PITTSBURGH, PA  [Friday Aug.11.2006]  /WMQT.com/ -- The NFL will start its 87th season with surf and turf as part of a two-city, pre-game special show, "NFL OPENING KICKOFF 2006 PRESENTED BY SPRINT," – on NBC at 8:00 pm ET Thursday, Sept. 7.

RASCAL FLATTS, DIDDY, and CASSIE all will perform, and MARTINA McBRIDE will sing the National Anthem.

The performances are part of the two-city celebration to kick off the 2006 season, honor the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh and look ahead to Super Bowl XLI, slated for February 4, 2007 in
South Florida.

The 30-minute show will lead into the season opener between the Steelers and Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field (NBC, Westwood One/CBS Sports, 8:30 PM ET).

RASCAL FLATTS will perform from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and MARTINA MCBRIDE will sing the national anthem. DIDDY and CASSIE will appear in Miami as part of a free concert on a specially designed stage on South Beach adjacent to Ocean Drive at 7th Street.

This is the third consecutive year that the NFL has saluted the Super Bowl champions with the opening game in their stadium on a Thursday in primetime.

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