Madden Takes First Weekend Off in 28 Years

Aging voice of the NFL still flashes brilliance along with slip-ups

(NEWSER) - John Madden's on-air analysis isn't always right—zealous fact-checkers will attest to that—but the elder statesman of NFL commentators is usually on the money, writes Matthew Futterman in the Wall Street Journal. "I know there's talk he's lost a step," his former boss acknowledges, but the onetime Raiders coach remains a force in the broadcasting world—and in video games. More»

(NEWSER) - John Madden has called his last football game, NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol announced today, with the legendary former coach deciding to retire from broadcasting. “I’m 73 years old,” Madden said in a statement. “I still love every part of it—the travel, the practices, the game film, the games, seeing old friends and meeting new people … but I know this is the right time.” More»

CBS execs expect to lose millions, but hope Favre will draw viewers

(NEWSER) - Tom Brady’s season-ending knee injury may have crippled the New England Patriots, but what will it cost in dollars and cents? As the NFL’s marquee player, Tom Brady is a money-making machine—yet executives at CBS, which pays $622 million for the AFC package, won't say how many millions his torn ACL will cost them. "You can't really quantify it," one tells Newsweek. More»

34.5 million watched game on NFL Network, CBS and NBC

(NEWSER) - The Patriots' final step to an undefeated regular season—Saturday's victory over the Giants—attracted an estimated 34.5 million viewers, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The tally is the largest the NFL has managed since the 1995 Chiefs-Cowboys Thanksgiving game. The millions were divided among CBS and NBC, who were granted last minute rights to air the game, and the NFL Network. More»

NBC affiliates in Milwaukee and Green Bay to skip address, senator has Saints party

(NEWSER) - David Vitter isn’t going to attend President Obama’s speech tonight, not because he’s sending a message to the president, but because he’s got better things to do. “I have a Saints party,” the Louisiana senator told Fox News yesterday, “and I am absolutely going to be there for the big game, kick-off of the Saints and the whole NFL.” Vitter said he expected Obama to deliver “more a political speech than a substantive speech.” And besides: “As a fanatic, I have my priorities.” More»