We'll admit, April is a tough month for sports fans. You're hungover from the March Madness excitement. NCAA and NFL football are three and a half months away. There's not even college football recruiting to get excited about.

So unless you're mildly obsessed with the NFL Draft, shock jocks discussing women's basketball teams, Duke lacrosse, or that new Red Sox pitcher from Japan, this is the best time of year to take up another interesting: studying for exams, working in the yard, or just sitting in a darkened room listening to Pink Floyd records.

But across the pond, there is a glimmer of hope for sports junkies.

It's NFL Europe. Check that, NFL Europa.

The new season of the NFL's minor league begins this weekend in Western Europe, as five German squads and a team for Holland compete in a 10-game season culminating in World Bowl XV.

I'll be working up a brief preview of the 2007 NFL Europa for release tonight or tomorrow.