It's Draft Time (Yawn)!

With the 17 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select...Richard Seymour.

How Ironic

Is it just me, or is there some irony in the NFL going all out to promote the unveiling of the 2011 schedule tonight--when they can't even tell us if there's going to be a season or not?

That said, I'm excited to see how the Raiders' schedule stacks up, and who we'll be facing (ostensibly) in Week One. There are some tough opponents on tap, including the Packers, Patriots, Jets and Bears. Should be interesting!

The First Offseason in Ages

Well, one thing we've learned during this infamously quiet "offseason" is that Viagra is apparently a better performance enhancer than Purple Drank.

Hmmm...What else? How about those Red Sox? I can't believe that the NFL is testing the patience of fans at the very zenith of its popularity.

I know the draft is coming up, and technically there's no reason not to be as excited as always, but there's just not a lot of wind in my football sails right now. I don't feel betrayed as much as disinterested. That's quite a feat by the NFL, considering my passion for the Raiders and for professional football.

The genius of the NFL over the past 10 or so years is that they essentially eliminated the "offseason." The NFL managed to cultivate a 12-month entertainment cycle. Not this year. They've brought back the "offseason," and if they're not careful, it's going to bite them in the ass.

Anyhow, the Raiders announced a new iPhone app, which sounds pretty cool. Michael Huff might want to trade his pirate for a star.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the NFL action right now is taking place in a courtroom. Let's hope they get their priorities straight before they do some real damage to the sport. Maybe they should call Mr. Davis, he knows how to knock heads and get things done.