NFL Lockout Video: Watch NFL Players Thank Fans for Support

The NFL lockout may have been one of the most emotional times in the history of our lives—perhaps even the history of mankind.

The looming threat, day in and day out, that we might be without our beloved football literally brought many to tears. It haunted our sleep each and every night. We had to change our sheets every morning after waking in a pool of sweat from the fear that the lockout would cost us the 2011 NFL season.

No matter what, though, fans across the world continued to pray that the lockout would eventually be lifted. We supported whichever side would bring us football and, above all, supported those who were affected by the lockout, from owners to players to employees to consumers.

We rejoiced when the lockout was lifted yesterday, and are now preparing for the free-agent frenzy that will consume our lives. We can all expect those dreaded sleepless nights to continue, as we anticipate who our favorite teams will cut and which free agents they will sign to bring them closer to a Super Bowl championship.

We’re dedicated to our football and the NFL players know that, which is why they dedicated this video to us, the fans, thanking us for our continued support.

This is a great gesture by the NFL Players Association, but couldn’t we at least get some respectable players in this video?!

I thought we were going to see the best of the best when my 2010 fantasy tight end, Jason Witten, started the video thanking me for my support. No, Jason, thank you for last season.

I’m glad we were able to see the timeless Takeo Spikes, and the radiant Rashean Mathis, too, but come on guys, Coy Wire and Adam Goldberg? Robbie Gould, a kicker? A kicker?! Puh-lease!

I’m also glad they put their names underneath, because I could have sworn it was ESPN’s Michael Wilbon thanking me when Indianapolis’ Gary Brackett got on the screen.

Seriously, though, this was nice to see. Fans didn’t lose anything from this lockout. In fact, I’d argue we gained a lot from the lockout, because this free-agency period is going to be more exciting than any free-agent period in league history.

The lockout helped us appreciate the sport that much more, but we still had to put up with all of the legalities and nonsense flooding our television screens for the past few months.

Now it’s time to see some acrobatic catches, powerful runs, pinpoint-accurate passes and bone-crunching hits. On behalf of the fans, thank you for making sure we got our football on time.

As Mathis said, “Let’s get the ball rolling.”