With the NFL season at midfield, The Magazine's David Fleming assesses what exactly it is we've learned (if anything) from the first nine weeks of action.

In Denver we learned: The secret behind the Broncos' stellar running game all these years -- they cheat. So far this season the Orange (Leg) Whips have accrued five fines totalling close to $100K for illegal blocks, including a near-record $52,941 imposed on guard Dan Neil for two leg whips against Oakland.

In Chicago we learned: What a coach gets from a GM for winning six games in a row for the first time in 16 years -- Butkus.

In New Orleans we learned: If Kyle Turley really wants to unleash his rage on someone, it should be his barber.

We also learned: After the Turley-Damien Robinson-Aaron Brooks ruckus, the league values its facemasks more than its faces.

In Carolina we learned: The Panthers are a lot like their turf -- thin, yellow and weak up the middle.

Through Michael Strahan, Brett Favre, Curtis Martin, Donovan McNabb and Jerome Bettis we learned: Who the most likely candidates for MVP will be.

Through Jeff George and Eddie Kennison we learned: Who the least likely candidates for MVP will be.

Through TV ratings that showed more people tuned into a bad Dallas-Washington Monday Night game than the Yankees-A's Game 5 we learned: The NFL is the cat daddy of American sports.

In Arizona we learned: Who the NFL's No. 1 candidate for contraction would be.

Through Denver WR Rod Smith we learned: Herman Moore's record for receptions in a season has a very short life span.

In New York we learned: The Jets are a lot like ESPN The Magazine -- they come out strong every other week.

In San Francisco we learned: Steve Mariucci's name belongs right up there next to Walsh, Seifert, Montana and Young.

In Washington we learned: Just how well today's players respond to old-school coaching tactics.

At the Superdome we learned: Of the year's biggest win -- NFL 1, Car Dealers 0.

Through Tom Brady, Brian Griese and Elvis Grbac we learned: The University of Michigan is now QB-U.

In Baltimore we learned: Who the fourth tight end to make the Hall of Fame will be.

In Tennessee we learned: The value of a fullback.

We also learned: That 285-pound rookie fullback Wes Ours looks like a bowling ball wearing cleats (but if he asks, Hunter S. Thompson wrote that).

In Dallas we learned: The less arm strength, character and experience you have, the more likely you'll be behind center for the Cowboys next week.

In Cleveland we learned: Games are not 59:32 long.

In St. Louis we learned: The Rams are so good -- again -- they're starting to bug us a little bit.

Through players' efforts in their communities after Sept. 11 we learned: Class and talent aren't always inversely related.

In Detroit we learned: Matt Millen is the best GM in the NFL (if your No. 1 goal is to lock up the top pick in the draft before Thanksgiving).

Through Terrell Owens and Randy Moss we learned: There is no limit to how many tantrums teams are willing to put up with for fast, tall guys who can catch an inflated pigskin.

Through Nate Newton we learned: A whole new definition for the term super bowl.

Through Eddie George, Drew Bledsoe, Garrison Hearst and Peyton Manning we learned: The meaning of the word warrior.

In Pittsburgh we learned: The Rookie of the Year so far is LB Kendrell Bell.

And finally, on the Sunday with no football, Sept. 16, we learned: That there are many, many more important things in life than the NFL -- and that this is a very good thing.

David Fleming is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at flemfile@aol.com.