Football Season Is Back!!

It feels like it's been forever, but football season is finally back!  Training camp is upon us and it's time to see what teams are made of.  From Seattle to Miami, San Francisco to New England, Washington to Oakland, and San Diego to Tampa Bay everyone is optimistic.  Right now football fans all across the country think their team has a chance to win the Super Bowl and they're right.  Just ask the 99' St Louis Rams, the 03' Carolina Panthers, or the 07' Arizona Cardinals.  It doesn't matter what Vegas says, Peter King thinks, or how Warren Sapp interprets things, everyone has a shot at the title for the moment.

I usually try to curb my enthusiasm until after the first pre-season game.  That gives me enough time to get organized and establish the trends I'm going to follow throughout the pre-season.  Contract disputes, position battles, and unfortunate injuries typically come to light in the first 2-3 weeks.  Before I put all my eggs in one basket and fire up the crystal ball I like to make sure I've identified the major pitfalls and obstacles to focus on.

Then there's the fantasy football angle.  During that same period I attempt to gather information that will give me an unfair advantage over my opponents.  I talk more trash than the law allows so I have to be as prepared as possible.  This is the time where I research the sure handed no-name receivers and the punishing running backs with Stonehenge size chips on their shoulders.  I'm obsessed with winning the championship this year so the fantasy football gods will require a substantial sacrifice as well.  Right now I'm looking at throwing my signed Matt Hasselbeck football in the middle of Lake Washington to stay in their good graces.

As everyone knows I've predicted the Seattle Seahawks will win the Super Bowl this year.  If the Hawks remain relatively healthy at the key positions there's no reason they won't hoist the Lombardi Trophy in New York.  That being said all the other story lines and subplots of the season are far less significant than the Seahawks bringing a championship back to the 206.  The next seven months should be a lot of fun.