Following quarterback Carson Palmer’s injury, ESPN this week features an in-depth multimedia report by ESPN The Magazine’s senior writer David Fleming on the increasing use of musculoskeletal allografts — transplanting pristine replacement parts recovered from deceased human donors to repair the ravaged knees, shoulders, elbows and spines of athletes and millions of others. Highlights:

ESPN.com/ESPN The Magazine’s NFL Hot Read: Carson Palmer’s lasting connection

In ESPN The Magazine’s “Big Money Issue,” David Fleming writes about the almost-unbelievable journey of Carson Palmer’s left knee.

• Reconstructing Ligaments Using Cadavers: Fleming discusses the increased use of cadavers to help repair ligaments and how being a recipient of a cadaver graft has affected Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. Video.
• All-ACL Team: In an accompanying piece, ESPN NFL Nation writer Kevin Seifert leads the site’s team in assembling an All-ACL Team consisting of active players who – for the most part – are excelling post-injury. The teams were chosen in offense and defense.
• Flemings reporting will be the subject of an ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown feature on Sunday

Sunday NFL Countdown: Carson’s Connection; Frank Caliendo; NFL Stars Share Their Best Days; One-on-One with Matthew Stafford and More

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown with host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson and Ray Lewis will preview NFL games on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m. on ESPN and WatchESPN. Anchor/host Wendi Nix will handle select segments, while NFL insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will report the day’s headlines and news.

Reporters at game sites:

• Lions at Patriots (Sal Paolantonio and Merril Hoge)
• Brown at Falcons (Lindsay Czarniak)
• Packers at Vikings (Ed Werder)
• Cardinals at Seahawks (Britt McHenry)

Features:

• Carson’s Connection: When quarterback Carson Palmer tore his knee ligament in week 10, the reverberation was felt deep in Houston by the family of the late Julie De Rossi, whose ligaments were donated to Palmer in 2006 when he first tore the same ACL playing for Cincinnati, reports ESPN The Magazine’s David Fleming.
• Matthew Stafford: Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford became the fastest to reach 20,000 yards passing in the NFL. Ahead of the Lions visit to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, Countdown’s Michelle Beisner travelled to Detroit for a one-on-one conversation with Stafford.
• Frank Caliendo – NFL Matchup: Countdown comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo plays NFL’s ultimate Xs and Os show, NFL Matchup, and takes turns at being each of the three personalities on the program – Sal Paolantonio, Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge.
• My Best Day: Mark Keys became permanently disabled after a back injury at work led to more than 30 surgeries.  Over time, he has written approximately 10,000 letters to celebrities asking: “What was your best day?” In their own words, some of the NFL stars and personalities who replied with answers to Keys’ question, shared their best day with Countdown. Some of the former NFL players include Chuck Bednarik, Bruce Arians, Eric Dickerson and Jarrett Payton, who read his father Walter Payton’s best day.
• Soundtracks – Randall Cobb: The Packers wide receiver, wired for in-game sound during the team’s 53-20 victory over the Eagles, will be featured in Sunday’s Soundtracks.

ESPN’s Monday Night Football: Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints Host Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints host Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on November 24 at 8:15 p.m. ET. MNF play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico will call the game with analyst Jon Gruden and sideline reporter Lisa Salters.

In addition to the ESPN telecast, MNF is available in Spanish on ESPN Deportes and on WatchESPN for fans with video subscriptions from affiliated providers.

Preceding the week 12 matchup, ESPN will air more than five hours of NFL studio shows, culminating with MNF’s pregame Monday Night Countdown at 6 p.m. Suzy Kolber anchors the network’s coverage from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans with NFL analysts Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis and Steve Young, while Chris Berman hosts from ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol. Conn., with NFL analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson and Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter.

Monday Night Countdown features:

• Soundtracks – Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh: Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh have been one of the NFL’s most successful quarterback-head coach pairings in the NFL since they both arrived at the Ravens in 2008. Flacco and Harbaugh, wired for in-game sound during the Ravens week 10 win over the Titans, will be featured in this week’s Soundtracks.
• Joe Flacco Conversation: Super Bowl-winning Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco sits for a one-on-one conversation with MNF sideline reporter Lisa Salters.
• Gruden’s Grill Session with Drew Brees: MNF’s Mike Tirico sits in for his booth mate, Jon Gruden, in this week’s Gruden’s Grill featuring interview with Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
• Rick Reilly’s Feature on Saints Cheerleader: Countdown’s Rick Reilly profiles Kriste Lewis, a Saints rookie cheerleader who is a 41-year-old mother of two with a kidney disease that would require dialysis and a kidney transplant in the future.

NFL Matchup – Cardinals Defense at Seattle in 2013; Patriots Man Defense vs. the Lions; Slowing the Cowboys Run Game and More

NFL Matchup host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge preview the weekend’s key matchups via a film-room Xs and Os analysis on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 8:30 a.m. on ESPN2 (re-airs on ESPN, Sunday at 4 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.). Highlights:

• Film Room – Cardinals Defense at Seattle in 2013: Hoge looks back at the success the Arizona Cardinals defense had in Seattle in 2013 – hinged on the ability of Seattle defense to blitz and keep quarterback Russell Wilson corralled in the pocket.
• Let’s See it Hoge – Patriots Man Defense vs. Matthew Stafford: Hoge explains how the Patriots will stick to their defensive identity – playing tight man coverage – to negate the explosive passing attack of quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions.
• Between the Lines – Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith: Jaworski shows how the Ravens rely on receiver Torrey Smith’s speed and quarterback Joe Flacco’s arm strength when they need a big play under pressure.
• Coach’s Clicker – Keys to Slowing Dallas’ Run Game: Hoge contends that the Giants will need to make smart adjustments to stop the Cowboys rushing attack, and they can look at the success the Cardinals had earlier in the season as a blueprint.
• Eye in the Sky – Rams Sack Peyton Manning: Jaworski explains a well-executed defensive assignment by the Rams confused the Broncos offensive line and resulted in a key sack of quarterback Peyton Manning.
• Jaws Playbook – Cincinnati’s Basic Offensive Concepts: The Bengals targeted receiver A.J. Green by giving quarterback Andy Dalton a basic read and good protection to make an accurate throw, as Jaworski explains.
• Fine Focus – Rams Safety T.J. McDonald: Hoge shows one of the key elements of the Rams rejuvenated defense – T.J. McDonald – and how he is used in multiple positions to make plays all over the field.
• Game Within the Game – Bradley Fletcher’s Tough Day in Green Bay: Jaworski shows how Green Bay was able to target Eagles cornerback Bradley Fletcher with different formations and receiver Jordy Nelson.

NFL on ESPN Radio: Detroit at New England

The NFL on ESPN Radio continues Sunday, Nov. 23, at 12 p.m., as Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions visit Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Play-by-play commentator Marc Kestecher, analyst Bill Polian and sideline reporter Ian Fitzsimmons will describe the action.

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