Like most of you, I endured the lockout with equal parts skepticism and hope. I was left wondering when it would end and hope that we would get the full slate of games to occupy our Sundays, Mondays, and occasional Thursdays. Like a lot of folks here at MHR, that hope and skepticism turned to anger at the billionaire owners and millionaire players as the lockout slowly crept past one hundred days. I heard vows to not watch a single game after the lockout. I admit at the time, that thought was very tempting.

Finally, towards the end of last week, the deal is struck and the lockout is dead. I am left wondering where all those fans are that vowed to "not watch a single" game have ended up? I know where I ended up; glued to a computer either at work or at home. I have watched everything unfold during my beloved Broncos free agency period, digested everything that is out there on training camp performances. I hoped and prayed for some stellar free agency moves that would help vault my team out of the cellar. With every move I read about, I became more and more intrigued. The thought came to me that it has been about a week and all I really want to do is find out what happens next? In my thirty plus years of being a fan; I have never been this involved with what occurs before the regular season even opens. I am all of a sudden a born again fanatic!
 
Yet another thought has crossed my mind, I know I can't be the only one in this predicament. There has to be others out there that are near the point of starting a twelve step program just to cope. There are others out there that still aren't getting enough news in this so called "frenzied" free agency period. I know there are people out there that are dying to watch their first preseason action! I know I am not the only one who has September 12 boldly circled on my calendar and planning for a potential sick day on September 13. There has to be others out there, just like me.
 
Now, I am not one to put much stock in conspiracy theories. I believe that Oswald acted alone and 9/11 definitely was not an inside job. But, I am starting to think the whole lockout debacle was a calculated ploy to to revive the declining revenues of preseason games. It is a logical move since the owners could not implement the eighteen regular and two preseason game format without a total revolt from the players. I am willing to bet they do see a spike in revenues this preseason, especially if there are more fiends out there like me. The NFL has us right where they want us, hooked and willing to fork out large amounts of disposable and not so disposable income to get our fix. Where is a good twelve step program when you need one?