"INSIDE THE NFL" HAS NEW HOME ON PARAMOUNT+

Former NFL 12-Year Veteran Julian Edelman to Debut as Show's Newest Analyst, Joining Host James Brown, Analysts Phil Simms and Brandon Marshall

Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin Serve as Contributing Analysts

Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS, today announced the Emmy Award-winning studio show INSIDE THE NFL will debut on Tuesday night, Sept. 7. New episodes of INSIDE THE NFL, produced by CBS Sports, Showtime Sports and NFL Films, will stream Tuesday nights on Paramount+ throughout the 2021 NFL season to Super Bowl LVI.

This season of INSIDE THE NFL will feature the debut of recently retired 12-year NFL veteran wide receiver, three-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman as the show's newest cast member.

Edelman joins two-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms in his 14th year on the show; six-time Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall; three-time Emmy Award-winner James Brown, in his 12th year as host; two-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer Ray Lewis; and three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin. Lewis and Irvin both will serve as contributing analysts throughout the season.

"Given the power of NFL content, combined with the audience on Paramount+, we are excited to help grow the game even more by bringing new fans the highlights and behind-the-scenes access that others have come to expect from INSIDE THE NFL through the years," said Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports.

INSIDE THE NFL covers every game, every week with trademark highlights from NFL Films, special in-depth features and spirited debate on the game's hottest topics each week. First premiering in 1977, INSIDE THE NFL will begin its 45th year in production.

EXCERPTS FROM "INSIDE THE NFL" MEDIA SESSION ON SEPT. 1

(On joining INSIDE THE NFL team)

JULIAN EDELMAN: I'm so honored and excited to be a part of this, with the respect levels that I have for every single one of these cast members. I grew up watching this, so to be in it and to get to sit and talk football with some of the best guys in the business, I'm just so excited, and I can't wait. It's a very, very exciting time and a new chapter in my life that I'm looking forward to, and like I said, it's going to be an honor to get to sit down here with you guys, talk ball, maybe a little crap talking here and there, little of this, little of that. Mr. Simms, I don't want you intimidating me. I've heard all the stories through Bill when he used to coach you over in New York. I actually remember a story with Mr. Simms that we were doing a pregame show or something, like one of those production meetings, and I told him my dogs were Dwight Montana from the Niners, and he goes, oh, well, I didn't like those guys or something. So that always stuck out to me, so that's why I have to give him his props and his respect, and I will always call you Mr. Simms, Mr. Simms.

(On the Patriots' decision to go with Mac Jones)

JULIAN EDELMAN: Nothing surprises me with Bill. You look at the history. Logan Mankins was let go; Lawyer Milloy, Seymour, like it doesn't surprise me. I think the kid came out and he did well. He did very well. You could see in his eyes, you could see in his reads that he felt comfortable in the pocket. He was looking at the right areas, intentionally watching these play calls and how he was handling them. He ran the no-huddle very well. I don't think he quite beat them out, beat them out, but the ceiling is so high. They spent a 15 overall pick on the kid. They're going to go with him. It didn't surprise me. It's terrible for Cam. I feel bad for him. But with that whole situation, I don't think they wanted the distraction. I think they wanted him to - give him his rein to go out and try to get on another team. But like I said, that's not a very surprising act by the Patriots, as you know.

(On Dak Prescott coming off his ankle injury then having shoulder problems in camp)

PHIL SIMMS: When Dak came up with this lat injury that he got throwing the football, I was not shocked. I actually went on Twitter and talked about it. When that plant leg is not feeling right for a quarterback, he had to make some adjustments to get power on the football, so he changed the way he threw the football. When you change, the body wasn't ready for it, put too much pressure on it, and that's what we saw. So I'm really interested to see. I watched "Hard Knocks" just to watch him throw during one of the practices. It looked okay, but I didn't see him put any mustard on the football, no power at all. So it's really something to watch, and fortunately he's got maybe some time to really heal up, and when they start that first game against Tampa Bay, he can let the football go.

(On his first interaction with Julian Edelman and the respect he holds for his game)

BRANDON MARSHALL: It was definitely after a Miami-New England game. It was when I was playing for the Dolphins. I know they brought you in to be a return specialist and you spent some time playing DB. I'm going to be honest, you were nobody at the time. I remember looking at you and I'm like, 'Yo, this is the type of dude that I would want to play with. This is the type of passion that I approach practice and games. That's me.' So after the game I pulled you to the side and I just told you how much I respected you. It was definitely a battle between the Dolphins and the Patriots, but I don't know how much of a battle it was because you guys just ran through it year after year after year.

(On Keenan Allen's skillset and what allows him to excel)

EDELMAN: I think his craftiness at the line of scrimmage is second to none with Keenan Allen. If you watch his release game and his top of the routes, he's got like that basketball crossover-ness that guys do, the shimmy with the shoulders and great feet for how long and lanky he is. But the thing that separates him the most is the line of scrimmage player that he is and the top of his routes. You don't see elite speed with him. He's a fast guy, but he's not a Tyreek Hill out there. It's his route-running ability and his length that is just something that stands out to me when I watched him on film. And I'd always watch how he released and how his top of the routes, and his craftiness in his route running and his stems, how he makes everything look somewhat the same.

(On expectations for Tua Tagovailoa to have a big jump as a second-year starting quarterback)

SIMMS: I think Tua is going to make a big jump. I think he did a great thing at the end of the year, or I should say when this last year was over. He just made a confession. I didn't work hard enough, study hard enough, I didn't train, do all those things. He's done very well. He did very well in preseason. I think he's on a mission. He looks better physically, all those things, and he's really tuned into what they're doing.

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