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If you were an online betting at BetUs player with a wager on the lockout being a short one that could be settled quickly, you likely won’t be happy with a story that is slowly but surely making its way around the internet. The players have tried to get together with the owners in order to spark negotiations, and the answer wasn’t surprising, but it’s definitely worrying.

Word is that the owners declined an invitation from the players to go back to the bargaining table at the end of March, as they wouldn’t agree to details stating that the settlement of the lockout and/or antitrust cases would have no bearing on the case of the decertification of the players’ union, which is a separate matter. All this really says is what a lot of people (but not enough) have been saying and thinking since the discussions about a lockout really started:  the owners in the NFL are prepared to sit and wait out the players to get what they want, and they’re not interested in the art of negotiation.

So what does this mean? It means the likelihood of having a season is decreasing more and more by the day as long as the two sides aren’t even talking. The players said they would play this season as the two negotiated a new CBA, but the owners declined and are now resorting to strong-arm tactics. This could be retaliation by the owners, who can’t be happy that the players fought and won a decision that would keep them from collecting money on television deals even if there was a lockout (and in one case, the owners would get more money if there was a lockout).  But one thing is for sure: it is going to be a long time before this is sorted out.

The NFL playoffs are ready to get started this weekend and as we get set for the second season, one thing is clear: quarterbacking is still the key to NFL success.

When looking at the Super Bowl favorites at BetUs in the preseason or examining the odds of the 12 teams left just before the playoffs start, the one consistent is that’s blatantly clear that teams who have the best man under center are considered the best choices to win it all.

In the AFC, the six teams there are led by Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning, Matt Cassel, Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez. In the NFC, the six quarterbacks are Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Michael Vick, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Matt Hasselbeck/Charlie Whitehurst.

Aside from the Seattle Seahawks and their duo of Hasselbeck and Whitehurst, every other team has a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback.

Some people seem to think that defense wins championship and there’s no question that a good defense is required in addition to a quality quarterback. But nowadays it’s fairly clear: to overcome a bad quarterback is near impossible.

We’ve seen it happen before and at least twice this decade. Rex Grossman led the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl and Trent Dilfer led the Baltimore Ravens to the championship game. But the truth is that in both of those cases, the quarterbacks were supported by a record-setting defense along with an elite running game.

Taking a look through the recent Super Bowl winners, the same theme rings true: premier quarterbacks bring rings.

Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have accounted for the last seven Super Bowl rings. Considering four of those quarterbacks are back in the playoffs guiding a third of the 12 teams, there’s an excellent chance another one of them wins again.

The bottom line is you don’t get anywhere in the NFL without an excellent point man. The 20 teams that aren’t in the playoffs should take notice and reevaluate their situation.