When you’re guiding the NFL’s top-ranked offense on one of the NFL’s two remaining undefeated teams, there is plenty to be thankful for. But that success also means the schedule doesn’t get any easier for Saints quarterback Drew Brees – on or off the field.

Brees, who ranks in the top four in the NFL in passing yards, touchdown passes and completion percentage, recently visited the White House to shoot a Thanksgiving PSA with President Barack Obama. The PSA also featured Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware. The three Pro Bowlers and President Obama promoted the NFL’s Play 60 initiative, playing football with a group of Washington, D.C. kids on the White House lawn.

“The White House experience was special,” said Brees, whose Saints improved to 10-0 Sunday with a 38-7 win at Tampa Bay. “How many opportunities do you get to throw the football with the President on the White House lawn?”

For the record, Brees said he was impressed with the President’s receiving skills. He also was impressed with his ability to talk sports. “Obama definitely knows his sports, being that he is from a huge sports town like Chicago,” said Brees.

Next up on the field for Brees and the Saints: a Monday night showdown with Tom Brady and the high-scoring New England Patriots. First, however, both teams will find time between practices to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

“Thanksgiving, growing up, was probably my favorite holiday,” said Brees. “Everyone would cook their holiday specialties in the kitchen and there was always the very competitive ‘Turkey Bowl’ football game in the backyard. Those are some of my best memories.”

– Craig Ellenport

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appeared on NBC’s “Football Night in America” with Dan Patrick and Tony Dungy to discuss the newly formed NFL Player Advisory Forum. The transcript is below.

Dan Patrick: “Why now? Why announce this program now?”

Roger Goodell: “We are always taking player input on a variety of matters both on and off the field. We had a player advisory committee. Tony and I had been talking about how input has been so valuable to the league and we agreed that we could do more. Tony was gracious enough to give us his time and resources to be able to get the right kind of players in a room and give us that kind of feedback.”

DP: “But why now? Why Week 11 and not before the season?”

RG: “I think this is something that will go on through the offseason. This is not something we’re going to do for two-three weeks. This is something we intend to do for the long term.”

DP: “Why Tony?”

RG: “People forget that before Tony was a great coach that he was a player in the league. He has a great credibility with the players and the NFL in general. I admire him so much. We’ve talked about this an awful lot the last couple of months.”

Tony Dungy: “That was one of the things we used to say when I was playing, ‘Boy, if Commissioner Rozelle knew this. I wish I could get this message to him.’ I think it’s great that the players can do that.”

DP: Has there been any rule changes from prior player meetings?

RG: We’ve had a lot of rule changes that have come directly as a result of the players input mostly around the safety issue. They identify techniques that are happening that they think are risky both to the player doing the striking and the player taking the hit – whether the horse collar, some of the cut-back blocks, the low-cut blocks; I heard from two teams this week. They’re very concerned about those low-cut blocks.”

TD: “A lot of players had issues about the player conduct – Pacman Jones for instance – I know you heard from a lot of guys that, ‘Hey, we want to get this under control.’”

RG: “There’s no question. The Personal Conduct Policy was really done in conjunction with the players. I must have spoken to well over 150 players who had a lot of input including our Player Advisory Committee and they helped us formulate a policy that I think is terrific and had a great impact. I like to think that this is not only football and business and life. They give us input on all three of those matters.”

DP: “We know that you’re knee deep in negotiations or at least talk on both sides with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Peter King from Sports Illustrated spoke with representatives of the players’ union, who said they wondered about the timing of this, that you’re aligning yourself with some players as a backdoor way of creating favor with them. Your thoughts on that?”

RG: “I’m a Commissioner for everybody in the NFL. That includes the players, the coaches, the owners and I believe the fans also. I’ve always reached out to the players. That’s not what this is all about. I’ve invited them if they wanted to come in. I just met with two teams this week. I regularly seek the input of the players. My record’s clear on that one. I’m going to continue to do that regardless of the negotiations.”

DP: “Are you surprised there’s been that kind of reaction by the Players Association?”

RG: “I wasn’t even aware of their reaction.”

DP: “A report that Jay Glazer from Fox had where you’re going to have independent neurologists looking at players with concussions. What was wrong with the previous plan?”

RG: “I don’t think there was anything wrong with it. As we learn more and more, we want to give players the best medical advice. This is a chance for us to expand that and bring more people into the circle to make sure we’re making the best decisions for our players in the long term.”

TD: “Did the players ask for this? Was this input from the players, too?”

RG: “Not specifically, coach. But they’ve always talked about the concussions. One of the things I’ve always stressed with them is help us identify players when they have some type of a head injury and identify those players so they can get the proper medical care, not so they make the medical decision, but so they can identify a player who needs to see a medical person.”

DP: “If you want to stay in the studio audience, you’d be welcome to.”

RG: “Thanks. I watch every weekend.”

DP (joking): “I noticed when you walked by Rodney Harrison, did you ask for more money?”

TD (joking): “Rodney left when he came in.”

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has been selected by USA WEEKEND as its Most Caring Athlete for 2009. Warner will be featured on the cover of the November 20-22 issue of the magazine.

A four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, three-time Super Bowl starter and two-time league MVP, Warner is one of the most accomplished passers in NFL history.

However, for all of his on-field accomplishments, Warner’s community work remains his biggest source of pride and the Most Caring Athlete honor is a reflection of that commitment. Kurt and Brenda Warner established the “First Things First” foundation in 2001 and have personally contributed more than $1.5 million since then to host trips to Disney for Make-A-Wish families, furnish homes for low-income single moms, and host Punt, Pass & Kick clinics with Special Olympic athletes, to name just a few of their initiatives. After visiting flood-ravaged regions in 2008, he created a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to sponsor home builds throughout the Midwest and those efforts have raised over $675,000.

Just before kickoff of Super Bowl XLIII between the Cardinals and Steelers last February, Warner received the 2008 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the only league recognition that acknowledges a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.

Each year since 1995, USA WEEKEND has bestowed the Most Caring Athlete Award on professional sports figures who give their time, talents, and name to a host of worthy causes and inspire their fans to do the same.

In recognition of the honor, USA WEEKEND is contributing $5,000 to Warner’s foundation, “First Things First.” The foundation also received a 2009 NFL Charities Player Foundation grant in recognition of its outstanding work in the community.

NEW YORK — Spoiler alert: If you don’t want to know what happens at the end of the new movie, “The Blind Side,” then read no further.

Then again, most anyone who frequents NFL.com knows that the story ends with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on stage at Radio City Music Hall announcing Michael Oher as the 23rd pick in the 2009 draft, selected by the Baltimore Ravens. But “The Blind side,” which opens in theaters nationwide this Friday, is not about where Oher ends up. It’s about where he started and the journey that ensued. Still, Goodell was among a host of NFL executives and current and former players who appeared Tuesday night at a gala premiere for “The Blind Side” at New York’s Ziegfeld Theater.

Based on the Michael Lewis bestseller, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, the movie details Oher’s true story: How he was virtually living on the streets before being taken in by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy (played in the movie by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw). While the movie is more about the relationship between Oher and the Tuohy family than it is about football, there are cameos from the SEC coaches who recruited Oher before he committed to Mississippi. Former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer and Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville were among the first down the red carpet Tuesday night, smiling for the cameras.

Vince Papale was there as well — three years after he walked the red carpet into the Ziegfeld for “Invincible,” the NFL-backed film about his brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Back at the scene of the crime,” said a beaming Papale. “This is another great story about someone who beat the odds.”

Hey NFL Fans!

What’s crazier than the NFL season being more than half over is that my days as YOUR Director of Fandemonium are numbered. Applications are due TODAY at www.nfl.monster.com for the greatest NFL job on Earth, and it makes me realize how special this opportunity has been.

The $100,000 signing bonus, draft day announcement, travel and hotels, VIP access to Kickoff Weekend, the Vikings-Packers game, and the International Series game in London were extraordinary. But the best part of being the Director of Fandemonium has been seeing just how passionate football fans really are. With only 16 regular-season games in a year, NFL fans go all out for the teams they love. What a beautiful thing! As I anxiously await my last duties as YOUR Director at the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, I want to remind you that the last chance to apply for my job is November 16. After that, the field will be narrowed down to 32 finalists (one per team) by the NFL experts before the fan voting starts.

Here is some insider advice from Monster.com on how you can market yourself to be the Director next year:

1. Know your football! The Director of Fandemonium needs to be THE AUTHORITY on everything NFL. I’m throwing a penalty flag if you can’t immediately tell me what the “Steel Curtain” is or who caught “The Catch” in the 1982 NFC Championship Game.

2. Love your team! As a Vikings fan from Hawaii, my Fandemonium had to cross four time zones to watch games live. My favorite color is purple, and I get crazy looks when I hum “Skol, Vikings” around the island. But why do I do it? Because NOTHING is more important than my team winning on Sunday.

3. Connect with other fans! NFL fans are the best in the world so be excited to meet people in person and on the Web. The next Director of Fandemonium better have Facebook and Twitter accounts set up to get and give the lowdown on everything that happens in the trenches.

4. Be organized and have a schedule! Here is my week —Monday: Monday Night Football; Tuesday: talk about Monday Night Football; Wednesday-Friday: blog, think, and prepare for the weekend’s Fandemonium; Saturday: watch college football as an appetizer; SUNDAY: The greatest day of the week!

5. Have a well-prepared resume! Thousands of people want my job. What makes you stand out as the best candidate? The resume should sum up your experience and Fandemonium as concisely as possible. Visit a Monster.com Resume Agent for some professional resume advice.

You can also find additional insight as to what it takes to be the next Director here.

Good luck to all applicants! Keep following along on Facebook at Facebook.com/fandemonium and on Twitter at Twitter.com/monsterdof . In the meantime keep applying again and again at www.nfl.monster.com. Go Vikings!

Aloha,

Onyx Herrera

Monster Director of Fandemonium

Hi, NFL Fans!

Can you believe we are halfway through the NFL season already? It seems like just yesterday I was announcing a draft pick in New York City and meeting Fergie at the NFL Kickoff in Pittsburgh. Time flies when you’re busy spreading Fandemonium across the globe!

I can’t think of another NFL season when there have been so many teams dominating the league. I mean, eight teams are 6-2 or better and two of those teams are undefeated. Consequently, that means there are some really bad teams, too (you know who you are but don’t worry – it can only get better!).

Individually we have seen some incredible performances this season, as well. How about Cedric Benson out of Cincinnati leading the league in yards rushing, or Steve Smith (the other one in a Giants uniform) with nine catches over 20 yards and 600-plus yards receiving? The QB position hasn’t been too surprising with Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and (my man) Brett Favre leading their teams to a combined 23-1 record. All true professionals.

Speaking of true professionals, I recently had the opportunity to sit down with one of the classiest men in the NFL, Super Bowl champion, and former Walter Payton Man of the Year winner, Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, to discuss this season’s highs and lows:

Director of Fandemonium: Bus, which team has been the biggest surprise for you this season, good or bad?

Jerome Bettis: The New Orleans Saints. I’m really surprise how well they are playing on defense. The two key factors [have been] Darren Sharper and Drew Brees.

DOF: Who’s your midseason MVP, top rookie, and top comeback player?

Bettis: Drew Brees-MVP, Percy Harvin-rookie, Cedric Benson-comeback player.

DOF: Okay, last question, Mr. Bettis. Which team is taking home the Vince Lombardi Trophy this year?

Bettis: [It’s a] toss-up between the Steelers, Indy and New England in the AFC, and Minnesota, New Orleans or Philly in the NFC.

There you have it, NFL fans, the official Monster Midseason Breakdown straight from the legend himself. Be sure to become a fan at www.facebook.com/fandemonium and apply for my job at nfl.monster.com. There is only one week left to apply for the best job in the NFL! We’ve also added some cool features on the web site, including career information and access to jobs. More pics and videos from the Department of Fandemonium coming soon!

Aloha,
Onyx Herrera
Monster Director of Fandemonium

Fans will get the chance to see a special halftime show this Thanksgiving, as the NFL, United Way and Motown will collaborate to present A Motown 50th Anniversary Tribute. The show will feature six of the brightest talents from the current roster of Universal Motown Records performing classics from Motown’s All-American songbook.

The Motown tribute will take place during halftime of the first game of the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader, when the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Join 49ers Pro Bowl LB Patrick Willis for a live chat Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET on NFL.com. Submit your questions for Patrick now, and check back in later as he answers your questions on his season, coach Mike Singletary, the outlook for the 49ers and more.

Click here to join the live chat.

Hi again, NFL fans!

Being a native of Hawaii, I crossed two ponds (Pacific and Atlantic) to attend the 2009 International Series game in London between the Patriots and Buccaneers. Not exactly home-field advantage for either team, but your Director wants to see how far real Fandemonium can spread!

At first, I was a bit skeptical about whether a country where “football” isn’t played with your hands could generate the same kind of NFL Fandemonium that we all know and love stateside. What I found were nearly 85,000 fans packed into Wembley Stadium wearing every kind of NFL jersey, hat and scarf you could imagine. Even with a huge “football” game of their own between Liverpool and Man U played earlier in the day, the British crowd was still incredible. I saw fans of bitter NFL rivals happy to show their NFL pride by wearing rival gear. One woman I met, named Cassie, was even wearing a jersey bearing the patches of all 32 teams! Sure, the majority had to ask the closest American sitting near them about the rules, but these fans sure know how to support the NFL game. London gets an enthusiastic thumbs-up for its widespread Fandemonium.

I also had one of the coolest experiences of my life before the game started. I was in the tunnel pre-game with the players helping to hype them up before running onto the field. Imagine those huge, talented athletes ready to go. It was like bulls in a cage! The adrenaline was pumping and I was so excited to be a part of it. I still can’t believe all the access I get as the Director of Fandemonium! This is such a dream job.

Though it was a lopsided victory for the Patriots, a great time was had by all. I even had the privilege of being part of the biggest fan ‘wave’ I have ever seen. That tsunami of Fandemonium lasted nearly 10 minutes! To finish the weekend, on the train ride back to the hotel, I befriended a group of bonny Scots from Ayre who came to London just for the game. They claimed to be big Miami Dolphins fans, even though they live more than 4,000 miles away. That’s commitment!

What a trip! You can check out all my pics and videos on www.facebook.com/fandemonioum and don’t forget to sign up to be the next Director of Fandemonium at www.nfl.monster.com. There are only a few weeks left to apply!

Aloha,
Onyx Herrera
NFL Director of Fandemonium

(Note: Erin Casey from the NFL Events department is one of a handful of NFL employees who arrived in England more than a week before the annual International Series game on Oct. 25 between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Erin will file a series of blog updates this week.)

LONDON — It’s been a rainy day in London, and as result both the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided not to hold their scheduled walkthroughs on the field at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Instead, the teams both used ballroom spaces at their respective hotels. Their operations staffs for both teams still went to the stadium, which is an important detail because soccer and NFL stadiums are set up very differently. Soccer facilities are meant to separate fans, so access for staff and coaches between public areas is not easy, and there are a number of operational differences. For example, most NFL teams ask for approximately 10 coaches to have a bird’s eye view of the field, so a “gantry” is constructed to accommodate them in the upper level. Soccer teams only have a couple of coaches, and they watch from field level.

The Patriots’ practice at The Oval cricket ground on Friday was successful. Approximately 100 media members turned out to interview coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady before it began, which was a big coup for our public relations department. Later that evening, the Buccaneers arrived at Heathrow and had a smooth trip into Central London. After having a fantastic “Welcome to London” gala dinner on Thursday night, followed by an exciting conference yesterday, it felt really nice to have the team operations go well, too.

In a few moments we are departing headquarters to go to the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to England, Louis Sussman, where there will be a reception for the teams tonight. It won’t be a late evening since everyone is preparing for the game tomorrow, but it is always a pleasant one.

On Sunday, we will rise early and head to the stadium at around 9 a.m. in preparation for kickoff at 5 p.m. It must sound early, but there is so much to do on game day. Our first priority will be making sure that the tailgate party is ready for the commissioner to tour in the morning before opening for fans at 11 a.m.  We are very excited about the tailgate party, which is a fan festival with a booth for each of our 32 teams, a 3-D cinema and a Hall of Fame museum. There will also be cheerleader performances and a raffle featuring autographed memorabilia from 26 teams. If it goes well, you may see something similar heading to cities in the U.S.

So wish us luck, and tune in tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET, when the anthems and pregame show from Wembley will be broadcast nationally in the U.S.

– Erin Casey

“I’m happy to have my kids home, but sometimes not everything that comes with them,” says Olivia Manning, America’s “first lady of football” and mom to NFL superstars Peyton and Eli Manning. That’s why Olivia Manning has teamed up with Febreze, the leading home freshening brand and the Official Air Freshener of the NFL, to launch www.facebook.com/febreze. With a little help from Febreze products and some expert mom advice, Febreze and Olivia are giving sports fans and moms an official game plan for freshening their homes. Olivia serves as America’s “freshness coach,” offering tips and solutions for everything from getting ready for gameday to getting rid of sweat odors on gear and equipment. The fun doesn’t stop on Facebook either – you can also visit www.FebrezeGameDay.com for a chance to win four tickets to Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida, all compliments of Febreze. Visit the websites to watch Olivia in action.

It doesn’t even matter which team you root for! If you love football or if you’re a busy mom, check out www.facebook.com/febreze throughout the NFL season for fun prizes (free Febreze fabric refresher and jerseys galore!), advice from Olivia and personalized content to keep the home fresh all season long.

Fans looking for tailgating recipe ideas or just in need of fun interaction with other NFL fans can look no further than Facebook. Febreze updates the site daily with great content like football and freshness trivia and fresh plays of the week, but the fans are the ones doing the cool stuff. Moms talk up their gameday cleaning routines, girlfriends chat about NFL team rivalries and people vie for free prizes.

So check out the sites, become a fan and tell your friends. And don’t forget to follow Febreze on Twitter: @Febreze_Fresh.

Derrick Dockery of the Washington Redskins speaks to the media about Breast Cancer Awareness on Capital hill in Washington D.C. on October 21, 2009. (Courtsey of Doug DeMark)

WASHINGTON, D.C – Cancer survivors teamed up with the NFL and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Tuesday for a breast cancer awareness event on Capitol Hill.

Coinciding with October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the NFL has implemented the Crucial Catch Campaign, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, working to save lives from breast cancer by encouraging women to get their yearly mammograms starting at age 40.

The event was hosted by Representative Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), who in her first term has been a vocal champion of the cancer community and consistent supporter of legislation to improve public health. Rep. Edwards also represents the district that includes FedEx Field – home to the Washington Redskins.

Redskins guard Derrick Dockery and his wife Emma told of their connection to breast cancer. Derrick’s mother is a breast cancer survivor and Emma’s mother lost her fight with the disease. They were joined by Tanya Snyder, Crucial Catch spokesperson and wife of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, who shared her personal story with breast cancer.

“Breast cancer affects one in eight American women and I was one of them last year,” Snyder said. “I am proud to work with the league and the Redskins to remind fans about the importance of annual screenings.”

Throughout October, NFL games are featuring players, coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel to raise awareness for the Crucial Catch campaign, as well as on-field pink ribbon stencils and special K-balls and pink coins. All special pink apparel worn at games by players and coaches as well as the balls and the coins will auctioned off at NFL Auctions, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society and team charities.

(Note: Erin Casey from the NFL Events department is one of a handful of NFL employees who arrived in England more than a week before the annual International Series game on Oct. 25 between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Erin will file a series of blog updates this week.)

LONDON — With only four days remaining until the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers face each other at Wembley Stadium, it is easy to tell the game is near. The NFL offices at the Landmark Hotel are busy from early in the morning until late at night. Bucs cheerleaders are roaming the hallways, and league executives and assorted team owners have arrived for the Global Sports Summit, which takes place on Friday.

At the Summit, leaders in sport from around the world come together to discuss a variety of topics, such as player salary caps, sponsor partnerships and broadcast deals. The first panel of the day will include former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, as well as Fabio Capello, Andy Flower and Martin Johnson – head coaches of the English National football (soccer), cricket and rugby teams, respectively. It will be the first time that all three English National coaches have sat together on a panel, which is a very exciting moment here. Also participating in the Summit will be Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, former heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis, San Francisco 49ers owner John York, South Africa’s Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile, and NASCAR CEO Brian France, just to name a few.

Thursday evening, there will be a “Welcome to London” gala dinner for VIP Summit guests. Last year, this dinner was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where Princess Diana married Prince Charles. This year, it will be in the Locarno Suite at the Commonwealth Offices. Prior to dinner, Patriots owner Bob Kraft and Buccaneers owners Brian and Joel Glazer will join NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at a special reception at 10 Downing Street, where English Prime Minister Gordon Brownresides, and they will have a chance to sit at Winston Churchill’s old desk.

Despite all of these activities, our primary focus is making sure things are ready for the teams. Tuesday morning, advance representatives from each club arrived. They will spend the rest of the week making their own final preparations. Wednesday, we painted a football field over the cricket “wicket” in London, and built a weight room for the Patriots to use after practice on Friday. We also put up goal posts and nets at Wembley, which is always a fun thing to see. While the Patriots reviewed our work at the cricket stadium, the Buccaneers’ focus was on their hotel and meeting room accommodations. Thursday, both teams will do walk-thrus at the stadium, followed by one last meeting at the airport, and then they’ll try to get some sleep before things really heat up Friday. As for us – we’re off to “scout” a dining location for the commissioner. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!

Wish us luck at the gala dinner Thursday night, and look for a final update on Saturday.

– Erin Casey

(Note: Erin Casey from the NFL Events department is one of a handful of NFL employees who arrived in England more than a week before the annual International Series game on Oct. 25 between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Erin will file a series of blog updates this week, beginning with this one.)

LONDON — After nearly nine months of preparation, the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are only seven days away from playing in the NFL’s third annual game at Wembley Stadium.

At every major event, the NFL operates out of a central location, referred to as headquarters. In London, that is the beautiful Landmark Hotel. Our offices here opened last Wednesday.

It’s hard to imagine all of the work that goes into planning any NFL game, but international games pose unique challenges. The stadiums and practice facilities in London are designed with other sports, such as soccer, rugby and cricket, in mind. The grass is grown and cut differently, the locker rooms are smaller, and they use different weight equipment for strength training. Those may sound like minor differences, but to an NFL coach like Bill Belichick, every detail counts. As you can imagine, there is quite a bit of sensitivity about our 300-pound linemen damaging the most storied and hallowed sporting grounds in England. Our job is to negotiate compromises that preserve the interests of both parties.

During the spring and early summer, we took operations, marketing and security representatives from both teams on tours of multiple sports venues and hotels in the London area to determine which suit their needs best. In the past, teams have chosen Chelsea and Arsenal’s training facilities, WASP’s rugby field, and we have renovated existing fields at countryside hotels — where the English national rugby and soccer teams practice — to match them with NFL standards. When teams decide to travel during the week, and which hotel they choose to stay at, strongly influence the practice site they select. We also try to get to know each other on those trips, and have some fun. It’s very important to have good relationships with team personnel, and we almost always have a lot of laughs. A night of dinner, dancing and drinks at Soho’s “Little Italy” has practically become a rite of passage.

The Pats decided to fly overnight Thursday, arriving first thing Friday morning. They will practice at a cricket ground in London that afternoon and then have a walk-thru at Wembley on Saturday morning. The Bucs, who are the home team, have chosen to fly Friday morning and arrive in London that evening. They will have one walk-thru at Wembley on Saturday afternoon, before the game on Sunday. This means they will stay closer to their usual schedule during the week, but will have less time to acclimate to the time difference. Both teams have chosen five-star hotels on Park Lane in downtown London, near Hyde Park.

Last week, we finished the details and signed any remaining contracts, received and sorted the practice and game equipment that was shipped via ocean freight, submitted the rooming lists, set up the offices at headquarters and reviewed procedures for the team charter arrivals at Heathrow Airport. This weekend, while the Pats and Bucs are playing their Week 6 games, we will paint the field at Wembley and review ticket allocations. On Tuesday, we will switch gears and focus on transforming the cricket ground into an NFL practice site and begin welcoming NFL executives and sponsors to town for the game and its events. It’s sure to be exciting and unpredictable at times – as operations always are. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the week!

– Erin Casey

Monday night’s Jets-Dolphins game in Miami is the culmination of the NFL’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and it will include a special message from President Barack Obama.

Obama will open the game in stadium and on-air on ESPN’s broadcast with the following taped message:

“Tonight, we’re all looking forward to a great game between the Jets and the Dolphins. But before we kickoff, I want to join the NFL in recognizing another reason to celebrate … Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Tonight, young players like Mark Sanchez and Greg Camarillo follow in the footsteps of legends like Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, or Joe Aguirra, the first Latino drafted into the NFL in 1941.

“The lives and careers of these great American athletes are a testament to the determination, courage, and teamwork that have always made this country great. They’ve shown young fans across America and around the world that if you dream big enough and work hard enough, there is no limit to what you can achieve.

“Our nation faces extraordinary challenges right now, and our ability to tackle them will depend on our willingness to recognize that we’re all in this together, that we each have an obligation to give back to our communities, and we all have a stake in the future of this country.

“Because, in the end, todos somos Americanos — we are all Americans.

“Thank you, and enjoy the game.”