THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT March 26, 2011

A funny thing happened on the way to the offseason for the NFL - a bunch of millionaires began fighting with billionaires about a few extra dollars a year and a couple more games a year and suddenly they got locked out of work.

Well, maybe the whole thing isn't as funny as I think.

WHAT MIGHT wind up happening is a long offseason for most football fans.

While I've never been much of a fan of sitting around and watching the NFL Draft, it could be the only event in a very long time - I may have to tune in.

The way I look at it, a deal will get done at some point, but I'm hoping that it won't be in late July.

Instead, chances that free agents jump teams in the same frenzy seen in recent years, signing big-time contracts for more money than I'll see in three lifetimes, will grow slimmer by the day.

As a fan, when it comes to going to that first game when things are settled, the decision is a no-brainer - of course I'd go.

When it comes to watching a game in person, there is nothing like it.

The roar of the crowd, the sun and most importantly, yelling, screaming and booing at the other team is a great stress reliever.

By the time the final preseason football games arrive and watching some of my favorite baseball teams lose - it will be time to stop watching.

WHILE TRYING to convince myself this season will be different for the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners, I'm not really counting on it this year.

Felix Hernandez will return to Cy Young form by July and Ichiro will start another All-Star Game in right field, but after that - what else is really to watch?

With minimal power in the M's lineup last year, the team opted to bring back Milton Bradley, a player that produced more off-the-field incidents than game-winning hits last season.

By the time last season ended for the Mariners, a manager was fired, a legend abruptly retired and their minor league affiliate Tacoma won a Pacific Coast League championship.

The Cubs had some issues early this season, but who knows with them.

Really, who knows? They're the Cubs and I've come to grips with how that story ends.

Chances are both will flirt with a playoff run for most of the summer, then fall short when it counts.

HOPEFULLY BY that time, the differences in the NFL have been settled.

Until then, I'll sit back and enjoy the Mariners' march toward an AL West championship.

Yeah, that's not funny either.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.