On Thursday, Sept 10 the NFL season kicks off another action-packed year as the Tennessee Titans visit the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Thirteen games will follow on Sunday and week one culminates on Monday, Sept 14 with the Buffalo at New England and San Diego at Oakland.

There are 32 teams in the league. Let the questions begin. It is a rite of passage that each season attracts new storylines. As each team begins the year with renewed optimism, I look forward to these new chronicles and possible answers to the following “questions”:

 

Here is my division-by-division look in my predicted order of finish:

 

 

 

 

New England: When will Tom Brady lose? Keep in mind his team went 16-0 in 2007 and he suffered a season ending injury in week one last year.

 

Buffalo: Will Terrell Owens shake his finger at quarterback Trent Edwards if the ball is not thrown in his direction enough?

 

Miami: How far will this team slide? Last year’s 11-5 record was an aberration.

 

New York Jets: Is rookie QB Mark Sanchez really ready to start?

 

 

North:

 

Pittsburgh: How will off season legal troubles (courtesy of Andrea McNulty) effect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as he aims for a 3rd Super Bowl ?

 

Baltimore: Will there be a second year jinx for quarterback Joe Flacco?

 

Cleveland: How long will new coach Eric Mangini flip flop between quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson?

 

Cincinnati: Will the team end the season with more players that are law-abiding citizens or more felons?

South:

 

Indianapolis: How will the Colts adjust to life without ex-coach Tony Dungy and long time receiver Marvin Harrison?

 

Tennessee: Will Vince Young actually sit quietly while aging quarterback Kerry Collins continues to take the reins?

 

Houston: Is 8-8 and another non-playoff season in the works again?

 

Jacksonville: How long before fans call for (coach) Jack Del Rio's dismissal?

 

 

San Diego: Will the infamous Ed Hochuli referee any of their games, particularly the two against Denver?

 

Oakland: How many assistant coaches will Head Coach Tom Cable on Team Dysfunctional punch out?

 

Denver: Is rookie Head Coach Josh McDaniels in over his head? (McDaniels ran Jay Cutler out of town and he recently suspended ace receiver Brandon Marshall for detrimental conduct)

 

Kansas City: Is ex-Patriot QB Matt Cassel (now injured) really worth $63 million over six years?

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia: How long will it be before there is a quarterback controversy? You can bet when Michael Vick is fully re-instated, it will not be long until some fans want to see him “Bark” out the signals.

 

New York Giants: Will the Giants dare run a “shotgun” offence knowing that receiver Plaxico Burress is no longer part of the team?

 

Dallas: With Jessica Simpson out of the picture, who is the next hot babe that could end up being a distraction for QB Tony Romo?

 

Washington: Could All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth turn out to be a 7-year, $100 million ($41 million guaranteed) bust now that he has a whopping contract on a new team ?

 

 

North:

 

Minnesota: Will there be any more anticipated regular season games in league history than Brett Favre’s first shot at the Packers, October 5, in Minnesota or the return match November 1st in Green Bay?

 

Green Bay: Will Aaron Rodgers be able to handle the pressure of facing Brett Favre? (Hard to say which of those two would want to win more)

 

Chicago: Is Jay Cutler really the answer or is he just a prima donna who is overrated?

 

Detroit: When will that first win actually happen? (My hunch is week 3 at home vs Washington)

 

 

 

South:

 

New Orleans: Will the Saints actually have a defence or will Drew Brees have to put up 50 points a game?

 

Carolina: When will they actually lose at home (They were 8-0 last year in Carolina)? Maybe week one when Philadelphia visits?

 

Atlanta: Is Matt Ryan the real deal? He had a terrific rookie season but now there are expectations. (By the way, Michael Vick returns to Atlanta with the Eagles Dec 6).

 

Tampa Bay: Could they actually be the worst team in the league even though they were 9-7 last year?

 

 

 

West:

 

Arizona: Are the defending NFC champions just a flash in a pan?

 

Seattle: Is Matt Hasselback truly BACK or is that back injury going to cause pain for new coach Jim Mora Jr.

 

San Francisco: Will coach Mike Singletary blow up at any more of his players as he did last season with tight end Vernon Davis?

 

St Louis: Does anybody really care about a team coached by Steve Spagnulo?

 

 

The teams that will provide the most intrigue for me are Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Buffalo.

Kickoff is less than a week. Let the countdown continue.

 

 

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Hartley will be watching the Monday night games (and the Thursday opener) at Shooters Sports Pub across from CN Centre, as 94X will be on location with prize giveaways. The NTN QB 1 boards will be available to play.

 

 

Apparently, the U.S. will soon start putting graphic pictures on cigarette packs in hopes of convincing people to quit. Although if disturbing images were really a deterrent no one who watched Hockey Night in Canada would ever buy tickets to a Leafs game.

Congratulations to the boys from Chula Vista, a suburb of San Diego. They just won the Little League World Series. The team could end up with an initiation to Petco Park, except that management is afraid they may beat the Padres.

Bad news for the Vikings if after spending $25 million on Brett Favre he turns out to have been injured. Good news, the bills should be covered by Medicare. Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

 

 

There is a report of a split in the Viking locker room regarding Brett Favre. In fact, it IS Brett Favre.

They're testing battery-powered taxis in Japan, which is good news for Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks---he's had experience, lately, with battery and taxis.

On the Microsoft Polish web site, a photo was pulled in which a black man was made white. Can't they leave Michael Jackson alone?

The American Defenders baseball team of Nashua, N.H. has been padlocked out of its stadium over unpaid bills. All they have to do is come up with $45,000 and they can play again, says city budget director 'Coach' Ken Carter.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California (and 1973 graduate of Richmond (CA) High School ("Coach Carter")

US Open players are being warned about the information they post on Twitter in an effort to curb gambling and corruption. Meanwhile, Pete Rose hasn’t yet mastered the typewriter. 

Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 

A 95-year-old bartender in Pennsylvania is retiring after pouring beers for 76 years. His only time away from the job was a 30-month stint with the Army in WWII. Of course, he was drafted.

Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)

 

Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York

Beginning this evening, Lingerie Football League games will be shown live every Friday at lflus.com. Friday Night Lights was taken as a theme, so they are calling it Friday Night Sights.
Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix

Bernie Madoff is applying to the NHL for a prison franchise after getting glowing recommendations from the Gary Bettman and the Board of Directors. The deal is contingent with NY State officials moving the prison to Phoenix.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

 

 

After seeing them play at Coors Field, they should have just given the cash to Bernie Madoff. 

Jim Armstrong of The Denver Post, on the Chicago Cubs payroll of $149 million.