The Gunslinger Rides Out of Town

After the season ended in January, I wrote that even after coming off of an MVP type year and with all signs logically pointing otherwise, Favre was just enough of a contrarian to go and retire. Unfortunately, I was right (again). Thanks for the memories, Number 4.

A Great Season With a Bad Ending

So the Packers fall at home to the Giants 23-20 in overtime and fail in their bid to go to the Super Bowl. The Packers gave the Giants plenty of opportunities to win and the Giants finally cashed in.

Favre didn't have his best game. His second interception was a killer but the game plan installed by Head Coach Mike McCarthy was questionable. Although, Eli Manning threw the ball 40 times to Favre's 35 times, the Giants had many more snaps and a far higher number of rushing attempts than did the Packers (39-14). Why the Packers didn't run more a week after Ryan Grant went for 201 yards is puzzling. Yeah, the yards weren't there early but you can't just give up on the running game.

All-Pro Cornerback Al Harris was overmatched against Giants' wide receiver Plaxico Burress all game. It didn't help matters that Harris played much of the game with an injured foot. But did the Packers make any adjustments to get Harris help? Uh-uh.

Generally, the tackling was about as poor as I've seen from this team this year. Lots of initial hits in the Giants' backfield still resulted in positive yardage when the first contact is made by someone who bounces off. And for the love of all things Lombardi, Jerrod Bush: FALL ON THE FREAKING BALL. DON'T TRY TO PICK IT UP AND RUN, YOU MORON!!!

That said, the Packers had a great season. Far beyond initial expectations. I figured a 9-7 season and a wild-card playoff spot. They're still the youngest team in the league even with the Old Man of the Mountain, Favre, skewing the numbers. If Favre returns, this year's seasoning can only help them understand what they're capable of and what still needs to be done. Of course, I'm not taking anything for granted until I hear Favre say, "I'm back." While it makes all kinds of sense that he'd come back after having an MVP-calibre season personally and a great year for the team overall, he's just nutty enough to do something unexpected like retire. I'm just not quite ready for the Aaron Rodgers era to begin yet.

The Old Man and the TD

So, Brett Favre is washed up and a shadow of his former self? Well he isn't what he was in 1996 but given a modicum of talent surrounding him he still appears well able to get the job done and statistically speaking is a top notch QB. It also helps having an offensive line that keeps him on his feet for the most part.

Now tied with Dan Marino for an NFL record 420 touchdown passes, he will easily surpass that mark most likely starting next week. Peyton Manning may be fast approaching but for now the mark will be Favre's. And it should be noted that this year he is doing it without even a hint of a running game.

Can he keep it going all year? Will defenses adjust? Maybe but it's still impressive to see him doing what he's doing at this stage of his career. Next up are the Minnesota Vikings and given their run defense, it will be up to the arm of Favre to find a way to win in the Humpty Dome.

Thugs of a Feather

Terrell Owens has spoken out on the Mike Vick dogfighting scandal. While careful to make it clear that he doesn't (currently) participate in dogfighting, he believes dogfighting is a cultural part of the south (like in-breeding). But as can be seen in the picture above, dog fighting isn't necessariliy a racial or cultural thing, it's a hooligan/thuggish thing, even if the hooligans and thugs are wearing top hats or all the bling in the world.

The Dallas Morning News reports Owens as saying: "I don't condone Michael Vick's actions with the dog fighting," Owens said. "I've been exposed to it and it's something that's very unfortunate for Mike. I think he'll learn from this situation and move on from it. When I mentioned cultural thing, [it's] just like when people go out and they hunt deer," he said. "They hunt deer and they cut their heads off and they go to mount them on the wall. And they are animals as well. I don't see a big difference in the situation. "

Owens doesn't see a big difference because he is a moron. Deer are hunted and they instinctively know they are being hunted by humans and others. They have colorations, senses and quickness to assist them in eluding their predators. Dogs are companions who do not understand that these humans are hurting/killing them. At the end of the day dogfightling leaves dog dead and a human with pocketsful of money going "Yippee! Yippee!"

So T.O. has joined such mental luminaries as running back, Clinton Portis (alumn of the University of Miami, Fla. school of thuggery) and Whoopi "It's My First Day, I Have To Be Controversial" Goldberg. On the plus side, at least ESPN got rid of Michael Irvin so we aren't subjected to his nightly apologism for Mike Vick and other thugs who happen to be athletes.

Bye Bye Con-Vick

So Michael Vick plans to plead guilty to federal charges of dog fighting and conspiracy. What a surprise. At least now we can put an end to the deluge of "innocent until proven guilty" from the Vick apologists. And it's not "innocent until proven guilty" it's "deemed innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty". The court of public opinion can rule long before any judge or jury. Moreover, just because a judge or jury hasn't heard the facts doesn't mean that the accused didn't do it. When you commit a crime, you're guilty even if you're not charged, tried or convicted. It's only in the eyes of the law that you are deemed "not guilty".

In some judical systems is phrased as "not proven guilty" which acknowledges that sometimes while the prosecutor may not have proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, it doesn't mean that the accused is necessarily innocent. O.J. would fit into that category.

But with Vick, such technical legal quandries are moot. He's guilty. He may come back at some later date saying that he only pled guilty because his friends and associates were willing to frame him to cut a better deal but I don't think the public is going to buy that load. He's a scumbag and deserves whatever prison sentence he gets.

I get so sick of talk show hosts criticizing the guys who turn state's evidence. They act like the Goodfellas code is a good thing that shouldn't be violated. That's B.S. Citizens of an honest society should work with law enforcement to bring criminals to justice. Otherwise, the bad guys have the upper hand and the world is worse off because of it. Or we could just turn to vigilante justice which is always fun too!

Anywho, does this mean he should be banned from football for life? Probably not for the dogfighting charges alone. Once he serves his sentence and whatever suspension the NFL imposes, he should be allowed to pursue gainful employment even as a multi-million dollar football player. That is allowed to try. Hopefully, NFL teams will weigh the pros and cons (no pun intended) of hiring and will realize the damage to their franchise's reputation isn't worth it. Moreover, depending on the length of his sentence/suspension who knows if he'll be the same player he once was or even if he'll be a viabile player at the pro level. CFL get ready! Or maybe the Raiders would want him since they probably still won't have their 1st round QB pick this year signed by then.











Right back at you, Mike.

I'd Buy a Ticket to This Game

Michael Vick Dog Fighting

Michael Vick has sold the property which he says his family "mis-used" by engaging in dogfighting. He has sold the $700,000 property for about a 50% loss. Whether Vick actually had knowledge of or engaged in the dogfighting remains to be determined but given the trouble he and his brother continually find themselves in, it's not hard to imagine that they would be involved in something like this.

That said, dogfighting is the domain of the moron. Guys (yes, I'm assuming the vast majority of dogfighting "fans" are guys) like that are definitely low on the IQ scale and probably are missing more than a few DNA chromosomes. It's the dogfighting fan that makes professional wrestling fans seem like cultural elites. Yech.

Update: Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis issues a proclamation on the Mike Vick dog fighting issue: "I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property, it's his dog. If that's what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business." Regardless of the legality and cruelty. To read everything this mental pygmy has to say click here.

2007 Packers Draft

Haven't had a ton of time to analyze the draft since the weekend what with the move and all but with a few days to reflect I guess the best that can be said is "Wait and see."

The Packers' first round draft pick was interior defensive lineman, Justin Harrell, from Tennessee. He only played 3 games his senior year after blowing out his bicep. Film from his junior year show him to be a high-motor upfield pursuer with long arms. A defensive tackle that can get to the quarterback can help any team and one hopes the Packers did their due diligence in testing his medical condition. A stud wide receiver would have been nice at #16 but after Calvin Johnson, there wasn't a sure-fire impact player at wideout and with a deep draft at that position quality still could be found in later rounds.

The second pick concerns me more. Again, they selected a player with a history of injury problems, junior running back Brandon Jackson from Nebraska. He posted gaudy numbers in split duty but a running back with injuries to both shoulders can be a worry given the pounding they take. He is supposedly a good receiver but needs to work on his blocking (as do most rookie running backs). Scouts have indicated that had he not come out early, he might have been considered the top back in college in 2008. Hopefully, he can replace departed Nebraska alumn, Ahman Green.

The rest of the draft saw the Packers taking WRs James Jones of San Jose State with their 1st 3rd round pick and David Clowney from Virginia Tech in the 5th round. Jones seems to be more of a possession guy with Clowney being the burner who needs to learn how to run routes but can make an immediate impact in the return game.

Needs were filled as they took Hokie safety, Aaron Rouse, in the 3rd round and Division II All-American, Allen Barbre, from Missouri Southern State in round four. Round six saw the Packers taking the top kicker, Mason Crosby, from Colorado who will compete with Dave Raymer. Also Korey Hall, of Boise State, was taken in the 6th as a possible replacement for retired William Henderson at fullback after being converted from his college position of linebacker. The Packers also selected another linebacker, Desmond Bishop, from California in the 6th round. I would have liked to see them take a run at tight end, Ben Patrick, in the 6th round.

Running back, DeShawn Wynn, from Florida was taken in the 7th round and could also compete for the fullback spot. Finally, another need was addressed in the 7th round with tight end, Clark Harris, from Rutgers. Of course, can you really expect needs to be filled in a big way that late in the draft? It definitely can happen but you can't count on it.

While I'd like to wait a couple of years to grade the draft, Packers GM Ted Thompson, probably deserves the benefit of the doubt given how the 2006 draft class was able to step up and contribue right away. So, I'll give the Packers a B-.

My Brain Is Literally Gonna Fall Out of My Head

I absolutely can't stand the way that no one apparently knows what "literally" means. It's misused in a variety of forums but the most frequent offenders tend to be sports writers and/or broadcasters. A few weeks ago during a Chicago Bulls broadcast, Johnny "Red" Kerr announced that one of the players was "literally hacked to death" during a drive to the basket. Yet no one was thrown out of the game much less arrested.

Then in a review of the pros and cons of top wide receiver prospect, Calvin Johnson, of Georgia Tech, John Murphy of Yahoo! Sports reported that Johnson "literally exploded out of the gates" during his 40 yard dash at the NFL combines. Wow. That was really not widely reported. One would think that if the best athlete in the draft "literally exploded" it would have been given a couple of seconds on SportsCenter.

I know they mean "metaphorically" (even if they don't know it). I guess it's kind of funny to think of how the "literal" version of their metaphors would play out in real life but geez you'd think that a professional communicator would figure it out at some point.

Draft Time

Yahoo! Sports has determined that the Green Bay Packers have needs at running back, cornerback, tight end, wide receiver and safety. They further make the following analysis of the Packers draft strategy:

RB: The Packers' staff is making more believers in the belief that it feels comfortable entering training camp with a combination of Vernand Morency as the potential starter, and Noah Herron and a draft choice battling for playing time. If that is the case, the Packers will likely pass on a first-round back and wait until later to draft someone, possibly Kenny Irons, Brandon Jackson or Chris Henry.

Editor Commentary: Huh? Vernand Morency had some flashes of being a decent running back as Ahman Green's back up but as the primary back? There will probably be much hand wringing if the Packers pass on Marshawn Lynch of Cal should he fall this far. And I will run amok down the streets of Green Bay if Adrian Peterson of Oklaholma is available and they don't snatch him. I doubt Peterson will fall that far however. I wouldn't even mind seeing a trade up if they can make a run at him.

CB: This position needs to be addressed so that they can line up better against three- to four-wide receiver sets. They have two good starters and are hopeful that '06 fourth-rounder Will Blackmon will develop. The Packers can afford to take someone in the second or third round because they would prefer a defender along the lines of Michael Coe, Tarell Brown, David Irons or C.J. Gaddis.

Editor Commentary: Still paying the price of the Ahmad Carroll debacle.

TE: With Bubba Franks slowing down and David Martin departing via free agency, the time has come to find a pass-catching threat down the middle that can help spread the field for Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. If they do not have a chance at Greg Olsen in the first round, they could opt for players like Ben Patrick, Clark Harris or Martrez Milner between rounds 3 and 4.

Editor Commentary: If Peterson and Lynch aren't around in the 1st round and Olsen is, that might not be a bad thought. Otherwise, you have to wait a couple of rounds for the next group of TEs.

WR: Outside of Driver and Jennings, the team has no real depth at this position although former undrafted free agent Ruvell Martin shows signs of being a capable reserve when healthy. The Packers would like to find someone that is more of the physical, possession type, and could also opt to add a second receiver that could add some punch to their return game later in the draft.

Editor Commentary: Is Koren Robinson (assuming he's sober and out of trouble) still in the mix? Even Yahoo didn't seem impressed enough with the WRs after Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson to mention any of them by name. No way do the Packers have a shot at Johnson.

S: They added veteran Marquand Manuel a year ago via free agency, but he did not produce nearly enough big plays. Nick Collins continues to grow, but finding a prospect with better range, speed and ball skills to challenge Manuel for playing time would improve the pass-coverage ability of the entire secondary.

Editor Commentary: Not a huge concern at this point although Manuel was a bit of a disappointment.

Final Commentary: What, no plan for the post-Favre era yet?

Overall pick/round: 16 (1), 47 (2), 78 (3), 112 (4), 157 (5), 193 (6), 228 (7), 235 (7), 243 (7)