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)

A few months back, I posted the depressing news that Stacey Dales wasn't returning to ESPN, and the apparent reason was because the "Leader" wouldn't grant her first-class travel request. Well in an interview with the Daily Oklahoman, Dales confirms said rumor and said that she just "had to take a stand"....

In negotiating a new three-year contract in December, Dales said she reached an impasse with the network over a travel provision that she did not specify. However, an ESPN source confirmed an Internet report that Dales was unhappy with flying coach while many of her colleagues were flying first class.

"At some point, you have to take a stand at whatever you are doing in life,” Dales said. "That’s not sounding like a feminist. That’s not sounding like a spoiled, rotten kid. That’s making a business decision that affects the quality of your life. That was an important thing for me.”

"ESPN was a great launching pad for something new,” she said. "I had a great experience with them.”

Again, it seems like a petty detail on both parties behalf, but like Dales said....I guess you have to take a stand. If I was any other network, I'd jump at the chance to hire Dales. In fact, I wouldn't even waste her talent on the sideline. Find a studio or booth for her already.

Stacey Dales, ESPN fail to make a deal (News OK)

Noooooo! As far as sideline reporters go, Stacey Dales has to be up near the top. She runs down coaches, asks meaningful questions and seems to know everything about the Sport she covers. Well that talent will no longer be gracing the airwaves of ESPN as she failed to reach a contract agreement with the "Leader". From an emailer to Deadspin....

According to an emailer, college basketball and football sideline reporter Stacey Dales could not reach a contract agreement with ESPN for 2009, so she'll no longer be chasing down coaches and players for the WWL. ESPN has confirmed that rumor.

Here's a portion of the email they most likely won't confirm: "Refused to sign her contract, even though ESPN management repeatedly kept re-offering her a chance to sign. Rumor is she had trouble dealing with the travel stipulations of flying coach; while she watched many of her talent colleagues pile into first class."

Obviously that last quote is just a rumor, they fact that she is gone is not. ESPN has since confirmed her departure, and if the rumor actually is true, that would be a crappy way for a company to lose one of their best employees.

Stacey Dales Out At ESPN, Turns in Long Pantsuits and Microphone (Deadspin)

I was really confused about the whole Jonas Brothers intro for the Little League World Series last week, but I have to say that the tune was kind of growing on me. That was until yesterday.

ESPN decided to rock out to the tune and splice in some lip-syncing/rapping from some of the network's brightest stars. I give you the ESPN Crew, Gary Thorne, Stacey Dales, Karl Ravech and THE Brent Musburger singing "Burning Up" by the Jonas Bros....REMIX!!!!!!

Good....God. I really have no idea where to start with this. First of all, it's one of those clips that is so terrible that it's actually pretty entertaining. I actually belly laughed when Musburger came on the screen. Second, the absolute best part of the whole thing is how pissed Karl Ravech looks during his spot. He did not appear to be having fun at all.

Sure it's ridiculously cheesy, and any thought of Gary Thorne dancing and/or saying "I'm Hot", makes me throw up in my mouth, but who cares? It's the Little League World Series. Those people in the truck and behind the scenes are usually working their asses off and probably rarely on camera. It's good they had a little fun with the whole thing. It's also much more PG than Orestes Destrade giving Pedro Gomez a massage while Pedro was sitting on his leg like "Santa Claus".

Now if you decide to do this for Monday Night Football....I might have a different response.

Really ESPN? The Jonas Brothers On The LLWS Intro??? (Awful Announcing)