The 2018 NFL season begins Sept. 6, when the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Atlanta Falcons.
Wait, no. It actually begins Aug. 2, when the preseason begins with the Hall of Fame Game between the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens.
Well, hold on. That's not technically correct either. The 2018 NFL season actually begins July 11. That's the day the league's first training camp opens, when Ravens rookies have to report for duty.
Most NFL players will report two weeks after that, on July 25. The latest reporting date comes two days later, when Broncos, Cardinals, Chargers and Vikings veterans are required to punch in for the first time of the season.
But the beginning of the beginning of the beginning of the 2018 NFL season comes on July 11, which was three weeks from yesterday.
What I'm trying to tell you is that the 2018 football season is practically on top of us already.