... been obsessed with it since I was a little tike.

The sights, sounds, and smells of the game, the orchestrated violence, the smash-mouth ballet, all of it appeals to me.

Football has been a part of my life since I can remember. I owe that to my brother Dave, who has an even greater love for the intricacies of the game than I do.

My love affair started back in 1971 when I watched my first NFL game on TV. It was the Redskins against the Rams on Monday Night Football. Washington won easily, but I was impressed with LA quarterback Roman Gabriel and right then, for better or worse, the Rams became my team.

Backyard football was a fixture in my neighborhood. We played it constantly,...

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