Tonight’s festivities will get started with “NFL Opening Kickoff 2009 Presented by EA Sports,” a free concert open to the public in Pittsburgh’s Point State Park that will feature three-time Grammy Award-winning artists Tim McGraw and The Black Eyed Peas. There will be simulcast coverage of the 30-minute pregame show which will air from 8-8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network.

Also, on the eve of the eighth anniversary of 9/11, the NFL and Steelers will pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives on that tragic day. Members of 40 families who lost loved ones on Flight 93, which crashed in nearby western Pennsylvania, will be on the field for the tribute. They will wear number 93 Steelers jerseys with the name of their loved ones on the back. In addition, the Steelers will salute their Super Bowl XLIII team with a special on-field moment. Steelers great and recent Hall of Fame inductee Rod Woodson will participate in the coin toss ceremony. And Harry Connick Jr. will sing the national anthem from Heinz Field.

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Steelers, Titans Kickoff 2009 NFL Season

Madden NFL 10 / Photo: Business Wire

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Fitzgerald, Polamalu on Madden 10 Cover

John Madden / Photo: Newscom

John spoke briefly about his decision today:

“You know at some point you have to do this — I got to that point. The thing that made it hard is not because I’m second guessing, ‘Is it the right decision?’ But I enjoyed it so damn much. I enjoyed the game and the players and the coaches and the film and the travel and everything. If you hated part of it or if something was wrong, it’d be easy (to retire).”

His enthusiasm and passion for football are what made him so popular. My fondest memories of his work (aside from his tremendous knowledge of the game) include his quirky phrases and appreciation for the “lunch bucket” players of the NFL. His was a voice for the blue collar working class to embrace. And then there were his infamous Thanksgiving Day turduckens. And, of course, the Madden NFL video game series for EA Sports, which continues to be the top-selling sports video game of all-time. The guy has more than left his mark on a game and an industry.

When John was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame three years ago (thankfully, I was there), he made a humorous comment that will stick with past, present and future Hall of Famers forever. It was his unique idea that when everyone left the Hall at night, the busts of the inducted players would come to life and talk to each other. Who else but John Madden would come up with such a concept? It really typified his thought process and football fans are forever grateful for having had the opportunity to enjoy his work.

John will be replaced by Cris Collinsworth. He’ll have big shoes to fill — literally and figuratively.

Source: NFL.com

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John Madden Retires

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

I’m working with Gillette and EA Sports to promote their XBOX Live Tournament — “Gillette’s Champions of Gaming!” It’s the world’s largest multi-sport gaming tournament. Anyone with an XBOX Live account can log on to the tournament and play Madden NFL 09, NBA Live 09, Tiger Woods PGA Tour® 09, NASCAR® 09 or EA Sports Soccer 09. Once you choose the game you want to play, you will be entered into some qualifying rounds. If you make it through those rounds and become a finalist in your region (North America, Asia and Europe), you will be flown to Orlando, FL to play in the Final Round for your specific EA Sports game. If you win it all, you get a chance (depending on schedule and availability, of course) to play one of five big-name athletes — Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter, Roger Federer, Denny Hamlin and/or Thierry Henry. Click here for the official rules. The final two (out of nine) qualifying periods begin December 15 and December 22, so get busy and act now!

• Official Tournament Web site
• Official Rules

To celebrate the tournament and the holidays, I’m giving away a copy of Madden NFL 09. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before midnight on Friday, December 19 and I will randomly draw the winning name and send your copy of Madden NFL 09 just in time for Christmas. Good luck!

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Gillette’s Champions of Gaming Tournament, Madden NFL 09 Holiday Giveaway/Contest

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

This is the alternate cover for Madden NFL 09 with Brett Favre in a Jets uniform. The only way to get this updated version (for Xbox 360, Play Station 3, Play Station 2 or Play Station Portable) is to download it from EASports.com.

Fans are also invited to get a new online roster download. Available for Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and Wii versions of the game, this new roster download features Brett as the starting quarterback on the N.Y. Jets and is available today as an automatic download when you play an online game. For fans not playing online, Brett is on the “NFL Greats” roster. In Franchise Mode, players can transfer Brett to the free agent roster pool, and pick him up on any of the 32 NFL teams for the 2008 season. Vikings and Bucs fans might be especially interested.

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New Madden NFL 09 Packaging Available

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Celebrating 20 years of innovation and counting, Madden NFL 09 delivers its most complete NFL football package ever. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or picking up the game for the first time, players of all skill levels will enjoy a unique, yet challenging experience with the innovative Adaptive Difficulty Engine, which tailors the game to match your playing style. Instantly improve your game with the all-new virtual Training Center or incorporate feedback with EA Sports BackTrack, allowing you to learn from your mistakes on the fly. With a new broadcast presentation and online leagues, plus more than 85 new features and enhancements, Madden NFL 09 is the most authentic and adaptable game in sports video game history. I caught up with Madden NFL 09 lead producer Ryan Ferwerda to talk about the game.

• 0:14 – Ryan Ferwerda appears in the Madden NFL 09 demo
• 0:57 – Madden NFL 09, the first sports game that adapts to you
• 2:40 – Your Madden IQ changes depending on how you play
• 3:50 – Cover athlete Brett Favre as a Green Bay Packer and N.Y. Jet
• 5:39 – Already hard at work on Madden NFL 10
• 6:13 – Madden’s NFL player rating system is based on tons of information
• 8:02 – Madden NFL XX Years and the next 20 years of Madden NFL
• 9:02 – Online forums and the value of gamer/fan input

Links: Madden NFL 09

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EMQB Interview: Madden NFL 09

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Madden NFL 09 Screens: Play Station 3

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Madden NFL 09 Screens: Xbox 360

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Madden NFL 09 Screens: Wii

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Madden NFL 09 Official Launch Trailer