If we're smart, we learn something new every year. That's true when it comes to football (and fantasy football) as well. As the season wraps up, here's what I learned this past season:

I learned that the Pro Bowl is getting better, and the preseason is getting worse. We don't need a month of pretend football. Never did.

I learned that the NFL is a non-profit organization. Yes, your favorite football league isn't in it for the money, so they deserve tax-exempt status. What? It's a strange technical designation for a league that seems to have cash falling out of its pockets.

The teams are for-profit and pay taxes, but the league itself isn't, and doesn't. It has an exemption. Taxes are paid when the teams make their money, but it seems hilarious to me that a league that charges for everything it can and has no problem trying to nickel and dime fans to for as much profit as possible is technically a non-profit. "NFL" and "profit" go together like babies and puppies.

Speaking of babies and puppies, I learned that they're almost required when creating a Super Bowl commercial. Whether they're the focus of the ad, or just an image to reinforce whatever story the company is telling, they're part of a corporate checklist for tugging at heartstrings. At least the babies aren't selling stocks anymore.

I learned, once again, that everybody loves to pile on when things don't go well. Would I have run Marshawn Lynch at the end of the Super Bowl? Sure. Was it a highly-questionable decision? Of course. But the worst call ever? No way.

I'm not even sure it was the worst call in that particular 30 seconds of football. Why didn't the Patriots call time out and preserve some seconds for a game-tying field goal is Seattle scored? If the Seahawks had run it in, or caught the ball, New England would have had maybe 20 seconds to come back. How did they let the clock run down like that?

I'd say it was a bad decision, magnified because of what was at stake. But if the pass had worked, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks would have been hailed as geniuses for their aggressive play-calling and calculated risk-taking. Now they're goats, while Brady is hailed by some as the G.O.A.T. And he wasn't even on the field for the play.

I learned that some players are even better than I thought. I knew that Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck were good successors to Favre and Manning, but both really impressed me this year. Rodgers carries his team, play hurt and somehow gets the job done, even in adverse conditions. I think he's the best in football right now.

Luck isn't too far behind. He's a great player with plenty of experience, can keep his team in games, and looks poised beyond his years. Oh, and he's 25 years old. The Packers and Colts are blessed with decades of good quarterback play while other teams struggle to find competent starters each season. It almost seems unfair.

I learned that some players are even worse than I thought. Where does Trent Richardson's career go from here? Would he be a starter, or even in a timeshare, on any NFL team right now?

I learned that your fantasy team is never as good or bad as you think it is. I have to learn this one every year. The team I was sure was going to get me a title made an early exit in the playoffs, the team that looked mediocre won a championship, and the one with potential never came close to the post-season. It's like they don't need me or something.

I learned that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Technically Doug Marrone learned that for me. He opted out of his head coaching contract with Buffalo, and is now the offensive line coach in Jacksonville. He's the assistant head coach, too, whatever that means. Maybe it's like "The Office," and Marrone is really assistant to the head coach. In any case, if you have one of just 32 head coaching jobs, don't be so quick to leave it.

I learned that cruise ships will put the national championship game for college football on their party deck jumbo screen, but they won't put the NFL playoffs on them. I know that's not related to fantasy football per se, but it's kind of annoying. How can I enjoy my third cheeseburger if I can't watch the Packers beat the Cowboys?

Finally, I learned that if you can cut through the endless commercials and hype, the NFL puts out a pretty good product these days. Aside from the ugly Panthers/Cardinals game, the playoffs were mostly entertaining. The Cowboys were close. So were the Ravens. And the Packers. And, of course, the Seahawks. There were plenty of special performances when it counted the most, so you were treated to some good football no matter how your fantasy teams fared this year.

Hopefully, they fared pretty well. But in any case, you've earned a contract extension. The nice thing about fantasy football is you'll never be fired. Congrats, coach! Take some time to relax, spend time with your family, watch some hockey and get ready for the not-so-offseason. After all, free agency and the NFL draft will be here before you know it. See you in the summertime.

What did you learn this year? Share your thoughts below.