Is This THE Pat? And Is Pat a SHE, Not a He?

Wrightstown’s Pat Vickman also hoped to catch a glimpse of No. 4, before today’s game. “I hope Brett throws for 400 yards, and the Packers win,” she said.

Hmm ... Sounds like our Pat. But I thought our Pat was a dude.

Wait, no. That can't be right. Our Pat would never want the Packers to win. Our Pat's not a Packers fan.

GBPG

Leroy Butler Suggests You Bring an Accessory to Hide Your Face Sunday

 I give you one Leroy Butler, true Packer. 

LINK

UPDATED! - Didja Hear the One About Brad Childress?

No, not Brett Favre's butler or limo driver, but his coach. Courtesy of Chris Mortensen via Deadspin, we have a pretty strange story of the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings dressing in drag aboard their charter.

Word has it the strange situation was some lesson in respect for flight attendants. Apparently, self-respect was not part of the lecture. Good work, Mr. Noodle.

(PHOTO: Muppetwiki)

UPDATE: Visanthe Shiancoe posted cell pics he took of Childress, yes, in drag, aboard the team's flight. Dear Lord, please let the memory of this be wiped from my eyes ...

And may Brett Favre throw five interceptions into the waiting arms of Chuck Woodson.

Amen.

Deadspin

Straight From the Horse's Mouth

Sometimes it's nice to hear a former player speak the truth instead of the company line corporate-speak so many modern athletes are prone to deliver.

Or they can just lie like Brett Favre and say whatever suits them and their selfish aims, and then later retract said lie and act like they have no idea what the big deal was in the first place. 

I give you Lynn Dickey, true Packer. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK22ey66UJ8 

(PHOTO: Sportsbuy)

Your Monday Moment of Zen

(PHOTO: AP)

Did Injury Ultimately Do in The Ironman as a Packer?

It's no secret that one of the things that drove Favre to be such an ironman and continue to play week after week, even through some significant injuries was his innate fear of being replaced by someone because he was hurt. Being the guy who took over for Don Majkowski due to injury, it firmly planted the seed in Favre's mind. He commented on it several times throughout his career. He was a tough mother, no doubt, but sometimes to a fault (see his awful play during the the weeks with that thumb injury in 2003).

One idea that's rattled around in my brain for some time regarding the Packer's ultimate decision to let Favre continue his annual will-he-or-won't-he charade elsewhere was Rodgers' performance in the November 29th, 2007 Cowboy game. Recall that Favre started finging the ball all over the place. He finished 5 of 14 with 2 INTs before dinging his wing and leaving the game for Rodgers to take over. Thereafter, Rodgers went 18 of 26 for 201 yards, a TD and a few nice plays made with his feet for another 30 yards rushing.

It's hardly a stretch to consider the ramifications of that performance in a huge game and the Packers believing - rightly so - that Rodgers was ready to be a bonafide option behind center. Both teams had come in with 10-1 records and home field advantage on the line. The stakes were awfully high.

Don't get me wrong, it's well-documented the time the Packers gave Favre to make his decision following the 2007 season, his subsequent personal decision to retire, and the two attempts McCarthy and Thompson made to try and get Favre to return that were rebuffed. So, at first blush, though the Packers wanted Favre back, when it began to look less and less likely that he really wanted to return, they had to feel confident with the idea of giving the reins to Rodgers. I'm certainly not saying that one performance makes a career, nor does a season and a half to this point. But there are some very reasonable signs that point to the possibility that Rodgers might just be a very, very good quarterback for some time to come. 

How would things have been different had Favre not gotten hurt in that game? Who knows ... But it gave Rodgers an opportunity to showcase his talent in adverse circumstances, trying to come back from a deficit on the road against a very worthy opponent in front of a national audience.

And perhaps the ironman's fear was realized after all.

(PHOTO: Packers.com)

One Favre Record Falls to Rodgers

According to Eric Goska over at the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Aaron Rodgers’ passer rating of 155.4 broke the franchise record of 154.9 established by Brett Favre in a 41-7 drubbing of the Raiders on Dec. 22, 2003. Rodgers completed 15 of 20 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns. His effort boosted his rating for the year more than six points, from 104.1 to 110.8."

LINK

(PHOTO: Sports Illustrated)

Defeat from the Jaws of Victory!

Adrian Peterson makes a fantastic play to get the Vikes into potential game-winning touchdown territory in Pittsburgh only to have The Legendary One throw a "crafty veteran" screen pass that Chester Taylor couldn't handle into the waiting arms of LB Kieran Fox who finished the pick-six. If not for an additional Favre fumble that wound up going for yet another defensive score for Pittsburgh, the Vikings probably steal that game on the road.

Oh well. As expected, the Vikes ran into a better team and lost.

Also as expected, the Packers trounced the hapless Browns.

Favre: 34 of 51 for 334, 0 TDs and an enormous pick (76.76)
Rodgers: 15 of 20 for 246, 3 TDs, no INTs and 23 yds on the ground (155.4)

Smoke, Meet Mirror

The Vikings are averaging 348 yards on offense while allowing 342 on D, a paltry six-yard difference. This is why some observers think their 6-0 mark has a little smoke-and-mirrors to it.

Well, that and it's not week 11, yet, when Favre will begin his historic swan dive into oblivion and the excuses will fly like the swallows of Capistrano.

OK, so I'm ahead of myself. Favre has played far better than his advanced age would dictate and playing indoors for 97% of the year will probably bode well for his tired, unable-to-resist-the-cold-of-January body. I guess that means the Vikings had better hope and pray they finish with a better record than the Giants or we might see something like the image pictured when Favre's mind was anywhere but in Green Bay.

*SIGH* I Guess I'll Have to Talk Down to the Low IQs in the Room, Then

It's come to my attention that an anonymous poster in the comments section believes all analyses to be equal. While it is true that you can compare anything you want, the closer you whittle down the comparisons, the more thoughtful and relevant the analysis. Thoughtful and relevant being the operative words, words not often in the vernacular of Favre fans. They fall back on simple comparisons and cliches, because that's all that's left of their Legend.

Case in point: comparing Favre and Rodgers' careers. Oh, sure you can do it. It's just not relevant or thoughtful. It doesn't give us much to chew on in an intelligent debate. So the comment yesterday about how you enjoy my comparisons between Favre and Rodgers is great. I'm glad you like it. Although it's no secret I hope Favre fails, it in no way impedes my rational thought to consider his performance thus far excellent. I've said so. Read the historical posts on the blog. Rodgers has been as good, surrounded by lesser talent and a failing offensive line. But those things, while relevant also seem like cop-outs, considering he's held onto the ball too long at times and caused some of his own problems. I'd absolutely LOVE one of you Favre lovers to jilt your Legend by saying something similar. But I know you're too bullheaded to do it, because your obvious blindness is evident in your inane comments.

My comparisons, as it were, are week-to-week comparisons or historical when they fit (as in last year). The analyses always have some factual basis. You'll see a lot of stats below, embedded video, quotes, etc., etc. What do Favre fans come with? Comments like: "Without Favre, the Vikings would be 3-3 at best." It's kind of the age-old adage about talking to a wall. Since you Favre fans love cliches, there's one you should understand.

I dare you to admit that Aaron Rodgers is as good a prospect at quarterback as Favre was back in his early years. Furthermore, surrounded with the kind of talent that Favre was surrounded with in the years of the Super Bowl runs, Rodgers just might be as good or better. He's shown accuracy, a very good arm, the ability to make plays in trouble and *GASP* the poise not to throw the ball all over the place. Yes, he's not been able to close the deal in many of the close games. Chalk it up to him, chalk it up to the defense not holding leads he's put on the board, whatever. I believe those wins will come with better talent around him, especially on defense. You saw it in the first game this year and I know that made you lovers stew.

Of course you won't admit it, but deep down you know it's accurate. The most ironic thing of all was when Favre struggled early on in his career, when he couldn't close the deal in the playoffs in Dallas, when he threw too many interceptions, the armchair QBs in this town of "the smartest football fans in the world" were calling for Mark Brunnell to replace Favre. "They should at least give him a shot to see if he can play. His contract's almost up, he'll leave and go play better for someone else." But that same sentiment carried out in actuality years later is met with ... the same reaction?

Perhaps Rodgers won't pan out to be the quarterback Favre was over the length of his career. You just can't seriously compare their careers at present and call it relevant analysis, and then turn around and act outraged when someone else says the comparison is silly by using my comparisons as proof.

GANK! - Advantage Favre

Nice work, a-hole. Try to at least put a good foot on it next time. Jeebus, I've seen high schoolers with more skill than that.

Anyway, onto the action ... The Packers dominated a team they should have and the Vikings played well enough not to let their visiting team make a game-winning field goal with time expiring to go to 6-0. Again, both QBs played very well and the numbers looked like this:

Rodgers: 113.73
Favre: 136.85

Minnesota goes to Pittsburgh next week and will have a tall order against the seemingly resurgent Steelers. The Packers play at Cleveland. Two weeks until Hillbilly and the Clan of the Golddigger Bear return to Lambeau.

Favre Is Favring Favrelous Again!

Your week 5 MVP is, once again, Brett Favre. God, I love the way he plays the game. It's like he's a kid out there!

A kid who's 40 years old, that is. And to make sure we all know he's sacrificed for us in a way no man should be asked to sacrifice for our entertainment, he throws this out there: "For the last 19 years, all the holidays, including my birthday, I'm either playing or getting ready to play," he said. "No different this week, unless Brad is going to throw me a big party. I think it deserves something. I really do. I just want to throw that out there: 40." LA Times

I'm sure you just wanted to throw that out there and that isn't yet another shot at Ted Thompson for kicking your hillbilly ass to the curb. I just wish he'd have done it before you threw that pathetic excuse for a pass to end the NFC Championship game, you ol' Legend you.

Long looooooooooooooong live Brett Favre.

(PHOTO: Bruce Kluckhohn/US Presswire)

Guest Blogger: Badger Steve

Got an email from a good friend who had an interesting and SUPPORTED take on the Favre lovers' need to question those pieces of the puzzle in place around Favre when he was in Green Bay. Emphasis on the word "supported" there.

Favre lovers have a tendency to throw nonsense out there without any factual evidence. In fact, they seem absolutely allergic to the truth, considering the times when it stares them in the face they pretend it's not there like some boogeyman Ted Thompson. The nonsense in question concerning Favre never having a running game to support him while he was here, and now with AP he'll win the Super Bowl.

Take it away, Steve:

"You know revisionist history is one thing that always drives me crazy. While sometimes it's just bad memory or genuine nostalgia like the "good old days," often it's a blatantly dishonest effort to whitewash history to further one's own agenda.

Such is the case lately with the Favre & the running game. Now the story is that Favre never had any running game in Green Bay and look what he did. Just imagine him with AP. Now you know I was a huge Dorsey Levens fan so I'll admit a little bias there. But objectively, he did make a Pro-Bowl and was among the top in the league for a brief period. Wanna know something surprising...take the two best years of AP's career - he had 3494 yards from scrimmage (rushing & receiving) and a total of 23 TDs. Take the two best years of Levens’ career  - 3412 yards from scrimmage and 22 TDs. Now clearly Peterson is a tremendous running back - the best in the game right now and Dorsey Levens was a nice, very solid all around back, but not in the same ball park. But before everybody says Favre never had any kind of running game or running backs, how about we look at the numbers and realize that it's yet another myth which doesn't exactly coincide with the facts.

That's Levens. During a 5 year stretch, Ahman Green rushed for more yardage than anyone in the NFL (2000-2004). He averaged just over 1800 yards from scrimmage over those 5 seasons. Peterson has averaged a gaudy 119 yards from scrimmage per game he started. Ahman averaged 123 yards per start over an 11 year career. And during the 5 year stretch with the Packers, Ahman averaged 148 total yards per game.

So please - this Favre never had any running game garbage is just that. Sure there were some lean years - primarily the initial rebuilding years of Holmgren, and a couple of times when there were significant injuries. In fact, what's the standard bearer in the NFL for a rushing season? It's the 1,000 yard season. In the first three years, Green Bay didn't have one. Over the next 13 years Favre was there, 9 times the Packers had a thousand yard rusher. That does not count 2007 which saw Ryan Grant total 956 yards but led the league in rushing over the second half of the season. Nor does it count '96 when Bennett ran for 900 and Levens 560. In other words, he actually had a fairly solid run support - especially when you consider much of Holmgren's offense was predicated on using a short passing game as an "extended handoff" in place of running the ball."

Gracious

I loved the fact after the Packers/Vikings tilt when one of the ESPN talking heads - can't recall who - described Favre's postgame handshake with his former teammates as "gracious." Anyone can be gracious in victory. Would the same have happened if he'd lost?

Wonder no more! Is that the same gracious Favre who fled the field like a sore loser after Pennington punked his ass on his home field and knocked the aged Legend off his pedestal and out of the playoffs last December?

Yeah, thought so.

But, again, the media's blind love of this jerk knows no objective bounds. Favre could be responsible for swine flu and the headline would read: "Favre's Love of His Fellow Man Leads Him to Single-Handedly Burgeon Their Immune Systems."

Watch Pennington searching for him and Favre getting the hell out of there. Gracious, my ass. 

Not about Revenge, Huh?

This a really good Photoshop job or - more likely - this is proof positive Brett and clan believe their own conspiracy theory and this is all about revenge. In case you can't make that out, that's Deanna Favre mugging for the camera at left in all her gold-digging glory.

Either way, the Favres are proving beyond a shadow of a doubt how petty, juvenile, disloyal and disingenuous they really are. They don't care about you, they don't care about Packer fans, and stooping to this kind of silliness to get their rocks off is fantastic as it proves all of the above.

I'm sure the Favre fans will giggle and not see the fact that the joke's on them. Their blinders are impenetrable. I hope the Favres try to pull this kind of stunt when they stroll into Lambeau on November 1st and get their reward in boos.

Vikings Hold Serve

Favre played as well as he could have and the Vikings moved to 4-0. He outplayed Rodgers in every phase. There's really not much more that can be said than that. The Packers have two weeks to get healthy and start the next quarter of the season and look forward to trying to repay the favor November 1st.

And if the Packers don't find an offensive line and soon, Matt Flynn will be finishing out the season as the Packers' quarterback. 

(PHOTO: Josh Q Public)

"Embarrassingly Transparent"

So says a New York Jets general manager of Favre's plan to use the Jets for a season to earn a spot on the Vikings roster and exact his (non-existent errand for) revenge. Ultimate team guy.

The thing about all of this is Favre is clearly not the player he used to be no matter how many of his fans think he can play at the 1996 Favre level until he's surfing for transportation at The Scooter Store.  That heave to Greg Lewis last week notwithstanding (and if you've followed this blog, even a hater like me found some level of greatness in that play), Favre has never been one to turn his emotion inward. Look at all the big games he's played throughout his career. He either rises up or - more often than not - falls flat on his smirking mug.

The proof will be in the pudding tomorrow night for all of the myopians and Favre fans to rise up as one when he has his shot to prove Ted Thompson wrong. He will be slinging eggs all night as the Packers undoubtedly stack the box to protect themselves from having Purple Jesus run all over them. He'll have every opportunity to show he's still got it. That's precisely the strategy the Packers failed to employ in their Super Bowl XXXII loss to the Elway-led Broncos when an over-the-hill QB was the focus of the defensive gameplan, instead of the all-world RB Terrell Davis. Even with a migraine, Davis made the Packers pay time and time again, yet Shurmur and the Packers refused to stray from their strategy and it cost them dearly.

So Monday night, Favre will get his chance. Will it be a situation where he'll be able to use his emotion to his advantage and beat the Packers on his own, or will he fall prey to the swirling hate in his belly and start heaving the ball all over the place regardless of the color jersey the players are wearing?

All the time spent over the last 14 months, left to his own thoughts, comes down to the first of two meetings tomorrow night. Good luck, Brett. History says it's not impossible, but you're going to need it.

New York Daily News

(PHOTO: Levey/Getty)

This Has GOT to Sting

"It was 16 great years, and I hope they enjoyed it, they appreciated that run as much as I did," Favre told ESPN in an interview that aired Sunday. "But you just have to let it go and just move on."

Proof positive Brett Favre puts himself above everyone else whose shoulders and dimes he climbed upon to get to his status as otherworldy deity. Not only are the Green Bay Packer fans who adored Brett Favre not worth even a positive mention, they now seem equally lumped into the quagmire his conspiracy-filled mind conjured for Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.

Behold, your Legend.

USA Today

Uncorroborated But Funny

So the story goes, Aaron Rodgers was golfing in a local charity outing and caught one thin at the tee box, launching it high into the air and sailing toward the neighboring hole. Seeing the uncharacteristically errant shot, he yells "Two!" to warn the golfers coming up the adjacent fairway. They quickly heed the advice and get clear of the drive.

While walking up to their shots, one of the other members of the foursome with Rodgers asks: "I couldn't help but notice you yelled 'two' back there to warn those golfers instead of the customary 'fore.' What gives?"

Rodgers smiled and replied, "As long as I live, I'll never utter the word 'four' again."

Thanks to a friend for this hilarious and 'true' story.

I Wonder If By Close He Means Through Wood or Drywall

Adrian Peterson is the latest to fall under Favre's spell. Quick! Who has Thomas Jones' phone number?! And how quickly before the best player in the game comes to his senses?

Say uber-scribes "Chip" Scoggins and Judd "Zulgad" over at the Star Trib: "Peterson said he already has developed a connection with the veteran QB. Favre has praised Peterson numerous times since joining the team, and it's clear Peterson has great respect for Favre. The two have lockers close together at Winter Park."

Let me repeat that for those of you just in from a long, early morning bender: "The two have lockers close together at Winter Park." Where the hell are you, true Viking fan? You're allowing your franchise player to fraternize with the waffler? He'll wind up in Los Angeles at this rate. Have you no sense of fandom? Oh wait, he'll wind up in LA anyway, because that's where your pathetic franchise is headed when the lease is up on the Hump Dome.

But wait. There's more. Favre has a l-o-c-k-e-r? Come awn. This wasn't on the ticker running on SportsCenter. WHERE THE HELL IS FREAKING RACHEL NICHOLS? And you Favre haters with all of your "he has a Hilton of his own" claptrap. For shame. I guess we now know we can't trust Adrian Peterson around the PBR anymore.

GAWD NO, ALL DAY HAS BEEN HYPNOTIZED BY THE CHARLATAN!!!

Oh Where Are the Favre Fans?

I'm sure they're all waiting for the Vikings to win before trolling. No self-respecting Favre fan ever called their shot before running their mouths. Rest assured, they'll be here after Favre beats the Packers to say ... "I told you so!" in oh-so-many well-thought-out, intelligent paragraphs. Green Bay has the smartest fans in the world, donchaknow?

Come on, myopians, where are you? Where is the defense of his backpedaling, misremembering, revisionist history from yesterday? Could it be he's finally through the looking glass with even you, his staunchest supporters? You have to admit that whole "Well, when I said 'stick it to Ted Thompson,' that didn't necessarily mean I was out for revenge" explanation was particularly choice.

Who is this guy? And does he honestly believe his own brand of b.s.? He must to want people to believe it.

Definition of Class

Aaron Rodgers continues to be and has always been the definition of class when it comes to the barrage of questions surrounding the departure of Brett Favre from Green Bay. He has had any number of opportunities to light up Favre with the truth that he acted like a child to the organization and to Aaron Rodgers personally, but he never has.

When asked today why he didn't reach out to Rodgers, Favre's response was typically juvenile: "For what?" He then went on to drop non-answers in the form of how he knew Rodgers was talented, etc. But he never answered the question, because as jilted as Favre is at Thompson for letting him go, he inexplicably tied that to Rodgers. I get it. Favre's competitive, but where this is a game on the field, off of it these players relate to one another and have camaraderie. Hell, even guys who play the same position on different teams yuck it up, work out together in the offseason, share agents. Don't believe me? Scroll down this page until you come across the image of Favre and Eli Manning chatting before the ESPYs the year Favre retired. That's the guy WHO BEAT FAVRE IN THE NFC TITLE GAME! And he couldn't reach out to a young guy in his own locker room? Wow.

So when Favre answers "For what?" to a question of why he didn't reach out to Rodgers, the obvious answer is how about to show someone you're a human being and not an a-hole. You're the Legend. You're the guy who everyone else looks up to. You're supposed to be the epitome of lead by example. Instead you come across as looking like the jilted lover full of scorn and anger. It fits you about as well as that purple jersey and horn on your helmet. You're wearing horns all right, but they might as well be cuckold horns instead of Viking horns.

Rodgers, on the other hand, is mature beyond his years. He took the questions and answered them truthfully and without sounding like he was above the questions. It's funny how the younger guy has learned all the lessons and the old dog can't be bothered to learn new tricks.

Green Bay Press-Gazette

(PHOTO: Getty Images)

WI Media on Favre: "Defensive, Evasive and Combative"

Mike Vandermause, sports columnist for the Green Bay Press-Gazette had this to say of Favre's conference call with members of the Wisconsin media today:

"Brett Favre spoke to members of the Wisconsin media Thursday for the first time since his tearful retirement farewell 19 months ago, and the legendary quarterback was at times defensive, evasive and combative."

You don't say?

See, the thing about the Favre that all of us who watched him and cheered for him for the better part of 16 years - that the mainstream media and the NFL fandom at large don't know - is that this shift of Favre as the genuine "aw shucks" country boy who played for love of the game into the media hound, loving his records, over-the-hill Favre happened quickly and succinctly when Ray Rhodes was hired as the replacement for Mike Holmgren. Even then there was a rift between Favre and Holmgren about who was more responsible for the success of those Super Bowl run teams. Considering Favre never made it back to the Super Bowl but came closest with a coach who would no longer let him run the team pretty well sums up that picture. Favre was great, but not great enough to win on his own. He just never realized it.

That one year with Rhodes and the subsequent Sherman years changed Favre.

Better stated, Favre changed because he could in those years, because those coaches cared less about coaching Favre and more about being Favre's friend, and more about letting Favre run the show to sometimes disastrous results on the field and definitively disastrous results off of it. Consider the private locker room for instance or the stingy press availability or the sheer hiding from the media when things didn't go precisely as Favre wanted them to, and the years where he was allowed to skip OTAs...

Enter stage left: Favre was allowed to skip minicamps and training camps this season with the Minnesota Vikings, and Brad Childress chauffeured him personally from his plane to the training facility when he arrived in Minnesota. Favre refers to his new coach as "Chilly."

Favre has changed. He's changed for the worst. And for all the Green Bay fans who still love Favre, well, I'm sorry to say it, but he doesn't care about you anymore. He has thrown us all under the bus.

Green Bay Press-Gazette

More Stats for the Unstat-Loving Favre Fans

43 come from behind wins. 43 we're led to believe. That's a staggering number. I say: "Let's put that in perspective, shall we?" Kind of like trying to fathom all the cows it takes to make billions and billions served. With 272 starts (273 games), that's about one in every six. That's three times a year with playoffs in there, every year for his whole career. A 75% clip in that 4-12 year, which is a pretty crazy feat, and if you believe it, you ARE a true Favre fan.

OK, so I'm averaging, but you get the point. It ain't true, no matter how you slice it. And to get to that number, you have to slice it pretty thin. Razor thin. I'd love to have conjured the will to sift through all that mind-illuminating Favrian data, but David Fleming at the four-letter did it for me. Thank God. I would have careened unceremoniously off a ledge in an endeavor like that.

Don't read this article if you love your Legend and his game-winning Deitiness.

LINK the LEGEND

How Long Before the Lunacy Starts?

And by lunacy I mean the mainstream media starting to float Favre's name for MVP. Oh, come on. Like it would be some kind of unbelievable phenomenon? It happened last year, albeit a few additional weeks down the road, but I have absolutely no doubt it will happen again this year, especially if (more like when) the Vikings beat the Packers on Monday Night and Favre sets the standard by which everyone will forever codify him: beating every team in the league.

Let's take a look behind the numbers and see if there's a case to be made.

Through three weeks, The Legend has 3 wins. So does Favre's rookie replacement in New York. So does Joe Flacco in Baltimore, and so does Kyle freaking Orton in Denver. Denver, for God's sake. So does Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Drew Brees. In TDs, he's a respectable 6th with 5 scores. In terms of QB rating, he's number 8 ... right behind his replacement in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers. In completions he's 12th, attempts 16th. In yards he's a woeful 25th. 

But none of that matters. Not one iota. Not one hill of billies. It will begin in earnest because something, anything has to be a story in this non-story season thus far, and the mainstream media's collective imagination is a deep sucking black hole. Favre isn't even the best player on his own team. This should all tick Purple Jesus off toot sweet. And, of course, Favre will aw shucks his way back into our stone cold dark hearts the way an abusive spouse soothingly says "it won't happen again." But we know better, and we've got a little Farah Fawcett in us, don't we?

Brett Favre is no more an MVP candidate than I am at this point in the season. But he's Brett Favre and Brett Favre's stats are like dog years.

Credit Where Credit's Due - Still, Advantage Rodgers

Favre gets credit for one helluva throw, Lewis gets credit for one helluva catch and Dre Bly gets credit for dropping the pick-6 we would have been talking about the series before when Favre went ... well, Favre and put one right in the DB's mitts that would have sealed the deal the other way, and The Legend would have been having a much much different press conference.

Alas, this is Brett Favre and next Monday's game is set up to be the most watched Monday Nighter in the franchise's history.

I give Rodgers the week, because he was better statistically speaking. No matter what Favre's fans say, his rating was still an abyssmal 78 and change, he threw his first pick of the season, and if not for Bly dropping a sure TD the other way, most of those yards are moot. The Legend threw for something like 150 yards in the last few series of the 4th quarter alone. Both QBs got the win in games they were picked to win, but Rodgers did more with his feet (38 yards rushing and a TD) and finished with a very respectable 126.9 QB rating.

I will say this, though, if the Packers don't find a way to miraculously turn that O line around and start running the ball and protecting Rodgers, the Packers lose on Monday night by two TDs. Pre-season I picked this game as a loss for the Packers and I'm sticking with that prediction. But you never know. Maybe the emotional high from the 49er win gives the Vikings false belief in themselves as a Super Bowl contender.

Which they are not, Purple Jesus or no Purple Jesus.

(PHOTO: ESPN)

This Week's Sign the Apocalypse Is Upon Us

This one needs no exposition. Just click the link, please.

Maybe he should call in sick

Favre Wins Week 2

Objectivity sucks, but Brett Favre was the better quarterback in week 2 with a 115 QB rating. For the a-holes who are piling on that Rodgers lost to the Bengals, remember that the LIONS had the Vikes in a 10-0 hole until they decided to wake up from their slumber. Not exactly the Steelers. Still, credit where credit's due. Guess now that elephant in the room is looking really large if the Vikes happen to fall to the lowly Packers AT HOME in week 4. Can't wait to hear the excuses flow the week leading up to that tilt.

Impressive to consider, though, when was the last time Favre went consecutive weeks without throwing an interception? He must be serious about sticking it to Ted Thompson, but I'm only partially convinced there isn't a green pod somewhere in the Vikings locker room where THIS Brett Favre emerged covered in goo and speaking monotonously.

Oh yes, and he has officially now started every NFL game since the Big Bang. Good for you, Brett. Only one more record to go and then you can officially hold all of them, that is until Peyton Manning breaks all of yours. At which point we should expect a comeback of epic proportions in, oh say 2018.

Brett Who?

Man, this is fun to watch. Choke on it, myopians. Favre hasn't thrown a pass this far since he was overthrowing high school kids back in Mississippi in July. And listen to that crowd, the same crowd that booed loudly when Favre's mug showed up on the jumbotron for the highlights of earlier in the day.

"When Things Go Bad, It's Everyone Else's Fault"

So says Rodney Harrison. I have to admit, I used to hate Rodney Harrison, but I think I just misunderstood him. Because if he hates Brett Favre, then he's OK with me. This is the second run at Favre by Harrison, which makes him doubly OK in my book. He's effectively leapfrogged Fran Tarketon at the top of my list, but only because he used the most criminally under-untilized word in the English language - crap - twice in one paragraph.

Deuce in the hole

(PHOTO: Boston Herald)

The Mouth Costs the J-E-T-S $125K

Brett Favre got the gas can out and lit a "fahr" on Mangini and the Jets last week. Today, that little brush fire turned into a full-fledged blaze when the NFL dropped a $125K fine on Mangini and the Jets. I'm not sure if there's an actuary working for Bus Cook, but ol' Number Four should borrow him for a bit to keep track of all the literal and figurative credits and debits his piehole is running up.

Hell, Brett Favre still owes John David Booty $10K for stealing his jersey number. Point being, Brett Favre costs people money just by opening his mouth, not being able to make decisions, and generally being an "aw shucks" hillbilly assclown.

More importantly, what was Favre's motive? Personally, I think Favre just can't get out of his own way. I think he lets his emotions get the better of him and he thinks about ways to air his conscience when he has an opportunity. He probably thinks it comes off as being genuine and open when to the trained ear it's sophomoric and filled with childishness. Moreover, that legacy he claims not to be worried about gets a good deal of backroom attention, methinks. Why else would Favre talk about last year AGAIN? It's like he feels he didn't set himself up for failure enough and when he eventually did fail, it ate at him. It ate at him to the point that he felt like he had to bring it up again at some point down the road to explain it away, only he did so by blaming someone else. Big man.

Need more proof? He talked smack against the Packers when he was with the Jets. Not just right after the smarting early on, but late into the season. When he should have been concentrating on playing football for his new team, he was openly sharing thoughts about his former team. He even went out of his way to contact the Lions (see post waaaay below) the week they were playing the Packers when he was employed by the Jets. Are we seeing a trend here?

What? The? Frack?

People who say there are no guarantees in the world don't know or have never had experience with Brett Favre, because Brett Favre is guaranteed to throw your ass under the bus if he feels like it will fulfill his agenda.

Git R Done!

Havner > Favre

To the gentleman I failed to snap a pic of this weekend at the Packer/Bear game: I applaud your artistic dismantling of your former Favre jersey. Its newfound, duct-taped glory bearing Spencer Havner's number and name honors the Legend appropriately yet subtly, and so I give you four words to honor His Legendariness.

Master. Stroke. Of. Genius.

At the same time I thought I'd steal your idea and post it for the world to see. Genius shouldn't be bottled up, man. Quit being such a greedy SOB! ;-)

Can You Say Parody of Himself? I Knew You Could

I have to admit this is pretty funny on its face. I'm not completely humorless. But deeper than the "poking fun at himself" good-natured Favre is something that feels scripted, even nefarious. After all, weren't we always led to believe the ol' boy wasn't about the money. I heard a myopian say this weekend that "Favre would do this all for free if he had to." Buuuut since he's being paid $1 million to do it, he doesn't HAVE to?

I have no problem with him hawking Prilosec or Wranglers or Cialis or local car dealerships' steel. Hell, if I was able to make easy money I wouldn't be slogging a 9-5 for the man. But I have to admit casting a hairy eyeball at stuff like this self-parodying when he's earning large cash to do it. And if you look closely, I think there's a blood stain on his sleeve where he wears his heart on gameday.

Two for Flinching

Was it just me or did Brett Favre remind you of Lynn Dickey this Sunday against the vaunted Cleveland Browns' pass rush. I saw him turtle up on a couple of occasions and just give himself up to the sack than show us a little bit of the ol' gunslinger mentality. Maybe he's saving it all for the Monday niter against the Packers.

Or maybe he's just THAT old.

And was it just me or was it the Favre lovers who pointed to the Browns being "just the Browns" when Aaron Rodgers lit them up this preseason? But that was just preseason, right? No more vanilla Oreos, now. These babies are the full-fledged chocolate, regular season variety. Teams scheme, they gameplan, they have to account for starters now. And that all makes Favre's win superior to Rodgers. I'll give the lovers that the win actually counts, even with the pedestrian statistics.

Pathetic, Especially Coming from New York

Brett Favre had little to do with the Vikings win on Sunday, except if you consider the fact that he didn't LOSE the game for them by throwing the ball all over the field. So it comes as no surprise whatsoever that a news outlet would credit him with something he deserves no credit for: namely the win against the Browns. What does surprise me is the fact that it would be a New York news outlet.

I may even cut them a little slack if they'd have had the good sense to put Adrian Peterson's name first. The guy is the best player in football. HE is the Vikings leader. HE put in the work in the offseason, yet HE's taking a  backseat to a prima donna hillbilly that threw for just more than 100 yards.

Short memories do us no good

(PHOTO: Duncan/AP)

Advantage Rodgers

I'm clearly biased. Blinded by proof, I'd like to call it, but whatever. Let's set that aside for a minute and consider yesterday's tale-of-the-tape between Rodgers and Favre. Statistically speaking, it's a toss-up. Favre had the higher QB rating, but Rodgers had better yardage and made all the throws. Neither threw an INT and both threw a TD. And both got the almighty W. The stats shaped up thusly:

Favre
14/21 - 110 yds - 1 TD - 0 INTs
QB rating: 95.34

Rodgers
17/28 - 184 yds -1 TD - 0 INTs
QB rating: 91.96

The question for all the myopes is a simple one ... What was more impressive? Favre's miraculous doppleganger act as a game manager? Seriously, did someone check the locker room for a slimy pod? What dude wearing that #4 jersey decided he was going to throw the ball no longer than seven yards and did his best Lynn Dickey impersonation at the first sight of a defender in the backfield? Or was it Rodgers' first come-from-behind win that vaulted him over the top?

Of course it's Rodgers. He had the tougher opponent, and while Favre had the game's best running back explode for a near 200-yd, 3 TD performance, Rodgers had to make due with a running game that offered him 76 yards assistance, seven of which were his own. And Rodgers played the game without a right guard. Allen Barbre's impersonation of a tackle on the right side of the Packers linefooled no one. He looked like a personal usher for Adewale Ogunleye, showing him to Rodgers' seat on several occasions. Not like Favre's got a bang-up line working for his pass protection, either. But Chicago's defense is miles better than Cleveland's.

Advantage Rodgers.

Favre's stats
Rodgers' stats

Some Vikings Writers Just Don't Like the Taste of Purple Kool-Aid

Great risk can lead to great reward. That's what Brad Childress and Darrell Bevell are hoping for this season as the maestros of the Favre-to-Minnesota deal. The hardware is out there for them to go get. If the blathering of so many media outlets aping each other will attest to: the Vikings will meet the Patriots in Miami in February. Great risk can also lead to whatever untimely demise is at the end of the string: injured old QB, sub .500 record, copious additions to a 300+ interceptions record, firing, etc.

Some of the local writers think the Favre risk is doomed for failure for all of the reasons that should be fairly obvious, but to which no one without friendly ties to Favre can bring themselves to sneak a peek at: he's old, injured, and a failed "game manager." Does anyone honestly believe this guy will be content to hand the ball off to the best running back in the game when the game is on the line and he believes he's the greatest bleeding heart on the field?

Experiments are dangerous; ask Mangini

(PHOTO: ESPN)

The Trend Spirals Downward

Though loathe to admit it, Favre and his dwindling platoon of "4-ever" fans must see statistics like these and hesitate for a moment. OK, that's not true, no Favre fan will ever hesitate to defend the Legendary One, even if the truth clearly tells a different tale.

"Favre led the Packers to playoff victories over Seattle after the 2003 and 2007 seasons. He was 44-for-61 with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His other five playoff games were losses: at St. Louis and Philadelphia and in Lambeau Field against the Falcons, the Vikings and the Giants. He was 102-for-182 with eight touchdowns and 15 interceptions."

Yes, you read that correctly. Favre was at the helm of the only home playoff losses in Packer history. Three of them, to be exact.

It's unfathomable that Ted Thompson is considered a traitor for thinking about the future of the Packer organization when he both selected Rodgers and then gave him the reins to lead this team. Any other GM would have done the same in the face of these statistics, and they probably wouldn't have gone to the lengths Thompson did to try and give Favre an opportunity to compete for the job the myopians tell us should have been his without a competition. We'll see who the better quarterback is in two head-to-head games this year, and who performs better over the course of the season.

Last year, it was Rodgers - statistically speaking. I bet it will be the same this year, as well. Only this year the gap will be wider and will continue to grow wider over time until Favre decides it is truly time to give it up for good.

Favre = postseason agony

(PHOTO: Tom Richmond, Star Tribune)

Why Bother?

We know what Brett Favre says is not genuine. It's been proven time and time and time again. He didn't talk to the Vikings, he didn't talk to the Lions, he didn't ask for his Jets release (twice), he's really REALLY retired this time. For good, really. So why is the NFL jumping all over the comments The Lengendary One made yesterday concerning his injured arm? I'm sure they'll uncover a whole bunch of stuff that won't make a hill of beans difference, like the tampering charges against the Vikings last year when they were wooing Favre to come to the Mini Apple.

Or, more likey, they'll find something they don't like: Favre is a liar and his Wranglers are ablaze. I will bet good money nothing comes of this but a small slap on the wrist at best to the New York Jets.

And maybe Favre will consider giving John David Booty some loot for the number he stole off his back or the job he stole form him. I won't hold my breath. But he's a great guy and an all-around fantastic teammate.

Whatever

(PHOTO: Disney)

The Mangini on Favre's Finger-Pointing

Eric Mangini lost his job because Brett Favre played the entire season in New York with one foot in Minnesota. I think at this point - to everyone who is thinking and seeing things clearly - that much is crystal. So what did Mangini say when asked about Favre's back-pedal on his failure in New York as due to injury that the staff knew about?

"I don't think any of us played as well as we could have," Mangini said.  "What I do think is, I could have done a better job coaching.  I think the staff could have done a better job coaching.  I never look at success or failure as an individual thing. It was cumulative thing. We won games together. We lost games together. There were things that we could improve during that stretch that would have really helped us.""

Professional. Non-inflammatory. TAKING BLAME where it's warranted. God, I would love to be a fly on the wall when Mangini reflects on middle-naming his son "Brett." 

Read it for yourself

(PHOTO: LA Times)

The Guy Is a Charlatan

Judd Zulgad covered the Favre-led Green Bay Packers for two years and even he can't get past the stars in his eyes now that the Legend has brought his Barnumesque show to the Mini Apple. My questions after reading Zulgad's piece today about how Favre enamored all his new teammates with a very heartfelt speech about not coming back to beat the Packers were threefold: what happened to the "there is no schism in this locker room" claptrap that was widely denied last week that made this speech necessary at all, why didn't Favre feel compelled to do something similar to this last year when he ousted Pennington from the Jets and wound up alienating some of his new teammates over there, and finally if he's not back to stick it to the Packers why admit as much after the Jets stint?

But like the history that we're all doomed to repeat: whatever Favre feels like giving, the media will suck up like so many remoras in shark-infested waters.

So glad he's not our problem anymore - Zulgad

Team Guy All the Way

When will this continued setup for failure end? Lets' face it, no matter what the national media says, Minnesota winning the Super Bowl will require some good fortune, as it does with many talented and aspiring teams. But the expectations are well-documented. Trouble is, Favre has shown time and again over the course of 16 years that he does not perform well under the pressure of expectations. We've heard a myriad of excuses thus far: not enough practice time, potentially cracked rib, it was basically his daughter that talked him into coming back, he's old, he has a torn rotator cuff. Weary. Favre's act is old, tired, cliched and weary. I especially adore the part where Favre insists that he would have sat out after he injured his arm in the stretch run last year.

Retort: Snowball's chance in hell.

This guy will throw anyone under the bus he can to relieve himself of failure. I'd love to hear Mangini come out and corroborate this nonsense.

I Am Ironman

(PHOTO: cover - The Boy Who Cried Wolf, by B.G. Hennessy and Boris Kulikov)

Just Another "Favre Touch" Exaggeration

Once again, when it comes to Brett Favre, something someone claims is absolutely spot-on genuine hillbilly gold turns out to be not so much. Weren't we led to believe the New York Jets made enough money selling Favre jerseys to replicate Manhattan in Watts? And didn't Brett Favre sell enough tickets in the first few days after his signing with the Vikings to create a season ticket waiting list like the Packers?

Funny thing is, none of that should matter. The folks who point to these marketing numbers will also say the money's well spent, because the only thing that counts are wins. Turns out it's pretty much like everything else we've been led to believe about Favre: a fabrication. When compared to the cost of bringing Favre in, it seems the ends don't justify the means on the field. Do I honestly care if Lorenzo sells a handful of jerseys or a few seat licenses? As a Viking fan (which I'm clearly not), I think I would care less. Prove it on the field, buddy. Trouble is, he's been playing for a long time and put up some gawdy numbers on both the plus and minus side of the ball, but he only has one ring. So does Trent Dilfer, for goodness sake. And Jeff Hostetler, Mark Rypien and Brad Johnson (ooooh, low blow, I know, MN fan).

It is still true, however, that The Legendary One single-handedly completed the renovation of Lambeau Field after practice one night using only a pair of pliers, a blowtorch and a portion of Mount Everest.

Not a cost-effective decision

Definition of Corporate Doublespeak

What is it about the backtracking folks have to do when they're associated with this guy?

I know. I know. It's just rumor and speculation about Spielman's real feelings until he's pressed in public, and then he's a fully-committed company guy.

Smoke, meet fire.

Vikings VP of player personnel 100% behind Favre decision

(PHOTO: AP file)

Though Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Record

Let's face it, Brett Favre will play until he's 842 or until he owns every single NFL record. That's right George Blanda, he's coming for you after he gets finished with that pansy, Jim Marshall. Oh wait ...

Jim Marshall would never wear green and gold

Oh Ditka!

Love him or hate him, Mike Ditka comes with an impressive resume': won a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant and a head coach, and he tends to be a world class a-hole when his dander is up. But he speaks his mind and bleeds black and orange, which makes it all the more interesting that he thinks the Vikings are stupid for bringing the Legend in and that the green and gold, not the purple and puke will win the NFC North.

DITKA! 

Maybe That Cash for Clunkers Thing Had Merit After All

I honestly think Favre isn't going to play tomorrow nite because Brad Childress is terrified of what a poor performance could have on both the confidence of Favre and the psyche of his locker room. The LAST thing "Chilly" wants is some sort of quarterback controversy. But that's precisely what he's going to have if Jackson plays well again. He played better than favre did against the Chiefs, albeit compared to Favre's limited (and early) play with the team. But why not compare the two? Favre made a conscious decision not to attend training camp. In fact, he came in the day it ended. Coincidence?

The crazy thing about the folks who claim to think it's fine that he missed camp - the "he's a veteran who could write a book about the west coast offense, what more does he need to prove?" harpies - would be the first to decry guys holding out. I'd give you a sampling of all the reasons I think it's significant Favre missed camp, but Scout.com did it for me.

Scout via FOXSports 

Rodney Harrison Is a Thug, But He's Right

Rodney Harrison thinks Brett Favre sabotaged the Vikings' locker room, and on cue the Favre fans jumped all over Harrison this morning for not having won an MVP, for being a thug, an idiot, etc.

How many people need to say it for it to be accepted as a possibility? Where there's smoke there's fire with Favre. We've seen it time and time again. Something comes out in the media (last week's 'schism' flap at the four-letter), Favre and his entourage deny it, then later it's proven true and Favre or his ilk come out with some sort of recantation, a hedging of their previous commentary or an excuse as to why they fibbed.

I wonder if the Packers media relations department breathed a sigh of relief to see this guy go, considering how much stamina it must have taken to build up this media darling out of hillbilly clay and keep that meme fresh and real when it was about as genuine as synthetic leather.

Sabotage

(PHOTO: AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Crackbacks Are Still Illegal Even If You're Brett Favre

Memo to the Legendary One: if you intend to hit someone below the waist from behind, you should expect a fine and - potentially - payback. You're not above the rules and you're not above retribution.

You make the call. Illegal or just "youthful exuberance?"

Best Description: Pedestrian

Even I have to admit Favre looked fine tonite, if not a little boring. I would assume that's what Minnesota wants out of Brett Favre: to be a game manager. I just don't believe for a second that's what Brett Favre will grow accustomed to being. He never did it in Green Bay, not in 16 years and not in one year with the Jets. The two things I would be most fearful of if I was a Minnesota fan is the fact that Favre is positively getting his ass kicked in the pocket and the fact that Brett Favre is positively getting his ass kicked out of the pocket. The dude is 17 years in the league, and can touch 40 with his nose hairs. Will this be the first season Favre doesn't finish due to injury?

Favre's numbers:
13/18 - 142 yds - 1 TD - 0 INTs
QB Rating: 113.66

Next They'll Tell Us Unicorns Aren't Real

The Favre-saves-Minnesota-from-the-swirling-maelstrom story turns out to be just slightly short of the required ticket sales to save the Vikings from seeing the Legend on TV this season, it turns out.

Not even Brett Favre is exempt from the NFL's Gestapo style blackout rules, it seems.

Die unicorns, die!

Is That a Cracked Rib or Remorse?

Well well well. Will wonders never cease? ANOTHER setup for failure? I would say this is getting a little tired, but that'd be cliche'. It's been said so many many times before. Kevin Seifert over at ESPN is reporting this afternoon that Brett Favre believes Brett Favre has a cracked rib. I think Kevin Seifert is a dink, so I'm not linking to his story.

Not Kevin Seifert's story

(PHOTO: Getty Images)

How's That Bitter Pill Taste?

I know it's preseason, but Aaron Rodgers' stats for the 1ST HALF of tonite's AZ game read:

14/19 - 258 yds - 3 TDs - 0 INTs
39 yds rushing
QB rating  = 155.1

Chew on that. Ted Thompson is a poor talent evaluator. I'm sure The Legend would have had the maximum 158.3. Good luck on Monday, Mississippi.