The NFL has something special planned for the season opener with all 32 teams having legends of their franchises representing their teams during a pregame ceremony.
Hall of Famer Howie Long has been chosen to represent the Oakland Raiders according to Raiders.com:
The National Football League announced that 32 legends, one representing each team, will count down to the 2013 NFL Kickoff Game on NBC in primetime on Thursday, September 5. Raiders Legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame DE Howie Long will represent the Oakland Raiders.
Long is one on a long list of legends for this storied franchise along with Marcus Allen, Jim Plunkett, Tim Brown and so on.
Along with Long, the following legends have been selected to represent their former teams via Raiders.com:
Arizona Cardinals, Kurt Warner (QB); Atlanta Falcons, Deion Sanders (CB); Baltimore Ravens, Ray Lewis (LB); Buffalo Bills, Jim Kelly (QB); Carolina Panthers, Kevin Greene (LB-DE); Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka (TE); Cincinnati Bengals, Anthony Munoz (T); Cleveland Browns, Jim Brown (FB); Dallas Cowboys, Michael Irvin (WR); Denver Broncos, Shannon Sharpe (TE); Detroit Lions, Barry Sanders (RB); Green Bay Packers, James Lofton (WR); Houston Texans, Jamie Sharper (LB); Indianapolis Colts, Jeff Saturday (C); Jacksonville Jaguars, Fred Taylor (RB); Kansas City Chiefs, Willie Lanier (LB); Miami Dolphins, Larry Little (G); Minnesota Vikings, John Randle (DT); New England Patriots, Willie McGinest (LB); New Orleans Saints, Willie Roaf (T); New York Giants, Phil Simms (QB); New York Jets, Joe Namath (QB); Philadelphia Eagles, Troy Vincent (DB); Pittsburgh Steelers, Franco Harris (RB); San Francisco 49ers, Jerry Rice (WR); San Diego Chargers, Dan Fouts (QB); Seattle Seahawks, Cortez Kennedy (DT); St. Louis Rams, Marshall Faulk (RB); Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Warren Sapp (DT); Tennessee Titans, Jevon Kearse (DE); Washington Redskins, Lavar Arrington (LB)
The festivities for tomorrow’s pregame ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. PST leading up to the start of the game between the Broncos and Ravens.
As for the Raiders, Terrelle Pryor and company will face-off against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium at 10 a.m. PST.
