The month of March is probably the most exciting month of the year. I love it because there are no birthdays, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs or anything in my family during this month, so I save a little cash. You may love it for St. Patrick’s Day, or the fact that March is Foot Health Month or you may be a fan of Mirth Month, which was created to help people turn their “Maalox Moments” into more mirthful ones. In the world of sports however, things are as regular as can be.

Normally I think of the NCAA Tournament when I think of March, but that doesn’t start until later in the month (but man do I love that thing). This year is a bit different with all the talk of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and the frightening thought of a lockout in 2008 and…forget it; it’s much easier to pretend football will be fine. With that in mind, free agency is supposed to begin today because March 3 marks the start of the NFL’s new year. So Happy New Year!

This is where franchises are turned upside down and money is pushed out for six years and players feel insulted by getting offered $9 million instead of $9.5 million and Drew Rosenhaus makes new friends. What a country! But there’s a problem. You see, running backs are all over the place in free agency with rumors flying like flailing Russian ice dancers. The top running back available right now is Shaun Alexander and I don’t know if you noticed, but he put up numbers this year that have never been touched (28 total touchdowns). Add that on top of leading the league in rushing and still, the Seattle Seahawks saw no reason to re-sign him during the season. Huh?

The NFL has come to the conclusion that running backs are old after six years in the league and that you can find one in any round of the draft. Sure, the Seahawks have the chance to get Alexander back, but that fact that he has the opportunity to seek other employers makes me sick. I honestly believe that a hardcore fan has more common sense than general managers who get paid to make multi-million dollar decisions.

This brings me to NFL’s scouting combine. Apparently, all-world Texas quarterback Vince Young scored a 16 after first scoring a 6 on the Wonderlic test. The 50-question test is supposed to show intelligence and decision making, so scoring that low is pretty terrible. I don’t take much stock in that test because rumor has it that Dan Marino scored either a 14 or a 16. Anyone seen his career numbers? But NFL general managers will immediately drop Young’s stock way down and he might drop out of the top five in the draft. Shame on the NFL for not watching game film of the 2006 Rose Bowl. Vince Young doesn’t have to prove a thing to me. 41-38 says it all.

So who moves up if Young moves down? Jay Cutler does and I have no idea why. Maybe I’m not studying the same things that the “experts” are, but Cutler is a product of media hype. His final season at Vanderbilt was solid at best. The excuse people like Mel Kiper, Jr. use is that Cutler wasn’t surrounded by great talent. Well, maybe the reason for that is because Cutler wasn’t that great before college and that’s why he went to Vandy. Just compare the numbers: Young is 6’5”, 233 pounds and threw for 3,036 yards, 26 touchdowns and led the nation in completion percentage (65.2) and passer rating (163.95). Cutler is 6’4”, 230 pounds and threw for 3,073 yards, 21 touchdowns and a dismal completion percentage (59.1) and rating (126.07). Rushing wise, Young ran for just over 1,000 yards while Cutler rushed for a measly 215. Didn’t Young also win the National Championship? The choice is simple and these NFL guru’s will turn this into Manning/Leaf II, with USC quarterback Matt Leinart being the only sure thing.

Sorry, I’m just sick of all this Jay Cutler talk. He only won 11 games in four years.See, the month of March gets me fired up as well. As we move on to this week’s Fab Five, let’s talk about some happy things.

5) Koby Clemens. The kid took daddy’s first pitch over the fence. That’s a big deal when your dad is Roger Clemens.

4) “Sugar” Shane Mosley. If you saw the present he left Fernando Vargas on his left eye, you’d understand why he’s on the list.

3) Effa Manley. The former co-owner of the Negro League’s Newark Eagles is the first woman in the baseball Hall of Fame.

2) Don Knotts. The television icon passed away at the age of 81. Quite simply one of the best performers ever.

1) Jason McElwain. I love the story of this autistic 17-year-old who poured in 20 points in four minutes, I love it. If you haven’t heard the story, wake up!

March is a great month all the way around. And just think, when the month is over, you’ll have something to talk about. Hopefully sometime soon I’ll find something meaningful to write about. Respect!