'NFL Players Helmets Off: Countdown to Madden NFL 08' to Air Throughout the Month of September on FSN

'NFL Players Helmets Off: Countdown to Madden NFL 08' to Air Throughout the Month of September on FSN

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PLAYERS INC, the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association, presents "NFL PLAYERS Helmets Off: Countdown to Madden NFL 08," the second of six monthly television specials created and produced by PLAYERS INC. Sponsored by EA Sports and Reebok, this month's installment features the original Madden cover athlete Eddie George as he gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the unveiling of America's most popular sports video game, "Madden NFL 08."

In "NFL PLAYERS Helmets Off: Countdown to Madden NFL 08," cameras juke, spin, and stiff-arm their way through the most anticipated celebration of the gaming season, the release of "Madden NFL 08" at the Maddenoliday festivities in Times Square. Eddie and his crew capture every moment of the Madden release spectacle, from the game's star-studded commercial shoot featuring Madden NFL 08 cover athlete Vince Young and sophomore standouts Reggie Bush (New Orleans) and Devin Hester (Chicago), to the much-anticipated Madden NFL 08 ball drop at midnight and the very first sale of the biggest video game in the world at the biggest toy store in the world, Toys R Us.

NFL players discuss Madden's significance, fans share their reactions and the makers of Madden offer their thoughts on why the game has become a worldwide obsession. Guests include former NFL play makers Jamal Anderson and Eric Dickerson, as well as music superstars Bow Wow and the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne.

About PLAYERS INC:

Formed in 1994, PLAYERS INC is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. Representing more than 1,800 active and many memorable retired NFL players, PLAYERS INC "takes the helmets off" the players and markets them as personalities as well as professional athletes. Through an exclusive sponsorship agreement between the NFL and PLAYERS INC, NFL players are integrated into NFL sponsor activation programs through PLAYERS INC. In addition, under an exclusive agreement between the NFL and PLAYERS INC, NFLPLAYERS.COM, PLAYERS INC's official website, is part of the NFL Internet Network. Each year PLAYERS INC negotiates and facilitates more than 4,000 player marketing opportunities for NFL players. PLAYERS INC activities include retail licensing, corporate sponsorships and promotions, special events, radio and television projects, publishing and internet. For more information, please visit NFLPLAYERS.COM.

(Regional broadcast schedule follows. For up-to-date schedule, please visit

                              NFLPLAYERS.com)     Network - Date - Time - Zone - L, D, R   FSN ARIZONA Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Mountain-Arizona Delay   FSN ARIZONA Sat - 09/08/2007 11:30 AM Mountain-Arizona Delay   FSN BAY AREA Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Pacific Delay   FSN BAY AREA Sat - 09/08/2007 11:30 AM Pacific Repeat   FSN DETROIT Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   FSN DETROIT Sat - 09/08/2007 12:30 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN DETROIT Sat - 09/22/2007 02:30 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN FLORIDA Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   FSN FLORIDA Sat - 09/15/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   FSN MIDWEST Sat - 09/01/2007 12:45 AM Central Delay   FSN MIDWEST Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Central Delay   FSN MIDWEST Sat - 09/15/2007 06:00 PM Central Repeat   FSN MIDWEST Sat - 09/15/2007 01:30 AM Central Repeat   FSN MIDWEST (No Cardinals, Kansas or Nebraska) Sat - 09/15/2007 01:30 PM    Central Delay   FSN MIDWEST (No Cardinals, Kansas or Nebraska) Fri - 09/21/2007 01:00 PM    Central Repeat   FSN NEW ENGLAND Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   FSN NEW ENGLAND Thu - 09/06/2007 01:00 PM Eastern Delay   FSN NEW ENGLAND Sat - 09/08/2007 12:00 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN NEW ENGLAND Sat - 09/15/2007 12:00 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN NEW ENGLAND Wed - 09/26/2007 01:00 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN NEW ENGLAND Sat - 09/29/2007 12:00 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN NEW YORK Sat - 09/01/2007 11:00 AM Eastern Delay   FSN NEW YORK Tue - 09/04/2007 09:00 AM Eastern Repeat   FSN NEW YORK Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   FSN NEW YORK Fri - 09/07/2007 05:00 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN NEW YORK Sat - 09/15/2007 12:30 AM Eastern Repeat   FSN NEW YORK Sat - 09/22/2007 02:30 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN NORTH (Minnesota) Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Central Delay   FSN NORTH (Minnesota) Sat - 09/15/2007 02:30 PM Central Repeat   FSN NORTH (Minnesota) Sun - 09/16/2007 04:30 AM Central Repeat   FSN NORTH (Minnesota) Sat - 09/22/2007 01:00 AM Central Repeat   FSN NORTH (Wisconsin) Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Central Delay   FSN NORTH (Wisconsin) Sat - 09/08/2007 12:30 PM Central Repeat   FSN NORTH (Wisconsin) Sat - 09/15/2007 02:30 PM Central Repeat   FSN NORTH (Wisconsin) Sun - 09/16/2007 04:30 AM Central Repeat   FSN NORTH (Wisconsin) Sat - 09/22/2007 01:00 AM Central Repeat   FSN NORTHWEST Sat - 09/01/2007 03:30 AM Pacific Delay   FSN NORTHWEST Sun - 09/02/2007 09:00 PM Pacific Repeat   FSN NORTHWEST Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Pacific Delay   FSN NORTHWEST Sat - 09/08/2007 11:00 AM Pacific Repeat   FSN NORTHWEST Fri - 09/14/2007 02:30 PM Pacific Repeat   FSN NORTHWEST Wed - 09/26/2007 12:30 PM Pacific Repeat   FSN OHIO Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   FSN OHIO Fri - 09/07/2007 02:00 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN OHIO Sat - 09/15/2007 02:30 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN OHIO (Non-Reds) Wed - 09/12/2007 12:30 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN OHIO (Non-Reds) Sat - 09/15/2007 07:00 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN OHIO (Non-Reds) Wed - 09/26/2007 12:30 PM Eastern Repeat   FSN PITTSBURGH Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   FSN PITTSBURGH Sat - 09/15/2007 05:00 PM Eastern Delay   FSN ROCKY MOUNTAIN Sat - 09/08/2007 12:00 PM Mountain Delay   FSN SOUTH Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   FSN SOUTH Sat - 09/15/2007 06:00 PM Eastern Delay   FSN SOUTH (Non-Cardinals territory) Tue - 09/18/2007 07:00 PM Eastern    Repeat   FSN SOUTHWEST Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Central Delay   FSN SOUTHWEST Sat - 09/15/2007 11:30 AM Central Repeat   FSN SOUTHWEST (DM) Mon - 09/03/2007 12:30 PM Central Delay   FSN SOUTHWEST (HR) Sun - 09/02/2007 10:00 PM Central Delay   FSN WEST Sat - 09/01/2007 01:00 PM Pacific Delay   FSN WEST Sat - 09/01/2007 11:30 PM Pacific Repeat   FSN WEST Tue - 09/04/2007 03:30 PM Pacific Delay   FSN WEST Sat - 09/15/2007 04:00 PM Pacific Repeat   COMCAST MID ATLANTIC Mon - 09/10/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   COMCAST MID ATLANTIC Mon - 09/17/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   COMCAST MID ATLANTIC Mon - 09/17/2007 08:30 PM Eastern Repeat   COMCAST MID ATLANTIC Mon - 09/24/2007 03:30 PM Eastern Delay   COMCAST PHILADELPHIA Sat - 09/01/2007 05:00 PM Eastern Delay   COMCAST PHILADELPHIA Tue - 09/04/2007 02:30 PM Eastern Repeat   COMCAST PHILADELPHIA Wed - 09/12/2007 12:00 AM Eastern Repeat   COMCAST PHILADELPHIA Sat - 09/15/2007 05:00 PM Eastern Repeat   Comcast Chicago Thu - 09/20/2007 09:00 PM Central Delay   Comcast Chicago Sun - 09/30/2007 07:30 PM Central Repeat     Live Total* 0   Delay Total* 165,516   First Air Total 165,516   Report Total 165,516  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: PLAYERS INC

CONTACT: Lara Potter, +1-202-572-7460, Lara.Potter@nflplayers.com, or
Joanna Comfort, +1-202-756-9170, Joanna.Comfort@nflplayers.com, both of
PLAYERS INC

Web site: http://www.nflplayers.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment