NEW YORK (AP) - Usher, Keith Urban and Natasha Bedingfield are kicking off the NFL season with a free concert that's expected to draw thousands to Manhattan's Columbus Circle.

They are scheduled to perform Thursday afternoon. A video about the Super Bowl champion New York Giants will be shown before the NFL Kickoff show.

Traffic at the busy intersection at the foot of Central Park is expected to come to a virtual stop as fans and speakers — including Mayor Michael Bloomberg — turn out for the event.

The NFL will air portions of the concert live on its network prior to Thursday night's game between the reigning Super Bowl Champion New York Giants and the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium.

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