One Small Victory For Intelligence: NFL Matchup Returns

Last month, football fans that were hungry for a semblance of thoughtfulness in their televised pro football coverage fretted over the rumored termination of ESPN’s NFL Matchup show. At the time, Peter King reported that NFL Films, which produces the show, was no longer seeking sponsors, meaning that ESPN would likely have to assume the costs for a show that admittedly has not drawn big ratings.↵

↵↵At the time of the announcement, there was a great outcry from the unwashed masses of veteran NFL writers. In the weeks since, there were positive rumblings that the show would survive and now, at last, there’s confirmation.↵

↵↵From USA Today’s Michael Hiestand:↵

↵↵⇥After speculation that its Sunday morning NFL Matchup show would be canceled, ESPN will formally announce today that the no-frills hardcore football show, produced by NFL Films and featuring Monday Night Football’s Ron Jaworski, will return.↵↵↵Early reports thus far have yet to mention what the situation with sponsors will be and whether one emerged for the show. It was thought that ESPN might have assumed the cost of production, but since this announcement makes mention of NFL Film’s ongoing involvement, that won’t be the case. However the financials shake out, it’s a joyous development for football fans who are hard up for actual breakdowns of game strategy on TV. Now if ESPN only could not bury the program at an ungodly hour.↵

↵↵(H/T to ProFootballTalk)↵

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