Five Fun Things To Do In January When Your NFL team Is Not In The Playoffs

I had gotten used to planning my January (and beginning of February) around the San Francisco 49ers and their playoff run. So now I’m confused, because the 49ers aren’t in the playoffs. What do people do in January? I thought long and hard and came up with a few things to get you through until February 2. Enjoy and good luck.

• Adopt a playoff team.
  1. Still reeling from the loss of Jim Harbaugh? Of course you are. Pick the Ravens – a Harbaugh is better than no Harbaugh (though don’t get too attached to the Ravens because they will likely lose early. And then there’s the whole Super Bowl thing a couple years back.).
  2. Like quarterbacks who played in the Bay Area at one time? Pick the Packers (Aaron Rodgers went to Cal).
  3. Want to root for a team the 49ers beat so you can tell everyone how the 49ers beat them and if they had made the playoffs, they would do it again? Pick the Cowboys (just don’t forget that there was a time when you really hated the Cowboys).
  4. Want to root for a Michigan man to support Harbaugh and this writer? Pick the Patriots. Brady baby (bonus, he’s from San Mateo)!
• Take up running. Put on your Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and head outside to run like Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore on the open field. Just don’t get too upset wondering why Kap wasn’t running until the last few games of the season. And don’t get yourself all worked up worrying about whether or not Gore will be back next year. On second thought, skip the running. Go to yoga.
• Watch the entire Friday Night Lights television series. This show was one of the best on television. You’ll get your football fix, while becoming attached to great characters and their storylines. Also, Coach Taylor is a great guy who truly cared about his players, teaching them a lot about football and life. He was passionate and talented and – spoiler alert – is unfairly pushed out of a head-coaching job. UGH. Don’t watch this. Too soon. Watch The Wire.
• Put on your best pair of Levi’s and head on down to the 49ers Museum at Levi’s Stadium. Because nothing makes you feel better about an 8-8 season than going to the place where your dreams of grandeur came crashing down.
• Last but certainly not least, remind yourself that it’s only a game, there’s always next season, and since you don’t actually play for the team, it’s really not all that bad. And I know if I can just keep telling myself that, someday I’ll believe it.

Happy New Year and GO NINERS!