... Brett Favre, that is, that is bothering me.
Is he seriously considering coming back just four months after his tearful departure from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL?
If he is, he's putting the Packers, and himself in a very difficult position.
The Packers have prepared Aaron Rodgers to be Favre's replacement since they drafted him in 2005. He annually has lived through the "will Brett or won't Brett" return talk. This past offseason, Coach Mike McCarthy has tailored his offense to Rodgers' strengths during minicamps, "optional" team activities and one-on-one study.
Should Favre return to the Packers, one could assume that Rodgers will opt to leave (to put it politely) when his rookie contract expires after the 2009 season. A Favre return also would cost the Packers $12 million in salary. ... And there is no guarantee he can replicate his performance of a season ago, which statistically was among his three-best, and victory-wise tied for his best. So there is a great deal of risk for the Packers.
What about Favre? His indecisiveness has dampened some Packers fans' enthusiasm about him. Granted, a large majority would welcome him back with open arms, but his annual flirtations with leaving the game have some fans scratching their cheeseheads. ... In addition to injury, which seems ridiculous to write about a man who didn't miss a game in 16 seasons, Favre faces the prospect of the team not meeting the lofty expectations it would face should he return. Anything less than a Super Bowl would not be satisfactory. ... Then there is family. Favre's stated desire has been to spend more time with his daughters and wife, a cancer survivor.
One more thing. While Favre's body clock might be telling him it's time for training camp, what I heard last spring was, "I am mentally fatigued and not willing to go through the weekly preparation for opponents and deal with the pressure that comes with playing in the fishbowl known as Green Bay." Favre was clear that physically he felt fine. That obviously hasn't changed.
So what's next? Only Favre knows.
Come back, lead the Packers to a Super Bowl, and all of this is moot. Come back and not get there while basically holding the door open for Rodgers to leave creates a problem. Come back with another team, say the quarterback-needy Vikings or Bears, and it might be a nearly unpardonable sin in Packerland. ... Or stay retired and let things run their course.
Favre's place in Packers history is secure, but the final chapter might provide some interesting reading.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Someone call the cops: Police are robbers
My wife and I were robbed at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday night.
No, not literally, but after enduring a two-hour ride there via the Bowl's "Park and Ride" program, which took turns, literally, that defied common traffic sense in LA, we were treated to one of the worst concerts I've ever seen.
I have long been a fan of the Police, but not the current incarnation. Wednesday night's show was about as half-hearted of a performance as I've seen. Yes, drummer Stewart Copeland was outstanding, and yes, guitarist Andy Summers was very, very good. The problem was the frontman - Sting.
Sting, who largely has been held responsible for breaking up the group in the mid-80s to launch his solo career, seemed lost at times, forgetting lyrics and intermittently adding bass lines when he so chose. After a strong start, his voice began to fade and he didn't seem to care.
All in all, there was little energy or cohesiveness despite the musical expertise of all three men.
Given what we paid ($55 for an upper level seat) and the enormous hassle to even get to the venue, the night could have been saved by a passionate, energetic performance, a la U2, Rush or Bruce Springsteen - all major acts I've seen live in the past three years for more money. But the Police, specifically Sting, didn't deliver.
I also take issue with the changes at the Bowl. Clearly they've muted the sound to appease the neighbors, and the result was less-than-stellar. It's hard to make Andy Summers - one of the finest axemen around - sound bad, but at times his guitar was muffled.
Adding insult to injury was this morning's review in the Los Angeles Times by a woman named Mary McNamara, who got a kick out of taking her kids to a rock and roll concert and clearly has a crush on Sting. An absolutely awful piece of work and further evidence of the decline of newspapers is available on the cover of the Calendar section.
After this experience, I will be hard pressed to both return to the Bowl and even entertain an idea of paying to go see a "reunion" concert, particularly if the band is fronted by an apathetic and arrogant frontman.
No, not literally, but after enduring a two-hour ride there via the Bowl's "Park and Ride" program, which took turns, literally, that defied common traffic sense in LA, we were treated to one of the worst concerts I've ever seen.
I have long been a fan of the Police, but not the current incarnation. Wednesday night's show was about as half-hearted of a performance as I've seen. Yes, drummer Stewart Copeland was outstanding, and yes, guitarist Andy Summers was very, very good. The problem was the frontman - Sting.
Sting, who largely has been held responsible for breaking up the group in the mid-80s to launch his solo career, seemed lost at times, forgetting lyrics and intermittently adding bass lines when he so chose. After a strong start, his voice began to fade and he didn't seem to care.
All in all, there was little energy or cohesiveness despite the musical expertise of all three men.
Given what we paid ($55 for an upper level seat) and the enormous hassle to even get to the venue, the night could have been saved by a passionate, energetic performance, a la U2, Rush or Bruce Springsteen - all major acts I've seen live in the past three years for more money. But the Police, specifically Sting, didn't deliver.
I also take issue with the changes at the Bowl. Clearly they've muted the sound to appease the neighbors, and the result was less-than-stellar. It's hard to make Andy Summers - one of the finest axemen around - sound bad, but at times his guitar was muffled.
Adding insult to injury was this morning's review in the Los Angeles Times by a woman named Mary McNamara, who got a kick out of taking her kids to a rock and roll concert and clearly has a crush on Sting. An absolutely awful piece of work and further evidence of the decline of newspapers is available on the cover of the Calendar section.
After this experience, I will be hard pressed to both return to the Bowl and even entertain an idea of paying to go see a "reunion" concert, particularly if the band is fronted by an apathetic and arrogant frontman.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Taking a look around the NFL
Scouting the NFL after the draft ...
Spygate continues to generate a lot of headlines, but the real news in all of this is the NFL could be at risk of losing its federal anti-trust exemption, which basically allows it to be a monopoly. ...
There are more and more reports of unrest at the Players Association, and more and more signs that the league's labor agreement is on thin ice (can't resist a hockey reference). For a league that prides itself on its labor peace (one factor that makes it attractive to advertisers and networks), this is not good news. ...
The league also continues to have a multitude of off-the-field behavior problems with its members. ...
See where this is going? ...
It's no better on the money front. Giants DE Michael Strahan once again is playing the will he or won't he retire game. Reportedly he wants a contract upgrade to return to the Super Bowl champions.
Things aren't much brighter in the Second City, where Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is threatening to hold out if his contract isn't reworked, a contract he's less than halfway through
and averages more than $5 million per year.
Then there is Cleveland TE Kellen Winslow, who also has made references to missing minincamps, etc., because - you guessed it - he wants his contract reworked. I saw this one coming in February when for some strange reason the Browns decided to give WR Donte' Stallworth an outsized free-agent contract to leave the Patriots without regard to up-and-coming stars Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards. I'm not condoning Winslow's antics, but the Browns should have expected this. ...
If you're hoping for a post-draft analysis, look elsewhere. I believe it's pointless to evaluate teams' drafts before players have even played one preseason down. In fact, I think it requires about three years before one can objectively evaluate a team's decisions on the final Saturday in April.
Enjoy the offseason. Camps open in two months.
Spygate continues to generate a lot of headlines, but the real news in all of this is the NFL could be at risk of losing its federal anti-trust exemption, which basically allows it to be a monopoly. ...
There are more and more reports of unrest at the Players Association, and more and more signs that the league's labor agreement is on thin ice (can't resist a hockey reference). For a league that prides itself on its labor peace (one factor that makes it attractive to advertisers and networks), this is not good news. ...
The league also continues to have a multitude of off-the-field behavior problems with its members. ...
See where this is going? ...
It's no better on the money front. Giants DE Michael Strahan once again is playing the will he or won't he retire game. Reportedly he wants a contract upgrade to return to the Super Bowl champions.
Things aren't much brighter in the Second City, where Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is threatening to hold out if his contract isn't reworked, a contract he's less than halfway through
and averages more than $5 million per year.
Then there is Cleveland TE Kellen Winslow, who also has made references to missing minincamps, etc., because - you guessed it - he wants his contract reworked. I saw this one coming in February when for some strange reason the Browns decided to give WR Donte' Stallworth an outsized free-agent contract to leave the Patriots without regard to up-and-coming stars Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards. I'm not condoning Winslow's antics, but the Browns should have expected this. ...
If you're hoping for a post-draft analysis, look elsewhere. I believe it's pointless to evaluate teams' drafts before players have even played one preseason down. In fact, I think it requires about three years before one can objectively evaluate a team's decisions on the final Saturday in April.
Enjoy the offseason. Camps open in two months.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Don't forget about Icing On the Pond
My hockey blog detailing my experiences writing a book about the game is up and running, and given the time of year, it's updated almost daily.
Join me as I interview players from all levels at http://icingonthepond.wordpress.com
Keep your head up and your stick on the ice!
Join me as I interview players from all levels at http://icingonthepond.wordpress.com
Keep your head up and your stick on the ice!
The Boss was late for work
But Bruce Springsteen was well worth the wait.
I caught his show at the Honda Center in Anaheim, and I cannot tell you how impressed I came away with his passion, energy and musicianship. A lot of performers could take a lesson from The Boss.
The E Street Band was tight, and the addition of Rage Against the Machine ringleader Tom Morello for a song was an added treat. His guitar skills are crazy.
The catalog of songs Springsteen draws from goes without saying, but as good as they are, seeing him and the band perform them take them up a few more levels.
Special mention to the Boss for giving airtime to Second Harvest Food Bank, which as he stated is "doing God's work" by feeding the poor. He's definitely correct about that.
So Boss, I forgive you for coming on an hour late. Of course, I have no room to talk - it only took me 41 years to show up.
I caught his show at the Honda Center in Anaheim, and I cannot tell you how impressed I came away with his passion, energy and musicianship. A lot of performers could take a lesson from The Boss.
The E Street Band was tight, and the addition of Rage Against the Machine ringleader Tom Morello for a song was an added treat. His guitar skills are crazy.
The catalog of songs Springsteen draws from goes without saying, but as good as they are, seeing him and the band perform them take them up a few more levels.
Special mention to the Boss for giving airtime to Second Harvest Food Bank, which as he stated is "doing God's work" by feeding the poor. He's definitely correct about that.
So Boss, I forgive you for coming on an hour late. Of course, I have no room to talk - it only took me 41 years to show up.
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