NFL Lockout: Teams, People, and Fanbases Hurt Most by Loss of 2011 Season

Even though I prefer college football to its professional counterpart, I will absolutely be livid if I lose the NFL from my Sundays this fall. I take great pleasure in immersing myself in football from the end of August to Super Bowl Sunday.

While Pac-12 (that doesn't sound right) commissioner Larry Scott is trying to preserve my sanity with his idea of spreading college football over both Saturday and Sunday, I am a realist, and I know full well there aren't enough good games in any given week to keep me satisfied for 48 hours.

Not to mention that I still lose Monday Night Football.

While I fear for what I might do from my resultant psychosis engendered from a lack of NFL football, I am equally worried for the sake of others.

Though I don't foresee the crime wive that Ray Lewis has predicted, I could easily see a subsequent spike in the national divorce rate, as unsuspecting American wives make one too many comments to the tune of "thank God I don't have to watch football four days a week anymore!"

With that in mind, here are the people, places, and things that will be most harshly affected by a lack of NFL Football in 2011.

Green Bay Packers' Fans

For the less football-inclined residents of Madison, Racine, and the like, a possible playoff run for the Milwaukee Brewers and the distraction of a likely top-10 Bret Bielema-led Wisconsin Badgers team might be enough to get by.

But for the good people of Green Bay, and the many avid fans throughout the Badger State, (those nuts who go shirtless to games when it's 10-below) the loss of their Packers' season would be as devastating as the deterioration of the dairy industry.

I could easily see a spike in alcoholism in Titletown, if for no other reason than to stay warm. Window scrapers, normally reserved for making their cars driveable in the winter months (September-June), would be reallocated for scraping the frozen tears off their faces.

The Packers are the defending Super Bowl Champs. Any fan knows that the best season is the one following a championship. I would not take that away from any fan base, let alone the most devoted one in the NFL.

Brett Favre

I'm sure this lockout is really making it hard for Favre to decide when to flirt with the idea of returning for the umpteenth time.

Normally, with the fixed dates of summer practices, training camp, and later the preseason games, Favre could calculate the perfect time (when NFL news is at a lull) to thrust himself back in the spotlight, and to return to football without being inconvenienced by all those offseason workouts.

But with the uncertainty about this season, Favre may not get the chance to hint at or attempt another comeback. He may have to resort to finding another Farrelly brothers cameo or increasing his Wrangler Jeans spots in order to keep himself busy.

Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the Ever-Aging Baltimore Ravens

Despite their youth at a few positions (I'm looking at you, Joe Flacco), the Ravens have a plethora of old players who, despite still playing at a high level, have limited time left in the NFL.

Ray Lewis is a 15-year veteran. Derrick Mason has 14 years under his belt. Todd Heap, Anquan Boldin, Kelly Gregg and Terrell Suggs are all getting up there too, and though Ed Reed is not particularly old for a defensive back, he has been nagged by injuries and spoken of retirement.

Though none of these guys have the appearance of a player who only has one year left, none of them have the youth to lose a year without caring, either.

I can understand why Ray Lewis is pulling out all the stops, predicting the impending crime wave. His NFL twilight is upon him, and he needs every game he can get.

The Detroit Lions...and Their Fans

The Lions are a trendy pick for the surprise playoff team of 2011. After the mistakes of Matt Millen (how many receivers do you need?) Martin Mayhew has facilitated two consecutive successful drafts, and the Lions are flooded with young talent.

Though the record didn't reflect it, the Lions played well last season, and were competitive in just about every game. They had the Patriots on the ropes, and they would have beaten the Bears if it weren't for a ridiculous rule and subsequent call.

For obvious reasons, young players need practice more than veterans. The Lions have many young guys who need time to mesh with each other and learn the nuances of the game. Moreover, with all of his injuries, Matt Stafford hasn't had ample time to work out with his offense.

Everyone knows that Detroit has had it rough as of late, what with the struggle of the auto industry. There's no need to add a loss of football to the mix, especially at a time when the normally woeful Lions look poised to return to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Roger Goodell

The NFL Commissioner, though not really responsible for the lockout, will get blamed for any negative ramifications it has, especially the prevention or delay of the season.

The regular season hasn't been disrupted since 1987, and the NFL has grown immensely in popularity since then, becoming the top producing sport in the country.

Many people depend on NFL football, both for jobs and a necessary distraction from their boring lives. Be it wrong or right, the man at the top accepts a certain amount of blame for any disruptions in his organization, no matter what his level of control over the situation.

Goodell, who has worked tirelessly to improve the game and overall done his job very well, doesn't want a missed season to be his legacy.

Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers

A new coach needs time to work with his players, work with his assistants, develop a team identity.

This lockout has come at the most inopportune time for the 49ers. Harbaugh left for the NFL six months ago, and since then has found himself unable to do his job.

The 49ers overall have lacked an identity as of late, struggling to find a franchise quarterback, and falling apart last season when playoff expectations were prominent. San Francisco desperately needs this season to try and put the pieces back together.

Of the two Stanford stars that arose last year, it's looking like Art Vandelay...I mean Andrew Luck, made the right decision.

Oakland Raiders...and Their Fans

The Raiders had a pretty good season last year, dominating the division, but acquiring the sad distinction of the only NFL team to go undefeated in their division and miss the playoffs.

Like their neighbors across the bay, the Raiders have a lot of young talent that needs time to grow and come together.

With the departure of Nnamdi Asomugha, they will have need to develop solid cornerback play, and it's still left to be seen if Jason Campbell can successfully run the offense.

On the bright side, Raiders fans can rest assured that during the lockout, owner Al Davis will be prevented from doing anything crazy or stupid, though at this point I wouldn't be surprised if he moved the team to Vermont overnight.

Pittsburgh Steelers Fans

Hockey's over, the Pirates might not make the playoffs, and thus without football Pittsburgh fans won't have anything to distract them from the ever increasing smog cloud that hovers about the Steel City. For now, they'll have to settle for trying to enter coach Mike Tomlin into an Omar Epps lookalike contest.

Pittsburgh fans are some of the most devoted in the country, and I don't want to imagine what would happen to the steel industry if we make them angry. Moreover, I fear for the stability of whatever company produces those terrible towels (Bounty?) if there's no season.

Everyone knows that idle hands do the devil's work. Pittsburgh fans can only hope Ben Roethlisberger gets a football back in his soon, as his offseasons have only been rivaled by Adam "Pacman" Jones in number of unfortunate storylines.