What should the NFL learn from MLB?

Super Bowl Slaughter

The Super Bowl was played on Sunday and this year's version did not quite live up to the world-devouring hype that was built up in the week before the big game. The underdog Seahawks steamrolled the Broncos 43-8. It was never close. When you start the night by giving up a safety on a hiking miscue, as the Bronco's did, you'd probably think that would be low moment of the game. Things can only go up from there, right? Nope. That was merely Denver's overture, introducing all the intricate themes of crappiness to be played out over the next four quarters.

My time is devoted to obsessing over a different sport, so I don't have any strong convictions about why this blowout happened. Why were the Seahawks able to demolish the Broncos so thoroughly? Was it just a bad game from a great Denver team? Has the NFL's new pro-offense environment made defense more valuable than offense? Is the NFC vastly superior to the AFC?

Every year we hear about how baseball needs to be more like the NFL, and this dud convinces me otherwise. Amid all the spectacle, the run-up in the playoffs, the striking exhibition at halftime, this game was so incredibly boring. That leads us to today's piping-hot question of the day:

What should the NFL learn from MLB?

Photo: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Breakfast Links 2/3

• Cubs sign Jason Hammel to 1-year, $6 million deal -- The Cubs have once again signed a pitcher who appears destined to be used as trade bait as July draws to a close. As with Scott Feldman last season, Hammel will get the chance to pitch every fifth day to show teams he can be a reliable fourth or fifth starter and the Cubs will get more minor league talent when they ship him away.

• Tigers avoid arbitration with Alex Avila -- Detroit reached a deal with their starting catcher that will keep him out of arbitration and that offers incentives to lock him up for the next season as well. 2013 wasn't the 27-year-old's best season, but he has far more offensive upside than the average catcher and he handles the Tigers staff well. The incentives here would make Avila a bargain for 2015 if he does anything close to his .295/.389/.506 line from 2011 or even his .243/.352/.384 line from 2012.

• The Role of Risk in the 2014 Pitching Market -- In case you missed it on Sunday, I took a detailed look at the role that risks like recent injuries, advanced age and inconsistent performance have had on starting pitcher deals this offseason. The results don't bode well for a few of the bigger names out there.

• Mets owners refinance $250 million loan -- The Mets might not have to pinch pennies quite so hard thanks this deal, which removes the payroll limitations the original loan came with. Now, the Wilpon's lack of money will be the only thing keeping payroll down. They will be back in the high life again soon though; they just called me about an exciting new investment opportunity and if I can get three friends and they can get three friends, we will all be rolling in the dough. Hit me up if you want in.

• Minor moves: Wilson Betemit, Manny Corpas, Roger Bernadina, Reed Johnson, Alex Gonzalez -- Some familiar names have found new homes on minor league deals as the scramble for fifth outfielders, reserve infielders and emergency spot starters continues.