NFL releasing schedule Wed. night

We live in a world where the release of the NFL schedule is big news. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro days | Top free agents

Because the NFL has fashioned itself into a year-round spectacle, every event, no matter how seemingly meaningless, now takes on the same importance usually reserved for high-profile get-togethers (like, say, the NBA playoffs).

BEHOLD:

NFL announces that it will announce it's 2014 schedule on its TV network tomorrow at 8pm. Yeah, it's their world. We're just livin' in it

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 22, 2014

That's right: The NFL will announce the 2014 schedule Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on the NFL Network because, well, they can.

If you thought Day 3 of the NFL Draft was boring (seriously, the league has made watching an old guy in a suit read names off a card for eight hours must-see TV), this is worse.

NFL player in text to me: "I think you writers would rather talk about the NFL schedule than be with a girl." Um…well…ah…no comment?

— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) April 22, 2014

Then again, that's the NFL's plan: Remain a storyline, even when the season is four months off.

NFL Hot News

Rams QB Sam Bradford is 'realistically way ahead of schedule' in ACL rehab



Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said Sunday that quarterback Sam Bradford is doing really well as he rehabs from reconstructive left knee surgery in November. And he wants you to know that he really means it."You're not gonna hear a head coach say he has a player on his team that's not ahead of schedule coming off an ACL," Fisher said. "Everybody says they're all ahead of schedule. But [Bradford] is realistically way ahead of schedule. He's working hard."Bradford won't do much at the start of the Rams' offseason workout program this week. Fisher said Bradford will be throwing at some point in mid-June during OTAs. He is expected to be healthy by the beginning of training camp.



This season is yet another critical one of Bradford. He gets a pass because of last year's injury, but he needs to pick up where he left off as he was on track to have a career year. The Rams have found a running game in Zac Stacy and have an excess of high-upside receivers surrounding Bradford. The Rams could still use another proven veteran in that group and should make offensive line a high priority in the draft. The point being is that the Rams have done a lot to give Bradford what he needs to succeed. Now it's on him.Bradford is a QB2 for fantasy purposes, but he's only 26, and his stock definitely has room for growth.