While watching the Saints defense fall apart and Jason Fife actually putting something together, I was thinking about the idea of the game. I my mind this is a game to honor the greats that just got inducted and the past legends that have been in the HoF.
My question is: Is the NFL doing a dis-service to the Hall of Fame by having this as a preseason game, let alone the first one. Why couldn't they move it to the first regular season game, such as the first game of the current Super Bowl champions. I know that the ceremonies would have to move dates, but I don't see a problem with that. With a regular season game, you actually get two teams trying to get off on the right foot and who actually care about the outcome.
To me, you have the very first preseason game where two camps have been underway for at most 5 days and a whole bunch of kinks to work out. The starters are out after 2 possessions and the subs fight for starting positions. I think it would give the inductees, Canton and the game a much better atmosphere.