Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:28 am EDT

Their sweat brings out the optimist in us

By MJD

Training camp is a magical time of year. For many fans, it will turn out to be the highlight of the season. Local sports sections in every NFL city are bursting with sunshine and roses. Your widely-mocked quarterback? Finally coming into his own! Your anonymous 6th round draft choice? Impressing the hell out of the coaches! The new defense your team is installing? Will revolutionize the league!

It's all horse doo-doo, as you'll find out in Week 1 when your team loses 56-3 and your quarterback is the same interception machine he's been all his career.

But you don't know that at the time. You'll let yourself believe anything in late June. That's what makes it feel so warm and fuzzy.

And today we celebrate the first day of July, the month that hosts the opening of NFL training camps. Here's a convenient list of training camp reporting dates, via NFL.com.

AFC
Team Opening dates
Baltimore Ravens July 21 (rookies), July 23 (veterans) More information
Buffalo Bills July 25 (rookies and veterans) More information
Cincinnati Bengals July 27 (rookies and veterans) More information
Cleveland Browns July 23 (rookies and veterans)
Denver Broncos July 24 (rookies and veterans)
Houston Texans July 25 (rookies and veterans) More information
Indianapolis Colts July 24 (rookies and veterans) More information
Jacksonville Jaguars July 25 (rookies and veterans) More information
Kansas City Chiefs July 24 (rookies and veterans) More information
Miami Dolphins July 25 (rookies and veterans)
New England Patriots July 21 (rookies), July 23 (veterans)
New York Jets July 16 (rookies), July 23 (veterans)
Oakland Raiders July 24 (rookies and veterans)
Pittsburgh Steelers July 27 (rookies and veterans) More information
San Diego Chargers July 21 (rookies), July 25 (veterans) More information
Tennessee Titans July 25 (rookies and veterans)

NFC
Team Opening dates
Arizona Cardinals July 23 (rookies and veterans) More information
Atlanta Falcons July 25 (rookies and veterans) More information
Carolina Panthers July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Chicago Bears July 23 (rookies and veterans) More information
Dallas Cowboys July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Detroit Lions July 24 (rookies and veterans)
Green Bay Packers July 27 (rookies and veterans) More information
Minnesota Vikings July 24 (rookies and veterans)
New Orleans Saints July 23 (rookies and veterans) More information
New York Giants July 25 (rookies and veterans) More information
Philadelphia Eagles July 21 (rookies), July 24 (veterans) More information
San Francisco 49ers July 24 (rookies and veterans)
Seattle Seahawks July 22 (rookies), July 24 (veterans)
St. Louis Rams July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Washington Redskins July 19 (rookies and veterans) More information

Related: NFL League Issues

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21 Comments

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  1. Marc
    1. Posted by Marc Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:32 pm EDT

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    Oh, thank god! Thanks for posting this, MJD.
  2. troyboy
    2. Posted by troyboy Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    ya whatever? you packer fans just keep believing that, our qb my not have come into his own yet, but atleast he's played in a complete game. and did'nt get hurt! hate to break the news to you but mr. rodgers is not the next mr. farve , i have three teen-age daughters that could take a better hit than that wuss, why don't you wait to shoot off your mouths after the monday-nite opener! i doubt mr. rodgers will start the second half after our ( league changing d gets through with his butt) besides your breath stinks like that cheese your so famous for, and for one i've had enough smelling it!!!!!!!! oh ya go vikes!!!!!!!!
  3. italianstallionnyc04
    3. Posted by italianstallionnyc04 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

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    hes right, his daughters can take a better pound err hit, vikes suck dont talk until you have won something, you'll never be in our class, all your famous for is a bunch of lakes ugh!
  4. ryanmac
    4. Posted by ryanmac Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Dr. Z picked your Vikings to win the SB so you know your season is doomed now.
  5. Andre G
    5. Posted by Andre G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    The rams are training in Wisconsin, not St. Louis. Concordia Seminary in Mequon, Wis.
  6. Hannah Montana
    6. Posted by Hannah Montana Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:01 pm EDT

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    Wooo!!!!!!! colts!!!!!!!!!!!
  7. E Bosack
    7. Posted by E Bosack Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    Go Eagles!
  8. Christopher H
    8. Posted by Christopher H Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Texans are comin' for ya! Go Texans!
  9. romo
    9. Posted by romo Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

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    How bout them Cowboys!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  10. phila9858
    10. Posted by phila9858 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    Aaron rodgers is cute
  11. A Yahoo! User
    11. Posted by A Yahoo! User Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:29 am EDT

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    Jaguars all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  12. Gary C
    12. Posted by Gary C Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    Giants! Giants! Gonna re-re-re-repeat!
  13. Cactus Jack Sancho
    13. Posted by Cactus Jack Sancho Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    Texans will win it all!!!
    Schaub will throw 40 TDs, 9 INTs
    Ahman will rush for 1600 yrds and have 15 TDs
    Texans will allow 16 sacks on offense and sack the other team 116 times.
    (All numbers are estimated, this is not opposite day - its Independance Day)
  14. Rick L
    14. Posted by Rick L Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    Cowboys suck, Packers suck and who in the hell even thought the eagles stand a chance well then again every one starts undefeated THIS IS GIANT COUNTRY BABY!!!! WOOOOOO!
  15. chris d
    15. Posted by chris d Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    The Cowgirls were a bunch of lucky bast..... GO SKINS, LIFE IS GOOD WHEN U ARE REAL FAN OF WASHINGTON.cowgirls QB will never have a year like she just had.
  16. jermaine
    16. Posted by jermaine Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    Raiders is goin 2 sweep KC and Denver, we have too many weapons this year.
  17. firehawk1120
    17. Posted by firehawk1120 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    Raiders have too many weapons??? Like what brass knuckles, 9 mm guns, and knives because those are the only weapons anyone in the league would fear when stepping on the field with the pathetic Raiders.
  18. bjp51082
    18. Posted by bjp51082 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    And you're basing this opinion on what, Frosty? One good year by your running back? Your nonexistent passing game, your terrible QB, or the overpaid free agent you signed to monstrous money? I mean seriously.
    When was the last time that MN actually posted decent years back to back? Probably the last time that Chicago did the same thing. Hate to break it to you though, but MN hasn't been squat since Randy left town.
    They need a QB, then need some WRs, they need to have more than one year with AP as their starting running back, and he needs to prove he can do what he did last year again before people start annointing him the savior of the franchise.
  19. Nate
    19. Posted by Nate Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

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    Anyone hateing on the Vikes is just jealous there team dosen't have the most promising young offensive player and the best defensive and offensive lines in the league.
  20. Brofins
    20. Posted by Brofins Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

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    Brett Favre needs to stay retired! He is already on the Madden 09 cover and lord knows what that jinx will do for the rest of his career. Yes the Raiders do have too many weapons, but they keep shooting blanks or keep stabbing themselves, but what can you expect from those losers? God help us if the NFL promotes those flippin Patriots more then they did last year! You have to admit the NFL was their biggest cheerleader, so I do owe the Giants for taking care of that squashed dream...THANK YOU!!!
  21. Mike
    21. Posted by Mike Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    Yeah, I'm a Bills fan. And I'm ready for some football, even though I know it's going to be another rebuilding year full of disappointment.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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