Greetings Rubes!  So nice to be back.

Now that an appropriate amount has passed for mourning my Steelers Super Bowl loss, I will give mass props to the Green Bay Packers on winning this years game.  Not much analysis needed...two pretty even teams played and the Steelers made far too may mistakes (penalties, turnovers) to overcome, and the Pack took full advantage.  I think this year, perhaps more than ever, former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle's "Parity" dream has come to complete fruition:  A 10-win 6-loss 6-seed with no running game runs the table, on the road, and wins the Super Bowl.  They just rode QB Aaron Rodgers (who was fantastic) and won the whole she-bang.  (Reluctant) Mass props.

Former Cretin-Durham WR and current Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd was arrested for DUI for the 2nd time in 15 months.

Former Twins 2B Luis Castillo has been released by the New York Mets, and subsequently claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies.  The Mets are still on the hook for Castillo's $6 million salary.

Regarding the NFL's current lockout situation let me say this:  Institute a rookie-wage/salary cap, dump the 18-game schedule and get on with it.  You're all millionaires, stop acting like buffoons and sign a deal.

However, if this thing drags on past the NFL Draft, that really screws things up because, normally, you would fill holes with free agents first, and then supplement with the draft.  If this goes on until the summer (or whenever), it will be the other way around?  Along those lines, the Vikings did not tender QB Tarvaris Jackson, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent whenever this thing gets settled and will likely be elsewhere next season.  Well, you know what?.....when I look at this list of free-agent QBs out there:

Kyle Boller (Oakland), Todd Bouman (Jacksonville), Marc Bulger (Baltimore), Kerry Collins (Tennessee), Kellen Clemens (Jets), Todd Collins (Chicago), Brodie Croyle (Kansas City), Charlie Frye (Oakland), Rex Grossman (Washington), Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle), Tavaris Jackson (Minnesota), Matt Leinart (Houston), J.P. Losman (Seattle), Luke McCown (Jacksonville), J.T. O’Sullivan (Oakland), Chad Pennington (Miami), Patrick Ramsey (Minnesota), Chris Simms (Tennessee), Alex Smith (San Francisco), Jim Sorgi (Giants), Brian St. Pierre (Carolina). Billy Volek (San Diego)............I would take Jackson over any of these guys.  Maybe that's the homer in me,...but I would.