"I'm thrilled that I can finally do something for him after all he has done for me." � NBC's Collinsworth

NFC CENTRAL LEADING BUCS TAKE ON SEAHAWKS IN FIRST EVER TRIP TO TAMPA FOR "NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL"

"I'm thrilled that I can finally do something for him after all he has done for me." � NBC's Collinsworth, Who Subs for Madden Sunday in Tampa

"I think of this as being a smart manager and nothing more." � NBC's Ebersol

"I am the luckiest guy in the world." � NBC's Madden

NEW YORK � Oct. 15, 2008 � "NBC Sunday Night Football" in its third season as the NFL's premier primetime package, heads to Tampa for the first time ever as the Bucs, (4-2) in a three-way-tie atop the NFC South, host the Seattle Seahawks (1-4). "Football Night in America's" Cris Collinsworth will sub for John Madden as he joins Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Coverage on NBC begins at 7 p.m. ET with "Football Night in America," with Bob Costas (host), Keith Olbermann (co-host), Dan Patrick (co-host), Jerome Bettis (analyst), Tiki Barber (analyst) and Peter King (reporter). NBC will broadcast Super Bowl XLIII from Tampa, Fla., on February 1, 2009.

EBERSOL ON MADDEN'S STANDING AMONG SPORTS ANALYSTS: "John Madden, bar none, is the best analyst in sports television history and he is still the best analyst in all of sports television."

EBERSOL ON MADDEN AND COLLINSWORTH: "When we acquired Sunday Night Football in 2005, my number one goal was to lock-up the two best analysts in all of football, and we're better when they're both on the air."

EBERSOL ON THE DECISION TO HAVE COLLINSWORTH REPLACE MADDEN THIS WEEK: "Last spring when I got the schedule I began to look ahead, and with this being a Super Bowl year I wanted to try to get John a break. I am simply looking to rest my best player, and I think this is part of being a smart manager and nothing more. I have the same travel schedule as John but I travel by plane instead of a bus and I realized how tough the cross-country trips could be."

MADDEN ON THE DECISION: "When Dick first approached me with the idea I was reluctant, but now I am looking forward to it and it feels pretty good. I enjoy the travel but I have five grandkids and don't get home sometimes for five or six months. The 49ers and Raiders haven't helped either, I get no home games."

MADDEN ON HIS LOVE FOR HIS JOB: "This is what I do. I've done this all my life and I am the luckiest guy in the world. I love going to practice, meeting with players, watching film and I love the excitement of game day. It's not a job for me, it's a hobby."

COLLINSWORTH ON MADDEN: "Nobody has meant more to me in my broadcast career than John Madden. He taught me how to watch the game as a broadcaster. He has treated my family as his own. He even asked me to be the voice of Madden '09. I'm thrilled that I can finally do something for him after all he has done for me."

SEAHAWKS-BUCS IN PRIMETIME: This is the first ever "NBC Sunday Night Football" game for the Bucs and the first time the NFL's premier primetime package (MNF 1970-2005, SNF 2006-present) has been to Tampa since the 2003 season. The Seahawks are 1-2 all-time on "NBC Sunday Night Football."

SEAHAWKS VS. BUCS: This is the ninth meeting of these 1976 NFL expansion teams with the Seahawks winning seven of the first eight contests including a 20-6 win last season in Seattle and a 23-7 win in 2006 in Tampa. The Bucs lone win in this series was in 1999.

"SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL EXTRA": Each "Sunday Night Football" game is available on NBC as well as streamed live on NFL.com and NBCSports.com, marking the first time complete NFL games will be widely available in the U.S. via live online streaming.

The live NFL.com and NBCSports.com coverage comes from NBC's TV coverage of Sunday Night Football. Complementing that stream are a number of extra features to enrich the viewing experience including additional camera angles, in-game highlights, picture-in-picture technology, live statistics and other interactive elements. "Sunday Night Football Extra" also includes in-game studio updates from NBC's Football Night in America team and NFL Network.

TASTE OF THE NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL COOKBOOK BRUNCH IN TAMPA: This Sunday, executive chef Marty Blitz of Mise en Place, will host The Taste of the NFL Sunday Night Football Cookbook Brunch to raise money for America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased by calling 813.254.5373.

Taste of the NFL is the premier food and wine event at Super Bowl, a "party with a purpose" that raises awareness and funds for hunger-relief organizations including Feeding America and its affiliates nationwide. Since 1992, Taste of the NFL has donated more than $10 million to local and national hunger-relief organizations.

TAMPA BAY & SEATTLE COOK UP SUNDAY NIGHT MEALS: The "Sunday Night Football" Cookbook features recipes from NFL stars including Tampa's DB Ronde Barber who contributes his recipe for Peanut Crunch Cake, and Seattle's QB Matt Hasselbeck who offers his "Comeback" Chicken Chili. The "Sunday Night Football" Cookbook also features recipes from prominent chefs from each NFL city including executive chef Marty Blitz of Mise en Place restaurant in Tampa Bay and John Howie of Seattle's Seastar Restaurant and Kaspar Donier of Kaspar's, also in Seattle.

Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse represent their favorite NFL teams and NBC's "Sunday Night Football" crew have added their favorite Sunday Night recipes to the Cookbook. Faith Hill and John Madden not only provide some of their favorite recipes, but also write special introductions. The book contains full meals and a section on Super Bowl parties, just in time for the next Super Bowl on NBC. Proceeds from the cookbook, which is available wherever books are sold or at SundayNightFootballCookbook.com, go to support local food banks across the U.S. through Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest).

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Al Michaels, the commentator called "TV's best play-by-play announcer" by the Associated Press, is joined in the "Sunday Night Football" booth by John Madden, the most honored NFL broadcaster of all time with 16 Emmy Awards, and on the sidelines by Andrea Kremer, whom the Los Angeles Times has called "the best TV interviewer in the business of covering the NFL."

"FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA": The Washington Post calls NBC's "Football Night in America" studio show the "Gold Standard" of NFL studio shows and "must-see television for NFL fans." Bob Costas, the most honored studio host of all time with 19 Emmy Awards, hosts "Football Night in America" alongside co-host Cris Collinsworth, the most honored studio analyst in history; co-host Keith Olbermann, named one of the Top Ten Most Powerful People in TV News for 2007 by Television Week; newcomer and co-host Dan Patrick, reuniting him with Olbermann who together redefined sports highlights during their time together on ESPN's SportsCenter from 1992-97; and analysts Tiki Barber, a three-time NFL Pro Bowler for the New York Giants, and Jerome Bettis, one of the most popular players in recent NFL history. Peter King, who covers the NFL for Sports Illustrated and is considered one of the country's foremost NFL reporters, serves as a reporter for the "Football Night in America" studio show.

NBC's REMAINING 2008 NFL SCHEDULE:
("NBC Sunday Night Football" kickoff, 8:15 p.m. ET preceded by "Football Night in America," 7 p.m. ET)
Sunday, Oct. 19 � Seattle at Tampa Bay
Sunday, Oct. 26 � No game scheduled due to World Series Game 4 (FNIA airs 7-8 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 2 � New England at Indianapolis
Sunday, Nov. 9 � New York Giants at Philadelphia
Sunday, Nov. 16 � Dallas at Washington (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Nov. 23 � Indianapolis at San Diego (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Nov. 30 � Chicago at Minnesota (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 7 � New England at Seattle (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 14 � New York Giants at Dallas (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 21 � San Diego at Tampa Bay (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 28 � Flex Week � teams TBA