Sept. 9, the first Sunday of the season, now seems close enough to feel. It helps explain why there is flurry of activity that shows little sign of letting up in the next two weeks.
It kicked off Monday, 10 days before the season officially starts.
Minnesota traded a 2009 sixth-round pick to Philadelphia for a quarterback that could greatly impact its season in 2007.
Cleveland selected a starting quarterback –- for Thursday night's preseason finale at Chicago.
Washington prepared to get back three promiment players at practice Tuesday.
And New England got back one Monday as moves –- even miniscule ones -- escalated in frequency. They will continue doing so as rosters must be trimmed to 75 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday, and then, the really interesting cut, 53 players by 4 p.m. Saturday.
Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson still is expected to get a long leash; it is his job. But now the Vikings have Holcomb, a capable caretaker, a quarterback with talents to match his leadership, a quality relief pitcher who had he been in Philadelphia in 2005, could have helped avert the Eagles' 6-10 season.
The timing for Holcomb wasn't right in Philadelphia, not with the Eagles using a second-round pick on Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb. But the opportunity couldn't be any more ideal for Holcomb in Minnesota, where the Vikings are waiting for Jackson to assert himself.
The Vikings hardly were the only team pursuing Holcomb. The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks also made inquiries, but neither was willing to surrender as much as Minnesota.
NEXT...
Now one quarterback has been dealt, and at least one other could follow.
Atlanta still is in the market for a quarterback. Now that Holcomb is out, the Falcons are expected to look to Raiders quarterbacks Josh McCown and Andrew Walter.
The Raiders would be more apt to deal one of their quarterbacks if they could sign No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. But those negotiations are moving, at best, slowly.
And the other interesting scenario is the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, who have four viable quarterbacks on their roster –- Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Bruce Gradkowski and Chris Simms. If any one of those backups is cut loose, it would be no surprise if Atlanta claimed him.
The only way for Tampa to assure itself that none of its quarterbacks wind up in Atlanta is to hold on to each of them. It very well might.
OH, ROMEO
Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn might be the people's choice, but he is not Romeo Crennel's.
Browns general manager Phil Savage already has dismissed the idea that Quinn could start the season opener vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. His logic is sound.
Though Quinn has looked impressive during Cleveland's past two wins, he has put up his numbers against backup players and vanilla defenses. Still, Quinn's turn is coming at some point this season. It's not if, but when.
And the Browns braintrust has the right idea keeping Quinn sidelined early on. In four of the first five weeks, Cleveland faces defenses that are extraordinarly complex for even the ultra-intelligent and studious Quinn to decipher.
In Week 1, Cleveland hosts Pittsburgh. In Week 3, Cleveland plays in the Black Hole against an underrated Raiders defense. In Week 4, the Browns host Baltimore. And in Week 5, Cleveland plays at New England. As good as Quinn might be, he would struggle against four of the league's most confusing and challenging defenses.
RETURN OF THE REDSKINS
Just in time for the regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins, the Washington Redskins are getting back the players they most need.
When Washington practices Tuesday, injured quarterback Jason Campbell, running back Clinton Portis and offensive tackle Chris Samuels are expected to be on the field.
"I'm going to go out there and give it all I got the first quarter or however long I'm going to play," Campbell said. "The main thing is to get the rhythm going before our first game."
Portis has missed this preseason while battling tendonitis in his right knee that the Redskins have treated with extreme caution.
And Samuels missed about a month with a Grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament. Now, with the opener closing in, each of the three players is expected back on the field.
They also will be joined by newly acquired guard Pete Kendall, whom Washington acquired last week from the New York Jets for a conditional fifth-round pick.
TALE OF TWO FRANCHISES
More than any other, one player helped build the San Diego Chargers into the powerhouse they are today and the Atlanta Falcons the challenged franchise they are today.
In 2001, the Chargers received a telephone call from the Falcons to see what it would take to land the No. 1 overall pick and the right to draft Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick.
"We were taking Michael Vick –- unless we got the trade we wanted. We wanted Tim Dwight. If he wasn't included in the deal, Michael Vick was going to be the quarterback here."
And the story came full circle Monday when, about the same time that Vick pleaded guilty in Virginia, the New York Jets released Dwight.
As if that weren't enough irony, here's more:
Just as Monday was a busy day for the Falcons –- Vick pleaded guilty, Arthur Blank and Rich McKay held a joint press conference, then Atlanta hosted the Cincinnati Bengals at night –- Monday December 10 will not be much different.
That day, Vick will be sentenced in Virginia, and Atlanta hosts the New Orleans Saints later that Monday night.
IN, BUT NOT DONE
As of Monday night, Patriots franchise cornerback Asante Samuel had reported to New England's camp but still had not signed his tender.
The two sides were in discussions, mulling any possible options. And there are only two. Either Samuel signs his franchise tender as is, or he signs it with the stipulation that New England promises not to franchise him again after next season. One or the other. And in these matters, just like on-field matters, New England is tough to beat.
However it works out, an answer is expected Tuesday.
CUTDOWN DAY
One of the most surprising cuts of the day came when the Oakland Raiders released wide receiver Doug Gabriel. Other notable cuts: former Raiders defensive back Colin Branch, former Steelers running back Kevan Barlow, former Jacksonville tight end Jermaine Wiggins and former Indianapolis guard Rick DeMulling.
As notable as some of these names are, wait until this weekend. There'll be some real surprises.
