One of the most exciting parts of the NFL offseason is when the next year’s schedule is released. It appears that isn’t going to happen anytime soon. Howard Katz, the senior vice president in charge of the process, said at the NFL owners meetings that it’s too early to target a completion date but said that while the league is shooting for mid-to-late April, he isn’t sure it actually will occur then.
The 2013 schedule was released on April 18th last season. It would appear the fans around the league could be waiting till closer to the NFL Draft in May for a full schedule to be released. One game that will get a lot of attention will be when the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks has a rematch with the Denver Broncos from that fateful day at MetLife Stadium on Groundhog’s Day. There are a ton of fans who want that game to be the league’s opening Thursday night game since Seattle is scheduled to host Denver this coming year. That game doesn’t appear to be the one that will open the 2014 season though.
Reports out of Denver say that the Broncos have been told that they will likely play their final preseason game on Thursday, Aug. 28 in Dallas. The fact that Denver would be on the road for that final preseason game makes it less likely that they would play on the road to open the 2014 season the following Thursday night. That fact would likely take away the possibility of fans in both cities getting to see that rematch right away on Sept. 4 when the season begins in Seattle.
These facts will sadden NFL fans that are ready to make their plans for the fall and which games will be at home for their favorite team. It looks more likely that the Seahawks will end up hosting the San Francisco 49ers or Green Bay Packers in that opening game. It will be a game worth watching no matter who the opponent is for the Seahawks. It could be another month or more before the answers are all known and plans can be made for the 2014 NFL season.
Nothing new if the schedule is released in mid-late April.
I hope by the end of the month, because if it is not done by 4/30, that’s too late for my convenience. Mr. Goddell better get going.
You are correct there if they do have it done by the end of April. Just seems from everything I have read that it won’t happen. Just my opinion though.
He should hurry up and get it done. I don’t understand why he moved the draft back. That makes zero sense.
Hawks/Pack in the opener would be something new, only played twice in the month of September all-time (1996, 2012). Maybe with both Tate and Jennings gone to/elsewhere in the NFC North we won’t get the annoying “Fail Mary” hype and instead go back to Rodgers vs Wilson in a matchup of the 45 and 48 champs as it should be.
Won’t be 49ers, if word last month that SF will host a SNF game week 2 holds up.
If it were me I’d stick the SB rematch head-to-head vs Game 4 of the WS, but the Sounders’ reg season finale is a day earlier and I’m not sure of the turnaround. Trivia: Pete Carroll coached in the last SB rematch too (Pack/Pats in ’97).
If it's a week before the draft, I'm fine with that. Hopefully not too much longer after the draft if the schedule isn't released before the draft, lol.
Draft was pushed back…only natural that the schedule is pushed back as well…
What’s RG doing moving the draft back? Makes no sense to me. Don’t sit on your hands. Get it done.
It seems like all Mr. Goddell does is make bad decisions. Why did he choose to move the draft back? Now, he wants to move the schedule release back. Makes no sense to me. The season is still going to start on the same night. Man up and get your work done, Mr. Goddell. Don’t be the wacky person you are appearing to be. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Later draft shortens time from draft to training camp. Both draftees & drafting teams are disadvantaged when rookies get into camp late. Timing becomes critical because players & agents may wait to sign until they see what draft choices ahead of receive.
While schedule is released near the time of draft, rationale is presumably to create more “Buzz”. Otherwise, I see no reason to delay schedule release because of draft date.