Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artists Ashanti to Sing National Anthem; and

Kelly Clarkson to Perform at Halftime

SUNDAY'S "NFL TODAY" FEATURES A FOLLOW-UP ON FORMER DALLAS COWBOY RON SPRINGS BY TALKING WITH SON SHAWN AND FORMER TEAMMATE

EVERSON WALLS FOR WEEK 12 OF "THE NFL TODAY" ON NOV. 25

THE NFL ON CBS, broadcasting its 48^th year of the NFL continues its 2007 season broadcast schedule on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 22 (4:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network's studio show (3:30-4:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY's state-of-the-art, high definition studio at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. 

THE NFL TODAY previews its Thanksgiving Day game of the New York Jets-Dallas Cowboys game by featuring the highly unlikelihood of brothers playing in the NFL and playing against each other on Thanksgiving Day.  Thomas and Julius Jones are running backs for the Jets and Cowboys, respectively.  They grew up in Big Stone Gap, Va. which is a mining community. Both of their parents were coal miners. Their mother Betty was the first female miner in Virginia. This past February, during a feature on THE SUPER BOWL TODAY, the brothers talked about how special it was to have Thomas in the Super Bowl playing for the Chicago Bears, and how great an accomplishment it was for the whole family.  In addition to the two brothers, there are four sisters. THE NFL TODAY will spend the day before Thanksgiving with the entire Jones family in Dallas as they celebrate the holiday.  They expect 20 family members to be watching the "Brother vs. Brother" match-up the following day.  Deb Gelman and Jeff St. Arromand are the producers.     

Also on Thanksgiving Day, THE NFL TODAY features a special little fan of the Baltimore Ravens, Katy Marchman, who has become one of the Ravens' "biggest little cheerleaders."  Katy is a 9-year old girl who suffers from Angelman Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and causes frequent seizures.  As a result, she communicates mainly through pictures and gestures. Kim Marchman, Katy's Mom, took her to the Baltimore Ravens training camp three years ago and since then, the Ravens have become Katy's team.  She has established relationships with every single Ravens player. Katy said "McNair" before she could say Daddy, and says "Muuss" (Musa Smith) more times a day than she says Mommy. Last week she went to her first regular-season practice and the team was thrilled to see her.  THE NFL TODAY was with her last Sunday when Katy attended her first ever Ravens game as they hosted the Cleveland Browns.  Deb Gelman produces.

(Over)

THE NFL TODAY Week 12...2

Grammy Award-winning recording artists Ashanti will sing the national anthem, while Kelly Clarkson will perform at halftime of the Jets-Cowboys game, respectively.

On Sunday, Nov. 25 (12:00 Noon, ET), THE NFL TODAY follows up on a story it did during THE SUPER BOWL TODAY in February about former Dallas Cowboy teammates Ron Springs and Everson Walls.  Shawn Springs, who plays for the Washington Redskins, sits down for a television interview for the first time together with his father's former teammate, Walls, to discuss why they have not given up hope on Ron's recovery.

Ron Springs battled a series of health problems after football.  Diabetes had attacked his body resulting in a series of amputations and kidney failure. After years on dialysis - the effect was wearing off and time was running out. His son, Shawn offered to end his career and donate a kidney, but his father would not allow any of his children to be tested. When numerous family members failed to match compatibility in an effort to be an organ donor, former teammate Walls learned he was the perfect match. After a successful kidney transplant last February, Springs was on the road to recovery. With his gift for life, Walls and Springs started The Gift For Life Foundation. Its efforts focused on the importance of early detection in diabetes and promoting the need for organ donors. The foundation has a particular focus on awareness among African-Americans.

In the months that followed, the campaign grew. On opening night of this NFL season, Walls and Springs were named honorary captains for the Cowboys and at mid-field Springs stood from his wheelchair for the first time in memory.  Weeks later, while Springs continued rehab, Walls testified on Capitol Hill in support of a Bill to improve legislation and awareness of Organ Donors. 

In early October Springs went into have a cyst removed from his arm.  In a follow-up operation days later, cardiac arrest left Springs in a coma where he remains today.  Charlie Bloom produces.

James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY "General Manager" Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.

Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.

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 for the Network's coverage of the NFL.