Are You Ready For Some Football?! Week 1 Kickoff Preview

Happy Labor Day Girls and Guys! What am I doing on my day off, besides shaking off the humiliation of being called a "terrible karaoke singer" by a hippie who lives in the woods of Belton, SC (a blog post for another time)... I am doing just what I promised I would, diving into the world of the NFL and trying to make sense of it all. So without further ado, here are some of the big stories that will have your boyfriends, husbands, bosses, etc. running their mouths this week.

The NFL officially kicks off the 2012 season this Wednesday, September 5 with the Dallas Cowboys playing at the defending Super Bowl Champions, the New York Giants. Defending Super Bowl champs aside, all eyes might be on the Dallas Cowboys during this game. When Tony Romo took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe during the 2006 season, he surprised everyone with his effectiveness as a starting quarterback. But now, 6 years and one Jessica Simpson relationship later, the Cowboys do not have any Super Bowl rings, in fact they only have one playoff win during the Romo era. Some blame Jessica Simpson, others blame Tony's supporting cast, either way the Cowboys will be feeling the pressure on Wednesday night.

Other Week 1 Storylines:

- The NFL referees are on strike and there are no negotiations scheduled as of now, replacement refs will take the field Week One. Where did they get these replacement refs? Glad you asked, they have come from small, non BCS colleges, the Arena League, and other organizations that may play the game of football, but nowhere near the level of the NFL. The replacement refs have been working during the entire pre-season without making a major impact in the outcome of the games, but how will it pan out when the games count?

- Maurice Jones Drew, a running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, ended a 38 day hold out for a new contract (despite having 2 years left on his current contract) with no new money and no reps during the pre-season. MJD (see what I did there?) is coming back to a new head coach (Mike Mularkey) and a brand new playbook. People will be watching for how he performs on Sunday when the Jags take on the Minnesota Vikings.

- There are 5 rookie quarterbacks starting for their teams on Sunday, ALL eyes will be on these five guys to see how they handle the speed and pressure of the NFL:

• Andrew Luck starting for the Indianapolis Colts against the Chicago Bears- Luck was the Number 1 Overall Draft pick for the Colts and walks in to fill the sizable hole left by the exit of Peyton Manning.

• Robert Griffin III (RG3) will start for the Washington Redskins against the New Orleans Saints- RG3 was the Heisman Trophy winner  and the Number 2 Overall Draft Pick

• Ryan Tannehill is starting for the Miami Dolphins against the Houston Texans- Tannehill was the Number 8 Overall Draft Pick. This seems like a good time to tell all of you that my poor husband is a huge Dolphins fan and as a result has suffered for years. So for the sake of this little experiment of mine, lets hope that this kid can pull it off, he can start by figuring out which teams play in his conference (the AFC). Tannehill beat out last years Dolphins starter, Matt Moore for the job.

• Brandon Weeden will start for the Cleveland Browns against the Philadelphia Eagles- Weeden was the Number 22 Overall Draft pick and will have #3 Overall Pick, Trent Richardson to run the ball for him, provided that he is healthy following arthroscopic surgery.

• Russell Wilson will start for the Seattle Seahawks against the Arizona Cardinals- Wilson was picked in the 3rd Round of the Draft, 125th overall. He was named the starter for the Seahawks after beating veteran QB, Matt Flynn out for the job during training camp.

That ought to keep all you guys and gals pretty informed moving into the 2012Season, whether you choose to watch the games or not. Look for my recap of the week on Monday, September 10!