The Greatest Day Of The Year
Thursday, September 06, 2007
I know I've used that before when talking about the first two days of the NCAA Tournament, but I think I've changed my stance. There's nothing more painful than the NFL Offseason (especially this one). It's ridiculously long and seems to go on forever when the preseason finally starts.
Well that all ends tonight (cue the All American Rejects). The NFL Season is kicking off tonight, and it's kicking off here at AA(.com) as well. I'm going to give you a few details on what to expect this year, and then throw some quotes and links up regarding tonight's Saints-Colts matchup.
The NFL and AA:
1. Live-Blog Tonight (Around 8pm)! I wasn't sure if I was going to do it or not, but screw it....it's Opening Night. I hope you can make it.
2. Live-Blog of every Monday Night Football game starting with the Double Header on 9/10.
3. Signal to Noise live-blogging most (if not all) of the Sunday Contests. As well as other Channel 4 News Team Members filling in the top games of the weekend.
4. The AA NFL Pick 'Em Contest for a free IPhone. There's still time to join....and yes....a FREE IPhone is going to the winner thanks to Ligit.com.
5. "Your Sunday In Quotes": A new feature that will have an open thread on Sunday where you can add any of the wacky Announcer quotes you hear throughout the day. I'll compile all of them for a nice big post on Monday.
Fun times right?
Around the 'Sphere NFL News:
The Channel 4 News Team has a Fantasy Fantasy Football League.....Jon Kitna is my Quarterback. Enough said.
"There was so much focus on player conduct during the offseason that I think that everybody, quite frankly, right now is ready to get onto the football aspect of things."- Adam Schefter (NFL Network)
The Jets and Giants are getting a new stadium It's pretty. (NY Daily News)
“Everything has been negative and it’s time for some positive stuff. Ninety-nine percent of what happens in the NFL is good. This offseason has just been filled with crap”- John Madden
The Ballhype 17 Games Contest is starting tonight as well.
Bill Maas has been arrested again! Carrying a loaded gun on a plane is reaaaaally smart. (Fanhouse)
KSK is in a giving mood. (Kissing Suzy Kolber)
Your ESPN "Experts" have their predictions up Sal Palantonio is picking Indy to be a Wild Card team....that makes Jacksonville the AFC South winner. Riiiiight.
Peter King is in rare form already. "Coffeenerdness: Might be just my imagination, or my experience at the local Starbucks, but this breakfast-sandwich thing is slowing the service there noticeably. It's a coffee place after all." (CNNSI)
Dan Shanoff is picking the Pats over the Saints in the Superbowl. (Dan Shanoff)
Urlacher is calling out Merriman for his Lights Out celebration (Fan IQ)
The Pro Bowl may be moved up. Really? (Larry Brown Sports)
David Carr Is Apparently Hot (Ladies...)
Matt Millen and his Intern are heading to Oaktown. (Ghosts of Wayne Fontes)
Predictions from Minnesota. Surprise! Randball is picking the Vikes Week 1. Tread carefully with that game people. (Randball)
And lastly....No Opening Day post would be complete without predicitions. Here are mine.
NFC East- Dallas Cowboys (Redskins, Eagles, Giants)
NFC North- Chicago Bears (Lions, Packers, Vikings)
NFC South- New Orleans Saints (Panthers, Bucs, Falcons)
NFC West- Seattle Seahawks (49ers, Cardinals, Rams)
Wild Card- Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers
NFC Champion- Chicago Bears
AFC East- New England Patriots (Jets, Bills, Dolphins)
AFC North- Baltimore Ravens (Steelers, Bengals, Browns)
AFC South- Indianapolis Colts (Texans, Titans, Jaguars)
AFC West- San Diego Chargers (Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs)
Wild Card- Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos
AFC Champion- San Diego Chargers
Super Bowl XLII- San Diego over Chicago
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Adrian Peterson
Defensive Rookie of the Year: LaRon Landry
MVP: LT
Offensive Player of the Year: LT
Defensive Player of the Year: Shawne Merriman
Coach of the Year: Mike Nolan
Fantasy Sleeper: Mike Furrey Furrey isn't really a sleeper, so I'm switching to Brandon Jones (TEN) and/or Brandon Marshall (DEN). Pick your Brandon!
Have a great day and I'll see you for the Live-Blog at around 8pm tonight!
8 Comments:
That's true SP, but I can't sit still today. I'm amped for tonight. Anyone betting?
-6 For the Colts....I don't think I'm taking the plunge, but I'd love to see what others thought.
Take the Colts and lay the points, that place will be too loud for the Saints.
AA, never pick the Skins to finish below the Cowboys...EVER. LaRon Landry is going to kill someone this season though.
Just semantics, but I disagree with Mike Furrey. He was the sleeper last year, even though people still haven't heard of him. I wouldn't call a 98-catch guy from last year a sleeper.
You know what....you're right Anon. I'm changing it now.
I'm at work right now, but can somebody help me settle a bet: Is ESPN running a "countdown clock" for tonight's first NFL game? I mean, ESPN runs clocks for trivial events that run on its networks, like middle-of-the-season NASCAR races or the World Series of Poker. You'd think they'd run one for something that people are actually looking forward to.
My money is on them not running a "countdown clock" right now.
They only run countdown clocks for stuff on their family of networks, so my guess is "no". But you better believe they'll have the clock for ESPN Sunday Night Football on Monday Night.
Anon- You're the winner! No countdown clock on either ESPN TV or ESPN.com. And do you know why? The game tonight isn't on the Leader.
They'll put a countdown to the Monday Nighter Late Sunday Night.
I don't really like Kickoff Thursday. Sunday is the best day, when there's that wonderful chaos of all the noon games.