Bill Belichick's infamous hooded sweatshirt, Chad Ochocinco's end zone antics, Brett Favre lacing up the cleats just one more time and Boomer's "rumblin', bumblin', stumblin'" post-game analysis all mean one thing: it's football season again.
This offseason has been clouded by crime, indecision and a 26-year-old named Jay Cutler who cried like a child to be traded. We've seen Donte Stallworth suspended for a DUI Vehicular Manslaughter incident, Plaxico Burress cut from the Giants after shooting himself in the leg and Michael Vick finally get back on the field with a different kind of bird on his helmet. There have been coaching changes, trades and the draft, but it seems like it was all overshadowed by the increasing discord in the NFL. I won't name names, Michael Crabtree, but certain players are focusing less on helping their team win and more on getting $38 million right out of college.
Now this isn't to say that I'm not excited for this season. I'm stoked, but the main reason is so we can all get away from all these offseason scandals and issues. The NFL is slowly slipping into a league of diva receivers and constant suspensions and I truly hope that the start of this season will help us get back to football.
I'm not an NFL analyst, but I have a really good feeling about a few teams on the verge of breaking into the playoffs. The Atlanta Falcons are, believe it or not, my pick to make it to the Super Bowl. They have a returning core of offensive playmakers with Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White. On top of that, they also added the best tight end in the game to their arsenal. If the defense, particularly rookie defensive tackle Peria Jerry, can avoid giving up points every game, I think the Falcons have an extremely bright future in the league.
Another team I'll really be watching this year is the Houston Texans, led by Mike Shanahan disciple Gary Kubiak. The Texans are not only solid on the offensive side of the ball, with Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson and rising star Steve Slaton, but they also have a fantastic young defense led by linebacker DeMeco Ryans and defensive end Mario Williams. I really like the Texans' chances of not only achieving their first winning season, but also making the playoffs.
With eleven coaching changes during the offseason and various franchises at a crossroads, I'd say the only coach with true security is Mike Tomlin. One coach who is really on the hot seat this year is Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is one of those guys whose main focus is on winning in the present. After finishing third in the NFC East last year, anything short of the divisional round for Jones might mean the boot for Phillips.
As far as new faces go, nobody has more pressure placed on him than the youngster guiding the Denver Broncos, Josh McDaniels. You can blame whoever you'd like for the Cutler and Brandon Marshall fiasco, but what matters is that McDaniels has a team that went 8-8 last.
The season is not even a week old yet, but there are already several storylines. As the season gets older one week at time, new storylines will unfold, while others will become stale. One thing is for sure though: football is back and the only thing that matters now are wins and losses.
You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
