After the longest work stoppage in NFL history, the lockout is over. Hallelujah. Praise Sweetness. In the coming six weeks before the start of the regular season, we are going to be inundated with a whirlwind of free agent signings, trades, training camps, cuts, preseason games, and general madness.
Here are the ten things I'm most looking forward to this NFL season:
10. The Tim Tebow Experiment
The speculation is that the Broncos may trade Kyle "Neck Beard" Orton, which would pave the way for Tim "Jesus Freak" Tebow to become the starting quarterback. Tebow, as you know, was the guy you loved to hate when he played at Florida – clean cut, didn't drink, allegedly a virgin, went on third-world Christian missions with his parents, won the Heisman. The "experts" have always said he's not an NFL-caliber quarterback, but the Broncos wasted a first-round pick on him in 2010 nonetheless. Now he may have the chance to prove everyone right or wrong.
9. How soon James Harrison is suspended for a hard hit
On one hand, Harrison has a target on his back, so every hit he doles out will be scrutinized more than other players' hits. On the other hand, the guy is giant dick who deserves every fine and suspension he gets.
8. Brett Favre's inevitable comeback
After he was almost killed by Arthur Moats and Corey Wootton last year, you would think he would be done. Then again, the man was addicted to painkillers for a while there, so those years don't really count.
7. This year's breakthrough stars
Every year, there are a group of players who, out of nowhere, have monster years, unexpectedly bursting into the top of the ranks at their respective positions after being relatively less productive in prior years. Last season it was Arian Foster, Peyton Hillis, Brandon Lloyd, Mike Wallace, Kenny Britt, Stevie Johnson, Justin Babin, Charles Johnson, and Chris Clemons, to name a few. It will be interesting to see who this year's new stars will be and, more importantly, whether I can pick them up on the waiver wire before anyone else does.
6. The League
Before the lockout ended yesterday, one of my legitimate concerns about the possibility of no NFL season (or a shortened season) was that it could mean that The League would have to be postponed this season. If that's not a testament to how funny The League is, I don't know what is. (By the way, the actress who played "The Shiva" is currently portraying a hot shapeshifter on True Blood, as if you needed another reason to watch.)
5. Michael Vick
Last year, Vick made a monster comeback and had the best season of his dogfight-interrupted career. He has always been fun to watch, and now that he has added more accurate passing to his arsenal, he is tough to stop. Of course, the fact that he seems genuinely sorry for his prior wrongdoings and has spoken against dog fighting (and helped sponsor anti-dogfighting legislation) helps a lot of people (myself included) tolerate his post-prison success.
4. Where Plaxico Burress ends up
Dude shot himself in the leg because he was carrying a handgun in the waistband of his sweatpants. It was possibly the dumbest thing someone who relies on his legs for his livelihood could do, short of jumping feet first into a wood chipper. Before he made the worst decision of his life, he was a pretty damn good receiver. Whether he can still perform at the same level remains to be seen, as does where he will land. As a fan of a team whose all-time receiving yards leader retired in 1967 and whose all-time receptions leader is a running back, I wouldn't mind it if the Bears made a move for Burress.
3. Jay Cutler
After an off-season full of questions about his toughness (not from me, by the way) and an engagement to some chick from The Hills, which he recently broke off, it will be interesting to see how Jay Cutler responds. I hope it's with anger and pinpoint accuracy.
2. Fantasy football
I am physically and psychosexually addicted to fantasy football. Keep Ray Rice as my 6th round pick again this year? I do believe I will.
1. The Packers not repeating as Super Bowl champs
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