On July 30, Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump complained that the Commission on Presidential Debates had scheduled two debates that would overlap with primetime NFL games. Mr. Trump worries that those games might draw down viewership of the Presidential Debates and accused the Commission of being "rigged" in favor of his opponent, Secretary Hillary Clinton. 

I am a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers and watch football every weekend it's on. But the reality is that Presidential Debates only happen once every four years, and they play a critical role in our nation's democracy. As both a football fan and an American, I'm calling on the NFL to reschedule the two overlapping games:

• The Saints vs the Falcons on Monday Night Football on September 26
• The Panthers vs the Buccanneers on Sunday night Football on October 9

It should be noted that three of the four teams are based in cities that are in battleground states. The Falcons are based in Atlanta, Georiga. The Panthers are based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Buccanneers are based in Tampa Bay, Florida. All three states are going to be pivotal battleground states in November.

This presidential election is like no other, and its importance is paramount. I hope you'll join me in calling on the NFL to make sure that as many people as possible are able to watch the Presidential Debates and do not feel split between cheering for their favorite team and participating in our democracy.

Let's make sure as many people as possible are watching for the one-on-one debates between Donald Trump and Secretary Clinton.

Thank you.