FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-PRE-3        8/17/04

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COACHES VALUE PRESEASON

“Preseason games serve two purposes,” says Green Bay Packers head coach MIKE SHERMAN.  “First, there is no substitute for game experience.  Even your most seasoned veteran needs to acclimate himself to the tempo, speed and fatigue a game presents.  Secondly, it offers an opportunity to evaluate your younger players in game situations where it matters the most."

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 FIVE NATIONAL TV GAMES HIGHLIGHT ACTION;
NFL NETWORK BROADCASTS ANNOUNCER-LESS GAME

NFL fans will be treated to five games on national television this week -- plus one from last week that will be special.

It’s Week 2 of the NFL preseason.  And, from start to finish, storylines abound.

The schedule kicks off on Thursday night on FOX (8:00 PM ET) with this year’s No. 1 overall draft selection, quarterback ELI MANNING of the visiting New York Giants, continuing his initiation into the NFL against the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers’ eighth-ranked 2003 defense. 

The Panthers, under former Giants defensive coordinator JOHN FOX, continued their ’03 late-game heroics last week, defeating Washington in overtime 23-20 on a JOHN KASAY 52-yard field goal.  And it will be Eli (and the other new Giants quarterback KURT WARNER) beware.  The Panthers had four interceptions last Saturday night against the Redskins.

On Friday night (CBS, 8:00 PM ET), the Baltimore Ravens travel (by train) to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.  Philly was limited to two field goals last week by the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.  The Ravens – who boasted the third-ranked defense last year – shut out Atlanta 24-0 in Week 1, not allowing a first down in the second half.

The Ravens -- and NFL fans -- will see the player they traded to the Eagles this spring, wide receiver TERRELL OWENS.  They also will see Philadelphia’s other new stellar offseason acquisition, defensive end JEVON KEARSE. 

There will be two national TV games on Saturday. 

In Cleveland, when the Browns host the Detroit Lions (NFL Network, 4:30 PM ET), three first-round receivers from the past two drafts will be on display – Detroit wideouts CHARLES ROGERS (2003, No. 2 overall) and ROY WILLIAMS (2004, No. 7), and Cleveland tight end KELLEN WINSLOW (2004, No. 6). 

After missing 11 games last year with a broken collarbone, Rogers returned last week against Pittsburgh with an impressive outing.  Quarterback JOEY HARRINGTON completed passes to Rogers on three of Detroit’s first seven plays -- all for first downs -- to set up a score at the end of the first quarter in the Lions’ 27-21 win. 

“I played fearless, just like always, and had fun,” said Rogers.  “It was a confidence builder.”

In Indianapolis on Saturday (ESPN, 8:00 PM ET), two of the NFL’s stellar quarterbacks will continue their preseason preparation when the New York Jets visit the Colts.

Indianapolis QB PEYTON MANNING, second in the NFL last season in TD passes with 29 (to BRETT FAVRE’s 32) can become the first player in NFL history this year with seven consecutive seasons of 25 touchdown passes.

Jets QB CHAD PENNINGTON will continue to work on an impressive regular-season streak that he has built since becoming a starter in 2002.  He has yet to throw an interception in 85 attempts inside the red zone, leading the league in the category since ’02.  “Those are opportunities that you can’t let pass by,” says Pennington.  “You can’t give them back.”

The final national TV game of the week comes on Monday night (ABC, 8:00 PM ET) when the Governor’s Cup of Missouri is contested by two of the NFL’s most explosive teams – the visiting St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.

“It’s kind of neat, all the excitement surrounding it,” says Rams guard ADAM TIMMERMAN of the Governor’s Cup, given to the team that wins the annual preseason tussle between the teams.  “The whole state is into the rivalry.”  The Rams – this year celebrating their 10th season in St. Louis – lead the Governor’s series, 4-2.

The two teams finished in the top 10 in 2003 in offense (Chiefs, No. 2; Rams, No. 9), so the Missouri Matchup may well be decided on offensive fireworks.

Added to the anticipation will be the annual preseason scenario of Chiefs head coach DICK VERMEIL, who led the Rams to their Super Bowl XXXIV title, facing his offensive coordinator in that game, St. Louis head coach MIKE MARTZ.

In the midst of all of these Week 2 national telecasts will be an unusual national re-broadcast on NFL Network of a Week 1 game – the August 15 Denver Broncos-Buffalo Bills meeting.  The game will contain no announcers, just audio from the field, sidelines and locker rooms.

NFL Network put microphones on 16 players and coaches in the game -- the most ever in one NFL contest – and will air the announcer-free contest in a one-hour program entitled Special Edition Game of the Week: Sounds of the Game on Sunday, August 22 at 8:00 PM ET.

Instead of letting announcers guide the flow of the game, the story and drama of the contest will emanate from the players and coaches who are equipped with tiny microphones.  Thirteen players, the two head coaches and a coordinator were wired for the game.

The matchup was won by Buffalo 16-6 in the NFL head-coaching debut of the Bills’ MIKE MULARKEY.   Buffalo running back WILLIS MC GAHEE, the team’s 2003 first-round draft choice who missed last season with a knee injury suffered in college, saw his first NFL action in the game and rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries.  He also scored the Bills’ go-ahead touchdown late in the first quarter. 

There is a precedent for airing an NFL game without broadcasters.  On December 20, 1980, NBC televised the New York Jets at Miami Dolphins game.  Since the meeting had no playoff implications, NBC let the sounds from the stands and the PA announcer serve as the sole audio.  No players were miked.  Announcer DICK ENBERG set the scene for viewers at the beginning of each quarter.

Though the NBC game was the first to air without announcers, NFL Network’s version will be the first to air featuring sounds from the players and coaches only – something that was not part of the 1980 Jets-Dolphins game.

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LAST WEEK’S NFL RESULTS (AUGUST 12-16)

(Home team in CAPS) 

Thursday, August 12

BALTIMORE 24, Atlanta 0

Chicago 13, ST. LOUIS 10 (OT)

Friday, August 13

NEW ENGLAND 24, Philadelphia 6

NEW ORLEANS 23, New York Jets 13

NEW YORK GIANTS 34, Kansas City 24

Saturday, August 14

DETROIT 27, Pittsburgh 21

MIAMI 16, Jacksonville 5

Saturday, August 14, Cont’d.

TENNESSEE 24, Cleveland 3

HOUSTON 18, Dallas 0

MINNESOTA 23, Arizona 6

Oakland 33, SAN FRANCISCO 30

Carolina 23, WASHINGTON 20 (OT)

Indianapolis 21, SAN DIEGO 17

Sunday, August 15

BUFFALO 16, Denver 6

Monday, August 16

Seattle 21, GREEN BAY 3

TAMPA BAY 20, Cincinnati 6