The NFL is one of the most successful sports enterprises in the entire world, big, big business. So its no surprise that, even though the season only lasts from September to January, news about the NFL, its teams and its players continues all year long.Clearly, the league believes it is in its own best interests to keep itself on the back page Sports Page of the countrys major newspapers. And, unlike other major sports, the NFL does a terrific job of staying in the headlines.

Unfortunately, the news is not always good.In recent years, a number of NFL players have run into problems with law enforcement agencies and local police departments around the country. The most noteworthy example was the case of Atlanta Quarterback Michael Vick who was charged with a serious felony crime, promotion of illegal dog fighting. Vicks case made headlines everywhere and he was eventually convicted of the crime and sentenced to a lengthy jail term. Other players like Adam Pacman Jones have also made bad headlines for firing a loaded pistol, illegally, of course. More recently, Plaxico Burress of The New York Giants accidentally shot himself in the leg while at a New York City nightclub, a clear violation of city law. Burress, currently awaiting trial, may also receive a jail sentence.

Of course, much of the news generated by the NFL is good, not bad , like the coverage it receives for its annual draft of graduating college seniors. The draft was extensively covered by ESPN on TV and there were also many stories written in local and national newspapers.Other stories to make the newspapers and TV-and-radio sports talk shows this off-season have been about marquee players, such as Defensive End Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins possibly seeking a trade , Chicagos Brian Urlacher ending his brief stay-away from mini-camp , the release of running back Travis Henry by the Denver Broncos , Thomas Jones attempt to force the New York Jets to renegotiate his contract , and much, much more.Obviously, there are many, many more stories about the NFL, its teams and players that come out literally every day of every week and help to keep the league front-and-center in the minds of its fans.

The result of this is, of course, a heightened anticipation of the season that has the normally crazy fans of the league in a near frenzied state when the games are played.Keep in mind: the NFL for all the popularity of its games is a league that thrives on wagering. Fans bet more money on football than on any other sport And that is one reason why off-season news stories are so important. The indisputable fact about the NFL is this: any way you look at it, whatever you think about it, the NFL is, and has long been, big news.