The Green Bay Packers are telling their fans to expect the season to start on time -- which means Lambeau Field will host the traditional Thursday night game that’s regularly awarded to the defending Super Bowl champion.
“We appreciate your continued support of the Packers, and I look forward to seeing you back at Lambeau Field this fall for another thrilling season,” Packers president Mark Murphy said in a letter to Packers season ticket holders. “As defending champions, we’re especially excited to host the NFL’s season opener Thursday night, September 8. We have some tough issues to resolve between now and then, but I’m confident that we will be able to find a resolution that works for the players, owners and fans.”
By telling the fans to be ready to go to Lambeau on the Thursday after Labor Day, Murphy is expressing more optimism than many people in and around the NFL are feeling right now. Murphy also told the season-ticket holders that “we know that we will have a collective bargaining agreement with the union at some point.”
For the sake of Packers fans who have already marked their calendars for Thursday, September 8 -- and for everyone who wants the NFL season to start that day -- let’s hope Murphy is right.