Just start the season

Let me warn you, this first paragraph is made of pointless ranting. The other night ESPN was airing the Red Sox and Rangers game but I didn't get it. I didn't get any of the series because I live in a town that's just a tad closer to Houston than Arlington and they don't want people tuned in the Rangers instead of the Astros and therefore, ESPNEWS was being aired locally. Here I was doing my homework and watching the game cast. Would it be wrong if I mentioned my cable company by name and told you how much I hate them?>>>>>>
Hard is: enjoying all the sports you want with the particular company. Easy is: getting all the games you want through another company.

Anyway, on that note, while not watching the Red Sox Rangers, I began thinking about how I miss football season. I won't have to worry about not seeing the Cowboys while the Texans are playing.

Missing football also has to do with the fact ESPN Magazine released its fantasy issue. Is it just me or does it get earlier and earlier every year? Yeah, I can't wait for football season either but lets not pretend it's closer than it is. Training camps just started which means the season isn't just around the corner but it's down the hall, around the corner and down another hall. It can't get here fast enough.

From high school and college, to the pros, the sport brings many aspects and many things to get the fans excited. Here are just a few things to think about:

College Football: Colt McCoy will try to lead his team where they should have been last year; in the national championship. In the process, he'll try to snag the Heisman. Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford might have something to say about that though. Bradford taking the hardware home last year wasn't the first time the Horns got screwed over by the Sooners on a bad judgement call.

Fantasy: You can go out and buy all the draft preview magazines and read the latest by all the experts, but those mags and other material probably won't prepare you for LT or Tom Brady going down. One thing you have to consider as much as your first draft pick is your team name. No serious names allowed. If you're a Steelers fan, the word "Steelers" should not appear anywhere in your name. Also, don't name your team based on expectations of the year. For example: The Dominators. No, it's not allowed.

One rule on which I probably stand alone, but still stand by is this: no starting players for the team playing your team. If you're a Cowboys fan, don't even think about starting a guy in Washington who goes by Santana when the Boys and Skins meet. This will lead you to do one of two things: either you will put your fantasy team above your NFL team or you'll say, "I hope we win but I want my guy to score about three touchdowns." Both of these are unacceptable. It shouldn't even be in the back of your head to root against your team or for the rivals. Anyway, more rules will come later.

NFL Changes: One change I've talked about here is the Brady Rule and so you know where I stand on that. If not, then read my post titled The Brady Rule. Speaking of changes, we'll likely see a former Packer quarterback playing for his former rivals. Oh yeah, what do you think about John Gruden replacing Tony Kornieser on MNF? The biggest change I'm looking forward to though is what's taking place in Arlington. That new Cowboys stadium, well, there's nothing like it. Hopefully we can win a playoff game or two there.