With the NFL season ready to kick off next week, here are a few items to watch as the opener near:

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Do you really, really feel sorry for Jerry Jones right now?Proving again that money doesn't buy happiness, the Dallas Cowboys owner built a $1.2 billion monstrosity of a stadium and has not had a good run of luck lately.No "Hard Knocks" TV show (Cincinnati has it), a shoulder injury to wide receiver Roy Williams, for whom Dallas gave the Detroit Lions a few draft picks, no Terrell Owens to defend on his new venture, the "T.O. Show."Also, he has no playoff wins since the 1996 season.But the biggest headache could have come when Tennessee punter A.J. Trapasso hit the new video screen at Cowboys Stadium in a recent preseason game.If you're impressed with your 32-inch set or even 60-inch theater at home, what would you call Jones' baby, a 160-foot video replay board, slightly longer than half the football field?The screen was placed five feet higher than the league-mandated 85 feet above the playing surface, but the size is hard to get around, despite cries that no one would purposely try to hit it, that punters would angle their kicks.Either way, the NFL ruled to wait a season and see. For now, they'll most likely have to have a do-over. I understand they like things big in Texas, but if you shelled out a couple hundred dollars for a ticket, you'd want to see live game action, not have your eyes averted by a screen.•

Is Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress the most callous coach in the NFL?Even though the Vikes won the NFC North division last year with Tarvaris Jackson at the helm — he had eight TD, 1 INT over the final four games — Childress still wanted to bring in former Green Bay and Jets quarterback Brett Favre.Favre's injured shoulder, as well as his poor performance down the stretch, cost Jets coach Eric Mangini his job. The soon-to-be 40-year old Favre had offseason surgery, then decided in late July he was not strong enough to return.I'm sure Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, the other Vikes quarterback, were pleased and Childress was ready to move on.Or was he? Less than three weeks later, Favre is deemed ready, joins the team and is given the No. 1 job, even though he's not prepared for it.I understand Childress believes Favre can help, but not by leaving your other QBs out to dry. If Favre struggles early and hurts the Vikings' chances in what appears to be a tough conference, Favre should sit — and Childress should join him.n

How about Oakland's Tom Cable?He allegedly punched assistant coach Randy Hanson, breaking a bone in his face.Hansen wouldn't name names, but if it's true, then how does Cable explain himself when he told authorities that nothing happened?I don't think the police like it when you fib. I don't think I'd be wrong if I said that's against the law.But hey, it's Oakland. When you've gone 24-72 over the past six seasons — with an NFL record 11 losses or more in that span — you look for entertainment anywhere you can find it.Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.