J-E-T-S. Jets! Jets! Jets!
For perhaps the first time in franchise history, the New York Jets will be the talk of the league--hell, the nation--heading into an NFL season. The same franchise that brought you Blair Thomas, Pete Carroll before the rah-rah, Richie Kotite, Kyle Brady and countless other forgettable and regrettable names has now acquired the most prolific quarterback in NFL history.
Does this make the Jets the best team in the AFC? No. Does it make them the best team in the AFC East? Well, no. But after an offseason of eyebrow-raising big spending in free agency, GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini have clearly stated that they are playing for the present and not the future. And Brett Favre as your QB over both Pennington and Clemens certainly represents the present. Never mind the eyebrows being raised regarding whether or not Brett can learn a new system. It's Brett Favre. The absence of West Coast terminology aside, I'm willing to bet that Favre will pick up the Brian Schottenheimer offense fast enough. Will it be painful watching the offense early on? You bet. But if the Jets can get through the first four games of the season 2-2 (the two losses coming to San Diego and New England), I think Favre can develop a nice rapport with Coles and Cotchery, along with Chris Baker and old pal Bubba Franks. The options before Favre: Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. Now I very much believe Clemens can be a solid NFL quarterback. He just would not have been good this season. And as much as I love Pennington's moxy, he has always struggled to throw the 20-yard "in" and the 15-yard "out." But he still would be a very good backup and fill-in starter. They both have NFL futures. Unfortunately, neither player is Brett Favre.
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Devaluing Devin
First things first. Brett, if you are going to have contact with Vikings brass, at least use the cell that was not provided by the Pack. I know it was an oversight, but it's 2008. Everything gets tracked buddy. I'm sure that this phone isn't the only one that you have. And if it is, well, I'm actually impressed by your frugality. We need more of that in our athletes today...
Surprise! Surprise! Another whiny Chicago Bear is making news. No, this time it isn't Brian Urlacher, who weasled his way into more money. Now it's "Superman" Devin Hester, apparently the greatest return man in NFL history according to pretty much every NFL "expert" and talking head. Hester is holding out of Bears camp, unhappy that he would be the last Bear to receive his big payday after brass re-upped with Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, Robbie Gould, Kyle Orton, Desmond Clark and Sexy Rexy. While there is no question that #23 has been arguably the most valuable Bear the past two seasons, the move to hold out is a classless joke on his part. If he was an established receiver making $445,000 a year, I would be in his corner. But for a guy who is still a baby at the wideout position, it speaks volumes to his dedication to the game of football to miss valuable camp time working with your QB's and going through reps.
I certainly have never been a Jerry Angelo fan, particularly during his time running the Bears. And even though I agree that Hester arguably should have been a bigger priority in the offseason, at least he has been in negotiations with Hester's agent Eugene Parker and genuinely is has been trying to hammer out a deal. While he and Lovie Smith, in my opinion, have miscast Hester as the team's number one wideout, he knew going into this season that renegotiating with Hester was the fair prudent thing to do. And he was doing just that.
Devin Hester wants more money. The Bears want to give Devin Hester more money. The action being taken by Hester is deplorable, which fits right in with the Bears players' way of doing things apparently. If reports are true that the Bears offered to make Hester the highest-paid return man in league history with bonus clauses that would kick in as he develops as a receiver, then Hester is delerious. Sit out all you want Devin, but I hope you understand the multiple risks involved.
Surprise! Surprise! Another whiny Chicago Bear is making news. No, this time it isn't Brian Urlacher, who weasled his way into more money. Now it's "Superman" Devin Hester, apparently the greatest return man in NFL history according to pretty much every NFL "expert" and talking head. Hester is holding out of Bears camp, unhappy that he would be the last Bear to receive his big payday after brass re-upped with Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, Robbie Gould, Kyle Orton, Desmond Clark and Sexy Rexy. While there is no question that #23 has been arguably the most valuable Bear the past two seasons, the move to hold out is a classless joke on his part. If he was an established receiver making $445,000 a year, I would be in his corner. But for a guy who is still a baby at the wideout position, it speaks volumes to his dedication to the game of football to miss valuable camp time working with your QB's and going through reps.
I certainly have never been a Jerry Angelo fan, particularly during his time running the Bears. And even though I agree that Hester arguably should have been a bigger priority in the offseason, at least he has been in negotiations with Hester's agent Eugene Parker and genuinely is has been trying to hammer out a deal. While he and Lovie Smith, in my opinion, have miscast Hester as the team's number one wideout, he knew going into this season that renegotiating with Hester was the fair prudent thing to do. And he was doing just that.
Devin Hester wants more money. The Bears want to give Devin Hester more money. The action being taken by Hester is deplorable, which fits right in with the Bears players' way of doing things apparently. If reports are true that the Bears offered to make Hester the highest-paid return man in league history with bonus clauses that would kick in as he develops as a receiver, then Hester is delerious. Sit out all you want Devin, but I hope you understand the multiple risks involved.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Favre Redux
Alright, alright. Perhaps I jumped the gun on the Ted Thompson bashing. Perhaps.
If it's true that Brett Favre began the comeback talks with Pack brass back in March and they apparently were receptive to the idea--on the condition that the decision be made sooner rather than later in order to not deter Rodgers from getting the reps in OTA's--then I give a bit of a reprieve to Ted Thompson. A bit of a reprieve. The fact of the matter is that the NFL is a win-now league and a business. And Brett Favre gives you the best chance to win. Should they worry about losing the confidence of Aaron Rodgers? If Rodgers can't handle some adversity, then he isn't the long-term solution at quarterback anyway.
If in fact that March press conference was scheduled in Mississippi to announce his comeback and Favre called it off because of second thoughts, then I completely understand the hesitancy of Thompson. But Favre is human. We do have second, third and fourth thoughts.
This was botchery at its finest by Brett. No question about it. But don't ask the guy to come back as a backup Ted. If one wants to argue that Brett isn't being fair to the team by the way he is pining to come back, then I will argue that Ted is not being fair to the team by not annointing him the starter for the Week One Monday night showdown against the Minnesota Vikings.
But, at least Ted Thompson is making a decision these days. And he's been pretty steadfast in this one, too. But I still can't blame Brett for his wavering desires and passions.
If it's true that Brett Favre began the comeback talks with Pack brass back in March and they apparently were receptive to the idea--on the condition that the decision be made sooner rather than later in order to not deter Rodgers from getting the reps in OTA's--then I give a bit of a reprieve to Ted Thompson. A bit of a reprieve. The fact of the matter is that the NFL is a win-now league and a business. And Brett Favre gives you the best chance to win. Should they worry about losing the confidence of Aaron Rodgers? If Rodgers can't handle some adversity, then he isn't the long-term solution at quarterback anyway.
If in fact that March press conference was scheduled in Mississippi to announce his comeback and Favre called it off because of second thoughts, then I completely understand the hesitancy of Thompson. But Favre is human. We do have second, third and fourth thoughts.
This was botchery at its finest by Brett. No question about it. But don't ask the guy to come back as a backup Ted. If one wants to argue that Brett isn't being fair to the team by the way he is pining to come back, then I will argue that Ted is not being fair to the team by not annointing him the starter for the Week One Monday night showdown against the Minnesota Vikings.
But, at least Ted Thompson is making a decision these days. And he's been pretty steadfast in this one, too. But I still can't blame Brett for his wavering desires and passions.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Furor over Favre
Obviously the talk of the sports world has been the prospective return of Brett Favre. Most sports talk radio hosts and television talking heads that I've heard and seen are taking the stance that it was inevitable for him to get the itch to play, and that it would be unfair to ask his replacement, Aaron Rodgers, to step aside again after taking all of the practice reps in OTA's. While I agree that a Favre return was as likely as the sun rising the next day, I don't concur on the point regarding Rodgers. The fact of the matter is that Rodgers should be working hard anyway because in the NFL the guy in front of you is just one blindside hit away from pressing you into service. So in actuality, the reps Rodgers has been getting are still valuable. The notion of it being fair or unfair is moot. The NFL and every other sport is about winning, and whoever gives you the best chance to win should be starting.
So if Brett Favre does decide he wants to return, this situation falls directly into the hands of GM Ted Thompson. There were whispers before Mike McCarthy was even hired two years ago that Thompson was secretly hoping Favre would retire and open the starting job up for Rodgers. Perhaps McCarthy would not have minded this, either, as it would give him the opportunity to tutor his young QB and grow right along with him. If Thompson did indeed feel that way at the time, he certainly cannot be happy about a Favre return. It speaks volumes when he reportedly barely even responded to a text message from Favre less than a week ago. Vacation or not, you would think that Thompson would be a little bit more excited about the prospect of perhaps the best quarterback in NFL history returning to the franchise that he helped revive.
If Thompson returns from his hiatus and Favre is indeed serious about a return, he should be explicity clear about his stance with Favre and Favre alone. Whether he wants to include McCarthy in the conversation is up to him. But as soon as he returns, he owes it to the Green Bay Packers' organization and fans to take a stance. No more secrecy.
I know what people are going to say. "What about the wavering Brett is doing? He's been pulling the same stunt for three years." My response to that: 61,655 yards, 442 TD's, 3 League MVP's, 2 Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl victory and a revival of pro football in Green Bay. I think the token Jeff Tedford overrated QB can wait another year.
So if Brett Favre does decide he wants to return, this situation falls directly into the hands of GM Ted Thompson. There were whispers before Mike McCarthy was even hired two years ago that Thompson was secretly hoping Favre would retire and open the starting job up for Rodgers. Perhaps McCarthy would not have minded this, either, as it would give him the opportunity to tutor his young QB and grow right along with him. If Thompson did indeed feel that way at the time, he certainly cannot be happy about a Favre return. It speaks volumes when he reportedly barely even responded to a text message from Favre less than a week ago. Vacation or not, you would think that Thompson would be a little bit more excited about the prospect of perhaps the best quarterback in NFL history returning to the franchise that he helped revive.
If Thompson returns from his hiatus and Favre is indeed serious about a return, he should be explicity clear about his stance with Favre and Favre alone. Whether he wants to include McCarthy in the conversation is up to him. But as soon as he returns, he owes it to the Green Bay Packers' organization and fans to take a stance. No more secrecy.
I know what people are going to say. "What about the wavering Brett is doing? He's been pulling the same stunt for three years." My response to that: 61,655 yards, 442 TD's, 3 League MVP's, 2 Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl victory and a revival of pro football in Green Bay. I think the token Jeff Tedford overrated QB can wait another year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
