Football has the offseason that never seems to end.
It seems, to me anyway, that basketball and hockey never go away. I don’t mean that in any kind of negative connotation, but I am a regular viewer of PTI on ESPN and I noticed that Wilbon and Kornheiser still talk NBA and NHL on almost every show.
While baseball has a slightly longer offseason than hockey or basketball, there’s a definite “downtime” in November, the “hot stove” period in December, and then practically nothing until pitchers and catchers report in February.
Then there’s football. Once the Pro Bowl is played, you get a bunch of draft build up that feels like nothing. Then the draft happens at the end of April. Then you get a bunch of minicamps and OTAs in May and June.
Then NOTHING for seven weeks – NOTHING. Trust me, I tried writing a couple of columns a week during that “Nothing” period and was forced to get really creative in an effort to not repeat myself.
So now that football is officially underway, we now get to start watching preseason games. I’m so starved for football that I’ll watch them, no matter what the team.
In hindsight, I can’t believe it took the networks as long as they did to catch on and start broadcasting preseason games. Even 10 years ago, you weren’t going to see much of the preseason other than the Hall of Fame game.
Now you can get your area’s team on the local market broadcasts, and a lot more preseason games get national coverage, if for no other reason than to test new announcing teams and new gadgets to clutter up the screen.
On the field, you can be entertained for a quarter or so with the first teams before the future UPS drivers take the field to compete for the last few roster spots.
Speaking of those players, it can be interesting to watch them as these guys are desperate. You get to see some great stuff every now and then as the fourth and fifth stringers duke it out.
Look at the Tennessee/Buffalo game Sunday night. The fake punt was the highlight of the night, and that wasn’t even the starting punter in there.
So, does A.J. Trapasso figure high on anyone’s draft board this year?
Didn’t think so.
Anyway, it came as no surprise to see T.O. the center of the offense on the first drive. He’ll be good for a wide receiver pick until his inevitable meltdown around Week 9, Week 7 if the Bills start slow.
I’m getting fantasy football booklets left and right along with multiple invitations to join leagues.
Not sure how involved I’ll get this year, but I’m sure I’ll do something.
In the meantime, keep track of those training camp injuries, they’re starting to mount up.
