Latest news with #CrisCollinsworth
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Here's a WNBA tip: Put every Caitlin Clark game on national television
Cris Collinsworth delivered a mountain of sports television truthfulness a couple of years ago during an appearance on 'The Dan Patrick Show.' The show's host asked the NBC Sunday Night Football analyst an insightful question about the relationship between networks airing Dallas Cowboys games and the Cowboys' actual performance. 'If NBC has their choice, we would do 17 Cowboys games,' Collinsworth admitted. 'I'm not kidding. It doesn't even matter what their record is. They could be 4-6, we would take them. It's insanity, but it's true. They draw the ratings.' Advertisement The WNBA also has its own viewership unicorn, except it's a singular player versus a team. The league's viewers cannot get enough of Caitlin Clark. Here are the facts: The WNBA had 22 regular-season games last year that averaged more than 1 million viewers — the first time since 2008 that a WNBA game topped 1 million viewers. If you add in the WNBA All-Star Game and the WNBA Draft, that makes 24 WNBA events that topped 1 million viewers during the 2024 calendar year. Clark was part 21 of those 24 windows, per Sports Media Watch. And last year, six different WNBA television partners set viewership records for their highest WNBA game. All six involved the Fever. On to 2025. The WNBA's first nationally televised exhibition game, which featured Clark returning to Iowa as a member of the Fever against Brazil's national team on May 4, averaged 1.3 million viewers on ESPN. Only two of ESPN's 57 NBA preseason games since 2010 have drawn a higher audience, according to Flora Kelly, ESPN's vice president of research. Both games featured LeBron James, including a 2017 preseason game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls (1.4 million viewers) and a 2018 preseason game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers (2 million viewers). Advertisement Look, it's OK to acknowledge it. The WNBA has transcendent basketball players such as reigning MVP A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart of the defending champion New York Liberty. But when it comes to public interest, one star rises above all, and she wears No. 22 for the Indiana Fever. Her coach, Stephanie White, called the interest in Clark 'Taylor Swift 2.0.' The league seems to have recognized this and should make no apologies for it. The Fever are featured on national television in 41 of their 44 regular-season games, the most for a single team in WNBA history. Five Fever games will air on ABC, five on ESPN, eight on ION, six on Prime Video, three on the CBS Network, four on CBS Sports Network and 10 on NBA TV. But I would go further. I would flex the three remaining games not currently scheduled for national television (June 10 versus the Atlanta Dream, July 5 against the Los Angeles Sparks, and July 30 against the Phoenix Mercury) into national television dates. Every network should be interested. A WNBA spokesperson confirmed to that no restrictions would prevent non-nationally televised games from becoming nationally televised. If the Fever stay healthy, the roster suggests they will be one of the top teams in the league. (I'm going to be bold and predict they win 12 of their first 14 games.) The Fever are +300 (3-to-1) odds to win the WNBA title on BetMGM, behind just the Liberty and Aces. Clark is the preseason betting favorite to win the league's MVP at +195 (which, as a straight bet, means a win would be $19.50 on a $10 wager). Advertisement Clark helps the league bring in casual fans, which is how sports leagues grow. The more people see the Fever, the higher the league's viewership average. The higher the viewership averages, the more power the players possess in collective bargaining. It helps everyone. The Aces will appear on 33 national broadcasts, and the Liberty will have 32. The league should do everything in its power to nationalize as many games as possible with teams of interest. If other franchises complain, whatever. Think the NFL cares if the Jaguars complain that the Cowboys and Chiefs get more primetime games? Of course not. Which teams will open the 2025 NFL season? The Eagles and Cowboys (who were 7-10 last year) will play on Sept. 4 on NBC and Peacock. Tim Corrigan, ESPN's senior vice president of sports production, said from a network perspective, any flex games picked up would come from a combination of a network's programming department and the league coming together. But fundamentally, ESPN would certainly be interested in adding any games of interest. 'The flex scheduling we did on the NBA this year, I believe, was the most we'd ever done,' Corrigan said. 'I would hope that we would be equally ambitious with the WNBA because that's what people want to see. You want to be where the story is, right?' Advertisement The players are also well aware when they are in a showcase slot. 'As a competitor, you know that you're on national TV, but it shouldn't change where you play,' said Sparks guard Kelsey Plum. 'I think that it's definitely fun to be in those big games, especially prime time ABC or CBS. The Sunday games are always super fun. Like that 3 o'clock tip, no shoot around, just get up, eat some breakfast and go play. Those are really fun.' Some additional broadcast notes heading into the WNBA season opening on Friday: • The league has 13 regular-season games airing on ABC, the most ever on that network. ABC will broadcast Saturday's opening-weekend doubleheader, featuring the Aces-Liberty (and the ring ceremony) at 1 p.m. ET and the Sky-Fever at 3 p.m. ET. I think the Sky-Fever will set a new viewership record for the most-watched WNBA regular season game on ABC. The record is less than a year old (2.23 million for the Storm at Fever on Aug. 18). Advertisement • I'm interested to see the viewership for the first primetime WNBA regular-season games on broadcast television. CBS will air the Sky against the Fever on June 7 and August 9 in primetime. CBS Sports' overall coverage features 20 total games. • ESPN added a second 'WNBA Countdown' studio show for game coverage. Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter will front 'Countdown' for ABC broadcasts, and the ESPN edition (based in Los Angeles) features Malika Andrews, Monica McNutt and Carolyn Peck, as well as Ogwumike and Carter. Christine Williamson will also host for ESPN. The company has a WNBA Hoop Streams social and digital pregame show. 'We're coming into this year from such a good space from where we were last year, given all the interest,' said Corrigan. 'The draft from a month ago was the second-highest rated draft that we've had. The sport is ascending, as we all know. We are taking a broader, bigger approach, with more resources, both in the studio and in the game. We've never had more resources on the WNBA.' • Amazon Prime Video will exclusively stream the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game in addition to 20 other games. NBA TV has a 40-game WNBA schedule. WNBA League Pass will stream over 200 live, out-of-market games for the 2025 season. Advertisement • A viewership number to keep in mind: 2.15 million viewers. That was the Game 5 WNBA Finals viewership for the Liberty's win over the Lynx in an overtime thriller. It was the most-viewed WNBA Finals game in 25 years and peaked with 3.3 million viewers. The four-game WNBA Finals in 2023 between the Aces and Liberty averaged 728,000 viewers. • Signature matchups: The Liberty and Aces will play three times (May 17, July 8 and Aug. 13), with all of those games airing on ABC or ESPN. The Lynx play the Liberty four times in a rematch of last year's finals. Those games will air on ESPN (8 p.m. ET on July 30), ABC (12:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 10), CBS Network (2 p.m. ET on Aug. 16) and NBA TV (7 p.m. ET on Aug. 19). • Will ESPN add a women's basketball-specific daily studio show during the WNBA season? Corrigan said: 'It's a really fair question, especially now, where the sport is. Here's a great thing for us: As the WNBA extends out to L.A. with our studio show, we have our daily 'NBA Today' show out there, and we are going to be able to put WNBA in that show a lot as we follow big stories. We have an hour every day to dive into what matters in professional basketball, so you'll see the WNBA represented more on 'NBA Today' because they are in season, and there's going to be great storylines that we can follow. When people come in to play the Sparks, we're hoping to get WNBA players to come visit the set and be on the 'NBA Today' set.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Advertisement Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA, Sports Business, Opinion 2025 The Athletic Media Company
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL mock draft round-up: Experts share final predictions for Eagles with 32nd pick
2025 NFL mock draft round-up: Experts share final predictions for Eagles with 32nd pick With the 2025 NFL Draft just hours away, we're examining the final expert predictions for Philadelphia's pick at No. 32 in the first round. The 2025 NFL draft is now hours away, and as players complete their top 30 visits, mock drafts are changing after several big free agent signings and blockbuster trades. The Steelers are waiting for a decision on Aaron Rodgers, but Russell Wilson's signing with the Giants made things even more complicated for Shedeur Sanders. At the same time, Derek Carr's shoulder injury has added a compelling angle for the Saints. Philadelphia and teams at the bottom of the draft have spent the past two weeks evaluating the players who can make an immediate contribution. The Eagles have eight picks, and GM Howie Roseman has been working to stockpile talent while retooling and maintaining a Super Bowl window. Experts, pundits, and analyst around the NFL have released their final mock drafts, and we're looking at where the Birds land. Cris Collinsworth (PFF) --No. 32 Eagles: S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina Cris Collinsworth released his mock for PFF, with the Eagles adding a Swiss army knife to the secondary. What Cris says: 'I could see someone trading up here to get that fifth-year option for a quarterback, but if the Eagles make this pick straight up, I could see Philadelphia taking Emmanwori. I think he can blow up wide receiver screens and while I think he still needs to develop, coaches will love what he can be developed into.' Bottom line from PFF's 2025 NFL Draft Guide: Emmanwori is a tricky prospect who will require a leap of faith, considering where he's likely to be drafted. His elite athleticism and playmaking ability suggest his ceiling could be on par with a player like Kerby Joseph, but his underwhelming box play and questionable technique and instincts are more reminiscent of Isaiah Simmons, who was drafted in the first round in 2020 but has struggled to find a natural NFL position. --Mason Taylor LSU · TE · Junior Charles Davis of has Philadelphia selecting Dallas Goedert's replacement with a first-round pick out of LSU. GM Howie Roseman does a tremendous job of drafting players and getting them experience before they are needed as starters. Taylor, a smooth pass catcher, could be next in line. Jimmy Kempski -- Round 1, pick 32: Walter Nolen, iDL, Ole Miss (6'4, 296) The Philly Voice has the Eagles landing the best defensive tackle in the draft, who falls for potential character concerns. If we're just looking at Nolen's talent, he really shouldn't be available at pick 32. He is gifted with an extremely enticing blend of power and quickness, and while his production was disappointing early in his college career, it improved throughout and he was a disruptive force in 2024. He has exciting traits and high upside, and he was once the No. 1 high school recruit in the nation. As Howie Roseman would say, he has tools in his body. Ryan Fowler --Mason Taylor, TE, LSU Ryan Fowler is the second expert to have the Eagles landing Taylor. 33rd Team --Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen Ari Meirov also has the Eagles landing Walter Nolen in the first round. Since Howie Roseman became GM in 2010, the Eagles have selected a lineman in the first round nine times. With Milton Williams gone, Philly reinforces their defensive front with Nolen, a high-upside talent who fits the Eagles' philosophy of keeping the trenches stocked. ESPN --Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky Peter Schrager has the Eagles add a talented SEC cornerback. Philadelphia Inquirer -- Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss Devin Jackson has Philadelphia trading up to grab the All American defensive tackle. Eagles trade up from 32 and send pick No. 164 and a 2026 third-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for pick No. 24. Howie Roseman is known for being aggressive when it comes to getting the player he wants, and the match between Nolen and the Eagles makes sense considering the Ole Miss standout's explosiveness, disruption as a pass rusher and run defender, and the Eagles' instant need along the defensive line. New York Post --Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama The New York Post has Philadelphia drafting a road grader from Alabama. A 6-5, 324-pound Road Grader to replace Mekhi Becton. --Donovan Ezeiruaku Boston College · Edge · Senior Bucky Brooks has the Eagles landing an athletic pass rusher. The relentless, energetic Ezeiruaku knows how to harass the passer, based on his 16.5 sacks (second-most in the FBS) last season. He's an ideal match for the Eagles. The Athletic --Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina Brooks Kubena has Philadelphia adding a Swiss army knife. The Eagles do what they've never done in the Super Bowl era: spend a first-round pick on a safety. Emmanwori was simply the best player available, and it helps that he fulfills a position of need. There was brief consideration to select Josh Conerly Jr. out of Oregon, but right tackle Lane Johnson remains under contract through 2027 and the Eagles got considerable production at right guard last season at a lower investment than they'd be spending on Conerly. The Eagles instead acquire Emmanwori, a physical freak whose four interceptions in 2024 included two pick sixes. NBC Sports Philadelphia --Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi: Reuben Frank also has Philadelphia landing Walter Nolen. From Corey Simon in 2000 to Mike Patterson in 2005 to Brodrick Bunkley in 2006 to Fletcher Cox in 2012 to Jordan Davis in 2022 to Jalen Carter in 2023, the Eagles have always loved to draft interior linemen in the first round, even long before Howie Roseman got here. It's a position that's gained steam around the league in recent years – Milton Williams' contract is proof of that – and a position everybody in the organization from Jeff Lurie down to Roseman, Nick Sirianni and Vic Fangio all believe is pivotal. If the Eagles do pick at 32 – which I still think is less than a 50 percent proposition – Nolen is one guy who would make sense. High-effort three-down lineman who is super twitched up and explosive. Nolen stands 6-4, 300, so a pretty similar frame to Williams, who signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the Patriots. He could come in and do the same things Williams did. Stuff the run, get occasional pressure on the quarterback and get penetration when Carter gets doubled teamed. The Ringer -- Donovan Jackson, Guard, Ohio State The Ringer has Philadelphia making a splashy pick and adding a powerful offensive guard.
NBC Sports
23-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
DETROIT LIONS, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS TO KICK OFF 2025 NFL SEASON IN CANTON
CANTON, OHIO – The Detroit Lions will play host to the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2025 Hall of Fame Game presented by Novartis at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, July 31, in Canton as part of Enshrinement Week presented by Novartis. The matchup, which kicks off the National Football League's 106th season in the city where the League was born, will take place in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium – adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. NBC Sports will return as broadcast partner, airing the game live on NBC and Peacock with Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) as the on-air crew in Canton. Hall of Fame Game results Detroit Lions (1-2) 1965 – vs. Washington Redskins (L, 20-3) 1976 – vs. Denver Broncos (L, 10-7) 1991 – vs. Denver Broncos (W, 14-3) -- Los Angeles Chargers (0-1-1) 1980 – vs. Green Bay Packers (T, 0-0) 1994 – vs. Atlanta Falcons (L, 21-17) The Lions, winners of the rugged NFC North with a conference-best 15-2 record last season, have been designated as the home team. They will use the bench on the south (press box) sideline of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Chargers, who reached the Wild Card round of the 2024 playoffs after an 11-6 regular-season finish, will be the visitors and use the bench on the north side of the stadium. 'This game features two teams that can be considered legitimate contenders to reach Super Bowl LX next February,' said Jim Porter, president & CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 'For them to face each other right out of the gate in Canton, Ohio, should create a dynamic opening to another spectacular NFL season.' This will be the fourth trip to Canton for the Lions and the third for the Chargers. Neither has appeared in a Hall of Fame Game since 1994. The Chargers (0-1-1) participated in the only scoreless game, a standoff with the Green Bay Packers in 1980 that was called midway through the fourth quarter due to a severe storm. The Lions (1-2) beat the Broncos 14-3 in 1991, their most recent appearance. Class of 2025 member ANTONIO GATES spent his entire career (2003-2018) with the Chargers. He and fellow class members ERIC ALLEN, JARED ALLEN and STERLING SHARPE will be introduced on the field prior to the opening kickoff. The four will receive their Gold Jackets the following evening in downtown Canton and will be enshrined Saturday, Aug. 2, inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Tickets for the 2025 Hall of Fame Game presented by Novartis will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. ET Monday, April 28. Fans can buy tickets at The schedule for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week presented by Novartis, a multi-day celebration welcoming the newest Hall of Fame class to Canton, includes: July 31: Hall of Fame Game presented by Novartis (Lions vs. Chargers) Aug. 1: Fashion Show Luncheon presented by Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons Aug. 1: Enshrinees' Gold Jacket Dinner presented by Haggar Aug. 2: Grand Parade Aug. 2: Enshrinement of Class of 2025 presented by Visual Edge IT Aug. 3: Class of 2025 Unscripted & Tailgate presented by Employers Health Aug. 3: Concert for Legends featuring Nickelback ENSHRINEMENT WEEK PACKAGES Fans seeking unparalleled access to the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees and events can explore hospitality packages from On Location, the Official Hospitality Provider of the NFL, that combine tickets with one-of-a-kind experiences. On Location's hospitality packages include opportunities to attend the Hall of Fame Game presented by Novartis; the intimate Enshrinees' Gold Jacket Dinner; and the Enshrinement, featuring more than 100 returning Hall of Famers; with pregame field passes, exclusive tailgate parties and more. Visit to explore and purchase hospitality packages.
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cris Collinsworth thinks Rams will take an OT in the 2025 NFL Draft
Cris Collinsworth thinks Rams will take an OT in the 2025 NFL Draft The Los Angeles Rams are thinking Super Bowl in 2025. That's why they brought back Matthew Stafford, re-signed Alaric Jackson and added Davante Adams in free agency. But one of the most important events of the offseason has yet to happen: The 2025 NFL Draft. The Rams have the No. 26 pick, which means they'll likely go with the best player available that can help them compete this season with no clear gaps in their roster. Legendary NFL broadcaster Cris Collinsworth made his 2025 draft predictions for Pro Football Focus and picked Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. for the Rams' first-round pick. 'This is the team that came closest to knocking the Eagles out of the playoffs," Collinsworth said. "I think the Rams are close, and the defense is built the right way, but the one thing I think that could hurt them is if they don't get Matthew Stafford enough protection.' It's a safe pick for the Rams who get one of the best offensive linemen in the draft but don't have to start him immediately. Banks played at least 800 left tackle snaps in each of the past three seasons for the Longhorns and allowed just one sack and two hurries in 2024, per PFF. Banks would be a backup to start his career if the Rams draft him. What's nice, though, is he can learn behind Jackson and right tackle Rob Havenstein, two veteran tackles, before potentially taking over for either in the years to come. Jackson is young but is on a three-year deal while Havenstein is turning 33 and is in the final season of his contract. Banks could even more inside to guard if he and the Rams are comfortable with a positional switch. While Banks isn't a flashy pick — offensive linemen rarely are — this is a savvy move that gives the Rams much-needed depth on the line to keep Stafford protected in a pivotal season.
