Lance Briggs to join Comcast SportsNet's Bears coverage team

-- BREAKING NEWS --

LANCE BRIGGS TO JOIN COMCAST SPORTSNET’S BEARS COVERAGE TEAM

 Former Bears seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker to join network’s “Bears Pre/Postgame Live” coverage team beginning this season

COMCAST SPORTSNET ALSO ANNOUNCES ITS COMPREHENSIVE ON-AIR/ONLINE 2015 CHICAGO BEARS/NFL SEASON COVERAGE LINE-UP

“Pro Football Weekly” (Season Premiere): TODAY at 5:00 PM

“United Bears Recap” (Season Premiere): Monday, September 7 at 4:30 PM

"Bears Huddle presented by Verizon” (Season Premiere): Wednesday, September 9 at 4:30 PM

“Bears Blitz presented by XFINITY” (Season Premiere): Thursday, September 10 at 4:30 PM

“3 and Out” (Season Premiere): Thursday, September 10 at 11:30 PM on CSN+

“BEARS PREGAME LIVE presented by Meijer” (Season Premiere): Sunday, September 13 at 11:00 AM

“BEARS HALFTIME LIVE presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois” (Live stream Season Premiere): Sunday, September 13

“BEARS POSTGAME LIVE presented by Nissan” (Season Premiere): Sunday, September 13 at 3:00 PM

“SportsNet Central: Inside the Huddle w/Dave Wannstedt” (Season Premiere): Sunday, September 13 at 10:30 PM

NEW: “The Antrel Rolle Show (Season Premiere): Tuesday, September 15 at 10:30 PM

“Chicago Huddle” (Season Premiere): Friday, September 18 at 4:00 PM

“SportsNet Central: Playbook with Jim Miller” (Season Premiere): Friday, September 18 at 10:30 PM

 

CSNChicago.com to deliver 24/7 Bears coverage all season long featuring Bears “Insider” John ‘Moon’ Mullin

 Details on new “Bears Classics” specials coming soon

Chicago, IL (September 2, 2015) – Comcast SportsNet, the regional home for the most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Bears, has announced former Bears linebacker/seven-time Pro Bowl standout LANCE BRIGGS will be joining the network’s signature Bears game day coverage as a studio analyst on BEARS PREGAME LIVE presented by Meijer and BEARS POSTGAME LIVE presented by Nissan, beginning with the team’s 2015 NFL season opener on Sunday, September 13 against the rival Green Bay Packers. 

Briggs, who completed his 12-year NFL career (all with the Bears) last season, has been a part of the Comcast SportsNet family since 2010, as the featured co-host of “The Lance Briggs Show” with Pat Boyle.  On game days throughout the entire 2015 Bears/NFL season, Briggs will join host Chris Boden,along with analysts, former Bears quarterback Jim Miller,former Bears offensive lineman/veteran Chicago sports personality Dan Jiggetts and CSNChicago.com Bears “Insider” John “Moon” Mullin.  Plus, Bears beat reporter Kip Lewis will provide additional pre-game coverage from the field with up-to-the-minute game day information…and former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt wraps up game day with his special, weekly appearances on SportsNet Central: Inside the Huddle.

“I’m excited to continue my partnership with Comcast SportsNet,” said Briggs.  “I’ve had the good fortune of being a part of this network over the past few years.  I credit Pat Boyle who immediately made me feel at home here and I always told him I wanted to be here after my career.  It’s just a great atmosphere and I love being surrounded by some really great people.  This was the right decision for me.”

“We are pleased and excited Lance will be joining our pregame and postgame Bears coverage beginning this season,” added Kevin Cross, Comcast SportsNet Chicago Senior Director of News & Original Content.  “His combination of deep football knowledge, his love for the Bears, along with his all-around engaging personality, will be a perfect fit for our in-depth coverage.”

In addition, Comcast SportsNet Chicago has also announced its complete on-air/online line-up of Bears and additional pro football related programming/coverage for the upcoming season.  Please note the following on-air and online details:

BEARS GAME DAY PROGRAMMING… 

BEARS PREGAME LIVE presented by Meijer – Beginning Sunday, September 13 at 11:00 AM CT prior to the Chicago Bears 2015 NFL season opener vs. the arch-rival Green Bay Packers, Comcast SportsNet kicks off its Bears game day coverage with Bears Pregame Live presented by Meijer.  Now in its third season, this one-hour pre-game show – the ONLY live, local Bears pre-game show on Chicago television – provides fans with the very latest game day news, player updates, a detailed X’s and O’s game preview breakdown and analysis, along with numerous on-field pre-game reports.  Bears Pregame Live is hosted by Chris Boden featuring expert analysis from former Bears linebacker/seven-time Pro Bowler LANCE BRIGGS,former Bears quarterback Jim Miller,former Bears offensive lineman/veteran Chicago sports personality Dan Jiggetts and CSNChicago.com Bears “Insider” John “Moon” Mullin.  Plus, SportsNet Central’sBears beat reporter Kip Lewis will provide additional pre-game coverage from the field with up-to-the-minute game day information. 

BEARS HALFTIME LIVE – Also returning for its third season, debuting Sunday, September 13, will be Bears Halftime Live, a special “live-stream” exclusive that fans can view on CSNChicago.com & ChicagoBears.com.  Bears Halftime Live features Boden and Miller, who will breakdown the first half of every game focusing on the key plays/game moments that had the greatest impact during the first 30 minutes of action, along with their thoughts on precisely what the Bears need to focus on for the remainder of each contest. 

BEARS POST GAME LIVE presented by NISSAN – Immediately following the Bears-Packers NFL season opener on Sunday, September 13 (approx. 3:00 PM on CSN+), Bears Postgame Live presented by Nissan returns as THE destination for fans to hear from the experts who played the game, along with their always-entertaining, no-holds-barred take on the day’s events.  NOTE: On September 13, Bears Postgame Live will also air in its entirety on the main Comcast SportsNet channel location immediately following White Sox Postgame Live.  Bears Postgame Live presented by Nissan is a 90-minute post-game show hosted by Boden and features detailed post-game analysis from Briggs, Miller & Jiggetts.  In addition to the spirited banter from the stars of the show, Bears Postgame Live also showcases the live post-game press conferences with coaches and players from both teams.  Lewis & Mullin will also provide immediate post-game interviews with Bears players inside & outside the locker room.  Bears Postgame Live presented by Nissan can be seen on Comcast SportsNet following every Bears game this season with replays airing regularly throughout the season on Sunday nights and Monday afternoons. 

SPORTSNET CENTRAL: INSIDE THE HUDDLE (featuring Dave Wannstedt) – Debuting Sunday, September 13 at 10:30 PM and airing every Sunday night at 10:30 PM during the Bears/NFL season, SportsNet Central: Inside the Huddle features the in-studio appearance of NFL expert/former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt, who will discuss the day’s game in detail and offer his thoughts on what the Bears did right or wrong in that particular’s day’s game.  Plus, the half-hour show will showcase full NFL highlights from all the day’s key match-ups.  In addition, all season long, SportsNet Central’s team of anchors and reporters will provide the very latest Bears/NFL updates nightly at 6:30 PM, 10:00 PM, 10:30 PM and midnight.

WEEKLY BEARS/NFL PROGRAMMING…

UNITED BEARS RECAP – Comcast SportsNet is the place for Bears fans to watch the official team press conference featuring new head coach John Fox.  Hosted by Boden and Jiggetts, United Bears Recap will go to Halas Hall each week to hear from the Bears head coach, along with additional Bears players/coaches interviews.  The show will also air game highlights and viewers can also look forward to additional United Bears Recap content on CSNChicago.com.  The one-hour United Bears Recap makes its 2015 debut on Monday, September 7 at 4:30 PM with a special “season preview” edition and the show can be seen regularly on Mondays at 4:30 PM throughout the entire Bears season.

BEARS HUDDLE presented by Verizon – Every Wednesday at 4:30 PM beginning September 9, Comcast SportsNet will provide Bears fans with a preview of the team’s next opponent on Bears Huddle.  This one-hour show, hosted by Boden and Jiggetts, features weekly interviews with Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and Bears players. Additional content via team updates and interviews will be provided by Lewis and Mullin.  To go along with numerous game highlights, Bears Huddle will also provide a multitude of key stats for all categories and will feature in-depth player match-up analysis for every upcoming game.  Fans can also interact with the show on Twitter by utilizing the hashtag #BearsTalk.

BEARS BLITZ presented by XFINITY – Every Thursday at 4:30 PM beginning September 10, Comcast SportsNet will provide Bears fans with even more in-depth game previews and analysis on Bears Blitz.  This one-hour show also features the same talent line-up and similar show format as presented in Bears Huddle and will include interviews with Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.  Fans can once again interact with the show on Twitter by utilizing the hashtag #BearsTalk.

THE ANTREL ROLLE SHOW – Bears fans can also look forward to a brand new Bears show this season as The Antrel Rolle Show will make its debut on Tuesday, September 15 at 10:30 PM.  Featuring host Pat Boyle and new Bears safety/three-time Pro Bowl standout Antrel Rolle, this half-hour program provides fans with a complete preview of the Bears’ next game, including a discussion about all the key plays from the team’s previous game.  Highlighted segments from the show include a social media fan interactive segment with select questions to be answered by Rolle, along with additional special feature segments.   Weekly premiere airings of The Antrel Rolle Show will take place regularly on Tuesday nights at 10:30 PM with repeats to be shown at varied times on Wednesday afternoons.

SPORTSNET CENTRAL: PLAYBOOK WITH JIM MILLER – Debuting Friday, September 18 at 10:30 PM and airing every Friday night at 10:30 PM throughout the 2015 Bears/NFL season, SportsNet Central: Playbook with Jim Miller features host Kip Lewis and the former Bears QB who will layout his game plan for the Bears upcoming game, along with his insight on what current Bears QB Jay Cutler and his offensive weapons need to accomplish to bring home a victory. 

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY – Entering its 26th season on television, Pro Football Weekly is a half-hour program hosted by SportsNet Central’s Pat Boyle and features an expert panel led by Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Hampton, former Bears quarterback Jim Miller and PFW founder Hub Arkush.  The program’s in-depth preview analysis and unique format make the show a preferred vehicle for football fans desiring the most thorough coverage of the NFL.  This hard-hitting program features the latest NFL news reports, opinions and insider information.  Pro Football Weekly makes its regular season premiere TODAY (Wednesday, September 2) at 5:00 PM with regular weekly debuts airing on Fridays at 4:30 PM while replays can be seen Friday evenings at 11:30 PM, Saturday afternoons/evenings at varied times, and Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM.

3 AND OUT – Debuting Thursday, September 10 at 11:30 PM on CSN+, NBC Sports Regional Networks’ football analysis and debate program 3 and Out returns for its third season on CSN Chicago and will also air on Comcast SportsNet regional sports networks across the country.  The weekly 30-minute program will employ next generation fiber optics to connect a panel of accomplished and spirited football analysts, each located within a separate NFL market, to break down the three most impactful storylines affecting that week’s action. With a deep roster of football analysts at large across the country and state of the art communications technology, Comcast SportsNet’s ability to virtually come together each week and produce a football analysis roundtable like “3 and Out” is unique. While each week’s three selected storylines will dictate which panelists will make up the “3 and Out” panel, the program will feature frequent appearances and contributions from Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s roster of on-air/online talent.  Viewers are urged to check their local listings or visit CSNChicago.com for weekly scheduled airings.      

SPORTSTALK LIVE presented by The Chevy Silverado – Comcast SportsNet sets the table with lively sports talk every Monday through Friday night at 5:30 PM on SportsTalk Live presented by The Chevy Silverado.  Throughout the 2015 NFL season, SportsTalk Live host David Kaplan and a panel of local pro football experts, along with guests from local sports talk radio and national media, will breakdown the games and preview the match-ups that lie ahead for the Bears and other key games from around the NFL.  In addition, SportsTalk Live will also feature a number of special guests from the world of football all season long, including appearances from players, coaches, celebrities and many more.

CHICAGO HUDDLE – Back for its fourth season on Comcast SportsNet, Chicago Huddle is hosted Dan Jiggetts, who will be joined each week by a variety of Bears players as rotating hosts, and Maxim cover girl/Chicago media personality April Rose. Taped at Chili’s in Vernon Hills, Chicago Huddle provides fans with an in-depth, weekly Bears review/preview/interview show throughout the entire 2014 campaign.  The season premiere airs on Friday, September 18 at 4:00 PM with replay airings at varied times on Saturdays, along with Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM. 

CSNCHICAGO.COM– Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s website, CSNChicago.com, delivers comprehensive 24/7 Bears and NFL coverage all season long via its “Bears Talk” platform featuring the following digital and social media highlights this season:  

• Bears Pulse – a one-stop social media hub that reveals the latest trending topics and player buzz from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Plus, “Bears Pulse” aggregates all Bears player tweets, along with fan tweets that utilize the hashtag #BearsTalk.
• John “Moon” Mullin – CSNChicago.com’s resident Bears “Insider” returns for his seventh season on the beat.  Fans can follow Mullin at Twitter @CSNMoonMullin for the latest team/player news and inside access 24/7.  Mullin will also file daily stories/video reports, which include his popular “View from the Moon” segments, and will make regular on-air appearances throughout the season on Bears Pre/Postgame Live, SportsTalk Live and SportsNet Central.
• CSNChicago.com digital BearsTalk contributor Scott Krinch (@scottiekrinch) and Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) will also be providing game day reports, analysis and features.
• BearsTalk, presented by Max Madsen – CSNChicago.com’s high-velocity, real-time, comprehensive Bears news section featuring original commentary, news reports, trades and rumor via contributions from Mullin, Boden, Lewis, and other in-house experts as they lend their knowledge and expertise to the latest happenings in the NFC North, as well as league-wide. BearsTalk is under the banner of NBC SportsTalk, NBC’s successful digital franchise on NBCSports.com that includes ProFootballTalk, HardballTalk, ProBasketballTalk, ProHockeyTalk, CollegeFootballTalk and GolfTalkCentral. SportsTalk was extended to CSNChicago.com through the creation of BlackhawksTalk, BullsTalk, CubsTalk, WhiteSoxTalk and BearsTalk, which contains interactive content and continually updated insights from the network’s digital and on-air talent.
• Twitter – Bears Talk (@CSNBears) is THE Twitter source for Bears breaking news, updates, rumors, trade and much more 24/7.  Fans are encouraged to use #BearsTalk to voice their opinions and interact with CSN reporters and analysts.  Additional must-follow Twitter handles include @CSNBoden (Chris Boden), @CSNkiplewis (Kip Lewis), @CSNBoyle (Pat Boyle), @15miller (Jim Miller) and @LanceBriggs (Lance Briggs).
• CSNChicago.com’s state-of-the-art “AT&T U-Verse Lounge” will provide expanded Bears content through daily and weekly shows and segments.
• CSNChicago.com’s Bears content will also be distributed via its digital network of partnerships including NBCSports.com, NBCNews.com, Yahoo! Sports and Xfinity.com.

In addition, Comcast SportsNet will be airing four, brand new BEARS CLASSICS documentaries this fall/winter.  More specific details and air dates for these specials will be announced separately in the coming weeks.