The 2012-13 NFL regular season is months away and an official schedule has yet to be released, but that doesn't mean it's too early to get excited for next year's Cincinnati Bengals-Oakland Raiders matchup.

As if Carson Palmer's return to Paul Brown Stadium wasn't a big enough story line already, Cincinnati's recent hiring of former Oakland head coach Hue Jackson has added yet another layer of intrigue to the 2012 contest.

Jackson, who was fired controversially after leading Oakland to an 8-8 regular season record in 2011, was brought on as a defensive assistant by Cincinnati yesterday, rejoining the franchise for which he once coached on the offensive side of the ball.

Now, Jackson will have a chance to work with the secondary in Cincinnati and game plan against Carson Palmer, the quarterback he worked so hard to claim while still in Oakland.

Two young, fast-rising franchises and a heap of NFL drama.

What more could a football fan ask for?