NFL Network Kicks Off Hall Of Fame Coverage

Network's Analyst Woodson Among Those Entering 2009 Canton Class

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 8/8/2009 9:01:41 AM

For NFL Network, coverage of the 46th Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities this weekend will hit especially close to home.
After all, NFL Network analyst Rod Woodson, the star secondary man, is one of the inductees for this year's Canton class, while the service's Rich Eisen will preside over the ceremony for the first time.
Hall of Famer Michael Irvin returns as a guest analyst for the second time, joining Steve Mariucci, Eisen, Fran Charles, Jason La Canfora, in a rookie HOF role, and Kara Henderson for seven hours of live, high-definition coverage, kicking off on Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. (ET).
NFL Network begins with NFL Total Access at the Hall of Fame Pre-Ceremony at 5 p.m., followed by live coverage of the induction ceremony at 7 p.m., when Woodson, wide receiver Bob Hayes, guard Randall McDaniel, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Derrick Thomas and Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson will receive the busts immortalizing their contributions to the sport.
Pro football's in-house network wraps matters at 11 p.m. with NFL Total Access at the Hall of Fame Post-Induction Show.
On Sunday Aug. 9, NFL Network will encore the HOF induction agt 1:30 p.m. and offer another wrap-up show at 11 p.m., after NBC televises the HOF game between the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills at 8 p.m. This season marks the 50th anniversary of the American Football League -- the Bills and the Titans' forbears, the Houston Oilers, were two of the 10 teams that merged into the NFL with the 1970 season.
NFL Network on Monday Aug, 10 at 9 a..m. will re-air the Bills-Titans contest as it begins coverage of all 65 NFL preseason games for the first time. Moreover, all will be presented in the high-definition format for the first time.