Categories
General Sports

Manny (Brett- and Chichester) being Manny (Brett- and Chichester)

By Ryan P. McGowan

They say celebrities always die in threes, such as my personal favorite celeb death trio: Jacques Cousteau, Jimmy Stewart, and Gianni Versace in June/July 1997.   And since Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes died within one day of each other, if you’re an overweight, middle-aged black comedian, I’d make sure you are within an arms’ reach of a defibrillator over the next few days.

Apparently, celebrities get overexposed in the media in threes as well.  Like George Costanza in velvet, I have ensconced myself in wall-to-wall coverage of Manny Ramirez, Brett Favre, and “Clark Rockefeller” over the past couple of weeks.

Categories
NFL General

Hall of Famer For Sale

Finally, we’re making some ground. After all of the speculation, the he said, she said quotes and misquotes, we finally know the truth.

Brett Favre wants back into the NFL, and the Packers don’t want him on their team.

While it doesn’t appear likely that either side will be changing their mind anytime soon, (Brett is set on returning, and the Packers are focused on Aaron Rodgers) now is the time to start focusing on where Favre will be playing next season.

The Green Bay Packers have emphatically stated they will not release Favre, in fear he could go to a rival and beat them twice a season. They probably would be reluctant to let him go to another NFC team, as well, in fear they could meet him in the playoffs.

So, what then? Trade him to Baltimore and possibly see him in the Super Bowl? Ted Thompson is truly in a lose-lose, here. If Brett is reinstated and rides the bench, chants of “we want brett” will be heard for all 8 home games. Aaron Rodgers won’t make it out of Green Bay alive.

Regardless of the actual outcome, what’s better than speculating just a little further in the epic story that has become “the retirement of Brett Favre”?

Here is a look at all of the 31 other teams Brett Favre is more likely to play for, and reasons why or why not it will actually happen:

Categories
NFL General

Gone 4-ever? Not so Favre.

This is the NFL off-season right?  It is amazing that the off-season of the NFL dominates the headlines more than other sports regular season.  We have seen the NFL Draft, free agency, the debate over rookie contracts, defensive ends Dancing with the Stars and now the biggest dance of them all, the Brett Favre retirement tease.  Just when you thought you would see your first season without #4 in Green Bay, it sounds as if we may be seeing Favre play again this fall… but will it be back in Green Bay?

Categories
Green Bay Packers

Favre’s Comeback Good For Green Bay In Long Run? I Don’t Believe So.

    
     “He has the itch…,” mentioned Al Harris, a guest host on ESPN’s NFL Live this Wednesday, when asked about Brett Favre’s potential comeback. He went on to say about Aaron Rodgers, “We embrace Aaron. We support Aaron. Aaron is our quarterback. Brett is retired, but if he wants to come back, there will be some guys that wouldn’t mind it.” Chris Mortensen of ESPN also reported that Favre had made Head Coach McCarthy aware of his “itch” to play. “Mort” also reported that a source in Green Bay made him aware that Favre’s family is pushing him to return. Personally, I don’t think he’s going to return, but I’d be lying if I told you it wouldn’t make me happy to see him back. I just don’t believe it benefits Green Bay in the long run.

Categories
NFL General

Bold Predictions

Seasons come and go in today’s sports world, as do predictions and opinions. I, for one have made my fair share of, well, incorrect predictions.

I said the Celtics’ big trades for Ray Allen and KG would not amount to a title, and only cripple their franchise down the road. And quite frankly, those things both could still very well happen.

I also predicted the Packers would meet the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl, with Green Bay prevailing, sending Favre off into the sunset with one last championship.

Obviously, the New York Giants ended that thought.

But what would sports be without competition on top of competition? That’s why we write about, argue about, and watch these games. That’s why fantasy sports is so compelling.

We get to compete without actually ever working for it. Some might say, however, that there is a lot of work that goes into it. And if it’s not work, it’s at least knowledge combined with intelligent guesses.

I know what you’re thinking. That’s what Vegas is for.

But I’m willing to let the dice roll, to be damned if I’m right or be damned if I’m wrong.

So, without further hesitance, here are my 25 bold predictions for the 2008 NFL season.

Categories
Green Bay Packers

The Propaganda Files: Stavring for Another Season?

By Rob LaBrie

A flash comes across the screen, “Breaking News!” it reads in immortal ESPN text.  It’s midnight and you just realize you’ve been dozing off on the couch.  You see the screen and you decide it’s worth wiping the drool off the side of your face and sitting up to see what the news is before hitting the sack.  Naturally, John Clayton pops up on the screen.  “I’ve just received big news out of Green Bay.  It seems Brett Favre may have played his last game in the NFL.  Sources close to Favre say the legendary quarterback is leaning toward retirement.  Of course, this is not set in stone, but we are one step closer to seeing Favre hang it up [pushes glasses up higher on his nose and sniffles].”  You put your pants back on to hear this?  Well, at least it must mean pitchers and catchers will be reporting pretty soon…