Football Is Back!

Take a deep breath, and try to relax...

With the end of a four month lock-out, the National Football League and its 32 teams are back.  Along with them is free agency, training camps and declarations of who is going to be the last team standing.

With the Green Bay Packers still enjoying the high of winning last season's Super Bowl, expectations are higher than ever, supported by a chorus of experts and sports prognosticators predicting 7:1 odds that they will repeat.  The team that they will play?  The New England Patriots, also at 7:1 odds.  As for the teams that have the longest shot to make it to the Super Bowl, how about Buffalo Bills or Carolina Panthers at 100:1 odds.  I'd like to add the Vikings, but that wouldn't be nice.

Super Bowl Bound

What can we expect from this year's team?  It's easy to think, with most of last year's team back -- and more importantly with Ryan Grant, Jermichael Finley and Morgan Burnett back from injuries last year -- that things will pick up right where they left off.  Unfortunately, history indicates it will be very tough to repeat.  In fact, the last team to repeat as Super Bowl winners was the New England Patriots who did it in 2005.  It's also a fact that no defending champ has even won a playoff game the following year since the Patriots -- again in 2005.

But hope springs eternal, and with the Packers loaded with a young, highly skilled team, there is no reason that they can't go a long way in 2011.  The additions of Randall Cobb, Derek Sherrod and D. J. Williams will provide missing parts or depth to a team that has little or no weaknesses.

I love how analysts get all excited about the Philadelphia Eagles (with the additions on defense of Rogers-Cromartie and Asumugha) or the Patriots (adding receiver Ochocinco and defensive tackle Haynesworth), yet every year they are wrong about who wins the division, much less gets into post season.  They are like team owners who become so focused on the shiny new additions that they fail to acknowledge the weakness (selfishness, egos, coaching, and most importantly the quarterback) that kept the team from getting anywhere last year.

Aaron Rogers continues to amaze me with his maturity, leadership and talent.  How absolutely LUCKY did we get when he fell to us a few years ago?  And then to give him enough time to learn the position before throwing him into the fire?  I've noticed that a number of teams this year (Vikings and Cincinnati) are choosing to sit their drafted quarterbacks so that they can learn the way Rogers did with the Packers.  The difference is that Rogers has #1 pick talent, whereas Dalton and Ponder won't ever be as good.  Baring an injury, I don't see how anyone stops the Packers on offense with Rogers throwing to Driver, Jennings, Finley and the others.

And if not by air, there's always the ground game with Ryan Grant, James Starks and rookie Alex Green running behind a much improved offensive line.  After last year, when it seemed like we NEVER had anyone that could run the ball, I'm really looking forward to this new three-headed attack.  Good luck, the rest of you in the Central (North) division.

Brats, beer and Badger football.

I'm also excited about the college game.  In particular the Badgers, who are coming off a trip to the Rose Bowl after winning the Big Ten last year.  New this year is the addition of the University of Nebraska, which gives the conference twelve teams and two divisions.  The winners of the two divisions -- Leaders and Legends -- will meet in the first Conference Championship game in Indianapolis, IN.

Wisconsin is in the Leaders Division along with Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Penn State and Ohio State.  Michigan heads the Legends Division, along with Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern.

The addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten means that Wisconsin will be opening its conference season against them in Madison.  Many are predicting great things for the Badgers this year with the troubles that are brewing in Columbus.  The Ohio State, typically the powerhouse team of the conference, is in trouble with its tattoo scandal and quarterback, Terrelle Pryor -- leaving the door open for Wisconsin to take the division, possibly the conference and hopefully the national championship.  I know, I'm dreaming...

... but one of the reasons is the addition of quarterback Russell Wilson who transferred to Wisconsin after completing his senior year at North Carolina State.  Wilson, perhaps the greatest "free agent" pick-up in Wisconsin history, is the type of quarterback that NEVER picks us.  Wisconsin is known for their running backs and offensive linemen.  But a quarterback that can throw and run?  Are you kidding me?  Wilson once threw 379 attempts without an interception.  Equally impressive:  his 3,563 passing yards and 28 touchdowns not only led the ACC, but it would have led the Big Ten.

Wisconsin coach Brett Bielema (known as the "young turk") seems to be finding his groove, as he was recently named the best coach in the Big Ten.  It's paying off with the verbal commitments of four star offensive linemen Dan Voltz and Kyle Dodson, and California quarterback Bart Houston.  When I was going to Wisconsin, we wouldn't get a whiff, much less a commitment from these guys.  Things are certainly looking up for Bucky!

Football has always been NUMBER ONE around my house (followed closely by basketball), and it's hard to believe that this year will be as good as last year, when both the Badgers and the Packers did so well.  As a team sport, it requires all of the pieces and it's rare that all of those pieces fall into place.  Here's hoping that they do.

Not that I'm counting down the days, but it's twenty-nines days for the Badgers and thirty-five days for the Packers....