MiddleClassSports.com

Here I sit, trying to figure out what I can say that you will want to read.  Yesterday, I took a look at the columns in the NFL category of this blog.  The only columns I’ve written during the season are a Week 1 Monday Night Football journal and a column about media bias and steroids.

Oops.  The NFL is the most popular sport in America, and I’ve ignored it.

I’ve ignored it on my TV, too.  The only games I’ve watched in their entirety are those involving the Vikings, and since I live in Virginia, I’ve only gotten to see three of them.

Why is that?  Why can’t I get into the NFL?  Is it because I’m a jealous baseball fan and I hate the media’s Obama-like obsession with football?  Is it because the NFL has a watered-down product and too many teams?  Is it because very little matters until the playoffs?

Yes, yes and yes.  Or maybe no.  I can’t tell.  Regardless, I am struggling to watch the NFL this season.  And I’m struggling even more to write about it.  How do you write a unique column people will want to read when every single angle is covered on ESPN, the NFL Network and every sports radio talk show across the country?

I’ll do my best with some random notes given in bullet point format.

• To those who complain about East Coast bias, you’re probably not saying much right now.  The four teams in the NFC East and the four teams in the AFC East are all over .500.  The eight teams out west are a combined 24-48.
• Dallas is the most overrated team every year.  They could go 16-0, and they would still be overrated.  Why do the media talk so much about the Cowboys?
• Here’s a point that no one can argue.  If you think I’m wrong, you’re stupid and you deserve to be humiliated.  Tony Romo is the most overrated quarterback today, and perhaps of all time.  Tony, win a game in January.  Then, you can celebrate like a movie star.
• I hate listening to diva wide receivers from Monday to Saturday, but I love watching their end zone celebrations on Sunday.
• Last year, the Giants overcame a bad start to win the Super Bowl.  It felt like they came out of nowhere.  This year, they have decided to go a different route.  They are going to be the best team during the regular season.  I think that means they have no chance of repeating as champions.  I predict a painful NFC Championship game loss at home to Washington or Arizona.  Wouldn’t that be something?
• Aaron Rodgers is 4-5.  Brett Favre is 6-3.  I’m just saying.
• Gus Frerotte is 5-2 as a starter in Minnesota.  Wait a minute, I’m checking my calendar.  Yes, it’s confirmed.  The year really is 2008.  I was starting to wonder.
• Remember the opening game of the year between the Giants and the Redskins?  Washington looked terrible.  Now, they’re 6-3.  Does that mean that I’m right to say that the regular season doesn’t mean much?
• Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are making JaMarcus Russell and Matt Leinart look bad.  Really bad.  They’re also proving the media wrong, who have spent five years convincing us that a rookie quarterback can’t play well in the NFL.  In case you haven’t noticed, I love it when the media is wrong.
• The Giants, the Cardinals and the Titans are guaranteed to make the playoffs.
• Are you comfortable with the “Wildcat” offense?  I’m not.  It’s fun in college, but it seems juvenile when performed in the NFL.
• Ohio, you had your day during the election.  You confirmed that Barack Obama would be president of the United States.  As a punishment, you get to watch the Browns and Bengals compete for last place.  That should teach you.
• Kerry Collins is undefeated as a starter.  Wait a minute.  Let me take another glance at my calendar.  Yup, it’s still 2008.  Crazy.
• Kurt Warner is the starting quarterback for the first-place Arizona Cardinals.  I’m tempted to check my calendar again.  And the time zones.  I’m convinced if I do, it will tell me we are all living in the Twilight Zone.
• Here’s why the NFL’s system is messed up.  A terrible Broncos or Chargers team will make the playoffs while a very good Colts or third-place AFC East team will miss them.  When you divide up the league into small divisions like the ones the NFL has, it makes for terrible playoff games.
• See previous bullet point.  Replace Broncos or Chargers with Bears or Cardinals.  Then replace Colts with Bucs/Falcons and AFC East with NFC East.

There you have it.  My random NFL thoughts.  It’s not John Clayton’s midseason report, but it’s close.  I think I’ll watch the Jets-Patriots game on Thursday night and attempt to enjoy the stretch run of the season.

Scott Wiebe sees the NFL like no one else.  He also sees college football like no one else.  Go to How to Fix College Football for more information.