I have been waiting for this day since February 3, 2008.
Tonight, the Washington Redskins visit the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants in the kickoff to the 2009 season.
Even though I am a die-hard Eagles fan and they do not play until Sunday, just the thought of a regular-season game being on NBC tonight excites me.
A new start to a new season can only make a fan wonder what to expect this season. Last year, there were plenty of amazing stories that kept all NFL fans on their feet.
5. Vick-less Falcons finish 4-12
They say one man can't carry a team. Well, some people haven't seen Michael Vick. The former Falcons quarterback has proven to us all that a franchise can fall apart without its star quarterback.
Michael Vick is currently serving his sentence for his role in running a dogfighting ring in his own home.
The former Virginia Tech star had it all while he played for the Falcons. He had a 10-year, $130 million contract and plenty of other endorsements.
Unfortunately, Vick's off-field actions not only hurt himself, but the team, too. The story of Vick's dogfighting ring progressed a few months before the start of the 2007 season. By the time the season started, the Falcons had no other choice but to move on without him.
Vick had plenty of milestones throughout his young NFL career. In 2002, the 22-year-old Vick gave Brett Favre his first-ever home playoff loss at historical Lambeau Field as the No. 6 seeded Falcons upset the Green Bay Packers, 27-7
In 2005, Vick fell shy of reaching the Super Bowl as he led the Falcons to the NFC Championship game, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10.
The worst part about Vick's actions is he not only hurt himself, but he hurt the entire Atlanta Falcon franchise, as well. The Falcons, who were playoff contenders at the beginning of the season, struggled during the year and fell to a horrifying 4-12 record.
Arthur Blank, the owner of the Falcons, had no other choice but to move on this season. With the status of Michael Vick's return to the NFL up in the air, Blank decided to draft Matt Ryan out of Boston College as his new franchise quarterback.
4. Saint-it ain't so: Saints can't live up to 2006 hype and fall short of playoffs
In 2006, the Saints were the feel-good story of the NFL.
After the events of hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints had to wait a season before they could play in the Superdome because of the damage.
I can remember the first game played in the Superdome since Katrina. Words cannot describe the emotions running through the stadium that night. Tears were running down some of the players' eyes. I remember watching the game in my apartment room sophomore year thinking "this is truly amazing."
What was even more amazing about that game was the way the Saints played that night. After signing quarterback Drew Brees in the offseason and drafting former USC Trojan and Heisman Trophy-winner Reggie Bush, the Saints had high expectations coming into the 2006 season.
After a 2-0 start, the Saints held their first home post-Katrina in the third week of the season against the 2-1 Falcons. On the first score of the game, Curtis DeLoatch recovered a blocked punt for the touchdown. The Superdome erupted with cheers.
The Saints would go on to win that game, 23-3. After going 3-13 the previous year, the Saints would go to win 10 regular season games in 2006, making it all the way to the 2006 NFC Championship game.
Many thought the Saints magic would continue into the 2007 season. However, a slow start led them to finish off the season with a 7-9 record. With Deuce McAllister back from another knee injury, the Saints should be another playoff contender this season.
3. Despite slow start, San Diego wins AFC and falls just shy of Super Bowl
No matter what team you may be, if LaDainian Tomlinson is your starting running back, you are going to be a contender.
As usual, the San Diego Chargers came into the 2007 season with hopes of the Super Bowl.
After defeating the defending NFC Champion Chicago Bears, 14-3, in the opening week of the season, the Chargers would go on to lose their next three games of the season.
I remember watching an interview with LaDainian Tomlinson on ESPN after the Chargers lost in Week Four to the Kansas City Chiefs.
He was crying because he had no idea what was wrong with the Chargers. He wasn't the only one; the fans didn't know what was wrong, either. Even my weekly picks were suffering because I kept picking the Chargers to win.
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