Following the Lions’ abysmal 0-potentially-16 season, Detroit’s suits decided it may be a good time to cut ticket prices. According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, ticket prices will freeze for next season and about 8% will see cuts.

“I think it’s safe to assume that we will not increase any prices, whether it’s a season ticket or an individual ticket,” said Bob Raymond, Ford Field’s VP of business operations. “We’re just not in position to do that with, one, the economy, and two, the way the team has performed.”

It’s hard to imagine the Lions not doing this, but you have to wonder whether they’ll be able give away seating next season after the disaster that was 2008.

After Ed Hochuli, the only referee every football fan knows by name, blew a game changing call in September’s Denver-San Diego game, he handled everything cooly and professionally. He acknowledged the blown call, personally answered angry letters from fans, and apologized for his mistake. Alas, while this may have allowed others to look past the blunder, Chargers fans probably remained bitter.

But though things looked very bleak for San Diego just a few weeks ago, the Chargers now control their destiny. If they win Sunday, they’re in the postseason, and as Chris Collinsworth pointed out, that makes Hochuli “the happiest guy on the planet … because his call will not decide this division.”

Steelers chairman Dan Rooney doesn’t think former head coach Bill Cowher will coach in ‘09, noting conversations he had with the now-turned CBS analyst.

“I will say to you that every time I talk to him and this subject comes up - and the subject does come up almost every year at this time - he says that he’s very, very happy with what he’s doing, where he is,” said Rooney.

“It would not surprise me if he said he wasn’t going to coach. It would surprise me the other way because he tells me that every time I talk to him and the subject comes up.”

According to reports in the Sacramento Bee, 49ers interem head coach Mike Singletary could soon be signed to a deal extending his role into next season and beyond. If that happens - and it seems likely it will - the team will not retain offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who has turned San Francisco’s horrendous offensive attack into, well, a less horrendous offensive attack.

But though he has shown some progress (the Niners rank 23rd in scoring offense this season, up from 32nd), Martz’s philosophies contrast with Singletary’s. Once the orchestrator of the “Greatest Show on Turf”, Martz has stuck with his pass first and pass often mentality, which is great with the right personnel but not so great with the players he has in Frisco. Singletary prefers ball-control offense, and the presence of Frank Gore makes running first and often a good crutch around which he can base his offense. Gore, who missed a couple weeks this season, hasn’t handled enough carries to make a dent in defenses - he carried at least 20 times in just 3 games.

Sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford was awarded an honor distinguishing him as the best player in college football: the Heisman trophy. Bradford, whose Oklahoma Sooners will face 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow’s Florida Gators in the national championship, led the nation in touchdown passes this season and set himself apart from the rest of the field with quick decision making and exceptional accuracy.

“I was definitely surprised and I think it’s everything I imagined,” said Bradford. “I think it will take a couple weeks to set in.”

Bradford is considered the most NFL-ready quarterback if he declares himself for the draft. History, however, does not favor quarterbacks who assume they are ready for the NFL too early (see Kyle Boller as exhibit A). Bradford could be different, but it’s difficult to say. No doubt he’s worth the number one pick (and will be selected at that position) if the Lions are drafting in that slot.