The Jets? Without the fanfare of Brett Favre and their December collapse, they will have to go on the road for their two prime time affairs - an ESPN Monday Night Football game at Miami (October 12) and in Montreal for what is considered a Buffalo Bills home game on Thursday, December 3 on the NFL Network.

For the sideline boss of Gang Green, finally seeing where and when his team will be was a sign of good things. “We got the schedule today and I am fired up about the coming season,” Rex Ryan said. “This will be my first season as a head coach and the schedule is filled with challenges, but our coaching staff and players have been working hard and I know that we will be ready.”

On the plate in Week One for the Jets is a road game versus the Texans, the first time in 22 years that they have opened up the season in the big state. Back then it was the Houston Oilers on the short end of a 20-0 score at the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World,’ otherwise known as the Astrodome.

The home opener a week later will bring a familiar foe into East Rutherford as the Patriots make the trip south for the fourth consecutive year. Things do not get any easier as the Tennessee Titans are up next and they will be looking to avenge the Jets’ Week 12 win last year that snapped their 10-game winning streak. Other notable games on the schedule are at Indianapolis (December 27) and - barring any post-season home games - the last dance at the old building on January 3 versus Cincinnati.

In 2010, both teams will move into the brand new stadium right next door and the Giants would love to close out an era with a better showing than last year’s Divisional Round playoff loss to the Eagles. They open things up on September 13 at home versus the Redskins then go on a three-game road trip to Dallas, Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

Big Blue will have the evening game on the NFL Network on Thanksgiving Day at Denver then have three division games after that, at home versus Dallas and Philadelphia and at Washington. A tough stretch, indeed, something not lost on head coach Tom Coughlin, who noted the advantage of having the bye in Week 10.

“We play nine games before the bye - I think that’s better for us,” he said to reporters, commenting on the early Week 4 week off in 2008. “The bye gives the players, I think, an opportunity to play a long stretch against high-quality opponents and then have a little break.”

For the second consecutive season, the G-Men finish up at Minnesota (January 3) and will look to springboard into the playoffs on a higher note than last year when they lost by a field goal at the final gun.

Of course, the NFL’s flexible scheduling in the season’s final seven weeks make all of those games tentative and officially considered “To Be Announced” for a starting time. Depending on where both teams are at that point in the season will determine their schedule, with NBC getting the opportunity to switch their night game to show a better match-up than what was put on the charts months in advance.

If Ryan and Coughlin’s troops do their jobs, both teams may end up with more national games than the seven planned now. First things first, though.

Bob Hayes, the former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver who died in 2002 at the age of 51 after suffering liver ailments, prostate cancer and kidney failure, left his sister Lucille Hester a note for her to read for him “in case this day ever came.” When she finished, Eisen made his statement and there was not a hush in the overcrowded auditorium at the Tampa Convention Center.

Kansas City Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt remembered more than just Derrick Thomas’s football prowess, stating that he was a “Hall of Famer off the field, as well.” Thomas, who averaged one forced fumble out of every four games during his career, had his life cut short while he was still an active player when he died in an automobile accident nine years ago.

“When Derrick’s dad was shot down in Vietnam in 1972, oddly enough the code name for the operation was ‘Linebacker Two,’” continued Hunt, commenting on the position that Thomas would end up dominating in the 1990s.

“Derrick Thomas was the cornerstone of the modern era of the Kansas City Chiefs,” he said.

Bruce Smith, who was elected in his first year of eligibility, remembered Thomas as being “an incredible player and an incredible person.” The bruising defensive end, who is the all-time career sacks leader with 200, became emotional when he spoke about his morning.

“I just had a moment,” the 19-year veteran said, “wishing that my father was still here. He would have been so proud.” Unable to hold back his tears, he then admitted, “Some may look at this as a sign of weakness. I cry because I’m not less than a man but because I am a man.”

Another player getting in his first year on the ballot was Rod Woodson, who starred playing in the secondary of four different franchises. Eisen, his colleague on the NFL Network said, “For the last five years, we always referred to him as ‘Future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson’ and he didn’t want to hear it.”

That will no longer be necessary and the humble Woodson thought back what drove him. “I didn’t start playing football because I wanted to be in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “I started playing because my brothers played it.” Woodson was named to the 1990s all-decade team, mainly from his years in Pittsburgh.

Unable to attend was Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, but via telephone he gave credit to the two most important people in his life. “I’ve got to thank my folks for raising me the right way.”

Joining Smith representing the Buffalo Bills is 90-year-old Ralph Wilson, Jr., the team owner and president since 1959 when he was a member of the original group that formed the American Football League. Known as the NFL’s Voice of Reason, Wilson was at a loss for words.

“I don’t know what to say, but you’ve got to say something,” he said. “It’s a tremendous honor.”

It was also announced that this year’s Hall of Fame Game on August 9 will be between Buffalo and the Tennessee Titans, formerly an original AFL franchise, the Houston Oilers, in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the old “rival league.”

The younger Hunt spoke of his late father Lamaar – who was the founder of the AFL – and what he would think of the half-century milestone and Wilson’s enshrinement the same day.

“I know that my dad is looking down and smiling at his old club buddy.”

Add Thomas and Hayes to that list of people looking down and smiling on this day.

Bruce Smith enters the Hall of Fame after an All-Pro career with the Buffalo Bills. (Joe Pietaro/NYSD)

TAMPA, FL - Perhaps Rich Eisen of the NFL Network summed it up best when he called it a “goose bump moment.” Two of the six names in the 2009 class are no longer with us, but will still represent the sport they played when they are officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

Bob Hayes, the former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver who died in 2002 at the age of 51 after suffering liver ailments, prostate cancer and kidney failure, left his sister Lucille Hester a note for her to read for him “in case this day ever came.” When she finished, Eisen made his statement and there was not a hush in the overcrowded auditorium at the Tampa Convention Center.

Kansas City Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt remembered more than just Derrick Thomas’s football prowess, stating that he was a “Hall of Famer off the field, as well.” Thomas, who averaged one forced fumble out of every four games during his career, had his life cut short while he was still an active player when he died in an automobile accident nine years ago.

“When Derrick’s dad was shot down in Vietnam in 1972, oddly enough the code name for the operation was ‘Linebacker Two,’” continued Hunt, commenting on the position that Thomas would end up dominating in the 1990s.

“Derrick Thomas was the cornerstone of the modern era of the Kansas City Chiefs,” he said.

Bruce Smith, who was elected in his first year of eligibility, remembered Thomas as being “an incredible player and an incredible person.” The bruising defensive end, who is the all-time career sacks leader with 200, became emotional when he spoke about his morning.

“I just had a moment,” the 19-year veteran said, “wishing that my father was still here. He would have been so proud.” Unable to hold back his tears, he then admitted, “Some may look at this as a sign of weakness. I cry because I’m not less than a man but because I am a man.”

Another player getting in his first year on the ballot was Rod Woodson, who starred playing in the secondary of four different franchises. Eisen, his colleague on the NFL Network said, “For the last five years, we always referred to him as ‘Future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson’ and he didn’t want to hear it.”

That will no longer be necessary and the humble Woodson thought back what drove him. “I didn’t start playing football because I wanted to be in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “I started playing because my brothers played it.” Woodson was named to the 1990s all-decade team, mainly from his years in Pittsburgh.

Unable to attend was Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, but via telephone he gave credit to the two most important people in his life. “I’ve got to thank my folks for raising me the right way.”

Joining Smith representing the Buffalo Bills is 90-year-old Ralph Wilson, Jr., the team owner and president since 1959 when he was a member of the original group that formed the American Football League. Known as the NFL’s Voice of Reason, Wilson was at a loss for words.

“I don’t know what to say, but you’ve got to say something,” he said. “It’s a tremendous honor.”

It was also announced that this year’s Hall of Fame Game on August 9 will be between Buffalo and the Tennessee Titans, formerly an original AFL franchise, the Houston Oilers, in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the old “rival league.”

The younger Hunt spoke of his late father Lamaar - who was the founder of the AFL - and what he would think of the half-century milestone and Wilson’s enshrinement the same day.

“I know that my dad is looking down and smiling at his old club buddy.”

Add Thomas and Hayes to that list of people looking down and smiling on this day.

Chris Russo is one of the few mainstays in Tampa. (Joe Pietaro/NYSD)

TAMPA, FL - Just like Superman’s one weakness, kryptonite, the financial situation has obviously affected the NFL. For anyone who has attended the game - and the week leading up to it - in the past, there is something definitely missing this year in Tampa.

Excuses? Let’s start with the non-juicy match-up of Arizona and Pittsburgh. Would things be different if, let’s say, Philadelphia or Dallas were representing the NFC? Maybe, but as of Friday afternoon, the game wasn’t even sold out yet. That is unfathomable in this day and age, but maybe it’s not.

Another reason? Well, the weather has not exactly been Florida-like, with heavy rain Thursday into Friday. But two years ago in Miami there were periods of heavy showers (especially during the game) and a year ago, the Arizona desert was experiencing abnormal low temperatures.

So everything points to the struggling economy. Even the so-called ‘rich’ folks have been scarce. The annual Playboy party is not happening and the familiar faces in the street and Media Center have been in hiding, as well. No Adam Sandler or Frank Caliendo, and as far as the athletes go, no Namath, Shula or Montana, either. The NFL Network’s set in the middle of the room did not have the same line-up of stars waiting for their turn to be interviewed, as did the radio tables, which included Chris “Mad Dog” Russo from Sirius/XM and Michael Kay from ESPN Radio.

No knock on Jim Kelly, Justin Tuck or Joe Theisman, but none of them are “Broadway” Joe.

Excuses? Let’s start with the non-juicy match-up of Arizona and Pittsburgh. Would things be different if, let’s say, Philadelphia or Dallas were representing the NFC? Maybe, but as of Friday afternoon, the game wasn’t even sold out yet. That is unfathomable in this day and age, but maybe it’s not.

Another reason? Well, the weather has not exactly been Florida-like, with heavy rain Thursday into Friday. But two years ago in Miami there were periods of heavy showers (especially during the game) and a year ago, the Arizona desert was experiencing abnormal low temperatures.

So everything points to the struggling economy. Even the so-called ‘rich’ folks have been scarce. The annual Playboy party is not happening and the familiar faces in the street and Media Center have been in hiding, as well. No Adam Sandler or Frank Caliendo, and as far as the athletes go, no Namath, Shula or Montana, either. The NFL Network’s set in the middle of the room did not have the same line-up of stars waiting for their turn to be interviewed, as did the radio tables, which included Chris “Mad Dog” Russo from Sirius/XM and Michael Kay from ESPN Radio.

No knock on Jim Kelly, Justin Tuck or Joe Theisman, but none of them are “Broadway” Joe.