NFL Players Association Announces Partnership with RisingSeniors.com

NFLPA tailors Training Camp for Life, a character and skills development program for the Inaugural Georgia Junior Bowl Game

The top junior high school football players in Georgia will get treated like the NFL’s best when they attend the first RisingSeniors.com event in Atlanta, January 4 to8, 2011. The unique five-day summit has an unprecedented format which concentrates on the overall education and development of these young athletes rather than just the game. The culminating contest known as The Georgia Junior Bowl will feature the best juniors in the state at Bobby Dodd Stadium on the campus of Georgia Tech. The game is but a fraction of the programming compared to the rest of the action packed week of events slated for the young student athletes. In compliance with the NCAA, the programs will be run just like the NFL’s Rookie Symposium to focus on key issues that deal with character and life skills development. The program was designed to assist the young men with the challenges which lie ahead as they will attend workshops on NCAA compliance, ACT and SAT test prep, drug-free sports, social media training, alternate careers in sports and choices and consequences. There will also be a special session on giving back to the community presented by Danny Wurfel, former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Legend.

“It is imperative we educate these student-athletes on the life skills required to be prepared for the college transition and life after football,” said Willis Whalen, NFLPA Manager of Player Services and Development and Training Camp for Life creator. “The Georgia Junior Bowl provides Training Camp for Life with the unique platform to reach a key audience. We hope to provide these juniors with the tools that they need to be successful both on and off the field.”

“After attending the Rookie Symposium as an NFL draftee, I see what an impact this program could have on high school student athletes at this critical time in their lives,” said Izell Reese, current Vice President of the NFLPA Atlanta Chapter and former NFL Player (Cowboys, Broncos, Bills). “That is why I partnered with Joe Burns (Buffalo Bills) to create this much needed educational program. We are astounded by the support and participation we have already received from the community and other organizations.”

The NFL Players Association, joins Rawlings who has agreed to become the official football helmet and apparel sponsor of the football event. Other partners include Curing Kids Cancer (Official Community Service partner), Desire Street Ministries, The Atlanta Sports Council and The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

About the NFLPA:
The NFL Players Association is the exclusive collective bargaining agent for all players employed by clubs of the National Football League. Founded in 1956, the NFLPA works to ensure that the rights and interests of NFL players are protected. In addition, the NFLPA strives to be a valuable resource and to maximize player opportunities on and off the field through membership programs and community activities. For further information, visit www.nflplayers.com.

About RisingSeniors.com
RisingSeniors.com is an educational program created to better assist high school junior student-athletes with their athletic, academic and social development. With many athletes ill-equipped for the college recruiting process, RisingSeniors.com’s mission is to prepare the student-athlete and their parents for their senior year, college and beyond. Students and their parents are selected to participate in a series of life skills seminars and an all star game at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium on January 8th, 2011. For more information please visit www.risingseniors.com, RisingSeniors Facebook page, phone at 678-528-4141 or via email at info@risingseniors.com.

NFL Ticket Exchange by Ticketmaster Launches for Super Bowl XLIV

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Building on the record success of its regular-season and post-season sales, the National Football League (NFL) and Ticketmaster are taking the NFL Ticket Exchange to South Florida for Super Bowl XLIV.

“The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events of the year and for thousands of football fans from around the world, it’s the game they’ve always dreamed of attending”

Powered by Ticketmaster, the Official Ticket Exchange of the NFL provides fans with the ability to buy and sell tickets for Super Bowl XLIV through a convenient and secure, league-approved marketplace with the exclusive ability to electronically validate every ticket sold. Fans can access the NFL Ticket Exchange online at NFL.com/TicketExchange or by calling 888-635-5944.

Additionally, the NFL and Ticketmaster are providing football fans added convenience and security with two authorized NFL Ticket Exchange retail locations in South Florida. During Super Bowl week, a walk-up retail location for the NFL Ticket Exchange will be open in the Essex House Hotel, 1001 Collins Ave., in South Beach; and on game day, the NFL Ticket Exchange will operate for the very first time from an authorized location at Sun Life Stadium, giving fans the unprecedented opportunity to buy and sell guaranteed authentic Super Bowl tickets at the stadium up until kickoff.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our fans this safe and reliable service for the Super Bowl and, for the first time on game day, at the stadium,” said Neil Glat, the NFL’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. “The Super Bowl is unlike any other live entertainment event and we’re looking forward to working with Ticketmaster to offer this valued service to fans.”

“The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events of the year and for thousands of football fans from around the world, it’s the game they’ve always dreamed of attending,” said Greg Consiglio, Ticketmaster’s Executive Vice President of Business Development. “We want to make sure that every fan who wants to experience this celebrated event has the opportunity to purchase guaranteed authentic tickets from a 100% secure marketplace, which is why we’re bringing the NFL Ticket Exchange to South Florida.”

Super Bowl XLIV will be played on February 7, 2010, at Sun Life Stadium in South Florida.

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NFL Donates More Than $2 Million for Red Cross Disaster Response in Haiti

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) are donating $500,000 to the American Red Cross to aid victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The NFL and its network partners will run pregame and in-game messages during the weekend's playoff games valued at $1.5 million to promote donations. In addition, NFL owners and players are making their own personal donations.

A national PSA will air during each playoff game this weekend promoting donations to the Red Cross via www.redcross.org. The PSA will feature New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and San Diego Chargers defensive end Jacques Cesaire, two players with Haitian-born parents.

There will be in-stadium video board and PA messages, in all four stadiums hosting games this weekend, promoting the Red Cross text-to-give program. The Minnesota Vikings will have a collection drive at their stadium gates for this weekend's game and they will run an in-game PSA featuring running back Adrian Peterson.

"The generous contribution of the NFL and the NFLPA is critical to the ability of the American Red Cross to provide help and hope for the people of Haiti during their time of need," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. "We are rushing supplies and disaster management staff to Haiti in the aftermath of this earthquake, and are very grateful the support of the NFL and the NFLPA for our humanitarian mission."

The American Red Cross is on the ground in Port-au-Prince, along with Red Cross teams from around the world. Among these Red Cross representatives are engineers, surgeons and family linking specialists. These teams will establish field hospitals, restore water and sanitation systems, distribute supplies and restore family links facilities. In addition, the Red Cross is performing triage, first aid, addressing urgent needs and mobilizing a massive response operation in Haiti. A base camp has been secured near the airport with warehousing facilities for relief supply staging.

The Red Cross continues to see an outpouring of support and concern from the public. People who want to help those affected by the Haitian earthquake can make a donation via RedCross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

The Red Cross is also receiving money through a third party mobile fundraising effort sponsored by Mobile Accord. Mobile donors can text "Haiti" to 90999 to send a ten dollar donation to the Red Cross. The funds will go to support the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

At this time, what the Red Cross needs most are financial contributions - whether by check, online or by phone. Things like clothes are not helpful right now because there is nowhere to store them, no one to sort them, and it would be difficult to transport the items to Haiti. One good way to turn clothes into cash is to have a garage sale and then donate the money to the relief efforts.

About the NFL-NFLPA Disaster Relief Fund

Created in 2001 to assist organizations directly and indirectly affected by the events of September 11, the NFL-NFLPA Disaster Relief Fund is a collaborative endeavor of the National Football League and the NFL Players Association. Its goal is to improve the quality of life and help rebuild communities affected by large-scale tragedies. Since its inception, the NFL-NFLPA Disaster Relief Fund has provided aid to those affected by the events of September 11, 2001, the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, Hurricane Katrina and the 2007 San Diego Wildfires.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization -- not a government agency -- and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org/.

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AirTran Airways Congratulates Matt Ryan on NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Honor

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI) , congratulates Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan who was named the NFL's offensive rookie of the year today.

AirTran Airways signed Ryan last August to become part of the airline's sports advertising campaign. Ryan is featured in radio spots and high-impact billboards across the Atlanta area.

"We are thrilled for Matt and his accomplishments both on and off the field," said Tad Hutcheson, AirTran Airways' vice president of marketing and sales. "When we signed Matt, we knew he was destined for great things as a quarterback. We're proud to have him as part of the AirTran team."

Ryan helped to guide his team to a second place finish in the NFC South and a playoff berth. During the season, Ryan completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

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Fan Vote to Determine Player Super Bowl Ad

SSG Note: Voting is now open until December 3rd.

Thirteen Atlanta Falcons told their stories. Now, fans can help turn one of them into the NFL’s Super Bowl commercial at NFL.com/SuperAd.

Babineaux and Turner are featured in a head-to-head competition against their rivals from the NFC South in the NFL’s “Super Ad: Believe In Now” promotion.

NFL Films traveled to NFL training camps and team facilities to capture the players’ stories. Now fans will have the opportunity to hear these unique tales and get an exclusive look at some of their favorite NFL players, such as:

-Babineaux, who talks about playing football with his brother as kids in their living room.

-Turner, who relives gaining more than 200 yards in his first game as a starter.

Fans can visit the Falcons section to also see: Erik Coleman, Thomas DeCoud, Jamaal Fudge, Brent Grimes, David Irons, Grady Jackson, Michael Koenen, Jerious Norwood, Chris Redman, Matt Ryan and Roddy White.

Fans will vote on the 24 stories from NFC players on nfl.com/superad from November 20 – December 3. Four NFC stories, one from each division, will be selected to continue to the Championship Round where they will compete against four videos from the AFC as well as one wildcard video. The Championship Round runs from December 18, 2008 – January 4, 2009. Fans will have eighteen days to vote for their favorites with a Super Bowl appearance on the line.

Fans can visit the “All Videos” section to watch all 215 NFL players’ stories posted on nfl.com/superad. Fans will then watch the winning pitch, and the player who told it, during Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, February 1 on NBC.

By AtlantaFalcons.com

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Atlanta Falcons - Team Looks to Learn from Tampa Bay Mistakes

By J. Michael Moore
AtlantaFalcons.com Managing Editor

Atlanta Falcons, welcome back to the classroom.

A big Week 1 win had the Falcons feeling good over the weekend. That is until a rough outing in Tampa Bay ended in a 24-9 defeat and a trip back to the harsh realities of the NFL.

Head Coach Mike Smith reviewed the film with his team and staff on Monday and is prepared to chart a clear course for improvement.

"We got an opportunity to watch the tape and there were some things I was encouraged about," Smith said. "Our team fought hard the entire football game... But I'd also say there are a lot of things we've got to get corrected. We have to start faster."
Two Matt Ryan interceptions led to 10 Buccaneer points. A 20 percent success rate on third down in the first half put the Falcons in a big hole. Special teams penalties also affected field position with the Birds starting drives at their own 11-, 9-, 16- and 17-yard line in the game.

Ryan, who has been praised for his ability to quickly process mistakes, is ready to move on.

"I got in a little early this morning and looked at the tape," Ryan said. "I just made some decisions that weren't very good."

His teammates support his efforts and saw his ability to right the ship in the midst of the game. He may have misfired on his first nine passes but on one scoring drive he completed six of seven throws for more than 60 yards. At one point in the fourth quarter the Falcons were just one score from a tie game.

"We knew there were going to be bumps along the way," starting center Todd McClure said. "So, we're going to watch film and learn from this."

Perhaps the biggest learning opportunity comes from the team's stalls in the red zone: three trips, three field goals.

"Our red zone efficiency was not good," Smith said. "We were down there three times and not able to put the ball in the end zone. I think Matt will continue to get better. I thought Matt, overall, did some good things, especially there in the second half...

"Every week for this young football team guys are going to learn: Players, coaches, we're going to learn a lot about each other every week."

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