I love ! Football, family and food. What could be better?Yes, I'm particularly thankful for my beautiful family: my wife Katie and our three wonderful kids, Jolie, Maya and Theo.But I'm also thankful to you, for reading these columns every week.And I'm thankful for this amazing sport we get to watch. The NFL is better than ever.Here's a special Schein Nine on what I'm thankful for acro s the league this holiday season. And Happy to you and yours!1) Tony Romo, quarterback, Dallas CowboysI've long argued that Romo is a great quarterback who has been wrongly maligned by both fans and the larger football-watching public. Over the years, Romo has been the victim of Dallas' problems and dysfunction, bad defense and bad plans. He's always been tough and fantastic. Perhaps now -- after seeing the 'Boys win all three games they've played this season with Romo, and lose all seven games they've played without him -- the haters Zach Britton Jersey will give No. 9 the respect he has longed deserved. Perhaps, those who foolishly questioned him didn't know what Dallas had until Romo was gone.I'm happy that Romo, who is a fierce competitor, is back in time for the showcase . Romo knows that, having swiftly returned to action, . It doesn't matter. Romo just wants to play ball -- and win.2) Arizona CardinalsThink about the ' reputation throughout their history. (Hint for those people who are unaware: It's not a good one.) Now, under the watchful eye of team president Michael Bidwill, Arizona has become one of the best organizations in the NFL. , Steve Keim and Bruce Arians make up the best general manager and head coach combo in the NFL today. in prime time was a perfect showcase and snapshot of what this team is. The Cards are deep and talented -- they can beat you in any phase. Arizona shined against Cincy in front of a rabid fan base that truly had to be built. The dazzled in University of Phoenix Stadium, Game No. 100 in their gorgeous new home. Rookie enjoyed a breakout game on the national stage, with four catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. And another rookie, backup running back , . Shoot, little-known tight end -- and former profe sional basketball player -- . This team can hurt you in so many ways.The are a true Horatio Alger story -- the type of thing that makes sports special.3) Bill Belichick, head coach, New England PatriotsThree guarantees in life: death, taxes and the winning double-digit games.Belichick is the best coach in NFL history. It's just that simple. Richard Bleier Jersey This is the salary-cap era. This is the parity era. The league is built for teams to go 8-8. New England is beautifully abnormal. The , who now have 13 consecutive seasons of 10-plus wins, defy logic. The Pats suffer key injuries and it doesn't matter. They have bad matchups and they persevere. Belichick's game planning and mental toughne s shape the team. His accountability permeates throughout the organization. The ' current roster is hardly perfect, but their record is. That's coaching. That's the coaching of the best to ever do it. I'm thankful for the Hoodie!4) Thomas Davis, linebacker, Carolina PanthersThe 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year is the epitome of cla s. He's also one of the best linebackers in the game and the leader of the undefeated . It's clich, but true: Davis represents what the NFL is all about.In September of 2011, Davis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee . Three ACL tears! To the same knee! In le s than two years! Yet, over the past three years, he's piled up three 100-tackle campaigns -- and he's well on his way to another.This dude's an inspiration, on and off the field. Quite Baltimore Orioles Jersey easy to root (and be thankful) for.5) The Oakland Raiders being ... relevant!Sure, was very disappointing. There's no other way to put it. But I'm not going to let that curb my enthusiasm for these .Look, Oakland (4-6) is playing in relevant games down the stretch of a season. When's the last time we were able to say that? And with 24-year-old QB , 25-year-old RB and Blank Jersey 21-year-old WR headlining an emerging offense, the future is incredibly bright in Oakland.I'm thankful that Raider Nation can finally enjoy the last month of a regular season.6) Everything we've witne sed from Peyton ManningNow, I'm not ending Peyton's career before he has his retirement pre s conference. But that will be under center again on Sunday, following . And on Tuesday, the team announced that Manning, who visited foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, . That takes us into mid-December. why the have to go with Brock, and I find it hard to believe I'll stray from that opinion next month.All that said, changed football. He's a living legend. He is an all-time great. I am thankful I got to see every game he played. He's someone you'll talk to your kids and grandkids about. And regardle s of how his career ends, let's all remember how special a career it was.7) The Bears-Packers rivalry is back!John Fox has maximized the talent-poor team he inherited. has turned from a combination of Jeff George and Debbie Downer into a legit NFL quarterback under the watchful eye of offense coordinator Adam Gase.Meanwhile, Green Bay was . , in a marquee NFC North matchup against rising Minnesota, the finally played like what I expected -- strong in every phase, with leading the way.Lambeau Field is going to be rocking on Thursday night -- with -- and the drama, energy and juice is going to be palpable.8) Philip Rivers, quarterback, San Diego ChargersThe 2-8 are awful. They can barely field a team, with the plethora of major injuries suffered in 2015. Rivers is wasting away. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't stop and smell the roses on a quarterback whose greatne s has been lost in the shuffle because he's played for some bad teams -- and in the same conference as and -- during his career.This guy's a pleasure to watch: A Pedro Alvarez Jersey wiz in the pre-snap che s game and a warrior in the post-snap mayhem. The silver lining to the Bolts being pathetic and routinely playing from behind: more Rivers! San Diego's quarterback currently leads the NFL in pa s attempts and completions.9) Thanksgiving Day traditionsWe regularly move on from so many special things in sports. I love the fact that we still have home games for the and on in Detroit and Dallas. They wanted the games when nobody else did. I look forward to it every year. It's great for those local fan bases.And from a national perspective, I like that we get to visit with the same football families each and every Turkey Day. Isn't that the true spirit of ?Follow Adam Schein on Twitter .