Brett Favre: The Saga Continues

My response to an article written by a friend of mine, who is a die hard Packer fan.  You will have to read his before mine to understand how it started.

A Brett Favre fan’s rebuttal:

Well said, Ben.  I commend the class and dignity in this article.  You spoke your mind without stepping over any line or boundary and you had me intrigued the whole way through.

Allow me, if you will, to share my viewpoints on why I feel the boo’s that were represented on that field were completely and utterly uncalled for.

As a Packer fan, you claim that the Packers are part of your family.  You live and breathe them.  While I will concede that you guys are some of the most passionate fans I have ever seen I won’t ever understand the fact that you claim they are like family to you.

What kind of family treats someone who dedicated 16 years to you the way you have?  What kind of family actually says, “But Brett kept wavering and we couldn’t stand his indecision and lack of commitment to the team and community.  We were tired of the stupid interceptions, poor decisions in the playoff games, and growing ego of the past few years.”

You grew tired of his stupid interceptions?  Did you grow tired of his stupid touchdown throws, too?  Did you decide to take a nap when he came within one game of taking your beloved team to the Super Bowl before retiring?

Glad I wasn’t born into this family.

Please, tell me what he did to show a lack of commitment in the community. 

Please, help me understand why all of a sudden you were tired of this growing ego, when it was something every one of you bragged about for years.

Please, explain to me why the interceptions and the play-off performances were now all Brett’s doing.  Not that I am making an excuse for his poor judgment calls in the pocket.  I know how he was careless at times, but it would never make me quit on someone that had given me the moments Brett had.

I couldn’t quit on my family.

You all speak of Brett’s constant wavering on retiring and coming back.  Yes, we all know about that and I think it is safe to say everyone was a little tired of it.  It was pretty back and forth and had to be hard for you guys.  I am, in no way, taking that away from you.

Have you ever thought for a moment that the wavering came because he didn’t want to disappoint his fans, his team or himself? 

One-hundred percent is the only thing that man knew how to give and his body was telling him different.  What did you expect from a man that takes every loss so personally, every win so heartfelt and every game like it’s do or die?

The last throw he made for Green Bay was an interception. 

Ever wonder if maybe, just maybe, he felt he let down all of you and that was his biggest fear come true?  Or were you guys too concerned about the fact he was the one that threw the pass that ruined a championship for you?

Wow, some loyal fans you are. 

And here’s something else to nibble at while you are donning the #12 jersey.

The guy that you used to root for, you know the one that has never missed a game, the one that led you to a Super Bowl victory, the one that even to this day describes you guys as the best fans he knows, wanted to play for you all along.

You were, and from where I see it probably even still, where he really wanted to be.  You were his home.  Had Brett forecast what may have happened by retiring and changing his mind, I can assure you this probably would have never happened.  Hindsight is always 20/20 though, isn’t it?

You can’t hold it against Brett Favre for still being the same Brett Favre you all once knew and loved. 

The love he has for the game, well it’s still there.  The competitiveness he has for the game, it’s still there. 

Vikings or Bears, he knew what he was doing.  He wants to win.  Selfish or not, that’s what he cares and always has cared about.  That is what you fell in love with.

He is still indecisive, that’s how he will always be.  Nothing has changed on who he is, yet everything has changed on where he is, and that is the difference you refuse to see.

If you actually think his heart is with the Vikings, well, you are either ignorant or naïve. His heart lies within football, which is why this story is still being told.  He has captured so many of us with his love for the game and the emotions he brings to each one of them, that though many complain about hearing about Brett over and over, some of us never tire from it.

Have fun booing Brett. 

Hope you have a lot of voice left in you, because from the looks of things, might be booing him all the way to his second Super Bowl championship.

As Brett Favre so eloquently put it, “But Packer fans cheer for the Packers first,” he said. “I know that. But I hope that everyone in the stadium watching tonight said, ‘I sure hate those jokers on the other side, but he does play the way he’s always played.’”

He sure as hell does.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Getting Personal with Darren Sproles

After watching Darren Sproles play against the Colts the second week of November in 2007, I had this insatiable desire that “this is an athlete I have to meet”.  

 

Interviewing Sproles is definitely something I intend to do. To prepare for that interview, I have compiled a list of questions that I feel the sporting world needs to know.

 

Below are my questions:

 

Who was your favorite pro football team growing up?

 

Wouldn’t it be funny if he said the Oakland Raiders?  I kid, I kid.

 

Why did you put off the NFL and go back to college?

 

Looking back, was there a moment in your life that you felt represented a turning point in your football career that led you to the NFL?   

 

While playing at Kansas State, was there a player(s) at the professional level that you most wanted to emulate either on the field or off, or both? What most impressed you with that person and have you had the opportunity to meet that player? 

 

What was it like to be mentored by two incredible athletes like LaDainian and Michael Turner? Is there a specific lesson from either of those two players that dramatically changed how you play the game today?

 

How explosive do you see the Chargers’ offense being this season and what are your goals going into a new season?

 

Looking back on any game in your past, is there one specific game that stuck out so much, that you wished it was you playing in that game? 

 

 

You have been known to avoid interviews and not a lot of people know it is due to your stuttering problem you have had since a child.  Are you more comfortable now in front of a camera?

 

Would you mind sharing a little about how it feels to be the national spokesman for The Stuttering Foundation, a non-profit organization that works towards the prevention and treatment of stuttering after enduring some of the challenges you personally went through?

 

Thoughts on Brett Favre un-retiring once?  And possibly a second time? Can you see yourself contemplating something similar?

 

I cant wait to ask this, as I really am curious to know what players, not fans, think about his in-decisions about retirement.

 

Interviewing Sproles would be an amazing experience.  I am so excited to see how well he plays this season and what his future holds.  He is a class act on and off the field, and to be honest we need more players like him as role models.  

 

He is what an athlete should be, and to think, he is just getting started. 

 

Something Special is in the Air for the San Diego Chargers

I cant wait to see what emerges out of the special team unit from San Diego this year.  Even the new rule limiting wedge formations on kickoff returns to a maximum of two players doesn’t have the Chargers worried, as it does some teams. 

 

Special Teams Coach, Steve Crosby, thinks this will be a very smooth transition as the Chargers have primarily only used two- and three-man wedges.

 

“We’ve never been a big-wedge team anyway,” Crosby said. “Our guys are used to blocking one-on-one. It’s just a matter of how you adjust the back half so you don’t have what the league looks at as a three-man wedge.”

 

This could result in a complicated matter for other teams that have used the four- to five-man wedges, who now must adjust their personal on kick-off returns.

 

“There are more single blocks; more blocks in space now,” Crosby said.

“Before, when you just had that big wedge in there, those guys were shoe to shoe and they didn’t have much adjusting to do. They hit the first thing that showed up. Now you’ve got to be able to settle on a guy and block him in space. One-on-one blocking in the open field against speed is tough. It changes the types of athletes that you can use back there.”

 

With the new rule in the Chargers favor, we also must take a look at who they have for their special teams, as it is pretty surreal to see this much talent on one team.

 

Even as a Wisconsin Badger fan, I was fan of Nate Kaeding who played for Iowa.  He was dependable and I liked his charisma.  Now playing for the Chargers, Kaeding has not lost his accuracy nor his consistency.  One thing he could use more of is power in his leg, but at the end of the day, isn’t accuracy better than power?

 

Then you have the two time Pro Bowler, Kassim Osgood, who puts in 110% effort in every play on that field.

As a wide-receiver he puts up good numbers but usually opponents will double-even triple team him, making the task a bit more difficult to complete.  He has expressed frustration with not being more part of the offense, but what he doesn’t realize yet is that he already is. 

 

Mike Scifres is one of the Chargers steadiest players and the best punter they have had since Ray Guy. Hia consistency is scary and his confidence is respected. 

 

David Binn is no stranger to the Chargers, and is contracted to play until 2011.  In 2007, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl for the first time and if things go as they should this year, he can plan on making the trip to Hawaii again.

 

“The way it is now, with games being so close,” Crosby said, “more often than not it’s going to be a special teams play that makes the difference.” 

 

It’s clear the Charger’s special team clan can be an integral part of their success this season.

Crystal clear.

A Glimpse into the 2009 Chargers Season

Last season wasn’t exactly what the Chargers envisioned for themselves, but with players coming off potential career ending injuries, surgeries and a defense with more holes than an 8-man high school football team, they were in dire need of some help. There was plenty of room for improvement.
 
This season however, is shaping up to be dynamic for the Chargers. They are finally healthy again and with the addition of Larry English and the health of both Shawne Merriman and LaDanian Tomlinson, it looks like this team is hinting to the NFL that they are a force that is to be reckoned with.
 
Here’s a look at the Bolts roster for the upcoming season:

Brett Favre: On Second Thought, Maybe Purple Is Your Color

You didn’t really think he would go away quietly did you?

Rumor has it that Minnesota has taken interest in Brett Favre’s release from the Jets. Reports indicate that Favre and Viking’s head coach, Brad Childress, are scheduled to meet this week.

Something tells me this meeting isn’t going to be about deer hunting.

Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, none of this has actually been confirmed by either party. However, if I am reading the signs right, my guess is that we should be expecting another “un-retirement” by No. 4 shortly.

Here is why I say this.

After being released from the Jets last week, Favre made this statement: “At this time, I am retired and have no intention on returning to football”

At this time? Those three little words right there say a mouthful.

Suddenly, I am back in July of 2008.

Remember when there were all those “rumors” about Favre wanting to come back and play with the Green Bay Packers and they were dismissed by his agent?

Bus Cook’s exact response was, “As far as I know, right now, Brett Favre is retired and until he tells me something different that’s what it is.”

Let’s just for fun say that my intuitions are correct and Favre ends up signing with the Vikings. He would play his former team twice in the regular season.  Coincidence?

It really is no secret that the only reason he would sign with the Vikes is to smear it in Ted Thompson’s face.

“Part of me coming back last year, I have to admit now, was sticking it to Ted,” says Favre. No offense Brett, but I don’t think that was much of a secret.

I don’t believe Thompson really felt the effect of Brett “sticking it to him” last season, considering both teams failed to even make it to the play-offs and Brett didn’t exactly perform how many thought he would.

It’s safe to assume Favre is still hungry for revenge.

The question is, will it even be worth it? Does Brett even have the strength or the mobility to play in the NFL? 

And on top of that, let’s not forget that he was rated No. 21 last season. Sure, it’s still Brett Favre who has thrown 88 touchdown passes in 4 years, but it’s also the same Brett Favre who in that 4 years also threw 84 interceptions.

So is Brett really the answer the Vikings are looking for?

My mind could be easily swayed though, as I am a huge fan of Brett Favre. I know it seems as if I am ragging on him, but I am just trying to be realistic here.

I know how bad he has been the past couple years, but I also know he probably has more passion, hunger, and competitiveness than any other QB out there. And he is still the toughest competitor I have ever seen play the game.

Last year, he signed with a below average Jets team. NY fans and teammates were hoping he would be the answer they needed to take them to the play-offs.

Brett had a lot of weight on his shoulders.

This time around, it’s a little bit of a different situation. The Vikings have Adrian Peterson, who is the best running back in the league and along with that they have the No. 1 best run defense. They went 10-6 last year and were good contenders going into the play-offs. They aren’t exactly looking for a miracle here.

The weight is suddenly lifted.

I mean it’s not like Brett can really go down any worse than he already has, right?

Clearly, I am torn about this whole “rumor.” On one hand, I would like to see Brett sign with GB so he can retire a Packer. On the other hand, I would love to see him go out the way he deserves.

Love him or hate him, if he does come back, at least you will have something to look forward to on Sundays, because I am sure any sports fan will be glued to their TV’s come Green Bay/Minnesota time.

Let the games begin.

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