I love autumn. It's going to be weird being here on the west coast and not seeing the tell-tale signs of my favorite season, but one thing won't change.

Football.

Yes, the sport of kings, better than diamond rings, the most graceful yet violent yet strategic game of them all, dear sweet football, is starting.

I can't wait for the opening kickoff of the NFL season, to go see games lost by my new (horrible) college team, the Cal Golden Bears. I can't wait set the line-up every week for my high-stakes fantasy team, the Commie Bastards (and my no-stakes Elgonquin team, too).

This is going to be fun.

But this is going to be sad, too. For the first time in the 17 years since I became a fan, Dan Marino will not be quarterbacking my Miami Dolphins. I was always Marino's biggest defender; the amazing thing was that he even needed one.

Despite setting almost every single-season and career passing record that exists, much of that coming before the "open field" rules of the '90s that juiced the passing stats, people in and out of Miami have always put an asterisk by Marino's career because "he" never won a championship.

Of course, this criticism was ridiculous. With the exception of Marino, the Miami Dolphins were always a horribly untalented team. Legions of mediocre defenses, running backs, offensive linemen, receivers and even coaches paraded through Marino's career. John Elway certainly "won" two titles, but with fantastic players around him at every position. The fact that the Dolphins could be counted on to win a playoff game every year with no defense or running game is a testament to all that Marino could do.

And consider that from his first start in 1983 until an Achilles injury (how appropriate) in 1993, Marino never missed a start. This is all-time durability record does not stand, however, because the 1987 "scab games" during the players strike counted as missed starts.

And also consider that in this day and age of well-accounted misbehavior by pro athletes, Marino was always the model citizen.

The esteem and good will which Marino built made last season horribly painful for his fans. The 38-year-old warrior suffered a shoulder injury, and lost most of his arm strength. After seven weeks nursing the injury, he returned on Thanksgiving Day on national television, and embarrassed himself with five interceptions, an all-time record for him. Despite some promising moments afterwards, including a big come-from-behind playoff victory on the road, the truth became clear: the Dolphins were better without Marino than with him.

Seeing Jay Fiedler line up behind center next Sunday is going to be like a death in the family. Since I was just nine years old in 1983, I have watched number 13 take the first snap and almost always deliver a victory in week one. Sure, I love that we have the only Jewish QB in the league, and an Ivy League grad at that, but I will be inconsolable.

Dan Marino, there will be never be another one of you.

***

Okay, time for my fearless predictions for the season.

AFC East

Indy 12-4

Buff 10-6

Mia 9-7

Jets 8-8

Pats 6-10

AFC Central

Tenn 14-2

Jax 11-5

Balt 11-5

Pitt 4-12

Cin 3-13

Cle 1-15

AFC West

Oak 10-6

Den 8-8

Sea 8-8

KC 6-10

SD 3-13

NFC East

Wash 13-3

Giants 11-5

Dal 10-6

Ariz 6-10

Phl 4-12

NFC Central

TB 10-6

Chi 10-6

Min 10-6

GB 7-9

Det 7-9

NFC West

StL 14-2

Car 8-8

Atl 6-10

NO 5-11

SF 3-13

Super Bowl: Rams over the Titans, again.

Rookie of the Year: Ron Dayne

Fake Surprise: The media will talk about the Ravens as the "surprise" team, even though everyone says they’re going to be good.

Coach of the Year: Dick Jauron

Coaches fired: Bruce Coslet, Dennis Ross, Vince Tobin

Coaches to quit or retire: Dennis Green, Dan Reeves