Hall of Fame Game Tonight at 8pm Eastern

The NFL preseason officially arrives tonight with the annual Hall of Fame Game. After being the only lockout casualty last year, the Hall of Fame Game returns this year featuring the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals in Canton, Ohio.

The game is live on NFL Network and online through the NFL's Preseason package.

While the preseason is really dominated by lackluster play, in games that really don't mean much once the calendar reaches September, this game does have one meaning - football is back! That's right. With this game tonight, the NFL is officially back in season and we are getting close to games that actually count.

Heading into the game, the most interesting thing to watch may be the replacement referees, who will make their debut tonight. The NFL and the NFL Referees Association are currently struggling with their own CBA negotiations, and the league has locked out the referees. The refs being used tonight, and throughout the season if a deal is not reached, could be a major factor in both game outcomes, and player safety. It will be worth keeping an eye on, both tonight, and throughout the preseason.

Check back later tonight for a Hall of Fame Game Live Thread.