The Saints’ victory tonight in Super Bowl XLIV leaves just four teams (out of 32) who have not participated in any of the NFL’s first 44 Super Bowls.

The Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars at least have an excuse as expansion franchises, but long-suffering fans of the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions have to look at the celebration tonight in Miami (and on Bourbon Street) and wonder when – if ever – they will experience the opportunity to erase years of ignominy.

Drew Brees, Super Bowl XLIV MVP

But that’s for another day.  The Saints are the “Aints” no more.  And Mardi Gras might just be only the second-biggest party in Louisiana this February.

Whatever happens, expect to see the Dallas Cowboys continue on to the NFC Championship after handling the Minnesota Vikings.  Find that to be a dubious supposition?  History says otherwise.

Just check out this column from Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News that should give pause to anyone expecting Brett Favre to have a big day on Sunday. 

With a history of failure against the Cowboys and Dallas head coach Wade Phillips, Favre is the wrong quarterback at the wrong time in this particular matchup.

Vikings fans, consider yourselves warned.

But that is exactly what the Pro Football Hall of Fame has done this season with its Bronze Bust Collector Cards.

Now, granted, only 150 of these “limited-edition” sets are available.  And the set looks like a fine addition (or gift) for the avid NFL fan.

This is it. The most exclusive card collection ever offered by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Showcasing every legendary member of the Hall, it will be coveted by every serious fan of the game.

But $5,000?  Maybe I’m out of touch, but that seems a little steep, no?

Hopefully, the ultimate owners of these sets have a good backup plan if this investment strategy doesn’t pan out quite like they expected.

At least the collection should make a good conversation piece.  Even with the hard-to-swallow price tag.

One of the most notable in recent years is the Oakland Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell.  Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post just dedicated an entire column to Russell in which he compares him unfavorably to Ryan Leaf and Tony Mandarich on the short list of “the biggest draft mistakes in NFL history.”

JaMarcus Russell

Of course, it would be one thing for a team to miss on a player every now and then.  Every team in the league has been there – it’s the nature of the scouting game.

But when you read the specifics of the financial commitment that the Raiders made to Russell, it will simply make your jaw drop.

When you consider what this 2007 #1 overall draft pick has done in his career to date – or rather, what he has not done or even shown a hint of being able to do in the future – it’s impossible to come to any conclusion other than the fact that the current system is ridiculous. 

That is not the Raiders fault – any team in the same position would have had very little alternative but to offer the same deal.

But, if this doesn’t get fixed soon, teams may just someday abdicate their top picks so as not to be on the hook to such a degree for unknown professional quantities like Russell who hit the lottery by shining in their college days. 

As for Russell himself, Brandt says it best when he notes that “it’s hard to believe there’s ever been so much paid for so little.”  With the amount of money being discussed here – $39.4 million – one could make the argument that the statement actually transcends football. 

Stupid money.  And, for the NFL’s sake, let’s hope Russell becomes the poster child for change.

Tim “Barrel Man” McKernan has passed away at the age of 69.

Tim "Barrel Man" McKernan

One of the best known “superfans” in the world of sports, McKernan missed only four Denver Bronco games from 1967-2007, when the barrel was formally retired due to McKernan’s health issues.

Sure, the idea of a grown man attending football games in little more than a barrel and suspenders is crazy.  And, yes, only a certain few would ever don the barrel on a dare – as McKernan first did in 1977 – much less spend 30 years in such a get-up. 

But there is no denying that the passion of Barrel Man and others like him personifies the rabid interest that the NFL has maintained in ascending to the throne of American professional sports. 

In fact, Barrel Man is likely the second person most outside of Denver think of when the Broncos come to mind.  Only John Elway has more instant recognition as the face of the team. 

And that is because, even if we would never dream of painting our faces or wearing barrels, NFL fans feel the passion for their teams that Barrel Man brought to life in a literal – and bizarre – fashion.

His grandkids grew up “knowing grandpa in the barrel” and we knew Barrel Man as a breed of fan who could never get enough of those 16 NFL Sundays in the fall rooting for his team.

For an in-depth profile of Barrel Man, check out this 2006 interview with CBS4 This Morning anchor Brooke Wagner from her weekly interview series, Breakfast With Brooke.

Good stuff that gives you a little more insight into McKernan, who comes off as a regular guy – which you would expect from a former United Airlines mechanic.

The Broncos will be trying to win one for Barrel Man – not to mention their playoff lives – tomorrow against the Kansas City Chiefs.

But, guess what?  As Clark Judge of CBSSports.com postulates, Favre is right in it along with Peyton Manning and Drew Brees in what he calls a “three-headed MVP race”.

Peter King of SI.com has a vote and he has the same three atop his current list of MVP candidates.

Bottom line is that this has been a fantastic year for offensive football, with Philip Rivers and Chris Johnson sneaking into the discussion as well.  The voting takes place before the playoffs, which is really a shame, because to separate this group of players, you almost need to see who takes his team the farthest. 

Either way, the next two months of football are lining up to be a competition for the ages.  My guess is that if either Brees or Manning keep their teams undefeated to the end of the regular season, the MVP title will be theirs.  Should they both manage to do it, flip a coin.  And if both fall short, it just might be old man Favre winning MVP #4.

Not sure?  Well, the Tennessee Titans featured back is destroying the record book and appears likely to become just the 6th in NFL history to reach the vaunted 2,000-yard single-season rushing mark.

Chris Johnson has been outrunning everyone this season

Dan Daly of The Washington Times has a great feature on Johnson, a late first-round pick out of East Carolina who some scouts had projected as a wide receiver. 

At age 24, Johnson is just getting started.  Don’t forget the name.

Hope you enjoyed that timeless Thanksgiving tradition.  You know – watching the Detroit Lions lose yet another nationally televised turkey bowl.

This year’s affair – a 34-12 loss to the Green Bay Packers – makes it 6 straight losses for the Lions on one of the nation’s most cherished holidays.  Oh, the humanity!

Why do the Lions have this game anyway?  The Mitchell & Ness blog has all the scoop on this 75-year tradition here.

There has actually been quite the backlash building lately from the masses tired of watching yet another Lions’ blowout loss before feasting on their turkey and stuffing.

Taking the opposite view, Michael Rosenberg of SI.com makes a passionate plea for the masses to leave his annual Lions’ game alone.

Me, I’m ambivalent, I guess.  There is an outside chance that the Lions could someday be relevant again.  OK, scratch that.

But, still – in a league (and world) devoid of so many long-lost traditions, I say let Detroit have its game.  The good people of Michigan don’t have much to cling to anymore.

Losing the Thanksgiving Day tradition of watching their Lions lose would truly be the final indignation.

How can you not love this?  Even if you’re not a fan of these teams.  Every game matters.  And there are only 127 regular-season games left on the calendar.  That’s crazy.

What’s not so crazy is the way that the season has played out so far.  You might even go so far as to say it’s been predictable.  At least as far as wins and losses go, that is.

This being the midseason point, many prognosticators have offered up their midseason analysis.  I could choose anybody, but I’ll stick with tried-and-true John Clayton of ESPN, who is mercifully no longer engaged in useless faux arguments with the now-departed Sean Salisbury, and whose team grades are representative of those who are best able to gauge the importance of the events of the first half of the season. 

For his full midseason recap, click here.

Now, what is most interesting is that I have matched his grade up alongside every team’s record over the last 4 1/2 seasons.  What makes that number meaningful?  Well, at one time there was such a thing as a 5-year plan when it came to putting together a successful sports franchise.  Those days may be gone in this age of instant gratification, but the time period remains valid as a way to study success (or lack of it) over a fair period of competition.

And this is where the results of this season show some basic predictive measures, based upon previous performance.

I’ve grouped the HAVES and the HAVE-NOTS.  Simply, the HAVES achieved a record of .500 or better since the beginning of the 2005 season and the HAVE-NOTS have not.  Get it?  Good. 

The chart below lists every team in the NFL, from top to bottom, with records from the last 5 seasons and playoff seasons marked with an asterisk. 

(2009 midseason grade) / team / 2009 record / 2008 record / 2007 record / 2006 record / 2005 record / (overall record) / (playoff apps.)

HAVES

(A) Indianapolis 8-0, 12-4*, 13-3*, 12-4*, 14-2* (59-13) (4)
(B) New England 6-2, 11-5, 16-0*, 12-4*, 10-6* (55-17) (3)
(A-) Pittsburgh 6-2, 12-4*, 10-6*, 8-8, 11-5* (47-25) (3)
(B-) San Diego 5-3, 8-8*, 11-5*, 14-2*, 9-7 (47-25) (3)
(A-) Dallas 6-2, 9-7, 13-3*, 9-7*, 9-7 (46-26) (2)
(C) New York Giants 5-4, 12-4*, 10-6*, 8-8*, 11-5* (46-27) (4)
(D) Chicago 4-4, 9-7, 7-9, 13-3*, 11-5* (44-28) (2)
(A) Denver 6-2, 8-8, 7-9, 9-7, 13-3* (43-29) (1)
(C) Carolina 3-5, 12-4*, 7-9, 8-8, 11-5* (41-31) (2)
(B) Jacksonville 4-4, 5-11, 11-5*, 8-8, 12-4* (40-32) (2)
(A) Minnesota 7-1, 10-6*, 8-8, 6-10, 9-7 (40-32) (1)
(C) Baltimore 4-4, 11-5*, 5-11, 13-3*, 6-10 (39-33) (2)
(C) Seattle 3-5, 4-12, 10-6*, 9-7*, 13-3* (39-33) (3)
(B) Philadelphia 5-3, 9-6-1*, 8-8, 10-6*, 6-10 (38-33-1) (2)
(D) Tennessee 2-6, 13-3*, 10-6*, 8-8, 4-12 (37-35) (2)
(A+) Cincinnati 6-2, 4-11-1, 7-9, 8-8, 11-5* (36-35-1) (1)
(A+) New Orleans 8-0, 8-8, 7-9, 10-6*, 3-13 (36-36) (1)

HAVE-NOTS

(B) Atlanta 5-3, 11-5*, 4-12, 7-9, 8-8 (35-37) (1)
(C) Green Bay 4-4, 6-10, 13-3*, 8-8, 4-12 (35-37) (1)
(F) Tampa Bay 1-7, 9-7, 9-7*, 4-12, 11-5* (34-38) (2)
(D-) Washington 2-6, 8-8, 9-7*, 5-11, 10-6* (34-38) (2)
(B) Arizona 5-3, 9-7*, 8-8, 5-11, 5-11 (32-40) (1)
(C+) New York Jets 4-4, 9-7, 4-12, 10-6*, 4-12 (31-41) (1)
(B-) Miami 3-5, 11-5*, 1-15, 6-10, 9-7 (30-42) (1)
(D) Buffalo 3-5, 7-9, 7-9, 7-9, 5-11 (29-43) (0)
(B) Houston 5-4, 8-8, 8-8, 6-10, 2-14 (29-44) (0)
(F) Kansas City 1-7, 2-14, 4-12, 9-7*, 10-6 (26-46) (1)
(B) San Francisco 3-5, 7-9, 5-11, 7-9, 4-12 (26-46) (0)
(F) Cleveland 1-7, 4-12, 10-6, 4-12, 6-10 (25-47) (0)
(C-) St. Louis 1-7, 2-14, 3-13, 8-8, 6-10 (20-52) (0)
(D) Oakland 2-6, 5-11, 4-12, 2-14, 4-12 (17-55) (0)
(C-) Detroit 1-7, 0-16, 7-9, 3-13, 5-11 (16-56) (0)

Now note that only two teams in the HAVES (again, those with records of .500 or better over the last 4 1/2 seasons) are graded below-average.  That would be the aforementioned Bears and the Tennessee Titans, who inexplicably went from having the best record in the NFL in 2008 to starting the 2009 season with 6 consecutive losses.

Likewise, a majority of the HAVE-NOTS are not able to break out with above-average grades in 2009.  The short list (at least, according to Clayton) includes Atlanta, Arizona, Miami, Houston, and the also-aforementioned 49ers.  I personally would question the inclusion of Miami and San Francisco, but let’s not split hairs.

Even with the two borderline cases included, that still acounts for only 7 teams (or less than 25% of the league) who have performed outside of their category this season when based on cumulative records from 2005-09. 

And, in the all-important playoff appearance category, the HAVES outnumber the HAVE-NOTS by a wide 38 to 10 margin coming into this season.  That doesn’t sound much like parity to me and the gap is destined to widen once this season’s playoff berths are awarded.

So, what does this means for fans of the HAVE-NOTS?  Well, the way I see it, the teams in the HAVE-NOTS really occupy two categories themselves.

There are those that are horrifically bad (i.e. Oakland, Cleveland, and Detroit) whose fans know that the playoffs are but a pipe-dream when training camp kicks off in late July. 

And there are those that tease their fans every year with the promise that things will be different and very little evidence in the end that it will. 

There’s a good reason why the entire group of HAVE-NOTS had won just two playoff games combined before Arizona’s unlikely rise to the Super Bowl last season.  These franchises just aren’t very good right now.

Things can change.  Arizona proved it last year and appears to be on its way to showing it again.  But change doesn’t come easy.  And, for the HAVE-NOTS, rolling out the same management team every year is the quickest way to ensure that it won’t come at all.

As a fan, you can expect a change in results if you dare.  But the numbers here don’t lie.  It’s going to be a long second half of the season for the teams who have had it the worst for far too long.  Salvation lies ahead in the off-season, but only if these teams are willing to embrace significant change.

Finally, as a note of thanks, I must point out that the greatest reference site on the web for all things NFL-related is the peerless Pro-Football-Reference.com.  If they don’t have it, you don’t need it.  And their incredibly easy-to-use site made this research a joy to undertake.

Now, back to the field where the HAVES and the HAVE-NOTS will have 127 more chances to affirm or disprove my analysis.  I’ll be watching and I have a feeling that you will be too.

One year ago, at this time, Rolle was earning AP third team All-American honors as a safety at Florida State University.  He would have been a high draft choice this past spring, but deferred those plans to earn an M.A. in medical anthropology at Oxford before entering the 2010 NFL Draft.

Pete Thamel of the New York Times has authored an excellent feature on Rolle, who would like to become a neurosurgeon and philanthropist at the conclusion of his football-playing days.

Myron Rolle has put off the NFL for one year to study at the University of Oxford

Be sure to check out the accompanying Quad Q&A for an even more revealing look at what makes Rolle’s story all the more fantastic.

Needless to say, there are enough negative sports-related stories to fill the blogosphere on a daily basis.  It’s a real treat to have a legitimate reason to highlight one of the good guys.