Are you ready for some football?

espn ^ | 8/1/03 | espn

[Diddle E. Squat]

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2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 Preseason | Regular Season Week: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Schedules:

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

Sat, Aug 2	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
NY Jets at Tampa Bay	12:00 PM			Osaka Dome

Mon, Aug 4	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Kansas City at Green Bay	7:00 PM			Fawcett Stadium

WEEK 1

Thu, Aug 7	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
NY Giants at New England	8:00 PM			Gillette Stadium

Fri, Aug 8	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Tampa Bay at Miami	7:00 PM			Pro Player Stadium
St. Louis at Oakland	9:00 PM			Network Associates Coliseum

Sat, Aug 9	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Pittsburgh at Detroit	12:30 PM			Ford Field
Cleveland at Tennessee	8:00 PM			The Coliseum
Jacksonville at Minnesota	8:00 PM			Metrodome
Green Bay at Atlanta	8:00 PM			Georgia Dome
Indianapolis at Chicago	8:00 PM			Memorial Stadium
Washington at Carolina	8:00 PM			Ericsson Stadium
Buffalo at Baltimore	8:00 PM			M&T Bank Stadium
Denver at Houston	8:30 PM			Reliant Stadium
San Francisco at Kansas City	8:30 PM			Arrowhead Stadium
Dallas at Arizona	10:00 PM			Sun Devil Stadium
San Diego at Seattle	10:00 PM			Seahawks Stadium

Sun, Aug 10	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Cincinnati at NY Jets	1:00 PM			Giants Stadium

Mon, Aug 11	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Philadelphia at New Orleans	8:00 PM			Superdome

WEEK 2

Thu, Aug 14	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Oakland at San Francisco	8:00 PM			3COM Park

Fri, Aug 15	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Miami at Jacksonville	7:30 PM			ALLTEL Stadium
Green Bay at Cleveland	8:00 PM			Cleveland Browns Stadium
Houston at Dallas	8:00 PM			Texas Stadium
Seattle at Indianapolis	8:00 PM			RCA Dome
Carolina at NY Giants	8:00 PM			Giants Stadium

Sat, Aug 16	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Detroit at Cincinnati	7:30 PM			Paul Brown Stadium
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	7:30 PM			Heinz Field
New England at Washington	8:00 PM			FedEx Field
New Orleans at NY Jets	8:00 PM			Giants Stadium
Buffalo at Tennessee	8:00 PM			The Coliseum
Baltimore at Atlanta	8:00 PM			Georgia Dome
Minnesota at Kansas City	8:30 PM			Arrowhead Stadium
Denver at Chicago	9:00 PM			Memorial Stadium
Arizona at San Diego	10:00 PM			Qualcomm Stadium

Mon, Aug 18	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Tampa Bay at St. Louis	8:00 PM			Edward Jones Dome

WEEK 3

Thu, Aug 21	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Dallas at Pittsburgh	8:00 PM			Heinz Field

Fri, Aug 22	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
New England at Philadelphia	7:30 PM			Veterans Stadium
Atlanta at Miami	8:00 PM			Pro Player Stadium
Minnesota at Oakland	9:00 PM			Network Associates Coliseum
Chicago at Arizona	10:30 PM			Sun Devil Stadium

Sat, Aug 23	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
St. Louis at Buffalo	7:00 PM			Ralph Wilson Stadium
Tennessee at Cincinnati	7:30 PM			Paul Brown Stadium
Cleveland at Detroit	7:30 PM			Ford Field
Carolina at Green Bay	8:00 PM			Lambeau Field
NY Jets at NY Giants	8:00 PM			Giants Stadium
Jacksonville at Tampa Bay	8:00 PM			Raymond James Stadium
Baltimore at Washington	8:00 PM			FedEx Field
San Diego at Houston	8:30 PM			Reliant Stadium
New Orleans at San Francisco	9:00 PM			3COM Park
Kansas City at Seattle	10:00 PM			Seahawks Stadium

Mon, Aug 25	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Indianapolis at Denver	8:00 PM			Invesco Field

WEEK 4

Wed, Aug 27	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Chicago at New England	8:00 PM			Gillette Stadium

Thu, Aug 28	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Detroit at Buffalo	7:00 PM			Ralph Wilson Stadium
NY Jets at Philadelphia	7:00 PM			Veterans Stadium
Houston at Tampa Bay	8:00 PM			Raymond James Stadium
Washington at Jacksonville	8:00 PM			ALLTEL Stadium
NY Giants at Baltimore	8:00 PM			M&T Bank Stadium
Atlanta at Cleveland	8:00 PM			Cleveland Browns Stadium
Oakland at Dallas	8:00 PM			Texas Stadium
Tennessee at Green Bay	8:00 PM			Lambeau Field
Kansas City at St. Louis	8:00 PM			Edward Jones Dome
Arizona at Minnesota	8:00 PM			Metrodome
Miami at New Orleans	8:00 PM			Superdome

Fri, Aug 29	TIME (ET)			GAME NOTES
Pittsburgh at Carolina	8:00 PM			Ericsson Stadium
Seattle at Denver	9:00 PM			Invesco Field
Cincinnati at Indianapolis	9:00 PM			RCA Dome
San Francisco at San Diego	10:00 PM			Qualcomm Stadium

Data Source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 2003 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited.

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[Diddle E. Squat]

Finally!

[Diddle E. Squat]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0801/1588613.html

Will be able to answer rules questions on telecasts

---

Associated Press


NEW YORK -- The NFL will have one of its two officiating supervisors available every week this season to instantly answer rules questions from the television networks.

Mike Pereira or Larry Upson will be on duty in the league office for assistance, NFL spokesman Joe Browne said Friday.

Browne said the system has been in effect for years with ABC on Monday night and ESPN on Sunday night. He said that in response to questions, the league reminded Fox and CBS that they can also get quick answers from Pereira or Upson.

The issue became more urgent with the networks after the confusion on the final play of last season's playoff game between the New York Giants and San Francisco. After the game, Pereira acknowledged the officials blew a call that would have given the Giants a second chance at a winning field-goal attempt in their 39-38 loss.

Chris Collinsworth, one of the Fox announcers at the game, incorrectly said holder Matt Allen could have spiked the ball. That would not have been allowed, but the officials missed a pass interference call against the 49ers on the play.

[Diddle E. Squat]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0801/1588464.html

Chiefs believe tackle by Jones was dirty

---

ESPN.com news services

RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- Dick Vermeil was angry after a Vikings rookie injured one of his wide receivers during a intersquad scrimmage. Given current news headlines coming out of Baylor University, perhaps the Chiefs coach should have expressed himself in a different way.

After Kansas City backup receiver Dameane Douglas appeared to severely injure his lower leg on a hit by Vikings rookie free-agent cornerback Rushen Jones during a passing scrimmage, Vermeil, in front of assembled reporters, yelled to the Minnesota trainer that the Vikings should take a shotgun and "shoot (Jones) in the head," the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported on Friday.

The extent of Douglas' injury was not immediately known, but Vermeil told the paper "it was not good."

According to the paper, Jones tackled Douglas as Douglas caught a 15-yard pass. Douglas' knees immediately buckled.

The paper reported that Douglas and his teammates immediately began to scream at Jones after the play. Douglas looked at Jones and Vikings cornerback Carey Scott and said, "Which one of you (expletive) are going to pay my bills?" according to the Pioneer Press.

Several neutral observers thought Jones' play was aggressive but not malicious. Scott, who was near the play, told the Pioneer Press that the hit was not dirty.

Jones, a rookie from Vanderbilt, was unavailable for comment.

Vermeil and Tice did not talk about the play after the scrimmage, according to the paper. The teams play an exhibition game Aug. 16 in Kansas City and a regular-season game Dec. 20 in Minnesota.

[You Dirty Rats]

I don't recall Halas and the other original NFL owners meeting in OSAKA to form the NFL.

It stinks that the HOF Game in Canton isn't first.

[Diddle E. Squat]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0801/1588542.html

Bucs, Jets get preseason started in Tokyo

---

Associated Press

TOKYO -- Warren Sapp has only been in Japan for a day but already he likes what he sees.


"The sushi here is a lot better than in the States," Sapp, the centerpiece of the NFL's best defense last season, said Thursday as the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepared for Saturday's American Bowl (5 a.m. ET, ESPN2) with the New York Jets.


"The players all have two questions: Where's the speed train and where's Mount Fuji?"


The trip to Japan is part of an effort by the NFL to broaden the appeal of American football in foreign markets. In the past, NFL teams have traveled to places as Osaka, London, England, Barcelona, Spain, Berlin, Germany, Mexico City, Mexico and Dublin.


Saturday's game at Tokyo Dome will be the 12th American Bowl played in Japan. Last year the Washington Redskins thrashed the San Francisco 49ers 38-7 at the Osaka Dome in western Japan.


Along with Sapp, Japanese fans will get to see Brad Johnson throwing to Keyshawn Johnson, who led the Buccaneers in pass receiving (76 receptions, 1,088 yards).


The Jets feature Chad Pennington, the top-rated quarterback in the NFL last season.


"I'm excited to be here," said Pennington. "We practiced in the Tokyo Dome this morning. It's a great place to watch football and I just want the fans to come out and enjoy the show."


The Jets got off to a 1-4 start last season and Pennington took over in Week 4 when veteran Vinny Testaverde went down to injury. With Pennington, the Jets won seven of their last 10 and went to the playoffs.


"We played with energy, passion and camaraderie and really came together as teammates," said Pennington. "Our goal is to be where Tampa Bay is right now -- Super Bowl champions of the world."


For the American Bowl, each team has one Japanese player on the roster. Wide receiver Yoshinobu Imoto will get some work with the Jets while linebacker Shinzo Yamada will be lining up for the Buccaneers.


Both Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden and New York coach Herman Edwards said they will stick with the basics for Saturday's game.


"We have some new plays but they're still in the lab and not ready for consumption yet," said Gruden.


Gruden hinted that some members of the best defense in football could move to the other side of the ball in Saturday's game.


"Warren (Sapp) plays offense, Anthony (McFarland) plays offense and we've experimented with Ronde Barber," added Gruden. "We're very excited about our offense and the New York Jets will provide a great test for us."


Edwards said he hopes Imoto will get a chance to show what he can do.


"We have some plays designed," said Edwards. "But our hardest job will be when our young quarterback comes into the game to execute those plays against the best defense in football. Hopefully Tampa Bay will relax and let Imoto catch a few balls."

[Tunehead54]

Yes! Why's Tampa the "home" team in Osaka?

---

[Drango]

GO DAWGS

[Diddle E. Squat]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0731/1588054.html

Eagles' fans will be allowed to bring food into stadium

---

ESPN.com news services


The team said Thursday it would allow fans to bring small quantities of food in clear plastic bags into the football team's new stadium, reversing a ban on outside food that had fueled fan outrage and generated a raft of negative publicity.

The Eagles had claimed the ban was for security reasons; fans accused the team of greed, saying they would be forced to buy expensive concession food. At the new stadium, cheesesteaks and hoagies will cost $6.50, a pork sandwich $6.25, and beer $6.

The new policy conforms with rules at some other stadiums around the country, although 14 NFL teams ban outside food.

"We were able to come up with something that's a little more sensitive to fan desires and maintain security," Eagles president Joe Banner said. "I totally respect anyone who thinks we made a decision that was overly conservative on security, but I'm disappointed in anyone who thinks there were other motivations."

Banner had accused critics of being ``irresponsible,'' claiming only a "minuscule" number of people brought their own food to Eagles games.

Under the revised policy, people who bring outside food will be directed to specific gates, where additional security guards will be posted.

[Solson]

The VikQUEENS suck. They're dirty and getting worse. The guy had his momentum stopped in what is considered a "Thud" scrimmage. A "thud" scrimmage means hit the ball carrier but don't take him down. Jones flung Douglas to the ground. Hovan is a "I haven't had a sack against the Packers yet" wannabe who has essentially threatened the health of Brett Favre.

The Queens suck and I hope they get their butts kicked in every game this season.

BUT, thank God football is finally back. Every year I live for the draft, training camp, opening Sunday, every game after that point, the playoffs and the SuperBowl. The time between the draft and training camp feels like a funeral.

[Weimdog]

Yep!

The English Premier League begins August 16th.

Sat Aug 16 2003
Birmingham v Tottenham 12:00
Portsmouth v Aston Villa 12:30
Arsenal v Everton 15:00
Blackburn v Wolves 15:00
Fulham v Middlesbrough 15:00
Leicester City v Southampton 15:00
Man Utd v Bolton 15:00

For the complete season schedule -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/eng_prem/html/fixtures_hi.stm

For Fox Sports World's schedule -

http://www.foxsportsworld.com/named/FSW/Index/Soccer

[discostu]

Somebody needs to be the home team, otherwise you don't have a "visitor" and the visitor calls the coin toss. Just like somebody is the home team in Canton for the Hall of Fame game. The methods of who's designated home team when the game is at nuetral location are many and varied.

[Diddle E. Squat]

The Web

SI.com

Updated: Monday June 30, 2003 3:25 PM

Teams:

Players:

2003 NFL STANDINGS
American Football Conference
AFC East	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	Div	Streak
y- Jets	9	7	0	.563	359	336	5-3-0	4-4-0	6-6-0	3-1-0	4-2-0	Won 2
Patriots	9	7	0	.563	381	346	5-3-0	4-4-0	6-6-0	3-1-0	4-2-0	Won 1
Dolphins	9	7	0	.563	378	301	7-1-0	2-6-0	7-5-0	2-2-0	2-4-0	Lost 2
Bills	8	8	0	.500	379	397	5-3-0	3-5-0	5-7-0	3-1-0	2-4-0	Won 1
AFC West	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	Div	Streak
z- Raiders	11	5	0	.688	450	304	6-2-0	5-3-0	9-3-0	2-2-0	4-2-0	Won 2
Broncos	9	7	0	.563	392	344	5-3-0	4-4-0	5-7-0	4-0-0	3-3-0	Won 1
Chargers	8	8	0	.500	333	367	5-3-0	3-5-0	6-6-0	2-2-0	3-3-0	Lost 4
Chiefs	8	8	0	.500	467	399	6-2-0	2-6-0	6-6-0	2-2-0	2-4-0	Lost 1
AFC North	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	Div	Streak
y- Steelers	10	5	1	.656	390	345	5-2-1	5-3-0	8-4-0	2-1-1	6-0-0	Won 3
x- Browns	9	7	0	.563	344	320	3-5-0	6-2-0	7-5-0	2-2-0	3-3-0	Won 2
Ravens	7	9	0	.438	316	354	4-4-0	3-5-0	7-5-0	0-4-0	3-3-0	Lost 2
Bengals	2	14	0	.125	279	456	1-7-0	1-7-0	1-11-0	1-3-0	0-6-0	Lost 1
AFC South	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	Div	Streak
y- Titans	11	5	0	.688	367	324	6-2-0	5-3-0	9-3-0	2-2-0	6-0-0	Won 5
x- Colts	10	6	0	.625	349	313	5-3-0	5-3-0	8-4-0	2-2-0	4-2-0	Won 1
Jaguars	6	10	0	.375	328	315	3-5-0	3-5-0	4-8-0	2-2-0	1-5-0	Lost 2
Texans	4	12	0	.250	213	356	2-6-0	2-6-0	2-10-0	2-2-0	1-5-0	Lost 3
National Football Conference
NFC East	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	Div	Streak
z- Eagles	12	4	0	.750	415	241	7-1-0	5-3-0	1-3-0	11-1-0	5-1-0	Lost 1
x- Giants	10	6	0	.625	320	279	5-3-0	5-3-0	2-2-0	8-4-0	5-1-0	Won 4
Redskins	7	9	0	.438	307	365	5-3-0	2-6-0	3-1-0	4-8-0	1-5-0	Won 2
Cowboys	5	11	0	.313	217	329	4-4-0	1-7-0	2-2-0	3-9-0	1-5-0	Lost 4
NFC West	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	Div	Streak
y- 49ers	10	6	0	.625	367	351	5-3-0	5-3-0	2-2-0	8-4-0	5-1-0	Lost 1
Rams	7	9	0	.438	316	369	6-2-0	1-7-0	2-2-0	5-7-0	4-2-0	Won 1
Seahawks	7	9	0	.438	355	369	3-5-0	4-4-0	2-2-0	5-7-0	2-4-0	Won 3
Cardinals	5	11	0	.313	262	417	3-5-0	2-6-0	0-4-0	5-7-0	1-5-0	Lost 3
NFC North	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	Div	Streak
y- Packers	12	4	0	.750	398	328	8-0-0	4-4-0	3-1-0	9-3-0	5-1-0	Lost 1
Vikings	6	10	0	.375	390	442	4-4-0	2-6-0	1-3-0	5-7-0	4-2-0	Won 3
Bears	4	12	0	.250	281	379	3-5-0	1-7-0	1-3-0	3-9-0	2-4-0	Lost 2
Lions	3	13	0	.188	306	451	3-5-0	0-8-0	0-4-0	3-9-0	1-5-0	Lost 8
NFC South	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	Div	Streak
y- Buccaneers	12	4	0	.750	346	196	6-2-0	6-2-0	3-1-0	9-3-0	4-2-0	Won 1
x- Falcons	9	6	1	.594	402	314	5-3-0	4-3-1	2-1-1	7-5-0	4-2-0	Lost 1
Saints	9	7	0	.563	432	388	4-4-0	5-3-0	2-2-0	7-5-0	3-3-0	Lost 3
Panthers	7	9	0	.438	258	302	4-4-0	3-5-0	3-1-0	4-8-0	1-5-0	Won 2
x - Clinched playoff berth y - Clinched division title z - Clinched division title and home-field advantage throughout playoffs

© 2003 STATS, Inc.

The Web

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[husky ed]

#19 and moving up the charts!

[Diddle E. Squat]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2003-08-01-hall-caps_x.htm

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2003
Marcus LeMarr Allen
• Running back (Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs).

Born: March 26, 1960, in San Diego.

A claim to fame: Became first player to rush for 10,000 yards and post 5,000 receiving yards.

Career: NFL rookie of the year after being Raiders' No. 1 pick in 1982. MVP of Super Bowl XVIII, when he rushed for 191 yards and set a Super Bowl record with a 74-yard TD run. ... Six-time Pro Bowler and NFL MVP in 1985. When he retired after 1997 season, he held NFL's single-season record for rushing-receiving yards (2,314). Scored 145 career TDs. Rushed for 12,243 yards, seventh on NFL's all-time list.

Did you know? Allen says the greatest NFL influence on his career was Terry Robiskie, his coordinator with the Raiders and now the Cleveland Browns' receivers coach.

Presenter: Red Allen (father).

Quotable: "He was better than everybody at finding a soft spot. Even when those plays are designed to go a different direction, he always had a natural instinct for it."— Marty Schottenheimer, who coached Allen with the Chiefs.

Elvin Lamont Bethea

• Defensive end (Houston Oilers)

Born: March 1, 1946, in Trenton, N.J.

A claim to fame: Had 105 career sacks, which remains the franchise record for the Oilers and their successors, the Tennessee Titans.

Career: Entered the league as a third-round pick from North Carolina A&T in 1968. Retired with franchise service records for 16 seasons and 210 games played, including 165 consecutively. An eight-time Pro Bowl selection while playing extensively in Bum Phillips' 3-4 defense, he led the Oilers in sacks six times and set the club's single-season sacks mark with 16 in 1973.

Did you know? He's the fourth player from the 1968 draft to earn Hall of Fame honors, joining Art Shell, Larry Csonka and Ron Yary.

Presenter: Hornsby Howell, his coach at North Carolina A&T.

Quotable:"If he'd played in a four-man front all of his career, a lot of people would be chasing him for the all-time sack lead. People don't realize that the guy was so quick and strong."— Hall of Fame tackle Art Shell, who battled Bethea in college and the NFL.

Joseph Michael DeLamielleure

• Guard (Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns)

Born: March 16, 1951, in Detroit.

A claim to fame: Was a key member of the "Electric Company" line that in 1973 paved the way for O.J. Simpson to become first NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

Career: An All-America at Michigan State, he joined the Bills as a first-round pick in 1973. Had six Pro Bowl selections and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1970s.

Did you know? He failed his first physical as a rookie, with an irregular heartbeat. His condition wasn't considered serious, and he went on to play 185 consecutive games.

Presenter: Larry Felser (retired columnist, The Buffalo News).

Quotable: "Joe DeLamielleure is the single toughest player I ever faced in my career. I've faced two guys at once who were not as good as Joe. Every single play was like a short-yardage play. He hit hard. Once after playing Joe, I got out of bed and all the joints cracked so loudly, it woke my wife."— Former Washington Redskins defensive tackle Dave Butz.

James David Lofton

• Wide receiver (Green Bay Packers, L.A. Raiders, Buffalo Bills)

Born: July 5, 1956, in Fort Ord, Calif.

A claim to fame: First NFL player to score a touchdown during the 1970s, '80s and '90s, was the oldest player in league history to post a 1,000-yard receiving season when he accomplished the feat as a 35-year-old in 1991.

Career: An academic All-America at Stanford, he joined the Packers as a first-round pick in 1978. When he retired after 16 seasons, Lofton held the league's all-time record for career receiving yards (14,004) — with a remarkable average of 18.3 yards per catch. He earned eight Pro Bowl selections and ranks 10th on the league's all-time list with 764 receptions.

Did you know? Lofton also was a track star in college, winning the NCAA's long jump title during his senior year.

Presenter: David Lofton (son).

Quotable:"He was a true gentleman and a great leader. There was no showboat in him; no hot dog in him. He did everything with class."— Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy.

Hank Louis Stram

• Coach (Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints).

Born: Jan. 3, 1923, in Chicago.

A claim to fame: Guided Kansas City to a 23-7 win against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. He was the only AFL coach to guide teams to two Super Bowls.

Career: He won more games than any coach during the AFL's 10-year existence and claimed three AFL titles. While posting a 136-100-10 record, he established himself as a classic innovator, devising the two tight end formation, the stack defense and the moving pocket.

Did you know? Stram coached in the longest game in NFL history, a double-overtime classic vs. the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day, 1971. The Chiefs lost 27-24.

Presenter: Len Dawson (Hall of Fame quarterback).

Quotable:"He is symbolic of the coaching style and personality of the AFL. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten a chance anywhere else, but I think he kind of personified the AFL. He was a salesman, an innovator who wasn't afraid to try new things."— Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt

*****

Capsules compiled by Jarrett Bell

[Diddle E. Squat]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/martzke/2003-07-31-martzke_x.htm

Early risers to get first look at Jets, Bucs in Japan
Fans desiring to watch the NFL's preseason opening game between the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday have to be up early to see the game on ESPN2 at 5 a.m. ET.
The previous 11 NFL preseason games in Japan were shown on ESPN live at 10 p.m. ET. This year Japanese promoters wanted a different starting time to sell more tickets. Consequently, kickoff was moved from 11 a.m. Sunday in Japan to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Saddled with the NFL's adherence to the kickoff change, the live 5 a.m. telecast, featuring Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann and Paul Maguire, has been moved to ESPN2 (84 million homes), though a replay is scheduled for ESPN (86.2 million) at 8 p.m. ET.

"Sunday at 11 a.m. is not the best time for a game in Tokyo," NFL vice president Greg Aiello said Thursday. "It made sense that the promoters thought Saturday night would be better for fans and interest in the game.

"It's a balancing act, the same as for an Olympics in this time zone. Ticket sales have doubled, so for this aspect it's a positive."

In most television deals, there is give and take among the TV partners. For its $600 million in annual NFL rights fees, ESPN received attractive regular-season schedules in 2002 and 2003.

"Live in prime time is ideal," ESPN's Mike Soltys says, "but we understand the NFL's reasoning for the decision. We see this as a unique opportunity for die-hard fans to watch live at 5 a.m., but to also re-air the game at 8 p.m. to maximize our viewership."

The average rating for ESPN's last four NFL games in Japan has been 2.8.

Theismann, with ESPN since 1988, never complains about the 14-hour flight to Tokyo.

"A lot of people never get past Ohio or Chicago," he says. "I get a chance most years to go a little farther."

Announcers to be honored

CBS analyst Marcus Allen and ex-CBS analyst Hank Stram will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, and play-by-play man Don Criqui, who also was with NBC, will receive the Pete Rozelle Radio and Television Award this weekend.

Criqui and CBS' Dick Enberg are co-marshals of the Hall of Fame parade. James Lofton, formerly of NBC and CNN, also is an inductee.

"On my flight to my first game in New Orleans 37 years ago, I sat across from Rozelle as I studied my lineup board," Criqui recalls. "The commissioner quizzed me if I knew the players. Now the award's named after him."

• NFL senior vice president of broadcasting Dennis Lewin, 58, the league's schedule-maker, announced his retirement this week. He was an executive at ABC for 30 years.

Collins weighs hoops network decision

While ESPN/ABC and Turner wait for Doug Collins to choose his next NBA analyst post, the networks interviewed other candidates.

Former Detroit Pistons coach Rick Carlisle says he met with TNT officials this week and plans to confer with ESPN executives soon.

Former Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl and San Antonio Spurs guard Steve Kerr also are high on the networks' list, though Kerr might play another season.

Best bets: Collins will agree to join ABC's No. 1 team with Brad Nessler. TNT figures to be Carlisle's destination, and ESPN gets Karl.

Around the dial

NBC has added 11 monitors in the production truck to accommodate 79 cameras for Sunday's 2:30 p.m. ET NASCAR Winston Cup Brickyard 400 race. ... With cyclist Lance Armstrong in a tight battle for his fifth title, CBS' Tour de France ratings climbed 31% to a 1.7 average. ... Former Fox Sports Net football analyst D'Marco Farr has joined the Football Network, which launches in the fall. ... The Tennis Channel carries this weekend's ATP Tour Legg Mason tournament in Washington, D.C., with Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. ... In a conference call, ABC's Battle at the Bridges golf match host Mike Tirico said fans "can watch live sporting events on TV or you can watch (NBC's) Who Wants to Marry my Dad? between 10-11 p.m. ET. Monday, Dad outrated Bridges by 33%, 6.5 to 4.9.

[TBP]

This is way too early. Baseball is heading into the pennant race stretch and then the playoffs and I'm supposed to be focusing on the No Fun League? The league that fines people for not interviewing blacks for a head coaching job even when the blacks were offered interviews and refused them?

Sorry, but I'll wait a while to focus on that. But in the meantime...

Go Big Blue!

[cyborg]

Good thanks for posting about REAL football... LOL

[Old Professer]

I'd just as soon take a whippin'.

[Jean S]

Oh sheesh, not already!

[nothingnew]

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Who wouldn't be ready for that?!

FMCDH