It's moved to the Internet now, and it's even worse.
On August 30th, 2012 - 16 ESPN experts set their crystal balls on the 2012 Season. None of them had Peterson for MVP, none had Robert Griffin III for Rookie Of The Year, none had Baltimore Ravens as Super Bowl Champions and none had the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Thats 0 for 16 on all counts. Why are we doing this?
To be fair, two guys had the Ravens losing the Super Bowl. Still, this was utterly pointless, an extreme example of predictions taking precedence over what is truly great about the NFL, the journey.
This is an amazing game in which world-class speed, power and carefully rehearsed timing and teamwork can be shattered by a bad bounce or a dropped pass. Or 55 minutes of muddy, bloody excellence in the trenches yields nothing until finally paying off for a game-changing big play. Can't we just be excited for this?
I'm just excited about football! And this… this is FIVE EXCITING NFL THINGS!!!
#1 - The Young Guns
Their styles, teams and futures may differ but we are no longer in a time when rookie QBs struggle for 1-2 seasons on the field, or simmer on the sideline for 3-4 years waiting their turn. In 2008, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco came hot out of the gate, so did Sam Bradford and Matthew Stafford a year later. Chalk it up to the Pro-style offenses in college, or to a QB-focused generation raised on the stylings of Steve Young, Brett Favre, John Elway etc. Whatever the reason, we have a ridiculous infusion of talent going into their 2nd or 3rd year. It will be exciting to watch who grows, who stumbles, who recovers. We are in for a long and exciting ride.
#2 - The Old Guard
The 2000s will be remembered as the decade the NFL took a leap in passing offense, and the big names are still going strong. Rodgers, Brees, Brady and Manning remain the most formidable foes a defense must face. They make for great entertainment, good television and a sure-to-be competitive playoff bracket for Super Bowl 43.
#3 - Parity
As I write this, there is hope for all NFL teams. It's not impossible to imagine Jamaal Charles' and Alex Smith's breakout year under Andy Reid, big stuff in Kansas City. Or Ryan Tannehill joining next year's young guns talk as Lamar Miller explodes onto the scene and Mike Wallace hits stride for confetti in Miami. That long-promised deep playoff run for Romo and the Cowboys? Cutler and Marshall finally shape up that Bears offense? The Texans take the next step? Titans' Chris Johnson returns to form and Jake Locker explodes into his potential? Focus comes to the immense talent of the Detroit Lions?
It's all feasible. What if Tavon Austin and Chris Givens are the spark Sam Bradford needed to lead the Rams back to glory? Or, as is a trendy playoff pick, the improved Eagles O-line and Chip Kelly's no huddle are a sensation that brings back the danger in Michael Vick, LeSeaon McCoy, DeSean Jackson...
Everything is possible. Except the Browns, of course. Not because of Trent Richardson, an incredible talent, but because they are the Cleveland Browns.
In the NFL there is hope, and short memories. Nobody was praising the Seattle Seahawks' depth on this day one year ago. Nobody. Now, it seems like it's been fact for years. It is a fast-changing landscape creating heros and goats, winners and losers every week.
There are many other factors. Factors that I myself routinely forget to consider. The Rams need a lot more than Givens, Austin, and Bradford to play well. There are O-lines and D-lines that dictate these games, and win championships. Injuries on the line, or just under-performance can sink a team with lofty goals, and leave the sports media grasping at straws as to what happened to (Insert Scapegoat Skill Player Here)? Conversely, excellence along the lines can turn a middling RB/QB/WR into a superstar.
#4 - The Read Option
The one word I keep reading, when trying to get an inside scoop on how defenses will defend the read option is "attack". The Pistol offense that destroyed the Packers in San Francisco, and left Dallas and the New York Giants watching the Redskins in the playoffs is a hot topic. The counter-punch to the Wild-Cat in 2009 was swift, it will be interesting to see the Read Option's fate.
#5 - New York City Finale
The Super Bowl in New York City somehow manages to supersize the biggest sporting event in the world. The uncertainty of the weather, the chaos of the city, the media hype that will come with a Super Bowl in New York City. It's almost unimaginable. It promises to be another golden year!
I've tacked on an extra 10 things I'm excited about or interested in for the season! Let's do this!
#06 - J.J Watt, Brian Cushing, Ed Reed & The Texans' defense.
#07 - Can Larry Fitzgerald return to form with Carson Palmer at the helm in Arizona?
#08 - Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and the Legion Of Boom in Seattle.
#09 - Sean Payton's Saints Redemption Tour - will the Saints have a chip on their shoulder after Payton's season-long suspension after Bountygate.
#10 - Tom Brady and a bunch of newbies at WR and TE, will it matter?
#11 - The implosion of Rex Ryan, Geno Smith, Mark Sanchez, and the Jets. Will Ryan be around to guarantee a 6th Super Bowl?
#12 - Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and the Giants' offense.
#13 - Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, A.J Green. Brandon Marshall and Calvin Johnson. A new age of Megatrons upon us.
#14 - Will the Packers and Saints actually 'commit to the run' as they have preached this offseason?
#15 - Andy Reid in Kansas City. Chip Kelly in Philadelphia.
Tonight the Ravens take on the Broncos to kick off the season. Will Joe Flacco be the golden boy we last saw in February without Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pitta? What will Wes Welker's role be in Peyton Manning's Bronco Show?
The speculation and highly-specific predictions can again fade away, let the games begin!
-Miles.
