NFL 2010: The Calm Before The Storm

Image via WikipediaAt this time next year, stadiums might be empty, networks might be filling time with cricket and Canadian football, and sports bars might be losing customers.  That's when you know the National Football League and its players union are at odds over a new collective bargaining agreement, resulting in a lockout.

Until then, enjoy this season.  While the negotiations are (presumably) going on, we can entertain ourselves with what else has happened before the season kicks off Thursday night.

• The New Orleans Saints, the feel-good Super Bowl champions, want to keep the party going.
• Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been suspended for four games by the NFL for alleged sexual misconduct.  It was originally six games.
• The circus has come to staid Cincinnati with two of the biggest showboats in modern NFL history, Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, now playing for the Bengals  Let the tweeting begin.
• The Washington Redskins have a new coach in Mike Shanahan, and a new starting quarterback in Donovan McNabb.  They also have Albert Haynesworth, but maybe not for long.  He's apparently become such a pain in the butt that the team is reportedly trying to trade him.
• Pete Carroll is the new coach of the Seattle Seahawks, fleeing USC just before the NCAA posse brought the hammer down on the football program, causing them to vacate a national championship and possibly Reggie Bush's 2005 Heisman Trophy.
• The NFL wants to increase the regular season from 16 to 18 games.  The league may be seeing dollar signs and a mid-February Super Bowl, but the players see fatigue and an increased risk of injuries.  For the fans, it might mean fewer competitive games played in colder and snowier weather.

For the Minnesota Vikings, there are too many injuries, illnesses and question marks to make them the favorites to enter the playoffs as the NFC North champions.  Can Brett Favre make it through his (allegedly) final season without his 40-something body taking too much of a beating?  Will Percy Harvin's bouts with migraine headaches affect his performance?  Did coach Brad Childress make a mistake in choosing Tarvaris Jackson over Sage Rosenfels (who was traded to the New York Giants) as Favre's backup?  This team should be fortunate to earn a wild card berth.

Our division picks plus the wild card:

NFC East  Dallas Cowboys
NFC West  San Francisco 49ers
NFC North  Green Bay Packers
NFC South  New Orleans Saints
Wild Card  Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons

AFC East  New England Patriots
AFC West  San Diego Chargers
AFC North  Baltimore Ravens
AFC South  Indianapolis Colts
Wild Card  New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals