Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:

They're starting it in Washington this year on a Thursday due to the tragedy of the DC Sniper attacks.

Commisioner Tagliabue has stated that he would like to start the season each year on a Thursday, and each year in a city that has had similar tragedy befall its citizens. The NFL then plays the part of that gentle, caring, sensitive guy who holds the poor girl's hand right after the rape attack and definitely isn't trying to eventually score a piece or anything. But this leads to the "game within the game": which city will have enough horrible things happen to it so that they get the '04 prize? And what if the obvious city has no NFL franchise? For those of us with teams that have made the playoffs once in the last ten years, this is really what the season is all about.