Ok, I’ve relented to the NFL and will start calling its exhibition games, “preseason games”. I asked an NFL spokesman if the NFL Network schedule of re-airs was coming out today and lo and behold, he sends them to me. It’s one of the reasons why I like dealing with the league. The NFL’s PR people are so responsive and get back within minutes.
Also announced is the NFL’s plans to charge $39.99 for fans to see 54 games live on online. Not included are the national TV games aired on CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN. I’m not a fan of this, but if you want to watch them, be my guest.
Anyway, here’s the press release.
NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM: HOME TO THE 2010 NFL PRESEASON!NFL.com’s New ‘NFL Preseason Live’ Offers Preseason Games OnlineAll 65 Preseason Games Air in High-Definition on NFL NetworkNFL Network’s 10 Live Broadcasts Include McNabb’s Debut in Washington, Tebow’s First NFL Game & Pete Carroll’s Return to the NFL SidelinesWith preseason kicking off in August, NFL Network and NFL.com features the most NFL preseason game coverage ever. NFL.com unveils NFL Preseason Live to watch games online and NFL Network once again carries all 65 preseason games in HD.For the first time, NFL.com offers NFL Preseason Live, a subscription product that delivers fans preseason games live. Users can watch available games online and choose from home or away broadcasts to complement a new viewing experience that includes movable picture-in-picture and mosaic layouts to watch multiple games at once. NFL Preseason Live is available for $39.99.NFL Network is home to the entire NFL preseason game slate with all 65 matchups, including multiple replays, airing on the only network dedicated to football. The 2010 preseason schedule on NFL Network includes 10 live nationally-televised games, with all matchups available in high definition.Week 1 of the 2010 NFL preseason on NFL Network features five live games highlighted by veteran quarterback DONOVAN MCNABB’s debut in Washington, the NFL debut of Broncos rookie quarterback TIM TEBOW and Seahawks head coach PETE CARROLL’s return to the NFL sidelines.The Redskins kick off NFL Network’s live game schedule vs. the Buffalo Bills Friday, August 13 at 7:30 PM ET. Saturday, August 14 features a doubleheader with Tampa Bay at Miami at 7:00 PM ET, followed by Tennessee at Seattle at 10:00 PM ET. The weekend wraps up with San Francisco at Indianapolis Sunday, August 15 at 1:00 PM ET, followed by Denver at Cincinnati at 7:00 PM ET.There’s no better place for Fantasy Football fans to prepare their picks and depth charts for the 2010 regular season than with NFL Network and NFL.com’s all-encompassing coverage of the 2010 preseason. All 10 live preseason games will include halftime reports featuring NFL Network’s team of analysts from its Los Angeles studios and five-minute NFL Network Now updates between game broadcasts reporting the most up-to-date news and information. NFL Network’s schedule includes a total of 162 telecasts as it includes every game, live games and game replays of all the preseason action.Here is a preview of the 10 live games on NFL Network:Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Redskins • Friday, August 13 at 7:30 PM ETQB Donovan McNabb and head coach Mike Shanahan open a new chapter with the Washington Redskins, while new Bills head coach Chan Gailey makes his return to the NFL with a young offense that includes rookie RB C.J. Spiller.Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Miami Dolphins • Saturday, August 14 at 7:00 PM ETNo. 3 overall draft pick Gerald McCoy gets his first taste of NFL action as part of the Buccaneers defense against a Miami Dolphins offense led by QB Chad Henne and free agent addition WR Brandon Marshall.Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks • Saturday, August 14 at 10:00 PM ETThe second game of Saturday’s doubleheader features Pete Carroll’s return to the NFL sidelines as Seahawks head coach, hosting QB Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans.San Francisco 49ers vs. Indianapolis Colts • Sunday, August 15 at 1:00 PM ETMike Singletary and Jim Caldwell begin their sophomore seasons with their respective teams. Singletary’s 49ers feature a talented defense including Pro Bowl LB Patrick Willis and rookie FS Taylor Mays, while Peyton Manning begins his 13th NFL season as quarterback of the AFC champion Colts.Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals • Sunday, August 15 at 7:00 PM ETBroncos head coach Josh McDaniels shows off his trio of young quarterbacks as Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and rookie Tim Tebow battle for the Denver’s starting QB spot against a Bengals defense that ranked fourth in the league in 2009.Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Giants • Saturday, August 21 at 7:00 PM ETSuper Bowl XLIII and XLII champions meet Week 2 of the preseason when the Giants host the Steelers in their first game in the New Meadowlands Stadium.Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks • Saturday, August 21 at 10:00 PM ETQB Aaron Rodgers leads a Packers offense that finished sixth in the league last year against a young Seahawks team featuring first-round draft picks Russell Okung and Earl Thomas.Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions • Saturday, August 28 at 5:00 PM ETLions DT and No. 2 overall pick Ndamukong Suh gets his third preseason look against a Cleveland Browns squad that boasts rookie CB Joe Haden and QB Colt McCoy.New England Patriots vs. New York Giants • Thursday, September 2 at 7:00 PM ETThe Patriots complete their preseason game slate in the New Meadowlands Stadium against the New York Giants.Washington Redskins vs. Arizona Cardinals • Thursday, September 2 at 10:00 PM ETTwo teams debuting different looks on offense in 2010 face off in the final preseason game of the season. The Cardinals look to replace QB Kurt Warner and WR Anquan Boldin, while veteran RB Brian Westbrook establishes his role with the Redskins.
The schedule of games is after the jump.
As promised, here’s the sked.
NFL NETWORK SCHEDULE FOR 2010 PRESEASON GAMES(BOLD INDICATES LIVE GAMES / FIRST AIRINGS ONLY / ALL TIMES EASTERN)Monday, August 91:00 PM – Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas CowboysThursday, August 1211:00 PM – New Orleans Saints at New England PatriotsFriday, August 139:30 AM – Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens3:30 PM – Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys7:30 PM – Buffalo Bills at Washington Redskins — LIVE10:30 PM – Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia EaglesSaturday, August 141:30 AM – Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons7:00 PM – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins — LIVE10:00 PM – Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks — LIVESunday, August 151:00 AM – Chicago Bears at San Diego Chargers10:00 AM – Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers1:00 PM – San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts — LIVE7:00 PM – Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals — LIVE10:00 PM – Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis RamsMonday, August 161:00 AM – Houston Texans at Arizona Cardinals4:00 PM – Cleveland Browns at Green Bay PackersThursday, August 191:00 PM – New York Giants at New York Jets11:00 PM – Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo BillsFriday, August 201:00 PM – New England Patriots at Atlanta FalconsSaturday, August 214:00 PM – Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals7:00 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants — LIVE10:00 PM – Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks — LIVESunday, August 221:00 AM – Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints4:00 AM – Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers7:00 AM – New York Jets at Carolina Panthers10:00 AM – Baltimore Ravens at Washington Redskins1:00 PM – Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos4:00 PM – Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers11:00 PM – Oakland Raiders at Chicago BearsMonday, August 234:00 PM – St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns11:00 PM – Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville JaguarsTuesday, August 241:00 PM – Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ersThursday, August 261:00 PM – Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans11:00 PM – St. Louis Rams at New England PatriotsFriday, August 272:00 AM – Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers11:00 PM – Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City ChiefsSaturday, August 282:00 AM – Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins2:00 PM – Washington Redskins at New York Jets5:00 PM – Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions — LIVE11:00 PM – Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota VikingsSunday, August 292:00 AM – Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills7:00 AM – San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints10:00 AM – Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers1:00 PM – New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens4:00 PM – Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears11:00 PM – San Francisco 49ers at Oakland RaidersMonday, August 302:00 AM – Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers4:00 PM – Dallas Cowboys at Houston TexansWednesday, September 11:00 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver BroncosThursday, September 27:00 PM – New England Patriots at New York Giants — LIVE10:00 PM – Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals — LIVEFriday, September 31:00 AM – San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers6:00 AM – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans9:00 AM – Baltimore Ravens at St. Louis Rams12:00 PM – Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions3:00 PM – Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings7:00 PM – Miami Dolphins at Dallas CowboysSaturday, September 412:00 AM – Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs7:00 AM – Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars1:00 PM – Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns4:00 PM – New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles8:00 PM – Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers11:00 PM – Seattle Seahawks at Oakland RaidersSunday, September 510:00 AM – New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans1:00 PM – Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts* Live games on NFL Network and NFL Preseason Live will be blacked out when televised on local stations. NFL Preseason Live features all the preseason games except the 11 that are televised nationally by NFL network partners.
Once again, thanks to the NFL for sending the schedule right away.
