If there was ever any doubt about the power of the National Football League, the sports sections. radio reports and highlight shows of Thursday and Friday eliminited it.

Major League Baseball is entering a very interesting season. Barry Bonds sits 22 home runs from the most hallowed record in all of sports. The much-maligned Sammy Sosa seeks redemption in the clubhouse of his first professional team (he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his debut). We still wonder what will happen with Roger Clemens. Will A-Rod exorcise his post-season demons? Is this the year for the Cubs? What about the gyroball?

And so on ...

Notice that I rattled off a handful of interesting stories before mentioning Vitamin "S."

No, the first full days of spring training games have been overshadowed by free agency, trade talk and the surprising cuts ahead of roster bonus day. We've heard Joe Horn in the press about his release from New Orleans (although reports have surfaced that Horn failed his physical). Spirited leader Joey Porter is gone from Pittsburgh. Donte' Stallworth is out in Philadelphia. And, to no one's surprise, Corey Dillon and Drew Bledsoe are looking for an opportunity.

Signings will be coming fast and furious, but let's give Nate Clements props for breaking the bank. Clements received an eight-year, $80 million deal from San Francisco.

Fullback Ovie Mughelli also gets a nod for his $18 million deal from Atlanta. He opened huge holes for Jamal Lewis in Baltimore. Bobby Petrino wants him to create space for Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood.

We've seen a big trade. Fantasy owners anxiously watched as Tatum Bell left the friendly confines of the Denver backfield for Detroit, who needed to find a solution with Kevin Jones's injury.

The big story, however, is the trade that seems to have been killed. Jake Plummer was rumored to be on his way to Tampa Bay, but reports have surfaced that the quarterback may retire instead of relocating and battling Chris Simms. His decision impacts, at least to some degree, what happens with Jeff Garcia. Despite all of his protests to the contrary, the Denver system fits Garcia best, but he wants to start. The fit isn't as clear in Oakland, but that seems to be the top spot. He would be the starter while the team grooms JaMarcus Russell and he would get to go home (Garcia grew up in Gilroy and played for the San Jose State Spartans).

In the coming weeks, we'll see huge turnovers of squads and the introduction of the new breed of players at the end of April. By the end of April and into the mini-camps of May, the shake-out will occur and mountains of new replica jerseys and the merchandising machine will kick into gear once again.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to interview Ahman Green following his 20-touchdown season. I asked him what he planned to do during the off-season. He laughed heartily and said, "Man, what off-season?"

With the Super Bowl still visible in the rearview, the news of the past 48 hours certainly punctuates his sentiment.

It doesn't diminish the greatness of spring training and the rites of spring as we come to know "our" guys for 2007. It just gives us something else to ponder between innings.

Play ball!