For every beginning, there is an end.

I have been watching the Green Bay Packers play football for a long time, and never have I watched them with any man other than Brett Favre lining up behind center.

The beginning of the legend that is Favre started in 1992. As the perennially uncompetitive Packers were hosting the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field, Green Bay quarterback Don Majkowski fell to the turf, writhing in pain as he held his ankle. Head coach Mike Holmgren motioned towards his bench, and out from behind the crowd of green jerseys emerged some kid, some immature, strong armed, yet erratic third stringer that new General Manager Ron Wolf had squandered a first round pick on to acquire him from Atlanta. No one knew of him, no one knew what to expect of him, and very few knew quite how to pronounce his name.

They would quickly learn.

Favre connected with obscure receiver Kitrick Taylor for the game winning touchdown in the closing moments of the game, and the rest was history. A record three MVP awards, a Super Bowl championship, and scores of remarkable numbers that may never be toppled later, Brett Favre is a lock to make the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, and is arguably the best quarterback to ever play the game.

For every beginning, there is an end.

Soon, we may know;  more likely, we'll be living through year three of the Brett-Favre-holds-the-franchise-hostage-as-he-pond
ers-retirement saga. I’ve been saying since before this season started that I thought this would be number four’s last, and I’m fairly certain that it is. In a season where there has been little to cheer for, I can’t recall the last time I got quite so anxious watching a Packer game as I did in the fourth quarter this past Sunday. All I kept thinking as the clock ticked down and Seattle attempted an onside kick was, “curtain call.” The Packers eventually retained possession and then, in the closing seconds, we had it. It was brief – surprisingly brief, I mean if Michael Jordan gets six minutes in a Wizards uniform in Philadelphia, why couldn’t Favre get one – but it was a sight to behold nonetheless. I talk very little during football games (I never got the yelling at the TV thing; I mean, it’s not like they can hear you), but as the crowd rose, Favre trotted off the field as Aaron Rodgers jogged past him to take his place, and as he acknowledged the Green Bay faithful, I said aloud with a tone of unwelcome finality, “this is it.” This was the moment that Packer fans have dreaded for years, yet at the same time, out of morbid curiosity, had wished to witness. After all, Favre had done everything necessary: he threw a touchdown pass to Antonio Chatman, had another bomb to Donald Driver, had gotten his due praise, and to top it off had actually won the game, sadly a great achievement for the Packers during this disaster of a season, finishing dead last in the NFC North at 4-12 – their first losing season in the Favre era.

The Packers will have the fifth pick in the NFL Draft in April; if they had lost to Seattle, they would’ve picked third, and it hurts me to say probably would’ve ended up with Southern Cal RB Reggie Bush, who may be the best tailback of the next decade (as Houston would’ve taken Virginia OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson with the first pick, and the Saints USC quarterback Matt Leinart second). Head coach Mike Sherman may or not be fired; I’ve said before that they can’t justify it, but if Sherman does get the axe some possible replacements could be former Lions head coach Steve Mariucci, Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, Falcons defensive coordinator (and wrongfully exiled former Packers defensive coordinator) Ed Donatell, and current Packers defensive coordinator Jim Bates.  RB Ahman Green is a longshot to return, FB William Henderson may retire, and there is a gaping hole at OG to be filled. If Favre retires, the Packers will have gabs of money to throw around in the offseason. If he returns, well, then this was a wasted column. In any case, great changes are on the horizon for the Green Bay Packers.

If Brett Favre isn’t around for it, it’s been a privilege to watch him play all these years.

For every beginning, there is an end.

Let the next era begin.

What a difference a season can make.

It seems like years ago that Daune Culpepper was an MVP candidate, the Eagles were a contender, the Lions were a playoff team, Cedric Benson was a great draft pick, and any team but the Colts was favored to win the Super Bowl.

Yet, it was only in August that those sentiments were being harped.  And now, here in the final week of December and nearing the end of the 2005 regular season, it's time to set the record straight and hand out some hardware.

Here are your 2005 NFL award winners.

Most Valuable Player:  Tiki Barber, RB, N.Y. Giants

This is the most difficult MVP to call in years, but in the end the most compelling nod has to go to New York's Barber, who has had the best season of his career and has finally proven his doubters wrong en route to solidifying his position as an elite tailback.  Eli Manning initially got a great deal of the pub for the Giants' success this season, but Barber eventually took center stage, rushing for over 100 yards in five consecutive games leading into this week, including a pair of 200 yard performances, against Washington (206 yards on 24 carries) and Kansas City (220 yards on 29 carries), respectively.  As Manning's inexperience has shown down the stretch this season, Barber has picked up the slack, and with the Giants on the verge of clinching the NFC East, he appears the most logical MVP selection.

2.  Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle;  3.  Tom Brady, QB, New England

Offensive Player of the Year:  Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle

Often, the man who gets left out on the MVP ends up with this award, and the Seahawks RB is no exception.  While Alexander has statistically had a better season than Tiki Barber -- no to mention that Alexander is on the verge of breaking Priest Holmes' single season touchdown record -- his impact on Seattle's great season hasn't been as strong as Barber's impact with the Giants has.  However, there's no denying that Alexander is the engine that has Seattle's offense running like a well oiled machine, and who could get the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl in team history.

2.  Tiki Barber, RB, N.Y. Giants;  3.  Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati

Defensive Player of the Year:  Nathan Vasher, CB, Chicago

When they nickname you "The Interceptor," you know you're having a great season.  Vasher's eight interceptions are tops in the NFL, and his picks have often come at the most convenient of times for the league's best defense.  No one could have imagined the shutdown corner and turnover machine that Vasher, who has some forced fumbles and fumble recoveries as well, would ultimately become.

2.  Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis;  3.  Osi Umenyiora, DE, N.Y. Giants

Offensive Rookie of the Year:  Carnell Williams, RB, Tampa Bay

Perhaps the biggest surprise this season was that this award did not have a whole lot of compelling competition for it.  Williams wins it almost by default, thanks largely in part to the outstanding first several weeks of the season he had.  After falling off a bit, Cadillac is back on track and trying to lead the Bucs to the postseason.  He has been by far the most impressive of the great crop of RB selected in this year's draft.

2.  Samkon Gado, RB, Green Bay;  3.  Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami

Defensive Rookie of the Year:  Shawne Merriman, LB, San Diego

All of the Lofa Tatupu supporters out there may be disappointed, but while Lofa has not only had a great season but has an awesome name as well, it's Merriman who gets the DROY nod in the end.  After an initially unimpressive start, in which he didn't play in the season opener against Dallas and had little if any impact in the ensuing games, the rookie LB has finished strong, registering six sacks over his previous three games, and is on his way to the Pro Bowl.  The fact that the offenses in the AFC West have a tad bit of an advantage over those in the NFC West also leads one to make such a call.

2.  Lofa Tatupu, LB, Seattle;  3.  DeMarcus Ware, LB/DE, Dallas

Most Improved Player of the Year:  Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati

You may not know it, but Carson Palmer has probably been the best quarterback in the NFL this season for the AFC North Champion Bengals (Did I just say that?  What a time to be alive).  Try these numbers on for size:  with two games left to go, has thrown for 3,516 yards, 30 TDs, 10 INTs, and has an outstanding completion percentage of just under 68%.  Furthermore, while I invest little validity into the statistic, he also had an excellent quarterback rating of 102.6.  I think it's safe to say the Bengals finally got it right at quarterback.

2.  Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City;  3.  Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants

Comeback Player of the Year:  Steve Smith, WR, Carolina

The fact that Tedy Bruschi returned to the field after a stroke is one of the most remarkable stories in the history of the sports, but in terms of overall football performance this award just has to go to Steve Smith.  After breaking his leg in week one last year and following up his breakout season with an astonishing six catches, Smith has not only returned to form, but has actually returned as arguably the best WR in the NFL.  With two games left on the plate, Smith as caught 93 passes for 1,414 yards and 11 TDs, all of them career highs.  Furthermore, Smith was elected this past week to his second Pro Bowl, his first as a WR (he was previously elected as a kick returner).  The scariest thing of all is that this guy is only 26, and hasn't even begun to realize his potential.

2.  Tedy Bruschi, LB, New England;  3.  Brad Johnson, QB, Minnesota

Coach of the Year:  Tony Dungy, Indianapolis

I usually subscribe to the theory that this award shouldn't be given to the coach with the best team, but should be given to someone who won a lot more with a lot less.  However, when a team has been as dominant as the Colts have been this season, it's hard to justify giving the award to anyone else.  As I look back on these awards, I myself am astonished that Dwight Freeney is the only name on any list who plays for the Colts;  no Manning, no Edge, no Harrison.  They've all had huge seasons, but I suppose their absence is proof that this is a truly fantastic team, and that their collective efforts overshadow any of their individual achievements.  Whether they win the Super Bowl or not, they're the best team I've ever seen, and that's worthy of recognition.

2.  Lovie Smith, Chicago;  3.  Mike Tice, Minnesota

Some guys just get no respect.

When Mike Sherman, a relatively unknown commodity who had served as offensive coordinator in Seattle and as an assistant in Green Bay under Mike Holmgren, was hired to replace Ray Rhodes as head coach in 2000, the hiring was met mostly with intrigue.

Packer fans, who had suffered through over two decades of futility prior to the arrival of Holmgren, general manager Ron Wolf, and quarterback Brett Favre, had gotten used to success; 1999, their lone season under Rhodes, was Green Bay’s first non-winning season since 1991, as Green Bay finished 8-8.

Five years later, Mike Sherman has established himself as one of the most successful head coaches in the history of one of the National Football League’s most prized franchises.

So, why does everyone want him out?

In the midst of their first losing season in over a decade, Packer fans and league pundits alike have begun to turn on Sherman, ironic considering a lot of them never bought into the man to begin with. Sherman, who has been dubbed "Charmin" in some circles here in Wisconsin (because he’s cushiony soft), is now being faced with the speculation that he may be replaced at season’s end, perhaps by exiled Lions head coach and former Packers quarterbacks coach Steve Mariucci. As the losses pile up, the criticism will grow, and ultimately first year GM Ted Thompson will have to make a decision on Sherman.

As a life long Packer fan, I have a strong opinion on this matter, but it does not fall into that of the majority:

Let the man stay.

You want reasons? Here are a few fairly convincing ones:

1. They aren’t that bad.

Make no mistake, 3-10 is what it is. With that in mind, it should be duly noted that in the ten games Green Bay has lost this season, five games have been by three point or less, and the biggest defeat, the season opener at Detroit, was by fourteen. The Packers had perhaps the single most dominant game in team history when they slaughtered the woebegone Saints in week five, 52-3. They also managed to perhaps ruin Atlanta’s playoff hopes when they upset the Falcons five weeks ago. All of these things taken into consideration, ponder this: if you gave Mike Sherman a legit tailback (all due respect to Samkon Gado, but the guy is a third down back at best in the long run), All-Pro WR Javon Walker, and a right guard who could block a turkey sandwich, the Packers may have very well be in the playoff hunt right now. Also, huge credit has to be given to first year defensive coordinator Jim Bates, who has taken a laughingstock of a defense and turned them into a top ten unit, including the top ranked pass defense in the NFL. Despite their awful record, the Green Bay Packers have laid down for no one in 2005.

2. Even with his team’s struggles, Sherman still commands the locker room.

With all the drama surrounding Favre, the preseason contract gaffes with Walker and DT Grady Jackson, the abundance of injuries, the "Fire Sherman" proclamations that have now commenced in green and gold clad message boards across the internet, and the obvious reality that the season is pretty much lost, Mike Sherman somehow has still managed to hold his locker room firmly together. He hasn’t cracked under the pressure that his job may be in jeopardy (despite the minor contract extension he received prior to the start of the season), and he has his players competing to the upmost of their abilities each and every week.

 3. The man’s record speaks for itself.

Here’s a little known, if largely overlooked fact: in the illustrious history of the Green Bay Packers, only the late, great Vince Lombardi has had a higher winning percentage than Mike Sherman. Looking past this season’s struggles, just look at the record this man has compiled:

2000: 9-7

2001: 12-4, playoff berth

2002: 12-4, NFC North Champions

2003: 10-6, NFC North Champions

2004: 10-6, NFC North Champions

Here are a few more interesting tidbits of knowledge for you:

- second fastest of Green Bay’s thirteen head coaches to reach fifty career victories

- 6-2 road record in 2004, a team best since 1972

- in his first five seasons, had a 20-4 record on or after December 1^st, best in the NFL over that time span

- 4-0 on or after December 1^st in 2003 and 2004

- 8-0 at Lambeau Field in 2002

- three consecutive division titles from ‘02-‘04 are matched in club history only by Lombardi’s 1965-67 and Holmgren’s 1995-97 division winners

- one of four head coaches in Packers history with a career winning percentage over .500, joining Lombardi, Holmgren, and team founder Curly Lambeau

So, with these facts now taken into consideration, answer me this:

How again does firing Mike Sherman make the Green Bay Packers a better football team?

How cruel reality can be.

For the residents of what used to be the great city of New Orleans, life will likely never be quite the same as it was prior to Hurricane Katrina, now being proclaimed by many as the worst natural disaster -- if not the worst disaster period -- in American history.

While the ravages of this horrible storm were felt by everyone across our country, impacting us not only emotionally but also financially, the winds of the storm that blew away so many hopes and dreams also blew two professional sports teams away from the state of Louisiana, possibly for good. The argument is being made that the New Orleans Saints should somehow find a way to remain in the Big Easy, and I would concur, although unfortunately I doubt it's going to happen.

As it relates to their NBA counterparts?

As they say in Oklahoma City, "start the buses."

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought they had been misinformed upon learning that Oklahoma City, not Baton Rouge, would be the Hornets temporary home until/if they could return home to New Orleans. However, to the surprise of many, it's been a booming success, and has led me to draw a conclusion on the matter: while we all hope and pray that New Orleans again becomes what it once was, the Hornets shouldn't be part of those plans, because they should stay right where they are.

After all, who's gonna care?

Anyone who tries to make the case that permanently relocating the Hornets to the OKC is some kind of cruel, undeserved punishment to the people of New Orleans is being a tad melodramatic, because the somewhat concealed truth of the matter is that no one in New Orleans gave a #### about the Hornets to begin with, and the numbers prove it.

After ditching Charlotte, where the Hornets had once been the model in the NBA for how to draw big, the newly dubbed New Orleans Hornets managed to pull off the least impressive of double-doubles: they not only fell from postseason contenders to ping-pong-ball-worshiping-doormats, but also managed to quickly become the lowest drawing team in basketball. For the 2003-2004 season, the Hornets ranked 28th out of the then existing 29 NBA teams with an average of 14,332 fans per game, a total of 587,613 walking through the turnstiles. By contrast, the top drawing team in the league, Detroit, was averaging 21,290 a night, a total of 872,902 for the season, an enormous total in comparison with the Hornets.

Oh, it gets worse.

Last season the Hornets finished dead last in attendance, dropping to an average of 14,092 per game. Sure, they may have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention by the middle of November, but there's little justification when you're drawing behind the Atlanta freakin' Hawks, the team with arenas so empty that you could carry on a conversation with someone sitting across the court while the game was going on. Ironically, the Hornets failed to outdraw the team that replaced them in Charlotte, the expansion Bobcats, who finished 28th overall attendance wise in their inaugural season.

Some blame the "small market factor" when it comes to numbers like this. However, in 03/04, small markets hit it big with Utah finishing sixth in overall attendance, Toronto eighth, and Cleveland ninth. Even after their almost-as-pitiful-as-the-Hornets 04/05 campaign, the Raptors still managed to finish 15th in overall attendance, perhaps aided by the NHL's, uh, hiatus.

With all that in mind, the number that now leaps off the stat sheet is this: seven. As in the Oklahoma City Hornets' rank as the seventh highest drawing team in the NBA this season, with an average turnout of 18,665 per game. The Hornets have played inspired, though not terribly efficient, basketball this season, even prompting New Orleans native and long-time Hornet PF P.J. Brown to give his props to the displaced franchise's new found shelter.

Long story short, the bottom line is this: while taking the Hornets away from New Orleans is hardly the saintly (pun fully intended) thing to do, it's the best business decision for the franchise and, in the end, that's what's going to make Oklahoma City the newest NBA destination.  New Orleans has already lost one NBA franchise, and the numbers are proof that the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana have not cared about and supported the second one enough to keep it.

New Orleans, meet Vancouver.  Misery loves company.

Sources for attendance statistics: 

http://www.insidehoops.com/attendance.shtml>, http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0779624.html<
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