Pro football isn't just for the young. Not this season.
Look at the way 38-year-old Brett Favre wrenched the spotlight away from the Super Bowl champion Giants in New York. Or how Jeff Garcia, also 38, locked down the starting quarterback job in Tampa Bay. Or the pressure 37-year-old Kurt Warner put on Matt Leinart in Arizona to earn that starting job.
Heading into the opening week of the NFL season, there are plenty of age-old questions.
Will the Browns and Saints ever rise? Will the Patriots and Colts ever fall? And will Chad Pennington ever truly find a home?
We have the questions and the answers about some of the drama unfolding for Week 1:
Why should Colts fans be as concerned about Saturday as Sunday?
Because Saturday -- Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday -- will be a spectator when Indianapolis opens against Chicago at new Lucas Oil Stadium. As if Peyton Manning doesn't have enough concerns playing on a tender knee after sitting out the exhibition season, now he has to break in rookie Steve Justice.
So what's the big deal about switching out centers? He just snaps the ball, right? Tell that to former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon, whose offense was thrown totally out of whack in the Super Bowl against Tampa Bay after All-Pro center Barret Robbins went AWOL in Mexico and wound up missing the game.
The knee injury to Saturday, who probably will miss at least six games, could wind up hurting Manning more.
What's perfect about these Patriots?
So far, their offensive line is a perfect mess. Like the Colts, New England has a banged-up star quarterback -- Tom Brady has a bum foot -- and concerns about those protecting him.
Right guard Stephen Neal is nursing a shoulder injury and for now will be replaced by the promising but inexperienced Billy Yates. Starting left tackle Matt Light missed most of the exhibition season because of an injury, sitting out all games except for two series in the finale. And backup Ryan O'Callaghan is out for the year because of a shoulder injury.
New England's normally reliable line broke down in the Super Bowl, and there's no indication the pieces are back in place yet.
What's the most interesting Week 1 matchup?
The Jets at Miami. It will be fascinating not only to watch Favre, but to see Pennington go up against his former team. Despite his physical limitations, Pennington knows the Jets better than they know themselves. He's a competitor, and he has looked pretty good this summer.
