Thursday felt like Christmas and not because there's snow coming this weekend. With sports on a forever hiatus, NFL schedule release day feels like a holiday.
It feels good to think about sports being played. NFL schedule release day (and I know how bad that NFL wants me to capitalize that but I won't out of spite) is a day of wonder and excitement. It's also a day loyal Patriots fans pick a destination city to go relive their college years and watch the Pats beat up on somebody, during a road game into Foxborough South. I highly recommend it.
Things are different this year. Maybe it's because the Patriots have road games in a bunch of gross cities. Seattle in September? It's gonna rain. Kansas City? Do you really love barbeque that much? Miami? Only if you're into Pitbull.
In past years, schedule release day was an opportunity to figure out if 16-0 was on the table, which rotten franchise would ruin that chance, or figure out if there was any way the Patriots wouldn't host the AFC Championship Game, then laugh manically thinking about it.
It's different now. I'd like to say it's because of COVID-19 or proposals that would prevent fans from sucking down $12 beers at Gillette, but the real reason Thursday felt different had to do with some quarterback who won a couple big games. Can't remember the guy's name.
But it's still fun to try and figure out how the Patriots might fare. There are plenty of olds who get angry about such prognostications, but these are the same people who get mad when you buy a Powerball ticket and talk about what you're gonna do with 300 mil. Fun is not allowed.
Last year _ when I was hardly credible as a "football fan" vs. this year when I'm very credible as "No. 2 Patriots guy for the ProJo" _ I nailed the 12-4 record and told you the Pats were going to get run over by a freight train of a running back in the playoffs. There's no need to check my work. You don't when you share those "news documentaries" about this "hoax of a virus" on Facebook, so why start now?
How will 2020 fare? I think it will be better than you think.
And if not, this was all for entertainment.
(NOTE: If Cam Newton signs with New England, 16-0 is back on the table)
