Release of regular-season NFL schedule delayed

[BigPlayShay]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2823297

Fans anxious to begin making plans for the 2007 NFL regular-season schedule will have to wait a little longer.

A league official confirmed Monday that the much-anticipated announcement of the regular-season schedule, originally set for Thursday, will be delayed. The schedule could be released as early as next week now, with the roll-out coming no later than April 19.

The delay was first reported by NFL.com, the league-owned Web site.

The league did announce its full preseason schedule on Monday afternoon.

Last week, at its annual meetings in Phoenix, the NFL unveiled its nationally televised opening week matchups for Sept. 6-10 and its three Thanksgiving Day games. The regular season kicks off Sept. 6 when the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts host the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL tentatively planned to roll out the rest of the regular-season schedule during a two-hour bloc on the NFL Network on Thursday afternoon. But an NFL official suggested to ESPN.com last week in Phoenix that a delay of that Thursday broadcast was likely, because there was still considerable work to be completed on the schedule.

The NFL designs its regular-season schedule without using computers and the process, given the longstanding priority on maintaining competitive balance, is an arduous task.

One notable change that first-year commissioner Roger Goodell has made is to solicit more input. For instance, long-time NFL general manager Ernie Accorsi, who retired from the New York Giants earlier in the offseason, recently visited the NFL offices to peruse the schedule.

[brncs_fan]

Is this really a big deal anymore? Most people know who they are playing next year already, it is just a matter of when. Even that we can make some pretty good guesses at: Florida in August, KC in December.

[spdirty]

damnit

[Garcia Bronco]

Yeah...I think though...this year...for once...I might just make it to all 8 home games. It will be difficult though....The stadium is like 4 miles away. :)

[Killericon]

The fact that this is even newsworthy is a testement to how much of a spectacle/religion the NFL has become. I love it.

[Sassy]

Dang...I was looking forward to some planning this week!
But then again...it wasn't out until later last year either.

[Blueflame]

Is this really a big deal anymore? Most people know who they are playing next year already, it is just a matter of when. Even that we can make some pretty good guesses at: Florida in August, KC in December.

When you're anxiously waiting for the schedule to come out so that you can choose which game you'll travel to Denver to attend, then yes, it is a big deal that the release of the schedule is delayed. It means that we'll have to wait a couple of extra weeks before starting to make plans. :(

[brncs_fan]

When you're anxiously waiting for the schedule to come out so that you can choose which game you'll travel to Denver to attend, then yes, it is a big deal that the release of the schedule is delayed. It means that we'll have to wait a couple of extra weeks before starting to make plans. :(

I guess that is true. For the average fab that doesn't get to travel to the games though, it is just a matter of knowing when there will be a game nearby. I am looking forward to the Bears game this year since it is in driving distance. It doesn't really matter to me when the game is, just so long as I get to go.

So pencil in the Bears game so I can meet some of you guys.

[Sassy]

On the positive side...for those of us getting airline tickets...we won't have that charge on our credit cards yet...however, airline tickets keep going up due to the cost of gas so yeah, it sucks!

[Los Broncos]

Yeah...I think though...this year...for once...I might just make it to all 8 home games. It will be difficult though....The stadium is like 4 miles away. :)

I wanna make it out to the D this year so bad, right up 15 to 70 and im there.

[Garcia Bronco]

I wanna make it out to the D this year so bad, right up 15 to 70 and im there.

I hear you talking. Do it. :)

[ludo21]

ill be at a home game, maybe 2 this year.

GIVE US THE SCHEDULE!!!!!! ;D

And maybe Diego again, or maybe KC..... i might be in Kansas..

[SonOfLe-loLang]

A few years back i could have bought a ticket to Denver/New England playoff game for face value, but unfortunately the plane and lodging would have been too much money. I haven;t been to the new stadium...the last bronco game i went to in Denver was the 1996 playoff game against Jax. What a disaster. Im dying to go again though.

[Crushaholic]

The release of the schedule is the first sign that Christmas (the football season) is coming...:pfbbt:

[SureShot]

Yeah...I think though...this year...for once...I might just make it to all 8 home games. It will be difficult though....The stadium is like 4 miles away. :)

Its the last couple hundred yards which are difficult. Especially when you don't have season tix.

[Vegas_Bronco]

Prediction:
@ Oakland Oct 21
@ Kansas Dec 9
@ San Diego Dec 16

[Dendave]

dang, I was hoping to start making plans this weekend

[dbfan21]

I was hoping to do some planning too. I will be at the Packers/Broncos game this year (if it doesn't interfere with three key dates that I have obligations for).

Keeping my fingers crossed....

[Garcia Bronco]

Its the last couple hundred yards which are difficult. Especially when you don't have season tix.

Mere technicalities

[55CrushEm]

Yeah....hoping to make my first game IN Denver this year.......not sure how much flights from Boston to Denver typically run, though. I think JetBlue has some good deals.

My only problem is figuring out if I want to go early in the season (nicer weather).....or later in the season, when the games get more exciting due to the nearing playoff races.......

[Sassy]

From the experience of a snow/sleet/bitter cold day in Cleveland...go for the warmer weather!

[55CrushEm]

From the experience of a snow/sleet/bitter cold day in Cleveland...go for the warmer weather!

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking......probably, one of the first 2 or 3 home games.

I really love the fall......cool days.....not too cold, but "sweatshirt weather".....perhaps an October game.

[Hogan11]

On the positive side...for those of us getting airline tickets...we won't have that charge on our credit cards yet...however, airline tickets keep going up due to the cost of gas so yeah, it sucks!

It's an aggervation...but we're still ready at a moments notice to reserve everything possible once that schedule drops. Actually the 5th did seem rather early anyways, since in years past it's been usually in the late teens when it's been released.

[Popcorn Sutton]

Damnit... I want to make plans for the Bears game.

[ak1971]

Yeah...I think though...this year...for once...I might just make it to all 8 home games. It will be difficult though....The stadium is like 4 miles away. :)

i might make it to a couple games this year

[BroncoBuff]

F December in Kansas City .... I'm sick of that, and it's not fair to plan it that way every year. I want @ KC in September. Let them come here in December.

This is just like Davis Stern's "lottery," you can't prove the fix is in .... but everybody knows it is.

[Garcia Bronco]

i might make it to a couple games this year

LOL

[Crushaholic]

F December in Kansas City .... I'm sick of that, and it's not fair to plan it that way every year. I want @ KC in September. Let them come here in December.

This is just like Davis Stern's "lottery," you can't prove the fix is in .... but everybody knows it is.

Late November was not much better. Actually, I would love to get the game in KC for September. It would be a great birthday present...

[Beantown Bronco]

Yeah....hoping to make my first game IN Denver this year.......not sure how much flights from Boston to Denver typically run, though. I think JetBlue has some good deals.

My only problem is figuring out if I want to go early in the season (nicer weather).....or later in the season, when the games get more exciting due to the nearing playoff races.......

I generally pay around $300 to fly United, non-stop, round trip from Logan....usually fly in on Friday or Saturday and come back on Tuesday (or Wednesday if it's a Mon night game). I have yet to see anything much less than that during football season.

[55CrushEm]

I generally pay around $300 to fly United, non-stop, round trip from Logan....usually fly in on Friday or Saturday and come back on Tuesday (or Wednesday if it's a Mon night game). I have yet to see anything much less than that during football season.

Thanks......I desperately wanted to go to the game at Foxboro last year in Week 3.....couldn't make it.

Now, I'm looking forward to my first ever game in Denver.....

[TheChamp24]

I generally pay around $300 to fly United, non-stop, round trip from Logan....usually fly in on Friday or Saturday and come back on Tuesday (or Wednesday if it's a Mon night game). I have yet to see anything much less than that during football season.

For the home opener last year, my ticket cost like $175, left on Friday night returned Monday morning.

[Dendave]

April 8, Cinci Enquirer
The regular-season schedule, which was supposed to be released by the league last week, was delayed.
The schedule could be ready for release Monday.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070408/COL04/704080380/1082/SPT0102

anybody else heard about it?

[ol number 7]

April 8, Cinci Enquirer
The regular-season schedule, which was supposed to be released by the league last week, was delayed.
The schedule could be ready for release Monday.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070408/COL04/704080380/1082/SPT0102

anybody else heard about it?

My Viking fan friend said he'll buy if I fly for the Broncs Vik queens game. Going to Chicago and possibly KC again . I bet the schedule is out by Wednesday this week.

[GSRelyea]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10112157

Schedule will offer plenty of intriguing games


By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com

(April 6, 2007) -- The release of the NFL's 2007 regular-season schedule early next week will provide the dates of games that fall under the following categories of intrigue:

REVENGE/INDIVIDUALS
--New England at Baltimore: New Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas, one of the most prominent free-agent acquisitions, gets his first crack at his old team.

--Baltimore at Buffalo: Running back Willis McGahee, whom the Bills traded to the Ravens, gets his first crack at his old team. And he will make his first appearance in front of many fans that have not taken too kindly to the unflattering remarks he made about the Buffalo area in the media. He shouldn't expect a warm welcome.

--Philadelphia at New England: Wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, who signed with the Patriots in free agency, will get his first chance to do his game-breaking thing against his former team.

--Tennessee at Denver: Running back Travis Henry, whom the Broncos acquired from the Titans in free agency, gets his first crack at his former team.

--Seattle at Atlanta: Defensive end Patrick Kerney, who joined the Seahawks from the Falcons in free agency, gets his first crack at his former team.

--Cleveland at Baltimore/Baltimore at Cleveland: One of these games will provide new Browns running back Jamal Lewis his first crack at his former team. Does he have a prayer of trampling the tough Ravens defense the way he used to trample the Browns defense?

--Buffalo at Philadelphia: Linebacker Takeo Spikes, whom the Bills traded to the Eagles, gets his first crack at his old team. So, too, does defensive tackle Darwin Walker, whom Buffalo acquired as part of the deal.

--Buffalo at Washington: Linebacker London Fletcher, who left the Bills for the Redskins in free agency, gets his first crack at his old team. So will offensive guard Derrick Dockery, whom Buffalo acquired in free agency from the Redskins.


Matt Schaub will start in Houston after three seasons in Atlanta.
--Houston at Atlanta: Quarterback Matt Schaub, whom the Texans acquired in a trade with the Falcons, gets his first chance to show his old team that he always had what it took to be a full-time starter -- an opportunity he never got behind Michael Vick.

--Miami at Pittsburgh: Linebacker Joey Porter, whom the Dolphins signed after he was released by the Steelers, gets his first crack at his former team. It is certain to be an emotional homecoming for the demonstrative Porter.

--Indianapolis at Oakland: Running back Dominic Rhodes, whom the Raiders signed from the Colts in free agency, gets his first crack at the team he helped lead to victory in Super Bowl XLI.

--Atlanta at New Orleans/New Orleans at Atlanta: One of these games will mark the first opportunity of wide receiver Joe Horn, whom the Falcons signed after he was cut by the Saints, to show his former team that he can still be a game breaker.

--Denver at Detroit: Cornerback Dre' Bly, whom the Lions traded to the Broncos, gets his first crack at his former team. So, too, does running back Tatum Bell, who joined Detroit in the same deal.

--Denver at Indianapolis: Wide receiver Brandon Stokley, whom the Broncos signed after he was cut by the Colts, gets his first crack at his former team.

--Tampa Bay at Indianapolis: Linebacker Cato June, whom the Buccaneers acquired from the Colts in free agency, gets his first crack at his former team.

--New England at Miami/Miami at New England: One of these games will mark the first time wide receiver/special teams standout Wes Welker, whom the Patriots acquired from the Dolphins in a trade, gets a crack at his old team.

REVENGE/TEAMS
--New England at Indianapolis: The Patriots will be looking to avenge their loss to the Colts in the 2006 AFC Championship Game.

--New Orleans at Chicago: The Saints will be looking to avenge their loss to the Bears in the 2006 NFC Championship Game.


Ask Vic!
Have a question for Vic on anything NFL related? Don't just sit there -- send it to AskVic@nfl.com, and the best questions will be answered throughout the season right here on NFL.com!
--San Diego at New England: The Chargers will be looking to avenge their loss to the Patriots in a 2006 divisional-round playoff game. They'll do so with a new coach, after Marty Schottenheimer was fired and replaced by Norv Turner.

--Indianapolis at Baltimore: The Ravens will be looking to avenge their loss to the Colts in an '06 divisional-round playoff game.

--Philadelphia at New Orleans: The Eagles will be looking to avenge their loss to the Saints in an '06 divisional-round playoff game. But they'll be doing so with a different quarterback, Donovan McNabb. Jeff Garcia, who started the playoff game while McNabb was sidelined with a knee injury, bolted to Tampa Bay in free agency.

--Chicago at Seattle: The Seahawks will be looking to avenge their loss to the Bears in an '06 divisional-round playoff game.

COACHING
--Denver at Houston: For the first time in the regular season, second-year Texans coach Gary Kubiak goes against Mike Shanahan, for whom he worked as an offensive coordinator in Denver from 1995 to 2005.


Bill Belichick (left) and Romeo Crennel won three Super Bowls together in New England.
--Cleveland at New England: Third-year Browns coach Romeo Crennel faces Bill Belichick, for whom he worked as a defensive coordinator in New England from 2001 to 2004.

--Tampa Bay at Seattle: Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden faces Mike Holmgren, for whom he worked as an assistant coach in Green Bay from 1992 to 1994.

--Dallas at Buffalo: New Cowboys coach Wade Phillips faces the team he coached from 1998 to 2000.

--Pittsburgh at Arizona: New Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt goes up against the Steelers, with whom he served as offensive coordinator from 2004 to 2006.

--San Diego at Oakland/Oakland at San Diego: One of these games will mark the first time Chargers coach Norv Turner goes against the team he coached from 2004 to 2005.

[Sassy]

Can't wait!!!

[27atwater]

I just need to know WHEN.

[Dendave]

I just need to know WHEN.


I agree I want the schedule out so I can start making plans...

[watermock]

Rather odd when there are allready parameters set and they have had since February to grind out something so difficult. What ya bet we go to KC late again?

[55CrushEm]

On my "To Do List" on my Tivo.....there is an "NFL Special" set to record for tomorrow (Tuesday)....there is no description, though.

That could be it......

[dbfan21]

I am dying to know what the schedule looks like too. I think I am looking more towards the new schedule than the draft. I know...it's crazy!

[27atwater]

I agree I want the schedule out so I can start making plans...

yup. It's all about the travel arrangements at this point.

As far as why it is taking so long, someone mentioned that the networks may be battling over which games are prime time etc. But that's second hand info...

[Los Broncos]

Im buying tickets for the chugger game this year as soon as they are out.

[Hogan11]

yup. It's all about the travel arrangements at this point.

As far as why it is taking so long, someone mentioned that the networks may be battling over which games are prime time etc. But that's second hand info...

This is true...securing those airline tickets before the price of fuel ramps up the cost is paramount at this time of year. Same for securing hotel reservations for the place you want...nothing sucks quite like not finding an available room in the place you wanna stay at. I was burned once by waiting on those things and vowed to myself, never again.

[smalltowngrll]

So, do we have a new release date yet??

[TheChamp24]

I'm kinda hoping it gets released soon. I heard rumours it might not be ready til next week.
But damnit, I wanna know when we play our games!

[Jana®]

On the positive side...for those of us getting airline tickets...we won't have that charge on our credit cards yet...however, airline tickets keep going up due to the cost of gas so yeah, it sucks!

Funny thing is.. I was looking for my trip to CA, and the ticket was $249.00. Well, I kept my eye out, and then one day, gas jumped like 10 cents. I decided, screw it. I'm paying the 249 and booking my flight. Imagine my surprise when I checked on Frontier.com and the ticket had dropped from 249 to 219! This was about a month ago, and although gas is still steadily rising, the price of the ticket hasn't changed. I keep checking to see if it changes or not, and it hasn't. I booked it the day I saw the drop, afraid it was going up. It hasn't moved yet.

[Dendave]

SCHEDULE COMING OUT WEDNESDAY
Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports that the 2007 NFL schedule will be released on Wednesday, April 11 (http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5974).

[Sassy]

Funny thing is.. I was looking for my trip to CA, and the ticket was $249.00. Well, I kept my eye out, and then one day, gas jumped like 10 cents. I decided, screw it. I'm paying the 249 and booking my flight. Imagine my surprise when I checked on Frontier.com and the ticket had dropped from 249 to 219! This was about a month ago, and although gas is still steadily rising, the price of the ticket hasn't changed. I keep checking to see if it changes or not, and it hasn't. I booked it the day I saw the drop, afraid it was going up. It hasn't moved yet.

Not for me. I was also watching a ticket and it jumped $20.

[Maverick7]

So it looks like Wednesday for the schedule release....I don't know about anyone else, but I always love the day the schedule is released. For me it is the real unofficial start of the new season. I think the opener will be at Houston, and I think we will have to travel to either KC or San Diego late in the season again. Maybe this year they will throw us a bone and schedule the KC trip for September......

[Dendave]

coming out Wednesday
http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/10119199