The Packers are planning to "unveil Brett Favre's No. 4 on the facade at Lambeau Field in a ceremony during their Thanksgiving night game" against the Bears, according to sources cited by Ryan Wood of the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE. Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy last week indicated that he had "talked with the league office regarding scheduling around Favre's number unveiling." Wood notes the team was "looking for a fitting opponent and national prime-time setting to honor" Favre. His number will officially be retired when he is inducted into the Packers HOF in July (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 4/22). In Milwaukee, Tom Silverstein notes the team has yet to formally announce "that the Favre ceremony would take place at the Thanksgiving game." This will mark the first time the Packers have hosted a Thanksgiving game since '23 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/22). In Green Bay, Pete Dougherty writes the Packers "requested and received the perfect opponent ... to honor Favre." Mapping out the NFL schedule "is a logistical mess in the best of circumstances," but the league "allows teams to make prioritized scheduling requests." Judging by the Packers' schedule, the Favre request "was high on their list" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 4/22).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: In Miami, Adam Beasley notes in a "bizarre scheduling quirk," the Dolphins will have "just two true home games in the first 10 weeks of the season." However, the league "did reward the Dolphins with four games at Sun Life Stadium in the final five weeks" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/22). In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib notes the back-loaded schedule is tied to stadium renovations "designed to put Miami back in the Super Bowl rotation." A light early-season home schedule also "may aid in construction" of Sun Life Stadium upgrades, although the Univ. of Miami "will use the stadium in September" (PALM BEACH POST, 4/22). ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert noted the Dolphins "agreed to give up a home game to play in London, and that decision helped lead to what might be the league's most brutal first-half schedule" (ESPN.com, 4/21).
FOND FAREWELLS? With the Chargers, Raiders and Rams all mentioned as teams that may relocate to L.A. for the '16 season, ESPN.com's Seifert noted the Chargers' final game in San Diego "could be Dec. 20 against the Dolphins." Oakland "could see its last game Dec. 24 against, in a bit of a twist," the Chargers (
ESPN.com, 4/21). In St. Louis, Jim Thomas notes there is "only one prime-time game on the Rams’ schedule," a Thursday night game Dec. 17 against the Buccaneers at Edward Jones Dome. With the potential move to L.A. looming, it "could be the last home game for the 'St. Louis' Rams" (
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/22).
BACK TO SCHOOL: In Dallas, Corbett Smith notes the Cowboys in Week 15 “are scheduled to play a NFL Network-televised home game” on Saturday, Dec. 19, against the Jets. That is the same weekend the state of Texas' high school football championships games are set to be held at AT&T Stadium, including "three games ... scheduled on Saturday.” The conflict “was a surprise" for the University Interscholastic League, which "holds a one-year extension option with its existing agreement with AT&T Stadium" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/22).
