Football

I am! And it looks like we’re almost there. Football fans spent most of the summer on pins and needles, waiting to see if the lockout would end. Personally, I vacillated between anticipation and irritation, thinking “What is taking them so long to get a deal done? Why can’t you just pay for the retired players’ medical expenses and be done with it?” Thankfully, they did get it done and football will begin in time for opening day on September 8.

Traditionally, the team that won the Super Bowl last season opens the new season at home and this continues for the 2011-12 season. The opening game will be between the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints, which will be good for the Packers in particular. With all the hoopla about the lockout, it seemed like they didn’t even get enough time to enjoy their championship win.

In the meantime, teams are playing chess with many of the available free agents. Since training camp has been shortened to about half of the usual time, there’s been a bit of a frenzy about snatching up available talent. So far, the biggest moves have included cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha going from Oakland to Philadelphia, wide receiver Plaxico Burress returning to the NFL with the New York Jets, wide receiver Braylon Edwards going from the Jets to the 49ers, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck switching to Tennessee from Seattle.

Of course, we’re having our usual holdout drama with a few high-profile players, but all in all, it’s shaping up to be an interesting 2011-12 NFL season.

Image c/o: Ed Yourdon