Thanks for nothin'

NFL serves up the usual turkeys

By Ben Smith

The Journal Gazette

Happy Day Before Turkeycide Day, everyone, and it's good to know the National Football League is, as usual, going to observe the spirit of the day. Wouldn't be the NFL if it didn't dish up its standard gobblers.

Let's look at the menu:

* Green Bay at Detroit: OK, this one I get, sort. The Lions have been playing on Thanksgiving since the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock and commenced wiping out the native population. And Green Bay is a division rival. But it's still a dog-heinie game.

* Oakland at Dallas: Again, Dallas is a traditional Thanksgiving visitor. But what genius in Roger Goodell's employ, when making out the schedule, thought the Raiders would make a great opponent? "Let's see now. It's Thanksgiving, it's one of our league's biggest showcase days ... I know! Let's take one of the crappiest teams in the league and send them to Dallas! Who needs Tony Romo vs. Drew Brees, Tony Romo vs. Peyton Manning or Tony Romo vs. Brett Favre when we can give America Tony Romo vs. Bruce Gradkowski?"

* Giants at Denver: Finally a decent matchup, on Thanksgiving night. Even though the Broncos are in freefall and the Giants are fighting freefall, it's at least two contenders. But what's it say about the NFL's scheduling genius that it's the only game that isn't a traditional Thanksgiving matchup?

I know what it says: Roger Goodell wants you to watch Texas-Texas A&M.

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