ESPN takes over Green Bay by Green Bay Press-Gazette Sports reporter Tom Pellissero
"ESPN will send the cavalry for the Green Bay Packers' prime-time season opener on Sept. 8, broadcasting its "Monday Night Countdown" preview show, "Pardon the Interruption" and parts of two "SportsCenter" episodes live from Lambeau Field.
The entire "Monday Night Countdown" crew — Chris Berman, Stuart Scott, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Steve Young, Emmitt Smith and Chris Mortensen — will be on site, in addition to "Monday Night Football" announcers Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser and Kornheiser's "PTI" co-host, Michael Wilbon.
"We have not done this since the first 'MNF' season on ESPN in 2005," Bill Hofheimer, the network's communications director, wrote in an e-mail. "(B)ut with the Packers set to retire Brett Favre's jersey — and this being ESPN's first visit to Lambeau Field for a 'MNF' game — the decision was a no-brainer."
ESPN will kick off its coverage with "NFL Live" at 12:30 p.m. "PTI" will lead the live-from-Lambeau coverage at 2:30 p.m., followed by portions of "SportsCenter Monday Kickoff" (3 p.m.) and "Monday Night Countdown" (4 p.m.) before the 6 p.m. kickoff. The network will carry segments from Lambeau at halftime of the Denver Broncos/Oakland Raiders game, which starts at 9:15 p.m., and during its 12:30 a.m. "SportsCenter."
Somewhere in there, the Packers and Vikings reportedly will play a football game."