Are YOU Ready For Some Football???!!

"BEEP, BEEP, BEEP." The alarm is sounding. Its the time of year where we all come out of our sports resting coma and gear up for all that is the National Football League.

No other professional sport can really compare.

The NBA? Please, the last time I got excited about a basketball game was when his Airness played for the Chicago Bulls in the early 90s. MLB? The professional equivalent of counting sheep. Substitute wooly numbered Serta sheep for private scratching and spitting. NASCAR? Not without my banjo! Nothing like endless left turns to spark my interest. The Olympics? Well I cant say I didnt enjoy the nano second updates on Michael Phelp's Olympic Gold count but still relatively non exciting. The media hype made the story of the Olympics clear before it even began - "If Michael Phelps receives anything less than 8 Gold Medals the entire sporting event was a complete failure." To the Chinese 'FREE PRESS" means a public dry cleaners. Even amazing sports such as Soccer, Hockey, and Cycling which I invested a large fraction of my life into personally just dont completely pull you in as a spectator yearning for a specific day of the week to arrive.

Speed. Power. Strength. Determination to Overcome. The NFL is truly todays version of the historic Gladiators. And when I think of the word 'Gladiators' I instantaneously think of THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS.

Hell Yes.

The continuation of a new era will begin this Sunday as Mike Tomlin begins his second year as the coach of the Black & Gold. What fate will this season hold for these Men of Steel? Will the Steelers continue to dominate the AFC Central, safely securing their spot in the postseason? Will they progress towards a wide open passing team like they have shown samples of the past few years, or will they fully reinvest in the run backed up by their traditional smash mouth defense?

Most know the key to success in today's extremely competitive NFL is both elements, a successful run game complimented with the threatening ability to go to the Air. All of the most recent top teams have had this combination.

Many questions remain to be answered as this season progresses and history unfolds but the one true emerging story of this year should be that of #10 - Santonio Holmes. The learning curve is over and small hints of extreme talent have been displayed. This will be the speedy wide out's third season in the big leagues and Im expecting him to have a break out season and enter into the league's premier group of wide receivers. Steve Smith, Terrell Owens, Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress, Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss. What makes one a 'premier receiver'? Well by definition its a player who makes giant plays when his team needs them the most despite everyone including the opposing team knowing in advance. He will and should be the perfect compliment to a guy like Hines Ward who other than having a stadium named after him and being the poster child Steelers player for the past decade, makes the tough catches and straight up busts heads to win games. With that role filled, this leaves the deep, gambling passes open for a guy like Santonio who possesses the speed and agility to make BIG plays.

Willy? Roeth? My boy Polamalu? The same spotlight shines for them all creating stories within their own.

Last season the Steelers were easily one of the most talented teams in the league but choked on key plays that perhaps their previous long tenured coach would have most likely prevented.

The other reality is the Steelers still probably couldnt have beat the Patriots in the later rounds of the playoffs.

The 2008 season kicks off this Thursday night with the defending super bowl champion Giants taking on the Redskins of Washington DC. Every year the NFL contains many moments of heart pounding excitement and this year is sure to be no different. Brett Favre on a new team forced to face Mr Tom Brady 2x a season, the Cowboys and their continued guiltless signing of public felons, and the emergence of the question mark team who despite all stastistics pointing to them being one of the worst teams of the year will somehow be one of the very best.

The pressure to get to the Super Bowl this season is definitely on the Cowboys and Chargers as their franchises have spent all the $$$s over the past few seasons to place them there. How will these teams respond? A Vickless team tries to rebound after a devastating season with a new gameplan and I still say Michael Vick will be playing in the NFL in 2009 because above all, there is one if not multiple people willing to sign up an animal murderer and all the pertaining criticism that comes with if it means the chance to win the big game. A perfect example would be the Cowboys signing PacMan Jones after previously being involved in just about every felon act known to man. "Can we win the Super Bowl with this Guy? Yes. Okay, sign him up." Shameless.

When I think of the fate of all those poor puppies I think of my very own amazing puppy whose sole purpose in life was to simply please and maybe eat. Then I realize that no penalty for Vick was severe enough and that Electrocuting, Shooting, and Drowning helpless canines is close to the equivalent of harming little children.

I maintained silence during the whole Favre circus this summer but have a few thoughts Id like to share: The Packers dont want Favre. They havent wanted Favre for several of the past seasons but didnt have the guts to take the public backlash of trading or benching a hall of fame quarterback. The coach and GM simply looked the other way for about the past 4 horrendous seasons anticipating his retirement before last years amazing team run ending in another typical Favre forced interception. That said, Favre is an amazing player who anyone would be blessed to have as QB and the idea that some team is willing to pay him mega millions to stay retired so they can put their entire future into the hands of an untested replacement is ludicrous. Favre deserves more and I wish him success in NY although it will be very tough for him to readapt to a new team after an entire career in Green Bay. Of all the teams up on the trading block for Favre, the Jets were the very last one he hoped to be traded to and in the end that is where he will reside. So how will he respond? Hopefully well. I wish the Packers complete failure after turning their backs to Favre and respectfully hope Brett tears it up in the Dirty Jerz. Hes definitely capable.

And Oh, Fuck ESPN for hyping the story day in and day out, making sports feel like an episode of the Guiding Light. As a sports network your priority should be to show highlights, followed by reporting facts and statistics.

Anway, Ive got the evening off and the 40" 120khz Sony 1080p HD on standby. Who wants to come kick it?

Lets Do This.