Loving everything the NFL has to offer

Bobby Roy

The Extra Point

On July 25 National Football League (NFL) fans across the world breathed a sigh of relief as the news surfaced the lockout was finally over.

It wasn’t the most surprising news the sports world has ever seen in its history of lockouts in professional sports, but it meant the most successful professional sporting league in North America will return to action for its 92 regular season this September beginning with the New Orleans Saints travelling to the hallowed Lambeau Field to take on the Super Bowl champion, Green Bay Packers on Sept. 8 as the kick off to week one of the new NFL season.

When the lockout first began I was pretty optimistic the players and the league would get a deal done before any real damage would be done to the 2011-2012 season, but the thought of not having any NFL action to watch during the fall and early winter months made me shiver.

As a huge NFL fan (and rabid Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan) I wouldn’t know what to preoccupy myself with on NFL Sundays, the week leading up to the great all day NFL filled action Sundays, who I would start/sit for my fantasy football team and all the analysis, news and reactions that wouldn’t be there if there wasn’t a season.

Now that the lockout is but a piece of forgettable NFL history and preseason action has already started NFL fans are smiling from ear to ear with renewed optimism for each of their teams.

The free agent frenzy was exactly that this year — a frenzy.

Big free agent signing changed several team’s rosters, trades restructured how opponents will view each other and rookies full of potential have fans and teams plenty to look forward to once the regular season kicks off in less than a month.

For anyone who has lived in Alberta, the end of August may not mark the end of summer on the calendar, but it is usually a time that means summer is nearing its regrettable end.

That means darker days, cooler nights and the unmistakable signs that winter is coming.

For me, having everything that an NFL season brings to the table is a reprieve from the sometimes depressing fall and winter seasons.

Once the season begins I usually try and make sure my Sundays are free to get amped up for Buccaneer action and all of the other games that start at 11 in the morning and end at 8 p.m.

Whether if you’re counting on a quarterback, runningback, receiver, defense, special teams, or a surprise pick to win your fantasy matchup each week, an upset pick to win a juicy sports select or you just want to sit down and watch some great football games, each Sunday provides an opportunity that something special can happen.

So for now I’ll enjoy the last weeks of what summer has to offer Alberta, but come September long live NFL Sundays and all the glory they have to offer its many fans.