SAN DIEGO _ Let's look at this NFL season as we might stare though the deli glass at a sausage.
Appears pretty good on the outside, nice skin, seemingly fresh. But, as it's prepared by sneaky butcher Roger Goodell's hands, we have no idea what lurks inside.
Bad enough that, no matter how much it stinks _ and so much of it has even during previous pre-new-normal seasons _ Goodell's going to say it's delicious, which is why it costs so much a pound.
He can sous vide it all he wants. Can't guarantee it's going to come out juicy and tender.
No one, including Rog, can say if The League even can complete its season. But there never was a doubt in my mind they would at least start. Too much money involved, so much wherewithal, TV salivating, gamblers back to driving The League's Rolls.
And judging by testing numbers thus far, virus cases have been few. It's not as though they've been in a bubble and avoiding contact.
Until Thursday, when Chiefs-Texans opened the season, no football had been played professionally since early February. As the great Jerry Magee would say, all offseason "nip-ups" were canceled. There was none of that _ including exhibition games _ to use for teaching, improvement, learning new systems and players adjusting to the habits and nuances of others.
Football is a game of adjustments. The winners adjust best.
Going into Thursday night, because of the terrible circumstances this summer, I was thinking early quality of play might not be an oil painting. Chiefs-Texans went pretty much according to the blueprint _ K.C. yawned and slapped them aside _ and it surprisingly wasn't a penalty-laden, sloppy mess.
But it's hard to judge off one game. Houston is not in K.C.'s class. Not many teams figure to be, although the Chiefs are beatable, and there's always the injury factor that must play out.
Can the NFL Team That Used To Be Here compete with Kansas City? As screwed up as the Chargers were last year, the Chiefs didn't run away from them.
The Chargers have the defense to compete. But can they score enough to beat K.C. behind Tyrod Taylor? That's why they play.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady and other stars, bright or fading, made the Bucs offseason darlings. Vegas has them underdogs in their opener vs. the Saints.
The Ravens have the best overall team, with reigning MVP Lamar Jackson _ a QB who doubles as the third-best runner in The League. But Lamar has to win a playoff game _ more than that, play at least above average in one.
The 49ers are the NFC's best team. Jimmy Garoppolo is good, and wrongly accused.
I like Tennessee. I like Minnesota. I expect the Cowboys not to play up to their talent. Seattle won't score enough.
Football is back. And it's great. For now.
The sausage still must be tasted.
