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DAL-WAS
A Redskins team that didn't look ready for game 1 after 5 weeks of preseason took it to Texas' team today. This is why they don't give out trophies after 3 weeks. Here's what we know about the Redskins, they're rapidly improving, much like their QB Jason Campbell. It looks like Jim Zorn's tutelage is really beginning to pay off for Campbell. The knock has been that Campbell doesn't go through his progressions. I really enjoyed watching Troy Aikman (the most football smart commentator I've seen/heard) demonstrate how Campbell found his 3rd option on a TD pass.
Here's what we know about the Cowboys. They're a "play from ahead" team. It's always funny when the media anoints a SB Champ in week 1. It's hilarious when they haven't won a playoff game in 10 years. Dallas is clearly a top team, don't get me wrong. But yesterday's game, with a team few thought could keep up with the Starheads, was never really in doubt.
Here's the best part though; Terrell Owens crying to the press that the team lost because he wasn't getting the ball after 17 passes and two handoffs yesterday. Owens even had the gall after dropping a a potentially game changing TD pass late. So let's get this straight, Jerry Jones pours a ton of money into malcontents and lawbreakers, then tells good ol' boy wade Phillips to keep an eye on 'em. Getchya' popcorn ready!
BUF-STL
I'm not sure Scott Linehan knows how to spell his last name, much less coach an NFL team. When you consider that the best and worst players in the NFL are separated by fractions, no team is as bad as the Rams play. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that the Rams fired Linehan this morning, which (considering Mort's record for scoops recently) probably means Linehan probably got a 5 year extension. I'm being too harsh though, at least Mort got the Brett Favre trade to Tampa right.
On the other hand, it had to be a strange sensation for the usually hapless Jills to know they were just toying with the Rams. If they continue to be unable to score in the 1st half though, times could get tuffalo in Buffalo. Buffalo has two wins that could very well have been losses.
TEN-MIN
Does any team in the NFL hit like the Flaming Thumbtacks? For years, the alleged physical teams go into TEN and get their butts made into hats. Nothing new this week. TEN beat up the 1-3 Vikings and made AP a non-factor. Of the undefeated, only TN looks legit. If the Preseason Champion Cowboys had to go to TN right now . . . . .well, getchya' stretchers ready.
Mike Ditka said about the Titans "until somebody beats them, they're gonna be undefeated". Yup, that's what he said. Move over, John Madden.
Even Gus Frerotte knows the Tuxedos are hitters. He had an equipment guy call his wife after a big hit to tell her he was okay. Maybe he should have called a WR to tell them he was going to throw a TD pass instead. Thank goodness the Vikes had Tarvaris Jackson waiting on the sideline when Frerotte cut his hand (probably on the point on top of his head). Having Jackson as a backup is like having someone tell you they'll jumpstart your car, and then hooking the cables to a pineapple.
TB-GB
This game surprised me, but not really. GB is considerably more talented, and was due for a better game after last week's dip against Dallas. But never underestimate the motivation a tragedy can bring to a team. Whose heart doesn't go out to Matt Bryant? If you weren't cheering for him, you're not human.
I thought it was kinda curious that Aaron Rodgers is giving out his own medical reports, though. He really is trying to fill Favre's shoes, at least in establishing a personal relationship with the media. He's not trying to break Favre's ironman record though. So right now, the Pack is 2-2 and the Jets are 2-2. Ted Thompson and Eric Mangini are in a dead heat.
NYJ-ARI
Once again, alien Curt Warner has been replaced by human Curt Warner. You know, the one whose fumbles and picks got him kicked out of two other cities. Let's face facts about Warner. He's still capable of streaks, and when he's hot, he can light it up. But he's not a 16 game QB, and hasn't been for 5 years now. Matt Leinart better start preparing for action. On the other side, who woulda thunk Broadway Brett would have his best game ever in a Bretts uniform? We all expected the Bretts to win, but come on now. I loved the deep ball on fourth and one though. Something told me they'd challenge the field on that one.
On a more serious note, what the hell was going on with the hit on Anquan Boldin? I'm stunned (and thrilled) that Boldin is able to move today. The way Boldin fell made me think of Jack Tatum's kill shot on Darryl Stingley. It's going to take more than piddly fines to stop the headhunting in the NFL these days. It takes coaching. Coaches need to require and reinforce sound fundamentals. Tackling is a simple job: 1. Hit 2. Wrap 3. Drive. The rule is, hit what you see. With the size, speed and force of players increasing every year, coaches must take a firm stance on this or the ambulance is going to be heading to the morgue instead of the ER very soon.
CAR-ATL
This may have the only game in betting history where no one took the underdog. There are better days ahead for the Falcons, but this was not going to be one. And don't wonder why John Fox is splitting time between his backs. It's a two back league now, and Fox wants Stewart when the weather gets cold. With Mushin Muhammad and
I'm interested to see how Jake Delhomme's arm holds up for a full season, but thus far he looks no worse for wear. It's kind of amazing how far sports medicine has come when you think that both Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana were wrecked by the same injury.
NO-SF
Drew Brees is a premier NFL QB. He's putting up huge numbers throwing to guys who couldn't be identified in a police lineup. JT O'Sully, he's just hoping to become an answer to a trivia question; not just the one about who threw two picks in the end zone Sunday, either. I don't even know who else SF has at QB, but Mike Nolan is kidding himself if he thinks he's got a legitimate starter in JT. NO is starting to play well, the Deuce got his motor running today.
SD-OAK
By the way, Philip Rivers is good. Right now, all the hype is on Jay Cutler, and Cutler deserves a lot of it. But is any QB capable of lighting it up better than Rivers right now? Rivers does in one quarter what is a huge game for most QB's, and he did it again yesterday.
Still, it wouldn't have happened if Raiders hadn't left the door wide open for the Chargers. Ever since Jar-Jar Russell ascended from the swamps of Naboo (LSU) to play QB for the Faders, FG's are the order of the day in Oakland. Russell did have a "KStew special" TD pass yesterday. That's when you hit a guy in the seam for about 12 yards and he breaks lose for the remaining 40. The bad news is that the silver and black invested huge money in marginal position players so it's likely that they can't afford a decent backup while someone teaches Russell how to play QB.
DEN-KC
Who didn't see this coming? Even the best offense has a subpar game. Even the worst D shows up for work, now and then. Denver always struggles in KC. Larry Johnson was way overdue for a big game . . . . . I would have paid a few dollars to hear Herman Edwards open the press conference by saying "We played to win the game".
But it's one week folks, Denver will be back. KC will not. Bill Cowher is watching closely from the CBS studio every Sunday. Of course he's keeping his eye on the Browns too.
CIN-CLE
These two teams played yesterday.
JAX-HOU
The good news for Jax; David Garrard had a sound game yesterday. The bad news; it was versus the Houston Houstonians, or is it the Texas Texans? I have to paraphrase the great John Madden speaking of his legendary man crush Brett Favre; "David Garrard is David Garrard". Garrard did what he does best yesterday, protected the ball, made a few key running plays and beat a below average team. Wayne Weaver invested a king's ransom in a guy whose best effort gets a phenomenal rushing attack and dominant defense one week into the postseason.
Then again, HOU invested a wad of cash in a guy whose legacy was being the best QB on ATL's roster. Looking back, Mike Vick didn't set a high bar over which to jump. After Schaub's brilliant performance against NE a few years back, I have to admit that I was sold on him. It's clear now that his team mates are not sold on him. HOU is a much better team with Sage Rosenfels under center. That's right, the Houstonians best QB is an herb.
PHI-CHI
The Bears could have been 3-0. But no one even gave that a second thought after the Eagles blitzed 17 guys on every play in a win against the Steelers. McNabb was back and the Eagles were #2 to the preseason NFL Champion Cowboys. A funny thing happened last night. An Eagles offense that managed only 13 points against the Steelers (despite the Steelers D being on the field most of the game), managed only 20 against The Bears. The offensively challenged Munchkins of the Midway made the necessary adjustments to expose Jimmy Johnson's send 'em till they stop 'em High School game plan. Give Johnson his due. He saw a Steelers OL that hadn't played together very long, and wasn't competent at pass blocking and exploited it. But golly Jim, it's the NFL. Gimmicks and gambles do not a season make. As for McNabb, he's hurt again. Westbrook, hurt again. Buckhalter, hurt again.
PIT-BAL
Mike Greenberg (ESPN's Mike & Mike) says the Steelers will wrap the AFCN in November. From his lips to Pittsburgh's ears. What I've seen is that Mike Tomlin is showing an odd combination of inexperience and wisdom. His inexperience shows in games where the Steelers get punched in the mouth (see Philly 15-6) and can't recover. His wisdom shows when he drafts skill players when position players are also needed. Tomlin is a big-picture, long-haul guy, without doubt. That said, I question his assistant choices. The whole 52 Okie, ZB scheme played out years ago, yet Tomlin allows Dick LeBeau to continue the schemes that beat bad teams, against good teams. On offense, Bruce Arians is showing the same skill that got him fired at perennial college football powerhouse, Temple. At least Arians needs to get better quick, or the big picture will have Big Ben in a Big Body-cast.
The Ravens are an enigma. Actually, they're an enigma, wrapped in a conundrum, sheathed in a mystery. They're a shell of the defense they were in the early part of the decade, but they still manage to play like there's blood in the water. They still haven't fielded a legitimate #1 WR this decade. They have a rookie QB who didn't even know he'd be starting until a few days before the regular season. Yet they look hard to beat. Tonight's game is impossible to call.
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Week 3 NFL Thoughts
Monday, September 22, 2008, 06:13 PM [General]
Kudos to the rushing attack in Jacksonville. Fred Taylor and
MJD did exactly what one would expect against an undersized Indy D. As for
Indy, it's clear that a lot of dollars spent in a few positions have speeded
the talent cycle along. Indy should rebound from 1-2, but they're not close to
the team that won the SB two seasons ago.
The Raiders gave a very Buffalo team all that it could
handle. Well, almost all of the Raiders did. No team has any trouble handling
JaMarcus Russell. Al Davis could fire Lane Kiffin, Rob Ryan, and Governor Schwarzenegger;
it isn't going to disguise his suddenly ridiculous spending habits. Terry Bradshaw
called Tarvaris Jackson a "college QB", I'm going to do Russell one better. This
bozo is a High School QB on his best day. Just like a solid choice at QB can be
a foundation for a franchise, a bad choice eats the framework like a giant
termite. Russell sure looks like a 270lb termite to me. But here's a thought.
If Davis does fire Kiffin, who wouldn't love to see Kiffin pull a George Costanza
and just keep showing up for work? How long before the certifiably wacked Davis
even notices?
Matt Ryan is starting to look very much like a solid choice in Atlanta. I'm not picking the Falcons for the postseason, but it is amazing to see how draft day "busts" like Roddy White suddenly become legitimate NFL playmakers when they have a QB to throw to them. How many times have I said; receivers make QB's, but QB's also make receivers. I hope that VY is learning from what happened and will continue to happen in TN while he soothes his sore knee and ego. Here's what I know about Young, he's a phenomenal talent who hasn't dealt with failure up to now. Here's what I think I know about him. He's a very bright, probably oversensitive guy. But there's no one I'm pulling for more to develop the thick skin needed to play QB in the NFL. My intuition is that he's a good guy, and TN will need him, maybe before the season is over. Talk about your benchings. Add one journeyman scrub and the Vikings look awesome. Sure it took them a half, but they took one from a Panthers team we'll probably see in January. Is Joe Flacco the Big Ben of 2008? No, because the 2008 Ravens are not the 2004 Steelers. Here's what I like about Flacco though; he appears to have the short memory that QB's need. I'm not so sure Big Ben is the Big Ben of 2008 either. The Eagles finally exposed what I've been lamenting since preseason, that the Steelers don't pass block. But B-Ro seems to have regressed to a place I haven't seen since his post accident, appendicitis, year. He's holding the ball forever and is easily confused and flustered in the pocket. His footwork and pocket movement is atrocious. It's not just game 3 I'm talking about. It's been getting progressively worse since the second half of last season. Sorry Ben, I'd have put Leftwich in to start the 2nd Quarter. All that money they gave him, and his game is the worst it's been since his rookie year. Sometimes the game comes so easy, it seems to slow down. Sometimes the QB just slows down, then the game gets much harder. Dallas is good. TO is playing like a man possessed. Watching him run that DB up after getting shellacked was something I never imagined seeing. Dallas is the best team in the NFL right now. They mentally beat the Packers last night. That said, there's no week 3 trophy, so the bad news is that the Boys have 13 games to go. Let's see how they look after week 10. Denver looks incredible too. Jay Cutler is having the year that Mike Shanahan predicted. Oh wait; they're a blown call and two missed Figs from 1-2. Oh wait; the defense can't stop from peeing their pants much less stop an opponent from scoring. Oh wait . . .you get the point. If the Broncs don't remember to play D by week 6 , this is a 9-7 team. That would be fine for SD, a super talented squad that Norv Turner is hell bent on driving straight to mediocrity. A lot of folks rushed to praise Norv for taking the Bolts to the AFCC last year. I guess none of the watched Norv Coach the Chargers out of the SB on a day when the unbeaten Pats were eminently beatable. Norv is the Raid of coaches, he kills teams dead. You also have to wonder if LT 2 (Lawrence Taylor is the only LT) has much left in his tank, and if Lights Off for Lights Out will make this year's D a shell of last year's D. Here's the improbable stat of the week, Brian Griese threw 67, not 6 or 7, times and won. Griese hasn't tossed that many since he was last seen partying in Denver. Who knows what the season holds for TB, and Bob's prodigal son. If anyone can rescue the career of a veteran backup, it's John Gruden. Just ask Rich Gannon. I'm not the only one who smelled what the Tuna was cookin' this weekend in NE. (two, count 'em two, pop culture references there!) I love Tony Sparano pulling a reverse Vick putting his QB at RB (instead of a RB at QB). But seriously folks; NE was sooooooo overdue for a beat down that even Joey Porter could run his mouth and back it up. Times won't get easier for NE. A defense that played from ahead all of last season will not have that luxury this year. An offense with the game's best QB now has maybeth best QB. That's if you count Tarvaris Jackson, Belichick's ego, particularly his insane decision to go with Cassel and not seek help, will finally undo this unit. the 30 Guess what KC did last week, they tried to trade for Brady Quinn. So three games into 2008, the Chefs suddenly believe they need a QB? What about 2007? If the Chiefs played the Rams could we arrest the NFL for staging a fake game? Yeah, the Rams . . . . . I finally have to ask this question. Who interviewed Scott Linehan for the job? I can't believe someone hired this guy. Maybe the Wal Mart in St. Louis was closing and Linehan was the last coach left on the shelf. That's the only explanation that comes to mind. Wouldn't it be better if Scotty came out after each game and just uttered gibberish. I can hear it now: Q: "what happened with the pass protection" A: "Blagoo". Q: How about Steven Jackson, is he getting in game shape? A: Tibble tibble schmagiggy, zork. Then the white coats cart Linehan away. Last but never least, I read today that the Saints lost Jeremy Shockey. Well, at least we know which NFC team is going to the SB. Tags:
Week 2 QB Review
Saturday, September 20, 2008, 01:29 PM [General]
I'm not usually an apologist for QB's, but Jason Campbell sure makes me look like one. I find myself using the same excuses everyone else uses when discussing this guy's struggles. But I have one excuse the other's rarely use, "square peg in a round hole". Average armed QB's like Joe Montana and Rich Gannon generally thrive in the WC system. But how many big armed QB's see success in the dink and dunk attack. I count one, Donovan McNabb. I hate seeing bright, talented guys like Campbell stuck trying to work against their best assets. Look for Campbell to end up elsewhere sooner than later if JZ can get Colt Brennan to set his feet before he throws the ball by season's end. For his sake, I hope so. Even McNabb loses it in big games, though. Last week's stellar start against Texas' team was seriously deflated by McNabb's newest choke move, the double-clutch handoff. I consider Westbrook lucky in one respect. At least McNabb didn't McPuke on him. Brodie Croyle. Doesn't that name sound like a gunslinger in a spaghetti western? Here's what it doesn't sound like, an NFL QB's name. But wait, once again, Herman has outdone himself. First Brodie, then Damon, now Tyler . . .wait, this isn't a western, it's an adult video. I thought Duante Culpepper had lost his mind with his conspiracy theory retirement letter. Now I'm starting to believe him. You're gonna tell me that Tyler Thigpen gives a team a better chance to win than Duante Culpepper (in a wheelchair, even). For me, crippled Culpepper starts over a at least a half dozen of the flunkies calling signals in the NFL right now. Sorry JT O'Sullivan, Brodie Croyle, Jon Kitna, Chad Pennington, Tarvaris Jackson/Gus Frerotte Pod, Kerry Collins. Maybe the rap on Culpepper being a locker room devil is deserved. Collusion is all that makes sense right now. No, I didn't include Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan in that group. They've proven nothing yet. Sure Ryan came back to earth last week, and Flacco will too. But both have demonstrated enough to inspire some hope. This just in! In Jacksonville, Wayne Weaver burned a pile of money on a QB dinking and dunking behind the NFL's best running game last year. Can you say Kordell Stewart? What was Weaver thinking? Even Jerry Jones waited a few games into season two to spend big on Tony Romo, and Romo had proven that he could win games throwing. Garrard has only proven that he can lose games throwing. Speaking of winning with his arm, Jay Cutler is probably a season away from being a top 3 QB. If he can handle a full season and diabetes, that is. The only thing I see wrong with Cutler's game this year is the "bowling ball-bomb shelter" phenomena. That's when QB's force passes because they think they can throw a bowling ball through a bomb shelter. Cutler's ability to throw (albeit with a different release) any ball with accuracy reminds me of Joe Namath. Another guy who really impresses me is Philip Rivers. As LaDainan Tomlinson rides the fast track to obsolescence, the team is Rivers' now. Well he has his down spots, no QB gets as hot, for as long, as Rivers does. I still hate his delivery. But his delivery can buy and sell me, so that's that. This just in! Only Al Davis manages to burn a pile of money on a rookie, after the rookie burns his first season holding out. Now, JaMarcus Russell is burning every offensive series for the Raiders. Did the Raiders not watch a second of film on this guy? He's neck and neck with Brodie Croyle for the "How the Hell Did I Get Drafted Award". I've never seen a QB less ready to play in the NFL than Russell. I swear, #2 isn't just staring down his first option, he's screaming "I'm throwing to him" at the top of his lungs too. Wait a minute . . .Jeff Garcia still thinks he got shafted? Let me get this straight. He didn't notice that John Gruden picks a QB to be his whipping boy every year? He didn't notice that his replacement's biggest claim to NFL fame is smashing his head on a sidewalk during a bender? He didn't notice that DETROIT released him? Come on Jeff. Even Steve Bono had a couple good years. Let's move on. Speaking of moving on, how many games before the Cleveland Brown (brown is plural) are Brady's bunch? I'm setting the over under at 4. Why? Because Romeo Crennell has no answers. Cleveland rode an explosive game to ten wins last year. But it had nothing to do with Crennell. I'm not saying Derek Anderson is a year-in, year-out pro bowler. But he's nowhere near as awful as the Brown (brown is plural) look after two games. Yes, Matt Cassel won his first game. Let's hold off on the 2001 reprise for just a bit. Three plays up close and three handoffs? I'm surprised that Broadway Brett didn't announce to the media that he needed some time to determine if he was coming back next game. . . I may not be the biggest Favramaniac, but I still can't get my arms around that one. There's no such thing as a $12mm decoy. Still, no matter who was playing QB, Mangina needs his head examined. Chad Pennington? The other day I said, "My cat Milton's arm is a bazooka compared to Pennington's". My cat walked over, meowed with disgust and slashed me. He had a point. But seriously, watching Pennington's softballs sail softly is just sad now. Marc Bulger has to be telling himself "I make $6mm for this" after every play. No, I haven't said anything about Eli Manning. Peyton, on the other hand, he has no fear of the spotlight. For all his puffy stats, though, I never had more respect for him than last week. Watching Manning get pounded and pick himself up after every play without quitting last week was the best performance I've ever seen from him. That's what winners do. Ben Roethlisberger does that too. Unfortunately, the swinging gate Pittsburgh calls an offensive line doesn't appear to have hope in sight. Folks were questioning the OL in light of Alan Faneca's departure this year. They should have been questioning it since 2003. Despite having at least a respectable rushing attack year in and out, the Steelers haven't been pass-blocking for half a decade now. No one noticed that until this year, evidently. Maybe they should have checked BR's many trips to the injury list. "Ben" as the talking heads love to call him, has yet to play a full season (he even missed game 16 of his rookie year). Did I mention Tony Romo? Why yes I did. Here's what you don't know. Any QB who bumbles and fumbles like Romo did last Monday and last year against Buffalo, has obviously made a deal with the Devil. Any QB who can't win a playoff game, hasn't read the fine print on his contract with Satan though. Finally, Green Bay is quickly becoming Mr. Rogers neighborhood. I'm very interested to see how Mr. Rogers handles this week's test in the Tundra, though. I still think, no matter what, that GB made the right call in "moving on". Now let's see if they have the right guy with whom to move on. Until next week! Tags:
Week 1, QB Review
Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 06:24 PM [General]
What's the over under on David Garrard turning back into the pumpkin that couldn't win a starting job (for how many seasons)? I'm betting 4 games until it happens and 9 games until the PC avengers admit it. No question, Garrard had a dream season last year, but really now. Funny how talking heads were still calling Tom Brady a game manager after he'd won three SB's, but they heap praise on a one year wonder with the best 1-2 running punch in the NFL. Now that Jax is missing two guards, MJD is starting slow and Fred Taylor seems to be coping with some issues, we saw what happens when Garrard has to win games by himself. He doesn't. One can't help but feel for Tom Brady, and despise Bill Belichick. Brady's never been a bruiser, and I had long sensed he was due for a big hurt. Still, no one wants to see a player hurt. I don't know if Belichick's arrogance is tolerable anymore, though. It's not the "life goes on" act he sells to the press that gets me. It's the disservice he does to the fans by not looking for some insurance at the QB spot. Sure Belichick wants to prove that he's the reason NE has flourished, and to a large degree he is. But how many big winners (see Shula, D, and Noll, C.) floundered for a decade or so after they lost their hall of famers? Yeah, Broadway Brett's Jets beat the fish. So? Only the Dolphins lose on a Hail Mary. Besides, am I the only one who's willing to admit that Pennington's arm is made of balsa wood and chewing gum? First Tarvaris Jackson needed to learn the offense, then he needed to get comfortable, now he needs time to recover from the knee sprain. How many FG's does the best team in the NFL without a QB have to kick before people stop making excuses and just him as the Kordell Stewart II experience? He's not a QB, he's a featured back. But the only thing worse than having a running QB who can't pass (see Jackson, T.) is a passing QB who can neither run nor pass. Herman Edwards, the sandlot called, they want Brodie Croyle back. How did Croyle get an NFL roster spot, much less a starting job? I wouldn't want that guy QB'ing a wheelchair team. The wheelchair guys would roll all over him. Raven ravers are wacko for Flacco. How can you not give it up for this guy? He delivered, and with not much notice. Sure, it gets a lot harder real soon for Joe, and yes it's only one game. Still, he has a memory that's hard to top. Matty Ice announced that the Falcons have a QB for the first time this millennium. Now that Home Depot is a memory, maybe Arthur Blank is doing some critical thinking before he writes checks larger than the GDP of third world countries. Don't crown Ryan just yet, but the guy has it. Having Michael Turner as a pair of handcuffs never hurts either. Now if he can just convince the Atlanta wideouts that the ball is not a UFO. Jeff Garcia's hurt and out for week 2. He missed almost all of training camp with an injury. He's 38. He's undersized. He winds up for three yard outs. He doesn't understand why the Bucs didn't give him an extension. Really, I'm not kidding. He doesn't understand. Big Ben won big. Big Ben has an injury. Three years ago, I said the biggest challenge with this guy would be keeping him healthy. Bring back Tommy "Gun" Maddox!!! Finally, write this down: Peyton Manning was not ready to play on Sunday. Somewhere, somehow (Mr. Irsay), the message came in that; if he could crawl, he was starting the first game in the house that Peyton built. Manning gets props for toughing it out, but he was as far off his game as I've ever seen. My fear is that he's having chronic infection issues with that knee. Nothing else explains the lingering problems from a very minor procedure. How many times have we heard of players losing seasons or even careers to staph infections? For Manning's and the game's sake, I hope he recovers fully and quickly. I used to detest manning, but that SB win did something for him. Ever since, he's been humble and self effacing. A few of his commercials are hilarious too. Tags:
As John Madden says . . . Two Favre's don't make a Farve
Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 09:27 AM [General]
Give it up to #4, everyone. He's managed to do what few players in the history of the NFL have ever done. Favre is now more of a story off the field than he ever was on the field. While the other 31 teams benefit from the rare pleasure of flying under the radar as Favregate enters its most critical period to date, Brett and his former bosses have woven a tapestry like none other in the history of the NFL.
While I've long been a critic of Favre holding his team mates and employer hostage come the April showers, I find myself in an unusual space for this chapter of the never retiring story. Favre's "does he or doesn't he" act wore thin with me the very first time he engaged the media in his musings. I think it's incumbent upon every professional athlete, especially those integral to a team, to manage their communication more considerately than Favre has done. The impact of Favre's off-season vacillations has, and should have worn thin among the Packer brass after the first two spring-flings. Players constantly resort to the tried and true "hey, it's a business" rap in contract negotiations, and they have a right to do so. At the same time, resource management is as critical a part of the NFL business as exists. So why not apply the same ethic to the NFL business as any employee in any other business considering retirement would do. Announce one's retirement when one is retiring, shut up until then. The pitch and yaw of Favre's externalized internal discussion is disservice to every co-worker upon whose future organizational stability is built. It's been sickening watching the last few offseasons turn into the Wisconson Favre watch. It's clear that throwing season busting picks isn't enough to keep the Bayou baby engaged for the non-football months. Although he could spend his time wondering why he heaves hail marys into DB's hands at the worst possible moment, or why he jams January spirals into the hands of the opponents, sending his 52 team mates to the golf course of their liking. But aside from John Madden's glee of the extension of his annual man-crush, this offseason has gone from uncertain to gut wrenching in a blink. It's a different sitchoo because Favre and his employer had "crossed the Rubicon". Favre uppped the ante considerably once he announced his spirit was willing, but his body was unwilling although still able. Then the Packers, maybe more tired (of watching every season of the last ten end in a loss) than they care to admit, held the "get out of Favre free card" Mike McCarthy can't tell the cheeseheads he coveted. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure McCarthy appreciates all that Favre has done to elevate the organization. But there are a lot of very successful coaches who pin their success on caretakers rather than gunslingers at the QB spot. McCarthy, regardless of his positional history, likes to win with defense and strong fundamentals. Now who is Mike Mac more able to mold at the QB spot; a living legend or an unproven commodity? It's this idea that makes me think Favre may have "crossed the Rubicon" (much like Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh) with a gentle shove. It's this idea that makes me think that much more of this year's drama sits in the hands of the Packers FO than #4. And that's ok. Just like every player has the right to retire or un-retire, every team has the right to move on. Here's what's not ok. Every NFL team has the right to pay a player as contracted, to play them or not play them. It's not always fair, but it's what both sides agree to when they sign at the bottom line. The Packers, in their infinite wisdom, have chosen to play the NFL slavery card. They not only want Favre not to play for them, they want him not to play for anyone. Because the Pack own Favre's rights, they're exercising the right to preserve #4's legacy against his wishes. In trying to do so, they have already tarnished their legacy mor than Favre's annual immaturity has tarnished his own. The Packers have geometrically outFavre'd Favre with this ugly circus, and it's incumbent upon them as a respectable organization to do not what best serves them, but best serves the game. Favre, regardless of his antics is still among the best regular season QB's in the game. He wants to play. The Packers were among the best teams in the NFL last year, in large part due to an excellent young defense and emergent running game. They want to move on with Aaron Rodgers. It's not the easy thing, it may or not be the best short term answer for the Packers, but the right thing to do is let Favre go to play where he's wanted. Legendary QB's have finished their careers in different colors before, and franchises lived to tell the tale. No one thinks of Joe Montana as a KC Chief (and he won 4 SB's as a 49er by the way), so the Packers' insistence that they're trying to preserve a legacy doesn't hold much water. It's become abundantly clear that the Packers FO is trying both to eat their cake and have it too. Every day that passes only makes them look more piggish. So please, Packers potentates, let the man go. As John Madden says, two Favres don't make a Favre. Tags:
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