Just like every year, there were plenty of sideshows during the offseason and preseason to add to the alluring dawn of an NFL season.

But forget about the return of Michael Vick. Ignore the third coming of Brett Favre. Quickly wave goodbye to the retiring Tedy Bruschi. Do not concern yourself by wondering if we’ll ever see Richard Seymour in a Raiders uniform, or whether the entire city of Denver will revolt over the loss of Jay Cutler. These are interesting plots, but there’s something bigger that I’m keeping an eye on.

More than anything this season, I can’t wait for one specific moment. It won’t happen this week, but it’s coming. At some point, a seemingly innocent play will be whistled dead and a referee will say something to the effect of ...

“Um … do-over!”

Yes, I want to tell my children that I witnessed the first real NFL do-over. And I don’t mean a situation where offsetting penalties cause a down to be replayed. I’m talking about a legitimate play where the refs say, “Well, sorry, nobody really did anything wrong there, but we have to try this again. Thanks, Jerry.”

I’m referring, of course, to the possibility that a punter will kick a ball high enough to strike the new $80 katrillion, 48-square-mile scoreboard/ultralounge at the top of the new stadium in Dallas. It already has happened in the preseason, prompting the rules committee to decree that if it happens again, the play will simply not count and they’ll do it over.

It’s fitting, perhaps, that the potential for a re-do is only in Dallas. The Cowboys, in good times and bad, are a soap opera anyway, or at least a bad sitcom. Why not reshoot a few takes now and then? “Places, everyone! Has anyone seen Pacman Jones? He’s in the next scene!”

There’s just one thing that doesn’t make sense. If you had told me that the Cowboys built an overhead scoreboard that rivals the Fremont Street Experience canopy and Terrell Owens still would shuffle off to Buffalo … well, let’s just say you could have gotten odds on that bet, and we’ll leave it at that.

My big concern is that the do-over happens frequently enough that other teams begin to use it to their advantage. The Lions could place huge TV monitors on every hash mark and have someone run into one on every snap. You can’t go 0-16 if you can’t actually get any plays to count, can you?

There’s one other engaging element of every new season, and that’s the return of my celebrity picks football column, where Las Vegas celebs and media types compete for the prestigious trophy, the Golden Nerf. The concept is simple. Pick three games against the spread throughout the 17-week regular season. Best record wins. Last year, that was “Mr. Las Vegas” himself, Wayne Newton, who compiled a 31-19-1 record against the number.

Newton is back to defend his title, and against some tough competition, including Master Magician Lance Burton, who recently struck a new deal at Monte Carlo, presumably to ensure his continued inclusion in this contest, which he has been a part of since its inception in 2001. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who also has kind enough to participate every year, is again in the mix, along with returning celebrities Anthony Crivello of “Phantom – Las Vegas Spectacular” (and 2006 champ) and Luxor headliner Carrot Top, as well as KVBC meteorologist Kevin Janison.

We’re also welcoming some new prognosticators this year. Die-hard Cowboys fan Terry Fator, the former America’s Got Talent winner whose impressionist and ventriloquist skills are on display at The Mirage, joins Las Vegas Sun sports scribe Ryan Greene, 702.tv sports anchor Christine Killimayer and KVBC entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs to round out our field of 10 competitors. Personal thanks to all for participating and you’ll find their picks here every week.

The fun doesn’t end there. We’ve added another wrinkle this year – Frank Caliendo, who can be seen weekly on the FOX NFL pregame show, begins a 10-year engagement doing his stand-up and impressions at the Monte Carlo on Oct. 12. Each week, he’ll offer up his thoughts on the weekend’s best fantasy football pick.

Enjoy their insights, folks. Who knows. Maybe someday we’ll get their picks on the scoreboard in Big D. There’s plenty of room.

We’ll miss you, Danny: It’s been said by many people far more important than me, and countless times, but Danny Gans was a regular in this column for the past eight years and his passing earlier this year crushed me as it did so many others. My thoughts and prayers are still with the Gans family. Danny’s talents, energy and love for the community were his hallmarks and led to his everlasting legacy. We miss you, pal.

Sal’s picks: After having the best year of my life last season (32-17-2), I’m already conceding certain mediocrity this time around. I’ll begin the road to average by taking the Giants -6½ vs. the Redskins, the Dolphins +4 at the Falcons and the Patriots -11 vs. the Bills.

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Media/celebrity picks:

Lance Burton, Monte Carlo master magician

Vikings -4 at Browns

Falcons -4 vs. Dolphins

Chargers -9 ½ at Raiders

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Anthony Crivello, star of "Phantom -Las Vegas Spectacular"

Vikings -4 at Browns

Saints -13 vs. Lions

Cowboys –6 at Buccaneers

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Carrot Top, Luxor headliner

Eagles -1 at Panthers

Cardinals -6 ½ vs. 49ers

Packers -3½ vs. Bears

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Terry Fator, Mirage headliner

Colts -7 vs. Jaguars

Giants-Redskins over 37

Cowboys -6 at Buccaneers

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Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas

Ravens -13 vs. Chiefs

Cowboys –6 at Buccaneers

Patriots -11 vs. Bills

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Ryan Greene, Las Vegas Sun sports writer

Seahawks-Rams over 41½

Panthers +1 vs. Eagles

Texans -4½ vs. Jets

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Alicia Jacobs, KVBC entertainment reporter

Bears +3½ at Packers

Broncos +4½ at Bengals

Jets +4½ at Texans

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Kevin Janison, KVBC meteorologist

Cardinals-49ers under 46 1/2

Patriots -11 vs. Bills

Bengals -4½ vs. Broncos

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Christine Killimayer, 702.tv Sports Anchor

Jaguars +7 at Colts

Giants -6½ vs. Redskins

Packers-Bears over 46

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Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas"

Cardinals -6½ vs. 49ers

Panthers +1 vs. Eagles

Jaguars +7 at Colts

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Frank Caliendo’s Fantasy Stud of the Week: Saints QB Drew Brees

“Forget the numbers Brees put up last season -- I’d take Drew Barrymore as my QB against the Lions defense.”