Here it is folks! I have been paying attention to the NFL lock-out, but haven't written on it as I'm in a wait-and-see mode. I, as a huge fan, hope the season will start without any issues, but am not entirely sure that will be the case. It's interesting how the league is carrying on with business as usual and training camps haven't really started yet, and they should have by now. Without much knowledge or understanding of why what's happening is happening in the league right now, it would be hard to give my opinion, er, rant, on the current situation, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.
From FoxSports.com
The NFL released its entire regular-season schedule Tuesday and the season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 8 with the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers hosting the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field.
The New York Giants will visit the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 11, marking the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
With the NFL and its locked-out players mired in negotiations over a new labor agreement, the league on Tuesday announced its 2011-12 schedule — assuming the season starts on time.
The first Sunday features several high-profile games, including Indianapolis at Houston and Atlanta at Chicago. But much of the national focus will be on Washington and New York, the two cities most affected by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
''That stadium is going to be full of emotion, not only the people from the area but in the entire country,'' said Jets coach Rex Ryan, who will be matching wits with his brother, Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. ''The fact that it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11, that's where the focus should be, not me playing against my brother.''
The Redskins and Giants kick off at 4:15 p.m., with the Jets and Cowboys at 8:20 p.m.
''For nearly 10 years, we have felt an obligation to use our platform to make sure none of us ever forget the tragedy and heartbreak and courage and heroism of Sept. 11,'' Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said. ''That responsibility becomes even greater.''
Pittsburgh was the third NFL city most closely affected by the terrorist attacks after Flight 93 crashed 80 miles away near Shanksville, Pa. The Steelers will visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 11.
New England travels to Miami and Oakland visits Denver for the opening Monday night.
The final Sunday of the regular season falls on New Year's Day, when all 16 scheduled games are between division rivals, enhancing the potential for playoff ramifications.
The regular season covers 17 weeks, with the opening round of the playoffs scheduled for Jan. 7-8 and the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Indianapolis.
The NFL has expressed a desire to stretch the season to 18 games, one of the sticking points in the contentious fight between owners and players over a new labor agreement.
The two sides resumed court-ordered mediation on Tuesday in Minneapolis, with a federal judge's decision expected soon on a request to immediately halt the lockout.
The two sides spent 16 days immersed in mediated talks in Washington without coming to an agreement, resulting in a class-action antitrust lawsuit filed by the players against the NFL and the league's first work stoppage since 1987. They've recently spent about 20 hours over three days meeting in Minneapolis, with more discussions planned for Wednesday.
In a statement announcing next season's schedule, the NFL did not provide any contingencies should negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement stretch into the fall.
''I'm confident we will have season,'' Rex Ryan said Tuesday night. ''We're going to be ready to play. Whenever they say, 'OK, we're going back to work,' we'll be ready to play.''
Among the other highlights of the schedule, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Chicago Bears at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 23, one of two games outside the United States and the fifth consecutive year the NFL has played a regular-season game in London.
The Bucs lost to the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium in 2009, while the Bears will be marking the 25th anniversary of their preseason game against the Cowboys in London.
The Buffalo Bills will play a game in Canada for the fourth consecutive season when they host the Redskins at the Rogers Centre on Oct. 30 in Toronto. The Bills have a deal with Rogers Communications through 2012 to play five regular-season games in Canada's largest city.
The Thanksgiving Day games include the Packers at Detroit, Miami at Dallas and San Francisco at Baltimore, when new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh faces the Ravens and coach John Harbaugh in the first meeting between sibling head coaches in NFL history.
The Packers play the Bears in the only game on Christmas Day. There are 13 games scheduled for Dec. 24, including the Giants against the Jets.
The NFL will again use ''flexible scheduling'' for Weeks 10-15 and the final week of the regular season, allowing the league to move the start times for select games.
Obviously, the labor strife between the owners and the players could force major adjustments if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached in a timely fashion.
Full schedule
All times Eastern.
Week 1
Thursday, Sept. 8
Saints at Packers 8:30 PM
Sunday, Sept. 11
Steelers at Ravens 1:00 PM
Bengals at Browns 1:00 PM
Colts at Texans 1:00 PM
Titans at Jaguars 1:00 PM
Falcons at Bears 1:00 PM
Bills at Chiefs 1:00 PM
Eagles at Rams 1:00 PM
Lions at Buccaneers 1:00 PM
Seahawks at 49ers 4:15 PM
Giants at Redskins 4:15 PM
Vikings at Chargers 4:15 PM
Panthers at Cardinals 4:15 PM
Cowboys at Jets 8:20 PM
Monday, Sept. 12
Patriots at Dolphins 7:00 PM
Raiders at Broncos 10:15 PM
Week 2
Sunday, Sept. 18
Chiefs at Lions 1:00 PM
Seahawks at Steelers 1:00 PM
Raiders at Bills 1:00 PM
Packers at Panthers 1:00 PM
Ravens at Titans 1:00 PM
Browns at Colts 1:00 PM
Buccaneers at Vikings 1:00 PM
Cardinals at Redskins 1:00 PM
Bears at Saints 1:00 PM
Jaguars at Jets 1:00 PM
Cowboys at 49ers 4:05 PM
Chargers at Patriots 4:15 PM
Bengals at Broncos 4:15 PM
Texans at Dolphins 4:15 PM
Eagles at Falcons 8:20 PM
Monday, Sept. 19
Rams at Giants 8:30 PM
Week 3
Sunday, Sept. 25
Patriots at Bills 1:00 PM
Lions at Vikings 1:00 PM
Giants at Eagles 1:00 PM
Jaguars at Panthers 1:00 PM
49ers at Bengals 1:00 PM
Texans at Saints 1:00 PM
Dolphins at Browns 1:00 PM
Broncos at Titans 1:00 PM
Chiefs at Chargers 4:05 PM
Ravens at Rams 4:05 PM
Jets at Raiders 4:05 PM
Packers at Bears 4:15 PM
Falcons at Buccaneers 4:15 PM
Cardinals at Seahawks 4:15 PM
Steelers at Colts 8:20 PM
Monday, Sept. 26
Redskins at Cowboys 8:30 PM
Week 4
Sunday, Oct. 2
Saints at Jaguars 1:00 PM
Vikings at Chiefs 1:00 PM
Panthers at Bears 1:00 PM
Titans at Browns 1:00 PM
Steelers at Texans 1:00 PM
49ers at Eagles 1:00 PM
Redskins at Rams 1:00 PM
Bills at Bengals 1:00 PM
Lions at Cowboys 1:00 PM
Giants at Cardinals 4:05 PM
Falcons at Seahawks 4:05 PM
Broncos at Packers 4:15 PM
Patriots at Raiders 4:15 PM
Dolphins at Chargers 4:15 PM
Jets at Ravens 8:20 PM
Monday, Oct. 3
Colts at Buccaneers 8:30 PM
Week 5
Sunday, Oct. 9
Saints at Panthers 1:00 PM
Eagles at Bills 1:00 PM
Bengals at Jaguars 1:00 PM
Seahawks at Giants 1:00 PM
Titans at Steelers 1:00 PM
Raiders at Texans 1:00 PM
Chiefs at Colts 1:00 PM
Cardinals at Vikings 1:00 PM
Buccaneers at 49ers 4:05 PM
Chargers at Broncos 4:15 PM
Jets at Patriots 4:15 PM
Packers at Falcons 8:20 PM
Monday, Oct. 10
Bears at Lions 8:30 PM
Byes: BAL, CLE, DAL, MIA, WAS, STL
Week 6
Sunday, Oct. 16
Panthers at Falcons 1:00 PM
Eagles at Redskins 1:00 PM
Bills at Giants 1:00 PM
Colts at Bengals 1:00 PM
Jaguars at Steelers 1:00 PM
49ers at Lions 1:00 PM
Rams at Packers 1:00 PM
Texans at Ravens 4:05 PM
Browns at Raiders 4:05 PM
Saints at Buccaneers 4:15 PM
Cowboys at Patriots 4:15 PM
Vikings at Bears 8:20 PM
Monday, Oct. 17
Dolphins at Jets 8:30 PM
Byes: ARI, DEN, KC, SD, SEA, TEN
Week 7
Sunday, Oct. 23
Texans at Titans 1:00 PM
Seahawks at Browns 1:00 PM
Falcons at Lions 1:00 PM
Broncos at Dolphins 1:00 PM
Chargers at Jets 1:00 PM
Bears at Buccaneers 1:00 PM
Redskins at Panthers 1:00 PM
Chiefs at Raiders 4:05 PM
Steelers at Cardinals 4:05 PM
Packers at Vikings 4:15 PM
Rams at Cowboys 4:15 PM
Colts at Saints 8:20 PM
Monday, Oct. 24
Ravens at Jaguars 8:30 PM
Byes: BUF, CIN, NE, NYG, PHI, SF
Week 8
Sunday, Oct. 30
Colts at Titans 1:00 PM
Jaguars at Texans 1:00 PM
Cardinals at Ravens 1:00 PM
Dolphins at Giants 1:00 PM
Vikings at Panthers 1:00 PM
Saints at Rams 1:00 PM
Redskins at Bills 4:05 PM
Lions at Broncos 4:05 PM
Browns at 49ers 4:15 PM
Bengals at Seahawks 4:15 PM
Patriots at Steelers 4:15 PM
Cowboys at Eagles 8:20 PM
Monday, Oct. 31
Chargers at Chiefs 8:30 PM
Byes: ATL, CHI, GB, NYJ, OAK, TB
Week 9
Sunday, Nov. 6
Jets at Bills 1:00 PM
Buccaneers at Saints 1:00 PM
Falcons at Colts 1:00 PM
Seahawks at Cowboys 1:00 PM
Dolphins at Chiefs 1:00 PM
49ers at Redskins 1:00 PM
Browns at Texans 1:00 PM
Broncos at Raiders 4:05 PM
Bengals at Titans 4:05 PM
Rams at Cardinals 4:15 PM
Giants at Patriots 4:15 PM
Packers at Chargers 4:15 PM
Ravens at Steelers 8:20 PM
Monday, Nov. 7
Bears at Eagles 8:30 PM
Byes: CAR, DET, JAC, MIN
Week 10
Thursday, Nov. 10
Raiders at Chargers 8:20 PM
Sunday, Nov. 13
Saints at Falcons 1:00 PM
Lions at Bears 1:00 PM
Jaguars at Colts 1:00 PM
Broncos at Chiefs 1:00 PM
Steelers at Bengals 1:00 PM
Titans at Panthers 1:00 PM
Texans at Buccaneers 1:00 PM
Redskins at Dolphins 1:00 PM
Rams at Browns 1:00 PM
Bills at Cowboys 1:00 PM
Cardinals at Eagles 1:00 PM
Ravens at Seahawks 4:05 PM
Giants at 49ers 4:15 PM
Patriots at Jets 8:20 PM
Monday, Nov. 14
Vikings at Packers 8:30 PM
Week 11
Thursday, Nov. 17
Jets at Broncos 8:20 PM
Sunday, Nov. 20
Bengals at Ravens 1:00 PM
Cowboys at Redskins 1:00 PM
Bills at Dolphins 1:00 PM
Titans at Falcons 1:00 PM
Raiders at Vikings 1:00 PM
Jaguars at Browns 1:00 PM
Panthers at Lions 1:00 PM
Buccaneers at Packers 1:00 PM
Seahawks at Rams 4:05 PM
Cardinals at 49ers 4:05 PM
Chargers at Bears 4:15 PM
Eagles at Giants 8:20 PM
Monday, Nov. 21
Chiefs at Patriots 8:30 PM
Byes: HOU, IND, NO, PIT
Week 12
Thursday, Nov. 24
Packers at Lions 12:30 PM
Dolphins at Cowboys 4:15 PM
49ers at Ravens 8:20 PM
Sunday, Nov. 27
Browns at Bengals 1:00 PM
Texans at Jaguars 1:00 PM
Cardinals at Rams 1:00 PM
Bills at Jets 1:00 PM
Buccaneers at Titans 1:00 PM
Panthers at Colts 1:00 PM
Vikings at Falcons 1:00 PM
Bears at Raiders 4:05 PM
Redskins at Seahawks 4:05 PM
Broncos at Chargers 4:15 PM
Patriots at Eagles 4:15 PM
Steelers at Chiefs 8:20 PM
Monday, Nov. 28
Giants at Saints 8:30 PM
Week 13
Thursday, Dec. 1
Eagles at Seahawks 8:20 PM
Sunday, Dec. 4
Ravens at Browns 1:00 PM
Bengals at Steelers 1:00 PM
Panthers at Buccaneers 1:00 PM
Chiefs at Bears 1:00 PM
Jets at Redskins 1:00 PM
Falcons at Texans 1:00 PM
Raiders at Dolphins 1:00 PM
Lions at Saints 1:00 PM
Titans at Bills 1:00 PM
Broncos at Vikings 4:05 PM
Rams at 49ers 4:15 PM
Cowboys at Cardinals 4:15 PM
Packers at Giants 4:15 PM
Colts at Patriots 8:20 PM
Monday, Dec. 5
Chargers at Jaguars 8:30 PM
Week 14
Thursday, Dec. 8
Browns at Steelers 8:20 PM
Sunday, Dec. 11
Falcons at Panthers 1:00 PM
Vikings at Lions 1:00 PM
Raiders at Packers 1:00 PM
Buccaneers at Jaguars 1:00 PM
Eagles at Dolphins 1:00 PM
Patriots at Redskins 1:00 PM
Saints at Titans 1:00 PM
Colts at Ravens 1:00 PM
Chiefs at Jets 1:00 PM
Texans at Bengals 1:00 PM
49ers at Cardinals 4:05 PM
Bears at Broncos 4:05 PM
Bills at Chargers 4:15 PM
Giants at Cowboys 8:20 PM
Monday, Dec. 12
Rams at Seahawks 8:30 PM
Week 15
Thursday, Dec. 15
Jaguars at Falcons 8:20 PM
Saturday, Dec. 17
Cowboys at Buccaneers 8:20 PM
Sunday, Dec. 18
Dolphins at Bills 1:00 PM
Redskins at Giants 1:00 PM
Titans at Colts 1:00 PM
Panthers at Texans 1:00 PM
Packers at Chiefs 1:00 PM
Bengals at Rams 1:00 PM
Saints at Vikings 1:00 PM
Seahawks at Bears 1:00 PM
Lions at Raiders 4:05 PM
Jets at Eagles 4:15 PM
Browns at Cardinals 4:15 PM
Patriots at Broncos 4:15 PM
Ravens at Chargers 8:20 PM
Monday, Dec. 19
Steelers at 49ers 8:30 PM
Week 16
Thursday, Dec. 22
Texans at Colts 8:20 PM
Saturday, Dec. 24
Browns at Ravens 1:00 PM
Buccaneers at Panthers 1:00 PM
Dolphins at Patriots 1:00 PM
Raiders at Chiefs 1:00 PM
Jaguars at Titans 1:00 PM
Cardinals at Bengals 1:00 PM
Giants at Jets 1:00 PM
Rams at Steelers 1:00 PM
Broncos at Bills 1:00 PM
Vikings at Redskins 1:00 PM
Chargers at Lions 4:05 PM
Eagles at Cowboys 4:15 PM
49ers at Seahawks 4:15 PM
Sunday, Dec. 25
Bears at Packers 8:20 PM
Monday, Dec. 26
Falcons at Saints 8:30 PM
Week 17
Sunday, Jan. 1
Buccaneers at Falcons 1:00 PM
Cowboys at Giants 1:00 PM
Panthers at Saints 1:00 PM
49ers at Rams 1:00 PM
Colts at Jaguars 1:00 PM
Titans at Texans 1:00 PM
Lions at Packers 1:00 PM
Redskins at Eagles 1:00 PM
Bills at Patriots 1:00 PM
Bears at Vikings 1:00 PM
Jets at Dolphins 1:00 PM
Ravens at Bengals 1:00 PM
Steelers at Browns 1:00 PM
Chiefs at Broncos 4:15 PM
Seahawks at Cardinals 4:15 PM
Chargers at Raiders 4:15 PM