ESPN The Magazine's New Issue Has Two Covers Featuring the True NFL MVP's of 2008: The New York Giants Offensive Line & The Tennessee Titans Defensive Line

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The NFC’s best team, the New York Giants, is driven by the game’s best offensive line – cover athletes Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, David Diehl, Rich Seubert and Shaun O’Hara. The AFC’s best team, the Tennessee Titans, is fueled by the game’s best defensive line – cover athletes Tony Brown, Albert Haynesworth, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse. Both lines are worthy candidates for the NFL MVP award – but they did not receive it. Groups win major awards all the time – a team of reporters can receive a Pulitzer, Grammy’s are won by bands – but no group has won the NFL MVP in the 51-year history of the ultimate team sport. In “A Ton of Value,” in the January 12, issue of ESPN The Magazine, writer Seth Wickersham makes the case as to why these two units deserved to have gone 1-2 in the voting – and why they have been chosen as ESPN The Magazine’s MVP’s.

Exclusive video of the Giants and Titans cover shoots can be viewed on espnthemag.com.

Does homefield advantage exist? In “What Do Anxious Refs, Jet Lag and the Color Red Have in Common?”, senior writer Peter Keating combs through a ton of data to find an answer, once and for all. He hatches a thesis, and takes it to a council of academicians, athletes and coaches to get their opinions.

Plus, Bill Simmons on Mike D’Antoni altering the NBA, Stephen A. Smith on college football being way behind in the times and Rick Reilly’s sports hopes for 2009.

Other features:

HE IS THE MAN. After becoming just the second sophomore to win the Heisman, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford has his eye on a different trophy.

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE GUYS IN MY HUDDLE. You’ve heard all about Tim Tebow. Now the most talked-about player in college football tells tales about his teammates. By Tim Tebow.

LOOOOOONG ODDS. In The Magazine’s third installment of “How to Build a Program in Two Short Years,” Georgia State holds its first tryouts. And Coach Bill Curry may have found a long-snapper. Justin Heckert reports.

LEAP OF FAITH. The Blazers have put their trust in LaMarcus Aldridge, and now they’re asking him to return the favor. That’s where it gets tricky. Ric Bucher reports.

LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE. Ryan Malone helped his hometown Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals. What did he get in return? A one-way ticket to Tampa. Eric Adelson reports.

1,506 DAYS WITH ANDRE BERTO. The WBC welterweight champ is undefeated, but that doesn’t mean his four-year journey to the top has been a smooth one.

I WAS GOING TO SAY… THE SAME THING! Purdue’s big three of E’Twaun Moore, Keaton Grant and Robbie Hummel have so much chemistry, they could be playing well into March. Elena Bergeron reports.

BIDDING WARS. Come Tourney selection time, a conference’s strength makes the difference for team on the bubble. Too bad some leagues will make the bubble burst. Matt Giles and Jeff Dooley report.

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