Tonights the night. At my house the only thing that will be on my TV tonight is the game! Then I will maybe watch the rest of HBO's "Hard Knocks" on On Demand. In the fantasy world I went off the beaten path and pumped up the WRs. I have Owens, Moss, and Brandon Marshall on one team. I should call it the Character Flaws.

Speaking of which let's kick off with some preseason stupidity.
First, it seems that Chad Johnson really did change his name to Ocho Cinco, which is not only dumb but not correct Spanish.
Incoming Lions RB Rudi Johnson accused recently waived Lions RB Tatum Bell of stealing his luggage. He says when he was unpacking in the locker room Bell was packing and took some of his stuff including money. Heres a picture :/: Bell runs fast for once. What's in Rudi's 'case? Ace Bandages, Ice Packs, Knee braces and painkillers?

On a sad note Jaguars OT Richard Collier was the victim of a senseless shooting on Tuesday morning and is in critical condition. He and a friend were sitting in their vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex waiting for someone to drop off her car when someone opened fire on the vehicle. He was hit multiple times. This was in an upscale older neighborhood bordering on a bad area, close to where my next door neighbor's body was found 3 weeks ago - he was a nice suburban guy who got into drugs and alcohol and was totally ruined in two years. He got hooked up with the wrong people in the wrong 'hood. This city is violent.

I am so stoked that the NFL is back. The summer months are simply abysmal for football fans.

I'm a Panthers fan, but I was very sorry to hear about the Jaguars player who was shot. Very tragic!

I'm a very casual fantasy football guy, but I'm not overly optimistic about my team's chances. Plus, the guys in my league are extremely antagonistic They enjoy a good barb more than they do a victory.

Funny stuff about Chad and Rudi, Shannon.
Fender, you're absolutely right. I'm an NBA fan, so I do have that to get me through the first part of June, but once it's over, the doldrums hit hard. This year's Olympics helped, but they've been over for 2 weeks.
I'm ready.

Interesting.
The hapless Chiefs play the Patriots close and knock Brady out of action.
The Steelers look rock solid, or is Houston just that bad?
Favre is in form, and suddenly the Jets have a chance.
The Chargers get shocked in the closing seconds.
McNabb looks good.
We know the Bears' defense is excellent, but are the Colts becoming mediocre or did they look lethargic because Jeff Saturday didn't play?

"Chargers got shocked..."

Panthers fans were shocked too, believe me!!! That was one outstanding catch, and Delhomme finally threw one where it could, maybe, be caught.
Defense for Panthers looked pretty good in first 3 quarters, 4th had me worried. Offense had some other chances for TDs and 1st down conversions and didn't take advantage as they should; BUT- and this is a big BUT... it felt really good to see them snatch the win from the Chargers in the last seconds. What a show.

Honestly, I would like to see Rivers do well, he's a former NCSU grad, and our football team hasn't risen to the heights he elevated it to since he left.

Da Bears come to our house this Sunday- should be a great game.
I'll predict Panthers by 3.

Later
TY

True, Tony. I was impressed with both the throw and the catch. The Panthers earned it more so than the Chargers choked.

Thanks Woody, I agree...they had other chances to earn the win, but I'm impressed with the overall fight they retained right to the last second.

Wow- was just reading about Tom Brady- out for the season? Not that all the Patriots had was Brady, but losing the QB could turn their season's lights out.

Does make the rest of the NFL season more interesting tho-

And why, oh why, did Favre insist on un-retiring? I have concerns the guy should have gone out in top form, and stayed there....I hope he doesn't embarass himself; that would be a sad thing.

later
TY

True, Tony. What bothered me about this wasn't the unretiring but so soon after insisting that he wasn't coming back when early media reports (like within a month of his announcing his retirement) speculated a possible return. Could learn a lesson from Barry Sanders.

Here's a cool story about Tony Romo.

[quote=bassixDa Bears come to our house this Sunday- should be a great game.
I'll predict Panthers by 3.

Later
TY
[/quote]

Yea, I would say the Panthers should stick it to them handidly. With Manning very rusty (Justmissed Marvin Harrison on several bombs), three new O-Lineman playing, Dallas Clark out, Joseph Addai knocked out, no one in Chicago is giving the Bears too much credit for that win. Panthers D-line dwarfs Bears O-line by an average of 30-50lbs per guy so Orton should be running for his life all day and that should be the plan with Matt Forte running the ball so well last week. Panthers will stack the line and try to make Orton beat them.
Key match-up will be Mussin Muhammed against Bears physical secondary. Muhammed talked some big smack about the Bears after he was traded so he better watching his head as he may take quite the beating.

So in Fantasy Football I had Tom Brady as first pick and also took David Garrard as 2nd QB who I thought was due for a breakout year but the Jags are a mess between the Collier shooting, losing three O-lineman, Maurice Jones Drew out, etc. Garrard threw 3 INT's all of last year and already has two in one game.

So I picked up Brady's back up Cassell as a free agent and am starting him this weekend. Should be interesting.

Well, being a Charlottean and a Panthers fan, I was very surprised by the outcome. They have become very proficient at "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory".

On a sour note- I had T. Brady as my #1 Fantasy football guy. I picked up Cassell this week, but I think I'm going to start John Kitna instead.

This should be a very interesting season.