Are You Ready For Some FOOTBALL!

    The wait is over, tonight the New England Patriots welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars for their first preseason game of the year.  Preseason football usually is a tease for the real thing as it generally doesn't mean much and the "star" players don't play much at all.  However, with the lockout and the shortened off-season, things are different with so many teams just recently filling roster spots.  It will be intriguing to see the new acquisitions and how they fit in on our team, as well as others.
    The New England Patriots have brought in many new players and hopefully we will have the chance to see some of them play tonight.  Through trades we have acquired Albert Haynesworth, who hasn't practiced the past few days, as well as the electrifying WR Chad Ochocinco.  Ochocinco probably won't play more than a few series as he, along with Tom Brady and other offensive stars, will likely turn the offense over to backup Brian Hoyer and rookie Ryan Mallett from Arkansas.  I am excited to see how Mallett performs in the NFL as he was one of the nations top quarterbacks the past few years.  We have also added veteran lineman Sean Ellis, an ex-Jet who is expected to be a force all year long, especially against his old team, as well as DE Andre Carter, who played with Haynesworth in Washington.
    Many new acquisitions on both teams, as well as veteran players, will not see much action tonight, if any at all.  That is why preseason football doesn't do it for me.  I want the real thing or nothing at all.  Same goes for the Pro Bowl.  Football is a physical sport and I know preseason is necessary to get the players acclimated with each other and the speed of the NFL.  But until the third or fourth preseason game, I won't have too much interest because our real product, the real New England Patriots team that I am used to seeing every Sunday, doesn't play more than a few series and are just going through the motions.   I'll begin to have more interest when we get closer to September 12th, when we play the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night.  I wouldn't getcha popcorn ready for tonight.