It's often said the NFL has no offseason. Anything and everything is an event. The scouting combine and NFL draft have become multiday media extravaganzas that draw thousands of fans and millions of eyeballs on TV.
Even the NFL's schedule release has become a primetime television special. And on Wednesday night, that schedule dropped.
We already knew the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears would kick off the NFL's 100th season at Soldier Field. But now we know so much more.
We know the first Sunday night affair will feature a couple of old friends who can't stand one another as the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers
We know the 50th season of Monday Night Football will almost begin just as the first did.