'Wheel of Fortune' and PLAYERS INC Score Big With Tenth Annual 'NFL Players Week'

'Wheel of Fortune' and PLAYERS INC Score Big With Tenth Annual 'NFL Players Week'

Charities are the Real Winners as NFL Stars Spin the Wheel for Cash and Prizes

CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Wheel of Fortune continues a decade long tradition with the upcoming special NFL Players Week airing January 23-27 in national syndication (check local listings for station and time). Featuring fifteen top NFL players teamed-up with fans from their pro-team cities, NFL Players Week is a fun-filled, supercharged, high-energy week of episodes that's a consistent touchdown with viewers.

Taped on location in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, NFL Players Week welcomes Deion Branch (New England Patriots), Derrick Brooks (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Warrick Dunn (Atlanta Falcons), Jason Elam (Denver Broncos), Marshall Faulk (St. Louis Rams), Bob Griese (Hall of Fame/Miami Dolphins), Franco Harris (Hall of Fame/Pittsburgh Steelers), Rashean Mathis (Jacksonville Jaguars), Deuce McAllister (New Orleans Saints), Santana Moss (Washington Redskins), Gale Sayers (Hall of Fame/Chicago Bears), Jason Taylor (Miami Dolphins), Jonathan Vilma (New York Jets), Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) and Roy Williams (Dallas Cowboys) as they spin the Wheel for their favorite charities.

Three NFL players, each teamed-up with a contestant from their pro-team city, will be featured in every episode that week. The pressure is on, as the contestant spins the Wheel for cash and prizes, and the players spin for their favorite charities. Since its inception, NFL Players Week has raised nearly $2.5 million dollars for various charities.

"We are proud to have nurtured such a longstanding relationship between Wheel of Fortune and PLAYERS INC," said Executive Producer Harry Friedman. "A partnership of this duration in television is truly extraordinary and is a testament to the popularity of these shows with Wheel Watchers and football fans alike."

"This show has given fans a chance to see a personal side of their favorite NFL players as they compete and spin the Wheel for charity," said Pat Allen, chief operating officer and executive vice president of PLAYERS INC. "Our ten-year partnership with Wheel of Fortune has not only brought fans closer to players but has significantly benefited player charities and foundations."

The contestant from the team with the highest cash/prize total for the week will be the envy of football fans everywhere, as they will be awarded the "Super Prize" valued at over $20,000, provided by PLAYERS INC. The "Super Prize" includes a spectacular five-day/four-night trip to Super Bowl XL in Detroit, Michigan, containing VIP passes for two to mingle with hundreds of NFL players at the PLAYERS INC VIP Party, NFL Players Party and PLAYERS INC Live, along with two tickets to the Super Bowl. The winner will also receive thousands of dollars worth of player-autographed memorabilia and a $1,000 Reebok gift certificate.

Viewers and fans have the opportunity to win PLAYERS INC and Wheel of Fortune apparel as well as watch behind-the-scenes footage at www.wheeloffortune.com and www.NFLPLAYERS.COM.

Formed in 1994, PLAYERS INC is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. Representing more than 1,800 active and 3,500 retired NFL players, PLAYERS INC "takes the helmets off" the players and markets them as personalities as well as professional athletes. Through an exclusive sponsorship agreement between the NFL and PLAYERS INC, NFL players are integrated into NFL sponsor activation programs through PLAYERS INC. In addition, under an exclusive agreement between the NFL and PLAYERS INC, NFLPLAYERS.COM, PLAYERS INC's official website, is part of the NFL Internet Network. Each year PLAYERS INC negotiates and facilitates more than 3,500 player marketing opportunities for NFL players. PLAYERS INC activities include retail licensing, corporate sponsorships and promotions, special events, radio and television projects, publishing and internet. For more information, please visit NFLPLAYERS.COM.

Wheel of Fortune is the #1 program in the history of syndicated television. Currently in its 23rd season in syndication, the series is seen daily by 19 million viewers daily in the U.S. Wheel of Fortune is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, and distributed domestically by King World Productions. The series is distributed internationally by CBS Paramount International Television.

"NFL PLAYERS WEEK" - January 23 through January 27, 2006

Monday, January 23, 2006

PLAYER CHARITY CONTESTANT

Marshall Faulk, Marshall Faulk Jennifer Lorraine of
St. Louis Rams Foundation benefiting St. Louis, MO
in part his Katrina
Relief Fund

Roy Williams, The Roy Williams Leslie Brockman of
Dallas Cowboys Safety Net Foundation Flower Mound, TX

Deion Branch, Deion Branch Charitable Stephanie Bennett of
New England Patriots Foundation, Inc. West Haven, CT

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

PLAYER CHARITY CONTESTANT

Franco Harris, CURE International Ashley Baker
Hall of Fame/ & Children's Miracle of Sewickley, PA
Pittsburgh Steelers Network of Greater
Pittsburgh

Gale Sayers, Sherman United Methodist Mark Lubbat
Hall of Fame/ Church & Better Boys of Chicago, IL
Chicago Bears Foundation

Bob Griese, Judi's House Babette Dominguez
Hall of Fame/ of Miami, Florida
Miami Dolphins

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

PLAYER CHARITY CONTESTANT

Reggie Wayne, Habitat for Humanity Deshawn Stevenson of
Indianapolis Colts International Inc. Fort Wayne, IN
benefiting Operation
Home Delivery

Santana Moss, Santana Moss Foundation, Brandy Airall of
Washington Redskins Inc. Washington, DC

Jonathan Vilma, Dade Community Anthony Rubbo of
New York Jets Foundation Inc. Brooklyn, NY
benefiting the Jonathan
Vilma Charitable Fund

Thursday, January 26, 2006

PLAYER CHARITY CONTESTANT

Rashean Mathis, Boys and Girls Club of Tara McCool of
Jacksonville Jaguars Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FL
Benefiting the NFL
Youth Education Town

Jason Elam, Wycliffe Seed Company Cathy Darrah of
Denver Broncos Morrison, CO

Deuce McAllister, The Catch 22 Foundation Susie Cumpton of
New Orleans Saints Monroe, LA

Friday, January 27, 2006

PLAYER CHARITY CONTESTANT

Warrick Dunn, Warrick Dunn Foundation, Mona Searcy of
Atlanta Falcons Inc. benefiting Homes for Atlanta, GA
the Holidays

Jason Taylor, Jason Taylor Foundation, Cristina Torres of
Miami Dolphins Inc. Cooper City, FL

Derrick Brooks, Derrick Brooks Charities, Celeste McLaughlin of
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Inc. Tampa, FL

Source: PLAYERS INC

CONTACT: Amy Prenner, +1-310-244-6286, amy_prenner@spe.sony.com, for
Wheel of Fortune; or Lara Potter of PLAYERS INC, +1-202-496-2885,
lara.potter@nflplayers.com

Web site: http://www.nflplayers.com/
http://www.wheeloffortune.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos are also available at http://editorial.gettyimages.com/ under the "publicity" tab.

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