The CBS Television Network continues its 48^th year broadcasting the NFL with singleheader coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 28 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network's one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.

 

THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action from the Indianapolis Colts-Carolina Panthers game live from the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

 

Throughout the 2007 season, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast five-to-six games each week in HDTV, the highest definition television format - 1080i lines of picture resolution - along with 5.1 digital audio.

 

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports.  Tony Petitti is Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, CBS Sports.  McManus and Petitti serve as executive producers of CBS Sports' coverage of THE NFL ON CBS.

 

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PHIL SIMMS

(On Giants vs. Dolphins in London):  Some people have been negative of the Giants and Dolphins going over to England to play.  In the past I probably would have been too.  But judging this by people I talk to, interviews I have done from people over in Europe and the fan mail that I get from people in Europe who are watching NFL football on TV, there is a growing interest.  The NFL is an exciting game and if you're a sports fan, no matter where you are from, what country, how can you not like NFL football? It's exciting.  There are tremendous athletes.  There is speed.  There is size and there is power.  There is the finality of winning because you know every game is so important in the NFL.  I really do foresee one day in my lifetime where there will be a couple of teams in Europe.  The NFL is going to test the market, feed the interest.  For the players, they have got to put up with it.  They do get next week off. I know it's not easy but you have to also look at it this way.  Players love being the center of attention, and going over and playing in London, England this week puts the Giants and the Dolphins at the center of attention.  And that's good.  What does it all mean down the road?  Well, more money, more fame.  It always filters down to the players.  For whatever negatives there are, when you talk about the game, I think the positives outweigh it...(On New York Giants): The

 

Giants are absolutely starting to catch the attention of America. They have caught my attention.  I am as interested now in the Giants as I am in the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots.  They have a flare about them.  They are playing an exciting brand of football.  They have playmakers all over the field - not just guys who can make plays - guys who can win the game.  Plaxico Burress can win a game almost single- handedly.  The running backs have been tremendous.  They have one of the best pass blocking offensive lines in football.  Nobody, nobody, in the NFL can rush the passer better than the New York Giants.  I would say to all of the NFC teams, there is a new player out there.  It's pretty amazing that they held together after losing the first two games because the atmosphere going into the season was not good.  The press wants Tom Coughlin fired because going to the playoffs in back-to-back years is not good enough...(On Indianapolis vs. Carolina): I'm not even going to utter the phrase, 'They (Colts) could look past this game,' because we know they won't.  And I say to all the naysayers, do you really think Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts are going to overlook an NFL team?  If they lose this week it will not be because they were looking ahead, so scratch all those headlines if they do lose.  If they lose, it's because the Carolina Panthers have hung in there. They are 4-2.  Are they a 4-2 NFL team?  I don't know, but they somehow manufactured a 4-2 record with all of the obstacles they have had to overcome the first six games.  To beat the Colts, your team will have to play extremely well.  It will be a good gauge for the Carolina Panthers to see how they can look at the rest of the year or two.

 

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            Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 8 and Week 9 (subject to change).

 

WEEK 8 - Oct. 28

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Indianapolis @ Carolina*         Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati*          Dick Enberg/Randy Cross                    Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

·Cleveland @ St. Louis Don Criqui/Steve Beuerlein                    Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

·Oakland @ Tennessee*           Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

 

4:05 PM, ET starts:

·Buffalo @ N.Y. Jets*              Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Mark Grant

·Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay*    Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots                   Bob Dekas/Cathy Barreto

 

 

·Houston @ San Diego*           Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

(site and time be determined by the NFL)

  

  

WEEK 9 - Nov. 4 - DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Cincinnati @ Buffalo                Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots                   Bob Dekas/Cathy Barreto

·Denver @ Detroit                    Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

·San Diego @ Minnesota          Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Jacksonville @ New Orleans   Dick Enberg/Randy Cross                    Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

·New England @ Indianapolis   Jim Nantz/Phil Simms               Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Houston @ Oakland                Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Mark Grant

 

 

WEEK 10 - Nov. 11

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Denver @ Kansas City*          Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Jacksonville @ Tennessee*      Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley           

·Buffalo @ Miami*                   Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Chris Svendsen

·Cleveland @ Pittsburgh*         Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

 

4:05 PM, ET starts:

·Cincinnati @ Baltimore*          Dick Enberg/Randy Cross                    Ken Mack/Suzanne Smith

 

* Games broadcast in HDTV