ESPN’s ‘Year of the Quarterback’: Four New Shows in April

The Brady 6, Sport Science: QB Combine Special, Three for the Show and SportsCenter Special: Gruden’s QB Camp – The Draftees to air in April.

ESPN’s Year of the Quarterback (YQB) initiative continues in April with four new programs that draw back the curtain on one of the most critical, coveted and talked-about positions in all of sports. The four programs, NFL Films’ The Brady 6 documentary, Sport Science: QB Combine Special, the three-part Three for the Show and SportsCenter Special: Gruden’s QB Camp – The Draftees, are all part of ESPN’s YQB year-long initiative that explores the story of quarterbacks on and off the field.

The Brady 6

It’s hard to believe that Tom Brady, a three-time Super Bowl champion, was ever considered an underdog. Yet in the 2000 NFL Draft, six other quarterbacks came off the board before Brady’s name was called at number 199 in the sixth round. ESPN’s Year of the Quarterback and NFL Films tell the story of how a future MVP came to be so wrongly misjudged during his quest to make it to the NFL—and what ever happened to the six quarterbacks taken ahead of him. The hour-long documentary The Brady 6 airs Tuesday, April 12, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Trailer

Sport Science: QB Combine Special

Sport Science: QB Combine Special will test and challenge the projected top quarterbacks in the 2011 draft through the use of eye-tracking software, accelerometers and custom built high-tech targets in the Sport Science laboratory. This year’s combine special will highlight the reaction time, speed, and accuracy of Colin Kaepernick (University of Nevada), Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech), Ryan Mallet (University of Arkansas), Christian Ponder (Florida State University), Pat Devlin (University of Delaware), Greg McElroy (University of Alabama) and Andy Dalton (TCU). Sport Science: QB Combine Special, hosted by John Brenkus, airs Thursday, April 14, at 7 pm on ESPN.

* Ryan Mallett’s impressive arm strength Description: Description: Description: Description: Video
* Colin Kaepernick’s pinpoint accuracy Description: Description: Description: Description: Video
* Christian Ponder’s feathery touch Description: Description: Description: Description: Video

Three for the Show

Thousands of athletes play the position, but few are lucky enough to make a career out of playing quarterback. Three for the Show, a three-episode series, chronicles the quest of three top Division I quarterbacks as they pursue their dream job as a professional QB in the NFL. Cameras follow Cam Newton (Auburn University), Jake Locker (University of Washington), and Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech) from the final game of their collegiate careers all the way to draft night. Showing the ups, the downs, and all the hard work in between, Three for the Show tells the story of the drive, ambition and persistence it takes to live the dream. The three hour-long episodes will air on Tuesday, April 19, Tuesday, April 26, and Tuesday, May 3, at 8 pm on ESPN.

SportsCenter Special: Gruden’s QB Camp – The Draftees

ESPN Monday Night Football analyst and quarterback guru Jon Gruden conducts his annual film session for top draftees of this year’s class in the hour-long SportsCenter Special: Gruden’s QB Camp – The Draftees. Gruden dissects these rookies’ talent and skills: Ryan Mallet (University of Arkansas), Jake Locker (University of Washington), Andy Dalton (Texas Christian University), Cam Newton (Auburn University) and Blaine Gabbert (University of Missouri). SportsCenter Special: Gruden’s QB Camp – The Draftees will air Thursday, April 21, at 7 pm on ESPN.

About Year of the Quarterback

Year of the Quarterback (YQB) is a year-long, in-depth examination of one of the most critical, coveted and talked-about positions in all of sports with content across all platforms including television, radio, ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine. YQB will delve into the topic to tell the story of the quarterback on and off the field and find a deeper understanding of the position, including the leadership qualities, recruitment and issues of race from the “blue chip” high school recruit to the Heisman hopeful and the NFL legend.