For the second year in a row, the Monday after Kick Off Sunday has been suck-ass. First Spygate, now Tom-Brady-ACL-gate. Can’t I catch a break?!

In all seriousness, I’ve been so consumed by personal drama and the crisis of a loved one, I think I’m emotionally prepared for this kind of thing. It would have been nice to have a good Patriots season to take my mind off of things but that’s not going to be the case.

But, I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t offer my thoughts, right? And, if there’s one facet of my life that I am the eternal optimist, it’s the Patriots. Let’s go…

That was not a dirty hit. C’mon guys. We bitch and moan when Vince Wilfork gets fined (for hits that I don’t think are dirty) and now when it happens against us, we freak out? Sure, Randy Moss thinks it was dirty. Tom’s his boy. Sometimes it doesn’t surprise me that our fanbase is despised throughout the land.

Since it did happen, and it does look like it’s the ACL, Week One is the best time for it to happen. Carson Palmer suffered a similar injury in the 2005 playoffs against the Steelers… an injury that appears to be worse than what Brady has endured. He was ready to go a few short months later. Of course, that’s a miraculous recovery but Brady will have a FULL 12 MONTHS of healing and rehabilitation.

Last I checked, it was a 53-man roster. I love that the national media thinks the Patriots are going to sink to the bottom of the AFC East. Hey, guys, the world thinks you’re nothing without #12. Whatcha think about that?

I could win games at quarterback with that offense. For real. It’s not going to be pretty but it’s not over.

It will push some fair-weather fake fans off the bandwagon. Smell y’all later, fuckheads.

The Patriots finish the season 10-6 and still win the AFC East. Yep, I said it.

Andre Tippett was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday and I really, really wanted to be there. I would have been there, too, if it hadn’t been for that little firing incident back in June that prompted me to spend my vacation money on school tuition. No matter, in 10 to 15 years, my dad and I expect to see a few Patriots enshrined… at the very least Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Richard Seymour.

Back to Andre… when he played I was just a little kid, playing with Barbie Dolls and Legos instead of watching football. But, despite my lack of knowledge on anything regarding football, I knew certain players who were my dad’s favorites. Those players included Steve Grogan, Mosi Tatupu, Russ Francis, Steve Nelson, and, of course, Andre Tippett.

Watching Robert Kraft present Andre made me proud to be a Patriots fan. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that Kraft was just a hapless fan in those days. In fact, as my dad likes to point out, his season tickets at Schaeffer Stadium were much better than Kraft’s. No metal benches for my dad.

Now, I just have to plan another trip to the Hall.

To say the least, today was AMAZING and totally worth the wait. I took 5 jillion pictures, got sharpie marks all over my arm thanks to some overzealous dude behind me, practically got sweated on by Adalius Thomas and Laurence Maroney, came within one foot of true genius and spent $200 in the Pro Shop.

You’ll have to visit Mike Reiss for a professional analysis of the camp, but I can mention that I saw Eric Alexander do some pretty extraordinary moves while stretching. Kelley Washington was having a blast with the crowd. Every time he raised his hand, people went nuts.

People also went nuts when the players started signing autographs. Grown adults pushing and shoving like children… no, not like children because the children there weren’t doing that crap… I guess it’s the punishment for getting there early and sitting right up front. The moment coaches started yelling, “Field Goal,” which I guess most people assumed meant the end of practice, these grown men started kicking me as I sat trying to get as close as possible. When I stood up, I was shoved against the ropes. Some guy literally used my shoulders as stabilization while he leaned as far forward as he could when Tom Brady walked past. I had stranger arms over both shoulders AND my head! Insanity!

But the best part of today was it got me back into a football state of mind. It’s been hard after you know what to even think about it but I’m ready. I’m really ready. Bring on the Chiefs!

ADDENDUM: I almost forgot to mention that Tedy Bruschi signed almost every autograph he could. I mean, seriously, the guy took forever to make it around the bleachers and to the end zone. And then when a horn sounded, he wanted to sign more but told us he couldn’t, but relented anyway and signed more. I hope he didn’t get in trouble with Belichick.

Ah, what a day! Today, I don’t have to go to work until 11 a.m., giving me the morning to just relax. How weird, being able to have my coffee, watch the news, and be alone! I know if I lived by myself I’d die of loneliness but I’ll take mornings like this anyday.

MY Patriots beat their archrivals, the New York Jets, 24-17. I was remarkably surprised to see quarterback Tom Brady passing the ball because, according to most columnists and analysts, I thought the Patriots had traded away their only wide receiver, Deion Branch. Go figure. I was also surprised to see the Patriots defense play well because, according to most columnists and analysts, the Patriots traded away their only wide receiver, Deion Branch. Go figure, the Patriots can still win a game without him. I’m as shocked as you are, I’m sure.

I’ve become so addicted to the NFL that my boyfriend has become a football widower. I wish he’d watch the games with me but he looks at professional sports watching as a social affair – watching with the guys over a few beers. It’s weird that, despite being a girl obsessed with sports, I’ve found it difficult to find a MAN to share in my passion. Go figure. I’m beginning to question whether guys even like sports at all.