National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
There’s a rather disturbing story about Marvin Harrison in the new ESPN Magazine (01.26.09). I’ve always admired Marvin for his stellar play and the way he performed his job. Who hasn’t? He and Peyton Manning hold the record for most receptions between a quarterback and receiver with 956. All the while, Marvin has seemed like a good guy — quiet and unassuming. He’s a lunch pail kind of player. He comes to work, does his job (well, I might add) and goes home. In this era of overpaid, high maintenance, loud mouth, prima donna receivers, …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year today. Drew was a great choice. All he did was re-write the Saints’ record books this season. He became just the second player in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a single season and he had a team-record and league-leading 34 touchdown passes. Naturally, he spoke of team first:
“I don’t come out from week to week and say I have to throw for 300 (yards). I don’t think about that. It’s really about what I can do to …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was named the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player today. It was a landslide win as Peyton received 32 votes, well ahead of Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington and Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner, who received four votes each. It was Peyton’s third time to win the NFL’s highest individual honor. Only N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre has won as many league MVP honors. As usual, Peyton had the right words to graciously capture the moment:
“I know it’s an individual award, but … truly, in my opinion, a team …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Here is the AFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Peyton Manning, Colts; Brett Favre, Jets; Jay Cutler, Broncos
RB: Thomas Jones, Jets; Chris Johnson, Titans; Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
FB: Le’Ron McClain, Ravens
WR: Andre Johnson, Texans; Brandon Marshall, Broncos; Reggie Wayne, Colts; Wes Welker, Patriots
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs; Antonio Gates, Chargers
T: Joe Thomas, Browns; Jason Peters, Bills; Michael Roos, Titans
G: Alan Faneca, Jets; Kris Dielman, Chargers; Brian Waters, Chiefs
C: Kevin Mawae, Titans; Nick Mangold, Jets
DEFENSE
DE: Mario Williams, Texans; Dwight Freeney, Colts; Robert Mathis, Colts
DT: Albert Haynesworth, …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received 951,246 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in fan balloting for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre (880,833 votes) ranks second overall, while N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning (821,852 votes), Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (767,817 votes) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (673,710 votes) round out the top-five. Here is the list of Top-Ten vote-getters for the 2009 National Football League Pro Bowl:

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Brett Favre, N.Y. Jets
Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Larry …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Forget seconds. How about thirds? That’s the appetizer on the National Football League Thanksgiving menu this Week 13 of the NFL season — three Turkey Day servings of football, followed by a whole lineup of games on Thanksgiving Sunday and Monday. Even the players will be in their easy chairs. Like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning:
“I remember watching Thanksgiving games as a kid. Even in high school and college, and now in the NFL, you practice, you come home and you watch Thanksgiving football.”
Football has been a part of my Thanksgiving Day for as long …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
On November 2nd, World MasterCard is debuting a new Priceless commercial and campaign microsite featuring Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. In the 30-second spot, Peyton appears as a hotel guest vacationing in three “rival” cities: Boston, Cleveland and San Diego. Unaware that the seemingly hospitable hotel employees are in fact taunting him, Peyton responds politely and enthusiastically:
“When I was doing the ‘fan of the fan’ series of spots with MasterCard, fans in other stadiums would chant ‘cut that meat’ and ‘rub some dirt on it.’ Before that, I was used to hearing jeers similar to …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Here’s a sneak peek at the new Peyton Manning World MasterCard commercial which will first air during this weekend’s much-anticipated Sunday Night Football game between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots. This clip includes an interview with Peyton as well as behind-the-scenes footage and outtakes. I’ll post the full commercial tomorrow.

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Brett Favre’s N.Y. Jets jersey is the hottest selling NFL jersey right now. Here’s how the rest of the top ten shake out. These are the top-selling jerseys on NFLShop.com from April 1-Oct. 15, 2008:

Brett Favre, New York Jets
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Eli Manning, New York Giants
Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys

The only surprise on the list was Jason Witten. I didn’t see him as being that popular. And where is Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco? Or Reggie Bush?
Source: …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
I think a lot of people were wondering if Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning’s offseason knee surgery was partly to blame for the team’s inauspicious start. Of course it was. After all, he missed training camp and the entire preseason. How together could this offense be? Well, they were unified today in a 31-3 romp over the Baltimore Ravens. Afterward, Peyton said:
“It’s about being consistent, but today’s game was a little more like what we expect around here.”
A lot more like it! What I don’t think too many people know is that Peyton actually had …read more