Viva Murillo!

Just when I think I know everything, another season shows up to show me how little I know -- and how much I've already forgotten. Hopefully I can remember a few of these to help me next year:

• I learned that quarterbacks make or break an NFL team. Cam Newton single-handedly has fans excited in Carolina, while the injury to Jay Cutler kept the Bears from even competing for a playoff spot.
• Speaking of quarterbacks, I learned that week 17 games are really important -- if you're Matt Flynn. How many millions more did he earn with that performance in a "meaningless" game?
• I learned that fantasy quarterbacks are equally important to fantasy teams. The era of RB domination is over. If you had Brees, Rodgers, Brady, your team had a shot. You could have waited and picked up Stafford or Eli Manning, or maybe plucked Newton off the waiver wire in a redraft league. But without an effective quarterback you'd be hard-pressed to compete for a title.
• Newton wasn't the only waiver wire gem. I learned (or re-learned) that you need to focus on the waiver wire, even if you think you don't need anybody. Newton, DeMarco Murray, Victor Cruz and David Akers might have all gone undrafted (again, not counting dynasty or keeper leagues). You probably wouldn't get all those guys, but you might add one or two if you were paying attention -- even if you were "all set" at those positions.
• I learned that Chad Ochocinco is finished. He caught a pass in the Super Bowl, and it might be the last one he catches for an NFL team.
• I learned that the Bengals have the best-kept secrets in the NFL. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green helped Cincinnati make the playoffs...as rookies. Imagine them spending the next 15 years together (assuming the Bengals' front office takes things seriously). Fantasy owners know who they are, but that duo deserved more national attention.
• I learned that guys named Harbaugh are great coaches who hate fantasy football. Two NFL teams reach their respective conference championship games and I can't name more than three significant fantasy stars between them unless you count kickers? The Ravens have Ray Rice and the 49ers have Frank Gore and Vernon Davis. That's it? I hope the Harbaugh strategy doesn't become the blue print for future NFL success.
• I learned Jason Witten had a quiet, successful year. I was sure he fell off the map in 2011, but when I actually checked the stats he was top three in TE yards and tied for fifth in TE receptions. He had only five scores, but he was still a top fantasy option. I just didn't notice it during the year.
• I learned (again) that fantasy coaching has a lot more job security than NFL coaching. This season, three head coaches lost their jobs before the season ended. Then four more were sent packing. More than half the league's coaches were hired in 2010 or later. And me? I didn't win any titles last year. But management was so happy with my coaching style I received another round of contract extensions! Seriously, I think these franchises love me. The stakes might not be as high in fantasy football, but it's nice to not worry about your place in the league.
• Speaking of high stakes, I'm no Patriots fan but let's be fair: The ball Wes Welker failed to catch wasn't an easy one. He turned his entire body around, and even if he had held onto the ball it easily could have come out or moved when he hit the ground, forcing officials to rule it incomplete. Sure, you can say big-time players make big-time plays, and to be the hero he has to make that catch. And that's true. But he shouldn't be the goat because he didn't catch it. I think he's being blamed for something that isn't really his fault. Many, many NFL wide receivers don't make that catch, either. I feel bad for the guy -- both for not catching it anyway, and for how it's been highlighted after the game.
• Finally, I learned just how short fans' memories are. Do you even remember the lockout? I kind of remember something about it, but after a full season, great division races and a fantastic string of playoff games (the end of Saints/49ers is an instant classic), it's a distant memory. If the NFL was counting on the fans just forgetting the behind-the-scenes issues once the games started...they had it exactly right.

There's the draft, mini-camps and free agency on tap, but I hope you'll enjoy some other things before the start of the 2012 season. Like your friends, family and playoff hockey. And I hear there's a baseball season starting, too. Enjoy all of it, and the end of summer will be here before you know it.

What did you learn this football season? Share your thoughts below.

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