Will Favre Be Smiling?
The truth of the matter is that when Favre retired, he retired as a Green Bay Packer. His signing with the Jets was no big deal really in Green Bay. It stunk. It made Green Bay mad. It was odd on every level. Favre signing with arguably the Packer’s worst on field enemy is another story all together. The fact that the Vikings are serious contenders in the Packers own division is just icing on the cake. The Packers are going to be in for the fight of their life to ward off the Vikings this season. Brett Favre could very well be the reason that Green Bay does not make the playoffs this year. What crime could he commit that would be any worse to a Green Bay fan?
Watching this game on Monday night will be like nothing else in recent memory as sports go. The Packers are going to be playing against Brett Favre. No matter how many times you say it, it still has to sound strange. What will it look like? The real question is, will the Green Bay players have it in for Favre? Regardless of the niceties that are sure to be thrown around on Monday night’s pregame, you can bet that the Packers are going to be a little pissed in the back of their minds. They will be coming after Favre hard and fast.
To tell you the truth, I see that as being their ultimate downfall. They are going to be looking for Favre all night long, and Adrian Peterson is going to be running by them while they do. The real weapon in Minnesota is not Brett Favre. He is the decoy now. The real weapon is Adrian Peterson. Given this, the Vikings would do well to sling some shots down the field early against Green Bay. They should get all eyes squarely on Favre. Once they focus in, then they should smash them in the mouth with a steady dose of Adrian. The worse thing they could do is get into a passing game with the Packers.
Aaron Rodgers is actually the better quarterback at this stage of their careers. Physically he is just more put together than Favre. Favre has the experience and the mojo over Rodgers, however. If Favre is going to beat Rodgers, it will have to be between the ears. He will have to shelve his ego, and let the strengths of his team lead the way. To Favre’s credit, he has done so this year so far. This is why the Vikings are 3-0. It remains to be seen if he can do the same against the Packers.
Pull up a chair, and enjoy the ride. This should be a good one.
Steve Mcnair was found in a Nashville apartment on Saturday slumped on the couch and shot several times, including two to the head. He was only 36 years old and the former Tennessee Titan was well loved throughout the NFL.
The body of his rumored girlfriend (McNair was married to Mechelle McNair), was also found with an apparently self inflicted gunshot to her head. A pistol was discovered under her body. She was only 20 years old.
Though the police have stopped short of calling it a murder suicide, they have conceded that they are no longer looking for suspects, and they have ruled McNair’s death a homicide. Ms. Kazemi’s death is not yet classified. This means that the police likely think that she shot Steve McNair, and then herself.
Steve McNair was widely respected in NFL circles, and was a star since joining the league from Alcorn State. He led the Titans to the Super Bowl in 2000, and led the Baltimore Ravens to a great record before being injured. Steve McNair retired in 07 because of nagging injuries.
A former boyfriend of Ms Kazemis said that the two began an affair after meeting at Dave and Buster’s Grand Sports Cafe where she was a waitress.
Mcnair was a very good NFL football player and known to be an even better person. He participated and donated to many charities over the years, and always carried himself well. He will be missed by all football fans, and our best wishes and prayers go out to both his wife, Mechelle, and his four sons.
Picture of Steve McNair courtesy of Wikipedia Commons User Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA
When the Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart last season, they did not realize that DeAngelo Williams was going to be the breakout star in the NFL. Williams went on to score 20 touchdowns, and completely dominate the competition with multiple 40 yard runs every week it seemed. Stewart was no slouch either, scoring 10 Tds, and gaining 800+ yards in the process. Going into the NFL season, which running back should start and get the bulk of the carries?
What seems like a simple answer is not as easy as you might think. DeAngelo Williams has certainly earned the position, but he is not built to carry the load. The smaller Williams is more of a third down type back, and many think that he should be moved into that type of role. Stewart is a bruising, every down type of back, and might just be the star of the future.
While Stewart is a fantastic back, and might just be the Panthers future at the position, he was the back that was injury prone. I do not buy the whole “DeAngelo Williams is too small” argument at all. Think of Barry Sanders, for example. He was a small back that was built very similarly to Williams. Williams is the running back of Carolina’s present. Period.
DeAngelo literally ripped apart every ball club he faced. Stewart had moments, and was quite impressive, but DeAngelo was unstoppable. He was the best running back in the NFL over a period of about twelve weeks. Week after week, he suited up and literally ran all over the opposition.
While the Panthers are fortunate to have them both, this position has to be Williams’ to lose. If not, then someone down in Panther land is not paying attention in the least. Stewart will get his chance, and plenty of carries this season to boot.
