This Is as Close as Some Get to Super

A new NFL season is upon us, meaning Lawrence Tynes has washed his car, Plaxico Burress has eaten his salmon and rice and Ahman Green has watched the film “Pure Payton” one more time.

Superstitions have a big following among pro football players, and a recent NFL news release outlined a few of them. Kansas City kicker Tynes washes his car before every home game, New York Giants receiver Burress eats grilled salmon and white rice the night before a game, and Green Bay running back Green watches Walter Payton highlights the day before every game.

Other superstitions include Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman’s taking a shower after pregame warmups, Jacksonville defensive end John Henderson’s getting slapped by assistant trainer Joe Sheehan before every game, and San Francisco fullback Moran Norris’ refusing to walk under the crossbars before a game.

The rest of the 49ers indulge in another superstition. During games, their offense refuses to go anywhere near the crossbars.

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Trivia time: Former goaltending great Patrick Roy had a peculiar superstition during his rookie season with the Montreal Canadiens. What was it?*

Six of one: Briefing takes a blindfolded stab in the dark at some of today’s NFL openers:

Indianapolis over New York Giants: Manning family records in most recent playoff starts: Peyton: 0-1. Eli: 0-1. Archie: 0-0.

Kansas City over Cincinnati: Larry Johnson begins earning those big fantasy-league bucks.

Tennessee over New York Jets: Two teams that passed on Matt Leinart. One of them starts Kerry Collins.

Chicago over Green Bay: Repeat of 1923 classic: Bears 3, Packers 0.

Seattle over Detroit: Mike Martz + Jon Kitna = Comedy Central.

Jacksonville over Dallas: Over-under on T.O. going T.O. on Drew Bledsoe: Halloween.

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Half-dozen of the other: And six more picks:

Philadelphia over Houston: “Reggie Bush or Wali Lundy? Reggie Bush or Wali Lundy? Hmm, tough call.”

New Orleans over Cleveland: Bush debuts against last season’s 30th-ranked run defense.

Tampa Bay over Baltimore: How’s that Kyle Boller project going?

St. Louis over Denver: Jay Cutler watch officially underway.

New England over Buffalo: Somewhere in New England, a tree grows without a Branch.

Arizona over San Francisco: Traditional “Kurt Warner Too Banged up to Play” headline still weeks away.

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Trivia answer: The beneficiary of numerous helpful bounces off the goal posts during his first NHL season, Roy took to talking to the posts. “They are my friends,” he said.

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And finally: Discussing Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s new business partnership with Tom Cruise, HBO’s Bob Costas asked Cowboys owner Jerry Jones whom he’d like to be in business with.

“Well, I think that’s really a big starter for the difference in our organizations, our philosophy,” Jones replied. “Nicole Kidman would be my business partner.”

mike.penner@latimes.com