White House working to avoid clash with NFL's opening game

09-01-2011 • www.nfl.com

Obama Accepts Boehner's Offer to Address Congress at 7 p.m. Next ThursdayIn agreeing Wednesday to reschedule his planned address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama might have placated House Speaker John Boehner at the expense of the nation's football fans.

Boehner, R-Ohio, balked at the president's original request to appear before Congress to discuss the nation's chronic unemployment problem on Wednesday, Sept. 7. That's the same day as a Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, Calif.

Obama agreed to move his speech to Thursday, Sept. 8, which happens to coincide with the opening game of the NFL regular season, a prime time contest between the New Orleans Saints and the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers from Lambeau Field.