Kid Rock To Perform at Halftime of New England-Detroit Thanksgiving Day Game

"THE NFL TODAY" ALSO FEATURES STORY ON PITTSBURGH STEELERS'

COMMITMENT TO HEROES OF UNITED FLIGHT 93 ON SUNDAY, NOV. 28

THE NFL ON CBS, broadcasting its 51^st year of the NFL, continues its 2010 NFL season on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25 (12:30 PM, ET) and Sunday, Nov. 28 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET)  beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-12:30 PM, ET) and (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.

THE NFL TODAY features a special Thanksgiving Day story on the late-Cincinnati Bengals wide receive Chris Henry narrated by his mother Carolyn Glaspy. 

On December 16, 2009 Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry fell from a moving vehicle in Charlotte, N.C. and died a day later as a result of the injuries he suffered during the accident.  In the wake of the tragedy, Henry's mother, Carolyn Glaspy, made the decision to donate his organs.  Among the recipients were Donna Arnold, James Benton, Thomas Elliott and Brian Polk.  The four, along with their immediate families, share their struggles and jubilation over the last year while waiting for donor organs and then receiving the news.  Through the assistance of LifeShare of the Carolinas and the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, the four individuals that received Henry's organs met for the first time on November 5, 2010.  A day later, for the first time, the recipients all met Mrs. Glaspy for an emotional meeting a year in the making.  Charlie Bloom is the producer.

Excerpts from the feature:

Kidney recipient Brian Polk: "I couldn't make plans for the future because I was too busy fighting for today."

Kidney and pancreas recipient Donna Arnold: "Death. If I didn't get transplant that was the alternative."

Liver recipient James Benton: "At one point they gave me six months to live."

Carolyn Henry Glaspy on her son's last hours after the auto-related accident on December 16, 2009: "I thought I was just going in to see maybe, injuries and I never imagined in a million years I was going in to see my son for the last time."

In addition, Grammy Award-nominated recording artist Kid Rock will perform live during halftime of the New England-Detroit game, and country recording artist Josh Gracin will sing the National Anthem. 

On Sunday, Nov. 28 (12:00 Noon, ET) THE NFL TODAY features a special Thanksgiving weekend story on the Pittsburgh Steelers and their commitment to the memory of the people on board United Flight 93 who heroically made the ultimate sacrifice in fighting back against hijackers of their plane on September 11, 2001.  On that September day, 40 ordinary people became heroes when they prevented their plane from reaching Washington, D.C. as United Flight 93 crashed in a grassy field in Shanksville, Pa. less than 100 miles from Pittsburgh.  In the days following the crash, the Pittsburgh Steelers went to pay their respects and provide whatever comfort they could to the families of the passengers and crew, and the people of the community.  Now, nine years later, 40 former Steelers led by four-time Super Bowl Champion and former Vietnam War veteran Rocky Bleier stand in unison with the families of the 40 heroes to honor the memory of those on board and to create a "Flight 93 National Memorial" in Shanksville.  Deb Gelman is the producer.

James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY, along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY "General Manager" Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.

Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as the executive producer for the Network's coverage of the NFL.  Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

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CBS Sports Contacts:  Robin Brendle              212/975-1533              rlbrendle@cbs.com

                                    Jerry Caraccioli            212/975-7466              gwcaraccioli@cbs.com