I’m Sorry, Vikings Fans

So, here we are. After reading for months about how Brett Favre was going to lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl win, he has decided to stay retired.

Many of you know that I am a lifelong Packer fan. I lost respect and was upset at Favre for what he tried to pull in 2007, but accepted it for what it was a few days before he was traded to the Jets, already preparing myself for Favre to be in purple this year.

But the last four seasons have shown us that Favre can’t play at a high level for 16 games anymore. And despite a healthy shoulder, maybe Favre realized that as well. All of the greats get old, and Favre is no different.

Having gone through a Favre circus before, I would like to say i’m sorry to Vikings fans.

I’m sorry that Favre tugged at your heart strings.

I’m sorry that he forced you to have Lombardi trophies dancing in your heads.

I’m sorry that he gave you a nice swift kick to the groin.

I honestly believe that Favre did not do any of those things on purpose, but he no doubt did them. The Vikings gave him all of the time he needed, and he used every minute before deciding to stay home.

Regardless of one season with the Vikings or not, Favre’s legacy is still intact. He leaves as a three-time MVP, a Super Bowl winner, and the all-time leader in a lot of major passing categories.

Some younger people may only remember Favre throwing crucial interceptions in playoff games and as the waffling man that could never make up his mind, but to the rest of us, he will be that little kid that enjoyed what he did, and did it well.

I do wish Brett the best in whatever he decides to do, just as I have stated numerous times that I would wish him the best as a Viking. Favre gave the Packers everything he had for almost his entire career, and a season with any team would never have changed that.

 

Favre Decision Big For The NFC North

The unexpected announcement that Brett Favre will not be returning to the NFL wearing the purple and gold of the Minnesota Vikings should have Bears and Packers fans dancing in the streets. Suddenly, the NFC North rival Vikings have gone from potential Super Bowl contenders to a team in turmoil.

After three months worth of actions that clearly showed the lack of confidence Minnesota coaches have in their returning quarterbacks, they now must put their tail between their knees and make nice with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

The dramatic shift in Favre’s mindset over the past few weeks is a dramatic final chapter (at least we hope it is the final chapter) in the longest running mini-series in the NFL “Will Brett Favre Play?”

When Favre opted for minor shoulder surgery in May it appeared that his decision had been made and he was getting ready for his return to the NFL. Ensuing rumors about plans being made by the Favre family made it seem apparent that the future Hall of Famer would be returning to the NFL for a 19th season.

However, evidently the tide started to shift over the last few weeks. According to various reports, a number of factors started to change the mind of the 39-year old Favre.

Whether it was continued pain in his arm, lack of full off season preparation, a reluctance to live in a dorm during training camp (my personal favorite reason), or the realization that his body probably couldn’t withstand another full NFL season, it sounds like Favre is finally ready to live with the decision he has made several different times in the past.

You can’t blame any NFL player for trying to hang on to the lifestyle and thrill of the NFL as long as absolutely possible. Imagine nearing your 40th birthday and being told you can never do the thing that you have enjoyed the most (and has made you handsomely rich) ever again.

Even as his methods made him a lot of critics. Favre was determined not to make a final decision on his NFL future until his body was ready to give him the true scoop. Evidently, Favre’s body is finally telling him that it is time to hang up the helmet.

Hopefully, Favre will finally be at peace with his decision.

However, for the Vikings there is little hope that Favre’s decision will bring them any peace.

They now are the owners of a full-boar mess that is entirely of their own making.

Head coach Brad Childress knew from the beginning that there was a distinct chance that Favre was never going to take another snap in the NFL. Yet, he publicly and repeatedly declared his interest in Favre and, through insinuation, made it clear that he didn’t have confidence in his current quarterbacks.

Entering his fourth season, Tarvaris Jackson is now re-elevated to his previous role as the starting quarterback for a team that many consider to be Super Bowl caliber at every position except quarterback.

Certainly, Jackson has been under-whelming during his 19 career starts, as the Vikings have posted a 10-9 record in those games. He passed for 3,442 yards with 20 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 76.5.

It looked for a time in 2007 like Jackson might be emerging as an NFL standout as he led the Vikings to an 8-4 record in 12 starts. However, he struggled in 2008 and spent much of the season on the bench as 37-year old Gus Frerotte led the offense.

Even before the team started dancing with Favre, they brought in the more experienced Rosenfels to provide competition and depth.

In seven NFL seasons, Rosenfels has made 12 starts with a 6-6 record. Statistically, he is an improvement over Jackson with a career completion percentage of 62.5 and passer rating of 81.2, but he also has seen only minimal action in key situations.

He is actually probably best remembered for the poor decision he made to try and run for a first down late in a 2008 game against Indianapolis. The result was a fumble that was returned for a touchdown as Indianapolis rallied from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to win.

Outside of quarterback, Minnesota is still a talented team and will certainly be a contender in the NFC North.

The offense will now be even more reliant on the running of third-year pro Adrian Peterson. After carrying the ball 363 times and leading the NFL with 1,760 yards a year ago, you can expect him to get even more chances in 2009.

Defensively, the Vikings allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL last season and were a respectable 18th against the pass.

That pass defense will certainly get a bigger test from the Bears new quarterback in 2009.

With Jay Cutler under center instead of Kyle Orton, the Bears are looking to be more dynamic offensively and put pressure on the pass defense of teams like Minnesota.

Last season it was the Green Bay Packers that spent the off season in turmoil waiting to see if Favre would return. Now that they had nothing to do with the soap opera this time around they should also contend for the division title.

I guess it is a testament to Favre’s greatness that even though he last played a game in the NFC North in 2007, you can argue that he has been just as significant in shaping the division over the last two years as he was in his 16 years in Green Bay.

Thankfully for Chicago fans, this year his impact on the division will not include any touchdown passes and could actually work in favor of the Bears.

 

Check out Dean Hybl’s sports blog: Sports Then and Now, to read about more great athletes and moments in sports history.

Brett Favre, I Apologize

With Brett Favre announcing his decision to NOT play for the Minnesota Vikings, many Packer fans owe Brett a huge apology.

I will begin with mine.

Over the past few months, amid speculation that he was returning to play for the hated Minnesota Vikings, Favre has taken harsh criticism from Packer fans by being called a traitor and some vowing to reject him for life. I have been one of these people and am now ashamed of not having faith in him to do the right thing.

Brett has shown his true colors by making the right decision and showing many fans that they shouldn’t make judgements before any decision is made.

I for one hope that I can learn from this and not make the same mistake again, and hope my fellow Packer fans will learn the same.

So, I leave with this.

I am sorry, Favre, for believing the media and believing you to be a turncoat to the Green and Gold. I am ashamed of myself and will never doubt you again.

                                                                                            Signed,

                                                                                            Riley James Angel

A Rival’s Influence: Jim Johnson 1941-2009

The NFL world has lost one of it’s greats today. Late in the afternoon on July 28th it was announced that Jim Johnson, the Eagles defensive coordinators, had passed away.

He fought a more then six-month battle with melanoma, and finally succumb to the disease as it spread to his spine.

He will be greatly missed.

Johnson is best known for his time with the Eagles, however he did spend time with three other NFL teams. He is widely renowned as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in the NFL. He is best known for architecting the modern blitz scheme; particularly his methods of disguising his defenses and keeping the opposing offense off-balance.

Typically when a person passes away in the sports world many articles come out. The writers do a wonderful job and paint beautiful images of the deceased. These articles are typically done in the fashion of a eulogy, however I choose to be different.

Rather then praises his career, which he does undoubtedly deserve, I would like to praise his great influence on other coaches. Steve Spagnuolo, more specifically. Steve is one of two former assistants to Johnson who went on to be the head coach of another franchise.

Steve has not actually stood on the sidelines as the big man yet, however he has had great success as a defensive coordinator for the Giants. He brought Johnson’s scheme to New York and with the help of a stellar group of linemen he implemented it perfectly, even acquiring twelve sacks in one game against Johnson’s Eagles.

Being a avid Giants fan, I don’t remember Johnson for his many accomplishments with the Eagles; I remember him as the man who passed his gift on.

Johnson will never be forgotten in the NFL. His schemes and influence live on in his predecessors who continue to make headway on Johnson’s innovations.

You may have noticed that in the photo for this article Johnson is obviously wearing an Eagles hat. I purposefully cut off the label to the hat to remind the reader that he should not be remembered merely for the Eagles.

He should be remembered by every fan of every team. So many teams have felt his influence over the years whether in competition or in adaptation of his many wonderful innovations.

Jim Johnson will live on in my memory as a rival coach who molded coach Spags into the man he is today. Spagnuolo played a crucial role in the Giants acquiring a Super Bowl ring, but then again he did learn from the best.

Jim was a great man and the NFL, and the world, are very lucky that he passed his many wonderful gifts on to other people like Steve, his children, and his grandchildren.  

“The idea was don’t let these people dictate to you,” Johnson once said. “You have to put more pressure [on the quarterback], and every year we tried to figure out how to do that.”

Johnson was talking about football when he said that, but now I think it can be applied to life. You can’t let people tell you how to live, you have to keep working hard and figure out how to succeed everyday.

The world has lost a brilliant man today and should be deeply saddened.

R.I.P Jim Johnson; 1941-2009

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

Derrick Mason’s Sudden Retirement Means It’s Time to Step up

With Derrick Mason’s sudden retirement, the already questioned receiving core of the Baltimore Ravens takes a massive hit. Mason was Baltimore’s leading receiver 3 of the past 4 seasons and was about as a sure-thing as you can get. As “unflappable” as quarterback Joe Flacco may be, he needs to have talent to throw at wide receiver to help him progress as a leader and to help Baltimore win. The Ravens did sign veteran Drew Bennett, once a play maker with Tennessee, only to see him retire also. Here are the leading candidates to win the starting jobs in Baltimore.

Brett Favre Picks Correct Time to Hang It up

Even as a sports fan I was not looking forward to November 1, 2009.

It was the day Brett Favre was going to come back to Lambeau Field. It should be a day celebrated with his No. 4 going up while he makes a speech to a standing ovation. Instead, it appeared it was going to be a day where he would be booed in the purple and yellow.

By announcing that he would not come out of retirement to return to Minnesota, he may have preserved his legacy in Wisconsin.

Packer fans could forgive him for causing drama in Green Bay last summer and even for playing a year in New York, but signing with a huge division rival would be a tough pill to swallow.

Hopefully, Favre and the Packers’ management can now put their recent problems aside and give Favre the retirement ceremony that he and Packers fans rightfully deserve.

Last year’s collapse by Favre and the Jets should not impact how he is remembered.

True fans of football will remember how many memories he gave us playing for Green Bay and how fun he was to watch.

There is no doubt he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer that is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play.

It will be tough to see him leave because there will never be another like Brett Favre, but the timing was right.

It’s time for Brett to come back to Lambeau Field and see that No. 4 retired, as he is the face of the Green Bay Packers franchise.

Terrell Owens Is Waking up Buffalo

Terrell Owens has been painting the city of Buffalo red since arriving for his new position as Trent Edwards’ new buddy.

He’s already received keys to the city of Buffalo, and he hasn’t even played a real game. He’s got thousands of fans lining up to watch him at One Bills Drive. 

Those fans have been pictured eating popcorn—and even better—Owens’ limited edition cereal, on sale at Tops Supermarkets.

It’s all actually pretty darn exciting.

I don’t know the last time my buddies back up in my hometown were so excited about an upcoming Bills season (the last time we could have been excited, we were probably four or five).

I’ve had a great time seeing the smiles he’s putting on faces in Buffalo, especially his guest appearance as a sports anchor on Channel 7 news back in May. He’s having fun with his new role. He’s being supported, and liked—something we all know he desperately wants.

I think he’ll finally be on a team that fits—a team that needs a star, will embrace almost any big name (except, apparently, Michael Vick), in a city with tremendously passionate football fans.

He’ll be welcomed with open arms at a time that Bills fans need him as much as he needs them.

I know, it all sounds like a big tearjerker, but when the bonding ends, that’s when the NFL season begins.

As Bills fans, let’s enjoy the fanfare now and get prepped to put on our game faces.

Let’s help lead Trent Edwards, Terrell Owens, and the rest of the 2009 Bills team to a fantastic season.

 

For more news from a Bills Jill, stay tuned.

 

Buffalo Bills Not Interested in Michael Vick

The Buffalo News has reported that the Bills are not interested in Michael Vick, who has  been officially reinstated into the NFL by Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Russ Brandon, the team’s chief operating officer/general manager, confirmed the report.

“We wouldn’t have any interest at this time,” Brandon said. “We’re comfortable with our roster as it stands right now.”

As he should be. Third-year quarterback Trent Edwards is the Bills’ starter, and he’s backed up by fourth-year QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Gibran Hamdan, a third-year player from Indiana.

Vick was reinstated on Monday, with conditions. After serving 18 months in prison for being involved in a dog fighting ring, Vick may be able to participate in games as early as October.

However, Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts, and meetings, and can even play in the final two preseason games, if a team should so choose.

Once the 2009-10 season begins, Vick can participate in any team activity except for games. Goodell says he would consider a full reinstatement of Vick as early as week six.

 

For more Bills news by a Bills Jill, stay tuned.

The Miami Dolphins’ Future in the 2009 NFL

The underwriter attempted to write an article concerning players and different scenarios for the Miami Dolphins. The laptop was not cooperative with him so this will be a general review and opinion.

Before starting with the 2009 season, it is important to recap the last two years. The year 2007 was a disaster for the Fins with only one game won. The team was demoralized and the coach was a disaster.

It was a miracle that Miami was spared the fate of Detroit, which became the first team in NFL history to lose every game during one of their seasons. The year 2008 was a year of change in the guard and the team.

Parcells was brought in to help with the change, and Sparano was hired as a coach. The Fins improved a lot in the 2008 NFL Season, and they were even candidates for the playoffs. However, it was not to be.

The NFL Season is coming, and people in Miami still want a repeat of a perfect season and are expecting more from their team than in previous attempts. The fear is that the fans may be deceived if they receive what is least expected.

It is of the opinion of the underwriter that the Miami Dolphins is still a team in reconstruction mode after a decade of abuse and mismanagement. It would be an injustice to name players or techniques that could result in a Super Bowl team or even winning it.

The first thing that should be addressed is that every season is different. The year 2009 is totally different from the perfect season of 1972.

If the Miami Dolphins expect to win or even do better than the year 2008, several things need to happen. Mr. Sparano will have to make tough decisions on which players will stay, and which ones will go.

My only suggestion for Mr. Sparano is to stay away from Michael Vick because he is a liability in football. The rest of the decisions will have to be based not only on professional play but on personal conduct.

The people who play football should also develop a well disciplined and well oiled team that can stand the pressure of the game. This can be accomplished by obeying the coach and working as a team. The idea of personality clashes should be consigned to the trash can.

The practices should take place in mountains surrounded by tough roads and under hot and cold weather conditions. The idea of practicing in a gym is not the way to make a championship. The conditions of hardship are those that make a team.

When all of these elements are together, only then can the Miami Dolphins talk about a future in the 2009 NFL Season.

 

Jim Johnson Passes Away at Age 68: The Sadness and Football Effect

Some incredibly sad news today as Jim Johnson, former defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, passed away today at the age of 68. He had been battling cancer for a few months now.

There’s too much to be said of Jim Johnson. He was a stand-up man as well as an unbelievable football coach. His defense will leave an impact on the NFL that coaches for generations to come will look at and study.

Johnson is survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

His family, as well as the entire football world, grieve today as the passing of a great man is always a day of overwhelming sadness.

I’m sure tomorrow will be the most quiet and somber practice that the Eagles have ever had under coach Reid, and the entire Philadelphia fanbase is reeling after one of the worst tragedies to hit their football team since the passing of Jerome Brown.

As far as football is concerned, I hope that the Eagles, especially the defense, use this as a motivator for themselves throughout the entire year.

As I’ve written about before, I had the unfortunate experience of losing a friend right before a football season.

What happens when men play for each other, and for someone’s memory, is unfathomable to those who have not experienced it for themselves. When you’re tired and you don’t want to go for that next snap, the memory of that man pushes you forward. When you’re hurt and feel like there’s no way you can go on, that memory pushes you.

When you’re down by 10 points in the fourth quarter and you feel broken and defeated, that memory pushes you to incredible heights of fortitude and toughness that the sheer will to win just cannot match on its own.

The human spirit is an incredible one, especially when it’s playing for a spirit other than its own.

The Eagles, and the world, have lost a great man. However, in his place, they find a new reason to push forward. Even in death, Jim Johnson will remain a part of this team all the way to Miami and beyond.

Rest in peace, Jim. You will be missed.

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