Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere Presented by EA Sports Debuts July 18 on NFL Network

Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere Presented by EA Sports Debuts July 18 on NFL Network

WASHINGTON, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The tenth annual 2006 Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere presented by EA Sports will be showcased in a one-hour television special on NFL Network on July 18 (8 PM ET). Hosted by Rich Eisen and Sterling Sharpe and produced by PLAYERS INC and NFL Network, the program will re-air throughout July.

The 2006 Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere presented by EA Sports is a four-day outing in Los Angeles where the top 30 NFL draft picks wear their official team jerseys for the first time and participate in a series of photo shoots for trading card companies Donruss Playoff, Topps and Upper Deck. The week's activities were filmed in May at the Los Angeles Coliseum with an emphasis placed on highlighting the talents and personalities of these top draft picks.

The show follows the rookies as they put on their new team uniforms for the first time and go through a series of photo shoots for their very first professional trading cards. In addition, rookies visited local hobby shops, participated in media and corporate hospitality appearances, and were the stars of the Reebok Kids Clinic at a local middle school.

In addition, the show catches up with former USC teammates Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush as they reminisce about the old days at the Coliseum and talk about being mentored by veterans in the NFL. Eisen sits down with new Texans defensive end Mario Williams as he describes the surprise and excitement of being the first overall pick. Sharpe also goes one-on-one with new Titans quarterback Vince Young who says he's ready to prove himself in Nashville. Eisen also hooks up with Vernon Davis as they talk about his passion for painting and what he plans to bring to the field this season. New Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk joins the hosts to tell them how he's going to make Sharpe's old team even better. And don't miss the entire rookie class get schooled in spelling as Rams tight end Joe Klopfenstein holds a bee of his own.

In its tenth year, the Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere is an official event of PLAYERS INC.

About PLAYERS INC:

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.

Source: PLAYERS INC

CONTACT: Lara Potter, +1-202-496-2885, Lara.Potter@nflplayers.com, or
Dan Masonson, +1-212-450-2081, MasonsonD@NFL.com, both for PLAYERS INC

Web site: http://nflplayers.com/

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