Well kids, this is my sports blog. This is, as some of you know, my nth attempt at keeping a blog, and I'll do my best to keep it somewhat regularly updated. If I'm successful, maybe in a couple months I'll add some other blogs in different topics, but for now, this is it.

This blog is gonna be all about sports; mostly football, because football is currently the only sport run competently enough to be worth following, although ice hockey, oddly enough, seems to finally be catching on. But I'll have plenty to say about baseball and basketball too, with the occasional tennis, golf, or maybe even (once in a blue moon) autosports comments thrown in, for variety.

But right now I want to turn my attention to the NFL, which finally kicked off the season Thursday night, and started in earnest yesterday. My beloved Skins don't play until tonight, but for 28 of the NFL teams, the season has begun. I'm going to give my preseason power rankings, with each team rated 1-32, along with a comment. Keep in mind that these rankings do not take into account yesterday's games. I'll put my post week 1 rankings up tomorrow, and then update them every Tuesday afterwards. Without further ado...

NFL Preseason Power Rankings

1. Steelers - they won the Super Bowl, so they get top billing.
2. Bengals - having a team full of criminals didn't hurt those early-90s Cowboy teams.
3. Seahawks - got jobbed in the big game, and now have to avoid the Super Bowl hangover.
4. Colts - it's only a matter of time before Peyton gets his ring. See Cowher, Bill.
5. Broncos - which Jake Plummer shows up for '06?
6. Bears - no offense, but 13 wins is 13 wins.
7. Patriots - New England is never out of the championship picture.
8. Redskins - got the holes patched up, but depth is an issue.
9. Chargers - will go as far as Phillip Rivers can take them.
10. Jaguars - coming off a 12 win season, but Jimmy Smith is gone and Fred Taylor is running on fumes.
11. Giants - Tiki Barber's health is a ticking time bomb; can he squeeze one more productive season out?
12. Buccaneers - Chris Simms and Caddillac Williams showed potential last season; they need to take the next step, now.
13. Panthers - a lot of hype for Carolina, but is 32-year old Keyshawn Johnson enough to get them over the top?
14. Eagles - no T.O. means fewer headaches, but it also leaves the Eagles short a go-to receiver.
15. Cowboys - Whether he behaves or not, Owens can't help the o-line.
16. Dolphins - the Phins are coming off a big winning streak to end '05, but many questions remain.
17. Chiefs - replacing Al Saunders with the Herminator is like replacing a brand new Mustang GT with a used Volvo station wagon.
18. Falcons - Michael Vick could be Steve Young times 10, if he wants that badly enough.
19. Vikings - great o-line, but no skill personnel whatsoever; the anti-Cardinals.
20. Cardinals - great skill personnel, but no o-line whatsoever; the anti-Vikings.
21. Ravens - the Cardinals of the AFC.
22. Rams - rebuilding around Steven Jackson, which appears to be a good idea.
23. Browns - things appear to be turning around in Cleveland, but that will take time.
24. Raiders - Art Shell could be exactly what this team needs - or he could be a complete disaster; time will tell...
25. Titans - well, with Vince Young around, at least the future looks bright...
26. Lions - Mike Martz might not be the best head coach, but he can turn around an offense.
27. Bills - for better or worse, the J.P. Losman Era has begun.
28. Saints - New Orleans is abuzz with excitement for the coming of Reggie Bush, as well they fucking should be...
29. Packers - a good plan is in place, but the team is two years away.
30. 49ers - Vernon Davis, Frank Gore and Alex Smith are some young, esxciting parts for Norv Turner to work with.
31. Jets - count me among those who believe Mangini was a good hire; also, count me among those who believe drafting a tackle over Matt Leinart was a big mistake.
32. Texans - horrible, just horrible.