PEDELTY BOX: It's (finally) time to get ready for the 2012 NFL season!

We've survived the overblown hoopla that is the Olympic Games. The baseball season has been all but over for Cubs fan such as myself for months now, and while watching the White Sox try to cling to their narrow division lead is entertaining, I have no delusions that they'll still be there for me to root for (or root against, depending on my mood) veryfar into October.

Thankfully, oh so thankfully, it's almost time for America's true pastime to return. Nothing matches the excitement of the start of the NFLseason. The only thing which comes even close is the end of the NFLseason, the playoffs, which this year willbring with them a bittersweet sorrow as we slowly watch your Bears and my Chargers fall by the wayside, leaving only the Super Bowl and then a long, cold winter of rushed, post-lockout hockey and a Bulls team trying in vain to stay afloat without Derrick Rose.

So in the spirit of basking in the moment, I bring you this, possibly my favorite column I get to write each year, my NFLpreview. And so as not to bogart all the fun, I've invited you good readers to join in this time around through The Times Sports Facebook page.

The question:What are you most looking forward to this NFLseason?

I'll begin with my own answer. ICANNOTWAITto watch the New York Jets utterly implode. Already a hornets nest of dysfunction, unjustified arroganceand look-at-me, look-at-me personalities, the Jets invited Tim Tebow into camp to bring in even more second-guessing, controversy and bad quarterbacking.

This exact scenario will play out in the final seconds of a game at some pointthis season, and I want -- nay, Imust?see it when it happens:

FIRSTDOWN: Mark Sanchez throws a beautiful spiral ... at a receiver's shoes. Fans boo, chant for Tebow.

SECONDDOWN:Shonn Greene takes the handoff, bumps into Sanchez,falls down. Rex Ryan calls timeout.

THIRDDOWN:Sanchez has a wide open receiver, inexplicablyleads him out of bounds two yards short of the first-down marker.

FOURTHDOWN:Tim Tebow enters game, rolls out,throws wobbly pass 20 yards over receiver's head. Game over.

ONTHESIDELINE:Sanchez, Tebow and Ryan beat each other senseless. A nation rejoices.

Anyway, onto your hopes for the season:

MooseConner asked:"Will Peyton Manning rebound, and what Bears team will show up, 11-5 or 6-10?" Yes, until his head falls off around Week 10, and Ibelieve the Bears will be closer to 11-5 than 6-10. See below.

Dave Cheli predicts: "The Bears will show up and win the division." I'm sure they'll show up, every week in fact, but are the Packers not going to show up for their games?

Joe Jackson (whom I assume wears shoes)points out a good one: "There are five rookie quarterbacks starting this season, so which one will lead his team to a winning season?" If one does, he'll be the only one to do it. Along those lines ...

Clarence Halsne can't wait to see: "The Dolphins winning." I'd suggest buying the "Dan Marino:NFLLegend"DVD then, because it's not happening this season.

Jake Handzus is looking forward to: "Brandon Marshall having the best season at wide receiver in Bears history" and Adam Sauers the: "Cutler-Marshall reunion in Chicago." It isn't asking too much of Marshall to be better than Marty Booker, Jake, but I am puzzled by the Bears' enthusiasm at reassembling an offense whose best season was8-8 and whichnever made the playoffs.

Pat DuMais wants to see the Jets and Cowboys implode (with you there!), the Bears stay healthy (I think they will, mostly)and "the return of flex scheduling late in the season for Sunday Night Football." Amen, brother. Amen. There is some real crap scheduled in those slots right now.

Donny DeBernardi wants to know: "if Michael Vick can stay healthy for 16 (games) ... or more?" Not the way he plays, but a healthy Vick for 10-12 games will be enough to win the NFCEast.

And finally, Angela Accomando says: "My husband says the refs always 'cheat' but never in favor of the Bears. I told him I'm going to invent a big foam remote control he can throw at theTV. What do you think?" Ithink the replacement referees will prove to be too lost andincompetent to cheat for anyone.Evenmore reason toget that foam remote ready ...

And to finish off, as always, are my predictions for the season to come. Enjoy!

Pedelty's 2012 picks

(*denotes wild card)

AFCEast?Patriots 14-2, Bills 9-7, Jets 7-9, Dolphins 5-11

AFCNorth?Pittsburgh 11-5, Baltimore* 10-6, Cincinnati 7-9, Cleveland 4-12

AFC South

?

Tennessee 9-7, Houston 8-8, Indianapolis 3-13, Jacksonville 3-13

AFCWest?Chiefs 11-5, Chargers*10-6, Broncos 9-7, Raiders 6-10

NFCEast?Eagles 11-5, Giants* 10-6, Cowboys 8-8, Redskins 4-12

NFCNorth?Packers 13-3, Bears* 10-6, Lions 9-7, Vikings 3-13

NFCSouth?Falcons 10-6, Buccaneers 9-7, Saints 9-7, Panthers 6-10

NFCWest?49ers 10-6, Rams 7-9, Seahawks 6-10, Cardinals 5-11

AFCChampionship

?

Ravens 16, Chiefs 10

NFCChampionship?Packers 39, Falcons 27

Super Bowl XLVII?Packers 31, Ravens 29

Source: http://www.mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=461299

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