Blessed be the distraction of actual games! The NFL kicks off its 97th season Thursday night as millions of fantasy-team owners, countless gamblers and two teams get it going. And thank goodness. One year after the Deflategate controversy shadowed the start of a season, this time it's been the Colin Kaepernick national anthem protest that has created for King Sport the kind of thorny preamble beleaguered Roger Goodell would wish away if only he could.
The good news? NFL seasons always seem to make right what NFL offseasons mess up, and a delicious Kickoff Weekend matchup figures to open the gate right. The college kids have had their head start. Now the real men play. Let's football!