You’ve got to start making plans now because this NFL season is almost over. Yes, we have the conference championship games this weekend. The Super Bowl is a couple of short weeks after that and then the only thing left is the anemic Pro bowl.
I hate the NFL withdrawals that kick in five minutes after the final whistle of the Pro Bowl. I’ll be jonesing for another 2-minute drill, no huddle offense and a safety blitz before all the suds disappear from my last beer of the game.
I know your all thinking “this is a little premature don’t you think?” And saying, “Hey man chill out we still have a full month worth of real football left.”
You just don’t understand; the down time has to be managed. It’s taken me years to coordinate the proper activities to keep my NFL mind calm and satisfied which allows me to focus on other life necessities (wife, kids, job, eating).
For some of you the season is already over. (Your team didn’t make it to the play-offs and you could care less who is still in it.) The following is my NFL off-season survival list:
1) The first couple of days you can go back and watch all those games that you TIVO’d. You’re going to want to go back and identify the instant, that one play where everything went wrong for your team.
2) When you find that moment you will want to sit down and write the dissertation that you plan on sending to the team’s front office. You ought to know by now that they are not going to hire you for your brilliant analysis but at least they will know that you know how and when things went wrong.
3) Time to break out your ESPN Deluxe DVD Box Edition of the “NFL’s Greatest Games” for review for the next week.**Make note to log on and order the new DVD**
4) Print out the NFL Draft Eligibility List. Make your picks and send those off to your team’s front office. Hell, last year they did actually select one of your suggested players maybe they’ll consider your list a bit more seriously this year.
5) Try to get into basketball, hockey or baseball again (It’s just not the same is it?). This year branch out a bit and watch a soccer game to see if it generates any sense of a fan affiliation
25 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
C Douglas Baker 5 months ago
ha ha ha...nice list Glenn.
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
I've got to keep my self occupied some how. Thanks Doug.
Edit Comment Cancel
thomas moreland 5 months ago
me i have a lot of thought and preparation to picks these games every week. check the lines which helps pick just winners without worrying about the spread. no too many double digit favorites lose very often. so actually it s not so bad. i need a break after each football season to unwind, i make more money a t work not spending so much time on football too. lol. i work on commision sales. i will be playing a bit of golf on sundays through the summer and writing some cool articles about the courses, people and round that i play. i will drop some unneeded pounds in the summer humidity of florida for sure. i will get my game back to a good level im sure. i do some nba and some baseball articles occasionally too. the time flys on by. next season will,be more work as i will pick all games with thre point spread as well as just straight winners, just to see if there is much difference in winning percentage. the gambler s will like me more picking winners against the spread, i get more reads when i get hot, which of course i will! thomas good job glenn! i ll give you a potd tomorrow on this one as i gave todays to daniel for the matt ryan article.
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
Thomas, it seems as if you are one of the lucky few who are not afflicted with this condition.
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
I got to thinking about your comment again. I stopped dead and thought to myself, man I drink way to much beer to do all that math.
Edit Comment Cancel
thomas moreland 5 months ago
lol the tequila slows me down a bit lol
Edit Comment Cancel
TR 5 months ago
Thanks for the tips, Glenn. I could add a couple:
1) Visit Patriot Place in Foxboro and take a stroll down memory lane.
2) It sounds like treason, I know, but I am spending some time right now just experiencing the sense of relaxation that comes with knowing that I don't have to worry about how my team is doing in the playoffs. I really don't give a damn what happens from this point forward. I'm sorry as hell that neither of my teams is still alive, but I'm really happy that Eli Manning is finding out how hard it is to string together back-to-back SBs. I'm gloating a little about that. And I'm sleeping a lot better than I was this time last year. Traitor.
Great read, Glenn, your humor will see you through!
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
And another one who does not suffer from the same affliction that I do.
I like Number 1, I haven't been yet.
I have to say that you sound a whole lot more relaxed today than you have been recently. Reality set in?
Edit Comment Cancel
TR 5 months ago
Oh, I suffer, my friend, I suffer. I just have a great knack for looking at the bright side. Hard to find a bright side in the Patriots' situation, but I really am sleeping better. Yeah, I guess reality has set in. Even my wife says I've been easier to live with the past couple of days.
I'll get all weird again once the SB has come and gone. I'll be lost on Sundays. And on Monday nights, etc. Thankfully, I have ACC basketball to fall back on. All is not well in Chapel Hill, but hey, it's something.
Yes, I suffer.
Edit Comment Cancel
Bing Wang 5 months ago
Haha good list Glenn, it is also best to ease yourself in the offseason. Nothing can match the intensity of rooting for the Patriots, but to drop off completely is too hard so I find it very soothing to root against any teams that are potentially harmful, slowly get into offseason mood (teams such as any Manning team, any other team that won SB this decade, any team that beat us during the season)
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
Anything that keeps my mind occupied. That's good though plotting the down fall of the Manning brothers. Wonder where I can get the Game films?
Edit Comment Cancel
Mary Jo Buchanan 5 months ago
Loved it Glenn....but yes, I've got racing coming up SOON!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
I've started watching the NASCAR community articles. I may soon be educated enough to speak intelligently on the subject. Thanks for dropping in.
Edit Comment Cancel
Dracula's Buttocks has teeth 5 months ago
I've been to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown twice, but have never been to Canton. I've always viewed these kind of things as tourist traps, ....although it is a hell of a lot of fun if you go with your buddies.
I've got some suggestions on what to do with your "down" time:
Write a book, learn to play a musical instrument (or practice the one you already own that's collecting dust in the closet, but never play), join a gym, take some adult education courses, ...yeah, you get the picture.
Or, maybe you can just recommit yourself to following NHL hockey (the greatest sport on earth, ...unless your team is as horrible as my NY Islanders.
I've got countless other suggestions, ...but this is a sports site after all.
P.S. You actually watch the Pro Bowl? I don't think I've seen one since 1977. The drama just isn't the same in a game that's essentially meaningless.
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
I've tried hockey. Been to a few minor league and college games and can not capture the same thrill. It must be from growing up in Ga. The only reason people went to the games for the Atlanta Flames was to get in out of the heat.
I did say the Pro bowl was anemic almost as bad as many of the preseason games are.
Write a book? It's hard enough for me to keep my concentration long enough to write an intelligible article.
I'm sure many of your suggestions can help other readers though, thanks Drac.
Edit Comment Cancel
thomas moreland 5 months ago
ive havn t been to a pro bowl since 1973 when my all star high scool trumpet section was invited to play at halftime lol havnt watced any since. basically a bunch of guys playing tackle football like flag football praying they don t get a career ending injury! they might as well have a bowling tournament!! lol potd today thanks for the read glenn
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
Bowling could surely end somebodies career. I forget who it was but you must remember the guy that blew out his knee just throwing a ball around on the beach. In Bowling some QB is sure to mess up his throwing arm and have to go in for Tommy John surgery. Thanks for the Pick Thomas.
Edit Comment Cancel
S M Napier 5 months ago
Excellent job on this, Glenn. My list would be similar, of course my list has watching the NASCAR races, the Truck Series races and watching Bobby Labonte race. Mine also has the QB situation with the Bears, will they draft a one or sign a free agent. Of course you could add to yours worrying about how Brady's knee is healing during the off-season.
I used to watch the NHL games, but since the strike don't get too watch many games since they aren't on ESPN anymore and working 2nd shift doesn't help since they air them on Versus.
I also watched the NBA playoffs last Spring, partly because of the Celtics and hadn't watched any games for years.
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
SM, at least you have a fall back position. Like I told Mary Jo I think I'll take up some other habits. The wife is going to kill me. Thanks for the pick.
Edit Comment Cancel
Dan Parzych 5 months ago
Awesome list Glenn! I think anybody who loves the NFL would have a good time doing this list
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
Thanks Dan. In a few short weeks and alot of people are going to be stuck in a holding pattern. Just got to find a way to hang on until the Hall of Fame game this year.
Edit Comment Cancel
daniel cox 5 months ago
good list glenn. you really go to canton every year? that's pretty cool.
my off season consist mostly of college basketball. i get into baseball too. so this year we'll see if i can actually write about those topics.
i'll pass on soccer. i gave it an honest try about 4 years ago. couldn't do it. a good friend of mine is a brit with a fake leg (long story) who's hopelessly dedicated to manchester united. i enjoy hearing him talk about the team. the business of soccer is pretty interesting. but i'll stick with what i know. i'm too old to become obsessed with new sports.
my offseason will also consist of a lot of nfl draft study. i'm obsessed with the draft. and of course there's free agency. can't forget about that.
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
That's my satirical side kicking in again. My real "to do" list is much too long after the football season. Somehow i knew you'd be a draft junkie. I just posted a humor article on soccer just to keep busy.
Edit Comment Cancel
William Berry 5 months ago
I just hunker down in a hollow log until August. Why hibernate in winter?
Edit Comment Cancel
Glenn Card 5 months ago
That's where you must get your article ideas, while your in REM.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.