Awesomely Awesome Moments from...The First NFL Game of the Year!
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by MegECass110
So I started off earlier in the summer doing division-by-division predictions for the NFL. I finished off the AFC, then proceeded to get sidetracked by going back to school and studying sexual repression in the small Irish village of Inis Beag, among other things. I didn't get around to the NFC.
We all know the NFC is the JV conference anyways, so here are my NFC predictions in one sentence: The New Orleans Saints will go to the Super Bowl. There. That's the NFC. If you want more, go to the 80,000 other NFL previews on here; most of them are very good.
Football is here, and the game figures to BE B-A-N-A-N-A-S (Peyton, Reggies, Marv, Drew, Marques and Adam in one game? Good grief!), and an Awesomely Awesome pregame show comes with it. I'm beside myself.
- I have to settle this before everything starts. Chris Berman referred to Drew Brees as Drew Hurricane during his final breakout season in San Diego. This doesn't work, since a hurricane is more often associated with rain, not wind. The more appropriate and cooler sounding name is Drew Tornado. So if there is a reference to Tornado Boy in the article, that's who it is (I have an unexplainable obsession with nicknames).
- Kelly Clarkson to kick things off...she sounds good (always has), but it's kind of awkward watching middle-aged dudes bouncing up and down with their fingers in the air to a quasi-rock song. AWESOMELY awkward, of course.
- Rich Eisen?!?!? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! NFL Network got cut off at my house in the middle of the summer, I missed him terribly. He actually kinda looks like Matt Berry, the fantasy uber-dork on ESPN. Just a little though.
- I am willing to bet one year of Syracuse tuition that Mellencamp will sing "Our Country."
- I LOVED THE DIET PEPSI MAX COMMERICAL. Featuring the Cowboys offensive coordinator calling the play into Wade Phillips and yawning at the end; Phillips relays the play to Romo; they run the play, Romo gets sacked; Jerry Jones shows up in the booth, gives the coordinator the Diet Pepsi, and grabs the headset! You have to see it to appreciate it.
- Giant horseshoe in the middle of the field, very cool. Colts come out of a flaming replica of the Super Bowl ring behind a motorcycle, championship banner unrolls from the ceiling. I have to say, that was sick. Makes me remember when the Pats did it, hopefully they'll do it again at the beginning of 2008.
- Good thing I didn't officially bet on "Our Country," My mother would have been very angry.
- Keyshia Cole just gave me chills.
FINALLY, LET'S GET IT ON!
- Faith Hill singing NBC's football song, replacing Pink...Up. Grade.
- The Peyton and Reggie promos are really good.
- Notice how quickly Marvin Harrison says he went to Syracuse. It must be embarrassing for him.
- Joseph Addai gets nailed. You could hear a pin drop in the RCA Dome right now.. Looks like he's okay though.
- Thankfully, Dwight Freeney is much more proud of being from Syracuse University. Well done.
- Marv redeems himself...holy canoli what a catch (and throw). I have never seen anyone do the things that he does with his body in order to catch a football. I must say, he has burned the Pats so many times, but he is an absolute joy to watch every Sunday.
- Jason David makes a Troy-Brown-esque play by stripping Reggie Wayne and takes it to the house. The game is tied at 7 (Let it be known I'm rooting for the Saints; never too early to start thinking about homefield advantage, people.)
- I feel bad for Tony Ugoh. Never in my life have I seen such scrutiny placed on a rookie left tackle. Yeah, it's a big deal that Tarik Glenn retired, but seriously, cut this guy a break. Madden's all over him already.
- It's halftime. I have a choice: I can either stick to NBC and make fun of/find fuel for hating Tiki Barber, or flip over to ESPN2 to watch Mddle Tennessee State hang tough with Louisville in the third quarter. I think Tiki has some redeeming to do; I'll keep it here.
Red Sox update: Clay Buchholz has just finished his third inning of scoreless relief. I think I'm in love.
- Back to Tiki. He's wearing a burnt orange tie, and his first breakdown of Jason David sounds scripted. And Cris Collinsworth is impressed with Tony Ugoh. I think my head is going to explode.
- My love for Buchholz has transferred over to Bob Costas. Keith Olbermann has a segment where he selects the Worst Person in the NFL. Olbermann nominates himself, for his "poorly written" commentary on Michael Vick (I thought it was great, but whatev). With Tiki sitting two seats to his right, Costas asks Olbermann, "Did Tiki get any nominations for this week?"
OH MY GOD! I wish they had a camera on Tiki's face when Costas said this; I can only hope it was similar to Dan Marino's "Oh no you di-int!" face to Boomer Esiason a few years back. Costas quickly asks Tiki if he has anything to say about his former teammates this week, and Tiki says, "I have some good things to say about the Giants," and flashes his magnificent smile. Tiki, you can't see me, but I am waving my arm towards you and yelling "Bull-sh**! Bull-sh**!" I can't remember the last time my opinion of an athlete did such a dramatic 180 so quickly.
- Just realized I started Ben Watson over Dallas Clark in my fantasy league this week. Note to self: always start the man with the bad ass name over the guy with the boring one. And starting the better tight end is also advisable.
- Hollaaaaaaaaaaaaa...Red Sox win; Jason Varitek with an RBI single in the top of 9th, Paps slams it shut in the bottom to win 7-6. I was convinced it was over when DJ Drew grounded into a DP with the bases loaded in the 7th, but Tek picks 'em up. I wanna believe in DJ, but I just can't do it anymore. I feel sorry for him.
- Manning zips one over the middle to Reggie Wayne for a touchdown, the second time former Colt corner Jason David has been owned this evening. 24-10 Colts. Wayne does a cute little subdued Cha-Cha in the end zone. It's not even fair how easy this offense makes the game of football look.
- I just found out David Patten is on the Saints. Good to see he's still in the league; he was one of Tom Brady's favorite receivers in 2001 during the first Super Bowl run.
- Madden just said Joe Addai. Doesn't sound right. It's Joseph. Not Joe, definitely not Joey, Joseph.
- Dear Jason David, I heart you. Please cover me every time I run a deep route. Love, Reggie Wayne
There have plenty of Awesomely Awesome moments in the NFL's first game, hopefully there'll be more in Week 1. I'll be back Sunday afternoon for the Pats-Jets game. Until then, good luck with fantasy leagues and enjoy one of the most awesomely awesome days of the year!
