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    Shutdown Corner

    NFL to open season on a Wednesday night to avoid Obama speech

    By Chris Chase | Shutdown Corner – Tue, Feb 28, 2012 4:29 PM EST

    (Getty Images)

    The NFL will begin its 2012 NFL season on a Wednesday night in order to avoid conflicting with President Obama's nominating speech at the Democratic National Convention.

    Roger Goodell made the announcement that the regular season will begin Sept. 5, one day earlier than the traditional start on the first Thursday of the month. The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants will host the opener.

    It will be the league's first Wednesday game since 1948.

    Obama is scheduled to make his nomination speech on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

    This marks the third time in five years that presidential politics and the NFL opener have overlapped. In 2008, the league moved up its Thursday opener between the Giants and Washington Redskins to 7 p.m. ET in order to avoid conflicting with John McCain's nominating speech at the Republican National Convention.

    Last year, Obama did the adjusting, switching a scheduled jobs speech to 7 p.m. so it wouldn't bleed into NBC's coverage of the Green Bay Packers-New Orleans Saints game.

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    Watch Full Count!
     
    • Mike
      Mike  •  San Francisco, California  •  2 months ago
      You wanted change !! You got it !!
      • waldob56
        waldob56 2 months ago
        mike....you want to take our country back.........................to the 1950"s!!!
      • Pete's Wife
        Pete's Wife 2 months ago
        Um, no Waldob, how about just back to the Reagan era?
      • John
        John 2 months ago
        Amen brother!!!!
    • OKRAIDERFAN
      OKRAIDERFAN  •  Denver, Colorado  •  2 months ago
      Is it September yet?????
      • joseph
        joseph 2 months ago
        We all wish it was.
      • Kevin
        Kevin 2 months ago
        Raider fan and from bronco market...are you sure you want september to come?
      • Vikes4Life
        Vikes4Life 2 months ago
        I've been saying that since last October...
    • Abbie
      Abbie  •  2 months ago
      Good to know in advance. I'll change my plans and stay home Wednesday night to watch the game and go out on Thursday night. I don't want to watch anymore politicians!
      • Chris
        Chris 2 months ago
        Maybe a college game will be on Thursday night
      • A Yahoo! User 2 months ago
        just hope he's done with his crap before 10:00...
      • Somebeach
        Somebeach 2 months ago
        Now I have to rent a DVD on a Monday
    • ShutUpMeg
      ShutUpMeg  •  Kingwood, Texas  •  2 months ago
      Basically to avoid the embarrassment of football out rating his speech by a 100 to 1 margin.
    • christine
      christine  •  Cleveland, Ohio  •  2 months ago
      Football strats one day earlier !!! YEAH!!!!!
    • Mantis
      Mantis  •  2 months ago
      Wow, looks like Chris Chase did his homework this time. Nice job man, you'll be sports editor of the school newspaper before you even know it.
    • r
      r  •  Dobson, North Carolina  •  2 months ago
      I'd rather watch football!
    • gitso
      gitso  •  2 months ago
      Watching a football game, even though it's not my team, or, watching Obama blabber some more.......I say bring on the pigskin!
    • DDJC
      DDJC  •  Fresno, California  •  2 months ago
      Both parties must understand that we love football more than politicians.
      The football season creats more jobs than any president could.
      People beleive in football more than any president.
      So presidents, leave our dates alone.
    • Eat Drink Be Merry
      Eat Drink Be Merry  •  Farmingdale, Maine  •  2 months ago
      I would rather watch grass grow.
    • James
      James  •  Knoxville, Tennessee  •  2 months ago
      I'd rather watch a test screen than his speech. Don't worry, that crap won't be on every channel.
    • Jerry D
      Jerry D  •  Las Vegas, Nevada  •  2 months ago
      I rather watch FOOTBALL than Obama
    • Steven S
      Steven S  •  Rockford, Illinois  •  2 months ago
      That's Funny...Obama Gives A Speech And Everyone Is Watching The Game...
    • SmittyPHX
      SmittyPHX  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  2 months ago
      And you think the Democrats didn't know about the Thursday game? Change the convention, football is more important than listening to a hot bag of air. I hope there's a college game on!!!
    • Mary
      Mary  •  Surfside, California  •  2 months ago
      Jeesh! First our Constitution now our Football!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  2 months ago
      Its_the_place_where_you_can_meet_millionaires_who_are_searching_for_their_special_someone.
      Hello........The people that have and do play football.......absolutely know that they are banging their heads around.....and are fully aware they may get a concussion. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to put two and two together and know head injuries may cause problems down the line in their lives somewhere. That is common sense stuff. You need a study to tell you that?? Come on.....get fricken real. You know the risk of football when your playing the sport......They are just looking for money.61012032139
    • manacotti
      manacotti  •  Elmhurst, Illinois  •  2 months ago
      So you think that by moving the game we will be watching his speech? How presumptuous on your part Roger.
    • D.J. M
      D.J. M  •  Dallas, Texas  •  2 months ago
      Seems he lost my vote by moving my football. When will politicans learn you don't mess with FOOTBALL!
    • christine
      christine  •  Cranston, Rhode Island  •  2 months ago
      I would rather watch football any day ! Let him go on another vacation to Hawaii or sing with someone its all hes good for.
    • Rona Ann
      Rona Ann  •  Clarksburg, West Virginia  •  2 months ago
      wonder how many people who truely hate obama ......vote-1
     Post a comment

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