You made it. The worst two weeks of the sports calendar — complete with the ESPY Award show and multiple days without so much as a single baseball game — have passed like a slow summer storm. Your reward? NFL training camps get underway this week.
Here are the top storylines:
10. Showtime
Drama surrounds the Jets, AFC runners-up last season with a talented roster and sky-high expectations. That’s a perfect scenario for HBO’s reality series “Hard Knocks,” which will follow the team during training camp. Can New York’s young stars deal with the spotlight?
Summer camp The Dallas Cowboys opened NFL training camp in San Antonio on Saturday. The Cleveland Browns’ rookies actually had to report on Friday. It might be 46 days until the Saints and Vikings open the regular season in New Orleans on Sept. 9. But the first preseason game is just two weeks away, so teams are already preparing. After Dallas, the next group of veterans report on July 28 when five teams open full camp, including the Ravens. The Redskins’ rookies and veterans report the following day. In all, 22 teams have all players report on the same day. The other 10 want their rookies in early. The busiest day is July 30 when 13 teams open full camps.
9. Big Al
The Redskins have no idea what to expect from defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, who signed a mega contract last year but has become disenchanted with his likely role in a new 3-4 defense. He skipped all offseason workouts, but says he will report in shape. We’ll see.
8. Tom Brady's contract
It’s almost unthinkable that a contract squabble would loom as a distraction to the New England Patriots. But quarterback Tom Brady enters the final year of his deal with a lockout looming next fall and the team seems in no hurry to renegotiate. A holdout is unlikely, but the situation is still uncomfortable.
7. On the hot seat
How soon people forget. Tom Coughlin led the Giants to the Super Bowl just two seasons ago. But New York missed the playoffs last season after a horrid 3-8 finish and he won’t keep his job if it happens again. That will be a serious challenge in a difficult NFC East.
6. Return trip
Peyton Manning lost out on a second Super Bowl trophy to his hometown Saints. After a 14-2 regular season, does he have it in him to get Indianapolis back to the title game? They should be the AFC favorites again with an improved offensive line.
5. The hangover
Has to be difficult to go from award parties to the drudgery of training camp. But the Saints must deal with the same challenge every Super Bowl champ faces — how to stay motivated after an offseason of hosannas. It’s up to quarterback Drew Brees to keep this group in check.
4. Time to shine
Kurt Warner retired in the offseason, leaving the Cardinals in the uncertain hands of Matt Leinart. The 27-year-old has looked nothing like the star we remember from USC. But for better or worse, Arizona is his team now. It would help if the Cardinals develop a consistent running game to limit the pressure.
3. Big Ben's understudy
The Steelers need someone to start their first six games while Ben Roethlisberger serves a suspension. That likely will be veteran Byron Leftwich — though Dennis Dixon showed flashes late last season and is pushing for an opportunity. That duo should be good enough to get Pittsburgh safely into late October.
2. Thanks for the memories
The Eagles begin their first season since 1998 without quarterback Donovan McNabb. While he’s learning Mike Shanahan’s offense in Ashburn, Kevin Kolb takes over in Philadelphia. Is he ready to lead the Eagles into a new era? They still consider themselves contenders, after all.
1. Retirement home
For the love of God, not again. Shocker — Brett Favre is undecided about playing for the Minnesota Vikings this season. Every NFL training camp since 2006 has featured this exact same storyline. Favre had surgery on his left ankle in early May and is slowly regaining strength. You can expect a full recovery a few days before the third preseason game.