The Crystal Ball 2010 Week 1 Season Opener

Tonight, NFL fans worldwide are cresting that last hill at the top of the roller coaster that is the NFL 2010 season. Tonight’s game will push us all over the edge and down the thrilling, exciting breathtaking first drop that is Week 1 action. We’ve waited at the station for months, climbed this hill through August and now stand poised for yet another thrill ride season. I’m almost salivating with excitement.

However, I warn you to savor every moment. Because the way the owners and players are acting, it might be the last football for some time. Thank goodness Pittsburgh’s getting an Arena League team for next season.

Opening Kickoff

Mark Kriegel of Fox Sports seems to feel that the Saints are not getting the respect they should be accorded as defending Super Bowl champions. Three points on this Mark:

1. Well duh. Their team name does not end in Colts, Patriots or Favre. After that, no team gets their proper due. And anyway, most teams enjoy that status. It’s much easier to play the underdog/disrespect/nobody believes in us but us card if, well, you do not get any respect.

2. Yeah, that happens. Almost every year the defending champs get little or no due. Pittsburgh was ignored after their last two Super Bowl wins, not even given a chance to defend according to most pundits. Ok, sure, they rightly deserved such status after the season. But before? No always give the edge to the team who just did it.

3. Do you really think the Saints, players coaches and administrative personnel included, or their fans really care? Heck no, they’re all still deliriously happy, the way you should be when you’ve reached the top.


Thursday

Minnesota (0-0) at New Orleans (0-0)

New Orleans took great personal pride and pleasure repeatedly pummeling Favre when last these teams met in the NFC championship game. Favre had it all planned out, one more season with a win now ready team and he’d have a second ring. What he didn’t figure was a tenacious, opportunistic defense would pop up near the end that had no fear of his Hall of Fame pedigree. Nor did he figure how tough it would be to defeat a team playing for an entire city and region that still battles daily to return to normalcy, thanks to Mother Nature and BP. That’s a shame. Considering the team, the city and Saints fans are STILL partying from their Super Bowl victory, something tells me a return visit from Favre will not spoil this particular moment in the spotlight either.

Saints over Vikings




Stay tuned for the full week 1 extravaganza coming this weekend. And yes to the wise guy, it’ll be posted BEFORE the games start. Smarty pants.