For the first time since probably a couple days after the Super Bowl, the NFL made me smile! I have been adamant about not discussing any of the CBA or Lock out stuff because I did not like what either the NFL Owners and NFL Players are doing to the game I love.
Then today the league put out the 2011 NFL Schedule and I could not help but smile! There are plenty of excellent match-ups and this schedule gets me excited for another year. Of course, I will probably go back to feeling bad and crappy once I realize that some of these games could be dropped if the owners and players don’t get their act together.
Why will I be upset if the league has to skip even one week. Because Week 1 has Saints at Packers to open the season on Thursday night, Colts at Texans, Falcons at Bears, Steelers at Ravens and Giants at Redskins on Sunday to be followed by Cowboys at Jets on Sunday night and Raiders at Broncos and Patriots at Dolphins for the Monday Night double-header to close out Week 1. Does anyone really want to miss those games?
I certainly do not!
The entire schedule is here.
Steven… Ditto.
What date each year is the schedule normally released? Is today on par with years past? Just by watching Goodell give his reasoning why he released it sounded fishy to me. Does anyone else think that this might have been a small publicity stunt to make the NFL look like the good guys in trying to be positive about the ongoing mediation? Judges should always be impartial, but America is about perception first and foremost.
As asinine as the NFL has been with their demeanor in deciding when to meet, for how long, and with who (decertification), I’m surprised the schedule’s matchup dates weren’t just all TBA. ;0
You make a good point Dan… I think this show of arrogance by the NFL should prompt the Judge to lift the lockout… all this does is enhance the point of the NFLPA by saying that the quality of the league will suffer if the lockout continues. But on a lighter note… my Lions will have a chance to get revenge on the Bears for there “victories” against us last year in front of a national auidience. Prime Time Babyyyyyy.
-Rico-
#1 Lions fan
Gotta love how they built a work stoppage into the schedule so they can go an extra few weeks trying to squeeze the players for as much as possible.
Based on this schedule, and even being conservative… I’m placing the Eagles at maybe 10-6? I know it’s way too soon to tell, but just my early predictions (I see them going 1-1 with both the Giants and the Cowboys, 2-0 with the Redskins, losing to the Bears/Falcons/Patriots/Jets).
I just like guessing stuff :D