FAVRE TRADED TO JETS

BREAKING NEWS: BRETT FAVRE TRADED TO THE NEW YORK JETS JUST LESS THAN 2 HOURS AGO

Jay Glazier of foxsports.com broke the story and has the scoop. The deal is believed to be for a draft pick in the 2009 Draft that could escalate up to a 1st Round Pick. This deal will also most certainly mean that Chad Pennington's time with the Jets is done. According to Glazier, both team did in fact confirm the deal through seperate press releases.

You can read the full article here.

UPDATE: Well the deal is done and the Brett Favre saga is over, or is it? Favre is scheduled to attend the Jets and the Browns preseason game tonight and obviously won't be playing but wants to check out his new squad.

The Packers accomplished their goal of getting him out of the NFC and especially the Minnesota Vikings. The deal is also pretty hefty if the Jets did decide to re-route Favre to the Vikings. The pick that the Packers will receive from the Jets will work like this,

"According to the NFL Network, if Favre takes 50 percent of total snaps with the Jets in 2008, the fourth-rounder becomes a third-round pick. If he gets 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs, it becomes a second-round pick. If he gets 80 percent of snaps and the Jets make the Super Bowl, it becomes a first-round pick."

I don't know if this will make the New York Jets a playoff team because when you look at the AFC you have to think that the Pats, Colts, Chargers, Jags, and at least an AFC North team. The Jets did indeed load up on the veterans this offseason, but I don't really think the offensive weapons in New York are that significantly better than they were in Green Bay.

Once again I ask, What happens to the Madden cover due to come out in less than a week!?

My Cut on Brett Favre

OK, so I have stalled long enough and avoided the issue and subject for long enough. It is finally time to talk about #4 and Mr. Brett Favre. In a story that seems to take on a new twist and turn every day, it also seems to get more and more annoying every single minute.

I have never really been a fan of Brett Favre, mainly because these retirement talks seem to pop up every offseason for the past 3 or 4 years, much like Roger Clemens in baseball. I sure do respect him as a player, but at the same time I do feel he is a bit overrated. Sure, he has a ton of records and obviously he is a first-ballot hall of famer, but in relative terms to all the hype he is given, I think he has a tough time cracking the top 5 all-time QBs in NFL history (for the record, I think Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Dan Marino, John Elway and then a toss-up between Favre/Young/Brady/Manning/Staubach/Tarkenton/etc.).

Let's go through a quick time-line of Favre events, courtesy of one of my favorite writers Gene Wojciechowski:

January 20: Brett Favre throws an interception to end the Packers season
March 6: Favre conducts retirement news conference and cries throughout
April 3: Denies rumors of a comeback
April 4: Agent reportedly contacts teams to gauge trade interest
April 9: Says he might consider comeback if opportunity was presented
June 20: Favre tells coach Mike McCarthy he may want to play again
July 2: Favre says reports of return were "all rumor"
July 6: Sends text message to Packers GM Ted Thompson
July 8: Favre asks for release with understanding he won't be starter
July 11: Packers receive letter from Favre formally requesting release
July 16: Packers file tampering charges with NFL against Vikings
July 19: Returns to Lambeau Field to attend Packers Hall of Fame ceremony
July 25: Favre tells Packers he plans to report to training camp
July 29: Faxes reinstatement request to NFL
July 30: Meets with Packers president Mark Murphy in Mississippi
July 31: Favre offered $25 million to not report to camp
Aug. 3: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstates Favre, Favre flies to Green Bay


Aug. 4: Brett Favre meets with coach McCarthy for over 5 hours to discuss the circumstances
Aug 5: Favre and McCarthy meet again and Brett claims, "the best thing... is for us to part ways" / McCarthy says Favre is not in the proper mindset to lead the Packers

So where to go from here?

Well according to profootballtalk.com, there are some serious talks going on between the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Bucs about a possible trade that would send Favre to the Bucs. Favre is apparently also warming to the idea of playing for Tampa Bay, which would also mean that Jeff Garcia would have to test the free agent market. (According to http://www.savebrett.net/, they claim this deal is done?!)

So who is the villian in this situation? Good question because an argument can be made for both sides. Is it fair that Brett Favre has continuously yo-yo'd the Packers franchise, coaches, and players? Is it fair that Mike McCarthy would make Brett Favre have to compete with Aaron Rodgers in a QB competition?

The whole situation is weird and awkward when it comes down to it. Brett Favre did end last season as the team's #1 quarterback and did have his best season in a number of years.

Where do I stand on the subject? Well my goal to try and cherish the last season of Favre and the magical run the Packers had last season, has easily left my memory. I am SICK of the stories, rumors, and twists that all come along with this saga. You know there are 31 other teams in the NFL that are playing this season, right? Now never having retired from a professional sports league, it is hard for me to put myself in Favre's timberland boots, but for the sake of everyone after that emotional circus he put on last March, what caused him to change his mind?!

What if Brett comes back, stays with the Packers, and they go 1-3 in the team's first 4 games? The season is probably shot, the Pakcers will want to move on to Rodgers and the Favre situation will continue to surface. He could just easily be as good as last year, sure, but when it comes down to it, he is 39 years old!

So what should the Packers do? Release him? Nah, then he'll go to the Vikings naturally. Trade him? He only really wants to go to Minnesota, but has apparently warmed up to the idea of Tampa Bay. Other teams rumored have been Baltimore, New York Jets, and the Bears.

I do also feel sorry for Rodgers. Sure, no one knows if he can play, but how will anyone find out until he gets some playing time. Everyone is quick to say that Rodgers is no Favre. How do we know this? Yes, it is a pretty lofty goal, but what if Rodgers goes to 6 or 7 Pro Bowls and takes the Packers deep into the playoffs. Will anyone complain?

I have no clue what will happen with this Favre~Saga, but all that I ask is that it ends soon! For the sanity of every NFL fan, let's go Brett!

The real question is, what if Brett Favre is traded? What happens to the Madden 2009 cover?!

What do YOU think will happen with Favre? Comment below!

2 Weeks of Hype!

Well here it is, the two weeks of hype leading up to Super Bowl 42 on February 3 in Arizona between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The Giants defeated the Green Bay Packers in an overtime game in the -4 degree weather in which Brett Favre can be held accountable for the loss. Favre threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by Webster and gave the Giants favorable field possession to win the game. I had almost certainly been convinced the Packers were the team of destiny here and were going to win the game. With all the magic Brett Favre had all season long and with the two missed field goals by Tynes (not to mention GB winning the overtime coin toss) it seemed to be Green Bay's Year. Eli Manning definitely stepped up and has been playing some good football lately to bring the Giants back to life. Plaxico Burress single-handily ripped apart Al Harris all game and Ahmad Bradshaw came out of nowhere to play a big role for the G-men. Winning 10 road games in a row, it seems as though the Giants have earned their position in Super Bowl and are not exactly unfamiliar with the Patriots. I should also point out in a previous post I did not give the Giants a chance to win the NFC, I'm just saying...


As for the opponent for the Giants, it is some team that has not lost a game yet but recently has come back down to Earth with the Eagles, Ravens, Giants, Jags, and Chargers all giving them pretty good games, the Patriots. MVP Tom Brady has especially looked human-like in the game against the Chargers where he threw for 3 interceptions (side note: Cromartie is good). Laurence Maroney had one hell of a game rushing for over 120 yards and helping the Pats salvage a shakey passing game. Where has Randy Moss been lately? Wes Welker is looking like the number one option on most plays. I do give props to Philip Rivers for having surgery prior to the game and still giving all he had for San Diego in a gutsy performance. (A second side note: I hope the Dolphins noticed that Wes Welker and Chris Chambers had some pretty decent performances in this game). The whole LT thing really baffled me for the fact that he was able to start the game and was not on the injured list but was pulled after a series. It was reported that it was Norv Turner's decision and if this is indeed true, this just exemplifies another reason why he should not be a head coach.

Personally, Two week is WAY to much time between the conference championships and the Super Bowl. Now I know it all has to do with money, commercialization, and the media, but seriously if your team is not in the Super Bowl by Wednesday of the first week you can't even turn on Sportscenter for more than 3 minutes without hearing some back lifestory of the 3rd string Offensive lineman who walked on at some small college.

It did not even take a day before the first ridiculous storyline came out for this year's Super Bowl. I'm sure you all know that I am referring to the continuing coverage of Tom Brady and "BOOTGATE". (Incase you are living under a rock and haven't heard about this then peep this, http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid285859616/bclid294430730/bctid1386375873). It's really a shame when ESPN and all the media is stooping to this level and to treat Tom Brady like he is Britney Spears being carried away on a stretcher. Maybe I should just sit back and get a good laugh at all the ridiculous stories that come out during this two week period? By the way did you that Jerome Bettis is from Detroit?!

Also in response to the comment from the post on the NFC Conference Championship preview --
I did enjoy the matchup of Plax vs. AL-HA throughout the game with Burress doing some serious work. As a former Eagle, and not a very good one, I never understood the hype that Harris received for being so good because he got torched all game and it did end up being one of the key matchups of the game, although an uneven one in the end. Eli definitely had some really good performances these playoffs and once again it's a showdown between Brady and Manning (Eli). I am not to sure if the doubters will be silenced just yet for two reasons. (1) He plays in New York, just ask Randy Johnson, Jason Giambi, A-Rod, Tiki, Stephon Marbury, etc. etc. about the mental fatigue the city puts on you. No matter what he does it will most likely not be enough. (2) He is the younger brother of Peyton who has already won a super bowl now and been successful for years. Both Mannings will always be compared with each other especially in how they fare against Brady. If Eli pulls off the upset he will definitely have earned some of the doubters to be silenced, but who knows with New York. I guess you could say it's better that Eli is always under the microscope in NY because he could be Chad Pennington on the lowly Jets where no one really gives two hoots about them anymore. Appreciate the feedback (Don't forget to peep Certain Songs: a music blog <-- )

...til next time

-E

-don't forget to vote in the new poll

NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP:
NEW YORK GIANTS (12-6) V. GREEN BAY PACKERS (14-3)

INITIAL THOUGHT: With the temperature at gametime projecting to be about 0 degrees with a wind chill of -25 degrees, it could be an interesting game to watch and it is the way playoff football should be played.

SECOND THOUGHT: With how cold it is going to be, the game should be focused on the running games of Brandon Jacobs and Ryan Grant, but it would not surprise me if Brett Favre has another magical game and throws for a couple of touchdowns.

X-FACTOR: As mentioned earlier, the x-factors for each team will be the running backs, Jacobs and Grant. Whichever team can run the ball more effectively should be in a pretty good position to win this game. With Grant's performance last week and the size of Jacobs, I think both running backs should have strong games.

KEY MATCHUP: Eli Manning versus the secondary of the Packers. Which persona of Eli will show up for the game? Al Harris has elevated his game to be one of the best corners in the league and the matchup of Al-Ha and Plaxico Burress should also be something to watch.

PREDICTION: Packers - 31 Giants - 24

FINAL THOUGHT: I am still not a true believer in Tom Coughlin, but he has certainly earned himself a contract extention because of his improvements coaching and with the team. The Giants have just as good a chance to win this game, (even though I have countlessly written them off...my bad), but something about Favre getting another shot at the Super Bowl seems fitting.

...til next time

-E