NFL training camps open tomorrow, and I’m really looking forward to all the shootings, DUI’s, strippers, and dog fights. Or does that just happen in the off-season? I’m sure fantasy football owners will be drafting players on talent, health, and their ability to stay out of jail.
Ahh . . . but that is just the rational (and cynical) human being in me speaking. Once the players suit up and get on the field, I’m once again an NFL Fan. And besides, Michael Vick and Pac Man Jones will be far from any professional football stadium. My bet is they’ll be on the set of their new Spike-TV reality show- Hanging with Pac Man & Vick. Or maybe it will be called Pac & Mike . . . they’ll have some tough choices to make at the network. As long as they wrap all 22 episodes before sentencing they’ll be fine.
But not as fine as The New England Patriots look on Training Camp Eve (9 hrs , 25 mins, 40 secs. away, according to The Boston Globe).
With a frenzy of off-season moves to improve a team that went 12-4 and was one 1st down from a Superbowl appearance, there is no denying The Pats are strong. They addressed their biggest weaknesses- wide receiver (Randy Moss, Donte’ Stallworth, Kelley Washington, and Wes Welker), linebacker (Adalius Thomas), and d-back (Brandon Meriweather). Adding the new to the already core team of players & coaches and you can’t help but get excited over the start of the season.
But . . .
As Bill Bilichick has said many times, they don’t hand out trophies in August. You play a full season and then have to win at least 3 more games in the playoffs. So even with the best coach in the NFL, the best QB in Tom Brady, a great defense, and a new influx of talent eager to get their first Superbowl Championship, you still must keep your excitement in check.
Especially in The NFL.
It is the only of our professional sports leagues where every team has a legitimate chance of winning it all. Maybe not this year, but soon . . . if they have a good owner, great coaching, solid drafts, and are willing to work as a team. Since 2001 The Patriots have been the best at combining all those elements, as their five playoff appearances, twelve post season wins, and 3 Superbowl Trophies prove.
But there are 31 other teams this year that think they will stand victorious come February. During the 2007 regular season The Patriots will play 13 of them (getting the dangerous Dolphins, Jets, and Bills 2 times each). Wins & losses just might come down to one play, one move, one moment . . . the kind of thing that you might practice only once during training camp.
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You can (and should) just come out and say "This is the best Patriots team ever!" It's true. Sure, there are a bunch of caveats and "only ifs" but I'm going to leave that to you. I'm thinking 13-14 wins. Division Title. AFC Home Field advantage. Why not? The AFC East isn't that tough, but will probably produce a wild card team The AFC South will produce Indianapolis as it's champ. The AFC North has 4 good teams and the play the NFC West (which stinks this year!) They'll all end up 8-8 and going to a seventh tie-breaker situation put Cincinnati on top. Just give the AFC West to SD now and let KC take the 2nd wild card spot. With the Pats playing 2 home games against those foes, I give them an edge. Not a slight edge, a healthy edge. You see, Oz. I'm like that guy at Wonderland Greyhound Park who bets on the fastest dog to win. As we all know, the fastest dog doesn't always win. Things happen. He could get squeezed or boxed in. He could go wide on turn 1. He could end up just losing steam coming home. But the dog I'm putting my $2 on is wearing the #12, Tom Brady jersey. The white home one. You know the one. My dog will come out strong out of the box and command a strong lead coming out of turn 2. Heading down the backstretch that S.O.B. is nipping at Swifty's tail. Gains speed coming out of turn four, just as the finish lights come on. He's out-paced the field by 10 lengths at the finish. Winning. Brady, Bellichek, the DL, the LBs, the D-backfield. They know what that feels like. You can damn well bet that Bill is telling the guys that they were the best team last year. They should have won. Should have. If they don't win it this year, they'll have to take it to their graves knowing that the best Pats team ever assembled had failed.
And I'm just about to cash in that winning ticket...
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