Key To Success—The 2009 Tennessee Titans

With the Tennessee Titans preparing for their first preseason game today, lets take a look at the key players for the team that could make or break the season. Whats needs to improve from last year? What needs to change? What needs to stay the same? Coming of a superb year and a hugely disapointing playoff loss to Baltimore, the pressure of expectation is huge. Tennessee go into the season as one of the top 5 teams in the AFC, but in the midst of a hugely competitive division, the AFC South, it’s going to be a long hard fight for the next 5 months. Enjoy…..

Favre To the Vikings? Don’t Do It Brett!

For almost two decades, the name Favre was synonymous with class, character, strength, and quality. The man who didn’t miss a start for sixteen years. Through injury and personal tragedy, he soldiered on, taking every snap on every down. He is a warrior of the game, a hero in Wisconsin, a three-time NFL MVP, a Super Bowl champion, and a ten-time Pro Bowler.

In March 2008, Brett Favre sat down at a press conference and announced his retirement from the game in the same style with which he played the game—with class and honor. He talked about his love for the game, his love for the people of Green Bay and of his love for his family. It was a fitting and proper end to the career of one of the greatest quarterback, no, greatest men, to every play in the NFL.

Or so we thought.

In the months that followed, rumors began to circulate that a return may be in the cards. To Green Bay? One last hurrah and one last shot at another Super Bowl? Nope.  

In July, Brett Favre signed a one-year contract to play for the New York Jets. A move that no-one could have predicted three months earlier at that famous, emotion-filled press conference.  So for the Packers faithful, I think at this point he could have been forgiven. The legend deserved one more shot. Different division, hell, a different conference! With no games scheduled between the two teams in the regular season, there was little cause for anger.

Brett played very well for the first nine weeks of the year and the Jets seemed to be cruising to the playoffs. But as quickly as it was all built, it came crashing down just as fast. He looked beat, unable to make his patented bombs down field, or even find his accuracy over the middle. He finished the season with as many interceptions as touchdowns (22) and the Jets missed the playoffs after a spectacular collapse.

A quiet and rather anti-climactic ending for the first-ballot hall-of-famer. He had taken his shot and come up well short. Ok, fair enough, he earned his shot. Time to go back to the ranch and sell Wranglers. Leave with your dignity intact (albeit slightly dented).

But no, sigh, not Brett Favre.

He just couldn’t let go. In the recent days, he has been linked with yet another move. The Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings…are you freakin’ kidding me?! His move to the Jets could be understood if not condoned by Packers fans. But not this, not Minnesota.  

If you are a Packers fan, you dislike the Cowboys, you don’t care for the Raiders, you’re no advocate of the Bears. But you hate Minnesota…with a passion.

Can Favre really go play for a team who will face the Packers twice throughout the season? Can he really think about walking onto the field at Lambeau wearing purple and white? It’s just ridiculous and offensive to the team, the fans, and the city that loved and supported him unconditionally for so many years.

I don’t understand why Favre is doing what he is doing. Why he is systematically destroying his career and his reputation. Whatever the reason, someone needs to tell him—don’t do it Brett, just don’t do it to yourself.

Chiefs Trade Tony Gonzalez

The Kansas City Chiefs traded six-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons Thursday for a second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Gonzalez has spent his entire 12-year career with the Chiefs, achieving numerous NFL receiving records by a tight end along the way: most receptions, touchdowns and yards. He requested a trade last year, but no suitable team could be found for a trade.

“I love Kansas City. I grew up in Kansas City. The city means a lot to me. I got there when I turned 21,” said Gonzalez.  “It will be sad to leave a city I love. But I’m looking forward to making a Super Bowl run in Atlanta every year for the next three or four years.”

Personally, I think it’s something of an insult to such an outstanding player, a player who has been the face of the Kansas franchise for more than a decade, to ship him out for just a second-round pick. I believe they will regret this move, with Matt Cassel now under center they could have made quite a duo.

Atlanta are the big winners here, they get solid talent for at least four more years, for just an unproven second-round pick.

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