Back from the Abyss that is the NFL Off-Season…

I go through this every off-season. I say to myself, “Self? This is the year that you are going to be all about the NFL all off-season long. You are going to be diligent about getting your columns out there, and you are going to TRY to enjoy the draft.”

But you know what?

I didn’t. Not even close. In fact, this year, I stayed away from the NFL for a good period of time and turned my sporting focus to other arenas, literally. I entered an NBA fantasy draft. I ran an NCAA office pool (which I won of course, what a coincidence). I tuned into more golf. I hit 49ersparadise or NFL.com less often then I ever had. And you know why?

I was satisfied. I was full. I was happy with the past NFL season and that was enough to carry me through for a good length of time.

It was like I just ate a massive Thanksgiving dinner at my Mother’s place and had retired to the living room, remote in hand, and top button un-bottoned.

It was nice. It was comfortable.

Now you may wonder how someone like myself (a self-proclaimed Niner die-hard) could be so bold as to make such statements, seeing as how so many of my fellow die-hards had been keeping the fire stoked all off-season long, staying current on the Niners since the last tick of the SuperBowl. You may also wonder why I would be so satisfied, seeing as how my beloved Niners did not win it all this year. You may also wonder why I am telling you this now.

Well readers, the reason I am bold enough to make statements such as these is because, dammit, I am a loyal fan, and everyone knows it. Far be it for anyone to ever call me a fair-weather fan. I am a great fan, and I challenge anyone out there to call me a bandwagon jumper. Now the reason I tell you that I was satisfied enough to take a long sabbatical from reading and writing about the NFL is because the Niners did more than anyone, including this die-hard, thought they would this season. I mean, this team was two years removed from a 4-12 disaster for cryin’ out loud! For the Niners to explode to a 12-4 record last season was a welcome change, and although we did not get past the Packers in the 1st round of the playoffs, the regular season alone was enough to make this fan happy and carry me through the humdrum monotony that is the off-season.

Think about it Niner fans, were you NOT satisfied with this past season, after the two horrific years that we suffered through before that? I know I was. Now if you weren’t, then one of two things has to happen:

1) You need to give this team a break. I mean, lofty expecations are one thing, but expecting a completely different team to dominate a game in a completely different era is insanity. Really, it is. You are probably the same fans who call for Mooch’s head when he makes a decision that is questionable. Lighten up.

2) Sit down, relax, and take yourself back to 1998, try to remember that feeling you got when you saw Stevie Young get clobbered in that game vs. the Cards. Remember that feeling? Remember how low that was? Remember the dread? The horror? The trepidation? (I think you get the picture) Now think of how good it felt to see the Niners race out to a solid record this year and how exciting it was to see them tied for the division lead again. If you do that, I think you will see why I was so satisfied.

Now maybe I am being a little harsh here, maybe a little too dramatic, but hey, I think I am allowed some leeway here people, seeing as how this off-season is finally coming to a merciful end.

Why am I telling you all of this now? Well, even though this may have been my most uninformed and least attentive off-season, you will all be relieved to know that all of that has come to an end, and as many others around the world are, I am looking forward to another great season of NFL and 49ers football.

However, even though I am looking forward to this season, after my comfortable hiatus, be forewarned, if this 49ers season ends with anything less than at least one playoff win, I will not be satisfied at all. In fact, I don’t think anyone will be.

Until Next Time…