Sports Blog

Tonight Brett Favre makes his first appearance on the opposite sidelines from the team he has spent almost his whole career, the Green Bay Packers. Though it’s not at Green Bay, which will come later this season in week 8 on Nov. 1, it should still be a circus. The Viking fans spent 16 years hating when Green Bay came to town just because of Brett and now he is leading their team. It has to feel weird for both fan bases to see this. For some Green Bay fans it’s just sacrilegious and they now hate Brett Favre, as picture shows below. And though Favre said he did not come back to get revenge on his old team, who believes him when he hasn’t been honest for the past two seasons. With the way Favre is you know there has to be at least a little revenge on his mind. After all Green Bay thought he was finished and wanted to turn the page over to Aaron Rodgers, while Brett still felt he had some left and didn’t like that they made him make a decision so soon. Needless to say it makes for some good drama and TV. The game should be good as well with two teams fighting for control of the division, but you know the media will put that in the backseat to Favre. The game starts a 5:00 p.m. PCT on ESPN. Don’t miss it.

Image Source: AP

You had to think that the story wasn’t truly over when Favre announced he was retiring three weeks ago; not when the story involves Brett Favre. He’s done this to us twice before and the truth is that he cannot just walk away from the game; not when there are teams telling him they still need him. Three weeks ago Favre was talking about how he didn’t think that his body could make through a full season and that this was the end, he wouldn’t try to come back. Now after training camp has passed and preseason has started Favre has had a change of heart. Favre said that he just didn’t want to leave the game with regret about what if or could have happened.

“I don’t know how I’ll feel a year from now, five years from now, but I didn’t want to say what if,” he said. He also said it wasn’t about getting back at the Packers by signing with the Packers rival. This is not about revenge or anything like that. Believe me. You can’t take away the 16 years I had in Green Bay. It was unbelievable. It was great, and that will be forever cherished by me and the guys I played with. They’ve moved on. I’ve moved on. I think it’s great for football.”

The rival Vikings will give Favre $25 million for two years to come back and be there starting QB. The QB’s on the roster have to be feeling like trash right now after this. And say that this Favre experiment doesn’t work, like it didn’t with the Jets, the Vikings will be looking for a totally new QB, cause they obviously have no confidence in the ones that are there. The Vikings are now thinking Super Bowl but the fact is that Favre has faded down the stretch in each of the last couple years. ESPN has the stats on his last four years and over the last 5 games of the season his numbers drop dramatically.:

Category       First 11games       Last 5 games
Comp pct                64.8                      56.1
Pass yards PG       253.8                   211.4
TD-Int                   75-50                  13-34
Passer rating         88.2                      59.9

*from ESPN.com 

These numbers don’t lie, Favre age is catching up to him and he is no longer able to play at a high level for a full season. The Vikings are hoping he can because they are putting a lot into him. I just don’t see it happening and think the Vikings are making a big mistake.

Brett Favre has finally made his decision, he is going to stay retired instead of playing for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings recruited Brett very hard this off-season but in the end he just felt that he didn’t have enough in him to play a full season. It was a very tough decision for Favre and it looks like this is finally it for him, although we know nothing’s ever for sure with Brett Favre. Here’s what he had to say about his decision: “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings — but, most importantly, the fans.”

Its always hard to see a star leave the game, but this was defiantly the right decision for Favre. Last year when he came back he faded down the stretch of the long season finally showing his age. Yes, he probably can still play, but over the long hall there is no way for him to stay health for a full season. With Favre making his decision, it now looks like the NFL and the Vikings can move on and focus on the season. This is good ’cause I’m tired of the only off-season stories being on whether Favre will play or not. Also, if I was the current quarterback of the Vikings, Tarvaris Jackson, I ‘d feel like nobody trusts my ability. I mean, the Vikings were going so hard after Favre was saying things like we need him to win the Super Bowl. This season will tell us a lot about Jackson on whether he is motivated by this, or he falls apart under the extra pressure now on him.

Source:  USA Today, AP Photo

It appears former USC star and current New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is already on pace to break some NFL records.  According to a New York Times blog, Reebok has confirmed the No. 5 overall pick and his No. 6 jersey is the current top seller among all rookies, ahead of first overall pick Matthew Stafford (also a quarterback, drafted by the Detroit Lions).

It points out the obvious (New York has a bigger fan base) and gives the obligatory mention to Brett Favre.  It also mentions the sales are on pace to outsell last years hottest seller, Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders.

Then it got me thinking…where are the best places to buy cheap football equipment and jerseys?  I took a look over at Smarter.com’s NFL’s shop and, after overcoming a bout with sticker shock, I found my way to today’s deal of the day.

Over at the Fansedge.com, they have some great deals like Tom Brady’s Reebok Super Bowl XLII New England Patriots Jersey for only $34.99 (originally $89.99).

Their spring savings are up to 70 percent off and include such awesome items as a two-pair of Atlanta Falcons panties for $17.99. After all, what girl doesn’t want a Falcons logo stitched onto her special place?

Image Source: NYJetsFan.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for Mark Sanchez jerseys.
Discounts on NFL gear.

If you are a sports fan you probably find yourself stricken with a wicked case of déjà vu right now.  Sadly it isn’t a dream and we aren’t stuck in a day that keeps repeating a la Groundhog Day.

No, the truth is much more grim.  Brett Favre is once again waffling on his retirement plans and appears to be intent on torturing the sports world with another summer of ‘will he or won’t he’ nonsense.

There had been murmurs of it for weeks, but it became official yesterday that Favre and Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress will meet at an “undisclosed location” to discuss the possibility of Favre coming back to spite the Green Bay Packers try and win another Super Bowl ring.  Even though I dread having to read/watch a million (only a slight exaggeration) stories over the coming weeks about the situation, there are a few things that make it more interesting than Favre’s usual melodrama.

For starters, prior to going to the New York Jets last year Favre indicated interest in playing for the Vikings.  Of course, with the Packers controlling his rights there was no way he was going to be lining up for a division rival.  Still, the interest was mutual and neither side seems to mind ruining former starter Tavaris Jackson’s confidence.

What I find most compelling is Favre, who multiple times said he had no interest in playing, had his agent request his release several weeks ago.  Why would a man content in retirement care which team held his rights?  Was he lying about his intent to stay retired or are we to believe that he has had a recent change of heart?

Daytime TV drama aside, there is still the question of whether or not the 39-year-old Favre can play.  After helping the Jets get off to an 8-3 start, Favre regressed as the season went on and looked completely out of sync (and breath) in the Jets final few games.

It is also difficult to believe he would risk further tarnishing his legacy by coming back and looking like an old Brett Favre instead of the old Brett Favre, but perhaps we are all underestimating how much bad blood there is between him and Packers general manager Ted Thomson.

For now all we are left with are questions. Will he come out of retirement?  Will fans turn on him more than they already have?  Will I lose my mind listening to up to the minute updates on ESPN?  It is too early to tell, but the smart money is a resounding yes on all three.

Image Source: thisisjuststupid.com

This week in sports blogs and news:

• Henrik Stenson strips to golf in the mud - Golf.com
• Grant Hill says Christian Laettner is a jerk - SportsByBrooks
• Michael Phelps Kellogg’s cereal donated - Larry Brown Sports
• Bernie Williams smashes camera and punches woman in the face? - Why’s My Head Growing?
• Columnists you want to party with: ESPN Edition - The Sports Hernia

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

• “For kicks, lets hold a press conference…” 
• Liar Liar: Vladimir Guerrero is Older than Listed
• Don’t Say It! Eagles Employee Fired for Comments
• Lane Kiffin Pulls Out All Stops in Recruiting
• Tapout’s Charles “Mask” Lewis Killed in Crash
  

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What would you say? Write us your caption and post them in our comments!

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Fantasy Studs:

• Brett Favre had an amazing game for the Jets, throwing for 6 touchdowns and 289 yards!
• Stephen Jackson FINALLY had a good week, finishing with 110 yards rushing and a touchdown, including 78 yards receiving.
• Larry Johnson exploded for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• Laveranues Coles was Favre’s favorite target, catching 3 touchdowns and 103 yards.
• Kurt Warner racked up 472 yards and 2 touchdowns, despite throwing 3 interceptions.
• Drew Brees passed for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns.
• Greg Jennings hauled in 2 touchdowns and 109 yards against the Buccaneers.
• Tony Romo’s 3 touchdowns and 300 yards weren’t enough to help the Cowboys beat the Redskins.
• LaDanian Tomlinson had 109 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns.

Fantasy Duds:

• Ryan Grant of the Packers could only come up with 20 yards and also lost a fumble.
• Michael Turner rushed for only 55 yards against the Panthers.
• Reggie Bush wasn’t able to do much, as he totaled 38 yards.
• Marion Barber had a total of 37 yards from scrimmage.

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NFL Shop  NFL Jerseys

Fantasy Studs:

• RONNIE BROWN! The Dolphins running back had 5 touchdowns, with 113 yards rushing. One of the touchdowns was a pass.
• Falcon Michael Turner finished with 104 yards and 3 touchdowns.
• Reggie Bush did it all for the Saints, rushing for 73 yards and a touchdown, while also catching a TD on 75 yards receiving.
• Larry Fitzgerald hauled in a 62-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner, totaling 109 yard.
• Philip Rivers passed for three more touchdowns on Monday night against the Jets.
• Roddy White caught a 70 yard touchdown passed on his way to 109 yards.
• Brandon Marshall had another great week for the Broncos, catching six balls for 155 yards and a touchdown.
• Drew Brees passed for 420 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort.
• Marion Barber had 142 yards rushing and one touchdown for the Cowboys.
• Brett Favre had three touchdowns on Monday night, but also threw two interceptions

Fantasy Duds:

• Willie Parker could only come up with 20 yards against the Eagles.
• T.O. was shutdown against the Packers, catching only two passes for 17 yards.
• Andre Johnson finished with two catches for 29 yards.
• Matt Cassel can’t seem to find Randy Moss. The wideout finished with only four catches for 25 yards.
• Brian Westbrook only had 12 yards before leaving the game early with an ankle injury.
• The New England Patriots Defense gave up 461 yards and five touchdowns to Ronnie Brown.

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It wasn’t nearly as dramatic as the Brett Favre fiasco, but I’d be lying if I wasn’t a little interested.

And also unlike Favre’s drama, this lasted all but one day.

So without further ado, this just in: Michael Strahan is going to stay retired. And I couldn’t agree more with him, not that it even matters. Despite the millions he could make coming back for another season (around $8 million), he can still make a nice chunk of change off the field ($2 million). You see, Strahan is already signed on to be an NFL analyst for FOX. So despite his on-field talent, apparently he has enough brains to do something off it.

And what about defending their Super Bowl title?

He’s got a ring. Why come back and risk more wear on his body for a repeat that is very unlikely to happen? He’s leaving at the top of his game. Something very few players have ever had the chance of doing. I’m not a Giants fan, so it’s hard for me to even acknowledge the talent Strahan provided to the Giants line. He’s accomplished all he can. Time to move on.

And I like how Strahan was honest about his reasons for not coming back. He just couldn’t dedicate himself to the work involved in playing in the NFL. Some players would sign the multimillion dollar contract and play half-heartedly. Strahan is a class-act. He turned it down in respect to himself and the New York Giants. He couldn’t perform at the same level they’re accustomed too.

And because he couldn’t, his next stop won’t be on the field, but in Canton.

Source: SI

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