The Monkey and I are on record as supporters of NFL living legend Brett Favre’s decision to return to football in 2009, specifically to the arch-rival (Minnesota Vikings) of his former club (the Green Bay Packers).

We also contend that one’s view of Brett Favre has a lot to do with one’s view of one’s self:

• Do we believe that individuals should have a right to make decisions for themselves?
• Do we believe that individuals should have a right to pursue their dreams, aspirations, and goals?
• Do we believe that it is on the individual to decide what is best for one’s self?
• Do wish to blame a person or deride a person for being torn about his or her personal decisions, which are solely their own to make?

I mean, the man is a Libra.  Should we be surprised when we behave like “ourselves,” when we live up to our inherited and fully incorporated character traits?

Love him or hate him (and there seems to be a lot less love out there) there are several undeniable facts that should be pointed out.

1) The 2009 NFL Football season was arguably the greatest single season of his Hall of Fame career from a statistical standpoint. In 2009, Favre posted the highest quarterback rating of his career (107.2), the lowest interception total of his career (7), and the second highest completion total (563), and third highest yardage total (4,202).

2) Following the devastating loss to the evidently voodoo-enhanced New Orleans Saints, Brett Favre said that if he is to finish his career, that he would be going out “on top.”  While that statement was met with much derision and criticism from fans and the media, from a personal statistical standpoint, his statement rings true, for the following reasons:

• Most of us are familiar with his “Ironman” record, the most consecutive starts for an NFL football player (309 – including playoffs [as Favre himself said, "Why wouldn't you include the playoffs?"]).  For quarterbacks, #2 on the list is Peyton Manning with 209 consecutive starts, meaning he would have to start every single game consecutively for at least the next 6 regular seasons to surpass Favre on the list, provided Favre doesn’t return in 2010.)
• Favre also hold several other significant passing records.  He is #1 all time in Attempts (8,758), Completions (5,377), Touchdowns (442), and Yards (61,655).  All things being equal, his claim to the number one spot in all of these statistical categories is evidence enough to qualify him as being “on top.”

3) Not only did Favre just complete arguably the greatest statistical season of his Hall of Fame career, but he was rated as the #2 passer in the entire league in 2009, indicating that there is no doubt there is more in the tank for this quarterback.

The idea that Favre could walk into a new team and instantly lead them to a Superbowl is far-fetched.  But there is no doubt that Favre exceeded nearly every single person with at least a passing interest in the NFL’s expectations.  He just played 18 of the most brilliant games of his entire career.  One’s athletic ability, even at age 40 doesn’t simply fall off the cliff.

With the 2009 season Favre demonstrated not only his great toughness, but his great natural athleticism.  The notion that a man of his age, with so many years of beating and abuse under his belt, could negotiate an NFL football season with so much poise, and so few mistakes is evidence enough that he has one more year in him.

Love him or hate, Brett Favre is good for the NFL.  He is a ratings juggernaut.  The ratings numbers from the Championship games were ludicrous.  One-third of all televisions in the United States were tuned into the NFC Championship game between the Vikings and Saints.

He likes his team.  The team has rallied around him.  There is no clear heir-apparent in the quarterback department in Minnesota.  There is a possibility of no football in 2011 due to strained labor negotiations.  It is now or never for Brett Favre.

Just Like Old Times?

Can I tell you a secret? The Monkey and I were secretly hoping for the Minnesota Vikings to defeat the Packers purely out of unwarranted dislike for new Green Bay starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Why do I not care for this young lad, considering he and I have never met and he has done no personal harm to me that I am currently aware of? The answer to that question might not matter, if I only I recognize that this manner of thought (wishing for another being’s failure) isn’t doing much to make the world a better place. Only now, after an entire summer of me and my Monkey holding Rodgers and the Packers in a bad light ever since the Brett Favre Saga, can I freely redirect my NFL-loving energy and interest in a positive direction for the remainder of the 2008 season.

Does this mean I suddenly join the Aaron Rodgers Fan Club Space Craft, piloted by none other than Chief Rodgers’ Enthusiast “Jaws” Jaworski? Does this mean that I no longer wish Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy realize the errors of his ways?

Read below to find out…

Giants Rattle Reeling Redskins

By now you probably know that I am partial to the Washington Redskins and was understandably pumped when the NFL decided to pair up the Skins with the Superbowl Champion New York Giants for 2008’s Thursday Night season opener. Living in New England, it’s a rare thing for me to get an opportunity to see my boys grid it out on the local TV up in the Boston area. The fact this was a nationally televised game made this evening a very special episode of Thursday Night Football in mine and the Monkey’s eyes. So special, that despite having to leave for a three-night trip to Las Vegas, Nevada for the ABC Show in support of our website, OrganicGreenMommy.com, I was glued to the TV instead of packing my bags and oh, by the way, preparing our home for an inspection after recently going into contract to sell.

Earlier in the evening, I foolishly misread kickoff time to be 8pm and found myself in my local Radio Shack buying gear for my video camera. Driving back to my house I flipped on the radio and learned that Redskins were already down by a score in the first quarter and were about to be down by more. By the time I finally found my way to the living room easy chair, the Giants had increased their lead again.

The Redskins offense literally did not show up at all in the first half of the game, flustered by the ferocious Giants D. Eli did a great job of connecting  with his go-to receiver Plaxico Burress, especially in the first half, but did not put up a huge game statistically when all was said and done.  Truth be told, Redskind Quarterback Jason Campbell finished with a better quarterback rating than victorious Eli Manning, registering a 81.2 rating, as compared to Eli’s 61.1 rating.  If Eli does not run a clinic this weekend against the St. Louis Rams, I would be worried, were I a Giants fan.

The Redskins D turned up the heat a bit in the second half, shutting down the Giants completely. Only problem was the Redskins offense failed to make a first down in the third quarter and only found its rhythm once the game was out of reach. To make matters worse, freshman Head Coach Jim Zorn poorly handled his play selection and clock management.

They played with a glaring lack of urgency in the final drive of the game and must practice more situational play calling and game planning if he wishes to have any hope of delivering a plus .500 season. Truth be told, the Giants may even have more to worry about than the Redskins, considering their failure to truly capitalize on the Redskins’ ineptitude. After all, they kept the game mathematically within reach for the clearly out-matched Burgundy and Gold until the closing seconds.

Favre Magic Comes to Miami

I managed to see the fourth quarter of this game over lunch at the trade show in Las Vegas. When I caught a glimpse of the roughly two-dozen flat screen TV’s hanging over one of many food courts at the Las Vegas Convention Center, I was tickled to see Favre and the Jets clinging to a fourth quarter lead while discarded former Jet Chad Pennington finally got his groove on when it mattered most. Although I later learned that Pennington didn’t have the greatest game in the earlier quarters, I felt that he appeared confident and passed accurately, aided by his trademark gentle touch and smooth release.

New Favre teammate Darrelle Revis bailed out Brett with a last second end zone interception to seal the win, and I was actually torn by the result, quietly hoping the best for Pennington in his new role in Miami while simultaneously visualizing a Favre win in his first game with Gang Green.

Later, in my hotel room, I got to see Brett’s highlight reel, filling in some of the details from earlier in the game, including both of Favre’s ridiculous touchdown tosses. With the New England Patriots vulnerable now that 2007 MVP Tom Brady is out for the season, the New York Jets could easily capture the AFC East, securing a playoff spot for Favre and his new team.

In a previous post, I spoke of the Football Gods seeking to smite the Green Bay Packers with defeat this season, but now I realize the opening salvos of their master plan revealed: to pit Favre against his former team in the Superbowl, the only game this season that Favre could possibly exact “revenge” on the Packers. A Packers-Jets Superbowl is certainly unlikely, but not impossible. The Colts looked weak against the Bears on Sunday night, we already know about the challenges the Patriots could possibly face without Brady under center, and Chargers could again be on the verge of another colossal choke.

Could the Jets be a serious contender this season? No doubt about it.

Rodgers Quiets the Beast…For Now

Ron Jaworski could barely contain his enthusiasm for Rodgers’ performance on Monday Night against the Vikings. Despite some of the negative remarks I reserved for the Green Bay Packers over the summer, it’s difficult to argue that it’s not “so far, so good” for Aaron and the Packers with game one behind them.

(Note: When I went back and re-read my post predicting a 6-10 Packers finish, I realized that I am still technically, albeit somewhat, “accurate” in my overall opinion about the Pack’s chances this season, as I had noted that the Vikings would “likely sweep” the Packers in 2008. If the Vikes win the next one I won’t be entirely wrong in my prediction, with “likely” being the operative word. I will keep you up date on the accuracy of my prediction as the season progresses in this series.)

I gotta admit, Rodgers played virtually flawlessly for a “fourth year rookie,” and his supporting cast certainly stepped up to the plate in the victory too, as I now take a moment to apologize about mixing sport metaphors.

My earlier post also mentions that the Vikings last year were a quarterback away from being a playoff team, and unfortunately that still appears to remain the case. And yet, I’m starting to like Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson. The guy gets no respect. Sometimes, when I watch young Action Jackson play, I squint my eyes, just enough to obscure his form but still see his jersey number 7, urging me to remember vanquished Falcon Mike Vick in his early days. Tavaris has excellent running skills and seems to be a smart football player. I think one of his greatest weaknesses, however, is his accuracy, as he made several decent reads yet failed to hook up with his receivers on numerous occasions.

I think he might have a future ahead of him, provided his coaches either:

1) give him the chance to continue to develop at the expense of losing some games here and there, or

2) utilize him according to his strengths, a la Bill Cowher’s deployment of Kordell Stewart back in 1995 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he lined up all over the field, including wide receiver. I’m not aware of Jackson’s catching abilities, but there is no doubt he can run. He has the potential to be Vick-like in his ability to run a run-oriented offense similar to the Atlanta Falcons’ ground-gnashing attack conceived by former Head Coach Jim Mora.

Raiders Look Silly in Broncos Slap-Around

This game kept me up until after midnight this past Monday night, despite the fact that after returning from my trip to Las Vegas I had just a single night at home before packing my bags again for a three-day trip to Rhode Island. These are two teams that for some reason I can conjure little concern for, other than noting my Aaron Rodgers-esque dislike of Jay Cutler, for no reason other than Head Coach Mike Shannahan’s decision to dump playoff quarterback Jake Plummer in exchange for Cutler during the 2006 season. I felt that Plummer took the fall for the Shannahan Regime after losing the 2005 Championship Game back in 2005, despite compiling one of the best seasons of his often controversial career. For this, I wanted to blame that genius Mike Shannahan for ending Plummer’s career. Suddenly I realized that in a way, I was also blaming Cutler himself for Plummer’s benching. More accurately, I was hoping for Shannahan to be wrong, and for Shannahan to be wrong, Cutler had to fail. In his textbook performance, Cutler, like Rodgers, silenced the Monkey in my mind that secretly hoped for their collective failure, in vain hopes of proving their coaches wrong to hand the reigns to these mostly unproven quarterbacks. The success that both of these quarterbacks achieved in Week One indicates that their coaches saw something excellent in practice when they made their move to promote the former bench-warmers to starters. For that, I’ll tip my hat to Coaches McCarthy and Shannahan for the time being.

On the other side of the Cutler Clinic were the hapless Oakland Raiders, looking like lost little children under seemingly juvenile second year Head Coach Lane Kiffin (aka Youngblood). Jamarcus Russell was unremarkable and top draft pick Darren McFadden a non-factor. I feel bad for those guys and don’t see much hope of improvement during this season. This AFC West matchup was a beatdown from jump, but another AFC West rival had better have taken notice of the Broncos, Cutler, and his high-flying rookie receiver Eddie Royal. The Chargers’ 2007 Division Championship will be sorely contested by the Broncos this season and I look forward to their Week Two matchup.

Until next week…

Do Not Adjust Your Display

The Monkey and I were away on business for the past 24 hours, cut off from television, internet, and any kind of media, so I was a bit shocked late last night to learn that the Jets had come up with a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Brett Favre Sweepstakes.

Being a Redskins fan and a transplated New Yorker (now living in New England), I was unable to root for the New York Giants during my eleven years living in New York, so I sort of adopted the New York Jets. I don’t know what’s more frustrating – being a Redskins fan or a Jets fan, but despite that conundrum, I still have some affection for Gang Green, although they’ve been a pretty ugly franchise over the last few years.

I can’t imagine that the Gunslinger isn’t thinking the same thing right now. Just think: Favre had an opportunity to play for Buccaneers, who compete in the weaker NFC, have Green Bay on their schedule, and were a playoff team last year, but now has to come over to the Big Apple’s Red-Headed Step Child Franchise in the midst of a directionless rebuilding process and attempt to piece together an enduring conclusion to his legacy.

Favre seemed worn out and underwhelmed at his press conference, and rightly so. It’s been a tough couple of weeks and he showed his weariness all over his face. While the Jets’ schedule appears to be rather easy coming off a 4-12 season last year, I can’t help but think he was closer to true competitiveness with Jon Gruden and the Buccaneers.

I am still holding out hope that Minnesota or Tampa Bay moves to trade for Favre in the 11th hour. Wouldn’t that be a slap across the incredibly huge face of Mike McCarthy? The fact that Pennington was released by the Jets essentially erases that possibility, but its still fun to think of the prospect of Favre getting the last laugh here. There is no doubt that Favre would have derived a lot of energy and direction from the prospect of competing against his former team. Now, in the unfamilar AFC East, Favre has to contend with the likes of Tom Brady and the San Diego Chargers and the tougher AFC playoff contenders. The Monkey and I will wish him the best of luck and will hopefully get to see his preseason debut against my Washington Redskins on August 16th, as it is likely that that game will be picked up for a national broadcast with the media frenzy that will surely accompany it.

Jets Regular Season Schedule and Prediction

Here’s a preview of the Jets 2008 schedule and a prediction for how they’ll turn out this year with the addition of Favre and other key free agents like Alan Faneca and the 2008 draft class:

Dolphins: Jets win. 1-0.
Patriots: Jets lose. 1-1.
Chargers: Jets lose. 1-2.
Cardinals: Jets win. 2-2.
Bengals: Jets win. 3-2.
Raiders: Jets win. 4-2.
Chiefs: Jets win. 5-2.
Bills: Jets win. 6-2.
Rams: Jets win. 7-2.
Patriots: Jets lose. 7-3.
Titans: Jets lose. 7-4.
Broncos: Jets win. 8-4.
49ers: Jets win. 9-4.
Bills: Jets win 10-4.
Seahawks: Jets lose 10-5.
Dolphins: Jets win 11-5.

That’s probably a best-case scenario, but with the Jets’ horrible outing in 2007, their 2008 schedule couldn’t be much easier.

Why Is This Man Smiling?

The Football Gods are none too happy with Packers management for contracting a political charlatan like former Bush talking head Ari Fleischer to come to Packers Camp and give a few pointers to the club on the intricacies of media relations in sports. While it is no surprise that people that work in professional football seem to have a conservative political bent, the fact that they would invite such a credentialed double-speaker and truth-dodger, who was the mouthpiece for the Bush Administration during the deception-filled run-up to the Iraq War, informs us as to their intentions concerning the Brett Favre saga.

I have talked about the insulting nature of the $20 million “marketing role” offer to Brett Favre to basically shut up, re-retire, and go away in a previous post here. And if Brett takes the offer, I will certainly have a few things to say about his personal integrity, but as of now the Monkey and I can only construe the offer as further evidence of an “integrity vacuum” that permeates many strata of our culture, from the military to corporate America, to professional sports.

• If the Packers are so confident of the skills and quarterbacking-acumen of Mr. Aaron Rodgers, they should have no problem with allowing him to demonstrate his supremacy over Mr. Brett Lorenzo Favre in open competition.
• If the Packers truly care about winning now, not in the future and in the hands of an unproven backup, they should welcome home Mr. Favre.
• If the Packers really want to increase their advantage against a Division rival over the next several years, they should trade Favre to the Vikings in exchange for a couple valuable draft picks, negatively impacting the Vikings ability to draft quality players in the future.
• If the Packers truly respect the man that literally built the modern-day Packers franchise through his grit, determination, and maverick spirit, they should release him. But one other famous Libra perhaps articulated this concept more eloquently than me and the Monkey ever could: “If you love someone, set them free.”

Brett Favre in a Different Uni?

Here’s what me and the Monkey (sic) know about the current state of affairs between“The Gunslinger” and his not-quite-yet former team:

• Favre won a Superbowl in 1997, the Packers’ first Championship in 30 years.
• Favre played quarterback for the Packers for 16 seasons, and 253 consecutive starts, an NFL record for a QB.
• Favre holds the NFL record for career touchdown passes.
• Favre holds the NFL record for passes completed.
• Favre holds the NFL record for career passing yards.
• Favre holds the NFL record for most 3000+ passing yard seasons.
• In 2007, at the age of 38, Brett Favre logged the third-best statistical season of his career and best season since winning the Superbowl, leading his team to just one game away from the Championship with the youngest roster in the league.
• In 2008, the Green Bay Packers offer to pay their marquee unretired QB $20 million to “re-retire.”

So why on earth is it that the team that Brett Favre has essentially personified for nearly two decades does not want him to take the reigns for the 2008 season? And offering him a multi-million dollar contract to go back down to Mississippi and throw balls to some high school players? Is there something we’re missing here? If ever a “non-employment” offer of 20 million bucks could be insulting, this would be the time.

When you consider what Favre means to the organization and to the Green Bay community it’s inconceivable that they would not want him to lead the team for another season, “un-retired” or not. At his age, it’s easy to say that the game may have passed him by or that he’s lost a step, but that line of thinking goes out the window when you consider his statistical accomplishments from last season. Granted, he threw a couple ugly interceptions against the Superbowl Champion New York Giants, but hey, those same Giants defeated the only undefeated regular season team in NFL history, so it’s not like the Giants were a bunch of slouches stealing a game from the old-timer.

From this Monkey’s perspective, the only question that the Packers organization should be considering is just this: who is best poised to lead this team and win now? Not tomorrow. Not in the future. And not maybe. Now. I can’t see anybody fitting that bill for Packer Nation other than the real “Iron-Man,” Mr. Brett Lorenzo Favre.

Let’s call a spade a spade. Who are the best QB’s in the NFL right now? Peyton Manning and Tom Brady for sure, Drew Brees, Matt Hasselbeck, most likely, but isn’t it arguable that Brett Favre could be included in a group of the top five, top ten at least? And one thing’s for certain, we can all be sure of one QB who’s most assuredly not in that top five bunch…

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers Starting QB

Aaron Rodgers has been named Packers starting QB by Coach Mike McCarthy. He must be looking pretty damn stellar to beat out a first-ballot Hall of Famer coming off one of his best seasons ever without even a head-to-head competition in Packers Training Camp, considering he’s never started a game or played in much meaningful NFL action.

The idea that Rodgers is going to seamlessly replace a legend, pick up where the team left off, and lead the Packers to the playoffs is ludicrous. Sometimes, you never a replace a legend. Don’t believe me? Ask the Denver Broncos. Or the Miami Dolphins. A notable exception is the San Fransisco 49ers; but in their case Steve Young had already proven himself while Joe Montana recuperated from injuries.

So What Gives?

The only explanation I have for what we’re seeing is a terrible case of hubris on the part of all parties involved:

• On the part of Favre, for not thinking through his decision making process properly when he bid farewell to the NFL, for going public with Greta Van Sustern (of all people), and for not actively engaging team management about his intentions in a timely, private, and respectful manner. But hey – the guy’s a Libra (like me), so how can we expect him to be good at making tough decisions?
• And on the part of Packers management and coaches, for essentially disowning their most famous, important, and accomplished player in franchise history. They have repeatedly expressed their intention on moving forward as an organization and putting their plan for the future into place.

Granted, it’s important for a team to want to move foward and a team must think about the future, but winning in the future on the shoulders of a fourth-year untested rookie shouldn’t come at the expense of winning now.

What Brett’s Horoscope Has to Say

Here’s something interesting I pulled from Brett’s horoscope for the month of July:

The real fear you’re struggling with is that of isolation. It’s as though you feel removed from yourself as well as from the world…you are starting to feel angry about being isolated. The problem is that it’s not entirely true. There are key facets of your life where you are visible, participating in the world and the focus of true admiration…Please recognize that your work is not only having an impact, but you are reaching people on the emotional level as well. You are finally involved with something that expresses your true values, your commitment to caring for the world, and which meets the most important criteria of all, contacts people personally. Therefore, you can feel good about responding to the call for leadership. If you’re feeling isolated, let that stand as a reminder of the condition of 99 percent of the population, and is a key part of why you must do the work you are being called up on to do.

Many have urged Favre to go back to Mississippi. Those people don’t understand what it means to be a competitor. It is in their blood. They cannot control it. It urges them to do things that “regular” people don’t quite understand. Other players know this, but every retired player who says Favre should step away is simply jealous that he still has the physical skills to be on top of his game.

So What Will Happen?

The future Vikings QB?

And the downside? Only losing to the hands of the Favre-led Vikings in the season opener on the grand stage of Monday Night Football, that’s all. Last year, the Vikings were a quarterback away from serious playoff contention. With Favre at the helm they could be dangerous. And they have Green Bay on the schedule twice. Get ready Aaron Rodgers.

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