Tacleando la NFL: Notas recientes de la NFL

2016 NFL MEXICO GAME GENERATES ECONOMIC IMPACT OF US$45 MILLION AND PR VALUE OF US$250 MILLION

2016 NFL MEXICO GAME GENERATES ECONOMIC IMPACT OF US$45 MILLION AND PR VALUE OF US$250 MILLION  A study completed by the Sports Industry group of EY determined that the NFL’s game in Mexico City and related events produced an incremental increase in the city’s Gross Domestic Product of US$45 million (MXN 923 million), supporting 2,840 jobs in the city.    The Oakland Raiders hosted the Houston Texans at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on November 21, 2016, before a crowd of 76,473 in the first-ever Monday Night Football game played outside of the United States.  The EY study brings together evidence from a range of sources, including the NFL’s post-event surveys of fans who attended the game and wider economic data on Mexico’s economy.   The sellout crowd included 9,500 international visitors mainly from the United States and 21,500 visitors who travelled from elsewhere in Mexico.  On average, each international visitor spent more than 5 days in Mexico. Total domestic and international tourist spending was US$43 million (MXN 880 million), of which US$32 million (MXN 659 million) was incremental to the Mexico City economy.   The feedback from visitors to Mexico was overwhelmingly positive with 72% of international visitors stating that they were now more likely to return to Mexico and 90% stating that they would recommend a visit to family and friends.   Mark Gregory, Chief Economist, EY UK&I commented “EY’s research demonstrates the value to Mexico City from hosting the NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans in November last year.  By leveraging the interest and excitement that the league generates, the City gained a significant boost to its economy; with around 31,000 visitors bringing additional income for local businesses, supporting thousands of jobs and generating significant tax receipts for the national government. Fans travelling to the City also took the opportunity to extend their stay beyond that of game night, visiting a range of attractions in the City and more broadly across the country; this has left a strong legacy, enabling the hosts to showcase what it has to offer and encouraging future growth in Mexico’s vital tourism economy.” Live broadcast of the game in the United States on ESPN and ESPN Deportes reached 33 million people with an average audience of 12 million.  Additionally, from the announcement of the game in February through game day, there were nearly 20,000 mentions of the game on digital, social and traditional media in the United States with an estimated PR value of nearly US$250 million according to Repucom and Prime Research.   Fan engagement around the game was also strong, with 205,000 fans attending the NFL Fan Fest in Chapultepec Park and more than 55,000 people taking part in other community focused events in the city during the week of the game.   The NFL will return to Mexico City in 2017 when the Oakland Raiders host the New England Patriots at Estadio Azteca.  The date and time of the game will be determined in conjunction with the release of the NFL schedule this spring.   EL PARTIDO DE NFL EN LA CDMX DEJA DERRAMA ECONÓMICA DE US$45 MILLONES ​​EL PARTIDO DE NFL EN LA CDMX DEJA DERRAMA ECONÓMICA DE US$45 MILLONES El juego de la NFL de noviembre, en la Ciudad de México (CDMX), y las actividades previas al partido generaron una derrama económica de 45 millones dólares, apoyando a 2 mil 840 puestos laborales en la Capital del país, de acuerdo a un estudio de Sport Industry Group de EY. Los Oakland Raiders recibieron a los Houston Texans ante 76 mil 473 aficionados que asistieron al Estadio Azteca, el 21 de noviembre de 2016, en el primer Monday Night Football fuera de Estados Unidos. El estudio de EY reúne evidencia de una variedad de fuentes, incluyendo encuestas post-evento de la NFL, aplicadas a los aficionados que asistieron al juego, y datos más amplios sobre la economía de México. El total de las localidades vendidas incluyó a 21 mil 500 visitantes nacionales y 9 mil 500 visitantes internacionales, principalmente de Estados Unidos y que en promedio permanecieron cinco días en el país. El gasto total de los turistas fue de 43 millones de dólares, de los cuales 32 millones impactaron de manera directa en la CDMX. La retroalimentación de los visitantes a México fue abrumadoramente positiva, ya que 72% de los visitantes internacionales declaró que ahora tenían más probabilidades de regresar al país y 90% afirmó que recomendaría una visita a familiares y amigos. "La investigación de EY demuestra el valor de la Ciudad de México para albergar el juego de la NFL entre los Oakland Raiders y los Houston Texans en noviembre del año pasado. Aprovechando el interés y la emoción que genera la Liga, la Capital del país ganó un impulso significativo en su economía, con alrededor de 31 mil visitantes con ingresos adicionales para las empresas locales, el apoyo a miles de empleos y generación de ingresos fiscales significativos para el Gobierno federal”, afirmó Mark Gregory, economista en jefe de EY UK & I. “Los aficionados que viajaron a la Ciudad también aprovecharon la oportunidad para ampliar su estancia más allá de la noche del juego, visitando una serie de atracciones en la Ciudad de México y otras partes del país. Esto dejó una imagen positiva, que permite a los anfitriones mostrar lo que tiene para ofrecer y alentar a futuro el crecimiento turístico, vital para la economía de México", agregó. La transmisión en vivo del partido en Estados Unidos por ESPN y ESPN Deportes llegó a 33 millones de personas con un promedio de audiencia de 12 millones. Además, desde el anuncio del juego en febrero y hasta el día del encuentro, hubo casi 20 mil menciones del partido en medios tradicionales, digitales y redes sociales en Estados Unidos con un valor estimado en actividades de Relaciones Públicas de casi 250 millones de dólares, de acuerdo a las empresas Repucom y Prime Research. La participación de los aficionados previo al juego también fue muy relevante: 205 mil personas asistieron al “NFL Fan Fest”, en el Bosque de Chapultepec, y más de 55 mil en otras actividades en la Ciudad de México, durante la semana del partido. La NFL regresará a la Ciudad de México en 2017, cuando los Oakland Raiders reciban como locales a los New England Patriots en el Estadio Azteca. La fecha y hora del juego se determinarán en conjunto con el lanzamiento del calendario de la temporada de la NFL. PEPSI ZERO SUGAR SUPER BOWL LI HALFTIME SHOW  IS MOST-WATCHED MUSICAL EVENT IN  HISTORY ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS   The NFL today announced that the PEPSI ZERO SUGAR SUPER BOWL LI HALFTIME SHOW featuring global superstar LADY GAGA is the most-watched musical event of all-time across all platforms and the most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance in history through broadcast and digital channels. Nearly 118 million viewers tuned into the performance on the FOX broadcast network. In addition, Lady Gaga’s performance at NRG Stadium in Houston is the most-viewed content on NFL’s digital platforms, including but not limited to NFL.com, NFL Mobile, Twitter, YouTube, and Giphy. Through these channels, the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show reached at least 150 million unique people, garnering more than 80 million views and totaling 260 million minutes watched. “We were thrilled to collaborate with Lady Gaga – one of the most talented and versatile performers in the world – on the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show,” said MARK QUENZEL, NFL Network’s Senior Vice President of Programming and Production. “The Halftime show provides the ultimate world stage for an artist. Through her incredible music, choreography and unifying message, Lady Gaga created a unique performance that will remembered for years to come." YouTube The Halftime Show is the most-watched video on the NFL’s YouTube channel, with more than 24 million views and more than 140 million minutes watched. If Lady Gaga’s performance was its own NFL week on YouTube, it would be the fifth-highest watched week of all-time. Twitter During Lady Gaga’s live performance, there were 2.2 million real-time tweets about the #PepsiHalftime show, as well as a total of 5.1 million tweets about the performance leading up to, during, and in the 10 minutes following. @NFL’s tweet drove 47 thousand retweets and 29 thousand likes. Facebook More than 49 million video views, and more than 5 million reactions, comments, and shares. Giphy GIFs from the Halftime show generated more than 75 million views across GIPHY’s network. Four of the top ten most-viewed GIFs of the night were from the performance. The Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show, an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION, was executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER and directed by HAMISH HAMILTON. This year’s performance was broadcast in 180 countries and territories, reaching millions of fans around the world. 2017 NFL DRAFT FIRST ROUND ORDER Following is the 2017 NFL Draft first round order.  The first round will start on Thursday, April 27 in Philadelphia with the second and third rounds on Friday, April 28 followed by rounds four through seven on Saturday, April 29. ​ 2017 FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER # Team Win Loss Tie Winning Percentage Opp Win Opp Loss Opp Tie Strength of Schedule 1. Cleveland Browns 1 15 0 .063 139 114 3 .549                     2.  San Francisco 49ers 2 14 0 .125 127 125 4 .504   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ 3. Chicago Bears 3 13 0 .188 133 122 1 .521 4. Jacksonville Jaguars 3 13 0 .188 135 121 0 .527                     5. Los Angeles Rams (traded to Tennessee)  4 12 0 .250 127 125 4 .504                     6. New York Jets 5 11 0 .313 131 122 3 .518 7. Los Angeles Chargers 5 11 0 .313 139 117 0 .543   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ 8. Carolina Panthers 6 10 0 .375 131 122 3 .518   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ 9. Cincinnati Bengals 6 9 1 .406 133 122 1 .521   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ 10. Buffalo Bills 7 9 0 .438 122 131 3 .482 11. New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 133 121 2 .523 12. Philadelphia Eagles (traded to Cleveland) 7 9 0 .438 141 111 4 .559   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ 13. Arizona Cardinals 7 8 1 .469 117 136 3 .463   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ 14. Indianapolis Colts ^ 8 8 0 .500 126 130 0 .492   Minnesota Vikings (traded to Philadelphia) 8 8 0 .500 125 129 2 .492                     16. Baltimore Ravens 8 8 0 .500 126 127 3 .498                     17. Washington Redskins 8 7 1 .531 131 123 2 .516                     18. Tennessee Titans 9 7 0 .563 119 137 0 .465 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 7 0 .563 125 129 2 .492 20. Denver Broncos 9 7 0 .563 140 115 1 .549                     21. Detroit Lions 9 7 0 .563 121 134 1 .475 22. Miami Dolphins 10 6 0 .625 115 138 3 .455 23 New York Giants 11 5 0 .688 123 130 3 .486 24. Oakland Raiders 12 4 0 .750 129 127 0 .504                     25. Houston Texans 9 7 0 .563 128 127 1 .502 26. Seattle Seahawks 10 5 1 .656 112 142 2 .441 27. Kansas City Chiefs 12 4 0 .750 130 126 0 .508 28. Dallas Cowboys 13 3 0 .813 119 134 3 .471                     29. Green Bay Packers 10 6 0 .625 129 125 2 .508 30. Pittsburgh Steelers 11 5 0 .688 125 128 3 .494                     31. Atlanta Falcons 11 5 0 .688 122 132 2 .480 32. New England Patriots 14 2 0 .875 111 142 3 .439 ^ The 14th and 15th selections will be decided by coin flip NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY WINS PETE ROZELLE TROPHY AS SUPER BOWL LI MOST VALUABLE PLAYER New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY was voted the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl LI Most Valuable Player.  This marks the fourth time Brady has won the award, having previously been voted the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowls XLIX, XXXVIII and XXXVI. Brady is the only player in NFL history to win the award four times.    Brady has won five Super Bowls, the most by a starting quarterback in NFL history.  The award is chosen by a panel of 16 comprised of members of the Pro Football Writers Association of America, selected members of the electronic broadcast media and by fans interactively through the National Football League’s official website, NFL.com.  Brady completed 43 of 62 pass attempts for 466 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for a 95.2 rating. Brady set Super Bowl single-game records in pass attempts, completions and passing yards and is only the second player in Super Bowl history to pass for more than 400 yards in a game, joining Super Bowl XXXIV MVP KURT WARNER (414). He also extended his Super Bowl records for most career completions (207), passing yards (2,071) and touchdown passes (15).  In the first-ever Super Bowl to go to overtime, Brady, a 17th-year player from Michigan, helped New England rally from a 25-point deficit, the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.  On the opening possession of overtime, Brady orchestrated a game-winning, eight-play, 75-yard drive, culminating with a two-yard touchdown run by running back JAMES WHITE. NFL Debuts “Inside These Lines” Super Bowl LI Commercial  To demonstrate the power of football to bring people together, the NFL is unveiling a new Super Bowl LI spot, “Inside These Lines,” highlighting the attributes of the game and its players. The goal of the commercial is to show how the values of football transcend the gridiron and to depict the unifying power of the game.  The 60-second spot, created by Translation, will premiere between the third and fourth quarter break of Super Bowl LI. A preview of the commercial aired last night on the "NFLHonors" primetime awards special on FOX. “Because the Super Bowl brings families and friends together like nothing else, we wanted to make a meaningful statement on our biggest stage,” said DAWN HUDSON, the NFL’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Inside these lines, our best shines through and this commercial demonstrates the core values of uniting around a common goal.” Narrated by Forest Whitaker, the commercial opens with the words, “Inside these lines, we don’t have to come from the same place, to help each other reach the same destination. Inside these lines, we may have our differences, but recognize there is more that unites us.”  The visuals depict a crew preparing the field for a game, followed by images of players and fans overcoming differences and banding together – all “Inside These Lines.” The spot is accompanied by an original interpretation of Lonnie Liston Smith’s “Garden of Peace” by Jon Batiste. ARIZONA CARDINALS WIDE RECEIVER LARRY FITZGERALD & NEW YORK GIANTS QUARTERBACK ELI MANNING ​NAMED WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR ​Arizona Cardinals wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD and New York Giants quarterback ELI MANNING were named the 2016 WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR, the NFL announced today. The award, which is presented by Nationwide, recognizes a player for his excellence on and off the field.  The announcement was made during NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special that will air nationally from 8 – 10 p.m. ET/PT on FOX tonight. ANQUAN BOLDIN, the 2015 Man of the Year, will honor Fitzgerald and Manning on-field tomorrow before kickoff of Super Bowl LI.   "Quite simply this is the most meaningful honor an NFL player can receive and I am flattered beyond words that the selection committee deemed me worthy of it,” said LARRY FITZGERALD. “More than anything it is a reflection on my parents whose words and example taught my brother and me the value of service and the importance of giving back.” “It's a commitment that I know is shared by Eli (Manning), Greg (Olsen), all the other 2016 Man of the Year nominees and countless others throughout the NFL. I accept this honor with immense gratitude and humility but also in full recognition that it is on behalf of all of them as well." Larry Fitzgerald understands the responsibility that comes with being a professional athlete and uses his platform to give back to the community. Continuing a family legacy, Fitzgerald’s charitable work keeps him grounded and in touch with his roots. He looks for ways to increase the impact of his charitable work by teaming with others in Arizona and Minnesota.​ ​ Fitzgerald’s foundation, The Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund, has provided grants of more than $1 million to promote reading and technology access for students K-12 and to support efforts to prevent and cure breast cancer and support breast cancer survivors. Fitzgerald has also teamed with national and international charities to serve as a volunteer to promote vision care for children, to fit people around the world with hearing aids and to visit countries in Africa to promote economic development. Since being drafted by the Cardinals third overall in the 2004 Draft, Larry Fitzgerald has been a leader on and off the field. Since 2004, Fitzgerald leads the NFL in receptions (1,125) and receiving yards (14,389) and has 104 career touchdowns.   A father of three daughters, Eli Manning is a fervent champion for causes involving children. He has served as the Chair of the New York March for Babies for the past seven years, helping raise over $25 million since. Manning also spearheads “Tackle Kids' Cancer,” an initiative with Hackensack University Medical Center. Prior to kicking off an extensive media campaign to raise awareness of this cause, Manning spent time with patients and doctors at the hospital’s pediatric cancer center, learning more about the greatest needs in cancer research. “It’s an honor to be selected as the Walter Payton Man of the Year and I want to congratulate Larry Fitzgerald and Greg Olsen, two guys I have great respect for on and off the field, for being named as finalists,” said ELI MANNING. “It’s truly an honor to be in their company; they do such great work in their communities and in representing their teams and our league.” “I think I speak for all of us when I say that anytime you’re mentioned in the same breath with Walter Payton, it’s a tremendous honor. “None of us do what we do on behalf of charity or in our communities to get recognized. We do it because we truly care. You want to make a difference in people’s lives and in our communities. But to be recognized and know that that people do notice your work is nice.” “I really appreciate the way the Giants are supportive of me and my teammates in the community, and the people who give of themselves on behalf of the charities I have had the privilege to assist. I appreciate all their help.” Dismayed by the existence of only one children’s hospital in Mississippi, Manning and his wife founded the Eli and Abby Manning Children’s Clinics in 2007, kicking off a five-year fundraising campaign that raised close to $3 million. Building on that accomplishment and model, they also established the University of Mississippi Medical Center Manning Family Fund, which raised nearly $1.5 million in its first year. A two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Super Bowl MVP, former No. 1 overall pick Eli Manning has spent the entirety of his 13-year NFL career at the helm of the New York Giants. He holds numerous team records, including passing touchdowns, pass completions and passing yards, and also currently has 199 consecutive regular-season starts, most among active players. “We are proud of Larry and Eli, who inspire us all with their unwavering commitment to philanthropy and dedication to supporting communities throughout the country and abroad. These two impressive men of character and integrity are role models for the NFL community,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “They are champions on the field and champions for others and we congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.” Fitzgerald and Manning will each receive $625,000, half of which will go to a charity of their choice and half of which will support the expansion of Character Playbook across all NFL markets. Character Playbook is a digital education initiative launched by the NFL and United Way that teaches students the skills to cultivate character and maintain healthy relationships. As the runner-up, Greg Olsen will receive a $125,000 donation to the charity of his choice and a $125,000 donation in his name to expand Character Playbook. The other 29 team finalists received a $50,000 donation to both a charity of their choice and to expand Character Playbook. Donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation, Nationwide and United Way Worldwide. "Larry Fitzgerald and Eli Manning have demonstrated a tireless dedication to their communities through the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund and the Tackle Kids’ Cancer Initiative. They are most deserving of this prestigious award,” said Nationwide Chief Marketing Officer TERRANCE WILLIAMS. “On behalf of Nationwide’s associates, agents and members, I congratulate Larry and Eli on being named this year’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. Nationwide also wants to thank Greg Olsen as well as all of the nominees for the life-changing work they are doing every day.” The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year finalists and overall winner are selected by an elite panel of individuals comprised of: NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL 2015 Man of the Year ANQUAN BOLDIN USA Today writer CHRISTINE BRENNAN NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility ANNA ISAACSON MMQB writer PETER KING President of the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation and wife of the late Walter PaytonCONNIE PAYTON 2006 Man of the Year LADAINIAN TOMLINSON Presenting sponsor Nationwide CMO TERRANCE WILLIAMS United Way Worldwide CEO BRIAN GALLAGHER One representative each from NFL broadcast partners CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC  MIKE EVANS' ONE-HANDED CATCH NAMED BRIDGESTONE PERFORMANCE PLAY OF THE YEAR AT NFL HONORS  Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR MIKE EVANS' one-handed catch during the Week 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Atlanta Falcons game was the BRIDGESTONE PERFORMANCE PLAY OF THE YEAR. The award was announced at NFL HONORS – a two-hour primetime awards show that will air nationally tonight at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX. The Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year was selected from 20 Performance Moments voted on by NFL fans on NFL.com. On the eve of Super Bowl LI, the NFL and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS announced their annual accolades in an awards show saluting the best players, performances and plays from the 2016 season. KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY, Emmy-award winning actor, writer and creator, hosted the show, and many of the winners were on hand to accept their awards.  The newest PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME class was announced and introduced during the show with the Class of 2017 appearing on stage at the Wortham Theater Center in Houston. The prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide, which recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence, and the Rooney Sportsmanship Award, as voted by his peers, were among the awards announced this evening.   Seven of the awards were from the AP. These awards are voted on at the end of the regular NFL season by a nationwide media panel of 50 people who regularly cover the league. The ballots are tabulated solely by the AP. The full list of awards that will be presented is: AP Most Valuable Player  Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide AP Coach of the Year  AP Comeback Player of the Year presented by McDonald's AP Offensive Player of the Year presented by Microsoft  AP Defensive Player of the Year presented by Old Spice AP Offensive Rookie of the Year  AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year​ FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year  Courtyard's Greatness on the Road Award  Salute To Service Award presented by USAA Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award  Deacon Jones Award  Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Year Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year   PITTSBURGH STEELERS RUNNING BACK LE'VEON BELL WINS COURTYARD'S GREATNESS ON THE ROAD™ AWARD  AT NFL HONORS LE'VEON BELL of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the winner of COURTYARD'S GREATNESS ON THE ROAD AWARD for his franchise record-setting 236 yards rushing and three touchdown performance in a 27-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The award was announced at NFL HONORS – a two-hour primetime awards show that will air nationally tonight at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX. Courtyard's Greatness on the Road Award is given to the player who demonstrates the best performance in a road game during the regular season. NFL Media Analysts selected Le'Veon Bell's Week 14 play as the pinnacle of "Greatness On The Road." On the eve of Super Bowl LI, the NFL and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS announced their annual accolades in an awards show saluting the best players, performances and plays from the 2016 season. KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY, Emmy-award winning actor, writer and creator, hosted the show, and many of the winners were on hand to accept their awards.  The newest PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME class was announced and introduced during the show with the Class of 2017 appearing on stage at the Wortham Theater Center in Houston. The prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide, which recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence, and the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, as voted by his peers, were among the awards handed out.   Seven of the awards were from the AP. These awards are voted on at the end of the regular NFL season by a nationwide media panel of 50 people who regularly cover the league. The ballots are tabulated solely by the AP. The full list of awards that will be presented is: AP Most Valuable Player  Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide AP Coach of the Year  AP Comeback Player of the Year presented by McDonald's AP Offensive Player of the Year presented by Microsoft  AP Defensive Player of the Year presented by Old Spice AP Offensive Rookie of the Year  AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year​ FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year  Courtyard's Greatness on the Road Award  Salute to Service Award presented by USAA Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award  Deacon Jones Award  Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Year Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year INDIANAPOLIS COLTS RUNNING BACK FRANK GORE  NAMED WINNER OF 2016 ART ROONEY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD  FRANK GORE of the Indianapolis Colts is the winner of the 2016 ART ROONEY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD. The announcement of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award was made at NFL HONORS, a two-hour primetime awards special recognizing the NFL's best players, performances and plays from the 2016 season that will air nationally tonight at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX. The award, which was founded in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer ART ROONEY, SR, recognizes the NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of outstanding sportsmanship on the playing field, including fair play, respect for opponents and integrity in competition. Gore will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. A 12-year NFL veteran, Gore ranks eighth in NFL history with 13,065 rushing yards and is one of only five players in league annals with at least 13,000 rushing yards and 400 receptions in his career. Gore joined the Colts prior to the 2015 season after a 10-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, where he rushed for a franchise record 11,073 yards and 64 touchdowns. A five-time Pro Bowler and 2006 AP All-Pro selection, he was a third-round draft choice of San Francisco in 2005. The winner of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players. Previous recipients of the award include LARRY FITZGERALD of the Arizona Cardinals (2014) and CHARLES WOODSON of the Oakland Raiders (2015). Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community selected eight finalists (four in the AFC; four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The panel of Legends Coordinators was comprised of WARRICK DUNN,CURTIS MARTIN, KARL MECKLENBURG and LEONARD WHEELER.   The eight finalists were listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award when players voted on December 16, 2016. From the eight finalists, each team's players submitted a consensus vote of its choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team could not vote for its own player. The finalists, featuring four players from each conference, were linebacker BRIAN CUSHING (Houston), Gore, tight end GREG OLSEN (Carolina), linebacker JULIUS PEPPERS (Green Bay), running back DARREN SPROLES (Philadelphia), tackle JOE STALEY (San Francisco), linebacker DE MARCUS WARE (Denver) and guard/tackle MARSHAL YANDA (Baltimore). Dallas Cowboys Offensive Line Named Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year ​ DALLAS COWBOYS OFFENSIVE LINE NAMED BUILT FORD TOUGH OFFENSIVE LINE OF THE YEAR AT NFL HONORS  The Dallas Cowboys Offensive Line is the BUILT FORD TOUGH OFFENSIVE LINE THE YEAR. The award was announced at NFL HONORS – a two-hour primetime awards show that will air nationally tonight at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX. On the eve of Super Bowl LI, the NFL and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS announced their annual accolades in an awards show saluting the best players, performances and plays from the 2016 season. KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY, Emmy-award winning actor, writer and creator, hosted the show, and many of the winners were on hand to accept their awards. The newest PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME class was announced and introduced during the show with the Class of 2017 appearing on stage at the Wortham Theater Center in Houston. The prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide, which recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence, and the Rooney Sportsmanship Award, as voted by his peers, were among the awards announced this evening. Seven of the awards were from the AP. These awards are voted on at the end of the regular NFL season by a nationwide media panel of 50 people who regularly cover the league. The ballots are tabulated solely by the AP. The full list of awards that will be presented is: AP Most Valuable Player  Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide AP Coach of the Year  AP Comeback Player of the Year presented by McDonald's AP Offensive Player of the Year presented by Microsoft  AP Defensive Player of the Year presented by Old Spice AP Offensive Rookie of the Year  AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year  Courtyard's Greatness on the Road Award  Salute to Service Award presented by USAA Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award  Deacon Jones Award  Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Year Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year   SUPER BOWL LI PREGAME FESTIVITIES TO FEATURE HEADLINER ZAC BROWN BAND,  WITH FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS Three-time Grammy Award-winning artists ZAC BROWN BAND will headline Super Bowl LI pregame festivities at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday, February 5, the NFL announced today. Indie-pop group FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS will kick off the NFL Tailgate Party before turning over the floor to Zac Brown Band, and both performances will be televised live on the FOX NFL Sunday Pregame Show.  Zac Brown Band will perform “My Old Man,” the first single from their upcoming album ‘WELCOME HOME’ (Southern Ground / Elektra Records). Their concert at the NFL Tailgate Party sets the stage for the group’s 2017 North American concert tour, which begins on May 12, the same day ‘WELCOME HOME’ is released. Zac Brown Band's previous album ‘JEKYLL + HYDE’ marked the band's third consecutive #1 debut on the Billboard 200 chart and became platinum-certified.  Together with their four platinum-selling albums, ‘JEKYLL + HYDE,’ ‘Uncaged,' 'You Get What You Give,’ and ‘The Foundation,’ and their 2013 project ‘The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1,’ Zac Brown Band has sold more than eight million albums to date. They have earned a historic series of fifteen #1 hit radio singles and became only the second artist to top both the country and active rock formats. Los Angeles-based Fitz and the Tantrums have quickly grown into bonafide hit makers. Their latest album – ‘Fitz and the Tantrums’ – features the RIAA-certified Gold single “HandClap,” which is currently climbing the Top 40 charts after already reaching Top 5 status on both the Hot AC and Alternative Radio charts.  Fitz and the Trantrum’s major label debut – ‘More Than Just A Dream’ in 2013 – featured back-to-back #1 Alternative Radio singles, including the RIAA-certified Platinum hit “The Walker.”  The band, which has headlined countless sold-out shows, continues to be a standout at music festivals and bring their infectious energy to fans around the world. The NFL previously announced that LUKE BRYAN will perform the National Anthem; RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY, JASMINE CEPHAS JONES and PHILLIPA SOO will sing “America The Beautiful”; KRISTON LEE PUMPHREY will perform in American Sign Language the National Anthem and “America The Beautiful”; and LADY GAGA will headline the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show. The pregame and halftime shows are an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER. ATLANTA FALCONS HEAD COACH DAN QUINN  NAMED 2016 SALUTE TO SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT Quinn’s commitment to supporting the military and their families  to be recognized at NFL Honors in Houston The NFL and USAA awarded Atlanta Falcons head coach DAN QUINN with the 2016 “Salute to Service Award presented by USAA," the league’s Official Military Appreciation Sponsor. The award was created to acknowledge the exceptional efforts by members of the NFL community to honor and support members of the military community. Quinn, who will coach his Atlanta Falcons against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, will be recognized tomorrow night at NFL Honors in Houston. USAA, a leading provider of insurance and other services to U.S. military members, veterans and their families, will contribute $25,000 in Quinn’s honor to the official aid societies representing all five military branches. “Coach Quinn truly embodies the spirit of our Salute to Service Award. Though he has no direct ties to the military, he’s made it his personal charge to show appreciation for their service and sacrifice,” said Vice Admiral (Ret.) JOHN BIRD, USAA’s senior vice president of military affairs. “Coach Quinn is a very deserving recipient of this year’s award, and we wish him luck in Super Bowl LI, knowing that he has already made the NFL and the military community very proud.” Coach Quinn has always connected with the word “team” and acknowledges that the military serves as the word’s true definition. Since entering his second season with the Atlanta Falcons, Coach Quinn has wasted no time giving back to the military community in Georgia. During the spring of 2016, Coach Quinn hosted the 2nd Annual Rookie Club Olympics at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility, where he invited 100 military members from Fort Benning, Georgia to participate. He and his staff created the event as a way for NFL players and the military community to unite and work together as a team.    Coach Quinn hosts a “Military Day” at Training Camp and 20 military members at each Atlanta Falcons home game throughout the season. In addition, he provided a special opportunity for families of fallen soldiers with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) this season when he hosted 63 families at the Atlanta Falcons Salute to Service game in November. All of the families were invited to a VIP visit to practice, and each family was provided a one-night hotel stay in Atlanta - all courtesy of Coach Quinn. Each player wore the initials of a fallen hero on their helmet, during practice and on gameday, and provided the families with a replica helmet of their player with a personalized note in honor of their hero. Additionally, this past offseason Coach Quinn led four Atlanta Falcons players on a week-long USO Tour through the Pacific, including stops in Guam and Hawaii.  In November 2016, all 32 NFL clubs nominated coaches, active and retired players, and team executives and personnel who best demonstrated support for the military community. The submissions were evaluated by a panel of judges, including last year’s award recipient, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver VINCENT JACKSON. Nominees’ credentials are evaluated based on the positive effect of the individual’s efforts on the military community, the type of service conducted, the thoroughness of the program and level of commitment. The panel of judges, consisting of representatives from the U.S. military, the NFL and USAA, includes: VICE ADMIRAL JOHN BIRD (Ret.), U.S. Navy veteran and USAA Senior Vice President of Military Affairs ROCKY BLEIER, U.S. Army veteran and four-time Super Bowl champion CHAD HENNINGS, Air Force Academy graduate and three-time Super Bowl champion VINCENT JACKSON, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver and 2015 Salute to Service Awardrecipient  TOD LEIWEKE, NFL Chief Operating Officer JIM MORA, SR., Marine Corps veteran and former NFL head coach ROGER STAUBACH, Naval Academy graduate, NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Below is the list of previous Salute to Service Award recipients.  YEAR WINNER TEAM 2015 Vincent Jackson Tampa Bay Buccaneers  2014 Jared Allen Chicago Bears  2013 John Harbaugh (Head Coach) Baltimore Ravens  2012 Charles Tillman Chicago Bears  2011 K.S. “Bud” Adams Jr. (Late Owner) Tennessee Titans          NFL DEBUTS SUPER BOWL LI COMMERCIAL Super Bowl Babies Salute Super Bowl Legends  The National Football League today premiered a new TV commercial starring Super Bowl Babies saluting legends of the game. The :30 spot, viewable at You​Tube.com/NFL​, will appear prior to the start of the third quarter of Super Bowl LI on Sunday, February 5 on FOX.  ​​ The new commercial – “SUPER BOWL BABY LEGENDS” – expands upon last year’s “The Super Bowl Babies Choir” spot, which highlighted how every year since 1968 Super Bowl Babies have been born to fans of the winning team.  This time around, the Super Bowl Babies explain what the true inspiration is behind the making of that family and how the greatness of Super Bowl players, coaches, and legends on that night inspire their creation. Set to the world-renowned song “You're the Inspiration” by Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling band Chicago, a cavalcade of star baby look-alikes appear on screen in quick succession. "We are excited to build upon the success of last year’s Super Bowl Babies campaign,” said DAWN HUDSON, the NFL’s Chief Marking Officer. “Through our new spot, we wanted to celebrate the players, coaches, and legends who have helped make football America's game while also engaging viewers of all ages in a fun fashion.” The commercial, created by Grey New York, features unforgettable baby look-alikes of Pro Football Hall of Fame members Coach Mike Ditka, Michael Irvin, Coach Vince Lombardi, and Joe Namath, as well as Coach Bill Belichick, Marshawn Lynch, and Von Miller, who is portrayed by the daughter of former NFL star Ty Law, and the Vince Lombardi Trophy  The spot concludes with a final “Who’s Next?” with Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman eyeing Coach Belichick with the Super Bowl trophy between them.  Behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the spot will be released, along with :10 teasers introducing the Super Bowl Baby Legends, to support the commercial. NFL and Texas Medical Center Announce Finalists for 1st and Future Competition Nine companies to present their ideas to prominent group of judges in  live sports-technology startup showdown The competition will be livestreamed at www.tmc.edu Houston – February 2, 2017 – The National Football League (NFL) and the Texas Medical Center (TMC) today announced the finalists for the second annual 1st and Future event, a startup pitch competition aimed at driving innovations to advance sports technology and athlete safety. The live showdown will take place at the Texas Medical Center Accelerator (TMCx) in Houston on February 4, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and GE CEO and Chairman Jeff Immelt will kick off 1st and Future with a discussion, moderated by TMC President and CEO Dr. Robert C. Robbins, around successful marketplace disruption through industry partnerships – such as the GE-NFL Head Health Initiative and open-innovation challenges like 1st and Future. TMC will livestream the full competition, including the conversation between Commissioner Goodell and Jeff Immelt, on the TMC website. The competition is divided into three separate categories – Communicating with the Athlete, Training the Athlete and Materials to Protect the Athlete – and the finalists include the following startup companies (with a summary of each startup's product or service, as described by them): Communicating with the Athlete New technologies that will improve the secure and safe means of communication between a coach on the sideline or in the coaches' booth and a designated player on the field. Elevety – Toronto, Ontario, Canada (www.elevety.com) Elevety is a wearable technology company with a mission to bring voice communication to the worlds of adventure and spectator sports. The 2-way, closed system peer-to-peer communication devices allow teams to communicate in real-time voice anywhere, without the need for a mobile network. GoRout – Rochester, Minnesota (www.gorout.com)  GoRout has created on-field wearable technology to help streamline the communication between football coaches and players by allowing players to receive digital play diagrams and data from coaches on the sideline. Linkpro – Jersey City, Channel Island, United Kingdom (www.linkprosports.com)  The Linkpro® Explore1 is a technology-enabled sports helmet with fully integrated communications technology that allows users to connect to select groups with a simple one-touch system. Training the Athlete Educational and training innovations designed to reduce injury during practice or competition. Innovations may include training techniques or equipment. The Iron Neck – Austin, Texas (www.iron-neck.com) The Iron Neck is a breakthrough neck training tool that enables athletes across all sports to increase strength, flexibility and range of motion to better defend against concussive forces and rehabilitate previous injuries. By attaching to existing equipment, the Iron Neck leaves no gym footprint and combines horizontal and rotational resistance with 360 degrees of movement to build consistent and measurable training programs at every level.  LVL – Austin, Texas (www.onelvl.com) LVL is a next-generation, optical sensor-driven platform that gives a continuous view of players' physiological states including: hydration, muscle effort and exertion, heart rate, speed and concussion markers. Using patented machine learning techniques, LVL produces real-time recommendations for risk reduction, training optimization and rest and recovery needs. Mobile Virtual Player – Lebanon, New Hampshire (www.mobilevirtualplayer.com)  Mobile Virtual Player (MVP) is an innovative, patented training platform that allows coaches to teach and train players effectively while significantly reducing the risk of injury from player-to-player contact. MVP brings a highly-mobile, remote controlled, self-righting 'virtual player' onto the field to revolutionize football training. Materials to Protect the Athlete Novel or innovative solutions and materials that advance player health and safety while allowing for the highest-level of performance. 2ND Skull – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (www.2ndskull.com) 2ND SKULL is a protective headgear company with patented products that are scientifically engineered to reduce impact. The 2ND SKULL® CAP, is a thin, soft, flexible and breathable protective skull cap that fits under football helmets and provides added protection against linear and rotational impacts. Prevent Biometrics – Minneapolis, Minnesota (www.preventbiometrics.com) Prevent's head impact monitor can detect potential concussion-causing impacts in real-time on the field of play, taking today's observational, subjective and inaccurate method of identifying athletes for concussion assessment and turning it into an objective, accurate, data-driven process. Windpact – Leesburg, Virginia (www.windpact.com)  Windpact is a safety technology company that has developed a patented padding system that uses air and foam to absorb and disperse impact energy to improve the performance of helmets and protective gear. Driven by a team of engineers, designers and developers and led by a Pro Bowl NFL veteran, Windpact has begun integrating its flagship Crash Cloud technology into partner helmets and aims to further advance player health and safety through its scientific approach to product development. The companies will face off in front of an exclusive audience comprised of NFL team owners and executives and representatives from the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee and the Texas Medical Center. Scott Hanson of the NFL Network and host of NFL RedZone, will emcee the pitch competition, and the panel of judges will feature: Ed Egan, Ph.D., Director of the McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Rice University's Baker Institute Rich Ellenbogen, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center and Co-Chairman of the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee Bernard Harris, M.D., M.B.A, CEO and Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures Mae Jemison, M.D., Principal, 100 Year Starship Chad Pennington, former NFL quarterback, NFL Legend Sue Siegel, CEO of GE Ventures and healthymagination John Urschel, Baltimore Ravens guard and center The winner of each category will leave with $50,000 from the NFL to further develop their innovation; acceptance into TMCx, TMC's world-renowned startup program; and two tickets to Super Bowl LI on February 5.  Media interested in attending and covering 1st and Future should contact one of the media representatives listed below.