The 2014 NFL Season kicks off tonight. On a Thursday. It's a real shame.
The NFL is a greedy little group. For the past several years, the NFL has had an opening week that has included prime time games on Thursday, Sunday, and two(two!) on Monday. More games that are on national television mean more money for the owners. The NFL props up all these nationally televised as treats for the fans but it's really for the money. It's always about the money.
There;s actually a lot of fans that love all these extra games on the opening week of the season. Actually there is only one extra game. The second Monday night game. It just feels like there's a bunch of extra games. Fans do love these games. As much as I love the game, I don't love the extra games. I certainly don't love the Thursday games. I suppose that it's the football traditionalist in me. The NFL is made for Sundays and Thanksgiving Thursdays. I've grown to accept Monday night games. Perhaps the same growth will one day occur for the Thursday games. But, I doubt it. It's ludicrous to think that an NFL player can recover in time to play a Thursday game following a Sunday game. That issue isn't an issue for tonight's game. It's the opening game of the 2014 NFL Season.
The NFL has been opening the season on a Thursday since 2002. The 2012 Kickoff game was held on a Wednesday due to Barrack Obama's Acceptance Speech at the Democratic National Convention. That Wednesday night game probably got the NFL thinking about taking over that day as well. Despite my feelings on the matter, the Thursday Kickoff game has been a hit since 2002. They wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't. Since 2004, the game has been a showcase for the defending Super Bowl champion. The defending Super Bowl champion had won every game until the Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Giants on that Wednesday night in 2012. The Super Bowl champion lost again last year when the Denver Broncos took apart the Baltimore Ravens.
The NFL has turned these Thursday Kickoff games into a real show. They even have a splashy concert preceding them. Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Elton John, Carlos Santana, John Mellencamp, and many others have performed. Pharrell Williams and Soundgarden perform tonight. Ariana Grande will perform the National Anthem. Nothing says "NFL" like a rock concert.
The best thing about Kickoff Thursday is that the NFL is finally back. The NFL should be making it's kickoff on Sunday but this Thursday game is here to stay.
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