NFL off-season: Key dates in the 2013 NFL season

The NFL season may only last from September to February, but the time in between is hardly a huge lull given that this is the time when all 32 teams will be doing their utmost behind the scenes to make sure they are challenging for the next Super Bowl.

March 23-24 Regional Combines Baltimore & Seattle April 7-8 Super Regional Combine, Dallas, Texas April 25-27 NFL Draft, New York This is the big one - the Super Bowl of the off-season, which in America ranks as one of the most watched sporting occasions of the year despite no actual action taking place on the field! The system employed in the NFL places competitiveness as a priority, hence the worst team in the league last season gets the first pick of the top college prospects, and should ensure that even the most hapless of teams will slowly improve. This is not always the case, obviously, but the chance is there. Despite having no Andrew Luck's or RGIII's in this year's Draft, it will still be a much-hyped occasion when Roger Goodell walks out at Radio City Music Hall to announce who the Kansas City Chiefs will make the top draft pick of 2013. May 20-22 NFL spring League meeting in Boston Late July Training camps open New draft signings will mingle with returning veterans to try and get settled into life as an NFL player, while lesser stars have their chance to fight for a place on the final roster. Many teams go to a nearby university to stage training camps, which includes carrying out almost a full game's worth of plays and staging 'two-a-days' when the players are put through tier paces twice in one day. August 3 Hall of Fame Enshrinement in Canton, Ohio After being announced during Super Bowl week, the 2013 class will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame - joining the elite of the game and having their names carved into NFL history for ever. This year Larry Allen, Chris Carter, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcels, Dave Robinson and Warren Sapp will be the lucky men who will join the very best in the game's history. August 4 - Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio Held at Fawcett Stadium right next door to the Hall of Fame building in Canton, the exhibition game signals the start of the pre-season program in the NFL when teams will play four 'friendly' games. The two teams selected to the Hall of Fame game will play five of those games, and although starters are regularly rested there is still competition for places and chances to the lesser lights to earn their place. Teams are sometimes selected to compliment some of the personalities inducted into the Hall of Fame the previous day - such as in 2009 when Buffalo played in the game as their owner Ralph Wilson was inducted. September 5 Kick-off to the 2013 season As per tradition, the Super Bowl champions will open the new season up with a home game on the Thursday, September 5, before the rest of the league starts their campaigns on Sunday September 8. Last season the reigning champion New York Giants lost at home to the NFC East rivals Dallas Cowboys, and the Baltimore Ravens will hope to do better when they run out at M&T Bank Stadium. Again it could be a divisional battle with Pittsburgh the obvious shout, but with the Packers, Patriots and Jets also on their schedule they could all make for high-profile kick-offs to go along with the festivities that will go on around the city.