The Brett Favre Sweepstakes

NOTE:  I used the Customized Jerseys from the NFL Shop for the following pictures, and they will not let me put “FAVRE” on the back of the Jerseys. So, I had to settle for “FVRE” instead, SMH! I apologize in advance.

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

For the sake of arguement, Let’s say that Comissioner Goodell reinstate Brett Favre. Let’s also say that the Packers decided to trade him.  If that is the case, we have nine teams that may make a play for the NFL’s all time passing TD leader.

Baltimore

Sure the Ravens picked Joe Flacco to step in to become the starter but it seems as if Coach John Harbaugh  is willing to make it anybody’s job to win. Right now, on their depth chart, I see two unprovens and a man that can’t throw rice at a wedding let alone a football. Why not stir the pot by getting Favre? In Baltimore, Favre can actually succeed.  With Brett under center, the Ravens could very well evolve from run first offense to the West Coast Offense.  Think about it! Willis McGahee is a decent receiving back and Todd Heap is a phenomenal tight end.  Playing with Brett can make Yamon Figures, Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason better. It is worth the gamble for Ozzie Newsome and Steve Bisciotti to make a play but what or who will Baltimore give up?

Chicago

For the life of me, I don’t understand why the Bears insist on giving Rex Grossman chance after chance to get it right. He is one more bad season away from the inevetiable. The Bears might as well give Brett a try. At least the offense will have a modicum of stability. Favre is resourceful. He can make any situation work.

 

Carolina

The only thing wrong with Jake Delhomme is he’s often injured, and the Panthers backups cannot get it done. If Favre winds up in Charlotte, he will have  Pro Bowl targets in Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad to throw to. Favre can also help make young recievers like DJ Hackett and Dwayne Jarrett better. Also joining Favre in the backfield is DeAngelo Williams. Now, Williams proved himself to be a solid back in the shadow of DeShaun Foster. Last season, Willams registered 717 yards and 4 touchdowns. With Foster gone, Williams can flourish. There is potential for Brett to be successful in the Queen City.

Miami

LOL The Dolphins need all the help they can get. That team is a hot mess! While having Brett will improve things just a tad in Miami, I really dont think that the Dolphins are a good fit because they are such a mess on both sides of the ball.

Tampa

Now, you all know that Jon Gruden (AKA Chucky, AKA The Quarterback Groupie) will try and convince the front office to get at Brett. Being in Tampa can be very familiar for #4 because he knows Chucky. Gruden was an offensive assistant and wide receivers coach for the Packers from 1992 to 1994. Putting Favre in Buccanneer Red and Pewter is not reall an idea fit but it is a better fit than Miami.

San Francisco

The Niner Empire is spoiled, and they have been so for 26 years. If your team had the luxury of having not one but two hall of fame quarterbacks and the greatest wide receiver of all time on your team, you will spoild too.  The 49ers are not getting it done with Alex Smith, and Shaun Hill isnt really convinsing as a starter. If Faver dons the Scarlet and Gold, he will be working wiht a formidable trio in Isaac Bruce, Ashley Lelie, and Arnaz Battle.  Farve is also covered in the backfield with the tandem of Frank Gore and DeShaun Foster. Favre would thrive in the city by the Bay, the Niner Empire will still be spoild, and everyone is happy.

Minnesota

Now, Brett may not have any stand out options in the passing game here, but he’ll have Adrian Peterson. Favre is known for his resorsefulness. In additon to resorcefullness, #4 is also known for drama. What is more dramatic than Brett rolling into Lambeau wearing a purple and gold and white jersey with a pair of Viking horns on his helmet? What is more dramatic than Brett engineering a 87 yard winning drive against his old team. Talk about payback! LOL.

Atlanta

Seventeen years after trading Brett for a first round draft pick in 92 (19th overall, Tony Smith), the Falcons can redeem themselves.  Granted, Atlanta did select Matt Ryan but Favre is a proven winner.  This is a city still trying to move on from the Michael Vick saga; might as well get Favre and put some butts in Georgia Dome seats. On the field, Favre will have another talented running back in Michael Turner to help carry the team.  Joe Horn is dependable as well.

 

Seattle

I know that the Seahawks do not have QB problems but it will be special to reunite Mike Holmgreen with Favre for the coach’s final NFL season. These two had years of succes in Green Bay. It’ll be exciting if the duo can duplicate past success.

 

So, there you have it folks! If Green Bay want to trade Brett Favre,  Where should he go?  Should he stay retired? Fans, it’s on you.

Packers Demolish ‘Hawks

As long as the Packers have Ryan Grant in the backfield, I will never  again write them off as a one dimensional team.  After those two fumbles early on, Grant redeemed himself with 201 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Packers destroyed Seattle 42-20.  On Sunday, I made a boneheaded prediction.  I said that the Seahawks would win beause of their defense. I said that Bobby Engram was gonna cut up the Packs’ secondary. What the hell was I thinking? After that touchdown, it was a wrap for him.

But back to Grant. He set franchise records in playoff games for rushing and  rushing touchdows-eclipsing Ahman Greens mark of 156 yds on the ground. This was also Grant’s sixth 100 yard game of the season. The scary thing about this is he only started 7 games this year. Imagine his numbers if he started for the full season? I feel hella  foolish for doubting this guy but imagine how the Giants feel.

New York did not do a thing with Ryan but trade him, Now, he has thrived in Green Bay. I know Jerry Reece is kicking his own ass for letting this guy go.

As far as the Hawks are concerned, they were exposed as fradulent.  Their defense was MIA and the offense was nonexistent. Shaun Alexander had 20 yards on the ground.  Engram only had 67 yds.  Saying that I have overestimated Seattle, is a gross understatement.

Well, I have said my piece about this game. I’m not gonna grovel for you. Hell, I’m bending my back as it is! That was horrible prediction on my part, and that’s all I have to say.

Playoff Forecast: The NFC

Cowboys

Packers

 Seahawks

Bucs

 Giants

Redskins

Wild Card

Redskins vs Seahawks

Giants vs Bucs

While Dallas and Green Bay looks good on paper, and should meet for the championship, The NFC field is not as clear cut as you may think. While it is not as tough as the AFC, there should be some great match ups here.  Seattle, Tampa, and the Giants all boast impressive defenses. The Giants and the Bucs are two sack happy defenses. New York lead the league in sacks this year while Tampa isn’t that far behind. Seattle thrives on the ability to blitz. Physical defenses and the ability to create different packages will confuse Dallas. While Romo’s been great for most of the year, he was losing focus in the second half. I actually look for that trend to continue.

The Cowboys are also vulnerable on defense. Being blitz happy will not be enough for a team like Washington. Clinton Portis is very good at picking up blitzes.  This gives Todd Collins extra time in the pocket where hes propelled the ‘Skins to four straight wins. For the Redskins, I would like for them to get Betts more involved in the offense and to use the attributes that made Randel-El so dangerous in Pittsburgh. Washington will need their offence to compensate for the defense.

I’m concerned about Green Bay because they are one dimensional. The burden of the Packers’ success once again falls on Brett Favre’s arm. He is expected to thow and throw often. The cast of characters, must continue to step up if Green Bay have any shot at the NFC championship.

In Seattle, there is the talk of Hasselbeckwinning games with his arm. Honestly, I dont see that happening. First off, Hasselbeck can’t seem to stay off the ground. He was sacked 33 times this season. His touchdown to interception ratio don’t do it for me either. Seattle’s leading receiver, Bobby Engram is a man alone because no one else at wideout can catch. If he wants the team to go far,   Mike Holmgren should establish a running attack with Shaun Alexander to provide some sort of balance to the offense.

While the Giants defense is solid, I still have my reservations about the offense. Eli Manning should great poise against the Patriots until he got too eager and threw the game changing interceptions late in the game. If he could play with the same poise and focus against Tampa, they should not have any problems moving on to the divisional round. The key for the Giants is the connection between Manning  and Jermey Shockey’s backup, Kevin Boss. 

My only concern about the Giants’ defense is the line. Jeff Garcia has been pretty successful agaisnt the defense. So far, Garcia boast a 4-1 record against  New York.  The defence must make adjustments to Gruden’s variation of the West Coast Offence.  In Chucky’s version, Garcia can ad lib his adjustments whenever and connect quickly with the wide outs. However, I believe that New York will make those adjustments.

For the wild card round, I pick  the ‘Skins over the Seahawks and the Giants over the Bucs.

When the Roar Of the Crowd Fade!

  

  

Seventy-eight!

This is the precentage of players that are either divorced, permanately injurjed, or bankrupt after their football career.

One-third!

This is the fraction of retiring players who are college graduates.

Few and far between!

This is the number of active players who are college graduates.

For many NFL players, football is their identity and their sense of pupose. For the majority, the game is all they know. However, there comes a time when it is time to hang up the cleats for good. After the the applause, after the last press confrence, and after the cheering stops, the player is forced to deal with the “real world” Looking at the numbers, most of these guys are not making a successful transisition after the game.

For the college players, I think that it is wise to take your classes and your major seriously. The average NFL career last any where from 3-5 years. If you make it to 10+  years, you are blessed and extremely fortunate! For the future, I think it is wise for the player to make contacts with folks in their field of interest. In the offseason, it is a good idea for the player to have an appreticeship or even an intership. For example, Miami Dolphins RB Samkon Gado wants to be a doctor after football. During his time in Green Bay, Gado was working in a hospital under doctors.  Gado, receieved a bachelor’s degree in health promotions and studied pre med courses at Liberty University. During the offseason, Gado took the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). 

Giants CB, R.W. McQuarters own a construction company in Tulsa, Ok where he also works along with his employees.

There are quite a few ex players who made a smooth transistion after the game. Tiki Barber and Keyshawn Johnson are turning out to be solid analysts.  Keyshawn holds a degree from USC in communications and provided an array of soundbites thoughout the years as a player. Going into the booth was a natural fit for this guy.

Barber holds a degree from the University of Virginia in Management Information Systems, but caught the media fever as a player. His elequence caught the eye Fox and later NBC. Now he is on the network’s ‘Football Night In America’.

After an illustrious career with the Seattle Seahawks, hall of famer Steve Largent found his way into politics. In 1994, Largent became a member of the House of Representatives from Oklahoma’s first district. He would hold that position until 2002.  After an unsuccessful run for Oklahoma govenor, Largent is now the President and CEO of the CTIA-The Wireless Association.

Hall Of Fame Quarterback Steve Young made sure he would not have to struggle after the NFL. During the prime of his career, Young earned his Juris Doctor from BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. In addition to that, he is now in the private equity field. If that wasn’t enough, he is broadcasting for ESPN and still getting his yearly annuinity from the USFL.

Players can do it. They can be successful and carve a productive identity after football. The blueprint is there.

RED ZONE’S SEASON FORECAST: NFC WEST

  

1.49ers

Now, this is my pick as the NFC darkhorse. These guys showed some shades of promise late last season. I think that rookie LB Patrick Willis will make an immediate impact for the defense. Alex Smith will become more comfortable in his role as QB and shut up his naysayers.

2007 projected record 10-6

2.Rams

With St. Louis, I see a middle of the road team that was once great. The 49ers caught up to them.

2007 projected record 9-7

  

3.Cardinals

While they have the ingredients to be great, I’m not really sold on Matt Lineart leading this team. Look for Edge and Fitz to bail Matt out

2007 projected record 6-10

  

4.Seahawks

Shaun Alexander cannot win games alone. I’m expecting a struggle with this team.

2007 projected record 5-11