Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy beside coach Tony Dungy following the Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami in February. The Colts kick off the 2007-08 season tonight against the New Orleans Saints. - AP DETROIT (Reuters):
AFTER AN off-season filled with turmoil and controversy, the NFL bids to put the spotlight back on the field when the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts kick off the new season against the New Orleans Saints tonight.
The season opener will provide a welcome respite from the ugly dogfighting scandal that has swirled around former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and overshadowed the run-up to the new campaign.
Since the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears to win Super Bowl XLI in Miami last February, the NFL's image has taken more blows than an unprotected quarterback, forcing the league into unprecedented damage limitation mode.
While Vick's involvement in a dogfighting and gambling ring repulsed even staunch NFL fans, he was not the only player to feel Commissioner Roger Goodell's wrath.
Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones will sit out the entire 2007 season after repeated run-ins with police while Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was hit with an eight-game suspension for violating the league's code of conduct.
As the curtain is set to rise on a new season the NFL is dealing with yet another scandal, the league suspending New England Patriots defensive back Rodney Harrison after he admitted buying human growth hormone.
While the league will start the campaign trying to polish its stained reputation, it will also have one eye on new markets as the NFL heads to London's new Wembley Stadium in October where the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants will play the first regular season game in Europe.
Image problems
Despite its recent image problems the NFL's popularity is likely to remain intact as fans across the U.S. dive into office football pools that will see billions of dollars change hands.
Many will be betting the Colts, led by their MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, can claim Super Bowl glory again.
Las Vegas odds makers, however, have installed the New England Patriots as the early favourites to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy next February in Phoenix.
Quarterback Tom Brady has already guided the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles and with an arsenal of weapons that includes veteran receivers Randy Moss and Donté Stallworth at his disposal, he could celebrate his fourth championship in seven years.
The New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears also fancy their chances of reaching the Super Bowl but enter the season with question marks over their championship credentials.
Returning home to the Superdome after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Cinderella Saints became America's team advancing all the way to the NFC championship game last year.
That emotional ride is over and the Saints, like New Orleans, must continue to rebuild with veteran quarterback Drew Brees at the control of a high-powered attack.
After winning the Super Bowl two years ago, the Steelers missed the playoffs last season and will be lookingfor a big rebound this year behind new coach Mike Tomlin, who takes over for Bill Cowher.
Pressure
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who began last season recovering from injuries sustained in a near-fatal motorcycle accident, is healthy again while the always ferocious Steelers defence is led by hard-hitting safety Troy Polamalu.
While big things will be expected from Tomlin, no coaches face more pressure than the Chargers's Norv Turner and the Cowboys' Wade Phillips.
Turner inherits a team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, with record-breaking running back LaDainian Tomlinson and All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman, that went 14-2 last season under Marty Schotten-heimer but flopped in the playoffs.
Phillips takes over from Bill Parcells in Dallas, where the Cowboys will rely on second-year quarterback Tony Romo to get them to the championship game.
