NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

After four long and intense mediation sessions between the NFL and its locked-out players, the judge decided to give both parties an extended break.

By the time they reconvene in mid-May, the landscape of their discussions could be completely different.

Executive vice president Jeff Pash, the NFL's lead negotiator, said Wednesday that U.S. Judge Magistrate Arthur Boylan told both sides they likely won't convene again until May 16 because he has a few other matters on his judicial calendar.

In the interim, U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson is expected to decide well before then on the players' request to immediately lift the now 40-day-old lockout.

Also coming: U.S. District Judge David Doty has scheduled a hearing for May 12 on the players' request for damages after he ruled in March that the NFL did not maximize revenues for both sides when it renegotiated $4 billion in TV contracts with the labor dispute looming.

Finally, there could be a fourth set of lawyers and players at the mediation table, with a Philadelphia law firm talking with another group of players about joining the fight.

"We've had discussions about representing some additional players who want to have a voice in the matter," said Bryan Clobes of Cafferty Faucher.

Those discussions are ongoing, but all of those elements combined could swing the leverage to one side or the other in a case where there has been little of it, perhaps increasing the chances the court-ordered mediation will produce some much-needed progress with the first preseason game just 3 1/2 months away.

"There's a lot of uncertainties right now," Pash said. "I think when we're back together we'll know more. People's legal positions will be clearer."

Both sides said the sessions with Boylan were positive and productive.

Whether or not there will be a 2011 NFL season remains to be seen, with the current lockout and disagreement with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). However, the NFL still went ahead and officially released the 2011 schedule for each team.

The schedule makers certainly did the Redskins no favors this year, as their slate features several very tough stretches during the 2011 season:

* For the third time in four years, the Redskins will start the season against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, on Sunday, September 11th. After playing the Arizona Cardinals at home – a team one season removed from a division championship and two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance – they will participate in their only appearance on national television in 2011: a Monday night match up against hated rival Dallas at Cowboys Stadium on Monday, September 26th.

* The team will then get to spend almost the entire month of October playing on the road, as three of their four match ups that month will take place in opposing/different stadiums: at St. Louis, at Carolina, and then against Buffalo in a game which will take place at the Rogers Centre in Toronto (Canada).

* Five of the Redskins last eight opponents in 2011 were playoff teams in 2010. Two of the three teams that did miss the playoffs – Dallas and Minnesota – will very likely have different results after what can be described as snake-bitten 2010 campaigns; the Redskins actually play Minnesota on Saturday, December 24th (Christmas Eve), also forcing them to prepare for the game on a "short week."

The 2011 NFL schedules were released last night. Here is my breakdown on each game for Indianapolis:

Week One at Houston Texans

Indianapolis will be opening up against Houston once again. Last year, Indianapolis got pummeled as Arian Foster had a big day, rushing all over Indy for a 34-24 defeat. Indianapolis can not allow this to happen again. They know what will be coming. This Texans team was very disappointing last year, and they look for revenge and finally try to live up to the hype. Will the Colts allow that to happen? I think not.

Week Two vs. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are not to be messed with. They could be changed, however, they still look like they may need some more rebuilding to do. This will be another rushing team the Colts will have to face, as they need to stop Peyton Hillis. That is the main person really. Shut down Hillis and Indianapolis could be good to go.

Week Three vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

This will be one of the toughest games of the season as the Colts host the AFC champions/Super Bowl runner-ups on Sunday night. It will be Manning's hot offense versus the Steelers' tough defense. I wouldn't be surprised if this could turn out as a passing attack game as Ben Roethlisberger has indicated several times that he wants the Steelers to be a little bit more pass-happy as an offense.

Week Four at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Colts will face a new-look Buccaneers in a Monday Night match-up on ESPN. The Bucs finished 10-6 last year and Indy will be looking at a young team led by Josh Freeman at quarterback. Not only does Tampa Bay look dangerous on passing, but they got a solid second-year back in LaGarrette Blount in the rushing game. Indy needs to shut those two down for a victory.

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The NFL gave the Bucs a fair shake with the schedule they released today for the 2011 season:
Sunday Sept. 11th vs. Detroit 1:00 PM
Sunday Sept. 18th @ Minnesota 1:00 PM
Sunday Sept. 25th vs. Atlanta 4:15 PM
Monday, Oct. 3rd vs. Indianapolis 8:30 PM
Sunday Oct. 9th @ San Francisco 4:05 PM
Sunday Oct. 16th vs. New Orleans 4:15 PM
Sunday Oct. 23rd vs. Chicago (London, England) 1:00 PM
BYE
Sunday Nov. 6th @ New Orleans 1:00 PM
Sunday Nov. 13th vs. Houston 1:00 PM
Sunday Nov. 20th @ Green Bay 1:00 PM
Sunday Nov. 27th @ Tennessee 1:00 PM
Sunday Dec. 04 vs. Carolina 1:00 PM
Sunday Dec. 11th at Jacksonville 1:00 PM
Saturday Dec. 17th vs. Dallas 8:20 PM
Saturday Dec. 24th at Carolina 1:00 PM
Sunday Jan. 1st at Atlanta 1:00 PM

As hard as it is to go to London, I think the preference when it comes to sequence is to have your toughest opponents at the end of the year. That is when you should be peaking and – if you assembled your roster correctly – able to handle injuries. I guarantee you Bill Belichick would prefer his schedule like that. If you can't get that, what you would like is not too many road games in a row and not too many hard opponents in a row.

The Bucs constantly get relief after a tough game in the form of one of the AFC South softies. The Titans are clearly rebuilding with their rookie coach as well as potentially a rookie QB. They are the probably the worst team on Tampa Bay's schedule and they host Tampa Bay one week after the World Champs do.

They get Gary Kubiak's Texans one week after the Saints and Jack Del Rio's Jaguars – the third straight opponent who missed the playoffs – the week before their Saturday game hosting the Cowboys. Jack Del Rio and Gary Kubiak have combined for 13 seasons coaching and 1 controversial playoff win.

The Dolphins 2011 season starts off with a bang, as the team will take on the Pats at Sun Life Stadium on Monday, September 12th. This game could have a bearing on the rest of the season, as it could show just how close the Fins are to the top team in the division.

The next two weeks the Texans come calling, and then the team heads North to Cleveland to take on the Browns, a team that will have a new coach and may have early growing pains, a good thing early in the year for the Dolphins.

A key three-game stretch starts on October 30th when the team hosts the Washington Redskins, and then the following week they are home for the Bills. Then on Thanksgiving, the team will go to Dallas to play Tony Romo and the Cowboys in the annual holiday game.

The year wraps up with three games against AFC East foes, as the team will play at Buffalo on December 18th, then at the Pats on Christmas Eve the 24th before hosting the Jets in the finale on New Years Day.

I've always thought that the hubbub over the schedule release is a little ridiculous. It is. It's impossible to predict in  May what's going to happen in December. You have absolutely no idea what the team is going to be like. But, the schedule is released, and it's the closest thing we have to football today. So, let's delve in.

September:

At Washington

St. Louis

At Philly

Not a bad way to start for the Giants. First two games should be wins. Washington isn't very good, and St. Louis isn't ready for primetime yet (although, if they can get Julio Jones in the draft, they will be much closer.) At Philly is very tough, as it always is, and that might be a loss. 2-1 after September

October:

At Arizona

Seattle

Buffalo

Bye

Miami

This is a very appealing stretch for the Giants. Big potential to win all games. Think they will, too. 4-0 in October, bringing the total to 6-1. Not bad at all.

November:

At New England

At San Fransisco

Philadelphia

at New Orleans

A much tougher stretch. Probably a loss at New England. A win at San Fran. Hosting Philly, who knows. I'll put it down as a win, but I don't feel confident about that. Loss at New Orleans. 2-2 in November. 8-3 overall.

December:

Green Bay

At Dallas

Washington

at Jets

Another tough stretch. Won't beat Green Bay. Giants always do well in Dallas. Should beat Washington. Jets is a tough one, but I'm going to mark it as a loss for now. 2-2 in December. 10-5 overall

January

Dallas

Tough to really predict this one, because the Giants could have everything wrapped up, if things go according to plan. I'll put this as a loss, assuming that the Giants are resting their starters. 0-1 in January. 10-6 overall

I think we can all live with 10-6. Of course, could mean no playoffs if things don't go our way. 10-6 could be a division winner. Wild card. Or out. But, the schedule is not impossible. Some bad stretches, but the Giants will have to win those easy early games

Tuesday night the NFL released it's 2011 schedule, which of course we all hope will actually be used for the upcoming year. There are plenty of notable games and interesting storylines but here are just a few thoughts that jumped out at me.

1) No Monday Night Football at Home …. AGAIN.

Yes, the Ravens will travel to Jacksonville on Week Seven but Baltimore has once again failed to secure a home date to host Hank Williams Jr. and his rowdy friends who enjoy football. The last time the Ravens hosted a MNF game it was 2007.

I shouldn't be too upset because….

2) The Ravens will play Five Games in Prime-Time.

The television landscape has changed over the years and honestly the Monday Night game isn't the marquee match-up that it used to be. Instead that honor is reserved for Sunday Night Football. The Ravens will host the Jets and the Niners while they travel to Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and San Diego.

I guess it's fine that the away games outweighthe home contests since John Harbaugh is used to it by now. Of the 10 Prime games that have been played during Harbaugh's tenure – 7 have been on the road.

3) Harbaugh Civil War on Turkey Day.

I had a feeling this was coming. Harbaugh versus Harbaugh on a day reserved for family or in some cases family disputes. I only hope that this game does not impact my high school Alma mater's Turkey Day tradition of playing at M & T.

The schedule is also littered with holiday events as Baltimore plays on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Day (My 40th Birthday).

4) The Road Schedule is Tougher than it looks.

At first glance the schedule looks a bit weaker than previous ones but don't underestimate the power of the West Coast. The Chargers are always dangerous and the Seahawks should continue to improve.

5) Joe Flacco's breakout season could be next season.

If only because he faces some pretty weak passing defenses. The Texans, Jags, and Titans all finished in the Bottom Ten in that category. Fantasy owners take note.

6) Last but not least.. The Steelers open the season at M & T Bank.

A chance to start fresh and atone for the mistakes of 2010. It only makes sense to go back to the scene of the crime. Just make sure someone blocks Polamalu!

An assistant to the head coach of the Buccaneers was arrested early Wednesday on a charge of DUI according to Ileana Morales and Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times.

Police said Jayson Kaiser, 37, drove on N Dale Mabry Highway with the lights off on a white 2006 Hyundai when an officer pulled him over near W Osborne Avenue and noted his speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy and he smelled like alcohol.

Kaiser was arrested shortly after midnight. He denied drinking and refused to perform any field sobriety tests or take a Breathalyzer test, police said.

Kaiser, also known as Jay, often drives Bucs head coach Raheem Morris to events, but Morris said Wednesday morning that he was at home and not with Kaiser during his arrest.