Despite the lockout of the players by the owners, the NFL will release its 2011 schedule as planned sometime in mid to late April per ProFootballTalk.com. No date has been set. Last year the schedule was released the same week as the draft.

We do know that the Lions will be on the road at New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Denver, Oakland, Green Bay, Chicago and Minnesota. At home they will face Green Bay, Chicago, Minnesota, Atlanta, Carolina, San Francisco, Kansas City and San Diego.

This year’s draft is scheduled for April 28-30 and will go on no matter what is happening with the lockout situation.

Here’s a sobering thought, the opening Sunday of the season will be Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)