FMIA: Peyton Manning (Remember Him?) Quarterbacks New TV Series, Mulls Long-Term Life After Football

Posted by Peter King on July 15, 2019, 12:04 AM EDT

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Peyton Manning (remember him?) is returning to your television later this summer. In his Football Morning in America column, Peter King returns from vacation to visit with Manning on location in Chicago for his new ESPN show. Plus:

• Manning explains Peyton’s Places and its unique look at the NFL’s 100-year history, and also reveals how he envisions his long-term life after football.

• The CBA and an 18-game schedule are both back in the news, and neither a new deal nor adding two more games (and $500+ million in revenue) seems likely.

• New column sections debut, including a fun look at Manning’s habits (good and bad) and Glover Quin’s financial philosophy

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on Melvin Gordon’s possible holdout; the truth about how often coaches throw challenge flags; guest columnist review

• Plus 10 things, factoids, beernerdness, coffeenerdness and why vacations from vacations get a full endorsement.
[more]

Guest FMIA: Indy GM Chris Ballard on Scouting and the Power of Sundays

Posted by Peter King on July 8, 2019, 12:15 AM EDT

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Peter King is on vacation until July 15, and he lined up some guest writers to fill his spot writing Football Morning in America. Today, it’s Chris Ballard, the general manger of the Colts. He writes about:

• Scouting in the NFL, and why finding out a draft prospect’s floor is just as important than finding out his ceiling.

• Rock Ya-Sin, and how the Colts used a thorough process to discover, learn about and ultimately draft the rising cornerback.

• The power of Sundays, and three stories that show the importance of how football brings people together.

• Plus 10 Things I Think, including thoughts on the combine staying in Indianapolis, a Hall of Fame case for Edgerrin James and much more. [more]

FMIA Guest: The NFL in a Small Town

Posted by Peter King on July 1, 2019, 12:16 AM EDT

Annie West for NBC Sports

Peter King is on vacation until July 15, and he lined up some guest writers to fill his spot writing Football Morning in America. Today, it’s Hugh Royal of Richfield, Idaho, who won a reader essay submission contest. He writes about:

• The NFL in a small town. Richfield has a population of about 400 and all the football chatter is centered at the Little Wood Saloon in town.

• The NFL fans in Richfield are an eclectic bunch. Hugh introduces a dozen of them, and shares their favorite teams, beers and their small-town views on the international phenomenon of the NFL.

• Plus 10 Things I Think, including thoughts on the post-Brady/Belichick Patriots, why the Cowboys will win a Super Bowl in the next three years and much more. [more]

FMIA Guest: Rich Eisen On The NFL’s Ultimate Course Correction On PI

Posted by Peter King on June 24, 2019, 12:40 AM EDT

NFL Media / NBC Sports

Peter King is on vacation until July 15, and he lined up some guest writers to fill his spot writing Football Morning in America. Today, it’s Rich Eisen, the popular NFL television and radio host. He writes about:

• The NFL’s ultimate course correction—replay for pass interference calls—and how it could have unintended consequences in the 2019 season, and beyond.

• Plus 10 Things I Think, including thoughts on turning 50 (!), quarterback contracts, a nonsensical NFL rule and his early prediction for Super Bowl 54 [more]

FMIA Guest: PFF On How Data Is Changing NFL’s Present And Future

Posted by Peter King on June 17, 2019, 12:23 AM EDT

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Peter King is on vacation until July 15, and he lined up some guest writers to fill his spot writing Football Morning in America. Today, it’s a collaborative effort by Pro Football Focus, the popular football analytics website. They write about:

• How data is changing the NFL right now and will continue to impact its future.

• Five rising players to watch in 2019, including a potential star in the making in an AFC East secondary.

• The collegiate players who will impact the 2020 draft, including a Big 10 defensive end that not many experts know about … yet.

• A surprise prediction on which quarterback could lead the NFL in passing yards in 2019.

• Plus 10 Things I Think, including thoughts on the 18-game schedule, right tackles vs. left tackles, and the most underrated player in football. [more]

FMIA Guest: Nick Hardwick on Taking Proactive Approach to Brain Health

Posted by Peter King on June 10, 2019, 12:26 AM EDT

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Peter King is on vacation until July 15, and he lined up some guest writers to fill his spot writing Football Morning in America. Today, it’s Nick Hardwick, the former Chargers center and current San Diego radio analyst. He writes about:

• Post-NFL brain health, and the proactive approach he took to ensuring a positive future and trying to live to be 100 years old.

• The reality of taking more than 25,000 head hits during 11 seasons of professional football and three more in college.

• Plus 10 Things I Think, including thoughts on Philip Rivers, the Patriots dynasty, children playing football and the best pass rusher he ever faced. [more]

FMIA Guest: Fred Gaudelli On A Week In The Life of Sunday Night Football

Posted by Peter King on June 3, 2019, 12:56 AM EDT

NBC Sports

Peter King is on vacation until July 15, and he lined up some guest writers to fill his spot writing Football Morning in America. Today, it’s Fred Gaudelli, the executive producer of NBC’s Sunday Night Football telecast. He writes about:

• A week in the life of SNF, from production meetings to dinners with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth to football secrets passed along by John Madden.

• The one camera innovation football fans can expect to see more, starting this fall.

• The six best games Gaudelli has seen over the past 30 years from his perch in a television production truck.

• Too late for these innovative ideas for Barry Sanders and Dennis Miller, but they’re fun to dream about.

• Plus 10 Things I Think, a few words about beer and the true story of how internet limbo music made it to NBC air. [more]

FMIA: The Determination of Bart Starr

Posted by Peter King on May 27, 2019, 2:34 AM EDT

NBC Sports

The NFL lost a legend Sunday with the passing of Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr. In his Football Morning in America column, Peter King tells the story of Starr’s last interview, which showcased the one trait that made Starr an icon in Green Bay and professional football. Plus:

• Jon Gruden, unplugged, on Oakland’s rookie running back, the team’s crazy 2019 schedule and a Raiders edition of Family Feud.

• The one thing Dick Ebersol will be remembered for as the NBC executive makes his way into Canton.

• The annual tradition of sharing some of the more interesting snippets from this year’s commencement speeches

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on Sammy Watkins’ readiness; Gerald McCoy’s farewell; Adam Jones’ retirement; Nick Bosa’s latest injury.

• Plus 10 things, factoids, beernerdness and the interesting things one sees while traveling on U.S. 30 through Pennsylvania and Ohio. [more]

FMIA: Smart NFL People Share 25 Ways To Make Pro Football Better

Posted by Peter King on May 20, 2019, 12:26 AM EDT

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The NFL is in a good place, but it certainly could be better. In his Football Morning in America column, Peter King polls 25 smart NFL people—from media to players to coaches and beyond—for their ideas on how to improve the game. Also in the column:

• Chris Long opens up about why he’s retiring after 11 seasons, and the lessons he learned along the way.

• The one factor that gives New England the ultimate advantage over its perennially flailing counterparts in the AFC East.

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on Mike Maccagnan’s firing and the Jets mess;.the reason Dallas might slip in 2019; what Scott Pioli will be remembered for in Atlanta.

• Plus 10 things, factoids, coffeenerdness, beernerdness and an opportunity for a reader to guest-write a column while Peter King’s away on summer vacation. [more]

FMIA: The 2019 NFL Power Rankings, Taking Stock of Offseason Movement

Posted by Peter King on May 13, 2019, 12:09 AM EDT

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The hay is almost in the barn on the NFL offseason, with the draft over and most meaningful free agents in new homes. In his Football Morning in America column, Peter King takes the opportunity to restore order as we head into summer, ranking the teams 1 through 32. Also in the column:

• A surprise team in the Top 3, and why a free-agent pass rusher could be the most impactful player in the AFC South next fall.

• An even bigger surprise in the Top 7, and why a quarterback with just 10 career starts could determine the front-office fates for so many.

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on the Dak Prescott contract extension talks in Dallas; a logical guess on the Hard Knocks team; how Tom Brady stacks up against older Hall of Famers; the definition of a good deed in Indy and Chicago.

• Plus 10 things, factoids, coffeenerdness, winenerdness, a travel note and an opportunity to corner Peter King and tell him exactly how you feel about his rankings. [more]

FMIA: New Team, Same Chuckstrong

Posted by Peter King on May 6, 2019, 12:19 AM EDT

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Jettisoned from Indianapolis, Chuck Pagano landed in Chicago, and still has love for Chuckstrong. That’s where Peter King begins his Football Morning in America column, with a look at how the Bears defensive coordinator is still fighting to raise money for cancer research. Also in the column:

• Dan Patrick opens up about his ongoing battle with a joint disease that led to depression, memory loss and more.

• How the results of the NFL draft impacted the 2019 schedule, and why it could lead to more changes on when the schedule gets released.

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on the team that controls the 2020 NFL Draft; the controversial Kentucky Derby ending; the last word on Dave Gettleman; Kirk Cousins’ commencement speech at Michigan State.

• Plus 10 things, factoids, coffeenerdness, beernerdness, a travel note and how American can band together and free the world of way-too-early mock drafts. [more]

FMIA: 2019 Draft Scenes—Agony In Jersey, Making [Stuff] Up In Arizona and High Drama In The Raiders Room

Posted by Peter King on April 29, 2019, 12:10 AM EDT

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Where do you start after three news-packed days of the 2019 NFL Draft? Peter King begins his Football Morning in America column in Oakland … and Phoenix … and Denver … and New Jersey … and, well, let’s just get to the bullet points:

• Tension in the Raiders draft room! A look at the moment that made Mike Mayock briefly panic and Jon Gruden nearly lose it, before all the dots connected.

• In Giant-land … the agonizing decision that Dave Gettleman made, and why he made it, as explained by the general manager aka public enemy No. 1 among Giants fans.

• In Arizona … Kliff Kingsbury comes clean about the done deal quote—”People just make sh– up,” he says—and Steve Keim explains why his visualizations led him to risk his career to pick Kyler Murray.

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on why Elway picked a quarterback; the similarities between Eli Manning and Daniel Jones; Marshawn Lynch’s HOF chances; why Tyreek Hill must go, now.

• Plus 10 things, factoids, teanerdness, beernerdness and the jolting request by my airplane seat neighbor en route to Denver. [more]

FMIA Mock Draft: Four Trades, Four QBs and the 2019 No. 1 Pick Will Be…

Posted by Peter King on April 22, 2019, 12:08 AM EDT

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With the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select … . That’s where Peter King begins his Football Morning in America column, with his first—and only—mock draft of the year. He also covers:

• Four first-round trades are projected in the mock draft, including one involving a Seattle veteran going to an AFC contender.

• The future for Josh Rosen, and what teams should take a chance on the QB-in-limbo if the Cardinals end up drafting Kyler Murray.

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on the NFL’s release of the 2019 schedule; Bill Belichick’s standing among all-time coaches; Oakland’s draft room strategy; the next big QB contract.

• Plus 10 things, factoids, coffeenerdness, travel note and the perks of getting a draft invite to Nashville.
[more]

FMIA: What If Arizona Doesn’t Draft Kyler Murray With The No. 1 Pick?

Posted by Peter King on April 15, 2019, 1:03 AM EDT

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What if the Cardinals don’t draft Kyler Murray with the No. 1 pick in 10 days? That’s where Peter King begins his Football Morning in America column: looking at some scenarios—Trade? Another player?—where Arizona doesn’t do what everyone believes will happen. Plus:

• Big day in Seattle. The Russell Wilson contract deadline looms for the Seahawks, and King has a very thoroughly reported breakdown of what the future might hold for Seattle’s franchise quarterback.

• Revisiting the infamous Ricky Williams trade, which happened 20 years ago this week.

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on the death of Forrest Gregg; the 29-person coaching staff in Arizona; the looming NFL schedule release; the latest draft buzz.

• Plus 10 things, factoids, coffeenerdness, winenerdness and the draft prospect who called Belichick “Billy.” [more]

FMIA’s Non-Mock NFL Draft: What Each Team Should Do in First Round

Posted by Peter King on April 8, 2019, 1:40 AM EDT

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There is “no chalk” in the first round, says one NFL draft authority, and that’s where Peter King begins his Football Morning in America column— with a non-mock draft look at what every team should be thinking at picks 1-32. Plus:

• The NFL’s growing zebra problem, and why there is no easy answer to stop the flood of referees who are walking away from the game. (Plus an informative look at how much refs are paid.)

• The market for Josh Rosen, and the four teams most likely to land the current Cardinals quarterback via a trade. Some condo shopping in Northern Virginia might be in Rosen’s future.

• More thoughts, notes and opinions on the fallout of Bleacher Report’s Aaron Rodgers-Mike McCarthy story; the short life and fast demise of the AAF; DeMarcus Lawrence’s new contract; a smart NFL observer’s take on OT rules.

• Plus 10 things, factoids, coffeenerdness, beernerdness and why Alabama and Buffalo are a bad mix.
[more]