[Wsjltrhe]

Looks like the opening week will be a double header on Monday Night including the Saints/Giants game.

The New Orleans Saints-New York Giants game will will be played as part of a nationally televised doubleheader starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 19.

The game, already moved to the Giants' home in the New Jersey Meadowlands, will begin on ABC, then be switched to ESPN at 9 p.m., when ABC goes to the regularly scheduled game between Washington and Dallas in Irving, Texas. In New York and Louisiana, as well as other parts of the Gulf Coast, ABC will continue to carry the Giants-Saints game, switching to Redskins-Cowboys when the Saints game ends.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said other details, such as ticket sales, will be announced soon.

"We appreciate the leadership of ABC and ESPN in helping us turn this particular Monday night into far more than a prime-time football doubleheader, making it part of the overall Gulf Coast relief effort," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said in a statement released by the NFL. "The New Orleans Saints know the importance of rising to help meet the Gulf Coast's extraordinary challenges, and we salute them, too."

The NFL said fund-raising efforts for hurricane relief will be intertwined in the telecasts of both games.

Saints coach Jim Haslett, already miffed at losing a home game, found it curious the NFL would allow this game to overlap with the already scheduled Monday nighter.

"I really don't know why they're doing it," Haslett said, rolling his eyes.

Monday was the likely choice because the Meadowlands is playing host to a soccer game Saturday, Sept. 17 and the New York Jets play the Miami Dolphins there on Sunday.

The Saints are still waiting for a decision where they'll play the remaining seven games scheduled for the Superdome. The candidates are LSU's Tiger Stadium, the team's overwhelming choice; the Alamodome in San Antonio, where the Saints are living and practicing; or being on the road for all 16 games.

The scheduling does not totally satisfy the other NFC East teams because the Giants get an extra home game from the switch -- even if they are officially listed as visitors.

"I'd be smart not to comment on that," Dallas coach Bill Parcells said Monday. The Cowboys are also looking forward to having the national attention on Sept. 19 that they've scheduled the Ring of Honor induction of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin for halftime of that game.

[Spalax]

Everything is a hollow gesture. It is a gesture none the less. Most of these people haven't even watched TV in a while. A game might be more than a welcome distraction.

Exactly. Not only that, but if the NFL didn't take a single cent from that game that would be the right thing to do.

Think about this too......the Saints owner doesn't have any home games this year to make money from.

I think the NFL should take the average take for the average stadium, and give it to him.

Or at least mirror the receipts he made from last year to help keep the franchise and its employees afloat.

Don't forget about all those people who worked at the Superdome too, that are now out of jobs.

[Diwokfkq]

Division rivals have to be upset at this decision.

And since when would selling out a MNF be difficult? I'm doubting it.

If they really wanted to be creative they could've put them at a neutral site of a potential future franchise. Think those people wouldn't want to see MNF up close?

I would be...but the Giants aren't getting within 3 or 4 of the division. Wildcard contenders should be pissed though.

It's just a joke solution. If a 9th home game would have been placed somehow that couldn't be avoided in order to convenience the Saints - no problem, regardless of division. But it's not right to help the Giants because there was a hurricane in the south.

And I'm completely convinced that if New Orleans' opener was against, say, Cleveland....we ain't playing it in Cleveland.

[Andrius]

Dallas vs. Washington is a crap MNF opener. No argument on this point.

That being said. All of the NO home games should at least be played on a neutral site in the south when they get that sorted out. NO is America's team this year I suppose so they shouldn't have to play their home games at the visitors house. Maybe the NFL was concerned with the sight of a half-empty stadium (maybe) at a neutral site. I have to believe that there'll be enough people in the New York City area to fill most, if not all, of the Meadowlands on short notice.

They're getting a 9th home game - of course they'll be able to sell out.

This game should be at a neutral site, an NFL city who's not playing at home that week. San Antonio being the other option. This is just plain wrong and if they weren't playing NY, it wouldn't be an issue.

[12dargernswearf]

Dallas vs. Washington is a crap MNF opener.

That being said. All of the NO home games should at least be played on a neutral site in the south when they get that sorted out. NO is America's team this year I suppose so they shouldn't have to play their home games at the visitors house.

[Qzmsdoem]

Just hope it don't rain in New Jersey next weekend.


If it does, that field will be thrashed for game 2.

[Clolmemaexata]

Looks like the opening week will be a double header on Monday Night including the Saints/Giants game.

That's weird.

[Lån-Penge]

How about this then for the first game only......

Play in S.A. on MNF and fill the seats with all the people suffering through this ordeal first with free tix and food vouchers for everyone. Bus them there, and bus them back to their shelters.

Fill the rest of the stands with $10 tix for the rest of the seats. 100% of the money coming in from tix sales, merchandise, and food sales are donated to the relief/recovery fund.

Problem solved.

I dunno how "well" that would be received. The gesture might be well intentioned, but it might seem (to some) like a hollow gesture. Just my opinion.

[flower-buy]

That's weird.

I understand there are scheduling conflicts, but it sure seems like the NFL isn't doing their best to help out a tough situation.

First they have to go to NY for a "home" game, then play in a game that overlaps the other game.

It sure seems to me that the Saints are being put in a tough situation even more than they need to be.

I don't see why they couldn't have found a closer venue for them to play.

All these players and coaches already have family they're concerned with.

[uncoosesoge]

They're getting a 9th home game - of course they'll be able to sell out.

This game should be at a neutral site, an NFL city who's not playing at home that week. San Antonio being the other option. This is just plain wrong and if they weren't playing NY, it wouldn't be an issue.

Division rivals have to be upset at this decision.

And since when would selling out a MNF be difficult? I'm doubting it.

If they really wanted to be creative they could've put them at a neutral site of a potential future franchise. Think those people wouldn't want to see MNF up close?

[Jadldqys]

I would be...but the Giants aren't getting within 3 or 4 of the division. Wildcard contenders should be pissed though.

It's just a joke solution. If a 9th home game would have been placed somehow that couldn't be avoided in order to convenience the Saints - no problem, regardless of division. But it's not right to help the Giants because there was a hurricane in the south.

And I'm completely convinced that if New Orleans' opener was in, say, Cleveland....we ain't playing it in Cleveland.

Agreed.

Giants are pretenders, but in a tightly contested WC race who knows if that extra home game benefits them.

Certainly with everything on and off the field the Saints have against them, being prepared early in the year will be difficult.

I think as the season progresses the Saints will be fine, but early on might be rough.

[pGJLweEw]

Dallas vs. Washington is a crap MNF opener. No argument on this point.

That being said. All of the NO home games should at least be played on a neutral site in the south when they get that sorted out. NO is America's team this year I suppose so they shouldn't have to play their home games at the visitors house. Maybe the NFL was concerned with the sight of a half-empty stadium (maybe) at a neutral site. I have to believe that there'll be enough people in the New York City area to fill most, if not all, of the Meadowlands on short notice.

How about this then for the first game only......

Play in S.A. on MNF and fill the seats with all the people suffering through this ordeal first with free tix and food vouchers for everyone. Bus them there, and bus them back to their shelters.

Fill the rest of the stands with $10 tix for the rest of the seats. 100% of the money coming in from tix sales, merchandise, and food sales are donated to the relief/recovery fund.

Problem solved.

[WeestDype]

Dallas vs. Washington is a crap MNF opener. No argument on this point.

That being said. All of the NO home games should at least be played on a neutral site in the south when they get that sorted out. NO is America's team this year I suppose so they shouldn't have to play their home games at the visitors house. Maybe the NFL was concerned with the sight of a half-empty stadium (maybe) at a neutral site. I have to believe that there'll be enough people in the New York City area to fill most, if not all, of the Meadowlands on short notice.

[quorceopporce]

I dunno how "well" that would be received. The gesture might be well intentioned, but it might seem (to some) like a hollow gesture. Just my opinion.

Everything is a hollow gesture. It is a gesture none the less. Most of these people haven't even watched TV in a while. A game might be more than a welcome distraction.

[oyymoss]

Everything is a hollow gesture. I hope "everything" isn't, Rip. It is a gesture none the less. Most of these people haven't even watched TV in a while. Yeah, they were "starring" in a real life version of Survivor: Gulf Coast. And that is no joke. A game might be more than a welcome distraction. I agree about it might being a welcome distraction.

[Filling25]

they might be out of life too, but that is besides the point.

I have to assume though that if NO plays at an opponents stadium when it is a home game for them that they make a significant portion of that with all the expenses being paid to the stadium owners. Remember that they have zero stadium costs this year as a franchise. The city or donations will provide the repairs. There will have to be something extra to replace certian profits and I'm sure there will be. With NFL shared revenue they do have income, but they lose ticket and price gouged food income.

Point well taken.

[boXGWf04]

Exactly. Not only that, but if the NFL didn't take a single cent from that game that would be the right thing to do.

Think about this too......the Saints owner doesn't have any home games this year to make money from.

I think the NFL should take the average take for the average stadium, and give it to him.

Or at least mirror the receipts he made from last year to help keep the franchise and its employees afloat.

Don't forget about all those people who worked at the Superdome too, that are now out of jobs.

they might be out of life too, but that is besides the point.

I have to assume though that if NO plays at an opponents stadium when it is a home game for them that they make a significant portion of that with all the expenses being paid to the stadium owners. Remember that they have zero stadium costs this year as a franchise. The city or donations will provide the repairs. There will have to be something extra to replace certian profits and I'm sure there will be. With NFL shared revenue they do have income, but they lose ticket and price gouged food income.

[oscilsoda]

While all this is going on I have very few doubts that the NFL could sell out any stadium for a Saints game, but since this is apparently like 9/11 in the eyes of the media NY is fitting.