GREEN BAY PACKERS at DETROIT LIONS (FOX, 12:30 PM ET): These two NFC North rivals will meet on Thanksgiving for the 19th time. The Lions, who will host their 70th Thanksgiving Day Classic, have an 11-6-1 record on the holiday against the Packers. Green Bay is coming off a 30-24 win over San Francisco, led by QB Aaron Rodgers’ 344 yards passing and two touchdowns. The Lions pulled off a stunning comeback victory over Cleveland as QB Matthew Stafford passed for 422 yards – the most ever by a rookie – and five touchdowns – tied for the most in NFL history by a rookie (Ray Buivid, 1937, Chicago Bears).

OAKLAND RAIDERS at DALLAS COWBOYS (CBS, 4:15 PM ET): The Cowboys will host their first Thanksgiving Day game at Cowboys Stadium when the team welcomes the Oakland Raiders to town. Dallas, who defeated Washington last week, has a 26-14-1 record on the holiday and QB Tony Romo has a perfect 3-0 mark on Thanksgiving. The Raiders will make their sixth appearance on the holiday and first since 1970 when the team played at Detroit. Last week, Oakland scored 10 points in the final 33 seconds to defeat Cincinnati, only the second time in club history the Raiders have scored two times in the final minute of the fourth quarter for a comeback win (November 17, 1968 vs. NY Jets, the “Heidi Game”).

NEW YORK GIANTS at DENVER BRONCOS (NFLN, 8:20 PM ET): Denver will host a Thanksgiving game for the first time since 1963 when the Broncos face the Giants in a primetime battle of two 6-4 clubs. New York will make its first appearance on the holiday since 1992 and 15th overall dating back to the Giants’ 17-0 win over the Brooklyn Lions in 1926. New York is coming off a 34-31 overtime win over Atlanta, highlighted by QB Eli Manning’s career-high 384 passing yards. The Broncos, who will play their 11th Thanksgiving Day game, will look to rebound from a 32-3 loss to San Diego.

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Thanksgiving Day NFL Games

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

1. The NFL is strengthening and expanding the membership of its medical committee that has studied the subject of concussions and overseen concussion-related research for the past 15 years. The current co-chairmen, Drs. Ira Casson and David Viano, have resigned from those positions and will to continue to assist the committee. The NFL is currently identifying their replacements and additional members who will bring to the committee independent sources of expertise and experience in the field of head injuries.
2. Each club is identifying local neurosurgeons or neurologists who will be available to provide an independent “second opinion” in cases involving players who have had a concussion and been removed from a game or practice. Before these players return to practice or play, they must be evaluated and cleared by both their team doctor and the independent neurologist or neurosurgeon. The NFL and the NFL Players Association medical advisor are reviewing the expertise and qualifications of, and approve, each doctor proposed for this role.
3. Members of the NFL Competition Committee are continuing to evaluate potential changes in playing rules that are intended to reduce head impacts and related injuries in a game setting. Commissioner Goodell met yesterday with Committee co-chair Rich McKay and reviewed specific types of plays for that purpose.
4. John Madden, in his role as special advisor to the Commissioner, is chairing a committee of coaches that is exploring ways of providing players with a safer environment that would reduce the risk of head trauma on non-game days. Among the considerations are reducing the overall amount of off-season work, and/or limiting the use of helmets (and therefore contact) in practice, minicamps, OTAs, and training camps. Madden’s group will report its recommendations to the Competition Committee and Commissioner Goodell.
5. In conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the league has developed an NFL public service message directed primarily at young athletes and their parents and coaches on the importance of head injury awareness. It will debut on the air on December 10. In addition, the league also is working with the CDC and other organizations to distribute educational material to young athletes and high school coaches, and to develop an overall certification program for coaches at those levels addressing player health and safety.
6. As part of its continuing educational effort, the NFL will hold another medical conference in Washington, D.C., in June 2010 on concussions for team medical staffs and representatives of the NFLPA, similar to the conference that took place in Chicago in 2007. The NFL will again invite leading doctors and scientists to present the most current information regarding this injury. Club medical personnel will be required to attend.
7. The NFL will continue to invest in research designed to improve equipment safety and will urge players to make informed choices regarding the use of the most technologically advanced helmets.

Commissioner Goodell told the clubs that these developments are the latest in a series of steps in recent years that have improved player safety, especially relating to concussions and other head injuries.

“We have undertaken a series of initiatives that will enhance the substantial progress we have made in recent years in concussion-related matters. Our goal remains to make our game as safe as possible, protect the health and safety of our players, and set the best possible example for players at all levels and in all sports. Our game today is played with the understanding that medical decisions must always take priority over competitive interests. As a result, our sport is safer than it was previously. But we always strive to do better and the steps announced today will enhance the substantial progress we have made in recent years.”

He said he expects to advise them in the near future of additional steps that he has identified. These steps include new medical guidelines and research directed at the issue of long-term effects of concussions.

This is all well and good. But the fact remains that playing professional football is a violent activity and there will undoubtedly continue to be concussions no matter how many developments there are to prevent them. I applaud the NFL for what they’re doing. But I don’t think it can ever be enough to eliminate the problem.

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Advancements in Concussion Prevention

Joined by children from the Washington, DC area, the President and players come together for a friendly game of touch football, reminding fans about the importance of being active as part of NFL PLAY 60, the league’s youth health and fitness campaign. Filmed on the White House lawn earlier this month by NFL Films, the PSA also encourages viewers to get involved in their communities and remember the importance of service.

Drew Brees, a PLAY 60 spokesman, said:

“Thanksgiving is a time when families come together, and it is also a perfect time to focus on the importance of keeping kids healthy and active. I was honored to spend time with the President on an issue that is clearly important to him. I was also impressed by his wide receiver skills.”

Designed to tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations. Since the program was launched in 2007, the NFL has committed $200 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for PSAs.

President Obama launched United We Serve to challenge all Americans—young and old, from every background across the country—to create meaningful change in their communities by engaging in service that is sustained and focuses on impact. When volunteers commit to long-term service projects in their communities, they build expertise and strengthen the community’s capacity to meet its challenges. To learn more about United We Serve or find service projects in specific communities, the President is encouraging everyone to visit www.serve.gov.

In support of NFL PLAY 60, all Thanksgiving weekend games will raise awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic and showcase the NFL and its clubs’ commitment to help reverse this trend. Beginning on Thanksgiving Day and continuing throughout Weeks 12-14, teams will designate a home game as an ‘NFL PLAY 60’ game. On-field elements will include PLAY 60 field stencils, banners and goal post wraps. Teams also will invite ‘NFL PLAY 60 youth ambassadors’ to run on-field and stand alongside players for the National Anthem. These youngsters were selected by each team for their commitment to being healthy, through programs like NFL Punt, Pass & Kick, NFL FLAG Football and through participation in the NFL-American Heart Association PLAY 60 Challenge.

Fans can visit NFLRUSH.com/Play60 or Serve.gov to learn about volunteer opportunities and how they can get involved.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Players Join President Obama in PSA

The Who / Image: Zuma Press

Gawd. Are they serious? The Who? Anyone under the age of 50 will be saying, “Who?” I exaggerate only slightly. Can you name one of their songs? “Baba O’Riley”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “Who Are You”, “The Seeker”—I guess those are some of their more popular tunes. Seriously, this is an awful choice. Even if The Who were the best band in the world (which I’m pretty sure they’re not), the league should pick someone the majority of the population has actually heard of. I can make a list a mile long of who the NFL could’ve got. It’s not like it’s a budget issue. The NFL should be able to get anyone they want. What about Bon Jovi? What about Jay-Z? Alicia Keys? Like I said, I could go on and on through just about every genre of music. This almost seems like a joke. I haven’t received official word from the NFL, so maybe it is. I can only hope so.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

The Who Gets Super Bowl XLIV Halftime Gig?

NFL Teams Honor Veterans, Military / Photo: Newscom

The NFL will continue to offer its Game Pass HD service free of charge at USO Centers for military members stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Italy, Korea and Japan. At the USO facility in each of these locations, servicemembers can watch every NFL game live and online in its entirety.

In addition, teams will honor veterans and the armed services with a number of pregame and in-stadium initiatives:

Arizona Cardinals

At their November 15 game, the Cardinals will host 120 military volunteers, representing all service branches and unfurl a field-size American flag for the National Anthem, which will be performed by a member of the Navy. The Colors will be presented by American Legion Ira Hayes Post 84, and a local servicemember will be the game’s Honorary Captain.

Atlanta Falcons

At the November 8 game, the Falcons Fitness Flag Crew, presented by Flagstar Bank, will be comprised of soldiers from Fort Gordon’s Warrior Transition Battalion and the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center for Rehab in Augusta. The team will show the names of all season ticket holders who are veterans on their video board and display a “Thank You Veterans” ribbon. Falcons players will tape thank you messages for veterans to air on the jumbotron during the game. Prior to the Anthem, fans will be asked to observe a moment of silence, followed by recognition of veterans in-stadium. A local veteran will participate in the coin toss.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens will honor military members at their November 1 game. Festivities will include a pregame A-10 aircraft flyover, a serviceman as Honorary Captain of the Game, the Maryland National Guard’s salute to troops headed to Afghanistan, a live video feed from Afghanistan, a halftime performance by Baltimore’s Marching Ravens, a presentation of the Fort McHenry Great Garrison Flag and red, white and blue uniforms for the cheerleaders’ quarter-break performance.

Buffalo Bills

On November 1, the Bills will host their annual military appreciation on-field pregame ceremony. One-hundred servicemembers, including representatives from all military branches, will be on-field, and veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the Iraq conflict will all be recognized. The team will also pay tribute to members of Wounded Warriors and welcome them on-field.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers will host a Pro vs. GI Joe event at Bank of America Stadium on November 3. Chris Harris and Hilee Taylor will compete against active duty military personnel stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan in video games. The soldier’s families will also be present to speak to the soldiers via a video conference hookup. On November 10, Panthers players Jason Baker, Gary Barnidge, Mackenzy Bernadeau and N’ail Diggs will visit traveling service personnel at the USO station at Charlotte Douglas Airport. At the November 15 game, the team will welcome military personnel who recently returned from active duty. They will lead the Panthers on-field and serve as honorary coin toss captains. Pregame ceremonies will feature color guards from all five service branches, and the game will include a salute to military heroes and POW-MIA recognition. Halftime will include the recognition of each service branch and a swearing-in ceremony for new military enlistees.

Chicago Bears

On November 3, the Bears will make an appearance at the North Chicago VA Medical Center and deliver letters written to veterans by local students as part of the Hello to Our Heroes program. Sponsored by Staples, the program pairs players with students to write letters to veterans each month during the season. At the November 8 game, a soldier will deliver the American Flag to the field before players run out of the team tunnel. Army Generals and award recipients will serve as Honorary Captains for the coin toss. The U.S. Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club will sing the National Anthem while men and women representing the service’s five branches hold a large American flag on-field. Halftime activities will include a re-enlistment ceremony with men and women from all branches, and a soldier will serve as the 4th Phase Captain.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals will host over 50 military members, representing all service branches, at their November 8 game. They will take part in a flag unfurling during the National Anthem, followed by an Air Force flyover. There will be an on-field check presentation by Kroger to Operation Home Front. The JungleZone area will feature an interactive Marines and Operation Home Front display. Tributes will run throughout the game, including messages to the team from deployed soldiers.

Cleveland Browns

Through the Cleveland Browns Hats Off to Our Heroes program, the Browns will honor fallen soldiers during the November 16 game. Loved ones representing the soldiers will be seated in the “Honor Row” during the game. Additionally, a custom United States shaped American flag will be used during the National Anthem with five stars surrounding the flag – one for each branch of the Armed Forces. Veterans from each branch of the military will hold the star that they represent. The honorary Coin Toss Captain for this game will be a decorated war veteran.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys will host a military-themed game recognizing the USO and servicemembers. Festivities will include a performance with team’s cheerleaders and Neal McCoy. At the end of the halftime performance, 50 children from Snowball Express will be escorted on-field. Snowball Express is an organization that supports the children of fallen heroes. The Marines also will perform pregame with their drum and bugle corps.

Denver Broncos

At the November 9 game, a retired Golden Knight and Purple Heart recipient will parachute into the stadium with the Thunderstorm Skydive Team, using a Purple Heart Parachute. Halftime ceremonies will include a salute to military members, with all branches represented on-field. The Air Force Academy Band will sing God Bless America, and a Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient will be honored. Military shout-outs will be shown throughout the game.

Detroit Lions

The Lions will hold an induction ceremony at their November 1 game. The 119th Field Artillery and 182 Field Artillery Battalions will represent the Michigan Army National Guard during a pregame pre-deployment ceremony. One hundred soldiers will attend the game, and all veterans in attendance will be recognized. The team will also honor a local military member who recently returned home from Iraq at the game. The Lions honor a soldier at each of their home games as part of their Hometown Heroes Program.

Green Bay Packers

On November 15, the Packers will unfurl a large flag on-field and host an Air Force flyover. The team will recognize a Military Family of the Game on-field before the National Anthem.

Houston Texans

The Texans saluted the military at their October 25 game, at which President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush served as Honorary Captains. The National Anthem was performed by a member of the military, followed by members of the US Army Golden Knights parachuting in with American Flag and Game Ball. The Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performed during halftime, followed by a live satellite feed from the USS Bush, during which President George H.W. Bush addressed the troops. The Texans also hosted a field day for 100 wounded Veterans from the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio at the team’s training facility, and Coach Kubiak invited wounded veterans to attend the first 30 minutes of practice. Lunch was served by the Lady Texans organization.

Indianapolis Colts

Colts players and the team mascot will visit the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis on November 10 to spend time with veterans and attend a birthday party for the Marines. The team will be joined by Purple Heart recipient, Colts community liaison and motivational speaker Josh Bleill. At the November 8 game, cheerleaders will perform a halftime show recognizing veterans.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On November 8, the Jaguars will recognize 12 veterans pregame, and the team will be lead on-field by sailors from NAS Jacksonville, followed by a moment of silence and a 21-gun salute. The National Anthem will be delivered on the video board from a soldier in Taqaddum, Iraq. A flyover will be conducted by a B-2 Spirit from Whiteman AFB, and a large American flag will be held by airmen from Tyndall AFB. At halftime, the team will host a mass induction ceremony, involving all five branches of the military. During the 3rd quarter break, Wounded Warriors will be recognized on the field. Outside the stadium, a Navy helicopter and an Army CH-47 Chinook will be on display, along with an EOD weapons display.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs Rookie Club will host students from the Derrick Thomas Academy for a special field trip at the National World War I Museum. During the visit, the Chiefs will announce a $5,000 grant to the museum. These funds will be used to formulate a “family guide,” which will educate visitors of the museum on its history and displays. The Chiefs also honored past, present and future members of the Armed Forces as they hosted more than 1,200 local military personnel during the club’s Military Appreciation Day at Arrowhead. In addition to several special presentations, the team also debuted Chiefs-branded Military Appreciation Day merchandise, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the U.S. Army’s Wounded Warriors unit from Fort Riley, Kansas.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins’ November 15 game will feature a military ‘stand to’ and enlistment ceremony, with over 200 servicemembers on-field during pregame activities. Members of the National Guard Band and Parris Island Marine Band will greet fans at entrance gates to the stadium, and halftime activities will include a performance by the Parris Island Marine Band. Several Dolphins players will donate their All Community Team Tickets to groups including Wounded Warriors Project. On November 10, Ricky Williams and several of his teammates will host a luncheon for service members from Wounded Warriors Miami. They will also be Williams’ guests at the November 15 game.

Minnesota Vikings

On November 10, the Vikings will be visit the V.A. Hospital in Minneapolis to dedicate a Viking themed area at the hospital. Additionally, Vikings players will visit the Veteran’s Home in Minneapolis. At the November 15 game, the “Minnesota Vikings Salute to the Military” campaign will include military members involved with the National Anthem and Color Guard. A servicemember will be designated as the day’s Honorary Viking. The Mall of America Field Plaza will feature military vehicles and a climbing wall pregame, and a large flag will be unfurled during the anthem. Patriotic songs will be performed pregame on the plaza stage.

New England Patriots

At their November 8 game, the Patriots will recognize veterans and active military members on-field prior to kickoff and with a video played at halftime. Active servicemembers and veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf will be honored at the game. The coin toss will include participation from two veterans, one of whom is a Patriots fan and one who is a Dolphins fan.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints will honor the military at their November 2 game. Pregame entertainment will include a flag unfurling presentation with 125 active duty participants from all branches of the military and feature “Saints shot out” messages by military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan on the video boards. A marine will perform the National Anthem and the Commandant of the USMC will be presented as a special guest during the coin toss. During halftime, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon will perform.

New York Giants

At their November 8 game, the Giants will recognize crew members from the USS New York, a vessel whose bow is comprised of steel salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. The team also will host a volunteer group representing Homes For Our Troops, a non-profit organization dedicated to building adapted homes for severely injured veterans; they will be on-site distributing ribbons to fans. On Veterans Day, the Giants will host local Wounded Warriors at practice and invite them for lunch in the players’ cafeteria.

New York Jets

At their November 15 game, the Jets will celebrate their 10th annual Military Appreciation Day. Seventy-five military personnel representing each of the five branches of the military will be guests at practice on November 13. Pregame on Sunday, each branch of the military will have exhibits and recruiting stations set up outside the stadium. Vocalists from the Air Force Singing Sergeants will perform the National Anthem, with members of each branch of the military on-field. The Maguire Air Force Base joint color guard will present the colors, and a B-52 bomber will perform a flyover at the conclusion of the Anthem. A local four-star general will serve as honorary captain, and halftime will include a performance by the Air Force Honor Guard precision drill team. Throughout the game, special messages from troops will be played in-stadium, as well as a message from Coach Ryan and player messages to servicemembers. Public service announcements will be played in-stadium promoting each branch of the military.

Oakland Raiders

On November 10, Raiders players will visit with veterans at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco, speaking about football experiences and will answering questions.

Philadelphia Eagles

On November 6, the Eagles will host a Pro vs. GI Joe event at the NovaCare Complex. Players will play Guitar Hero against soldiers in Iraq and meet with approximately 25 military members. Family members of the soldiers playing in Iraq will be in attendance to visit with their loved ones onscreen. The Eagles will honor the military at their November 8 game by featuring the US Marines Silent Drill Team at halftime and unfurling a field-size American Flag during the Anthem.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers and VA Healthcare hosted the second annual Heroes at Heinz Field event for 75 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Participants, many wounded in the war, tried out their football skills with the help of Steelers players Patrick Bailey, Charlie Batch, Keyaron Fox, Doug Legursky, Ryan Mundy, Dan Sepulveda, A.Q. Shipley, Kraig Urbik and Greg Warren. The players spent time speaking with veterans and expressing gratitude for their service. At the November 15 game, the color guard will consist of local veterans.

St. Louis Rams

On November 10, Jason Brown and teammates will visit a local VA Hospital to encourage patients and sign autographs. At the November 15 game, the team will have a Salute to American Veterans presentation during halftime with a pass in review including local military organizations. The team will honor veterans during the game, and the National Anthem will be performed by Navy personnel.

San Diego Chargers

As part of the Chargers’ ongoing support for San Diego County active duty military and veterans, on November 10, Chargers players and cheerleaders will visit the San Diego’s VA Hospital to spend time with patients and veterans groups. As part of the day’s activities, the team will provide a donation for some new recreational equipment.

San Francisco 49ers

Current and former members of the 49ers will visit a local retirement home to host a card tournament. During the event, the entire group will join in the Pledge of Allegiance, and veterans will be recognized by the Color Guard and given a limited edition 49ers pin to honor their service. As part of a longstanding tradition, at the November 8 game, a color guard consisting of members of a variety of branches of the military will present the flag during the National Anthem. Additionally, discounted tickets will be offered to members of the military.

Seattle Seahawks

At the Seahawks November 8 game, representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Legion will be introduced as a large American flag is unfurled. Other military guests on the sidelines will include members from the Warrior Transition Battalion. The US Navy Academy Glee Club will perform the National Anthem, followed by a flyover, and representatives from McChord Air Force Base will present the American flag.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On November 11, Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Mark Dominik will welcome two returning veterans into their new homes, courtesy of the Buccaneers in partnership with Rebuild Together Tampa Bay. Named “Operation: Bucs Rebuild,” these homes will provide safe havens for veterans. These abandoned homes are being totally refurbished and updated as part of the City of Tampa’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Tennessee Titans

On November 10, Titans players, cheerleaders and staff will visit the Nashville V. A. Medical Center, led by Ahmard Hall, who served for four years in the Marines with service in Kosovo. In addition, the team’s 11th annual Titans Salute to Veteran’s Day will take place during the November 15 game, with 120 soldiers from Fort Campbell 101st Airborne Division unfurling a giant American Flag spanning the entire field for the National Anthem, followed by a flyover of F-16’s from the 187th Fighter Wing. At halftime, the 101st Airborne Division Army Band will play each military branch’s song and a color guard from that branch will parade across the field. The team will present a game ball to the Fort Campbell Commanding General and to a group of Wounded Warriors who will be attending the game.

Washington Redskins

On November 10, the Redskins will host a Pro vs. GI Joe event at Redskins Park. Players will play Guitar Hero against soldiers overseas and meet with approximately 25 active, retired and wounded military members. Family members of the soldiers playing overseas will be in attendance to visit with their loved ones onscreen. Additionally, Redskins players will visit with wounded warriors in the morning at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. At the November 15 game, the Redskins will honor the military by featuring the US Air Force and Military Order of the Purple Heart during the coin toss and halftime ceremonies. In addition, the Redskins will be hosting a “Timeout for Military Veterans’ Health” at the stadium on November 7, with free health screenings.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Teams Honor Veterans, Military

Chad Greenway's pink cleats / Photo courtesy Minnesota Vikings

Chad was humbled that wearing pink cleats could mean so much:

“I think the purple and pink will clash. But we’ll make it work ….. It’s something our family has battled through, with my grandmother. We watched her battle, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to take the lead on it. I was excited for the chance, because there’s only a few guys on each team that get a chance to do that. And to be chosen, for whatever reason, was a great privilege. You can’t talk to anybody who hasn’t been affected by some form of cancer. For every survivor, and every person who is battling it, it’s more than just a color.”

Now, these certainly aren’t the only players who plan to wear pink equipment this month. All 32 teams have reps ready to support the cause. But as long as we’re pumping players named Chad wearing pink cleats, check out Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco’s pink wardrobe plans on his Twitpic. He’s going with pink wristbands as well as a chin strap and mouthpiece, too. Pretty awesome stuff, Chads.

Sources: TwinCities.com, twitpic.com/photos/ogochocinco

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Players Will Wear Pink Cleats, Gloves

NFL Supports Breast Cancer Awareness / Photo courtesy NFL

Beginning on October 4 and continuing throughout the month, NFL Breast Cancer Awareness games will feature:

• Players wearing pink cleats, wristbands, gloves, sideline caps, helmet decals, captains’ patches, sideline towels and quarterback towels
• Pink sideline caps for coaches and sideline personnel and pink ribbon pins for coaches and team executives
• On-field pink ribbon stencils and Crucial Catch wall banners
• Pink goal post padding in end zones
• K-balls with pink ribbon decals
• Pink coins used for coin toss
• Crucial Catch pink rally towels for all fans attending Sunday Night and Monday Night Football games on October 4-5

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco plans on taking the pink (which should clash with Bengals orange, mind you) to a new level. Yesterday, he three-tweeted:

“I’ll be wearing all pink gloves, shoes and wrist bands in support of breast cancer awareness throughout the Month of October. Oh and as for getting fined I probably will because my entire shoe is pink, gloves are all pink and wrist bands I’ll match the fine n donate. NFL is supporting the pink<_ I went a step further by having everything pink I’m wearing, mouth piece and chin strap too.”

Game-worn pink merchandise and K-balls will be autographed post-game and auctioned off at NFL Auction (www.NFLAuction.NFL.com), with proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society and team charities. Special pink merchandise will be available at www.NFLShop.com and in stadium retail stores, with a portion of proceeds going to breast cancer charities.

NFL Supports Breast Cancer Awareness / Photo courtesy NFL

In addition, members of the NFL Referees’ Association will donate a portion of their game pay to breast cancer charities in October. Their donations will total $24,000. Officials will don pink-accented caps and pins for games throughout October.

As national spokespersons for the Crucial Catch campaign, both Tanya Snyder, wife of Redskins owner Dan Snyder, and Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald are working on a cause that hits close to home.

For Mrs. Snyder, a longtime breast cancer fundraiser, the connection to breast cancer is a personal one. “Breast cancer affects one in eight American women and I was one of them last year,” she said. “I am proud to work with the league and the Redskins to remind fans about the importance of annual screenings.”

Larry lost his mother to breast cancer in college and has since devoted his time to breast cancer fundraising opportunities. “The Crucial Catch initiative reminds us all how important it is to take care of the women in our lives,” he said. “I hope to keep my mother’s legacy alive by taking part in this campaign.”

NFL Supports Breast Cancer Awareness / Photo courtesy NFL

From cleats to gloves, towels to caps, NFL partners including Nike, Reebok, adidas, Gatorade, Wilson, Under Armour, Cutters Gloves and McArthur Towel and Sports are creating pink merchandise for breast cancer awareness games. Many NFL licensees also will create special pink product, with a portion of proceeds benefitting breast cancer charities. In addition to creating pink sideline towels for players, Gatorade will produce 1.9 million pink ribbon bottles, on sale at retail stores throughout October; Gatorade sideline carts will feature pink ribbon decals during October. Trading card companies Panini, Topps, and Upper Deck will produce special pink trading cards featuring facts on breast cancer awareness; they will be available, free of charge with purchase, at stadium retail stores.

Fans can visit www.NFL.com/pink to learn more about breast cancer detection and prevention tips.

Many teams will extend the national platform with local efforts, including the distribution of 400,000 pink ribbons facilitated by volunteers from Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) sorority. Teams will designate home games in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and plan special in-stadium or pregame events with local organizations. Team events include:

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals will partner with the American Cancer Society for their October 11 breast cancer awareness game, where they will recognize survivors by including them in game day activities and featuring their survivor stories during the game via video. The Cardinals are providing players at a local high school with pink gloves, jerseys and wristbands for their breast cancer awareness game. The high school football and cheer team will distribute pink ribbons to cardinal fans along with members of ZTA. Four Cardinals cheerleaders will participate in the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons Dazzle & Dine event will treat breast cancer survivors to a day of pampering at a Jamison Shaw Hairdressers and a night of fine dining at Capital Grille with Falcons players and wives on October 13. The survivors and a guest will also be invited to attend the October 18 game. The Atlanta Falcons Women’s Association is partnering with Tory Burch of Phipps Plaza to donate a portion of proceeds purchased during the morning of October 15 to Breast Friends Inc. During the October 18 game, the Falcons Fitness Flag Crew, presented by Flagstar Bank, will consist of breast cancer survivors outfitted in pink Falcons Fitness Flag Crew t-shirts and the cheerleaders also will be outfitted in pink apparel.

Baltimore Ravens

At their October 11 game, the Ravens will host a survivor tribute and distribute pink ribbons to fans as they enter the stadium, in partnership with ZTA. Representatives from Komen Maryland will be at the team’s annual women’s football festival on October 12 to share information on breast cancer and raise awareness. A team of Ravens staff, family members and fans will participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on October 18.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills will host their 4th annual Billieve breast cancer awareness game on October 11. Partners include Kaleida Health, Western New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, ZTA and the Bills Women’s Association. Game activities will include breast cancer survivors in Stampede Row during player introductions, ceremonial pink game ball delivery by a survivor and pink ribbon handouts at stadium gates. Jills Cheerleaders will wear pink jerseys and use pink pom poms. Bills retail partner Delaware North Companies will sell Billieve merchandise and pink-themed Reebok items with proceeds going to Komen and ACS. Players will autograph pink-themed merchandise at the Bills store on October 12.

Carolina Panthers

DeAngelo Williams and his mother, a breast cancer survivor, created a PSA for the local Komen Race for the Cure. Williams and the Panthers have partnered with Komen and Belk to create a Williams Warriors Komen race team, which has 500 registered members. At the October 11 game, Williams Warriors members will run on-field for a check presentation, which will feature DeAngelo’s mother, and the team will distribute 20,000 Think Pink ribbons to fans in partnership with ZTA. TopCats cheerleaders will use pink pom poms.

Chicago Bears

Bears Care, the charitable beneficiary of the Chicago Bears, has been selling Real Bears Fans Wear Pink t-shirts during September, with proceeds benefitting breast cancer charities. Fans will wear the t-shirts to the October 4 game. A breast cancer survivor finishing her treatment the Friday before the game will be honored on-field. Representatives from Wilson and NorthShore University Health Systems will participate in a pregame ceremony to recognize their support of breast cancer research. Also on October 4, 7-11 will be handing out pink ribbon decal tote bags to the first 40,000 fans to enter Soldier Field. Volunteers from ZTA also will be handing out pink ribbons to fans attending the game.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals will make an on-field, pregame presentation of the Marvin Lewis Community Fund’s Breast Cancer Survivor of the Year Award. The award winner will deliver the coin to game officials for the coin toss. ZTA will hand out pink ribbons to fans as they enter the gates, and University of Cincinnati’s Band will do a tribute to the breast cancer platform (formations and music selection) during their halftime performance. All will occur at the October 25 game.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns will partner with ACS and ZTA at their October 4 game. ZTA will hand out 20,000 pink ribbons and a Browns Women’s Organization (BWO) gate collection will benefit ACS. Members of the BWO are decorating commemorative jerseys that will be auctioned off in support of ACS. Breast cancer survivors will participate in the coin toss and will help with presentation of the Browns Spirit Flag during the pregame festivities. Several members of the Browns organization participated in the Race for the Cure in recent weeks.

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys employees will take part in a Dallas Race for the Cure event on October 17. Bradie James and former First Lady Laura Bush will serve as honorary chairs for the race.

Denver Broncos

Partnering with Susan G. Komen, the Broncos will host breast cancer survivors on-field at halftime during their October 4 game. The Broncos will field a ‘celebrity’ team for their local Race for the Cure on October 4, lead by Broncos Cheerleaders. A large pink bow will be on the stadium throughout October. The team also will donate $10,000 to their Susan G. Komen chapter in the name of local breast cancer survivors.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are sponsoring the ACS’s local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event on October 10, the day before their breast cancer awareness game. Captained by breast cancer survivor Jennifer Arapoff, a group of Lions employees will walk in the event. The team also will partner with ZTA to distribute breast cancer pins at the October 11 game. Pre-game ceremonies will include breast cancer survivors from the Lions, ZTA and the ACS. Survivors will form a tunnel for players during introductions. Lions’ Ladies (players and coaches wives and staff) will wear pink Lions’ t-shirts to the game.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are using their halftime show to focus on breast cancer awareness. Local Oneida dancers will wear pink hats and perform a healing dance and survivors will hold large pin ribbons on the field. Packers cheerleaders will use pink pom-poms. In partnership with ZTA, volunteers will hand out pink ribbons in the parking lot.

Houston Texans

Texans cheerleaders, wives of players and coaches, and staff members will participate in their local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Video footage of this event will play for fans in-stadium during the October 4 breast cancer awareness game. The Texans also will partner with ZTA to distribute 20,000 pink ribbons to fans attending the game.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts will partner with ACS, Clarian Health, the Colts Women’s Organization and ZTA to support breast cancer awareness. Activities planned for the October 4 game include a full-field pink ribbon presentation by survivors, free mammogram reminder cards, a limited edition t-shirt for sale by the Colts Women’s Organization, pink ribbon hand-outs, distribution of Colts pink trading cards and a special pink gameday program cover.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On October 4, the Jaguars and Baptist Health will distribute 42,000 pink towels at the gates and will be partnering with ZTA to give away pink ribbons and breast cancer detection information at the gates. Baptist Health also will sell A Crucial Catch t-shirts, with 100% of proceeds going to Baptist Heath Foundation for breast cancer prevention and treatment needs. Pink hats also will be sold with all proceeds going towards breast cancer research. The National Anthem singer and cheerleaders at the October 4 game will wear pink jerseys and one of the game’s honorary captains will be a patient of the Breast Center at Baptist Health. The team will feature Reggie Nelson in their game day program. Reggie lost his mother to breast cancer and hosts a breast cancer fundraiser each year.

Kansas City Chiefs

Tavia Hunt will lead the Chiefs Women’s Organization to distribute free pink ribbon buttons to fans as they enter Arrowhead Stadium. Breast cancer survivors will serve as Honorary Co-Captains at the game and take part in the coin toss alongside Chiefs players. The Chiefs will also deem their halftime show “A Tribute to Breast Cancer Survivors” and will feature a performance by pink-clad members of Jazzercise. The show’s performers have raised money in order to participate that will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Miami Dolphins

On September 29, Head Coach Tony Sparano and his wife Jeanette, along with Dolphins C.E.O. Mike Dee and Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schulz, a breast cancer survivor, will participate in a press conference to announce team activities for breast cancer awareness month. During the October 4 game, the Dolphins, continuing their 20-year support of the Don Shula Foundation’s breast cancer research projects, will recognize Coach Shula’s foundation. The Miami Dolphins Foundation will work with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to provide scholarships to students who lost a parent to breast cancer. Wives of players and coaches and alumni, will join Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and volunteers from the Komen and University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center to pass out pink ribbons at entry gates. Breast cancer survivors will be honored at halftime

Minnesota Vikings

In partnership with ZTA, the Vikings and the Vikings Women’s Organization are passing out pink rally towels and pins to fans as they enter the stadium for the October 5 Monday Night Football game. As part of their Hometown Hero program, the team will honor a male breast cancer survivor on-field prior to kickoff at that game. The team also will honor ZTA at the breast cancer-themed Monday Night Football Chalk Talk Luncheon that afternoon.

New England Patriots

On October 4, the Patriots will donate a pink towel to any fan who donates to their Susan G. Komen in-stadium collection. The team will also honor 10 breast cancer survivors who will line the field during team introductions flanked by cheerleaders in pink uniforms.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are participating in their local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure; Saints Owner/Executive Vice-President Rita Benson LeBlanc will participate in the race and serve as honorary chair. The October 4 and 18 games will feature breast cancer awareness reminders on message and halo boards. The Saints will partner with ZTA to distribute breast cancer awareness cards and pins at their October 4 game.

New York Giants

The Giants will continue their Tackle Breast Cancer initiative, now in its eighth year. The team will drape pink ribbon banners on the spirals of each gate into Giants Stadium. Working with ZTA, they will distribute pink ribbons in the parking lot pre-game. ZTA will also hosting a canning event, with funds going to breast cancer research. The team will have pink caps for sale in-stadium, with the proceeds of each cap going to breast cancer programs. The Giants will work with tattoo artist Mario Barth on breast cancer awareness t-shirts-proceeds will go to breast cancer programs. On October 11, the team will breast cancer survivors on-field for a pregame salute. The women will be escorted on-field by Gloria Gaynor, who will sing “I Will Survive.” They will be joined on-field by breast surgeons and oncologists

New York Jets

The Atlantic Health Jets Women’s Organization (AHJWO) will partner with Susan G. Komen for the Cure for their Style for the Cure event at the Short Hills Mall on October 17. AHJWO members will volunteer and staff educational and merchandise tables.

Oakland Raiders

On October 24, the Raiders will host a Football 101 clinic for both men and women. All proceeds from the event will go to the Alta Bates Medical Center to support breast cancer research. The Raiderettes will wear pink hats during the Raiders October 18 game. Pink hats will be for sale at the game and proceeds will go to the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

Philadelphia Eagles

As part of the team’s Tackling Breast Cancer campaign, the Eagles will partner with the Jefferson Breast Cancer Center to sell pink hats and scarves, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Center. At the October 11 game, volunteers will sell these items in-stadium, cheerleaders will use pink pom poms, breast cancer survivors will be recognized on-field, and fans will receive pink bracelets at the end of the game. The stadium also will feature a large pink ribbon on the exterior.

Pittsburgh Steelers

On October 2, Steelers players will visit Magee-Women’s Hospital to offer a nutritional cooking class to breast cancer survivors and patients. Twenty survivors also will be honored in a pregame ceremony during the October 4 Sunday Night Football game. Fans entering the stadium for that game will receive pink rally towels.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams are providing information on mammography screenings by hosting a Mamo-Van during pregame at their October 11 game. They will also work with ACS for pregame activities recognizing survivors and fan giveaways. The Rams have partnered with ZTA to hand out pink ribbons to fans entering the stadium at that game.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers will partner with ZTA to distribute pink ribbons and information cards to fans entering the stadium on October 19 and will feature two pink ribbon flags on-field at that game.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers will recognize breast cancer survivors representing the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the ACS in a pre-game, on-field presentation at the October 4 game. During the presentation, public service annoucements will be shown and each of the survivors will be wearing pink 49ers caps. Additionally, the 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders will be wearing pink jerseys for the second half of the game. Throughout the game, information about breast cancer awareness will be available in the Gold Mine area of Candlestick Park. Before the game, players’ wives will be in Faithful City distributing information about the upcoming Making Strides Walk Against Breast Cancer and selling raffle tickets for autographed items to support ACS fundraising efforts. Players wives will appear on a local radio show to talk about breast cancer awareness day at Candlestick.

Seattle Seahawks

On October 17, the Seahawks Women’s Association will host a Football 101 workshop to benefit their local Susan G. Komen chapter and the Breast Cancer Sisterhood. The event will be led by Linda Ruskell and Kaye Cole at the team’s headquarters. The workshop will feature classroom instruction, position break-out sessions and a mock game with special appearances by Seahawks players and alumni. At the October 18 game, ZTA will be passing out pink ribbons to fans entering the stadium, and the local Komen chapter will have a booth in Touchdown City, a pre-game fan festival. The Sea Gals will salute breast cancer survivors by featuring pink pom poms.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are working with University Community Hospital, Moffit Cancer Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital to match the hospital’s funds so they can provide mammograms to underinsured and uninsured women. The team will also have breast cancer survivors participate in on-field introduction and an honorary coin toss ceremony at the October 18 game. They will partner with ZTA to distribute pink ribbons.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans will recognize breast cancer awareness during their October 11 Sunday Night Football game. Volunteers from ZTA, AMC and St. Thomas Hospital will distribute 20,000 pink ribbons and information cards to fans entering the game. Public service announcements produced specifically for this game will be featured throughout the prime-time game! Players also will visit the Dan Rudy Cancer Center of Saint Thomas Hospital in recognition of breast cancer awareness month.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins will host breast cancer luncheon for area women currently battling the disease featuring Chris Cooley and Derrick Dockery (9/29). The team’s annual “Think Pink” game will be held October 4, as Mrs. Snyder and her daughters join player and coaches’ wives and volunteers from ZTA to distribute pink ribbons to fans. Breast cancer patients will be on-field guests for player introductions. In partnership with George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, the Redskins will take the GW Mammovan into underserved areas to provide free mammograms. The GW Mammovan will be at the October 4 game.

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NFL Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Fitzgerald, McNabb IHOP Commercials

Plaxico Burress / Photo: Newscom

Source: NFL Media

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NFL Statement on Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress / Photo: Newscom

“I was truthful, I was honest and I am truly remorseful for what I’ve done, what happened and what I did. I just want to thank everybody—family, friends and fans—for their support.”

Despite Plaxico’s plea for compassion and understanding from the grand jury, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is insisting on jail time. And that’s probably what Plax will get. The NFL has already started their investigation into the shooting. So, in addition to potential jail time, Plax will most certainly face disciplinary action from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell under the league’s personal-conduct policy.

Source: NFL.com

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Plaxico Burress Testifies Before Grand Jury