The NFL season kicks off again Wednesday as the Dallas Cowboys head to East Rutherford, N.J. to take on the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
It’s been seven months to the day, and let me tell you — pro football hasn’t come back a day too soon. Sure, the absence of football has allowed me to deepen my appreciation for other sports in that time, namely basketball. But after a summer of watching the Olympics, I’m ready to make my triumphant return from the land of fencing and weightlifting to the true American pastime.
In fact, here are some of the things I’m most looking forward to about the return of the NFL:
The possibility that Eli Manning could knock off Tom Brady in the Super Bowl — again. After the third time, wouldn’t you have to start calling Eli the better quarterback?
The chance to watch Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the top two picks in April’s draft, go from duking it out for the Heisman Trophy to seeing who throws for the most yards on a struggling NFL team that trails in almost every game it plays.
Troy Polamalu’s hair. For real.
Ray Lewis’ intensity and energy. He is the poster child for the idea that, however corny and clichéd, if you do something you love and work your tail off honing your craft, you can’t be bad at it.
The Saints. All of you who know me know that I am from New Orleans and am a huge Saints homer. With the Bountygate punishments, commissioner Roger Goodell has created an “us against the world” mentality in the Big Easy. The Saints could rise to the challenge and find themselves playing for the Lombardi Trophy in their own stadium. Or they could crack under the pressure of losing Sean Payton, while Drew Brees tries too hard to live up to his $100 million contract. The scariest part? The Saints’ season could go either way.
That awkward moment when you’re watching your favorite team and think to yourself, “Man, I want my team to win big, but I also have [insert opposing star player] on my fantasy team.” Who do you root for harder?
The two certainties. No, not death and taxes. The two football certainties — that Michael Vick, Frank Gore and Andre Johnson will get injured like they do every year and that Mike Shanahan will kill your fantasy team by turning the running back position into a carousel. Roy Helu, Jr. owners, look out.
Rooting against: Jerry Jones; Rex and Rob Ryan — the Jets and Cowboys, in general, really; the absurd attention Tim Tebow gets; Bill Belichick’s half-sleeve hoodie; Tom Brady’s hair; Tom Brady’s face; Tom Brady’s UGGs — notice a pattern?; the running-back-by-committee; and more or less every player from USC, Miami, Ohio State and Virginia Tech in the NFL — Saints tight end Jimmy Graham and defensive end Will Smith excepted.
Rooting for: Drew Brees; the feature back; more or less every player from Virginia and LSU in the NFL; successful returns from injury for Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, Eric Berry, et al; Andy Reid; guys like Brian Urlacher who play through pain; Larry Fitzgerald, who continues to put up stats despite the pathetic crew of Cardinals quarterbacks; Andy Dalton throwing bombs to A.J. Green; and rookie quarterbacks Luck, Griffin, Brandon Weeden and Russell Wilson.
The versatility of guys like Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles.
The feats of physical and athletic supremacy that you can only see in the NFL. Chris Johnson’s breakaway speed, Vince Wilfork’s shocking athleticism for a man his size and pretty much everything having to do with Calvin Johnson and Cam Newton.
Posting up at Buffalo Wild Wings or on my couch every Sunday and strapping in for hours upon hours of games on TV.
Divisional grudge matches. I have a borderline-obsessive love of rivalries. Steelers-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Pats-Jets, Saints-Falcons. I love ‘em all.
Having something to distract me from election season. Seriously, attack ads are bumming me out.
Wondering if Cardinals cornerback/return man Patrick Peterson can stake a claim to Devin Hester’s best-returner-of-all-time rep.
The Super Bowl being in New Orleans. Good for everyone involved. New Orleans gets the economic boost of thousands of visitors, and everyone else gets to see that New Orleans does the Super Bowl right.
That one guy every year who comes from out of nowhere and sets the league on fire. The 2012 edition? Matt Ryan, quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. It kills me as a Saints fan, but he’s the next guy to pop. Top back Michael Turner is headed downhill, wideout Roddy White is one of the elite pass-catchers in the league and opposite receiver Julio Jones is rapidly approaching White’s level, not to mention that a new offensive coordinator seems set to open up the throttle on the Dirty Birds’ offense. Forty touchdowns and 4,500 yards don’t seem out of the question.
And most of all, knowing that I am finally free of the shackles of SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays being nothing but a collection of diving outfield catches. I want to see some hits.
Of course, these are all matters of personal preference, the things I’m looking forward to about the return of the NFL.
What are you looking forward to?
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