times)

The NFL Network seems to be moving forward from their stressful start to 2009 (see: Cable, Comcast) and has been adding people slowly as the summer comes to an end. Michael Irvin is set to make his debut on the network, and according to Variety, Stacey Dales has also found a home there....

Irvin, a five-time Pro Bowl player and three-time Super Bowl champion, served as an analyst for ESPN for four years and was host of Spike network's reality skein "4th and Long," which aired earlier this year.

"NFL GameDay Morning" has been extended to four hours for the upcoming season that begins Sept. 13.

Irvin, who played 10 seasons with the Cowboys and will be a participant on the next cycle of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," will join Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci in the studio.

Also, NFL Network announced Stacey Dales will be the new co-host of "NFL GameDay Morning," along with Spero Dedes. Dales comes from ESPN and ABC, where she covered college football and basketball and the NBA.

Two really good pickups if you ask me. Dales finally gets a chance to come off the sideline, and work in a studio, while Irvin heads back to television after some needed years in radio. I really think having his own show helped Irvin become a much better analyst/reporter, and these two hires certainly have my approval.

Irvin catches gig at NFL Network (Variety)

You knew it was just a matter of time, but starting next April, the NFL Draft will be moving to a three-day format. Both ESPN and the NFL-N will still be covering those days, but they now have an extra day to work with, and will also be given a Thursday primetime starting point. Via John Clayton at ESPN....

The audience for the NFL draft has been growing, and the league has responded by expanding the event from two to three days.

Commissioner Roger Goodell notified teams Thursday that the draft will be spread over three days in 2010, running Thursday, April 22, through Saturday, April 24.

In addition, the first round will start in prime time at 7:30 p.m. ET.

"We continue to look for ways to make the draft more accessible to more fans," Goodell said in a statement. "Moving the first round to prime time on Thursday night will make the first round of the draft available to fans on what is typically the most-watched night of television."

ESPN and the NFL Network will televise the entire show.

The second and third rounds will start at 6:30 p.m. ET on April 23.

Rounds 4 through 7 will be on April 24, starting at 10 a.m. ET.

So there you have it. Obviously it's the right decision on multiple fronts, with the two biggest being ad revenue and ratings. It's the right decision, and should cause more media outlets to cover it, with the start time being on a Thursday evening.

Draft to expand to three days (ESPN)

A month ago, it was announced that Chris Berman would be introducing Bills' Owner, Ralph Wilson, into the Hall of Fame. Well today, the NFL is releasing the news that Rich Eisen will be hosting the festivities, thus putting him on ESPN's broadcast of the inductions. Via USA Today....

Former SportsCenter anchor Rich Eisen, dropped by ESPN in 2003, will next month be back on the channel. But Eisen, now an NFL Network anchor, will just be making a single appearance — albeit one that will last several hours. He'll replace Chris Berman as the host of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremony on Aug. 9, which will air both on ESPN and NFLN. Longtime ceremony host Berman will have a new role as a presenter for inductee Ralph Wilson, owner of the Buffalo Bills.

Eisen, who says he has "no idea" who'll host next year, says it was "an absolute thrill" to get the assignment. And he's thinking what he could bring to a show that could last five hours: "Maybe I could be the first Hall MC to do wardrobe changes. But I don't think it would fit the day."

I had an irrational hatred of Eisen for years, but I have to admit, his time on the NFL Network has actually been good for him (and my impression of him). He's actually the perfect person to host the event, and should provide some levity in between grown men crying at the podium. Besides, would you rather have Berman do it, or Rich? Exactly.

Back on ESPN (USA Today)

Last year the NFL Network aired 53 preseason games throughout the Summer, but this year they're amping it up a bit. In fact, the league's channel will be airing every single game at some point during the month of August, and will include all 11 nationally televised games. Via NFL-N PR....

NFL Network is home to all the NFL preseason games for the first time with 65 games airing on the only network dedicated entirely to football. In addition for the first time, the entire NFL preseason schedule will be seen in high definition nationally including 12 live preseason games, the most in the network’s history.

Week 1 of the 2009 NFL preseason on NFL Network features five live games highlighted by the debuts of first-round quarterback draft picks MATTHEW STAFFORD and MARK SANCHEZ. The live coverage kicks off with a doubleheader on Friday, August 14 at 8:00 PM ET with the St. Louis Rams vs. New York Jets, followed by Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers. Saturday, August 15 features the first-ever live tripleheader with the Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions beginning at 4:00 PM ET, followed immediately by Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers.

There’s no better place for Fantasy Football fans to prepare their picks and depth charts for the 2009 regular season than with NFL Network and NFL.com’s all-encompassing coverage of the 2009 preseason. All 12 live preseason games will include halftime shows featuring NFL Network’s team of analysts from its Los Angeles studios and five-minute NFL Network Now updates between game broadcasts reporting the most up-to-date news and information. NFL Network’s schedule includes a total of 162 telecasts as it includes every game, live games and game replays of all the preseason action.

I'm so stoked that Comcast and the NFL Network worked out that deal to keep the channel on their programming. Get your calendars out folks, because here is the entire list of games, and times that they're being aired (*- indicated live telecast on NFL-N)! Many thanks to Ken at Fang's Bites for the release....

Monday, August 10

Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans (9am)

Thursday, August 13

New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles (11pm)

Friday, August 14

Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders (2am)
Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens (3pm)
St. Louis Rams at New York Jets (7pm)*
Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers (10pm) *

Saturday, August 15

Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts (1am)
Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints (7am)
Arizona Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers (1pm)
Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions (4pm)*
Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills (7pm)*
Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers (10pm)*

Sunday, August 16

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers (1am)
Houston Texans at Kansas City (10am)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans (1pm)

Monday, August 17

Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins (11pm)

Wednesday, August 19

Carolina Panthers at New York Giants (1pm)

Thursday, August 20

Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots (11pm)

Friday, August 21

Philadelphia Eagles at Indianapolis Colts (1pm)
Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings (1pm)

Saturday, August 22

Atlanta Falcons at St. Louis Rams (2am)
Tennessee Titans at Dallas Cowboys (1pm)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins (7:30pm)*
Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks (10:30pm)*

Sunday, August 23

San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals (1:30am)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (7am)
Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns (10am)
Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins (1pm)
Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers (4pm)
New York Giants at Chicago Bears (7pm)
Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers (10pm)

Monday, August 24

New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans (1am)

Wednesday, August 26

New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens (1pm)

Thursday, August 27

Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles (11pm)

Friday, August 28

St. Louis Rams at Cincinnati Bengals (2am)
Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1pm)

Saturday, August 29

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals (1am)
New England Patriots at Washington Redskins (7am)
Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions (1pm)*
New Orleans at Oakland Raiders (4pm)*
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs (11pm)

Sunday, August 30

Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers (7am)
New York Jets at New York Giants (10am)
Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers (1pm)
San Francisco 49s at Dallas Cowboys (4pm)

Monday, August 31

Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns (12am)
San Diego Chargers at Atlanta Falcons (7am)
Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos (4pm)

Tuesday, September 1

Minnesota Vikings at Houston Texans (10am)

Thursday, September 3

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets (7pm)*
Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks (10pm)*

Friday, September 4

Kansas City Chiefs at St. Louis Rams (7am)
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons (10am)
Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints (1pm)
New York Giants at New England Patriots (4pm)
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings (8pm)
Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans (11:30pm)

Saturday, September 5

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos (1am)
Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10am)
Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears (4pm)
Washington Redskins at Jacksonville Jaguars (8:30pm)
Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals (11:30pm)

Sunday, September 6

Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills (7am)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers (4pm)
San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers (2:30am)

(*- Live NFL-N Telecasts)

Given his propensity to receive sexy emails, you'd think that title is something racy, but alas....it is not. Rich Eisen is one of the media's brightest Twitters, and yesterday for some reason, his page was taken over and had one interesting tweet. Via Sox and Dawgs....

Now I'm not one to tell someone how to hack, but you'd think they could come up with something more clever than just, "I'm Horny." Rich Eisen has since figured out that he was hacked and has changed his password (1,2,3,4,5??? I got the same combination on my luggage!).

Rich Eisen Twitter Page Hacked (Sox and Dawgs)

Solomon Wilcots isn't necessarily a fan of this site, but if he ends up boxing Chad Johnson, I'll certainly be a fan of his. Wilcox recently wrote a blog post detailing how he would help Johnson out this season, and Ocho Cinco didn't take kindly to the suggestions and Twittered that he wanted to fight him. Wilcox, of course, fired back....

Johnson: "They always find a way to say something negative no matter how focused i am, damn Solomon Wilcox, i want to fight him now, somebody set itup"

Wilcox: "Chad has dropped more balls than Jay-Z has dropped albums. But we certainly can get in the ring. I'm lovin' this. I'm lovin' it. ... You can get in a training ring for, what, two months, and now he think he's the heavyweight champ. Let's do it, brah! Let's do it. Ya better ask somebody, Chad."

Ah yes....more Bengal on Bengal violence. That team is so dysfunctional, that they're starting fights with former players. Too funny. I say current MMAer Michael Westbrook should get involved, and just make this thing a Royal Rumble. Seriously though, I know we've had our issues in the past Solomon, but if you can shut up Johnson, I promise to never joke about Charles Davis again (fingers crossed).

Chad Ochocinco and Solomon Wilcots sound like they want to fight (Shutdown Corner)
My advice for Ochocinco: Focus on football (The Wisdom of Solomon)

Well at least that's what Peter King is trying to tell people. is reporting that newly signed ESPN analyst, Matt Millen, is the leader in the clubhouse to replace Cris Collinsworth, but the network is also considering Brian Billick, Marshall Faulk and the one and only....Joe Theismann!!!

Remember I told you a couple of weeks ago how NFL Network was furious with Jon Gruden for agreeing to a deal to do color on the Thursday night games in a two-man booth, then reneging to sign with ESPN? NFL Network wasn't exactly thrilled with the worldwide leader for ripping off Gruden. Well, ESPN and NFL Network may just have to play nice now to get another deal done -- if league TV decides to make Millen the color man to replace Gruden for its eight-game slate of late-season games.

In the wake of NFL Network losing Gruden, the channel has considered a few options of analysts to pair with Bob Papa. One is Brian Billick, the quick-on-his-feet former Ravens coach who had a successful debut on Fox last season. Another would be a three-man booth, with Papa, Marshall Faulk and Joe Theismann, who, presumably, would walk to each game if the network would give him the gig. But I hear Millen is the leader in the NFL Network clubhouse.

Bob Papa and Matt Millen would actually make a heck of a team, but to do so, Millen would have to work approximately 90 hours a week. He'd potentially be in studio for Monday Night Football, have NFL Live during the week, Thursday Night Football and finally College Football work for ESPN on the weekend. Even the most dedicated of broadcasters can't talk that much without losing their voice.

While I think Joe Theismann would be a bad choice, I almost miss him at this point. A three-man booth of Papa, Theismann and Marshall Faulk, would be dreadful....it would certainly provide tons of posts for the site. Hmmm....someone flip a coin for me.

The Matt Millen Job Fair (SI)

Earlier this week, news broke that Jon Gruden had sort of given the NFL Network the run around during contract discussions, and today Rich Eisen made completely clear that was the case. Eisen went on the Dan Patrick Show, and had the following to say about Chucky....

Obviously handshake deals mean nothing in Sports, especially when you take into account that ESPN's monetary impact. I certainly hope Gruden will be good, but I think he would have benefited from staying at the NFL Network. Not just for practice, but because I still believe he's going to coach again soon, and ESPN will be left out in the cold.

Rich Eisen says NFL Network was expecting Jon Gruden (SI)

Ask and you shall receive. Just as I was posting the Comcast/ESPNU news, I learned that the NFL and Comcast have also reached an agreement. And get this....it was announced via Twitter....

The details have yet to be released, but as I mentioned in previous posts, the deal is expected to include both on demand content as well as the "Red Zone Channel". This is obviously a great day for all the parties involved, and certainly for NFL fans.

NFL V.P. of corporate communications, Brian McCarthy (Twitter)

This has been a while in the making, but ESPNU and Comcast have finally reached an agreement to bring the network onto to the masses. The channel will not only be added to the channel, but you also won't need the sports package to get it. And there's more! As a Comcast subscriber, you'll even be able to access ESPN360 for free, right before the start of the Football season. Here's a little letter that the folks at ESPNU sent out this morning, detailing the move....

Dear Colleague ~

We are thrilled to share that ESPN has secured two new significant distribution agreements for ESPNU with Comcast and DIRECTV. Comcast will launch ESPNU in a majority of its cable systems in time for the start of the college football season on its Digital Classic level of service. ESPNU will widen its distribution to DIRECTV's CHOICE™ programming package beginning July 1. Through both agreements, ESPNU will now be available to more than 46 million college sports fans across the country. Attached are the press releases with more details about each deal. Please feel free to share with your respective constituencies.

In addition, Comcast will also make ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband network, available to its high-speed Internet customers for no additional charge through Comcast.net, which reaches 17 million unique users per month, also in time for this year’s college football season.

We would like to thank you and the entire sports information community for supporting ESPNU since its launch on 03-04-05. You have been instrumental in helping us educate college sports fans about the brand. We look forward to its continued growth and serving our audience with compelling content from your conference 365 days a year.

Sincerely,
The ESPN Communications College Sports Team

Now that's some good news to start the day. I've been begging for ESPNU for years, and the two sides have finally figured out a good deal for both parties. Now if Comcast and the NFL Network could follow suit, everything will be peachy.

(Thanks to reader JR for the tip)

Kellen Winslow II has been in the league for five years (well technically he's only played in three of those), and they have certainly not been boring. Controversy seems to follow the tight end everywhere, and it's made its way to Tampa. Winslow decided to skip his new team's OTAs, and former Buc Warren Sapp is not happy with his work ethic. Via the St. Pete Times....

Tight end Kellen Winslow, the team's biggest off-season acquisition, did not attend the Bucs' first day or organized team activities.

Former Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who visited the club Tuesday, spared no criticism for Winslow.

"So when your team fires up OTA's and you're not here, I guess you're being misunderstood again, right?'' Sapp said. "Your past don't equal your future, but it will damn sure give me some reflection of what you might do. I'll leave it at that.''

No word yet as to why Winslow did not attend the voluntary workouts Tuesday, but team officials were aware that he had a conflict and would join them soon.

I've criticized Sapp in the past for being over-the-top with things, but I have to agree that he's right on with this one. However, if Winslow told the team about a "conflict", Sapp might just want to relax.

Winslow not at first OTA (Bucs Beat)

I have no idea how this happened, or when it happened, but apparently Comcast and the NFL Network have struck a deal! Via Fang's Bites....

STATEMENT FROM COMCAST & NFL NETWORK SPOKESPERSONS:

“Comcast and the NFL are engaged in productive discussions toward a new agreement for NFL Network carriage on Comcast. NFL Network will continue to be carried on Comcast systems past tonight’s scheduled expiration of the current contract while both sides continue these productive discussions. We are both working to find a solution that works for NFL fans and Comcast’s customers.”

Wow. That could quite possibly be the biggest turnaround during a negotiation that I've ever seen. The two hated each other for months, and at the last minute they came together to keep the channel on the cable company. I'm certainly not complaining though.

BREAKING NEWS: NFL Network Will Remain on Comcast Systems ... For Now (Fang's Bites)

So it doesn't appear as if this whole mess is getting solved within a day (or ever), so you might want to watch the last day of NFL Network on Comcast. Comcast has even been running a banner across the screen stating that fact, and the Philly Inquirer has even more quotes from this blame game....

Football fans who subscribe to Comcast Corp.'s extra-cost sports package seem likely to lose one of their favorite viewing choices at 11:59 tonight - the 24-hour NFL Network.

The two organizations, which have battled publicly and in court, have not reached a new carriage agreement, and the old one expires.

Comcast has asked the National Football League to continue the carriage under terms of the current contract. The NFL has refused and would like Comcast to place the channel on a general-interest tier that does not require viewers to pay the extra $7 a month. About two million people get Comcast's sports package.

"Comcast wants to carry NFL Network, and we have offered to carry it under the terms of our current affiliation agreement while the litigation that the NFL brought against Comcast continues, but the NFL has not accepted our offer," Comcast's Sena Fitzmaurice said in a statement. "We believe our proposed extension is in the best interest of our customers and NFL fans so that they can continue to have the same access to the network that they now enjoy."

The NFL, according to officials and court documents, says it believes Comcast moved the network to a sports package to punish the NFL for not allowing Comcast to carry the eight live NFL games on its Versus sports channel and not allowing Comcast to negotiate for out-of-market NFL games. DirecTV, the satellite provider, exclusively carries the Sunday Ticket of out-of-market NFL games.

"As of right now, the NFL Network will no longer be available at midnight [Thursday] to Comcast," NFL Network spokesman Dennis Johnson said. "We are open to negotiating with Comcast at any time so that fans can watch the NFL Network on a wide level of service at no extra cost."

While, I'd certainly like to be able to watch the Thursday Night Football games this year, and the extra Thanksgiving game, I have to be honest here. I rarely watch the NFL Network, outside of the Combine and the Draft, and there are plenty of other channels within the Sports package (including about 8 Fox Sports, the MLB Network and NBATV). Why this is such an issue is beyond me, but I guess you have to take a stand at some point.

Oh and there is a plus to all of this. Comcast sent a letter out about the dropping of the network, and offered me either a Free Internet Speed Upgrade for 12 months, or 6 Free Movie Coupons. So I've got that going for me.....which is nice.

Comcast viewers could lose NFL Network tonight (Philadelphia Inquirer)

I don't know if there's a higher honor in the Sports World, but during his first interview since taking over for John Madden, Cris Collinsworth admitted that the legend actually asked him to be his successor. Via the Cincy Inquirer....

But Collinsworth wanted to talk about the man with 15 Emmys: Madden.
“John asked me to replace him. That’s as high of a tribute as you can get in this business,” Collinsworth says.

The two finally spoke Monday for the first time since Madden, 73, retired.
“It’s something that I’ll treasure for a lifetime. He was so gracious and wonderful … It was about as special a moment as I’ve ever had in my professional career,” says Collinsworth, who joined WLW-AM and cable’s “Inside the NFL” after leaving football. “I want to make him proud.”

NBC had planned for Collinsworth to succeed Madden for some time. Collinsworth’s contract named him successor for either Madden or announcer Al Michaels, he says. He just didn’t expect it to happen this soon.

It's a shame that Madden is retiring now, because he's so much fun to watch on Sunday nights, but if anyone can fill in right away it's Collinsworth. Now we just have to wait to see and see who will replace him on the NFL Network.

Collinsworth praises Madden (Cincinnati Inquirer)

I don't know if it's ESPN's terrible Day One coverage, the length of the thing or the lack of suspense during picks, but I think the NFL Draft is now officially unwatchable. Hour after hour, it's picks being ruined by ESPN or the NFL Network showing kids getting calls on their cell phone, and analysts making up ridiculous phrases to describe said draft picks. I mean, Steve Young described Mark Sanchez as "Presidential". What the hell does that even mean?

This year was also marred by the Erin Andrews "green room" experiment. While I understand the need for interviews, you really didn't need to send her to New Jersey on Day Two, to talk to the Cosbys....

That was fun right? Especially considering Quan Cosby didn't even get drafted! I know see the difference between having someone like Suzy Kolber asking picks about their workout regiment, and Erin Andrews asking Michael Crabtree about how many texts he's received.

I know I'm going to continue to watch the Draft, but I might just stick to Day Two from here on out.

Rumors abound! Adam Schefter went missing from the NFL Network sometime about a month ago, and there were rumors that he was holding out for a million dollar contract. Well today, several sources have confirmed to PFT, that ESPN is interested in the NFL reporter....

Several league and industry sources have told us that Adam Schefter, who still is under contract with NFL Network, will join ESPN later this year.

Schefter is still under contract with NFLN, but he has not appeared on the air since early March. Schefter told Neil Best of Newsday on March 23 that he remains under contract with NFL Network until the middle of August.

It remains to be seen whether and to what extent Schefter’s arrival affects the current NFL insider lineup at ESPN. At a minimum, it could make for a spirited-to-the-point-of-awkward in-house rivalry between Schefter, Chris Mortensen, John Clayton, Michael Smith, and the army of beat-writers-turned-bloggers who compete to break news.

UPDATE: We’ve heard it from yet another source. However, ESPN Bill Hofheimer told us via e-mail Wednesday night that he cannot confirm the report.

Schefter has built up an incredible set of contacts working for the NFL's cable channel, and a move to ESPN would be a huge get for the "Leader". They would then have a gaggle of NFL news breakers, and the only competition left would be Glazer at FOX. Oh and if there's one network that could get Schefter his million bucks, it would be ESPN.

The bad news for the NFL Network is that, not only will they be losing a stellar reporter, but Schefter will not be on Draft coverage this year. That guy was a rock star in predicting picks and trades last year.

Sources: Schefter To ESPN (Pro Football Talk)