If you’re looking at NFL tickets, look to the NFC South. During all this commotion and uncertainty concerning the NFL there appears to be two quarterbacks taking the lead and establishing themselves as potential frontrunners for the regular season. And they both belong to the NFC South.
At first it was Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints getting all the headlines. Brees put his money down on his team, arranging a workout schedule, and practice times, and buying practice space and facilities at Tulane University. For his money and effort, the New Orleans Saints now have upwards of 30 players attending, including big names and free agents not under contract. It’s the kind of leadership you expect from a Super Bowl MVP.
Meanwhile, without quite as much fanfare, Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons is also going about the business of becoming a top flight NFL quarterback. Ryan is now working out with about 30 Falcons players at a local high school. While not as regimented as what’s going on in New Orleans, it’s a step above what you see going on in most NFL cities, where some teams have taken a laid back approach, just waiting for the NFL to resume business.
Both the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons are among teams considered to be Super Bowl material. The extra work in this downtime might make all the difference. It’s certainly going to make the NFC South one of the more interesting NFL divisions in 2011.