Talk:2008 NFL season

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[edit] Thank You!

Thanks for starting the 2008 NFL season page! NoseNuggets (talk) 3:02 AM US EST Dec 25 2007 (Christmas Day)

[edit] Disputed date

http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/futuresites currently gives a date of February 1. We need some reference to support that the league does in fact want to delay the start of the season for the presidential conventions. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 13:45, 25 December 2007 (UTC)

And even if the regular season is officially belated, that does not mean that the Super Bowl automatically will be too. The Super Bowl date was decided long before the presidential convention dates were scheduled. Tampa may not want to delay the Super Bowl due to logistic problems, and so there might only be a one week gap (no bye) between the Conference Championships and the Super Bowl like the 1990, 1993, 2001, and 2002 seasons. Cheers. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 14:03, 25 December 2007 (UTC)
There's no way to back that up. Besides, the NFL did not let the inauguration of a president get in the way of holding a Super Bowl.—Twigboy (talk) 05:14, 4 January 2008 (UTC)
Besides, the Presidential conventions are on weekdays, not on Sunday, and not at Minnesota's home field, either. The only thing that would possibly need to be worked around is to make sure the Vikings don't play at home that week on Thursday night, which won't happen anyway since that game is traditionally the National Football League Kickoff game hosted by the defending Super Bowl champs (which won't be Minnesota, they missed the playoffs). Following the regular pattern the season would start September 4. JMyrleFuller (talk) 17:37, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
Also, the article describing the International Series matchup (which cites league sources) that October 26 will be in Week 8. That would put Week 1 on the weekend of September 4-8. J. Myrle Fuller (talk) 19:32, 5 February 2008 (UTC)
First, Zzyzx is right. If the season does delay their start one week, there would be a kindred symbolism for the Kickoff Game on September 11, even if the Giants (New York) and Redskins (Washington) are involved. Second, there was a formal inauguration in 1985 at The White House because it fell on a Sunday; a second Inauguration, merely ceremonial was to have been held, but was canceled due to bitterly cold weather, so organizers had to improvise for the bands that were scheduled to be in the Inaugural Parade that day by playing at the now-defunct Capital Centre, Twigboy. Lastly, JMyrtleFuller, if the season opens a week late, October 26th would fall as a Week 7 game instead of a Week 8. In addition, the NFL might consider putting the Giants opener on NFL Network, say, in exchange for NBC carrying a possible Christmas Night game, which would fall on a Thursday this year if the season opens September 4th, or possibly move the game to ESPN, in exchange for dropping their Monday Night twinbill that week, and NBC getting said Christmas night game in lieu for that. We'll have to wait and see for this, though. NoseNuggets (talk) 8:48 AM US EST Feb 9 2008.

Summarizing what I think you're all saying here, and inferring some things - please correct me if I'm wrong: All signs point to the NFL starting the season on Thursday, Sept 4. That game would normally be on NBC. NBC has a conflict as that's the last night of the Republican Convention, where the nominee gives the speech. (It's not a facilities conflict in Minneapolis/St. Paul - but it is a big TV conflict). Possible solutions as presented above: (1) Give the game to a cable network - I doubt NBC would go for this - a NY Giants opening game would be a big draw. (2) Start the season a week later. How about two other possibilities: (3) Start the game earlier - at 6:30 PM Eastern, it would be over before 10:00. (4) Move the game to Wednesday (still a conflict with the convention, but not a huge one) or Friday (lower viewership but not a bad option). Thanks. Simon12 (talk) 21:28, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

Yes, but without specifically cited sources or references, all four points are currently unverifiable speculation, which is not permitted on the article under WP:CRYSTAL. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 00:40, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
I wasn't suggesting putting anything in the article, just trying to summarize the issue. I would note that there is precedence for the NFL moving games earlier in the evening for convention coverage - it was for preseason games in 2000.[1] (Yes, I know, big difference between preseason and the opening game of the regular season). Simon12 (talk) 03:40, 4 March 2008 (UTC)
In the Cincinnati.com blog, there is the NFL's upcoming calendar, which says that it was released by the NFL. Even though its (presumably) editorially supported by Gannett, it did not seem to be reliable enough. (This is what I could find on the NFL site.) In any event the Cincinnati.com reference places Sept. 4 in the Kickoff Weekend.—Twigboy (talk) 17:36, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, the NFL has now commented on this, and from the comment it certainly seems like the season is expected to start on Sep 4 and conflicts with McCain's speech[2]:

"We are aware of it and will be discussing it with NBC," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello (who grew up in Syosset) wrote in an e-mail.

According to the AP story I posted in the main article, it appears that the September 4 date has been confirmed and the only issue is the time. It appears that they want to move it up to 7 p.m. to give McCain a chance to give his speech after 10:00. With that in mind, I have dropped "tentative" from the schedule starting date. J. Myrle Fuller (talk) 19:09, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] International Series

Does someone have a source for the statement regarding the matchup/venue for the London game? All I can find is that "Details about the game -– including the venue and competing teams -– are expected to be confirmed during Super Bowl week (Jan. 28-Feb. 3) in Arizona." I've marked the statement with a citation-needed tag for now. JMyrleFuller (talk) 16:53, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

Issue resolved. Thank you. J. Myrle Fuller 18:15, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Correction

It clearly states in the article linked in footnote 2 that the NFL approved up to two games to be played outside the US. The article had stated that the NFL approved a second game outside the US. This is completely false since the game in London WAS the second game outside the US. The first was in 2005, when the Cardinals and 49ers played in Mexico city. Please read the article correctly before footnoting it. Since the entire first paragraph is false in so many ways I am taking it out.—Preceding unsigned comment added by Rtbudi06 (talk • contribs) 12:40, February 1, 2008

Then explain why so many media outlets both here in the States and in London have confirmed that there's a second London game coming? The reports were both legitimate, cited reports, and just because you interpreted something different from that doesn't make you right. Goodell just confirmed it a few minutes ago anyway. J. Myrle Fuller (talk) 18:58, 1 February 2008 (UTC)
Well, this was the first NFL regular season contest outside North America. Mexico is part of North America when I last checked, of course. NoseNuggets (talk) 8:52 AM US EST Feb 9 2008.
I did not look up that particular article, but the source used in 2007 NFL season said it was up to two international games per year.—Twigboy (talk) 19:43, 5 February 2008 (UTC)
Very interesting... Nutty Gorilla —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.111.49.163 (talk) 03:42, 4 March 2008 (UTC)