The NFL last week announced it was cutting prices on this season's playoff tickets by an average of 10% in response to what it referred to as "the economic challenges facing fans."

In other words, the NFL cares. About you. A lot. Or at least 10%.

The average playoff ticket last year ran $121. So the NFL, in all its big-hearted, warm-fuzzied generosity, is stepping up to save you at least $12 a playoff ticket.

Now, go, rush out and buy a family plan. Forget Henry Paulson. I'm thinking Roger Goodell should weigh in on the global economic meltdown.

Speaking of meltdown, all those people fighting for seats on the Redskins' bandwagon a couple weeks ago seemed pretty busy clawing each other's eyes out on their way to the emergency exit row this Monday morning.

Yikes. Listening to poor Vinny Cerrato on "Inside the Red Zone" following the Skins loss to big D was almost more schadenfreude than my small heart could take in one sitting. Maybe the complete and utter absence of Cerrato's maniacal, hyena-like laughter following losses helps, but Cerrato's show, an utter travesty live on the air, is quite possibly the worst thing to happen to D.C. radio since Howard Stern was allowed to flee to New York.

Speaking of New York, good lord. Maybe the Baltimore Ravens managed to keep their streak of games holding opponents without a 100-yard rusher intact, but sweet Christmas; Brandon Jacobs rushed for 73 yards in the first half, Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 94 in the second half, and when the dust had settled the Giants had utterly mauled the Ravens for 207 total rushing yards en route to a 30-10 walloping.

There's no denying it at this point; the Giants have got to be the consensus Super Bowl pick to represent the NFC.

And we might as well give the Titans the AFC nod, while we're at it.

There, Super Bowl XLII, picked. Wait, no? "That's why they play the games," you say? "Any team can beat any other on any given Sunday," you wail?

Bollocks.

A couple free ideas for Commissioner Goodell that will do more for the game than just cutting prices for playoff tickets by $12.

• You've got too many teams, as evidenced by the toxic stench wafting up from more than one of your divisions. The AFC and NFC West? Scrap 'em. When the Arizona Cardinals represent the best you've got, very, VERY strange things are afoot at the Circle-K. Take the marquee players from those 8 teams (yeah, all 18 of 'em) and split 'em between the remaining 18 teams you'll have after….

• Jettisoning the Bengals, Lions, Texans and, because Philadelphia just won the World Series and deserves a little suffering to bring it back into balance, Eagles. Nobody (really, NOBODY) will miss the Bengals and Lions. One of my best friends ever is a diehard Bengals fan, and he might even pay YOU to get rid of 'em. I don't know any diehard Lions fans. Seriously. Name one.

That's it. The NFL's product improves exponentially and ALL the games begin to mean something. A simple thank you note will suffice.

As for the Redskins? Well, anyone who would've been disappointed with a 6-4 record at this point at the beginning of the season, please stand up.

Now sit down, because you're lying.

Flip that loss to the Rams to a win and you'd be looking at 7-3. Hurts, don't it?

The Redskins were never winning the Super Bowl this year, they just weren't. This season is a feeling-out process, a learning process. Think high school.

Coach Zorn has done more than most of us thought he would with less than he was supposed to have. Jason Campbell is growing into himself after being forced to wander aimlessly in the desert under certain previous regimes that shall remain nameless. Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley are acting like the playmakers they're supposed to be. London Fletcher, LaRon Landry and Carlos Rogers are putting the fear of God into people that wander too carelessly downfield.

But problems persist. The offensive line is the most schizo in the league. Sometimes they're Hogs. Sometimes they're hobos. The defensive front seems unwilling or incapable of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. You think a couple shots to the teeth of Tony Romo early in Sunday's game might have an effect? Shawn Springs is done. Send him packing after the season and hold onto DeAngelo Hall (a DB who can catch!) instead.

Look, this isn't the season that might have been for the 'Skins. It isn't the season that never was. This is the rare season that's exactly what it was supposed to be, with more promise and excitement than any of us had any right to expect.

And speaking of expect, who saw VMI beating Kentucky to kick off the NCAA basketball season? A couple more losses like that and you know what Billy Gillispie's gonna be?

Up in smoke.

You can always reach Alex Cudaback at cuda24@yahoo.com