The NFL season opener between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints has more than enough personality to make the sidelines as compelling a place to watch as the field itself, where top fantasy pick Adrian Peterson alone is a ratings draw. The real top storylines:
Brett Favre
Expectations » He’s back for a 20th season to prove he indeed can lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl after losing sleep over last year’s NFC Championship game all offseason. The demons from that game will be exorcised if he can avoid throwing across his body to Tracy Porter again and lead Minnesota to an opening-night upset.
Reality » If it’s not the interceptions, it’ll be the surgically repaired ankle that snares Favre well before he finishes the regular season. These things never happen the way old heroes expect them to.
Drew Brees
Expectations » Should Brees lead New Orleans to repeat Super Bowl titles, he’ll land himself in truly elite company alongside Starr, Griese, Bradshaw, Montana, Aikman, Elway and Brady.
Reality » Brees is already a living deity in the Bayou — and with all the religions down there, that’s saying something. Who else could make 70,000 Superdome fans shout “Who Dat!” in unison before kickoff?
Reggie Bush
Expectations » On the most exciting offense in the NFL, Bush remains only a complementary piece even though he’s capable of big-time playmaking anytime he has the ball.
Reality » Who are we kidding? Bush’s role on the field comes nowhere close to the controversy he’s facing off of it. “I think at this point it’s kind of out of my hands,” he said of whether his 2005 Heisman Trophy was going to be revoked. Wait a sec: Is there a hidden meaning?
Percy Harvin
Expectations » With Sidney Rice out, last season’s offensive rookie of the year is going to have plenty on his plate, whether it’s returning kicks or lining up as a receiver in the slot or on the outside.
Reality » The Vikings are relieved just to have Harvin back on the field after he was sidelined early in training camp by an ongoing battle with migraines. Sideline reporters will be watching intently to see whether a hard hit sends him looking for an icepack.
