Packers-Saints Pre-Game Activities & 'Open Thread'

Below are the NFL's plans on the pre-game activities for 2011 regular season opener tonight between the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. In addition, stick here for a game-time 'Open Thread' to discuss the game as it happens live and post your comments on how great it is to finally have real football again and how stoked you are to see our Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers in just three more days!

The National Football League and Green Bay Packers announced today special pregame activities for NFL KICKOFF 2011 that will precede the New Orleans Saints-Packers game at Lambeau Field on Thursday, September 8 at 8:30 PM ET (NBC, Westwood One Radio Sports).Grammy nominated platinum recording artist JORDIN SPARKS will sing the National Anthem from Lambeau Field.  Growing up the daughter of former New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Phillippi Sparks, Sparks has a lifelong connection to the NFL. 

For the first time, 32 legendary NFL alumni, one representing each team, will be part of the pregame celebration at Lambeau Field.  The alumni will hold their team’s flag and form a chute on the field with players representing the NFC on one side and AFC on the other.  Hall of Fame quarterback BART STARR will walk through the gauntlet onto the field holding the Green Bay Packers flag followed by the Super Bowl XLV Champions running onto the field.  A huge banner will be displayed on the field celebrating the Super Bowl XLV championship as the team is introduced.  Following the introduction of the Packers, the 2010 championship year will be unveiled on the interior stadium wall and celebrated with a brief fireworks display.The team flags then will be flown by each team at their stadium during their first home game.

The NFL alumni scheduled to be on-hand at Lambeau Field to hold their team’s flag include:

Arizona Cardinals, Ron Wolfley (RB)

Atlanta Falcons, Steve Bartkowski (QB)

Baltimore Ravens, Matt Stover (K)

Buffalo Bills, Andre Reed (WR)

Carolina Panthers, Muhsin Muhammad (WR)

Chicago Bears, Richard Dent (DE)

Cincinnati Bengals, Ken Anderson (QB)

Cleveland Browns, Kevin Mack (RB)

Dallas Cowboys , Jay Novacek (TE)

Denver Broncos, Randy Gradishar (LB)

Detroit Lions, Charlie Sanders (TE)

Green Bay Packers, Bart Starr (QB)

Houston Texans, N.D. Kalu (DE)

Indianapolis Colts, Bill Brooks (WR)

Jacksonville Jaguars, Don Davey (DT)

Kansas City Chiefs, Willie Lanier (LB)

Miami Dolphins, Dwight Stephenson (C)

Minnesota Vikings, John Randle (DT)

New England Patriots, John Hannah (G)

New Orleans Saints, Deuce McAllister (RB)

New York Giants, Harry Carson (LB)

New York Jets, Al Toon (WR)

Oakland Raiders, Ted Hendricks (LB)

Philadelphia Eagles, Eric Allen (CB)

Pittsburgh Steelers, Dermontti Dawson (C)

St. Louis Rams, Aeneas Williams (DB)

San Diego Chargers, Junior Seau (LB)

San Francisco 49ers, Dwight Clark (WR)

Seattle Seahawks, Cortez Kennedy (DT)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mike Alstott (FB)

Tennessee Titans, Eddie George (RB)

Washington Redskins, Larry Brown (RB)

 It was previously announced that KID ROCK, LADY ANTEBELLUM and MAROON 5 would perform prior to the game on a stage outside of Lambeau Field as part of NFL Kickoff 2011 Presented by EA Sports.  This is the 10th consecutive Kickoff celebration to start the season and the eighth consecutive year the NFL has saluted the Super Bowl champions with the opening game in their stadium on a Thursday in primetime.