Five Must-Have Football Apps

For a while this summer, the fate of this NFL season looked grim. But players and owners reached a deal to end the lockout, and the 2011 football season officially kicked off last night. Now, we're gearing up for our first Sunday on the couch, and you know what that means: cold beer, spicy wings, and scoreboard stalking. You're on your own for the first two, but downloading these must-have apps will help you with the latter for the upcoming season.

Whether you're cheering from the bleachers, watching from your recliner, or following from the road, PCMag gives you the scouting report on five smartphone apps to help you keep up this season. Even if you're on the go on game day, you can check scores and stats, stream video or audio, and get real-time commentary.

With football season comes fantasy football season and all the draft drama and trash talk it brings to the game. Ah, that sweet satisfaction you feel when your rival's first-round pick misses several games. The right app can give you the edge over your competitors, allowing you to trade and bench players on the fly.

And if you're fiending for a football fix when your team is off, sharpen your own skills with the new Madden NFL 12 game that's currently controlling the clock on Android Market.

If you actually plan on playing some two-hand touch yourself this autumn, you might need to put your phone down. Not for too long, though, or you'll lose ground and might be better off attending book club next Monday night.

So take a knee and listen closely because while these football apps can't guarantee your team will make it to Super Bowl XLVI, they can ensure you'll catch that epic end-zone dance.

1. Sports Radio Streaming

WunderRadio by Weather Underground
iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows
$6.99

If your local sports radio station is out of range, WunderRadio will come to the rescue. Stream thousands of live radio channels from the internet using Wi-Fi or 3G. (Sound quality depends on signal strength and the quality of the internet stream.) Tune into your favorite pro or college team games and get the inside scoop from sports talk commentators. Search stations by category (sports), genre (sports talk), and location (Green Bay) or use your phone’s GPS to find local stations.

2. Watching the Game

WatchESPN by ESPN
iOS and Android
Free

Fans and cowboys alike can flip through the family sports channels (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN3.com) for free and watch shows like Monday Night Football, NFL Live, and College GameDay. The app is clutch for subscribers to Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, and Verizon FiOS TV but drops the ball with cable providers like Comcast and DirecTV. However, an account-preview option provides a few free viewing hours without authentication.

3. Get Your Game On

Madden NFL 12 by EA Sports
iOS and Android
$6.99 for mobile, $9.99 for iPad

If you’re tired of sitting on the sidelines, get in the game with Madden NFL 12. It’s in the power rankings of Android Market paid apps. Released in sync with its big brother console version, the mobile version features improved graphics, enhanced stadium environments, and updated collision effects. Fans of the previous franchises will find the familiar modes: exhibition play, 16-game season, and playoffs.

4. Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football Monster ’11 by Bignoggins Productions
iOS and Android
$2.99

This three-in-one app tackles all other Fantasy Football apps, pooling your Yahoo, ESPN, and NFL.com teams in one place. (Android only supports Yahoo and ESPN.) Add, drop, and trade players; check live game scores; read team notes; automatically set lineups; and view sports headlines. The updated version has fixed some bugs. There’s a free, ad-supported version available, but it lacks some features.

5. MVP App

SportCaster by OneLouder
iOS and Android
Free

The folks at OneLouder know football means more than scores and stats. It’s also live coverage, commentary, and the occasional argument. The developers of TweetCaster have scored a touchdown with SportCaster, a new app which uses Twitter to compile reports and opinions from the most credible athletes and analysts. Whether you have a Twitter account or not, the app lets you follow your favorite team with a live feed that provides personalized access to game details before, during, and after the game.