Favre to the Jets

Surprise, Surprise. The Brett Favre - Green Bay Packers saga has finally come to a close. Favre is headed to New York after being trade to the Jets for a conditional fourth round draft pick. In the end, all parties involved get what they wanted. The Packers are allowed to move on with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback and keep Favre out of the division and off their schedule. Favre has an opportunity to continue his career for a team that has playoff hopes this season. Even the Minnesota Vikings will end up winners because the next shoe to drop will be QB Chad Pennington being released by the Jets. Looks like Brad Childress and company have will get their quarterback after all.

Here are the conditions of the trade:

If Favre plays 50 percent of the snaps for the Jets this season Green Bay will receive a third round draft pick instead of a fourth. If Favre plays 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs, the Packers receive a second round pick. Finally, if Favre plays 80 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the Super Bowl then the fourth round pick turns into a first round pick going from New York to Green Bay.

Favre Holding Packers Hostage

It seems as though Brett Favre's retirement will be short lived. That is unless he decides to change his mind…again. For a man who makes so many split second decisions on the field he sure has a hard time making a definitive one off of it. The problem is that Number 4 simply can't make up his mind on what he wants to do. Ultimately, Favre is holding the Packers back and sabotaging his own career.

Two years ago, teammate Donald Driver thought it was a forgone conclusion that Favre was going to hang it up. He didn't. The Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft in order to groom him as Favre's heir apparent. Well, let the grooming continue...or maybe not. If Favre actually takes the field this year he won't be wearing the green and yellow.

Favre suddenly feels unwanted in Green Bay. Maybe it has something to do with the Vikings trying to coax him into playing in Minnesota this season. The Packers won’t let that happen, but are tired of Favre jerking them around on whether or not he wants to come back and play. At some point the Packers have to move forward and waiting on Favre every year only holds the organization back. Green Bay has made their intentions clear and Favre has conveniently used the Packer’s stance as an excuse to escape Titletown.

Apparently Mr. Favre hasn’t read up on the Madden curse. EA made a bold decision this year in deciding to put the retired Favre on the cover. Obviously, the decision was made in part to celebrate the career of the Packer great, but mostly to avoid destroying yet another star player’s season. If Favre were to come back and play for another franchise imagine the implications. In all likelihood we will witness the first ever Madden cover athlete to play for a different team than the one he is pictured in on the cover in the same season. There is no telling how this may turn out. By changing teams, Favre may have avoided the Madden curse all together and in turn will lead his new franchise to the Super Bowl. More likely, however, Favre is tempting fate and will be decimated by a career ending, catastrophic apocalypse of epic proportions. I don't even know what that means, but to put it simply...this will not end well.

Picturing Favre in a uniform other than that of the Packers is almost impossible. Favre says to let him worry about his legacy, but where is his loyalty? The Packers organization and the fans of Green Bay have treated Favre like an iconic figure. He is literally a folk hero in Green Bay yet has decided to turn his back on the entire community. Favre is willing to taint his legendary status simply because another franchise showed interest in him. It’s just another reminder of the disconnect that exists between the professional athlete and the fan. A fan would never turn his back on his team, but even the most beloved player in the history of a franchise doesn’t think twice about it. Well, maybe in Brett Favre’s case he does, but the end result is all too familiar.

Bleeding Sports Playoff Pick’em: Conference Championships

Welcome back to the Bleeding Sports Playoff Pick’em pitting the Bleeding Sports Brain Trust – G. Francis against the PickMeister – J. Daniels. The current standing having the Brain Trust leading with a record of 5-3, but the PickMeister is still alive at 4-4. This weekend the nation will find out who will be playing on February 3rd in Glendale, AZ in a little game dubbed The Super Bowl. The weather outside maybe cold, but Bleeding Sports is just heating up. Enjoy the games.

And now to the picks…Enjoy the games boys and girls.

The Bleeding Sports Brain Trust – G. Francis

NEW ENGLAND (-14) over San Diego

Everyone and their mommas were expecting a Colts-Patriots rematch this weekend in Foxborough. The Chargers pulled the upset despite losing Tomlinson, Rivers, and Gates at certain points in the game. Rivers barely practiced this past week, Gates may not play after gutting it out last week and who knows how effective Tomlinson will be. The Chargers only hope is to consistently pressure Tom Brady with Merriman, Phillips and company and hope that the weather is a factor in the Patriots passing game. I would love to the see the upset, but the Chargers offensive stars are just too banged up and I don’t foresee Billy Volek leading the Chargers on another game winning drive. In addition, the San Diego secondary gave up over 400 yards to Peyton Manning and the Colts last week so I can’t think of a compelling argument to suggest that the Chargers will be able to stop Brady, Moss, Welker, Stallworth, Watson, Faulk, etc, etc. Look for the Pats to win big on their way to making history in Arizona.


New York Giants (+7.5) over GREEN BAY

Both the Giants and Packers impressed last weekend in their respective divisional round victories. On Sunday in Green Bay temperatures at kickoff are expected to be below zero, which, make no mistake, will have an effect on both teams. The weather could actually be a bigger disadvantage to Green Bay as Brett Favre will want to throw the ball down field especially to WR Greg Jennings. If the passing attacks are negated, the Giants have the advantage with the running back tandem of Jacobs and Bradshaw and will try to mix up their different running styles to keep the Packer defense off balance. The Giants have won nine in a row on the road and while all the prognosticators are picking Brett Favre to continue his storybook season into Super Sunday, I’m taking the Giants. The Giants have come together as a team and Eli Manning is playing his best football at exactly the time. The Giants will take care of the ball, stop Ryan Grant and head to the Super Bowl for a second crack at New England.

The PickMeister – J. Daniels

San Diego (+14) over NEW ENGLAND

The Patriots once again proved to be the luckiest team in NFL last week. Not in their win against the defenseless Jaguars but in the Bolts ridiculous upset in Indy. But if the Chargers showed anything last Sunday, it was that there backups, including Michael Turner, Billy Volek, and a bunch of no name tailbacks, have the potential to stay in a game. This will obviously be necessary with the status of Tomlinson, Rivers, and Gates all in question. Everybody, including myself, wanted to see the Colts – Patriots matchup this week, frankly because San Diego doesn’t have a chance, especially since their whole team is now injured. But the only thing more ridiculous than this matchup is the spread. The Cheaters haven’t covered any of their insane spreads in weeks, not to mention their 13.5 points last week against a far inferior opponent. Even without Rivers and possibly Gates, if LT plays like he said he will there’s no way the Patriots cover the 2 TD spread. Take San Diego with the points.


New York (+7.5) over GREEN GAY

-4 with the wind chill reaching -24. That’s the forecast for Sunday’s NFC Championship game. But if after listening to these “experts’ for the past week, you would think only the Giants will be battling the cold. “Will Eli and his receivers be able to connect in the cold”, “Can the Giants pass rush overcome the field conditions and get to Favre”, “Will New York’s defense be able to stop Ryan Grant and the Green Bay rushing attack?” Well I got news for these GENIUS “experts”. It’s going to be cold for EVERYONE. So the better questions will be: Will Favre be able to connect with his inexperienced receiving core against a Giants defense who are better against the pass? Can the Packers pass rush get to Eli even though they only had a measly 36 sacks during the year compared to the Giants 53? Will Green Bay’s defense, who give up more rushing yards per game than the G-Men, be able to stop the Giants superior rushing game? With these insane weather conditions, the game is ultimately going to comedown to whoever runs the ball more effectively. And since the Giants are clearly better at keeping the ball on the ground, they should come out of this game on top. “But Ryan Grant has the second most rushing yards in the last half of the season behind only LT!” Oh yea “experts”? Guess who has more team rushing yards the second half of the season. That’s right the G-Men. Take New York with the points.

NFL Divisional Playoff Picks – The Saturday Games

NFL Divisional Playoff Picks – The Saturday Games

After the Wildcard round it’s the same old story in the Bleeding Sports Playoff Pick’em. G. Francis was a perfect 4-0 on the first weekend of the 2008 playoffs while J. Daniel wallowed in mediocrity finishing 2-2. This weekend there are four more games and two glorious days of football as the divisional round is played. Here are the picks for the Saturday games.

Home Team in CAPS.

The Bleeding Sports Brain Trust - G. Francis

Seattle (+7.5) over GREEN BAY

I’m not a big fan of the Seahawks and the fact they are completely one dimensional on offense due to the lack of a running game should be a red flag especially when you’re playing in January…in Green Bay. Former league MVP Shaun Alexander is proving once again that in the NFL when a running back begins to go into decline it happens almost overnight. Alexander’s career has fallen faster than Britney Spears. However, last weekend Seattle showed the nation that they are pretty good on defense and can get after the quarterback. The Packers have Brett Favre, but other than Donald Driver the offensive talent around him is young and inexperienced which will play a roll in this game. The defenses for both teams will do enough to keep their teams close. Look for Seattle’s past playoff experience to be the deciding factor in enabling the ‘Hawks to squeeze out a close victory on the road.


NEW ENGLAND (-13) over Jacksonville

Everyone loved Jacksonville last weekend against the Steelers and with good reason, but the Jags near collapse showed that they are extremely vulnerable against a spread offense throwing the ball around the field. So what is going to happen in Foxborough against Tom Brady, Randy Moss and company? Do the Patriots even bother trying to run the ball in this game? Jacksonville will try to run the football and then try to run it some more. There is no doubt that Jacksonville can be successful pounding it at the Pat’s overrated defense, but at some point David Garrard is going to have to make some plays and put some points on the board and he won’t be able to make enough to hang with Mr. Brady. Look for Wes Welker to run wild over the middle and for the Patriots to score and score often.


The PickMeister - J. Daniel

Seattle (+7.5) over GREEN BAY

Lambeau is tough place to play in the playoffs no doubt about it. Although the Pack proved to be one of dominant teams in NFC this year going 13-3, I just don’t think they’re the Super Bowl winning Packers of the past. I am not convinced that Favre is any different from the 30 Int QB we saw two years ago. He will make mistakes that’ll keep the Hawks in the game. In the end I’m sure the Pack’s offense will pull out a victory, but I don’t think they will cover the ridiculous 7.5 point spread. Take Seattle with the points.


Jacksonville (+13) over NEW ENGLAND

Everyone thinks that the perfect* Patriots are going to murder the Jags this weekend. Sorry to burst your bubble Patriots fans but your oh so wonderful cheating season will come to an end Saturday night. That’s right, not only will the Jags beat the spread but they are going to win outright. New England’s defense is ranked 10th in the run, but would be considerably lower if their opponents weren’t always behind. Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, and even David Garrard are going to run right over New England’s over-rated 40 year old linebacking core. Take Jacksonville with the points.