Hall of Fame Game Live Thread - Saints vs. Cardinals

It's finally time. It's time for the NFL to make its return. The Hall of Fame Game takes center stage tonight, with the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals playing up in Canton, Ohio. The game starts at 8pm Eastern, televised on NFL Network, or on the NFL Preseason Live package from NFL.com. [Editor's Note: The game is unavailable in Preseason Live due to it being a "nationally televised game" that is not actually televised to everyone because it is on NFL Network]

While the game really is meaningless, it's nice to have football back. We also will have to watch the referees tonight, as the first game of the replacement refs is tonight. The NFL and NFL Referees Association are working on a new collective bargaining agreement, with the league locking out the refs until an agreement is reached.

Another interesting thing to watch tonight will be the television ratings. The NFL is coming back with a meaningless preseason game that "no one" watches - just like "no one" watches the Pro Bowl despite huge ratings numbers for that game. Tonight's game is up against the Olympics, including the men's 100 meters race. Will the NFL still return to the top of the ratings? Will the Olympics be able to hold off the top sport in the country? Will the fact that the prime time Olympic coverage is not live, and many people already know the results to the events tonight play a factor?

Whatever happens - the NFL is back and it's about time!

Enjoy the game!