NFL Network to provide unprecedented coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine

[Jim O]

NFL Network to provide unprecedented coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine

(Feb. 12, 2004) -- For the first time on television, NFL Network will provide football fans with the most comprehensive look at the first steps the nation's top collegiate players take toward becoming NFL pros in 2004 NFL Scouting Combine beginning Friday, Feb. 20 at 10 p.m. (ET) and continuing for six consecutive nights through Wednesday, Feb. 25.

With extensive access to daily workouts, head coaches, front-office personnel and the players, 2004 NFL Scouting Combine will give fans an exclusive opportunity in six one-hour episodes to see how teams are preparing for the upcoming NFL draft April 24-25.

2004 NFL Scouting Combine will be produced on location from the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, home of the six-day event. The following is a synopsis of NFL Network's 2004 NFL Scouting Combine coverage:

Friday, Feb. 20 -- Preview show

Saturday, February 21 -- Offensive linemen and running backs

Sunday, February 22 -- Running backs and quarterbacks

Monday, February 23 -- Tight ends and defensive linemen

Tuesday, February 24 -- Linebackers and defensive backs

Wednesday, February 25 -- Combine review and mock draft

NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock along with College Football Sunday host Bill Patrick and legendary player personnel expert Gil Brandt serve as NFL Network's on-air team and will provide daily player progress reports on the approximately 300 top prospects invited to participate in the combine. 2004 NFL Scouting Combine will also examine the nature of this event and how its drills, tests and interviews are used to measure overall ability, strength, speed, agility, endurance and intelligence.

"From a fan's perspective, this is an opportunity they've never had until now -- a chance to see for themselves what their team sees when it comes to deciding who to take in the draft," said NFL Network President and CEO Steve Bornstein. "This is another benefit fans get with the advent of NFL Network."

2004 NFL Scouting Combine will feature interviews with head coaches and front-office personnel revealing the different philosophies teams use to assess young talent and answer key questions about the evaluation process. Topics include:

How important an attribute is mobility when judging quarterbacks?
How does an offensive scheme impact how a team rates offensive lineman and tight ends?
How important is a running back's time in the 40-yard dash?
Is lateral quickness more important for linebackers than physicality at the point of attack?
Mayock, analyst for NFL Network's College Football Sunday, was a former defensive back for the New York Giants (1982-84). Mayock has established himself as a respected college and NFL analyst through his work for ABC Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN and Fox Sports Net over the past dozen years. With his experience and connections with scouts, general managers and other key college and NFL personnel, Mayock is aptly dubbed NFL Network's "Draft Guru."

Brandt served as vice president of player personnel for the Cowboys from 1960-89 and helped Dallas grow into one of the most powerful and popular sports franchises in America. His innovative management and personnel systems are standard operating procedure today for many teams at the professional and collegiate levels nationwide. Brandt has spent the last eight years as NFL.com's main personnel expert and offers insight and commentary on all aspects of players and teams

Patrick has been a sports broadcaster since 1977. His experience includes serving as host and play-by-play announcer for ESPN and ESPN2, Speedvision, USA Network, Metro Channel and Outdoor Life Network. The NCAA Playoffs, Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals and America's Cup are among the events he has covered.

In addition to 2004 NFL Scouting Combine at 10 p.m. ET, NFL Network's signature show, NFL Total Access, continues to be the source for the latest news and information around the NFL and will provide daily combine coverage as well each weeknight at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

NFL Network is carried on DIRECTV's basic service that is seen in more than 12.2 million homes on Channel 212, and is also available on Voom's satellite service on Channel 312, and starting this month on cable via Charter Communications systems.

 

[Stout]

Can we make this a sticky?

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

I know I am soo excited. If you dont have DirecTV you seriously dont know what your missing!

 

[JeffGollin]

TIVO people - Crank 'er up folks!

 

[Southpaw]

Should Sunday's schedule read " receivers and QBs? It now says RBs & Qbs.

 

[Stout]

Danke.

 

[Fiasco]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK
I know I am soo excited. If you dont have DirecTV you seriously dont know what your missing!

They are missing out on a quarter million extortion demand letters for piracy and over 30,000 lawsuits in federal court for purchases of perfectly legal products.

One can only hope that DTV will lose its stranglehold on NFL satellite broadcasts in the near future.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Originally posted by Fiasco
They are missing out on a quarter million extortion demand letters for piracy and over 30,000 lawsuits in federal court for purchases of perfectly legal products.

One can only hope that DTV will lose its stranglehold on NFL satellite broadcasts in the near future.

It wont. From what I have read the NFL just renewed the contract and has no plans to expand beyond DTV. Why would they, they are making millions.

By the way, Cable is the biggest scam int he world. How can you say DTV is so bad when cable is

1. A Monopoly. There are what 4 cable companies in the US that control something like 80% of the viewership? They raise rates on a constant basis, and have wink-and-nod agreements with others NOT to expand beyond their 'regions' thus killing competition.

2. All those perfectly legal products you are talking about? How about cable descramblers? Yeah they are perfectly legal until you try to hook them up for free cable. same goes with the DTV simulators etc.

I am not sure what you have against DTV and I am not syaing they are perfect but dont act like Cable companies arent exactly the same way!!!!!

 

[wierwolf]

Because I would still like local channels. I live to far away from a big city to get them with Sattelite. That is why I am with digital cable.

 

[wierwolf]

Also not that I like not having the NFL Ticket or NFL Network.

 

[Fiasco]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK
It wont. From what I have read the NFL just renewed the contract and has no plans to expand beyond DTV. Why would they, they are making millions.

By the way, Cable is the biggest scam int he world. How can you say DTV is so bad when cable is

1. A Monopoly. There are what 4 cable companies in the US that control something like 80% of the viewership? They raise rates on a constant basis, and have wink-and-nod agreements with others NOT to expand beyond their 'regions' thus killing competition.

No doubt about it, cable sucks. But they have not launched the single largest lawsuit in United States history. There are even less satellite companies controlling 100% of satellite viewership.

2. All those perfectly legal products you are talking about? How about cable descramblers? Yeah they are perfectly legal until you try to hook them up for free cable. same goes with the DTV simulators etc.

A device that's sole design and purpose is to circumvent the encryption or security so one can steal signal is not what I'm talking about. When I say perfectly legal device I am refering to smart card readers and smart card emulators. All of which conform to an international standard (iso 7816). Microsoft sells these devices. SDLogic sells these devices.

Many new computers are beginning to ship with smart card readers installed. How will you feel when Directv files a lawsuit against you for signal piracy when your new Dell/Shuttle/IBM/Compaq w/ smart card reader arrives?

I am not sure what you have against DTV and I am not syaing they are perfect but dont act like Cable companies arent exactly the same way!!!!!

I never made any claims about cable.

Windows 2000/XP has smart card features that permit you to secure your computer with a ISO7816 compliant smart card built into the operating system. Sun Microsystems has JavaCard technology based on the same standards.

The fact is, DTV usage of 'smart cards' represents only a miniscule fraction of their application. Engineers have been sued who purchased smart card equipment and used it to develop demonstratable commercial applications that had nothing to do with Directv.

Directv has sued people who never even owned directv equipment. They have sued people who's house has no clear line of site to the southern sky.

Directv has also sued people for purchasing Sega Dreamcast Modification chips and generic A/C adapters claiming that they are pirate access devices.

Directv has sued military personel for smart card readers even as the military converts its ID's to 7816 smart cards.

As I said, Directv has sent letters to around 250,000 people and filed lawsuits against 30,000 of them (and continues to file more each day).

You may still scoff, but consider that if this line of lawsuits is even moderately successfull (suing based on only a receipt of purchase for a legal device that *could* be used to assist in stealing from DTV with no proof of actual intent or theft) you can just bet that both the movie and music industries will follow suit.

Do you own a DVD burner? Your pirating movies.

Do you own a CD burner? Your pirating music.

Don't think for a second that what is going on in the courts with DirecTV has no impact on you. Consider that 1 in 2000 Americans has already received a demand for money from DirecTV in the last two years and DirecTV shows no signs of slowing down.

Smart Cards are becoming so pervasive chances are you have already handled them, or soon will. DirecTV lawsuits are becoming so pervasive that they will soon touch you or someone you know.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Originally posted by Fiasco
No doubt about it, cable sucks. But they have not launched the single largest lawsuit in United States history. There are even less satellite companies controlling 100% of satellite viewership.



A device that's sole design and purpose is to circumvent the encryption or security so one can steal signal is not what I'm talking about. When I say perfectly legal device I am refering to smart card readers and smart card emulators. All of which conform to an international standard (iso 7816). Microsoft sells these devices. SDLogic sells these devices.

Many new computers are beginning to ship with smart card readers installed. How will you feel when Directv files a lawsuit against you for signal piracy when your new Dell/Shuttle/IBM/Compaq w/ smart card reader arrives?



I never made any claims about cable.

Windows 2000/XP has smart card features that permit you to secure your computer with a ISO7816 compliant smart card built into the operating system. Sun Microsystems has JavaCard technology based on the same standards.

The fact is, DTV usage of 'smart cards' represents only a miniscule fraction of their application. Engineers have been sued who purchased smart card equipment and used it to develop demonstratable commercial applications that had nothing to do with Directv.

Directv has sued people who never even owned directv equipment. They have sued people who's house has no clear line of site to the southern sky.

Directv has also sued people for purchasing Sega Dreamcast Modification chips and generic A/C adapters claiming that they are pirate access devices.

Directv has sued military personel for smart card readers even as the military converts its ID's to 7816 smart cards.

As I said, Directv has sent letters to around 250,000 people and filed lawsuits against 30,000 of them (and continues to file more each day).

You may still scoff, but consider that if this line of lawsuits is even moderately successfull (suing based on only a receipt of purchase for a legal device that *could* be used to assist in stealing from DTV with no proof of actual intent or theft) you can just bet that both the movie and music industries will follow suit.

Do you own a DVD burner? Your pirating movies.

Do you own a CD burner? Your pirating music.

Don't think for a second that what is going on in the courts with DirecTV has no impact on you. Consider that 1 in 2000 Americans has already received a demand for money from DirecTV in the last two years and DirecTV shows no signs of slowing down.

Smart Cards are becoming so pervasive chances are you have already handled them, or soon will. DirecTV lawsuits are becoming so pervasive that they will soon touch you or someone you know.

Very compelling arguement.

I didint know most of what you posted. I would really like to read more on it if you have any links etc.

My point of view was more from the end user of both. I like DTV for many reasons and hate cable for many more. If DTV is really doing all this then I understand your point entirely. Having said that though, I know a big problem with DTV is that many many people steal the signal and receive it for free. How they can combat that w/o passing on higher rates to legitimite consumers I dont know.

By the way, the cable descrambler box is perfectly legal and has other uses than to steal cable. But we both know that is why it is bought. Cant the same be said for people buying these emulators as well?

 

[Southpaw]

Originally posted by wierwolf
Because I would still like local channels. I live to far away from a big city to get them with Sattelite. That is why I am with digital cable.

That's not correct. All of the network affiliates are available if you don't qualify for Local Channels. I have had DirecTv for 4 years . I love it.

 

[Fiasco]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK
Very compelling arguement.

I didint know most of what you posted. I would really like to read more on it if you have any links etc.

My point of view was more from the end user of both. I like DTV for many reasons and hate cable for many more. If DTV is really doing all this then I understand your point entirely. Having said that though, I know a big problem with DTV is that many many people steal the signal and receive it for free. How they can combat that w/o passing on higher rates to legitimite consumers I dont know.

By the way, the cable descrambler box is perfectly legal and has other uses than to steal cable. But we both know that is why it is bought. Cant the same be said for people buying these emulators as well?

Yes emulators have legitimate uses. It lets you emulate a smart card which is a vital function for engineers/developers who use this technology.

http://forums.wumarkus.com
http://www.themachine.org/fightdtv/
http://www.dtvlawsuits.com/

Also the electronic frontier foundation, an electronics/law think tank has thrown its support behind end users sued by directv.

http://www.eff.org

Here is their "Friend of the Court" brief:
http://www.eff.org/directvdefense/20040112_eff_pr.php

Typically when a cable company sues an end user they have first hand proof of theft. DirecTV has admitted in court that it will be a rare case where they actually have proof that someone stole the signal.

As far as cost being passed on to the consumer, DirecTV could secure their signal at any time. There are numerous well known smart card security systems that are more secure then what DirecTV uses.

The simple fact is that at $4500 a pop, the extortion letter/lawsuit method is more profitable then securing the signal. With the costs of attorneys to defend these claims costing in excess of $5000 the majority of people settle guilty or not.

DirecTV could actually make more money off lawsuits this year then off of subscriptions.

 

[bigredjane]

I heard-

that Fox bought both Tivo and Direct TV, that is why you see both Tivo and Direct TV offered on some adds. If this is tue Fox will be one of the biggest players in the field.

 

[Southpaw]

Is the NFL network on Channel 212 DirecTv? I was actually looking for the Network and assumed it would be up in the 700 range where NFL ticket resides. Nit there. 212, which I thought was just a promo channel looks like that is it. True or false?

 

[nidan]

True

 

[Southpaw]

Originally posted by nidan
True

I am combine viewing ready.