Unlocked?

In scanning the headlines on NFL.com to get all the first-round draft news (Did Atlanta really trade five picks to draft a wide receiver? What was their GM smoking?) I came across this nugget... "Doors Open Friday."

Seems that the league and it's Clueless Commissioner have decided -- for the moment -- to take the judge's injunction against their lockout seriously and let the players come back to work. That's a positive sign. Players can work out at team facilities, get medical treatment, talk to their coaches. Even shop at Patriot Place. So great. Starting Monday it's believed that teams will even be able to sign free agents and plan for minicamps and do all that other fun offseason stuff.

But don't let Roger Goodell fool you. It's just another PR move in a series of PR moves. The fact that it was announced quietly while the league was holding its big draft party in NYC shows just how serious the owners are about moving forward with the season. Not very. The NFL continues its battle in court and is hoping to have the injunction overturned and the locks put back on the stadiums.

As Goodell, who will one day be known as the man who ruined the NFL, said yesterday: "I think the litigation, unfortunately, could go on for some period of time." Long enough to kill the 2011 season if they don't smarten up.

Brady v. National Football League

Well, we all saw this coming.

The NFL's owners and players -- and the somewhat shockingly clueless commissioner -- drew their line in the FieldTurf last night and put the 2011 season and both parties' incredibly fat cash cow in jeopardy.

No pro football season? Hmmm... I'll check back in with the Pats and the NFL after March Madness, Seger in Atlantic City, buying and moving to a house back in the city, the Masters, my 30th high school reunion, the Bruins and Celts playoffs, my daughter's college graduation, the promising Sox season, a week up in Maine, a week on the Cape... etc.

No NFL? Life goes on. Hear that Goodell? Hear that Kraft? If a 20-year season ticket holder who bothers to waste his time blogging about the experience has a take-it-or-leave-it attitude you might want to think twice about killing this season. You listening Mr. Ponytail? Mr. Mankins? Mr. Manning? See "baseball, strike of 1981." ESPN's Howard Bryant has an excellent column today that shares the same sentiment.

Don't get me wrong. I want the NFL to keep on rolling just as it is now. I would miss it. Tailgating at Gillette this last season was one of the best years ever. I would miss watching to see if Belichick and Brady can get that fourth Lombardi. I would miss rooting for my favorite team. I would miss the months of meat and cocktails consumed in the cold. But mostly I would miss the chance to spend some Sundays with a great group of longtime friends.

It's hard to even listen to the rhetoric coming from boths sides as the rights of teachers and firefighters are under attack in Wisconsin and elsewhere. The owners (Goodell) finally backed off the ridiculous 18-game schedule proposal and offered improvements on the most important issue facing the game -- players' health and longterm medical care. The players said they were willing to make serious financial concessions as long as they got a good long look at the teams' books. The players sued (in what will be known as Brady v. NFL because his name is alphabetically first on the suit) and the owners locked them out. Whatever. Just work it out and get back to making a lot of money and providing entertainment and distraction.

The NFL is like "The Sopranos," "The Wire," "Band of Brothers." I really looked forward to watching them every week for a few months each year. They were riveting drama mixed with brilliant humor. And I was a little bummed when they ended. But there are always things to do that don't involve watching TV. And every now and then I can pop a DVD in and watch an old episode. I have some 300 Pats games on tape. I can always watch one of those whenever I need a football fix. And the Pats will always win. And I can get some stuff done in the fall.

You listening Mr. Kraft?

This one goes to 16

The NFL owners have had a busy off-season so far. First they changed the rules for overtime games in the playoffs. (Yesterday they decided not to change the rules in the regular season as well). They decided to play a Super Bowl in New Jersey in 2014. They continued to move towards labor talks with the players to see what they can do about this "Final League Year" thing. And they spent a lot of time talking about expanding the regular season from 16 games to 18.

A Super Bowl next to Manhattan, a fairer OT system, a plan for labor peace. They all seem like very sound decisions by the league that leads pro sports in very sound decisions. But when they starting talking about playing two more regular season games, as a nearly 20-year season ticket holder I have to say, simply, DON"T DO IT!!

The dreaded 18-game regular season continues to gain momentum. Funny thing is I have yet to meet a fan who thinks it's a good idea. The players seem to be against. So do the coaches. Even Roger Goodell, when he's promoting the concept, has a hard time coming up with positives. I've yet to read a story that explains why it would be good and the few I have read, well let's just say the writers didn't sound like they have done much tailgating.

So why is an idea that seems to be largely unpopular not only breathing but getting stronger? It all started because the media began complaining -- on behalf of the fans they said -- that charging season-ticket holders full-price for two preseason home games was an outrage. That's certainly an easy complaint to make. But as someone who's been paying for preseason games for many years it's not that big a deal. Ideally I think preseason games should not be force fed to season-ticket holders but made available to the rest of the fan base for between $35 and $65. That would be a great deal for people who don't usually get to go to the stadium and see a game. I think people would snap those tickets up. I know I would.

Yes, yes. That would be a loss of income for NFL teams so it won't happen. But it would be a worthwhile cost. A great PR move that would solve a perceived problem.

Why would people want to go to a preseason game if Tom Brady was going to only be in for four or seven or ten plays? Because it's fun. Different than a regular season game of course. But still fun. You get the spectacle of the stadium. The weather is usual very warm. (Football in shorts: the best). All the players are there whether they are playing or not so at least you can watch Tom and Randy hanging out with their helmets off. You get to check out rookies and free agents to see how they fit in. You get to watch players compete for key spots. You get to see the team try new formations and plays. If you enjoy pro football you can find lots of things to like about preseason games. I won't even get into fantasy football lovers getting a chance to do some scouting in person.

I've always thought four preseason games was a perfect number. For years it was. Now it seems it is two too many. "It's clear the fans don't want four preseason games," the commissioner said the other day. It is? Here's one fan that doesn't feel that way. Seems to me that four preseason games -- two at home, two on the road -- is just right.

Everyone knows how the preseason plays out. The first game is the warm-up game to get the rust off. Is that exciting to watch? Not usually. But whether you have four preseason games or two or eight the first one will always be the warm-up game. The second game is when players take what is happening in training camp and sharpening it at game speed. This is the game when a rookie or role player has a chance to step forward and stake a claim for a starting role. The third game is the simulated real game. The starters get most of the snaps. The action is close to regular season level. The teams want a victory to build some momentum for the season. The fourth game -- the one season-ticket holders have the hardest time moving -- is the extra game. Starters almost never play. The key is to get through it healthy. The fourth game is also the game in which the ten or so players battling for the last five or six spots on the team get a last chance to make an impression. For that reason it's actually one of the key moments in the preseason for the team. Depth is almost as important as talent in the NFL.

If you look at the first week of the NFL you will see some great games. Many players are already in regular season form. The pace is high right out of the gate. Why? Four preseason games. It gets the teams ready. Would I rather watch four preseason games and 16 very good regular season games or two preseason games, two mediocre regular season games, and then 16 very good games? What the heck's the difference? Just because you call a game in the middle of August a regular season game doesn't mean it is one.

The players worry about increased injury risk. They should be. The coaches worry about the longer season grinding their teams down. Another legitimate concern. I worry that what is currently a near-perfect sporting experience will begin to get watered down. Sixteen games works best for a 32-team league. It has created great division battles and rivalries. To dredge up one of the oldest cliches around: More is not always better.