TICKED OFF KICKOFF: I said this last year too, but I'm really not crazy about this idea of "kicking off" the NFL season with a single game the Thursday before. After weeks of preseason games on random weeknights throughout July and August, we're treated to- another game on a random weeknight, distinguishable from just another preseason game only by the presence of Britney Spears. I liked it better when everyone just started on the same Sunday, but that's just me.
Speaking of Britney, one hilarious moment- I was watching CNBC soon after the Britney/Aerosmith/Aretha concert ended, and the network reporter was clearly having fun ogling the Spears cheesecake, and the rest of the fun atmosphere. Then the camera pulled back to reveal that the reporter was about to interview… Paul Wolfowitz? Yes, "Wolfie" was there too, and the Deputy Secretary of Defense apparently had a great time.
As for the game itself, I had a hard time caring about either the Redskins or the in-last-place-and-staying-there Jets, but I did find it a bit ironic that five years after then-Florida coach Steve Spurrier memorably dismissed rival Florida State as "Free Shoes University," one of the recipients of those very free shoes, former FSU receiver Laveranues Coles, is now starting for Spurrier's Redskins. Of course, in the early-game intros, in which the players in the starting lineup of each team share their names and colleges, Coles said the name of his high school, rather than Florida State.
As for the season itself, I predict the Eagles, Rams, Bucs, and Packers win the NFC divisions, with the Giants and Saints as wild cards, while the Bills, Chiefs, Titans, and Steelers win the AFC divisions, with the Dolphins and Patriots winning the wild cards. Super Bowl XXXVIII? The longest Super Bowl name in history will be won by an equally long David Akers field goal: Eagles 31, Titans 28.