THE MMQB's Peter King reports NBC's Cris Collinsworth last week agreed to "buy a significant stake" in analytical website Pro Football Focus. Collinsworth will "use his influence to help grow the company and seek out new business for it." PFF has "made a business of analyzing the performance of every player on every snap and grading their performances against every other player at the same position." The site "has done such a thorough job that 13 teams have contracts with the company." The deal "came together in a couple of months this summer, culminating last week" (MMQB.SI.com, 8/25).
FEMALE PERSPECTIVE: ADWEEK reported the September issue of Marie Claire magazine is "revisiting the Fangirl’s Guide with a new booklet highlighting real women’s NFL game-day rituals." The magazine also will include "a pull-out poster featuring the new NFL Thursday night schedule." Marie Claire was "careful not to speak down to its readers" in its editorial content, and instead "treated them like, well, fans." Both Marie Claire inserts are "sponsored exclusively by the NFL, featuring its 'Together We Make Football' campaign." Singer Jordin Sparks and model Erin Heatherton are "showcased sporting team apparel" (ADWEEK.com, 8/24).
THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT: Patriots President Jonathan Kraft said what makes the new NFL Now app "so great" for fans is that in one location, fans will have an app that is "going to aggregate the best content from all NFL sources that you would be interested in and bring it to you how you want it, where you want it, when you want it." He said, "If you’re a fan of the Patriots, it’s going to bring you everything from our organization, but (also) everything from around the AFC East (and) the opponent we’re playing that week. It can know who’s on your fantasy team and bring you that information and really you can help set the parameters so that it’s NFL content when you want it, how you’re watching on any device and exactly what you want to see” (NFL.com, 8/22).
BARBER SHOP SINGER: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes Fox NFL analyst Ronde Barber has "taken large strides as an announcer." Barber is calling Buccaneers preseason games to "get ready for his second season on Fox, and he's much more relaxed and efficient with his analysis." His "most interesting comment" during Saturday's Buccaneers-Bills game was that the Bucs "have a lot of good players but only two great players" in DT Gerald McCoy and WR Vincent Jackson (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/25).
