Sunday open thread: Give 1 word to describe how you feel about the return of Lions football

Detroit Lions football is back! In a matter of hours the 2017 Lions will take the field against the Indianapolis Colts. Of course, the game means nothing in terms of standings for the upcoming season, but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be any excitement in the air.

I hate when people call preseason games meaningless. There is plenty at stake. Players are fighting for jobs, coaches are desperately searching for areas that need improvement and general managers are scouring tape for potential additions and subtractions before the season starts. The preseason is meaningful, just maybe not as much to you.

But even if you don’t take much stock in the preseason, today is a day for celebration. Our seven months of waiting are finally over. Football is here.

So today’s Question of the Day is:

What is one word you’d use to best describe the return of Lions football?

My answer: Relief. The football offseason is grueling, and this one felt particularly bad. The rest of Detroit sports were an utter disappointment, so we had no hockey or basketball playoffs to distract us.

Even the Lions had a frustrating offseason. Former players have been throwing the franchise—rightfully or wrongfully—under the bus, and current ones have faced a couple of suspensions.

So I’m relieved that all of that can finally be put behind us and we are hours away from getting what we have all been craving for since the Lions walked off of CenturyLink Field back in early January. The Detroit Lions are playing football again, and I’ve never been so relieved to have it back in my life.

Your turn.