NFL mulls opening MNF on ESPN with doubleheader

[BTO]

ESPN

NEW YORK -- The NFL is considering an ESPN doubleheader for the opening Monday night game of the 2006 season, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday.

The doubleheader would take place on Sept. 11, with one game beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern time and the second at 9 p.m., Aiello said.

The proposed Monday night doubleheader would provide ESPN with a 17th game -- the league most likely is to go again without a game the final Monday night of the season.

The 2006 NFL season most likely will start in Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, keeping with a recent trend of beginning the schedule with the current Super Bowl champion.

The new schedule will be disclosed in April, although some games, such as the opener, may be announced earlier.

The league also is still open to a game overseas for 2006, perhaps in London's Wembley Stadium, Aiello said.

The Sept. 7 game will be the fifth straight Thursday opener. The first was in 2002 when San Francisco was at the New York Giants, in part to commemorate the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The following season, the New York Jets were at Washington in the game in what was also considered a game honoring the two cities hit by the attacks.

But the last two openers have been at New England, the Super Bowl champion. The first was against Indianapolis and last season's opener was against Oakland.

NBC, which takes over from ABC as the network for night games, will televise the game in Pittsburgh.

Thursday and Saturday nights are now unavailable to ESPN because the NFL Network has picked up eight late-season games on those nights, beginning with Thanksgiving night.

As for the London game, Aiello said it remained under consideration. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said at the Super Bowl it was unlikely the NFL would play a regular-season game outside the United States this season. The first one took place last season with San Francisco playing Arizona in Mexico City.

[jonnyblaze]

As long as I only have to listen to Joe Thiesman once during the night...........

Pass Gun....bullets.....good

[Dr. Jack]

I like the idea of having two games. Agree with Blaze above as long as Thiesman only does one. lol

[pwherr]

Should I start the count down thread now?LOL

[hgldls]

2 games on one night
got to bus home QUICKLY from school~

[saddle]

I bet the scamdicappers can't wait to put out there parlay of the year( LOL)

[The Judge]

Originally Posted by jonnyblaze

As long as I only have to listen to Joe Thiesman once during the night...........

I am still in shock about Theismann getting this job. ESPN is becoming a truly poor judge of talent when it comes to their broadcasters, i.e. Stephen A. Smith, Stuart Scott, Theismann, etc.

My favorite Theismann video

[jonnyblaze]

Originally Posted by The Judge

I am still in shock about Theismann getting this job. ESPN is becoming a truly poor judge of talent when it comes to their broadcasters, i.e. Stephen A. Smith, Stuart Scott, Theismann, etc.

My favorite Theismann video

Actually, I think ESPN has had poor talent for about 7 years now. Call it the "Hey, Im funny" stage. As you can tell I (along with most in here) look at sports in depth and from a different view that perhaps the casual fan. I dont need to have comedy central when watching my sports programs. Berman started it and his lounge act has been tired for a decade. Stuart Scott is a mess...they cannot do any worse than him, but they have, 6 Stuart Scott-alikes doing sportscenter.

Espn's broadcast teams are no better. For a network that focuses on all sports, its actually amazing. The Thiesman, Mcguire, Patrick team was god awful. Hearing Berman do baseball or anything for that matter is like nails across a chalkboard (he said back back back for every dam homerun in the Homerun derby )

Im old school.....gimme Summeral & Madden with Brent and Jimmy The Greek in studio. No jokes, just football (and vegas odds, thanks Greek, RIP)

[Da Fanatic]

hey jb you forgot phyllis george.

[jonnyblaze]

Originally Posted by Da Fanatic

hey jb you forgot phyllis george.

Good call. And IRV CROSS!!

[rio132]

Originally Posted by jonnyblaze

As long as I only have to listen to Joe Thiesman once during the night...........

Pass Gun....bullets.....good

you have the option of mute dude

[jonnyblaze]

Originally Posted by rio132

you have the option of mute dude

You have the option of shutting the *uck up. Choose it.

[GatorMike]

A double header would be awesome!!!

[GatorMike]

Originally Posted by jonnyblaze

You have the option of shutting the *uck up. Choose it.

Easy now Johnny...let's be nice....

[jonnyblaze]

Hey Gator Mike not to offend you but this guy is driving everyone nuts in mainstreet. He got something negative to say in everygoddam post, so sorry but thats what he's getting from me. Sacrasm and jokes are clearly to advanced for him

Everyone else is