So, here I find myself, on the precipice of making my 400th comment, on these Fan Nation boards.

I'm knee deep in some nonsense about how it doesn't matter what the Steelers do - on offense - in the 2011 season. The AFC North royalty (at least, in this generation) is judged by the class of their defense.  (You want to know what happens to all of the good, "offensive" AFC North teams, lately, go ask the 2005 Cincinnati Bengals.)

But, I digress...

I'm staring at comment number 400 (in all of its witty brilliance and sarcasm soaked glory), and I realize - "LD (me) - you are an idiot."

I also took a moment to reflect on how cool it is to see Dennis Rodman getting inducted into the NBA HOF (thanks to the CNN/SI video player) - but that's neither here, nor there.

Anyway, I'm an idiot. (As if, it isn't already apparent.)

Ever since I moved to a graveyard shift (almost 2 months, now), I find myself consistently splattering the forums (TnR, TD, etc.) with comment after comment, of continuous verbal vomit and bulls#)t.

It's not that I don't have an important job. It's just that's only really important, when it IS, and @4am, that's rare.

All of this new "down time" - besides making me one h#ll of an awesome "Chiver" - has created a lot of idle hands...and you know what they say about idle hands.

It's not that I like to comment, it is that sometimes I have a difficult time reining it in - and something like this (Comment #151) happens:

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/301990-angelo-insists-bears-have-a-plan

I would think that guy was an arrogant lunatic. And it's ME.

Ridiculous. And it's happening more and more. With the season rapidly approaching, and the dry spell from the lockout, I don't see it getting any better. 

So...I've decided that I need a space to rant on all things NFL. To find my own, "secret garden", if you will.

If others decide that they want to put up with my bulls#(t, at least this way...it's their choice.

It's not that I don't feel that I have something to offer.

I'm a pretty decent handicapper. I may not have a penthouse in Vegas, but I don't lose money by the season...either. As horrible as it may sound, I don't think that my wife would let me stop betting football, at this point, even if I wanted to. And let me tell you, the truth in that statement, just made me a little bit sad inside.

Where was I, I have a couple of FF mini-helmets hanging on the wall (4 - to be exact - which isn't awful, considering that I will only allow myself one team, per year...and I can't play every year).

And - most importantly, I love the game of football - and have - ever since I can remember.

All in all...with or without anyone reading...I'll this is probably a journey that I'll take, anyway. Since all of my hipster friends are "too cool for school" (and sports), and the people that live in my house are both female -

(Not that women can't like sports. They just can't be any good at liking sports.

At least, not in my house.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding...put the torches out.

Seriously, I'm like, the nicest guy you'll ever meet. Also, I'm devilishly handsome...so I've been falsely misled into thinking that I can usually get away with saying a lot of dumb s#!t.

Despite my tiring humility, my wife does seem to like me...sorta...and my daughter thinks I'm awesome! But, then again, she's is just still a little pea.

Point being...I feel bad about making a horrible, misogynistic barb.

I almost want to go back and take it out. It wasn't even a good joke.

I worry, though, that would compromise my artistic intergrity, somehow. Whatever that the h#ll that means.

No...I think it stays, but, I am going to feel terrible about it.)

- So...where was I? Oh yeah, surrounded by cold, souless individuals, with no football to warm their hearts.

I need an outlet. A place to bounce ideas.

A happy place.

If I happen to grab something that you've said in thread, or a throwdown...know that I am not picking on you. I just love to smack-talk football, and am probably just trying to spare some thread from paragraphs and paragraphs, of my rambling drivel...

If you find yourself wandering around in my head, feel free to fire back...the other voices won't mind.

Enjoy your season, my fellow NFL breathren.

-LD