NFL Network: We Made 'Terrible Mistake'

DENVER (AP) -- The NFL Network accidentally aired a vulgarity yelled by Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels as he chastised his players on the sideline of their Thanksgiving night game against the New York Giants.

Coming out of a commercial break following a series of false starts near the goal line that resulted in Denver settling for a field goal, the NFL Network showed a clip of McDaniels, who yelled at his players: "We're trying to win the [expletive] game!"

The vulgarity was clearly audible to viewers, and announcer Bob Papa immediately apologized to viewers.

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"We want to apologize for that audio as we went to the last break that got out over the air. We do send our sincerest apologizes for the Josh McDaniels audio that got out there," Papa told viewers.

In an interview with The Associated Press and the Denver Post, Eric Weinberger, executive producer of the NFL Network, apologized to viewers and to McDaniels for the "terrible mistake."

He said no one in the production trucks heard the profanity.

"No one heard it as it was said. It would never have been aired," Weinberger said. "It was at the end of a clip, so we missed it."

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NFL Thanksgiving Day

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, bottom, is sacked by Denver Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski)

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NFL Thanksgiving Day Images

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning reacts following an incomplete pass during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley (14) reacts following a 17-yard touchdown-reception during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall, right, is tackled by New York Giants cornerback Corey Webster following a reception during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, left, argues a call with referee Tony Corrente during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski)

Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones (28) scores a touchdown followed by Oakland Raiders cornerback Tyvon Branch (33) during the first half of an NFL football game on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Jose Yau),

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Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil, left, and linebacker Wesley Woodyard, sacks New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, second from left, while running back Brandon Jacobs (27) looks on during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski)

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New York Giants running back Danny Ware, bottom, fumbles while being tackled by Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. Denver recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno, right, runs before a tackle by New York Giants safety Michael Johnson, left, during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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He said he heard the profanity at the same time everyone else did.

His reaction?

"I probably said the same thing" as McDaniels did, Weinberger acknowledged.

"We're not in this business to do that," Weinberger said. "We're in this business to show sports and to show the most emotion that we can show. And the guy is an incredibly emotional, passionate guy."

McDaniels wasn't miked. The audio was picked up by the NFL Network's cameras.

"It's amazing how aggressive the production is with microphones not even on the guys. We don't have wires on the guys," Weinberger said. "You're picking up ambient sound. If you're watching the game, you're hearing Kyle Orton calling audibles as the game's going on. He's not miked. It's the microphones that are on the sides that are picking up ambient sound."