Brett Favre and Brad Childress Act Unprofessional In Recent Signing

2009-08-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

By Dan Parzych: What's bugging me this week? How about the whole story behind QB Brett Favre's return to the NFL.

For the last couple of months, anyone who follows the NFL has been trying to figure out whether or not Favre was going to show up for training camp with the Minnesota Vikings.

After he came out with a statement at the end of July claiming he would stay retired and not sign with the team, it appeared the Favre roller coaster came to a complete halt and we would not have to worry about hearing his name involved with playing in the NFL again.

Wrong!

Favre is similar to those Chuck Norris jokes, where only he is capable of performing tasks that no other human being could perform. In a way, Favre has become the Chuck Norris of the NFL.

Favre may be the only player in NFL history capable of convincing the NFL and the rest of the world that he planned on staying retired, only to come back weeks later and sign a two-year deal worth $25 million—with the division rival of the Green Bay Packers, a team he played for 16 years.

The one thing about Favre and football that no one will ever be able to take away is his passion for the game.

The man has shed tears and played through numerous injuries because of his love for the game. Unfortunately, Favre has one major flaw that has made fans across the country love to hate him—his inability to make a firm decision on whether or not to continue playing football.

The whole issue about Favre never being able to make up his mind may be more of the media's fault than his own. Still, the future Hall of Fame quarterback has gone from one of the most loved players in NFL history to a guy that nobody can stand to hear about anymore.

It's hard to deny Favre the right to want to play football one more season. However, with the legacy he established with the Packers throughout his career, signing with the Vikings—who are apparently one of the most hated teams in Wisconsin according to fans—may have turned some of the long-time Favre fans into absolute Favre-haters.

It's easy to understand Favre's frustration with the Packers after the way things ended between him and GM Ted Thompson. Before the beginning of last season, Thompson said he didn't want Favre returning to the Packers after he retired for the first time, simply because he wanted to "move on" and begin the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay.

Despite the excitement that has been going on for the Vikings and the city of Minnesota in the last 24 hours with the recent Favre signing, there is still one issue that is not only bugging me, but a lot of players around the organization as well.

According to a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen from Tuesday, Favre decided to sign with the Vikings on Tuesday because he didn't want to put himself through the two weeks of training camp and sleep overnight in the dorms with the rest of the team.

As a kid who played sports growing up, my coaches always stuck with a policy that if you didn't show up to practice, you will never play in the game. Apparently, Childress does not believe in this type of policy.

So while the rest of the players have busted their butts for the last two weeks while trying to make a name for themselves on the Vikings' squad, Favre gets to show up when he wants and misses arguably one of the most intense parts of the season. Not to mention that he does all this and still gets the privilege of being named the starting quarterback for the upcoming season.

From the non-stop stories on ESPN Tuesday, it seems as if Favre and Childress knew that this was how the situation was going to go down. If this is the case, then no players must feel worse than Vikings' QBs Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

The Vikings traded for Rosenfels in the offseason in hopes that he would give Jackson some competition for the starting job. Now that Favre is on the roster, it appears the Vikings will shop Jackson around. It would be foolish to trade for Rosenfels since his contract guarantees him $3 million.

Before Favre signed with the Vikings, Rosenfels was hoping to finally receive a chance to be a starter, after playing the backup role in Houston for so many years. Now that Favre is on the squad, that dream will have to wait a little longer.

However, one can't help but feel bad for Rosenfels if Childress knew Favre was going to sign with the Vikings the entire time. All this time believing that the coach is finally giving you the chance to shine as the starting quarterback—only to find out that it was never really going to happen.

After today, it's safe to say that Favre may be judged for purposely waiting until now to sign with the Vikings, all so he could miss out on an intense two weeks of training camp. As far as Childress is concerned, if he did know about Favre's plan the entire time, he may be facing some trust issues with his players and staff.

32 Bold Predictions for the 2009 NFL Season

2009-08-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

By Samuel Bell Jr: I start this opus out with a heavy heart, as my father is currently hospitalized with heart arrhythmia after surgery to remove an abscess from his left knee somehow went wrong.

As I arrived home for a while after being out with him for several hours, I thought to myself, "What a great time to write my annual predictions article."

Football is not only a game and my favorite sport, but it's the gift that never stops giving.

My love for the sport helps me to feel a certain utopia that not many other things can compare to.

When I feel my worst, the feeling of anticipating a season, great matchup, or game that comes down to the last second seems to have a healing effect that nothing else can match.

As the preseason is now just a week away, I look at what has transpired in the offseason and I become very excited about what we as fans are about to witness.

Terrell Owens is a Buffalo Bill. Jay Cutler is a Chicago Bear. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is a Seattle Seahawk.

The Peyton Manning sans Marvin Harrison era begins. Michael Vick is out of jail. Plaxico Burress may be going.

Tom Brady is back. Brett Favre isn't. (There is a God.)

There are so many storylines that I could write a separate article about them all.

One word we will hear a lot this season is "parity." There is so much competition and so many teams that it is virtually a complete toss-up to try to predict who will be the last man standing like Bruce Willis.

I will for the second consecutive year attempt to do the impossible: predict the 2009 season all the way to the Super Bowl MVP.

Last year, I was about 42 percent correct, which isn't bad for blind predictions. I'm aiming for 100 percent this time, but hey, who's counting?

I want all comments, arguments and everything when you read this article. Spill it all, because we can go back to it in February.

After the season ends, I will revisit this article to see just how right I was. Let's get this party started!

32. The New England Patriots Will Win the AFC East

31. The Baltimore Ravens Will Win the AFC North

30. The Tennessee Titans Will Win the AFC South

29. The San Diego Chargers Will Win the AFC West

28. The Philadelphia Eagles Will Win the NFC East

27. The Minnesota Vikings Will Win the NFC North

26. The Atlanta Falcons Will Win the NFC South

25. The Arizona Cardinals Will Win the NFC West

24. The AFC East Will Finish Like This:

1. New England Patriots: 13-3

2. Buffalo Bills: 10-6

3. Miami Dolphins: 8-8

4. New York Jets: 5-11

23. The AFC North Will Finish Like This:

1. Baltimore Ravens: 11-5

2. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6

3. Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8

4. Cleveland Browns: 6-10

22. The AFC South Will Finish Like This:

1. Tennessee Titans: 11-5

2. Indianapolis Colts: 9-7

3. Houston Texans: 8-8

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12

21. The AFC West Will Finish Like This:

1. San Diego Chargers: 10-6

2. Oakland Raiders: 9-7

3. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8

4. Denver Broncos: 5-11

20. The NFC East Will Finish Like This:

1. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-6

2. Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

3. New York Giants: 8-8

4. Washington Redskins: 7-9

19. The NFC North Will Finish Like This:

1. Minnesota Vikings: 11-5

2. Green Bay Packers: 10-6

3. Chicago Bears: 8-8

4. Detroit Lions: 5-11

18. The NFC South Will Finish Like This:

1. Atlanta Falcons: 12-4

2. New Orleans Saints: 10-6

3. Carolina Panthers: 8-8

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-12

17. The NFC West Will Finish Like This:

1. Arizona Cardinals: 9-7

2. Seattle Seahawks: 8-8

3. San Francisco 49ers: 8-8

4. St. Louis Rams: 3-13

16. The San Diego Chargers Will Defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10 in WC1.

15. The Buffalo Bills Will Defeat the Tennessee Titans 14-10 in WC2.

14. The Dallas Cowboys Will Defeat the Arizona Cardinals 29-24 in WC3.

13. The Philadelphia Eagles Will Defeat the Green Bay Packers 27-13 in WC4.

12. The New England Patriots Will Defeat the Buffalo Bills 30-14 in the Divisional Round.

11. The Baltimore Ravens Will Defeat the San Diego Chargers 13-10 in the Divisional Round.

10. The Atlanta Falcons Will Defeat the Dallas Cowboys 24-14 in the Divisional Round.

9. The Minnesota Vikings Will Defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 21-17 in the Divisional Round.

8. The New England Patriots Will Defeat the Baltimore Ravens 28-20 in the AFC Championship Game.

7. The Atlanta Falcons Will Defeat the Minnesota Vikings 23-14 in the NFC Championship Game.

6. The Atlanta Falcons Will Defeat the New England Patriots 24-20 in Super Bowl XLIV.

5. Matt Ryan Will Be the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV.

4. Tom Brady and Adrian Peterson Will Be NFL Co-MVPs.

3. Mike Smith Will Be NFL Coach of the Year.

2. Michael Vick Will Be on a Playoff NFL Roster When the Postseason Arrives.

1. The Top Three NFL QB's in Passing Yards Will Be Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Carson Palmer, with Matt Ryan in a Close Fourth.

Watch These Three First-Round Rookies

1. Jason Smith, St. Louis Rams

2. Aaron Maybin, Buffalo Bills

3. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles

As usual, this was extremely difficult due to the widespread talent of the NFL, and all of the teams that will surely contend this upcoming season.

I know that there will be many conflicting opinions, but that's the beauty of sport. We all see things differently.

But I can promise you one thing: It will be settled on the field.

Let's get ready for some football!

The Half of a Year Too Early NFL All-Decade Team

2009-08-16T12:06:00.000-07:00

By Cody Swartz: There's still another season of football to be played in this decade.

However, I figured I'd put together a list of guys who merit selection to the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team.

For this, I chose to factor in stats, awards, playoff performances, and other achievements. Without further adieu, here is your all-decade team by position.

Quarterback

Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

The ever-popular and over-discussed debate.

Colts fans will focus on the regular season accomplishments, while Patriots fans will look to the postseason success.

I have no bias either way, so I don't really care.

Forgive me, but I'll pass on this one...

Runners-Up: Matt Cassel and Jim Sorgi

Running Back

There have been a lot of great running backs this decade, but only one has dominated for virtually the whole decade.

That would be the Chargers' versatile and durable LaDainian Tomlinson, a former league MVP and owner of the single-season touchdown record.

LT is already pushing the top 10 greatest running backs who ever lived (I put him fifth on my list, published back in December), and a down year in '08 still consisted of over 1,500 total yards and 12 touchdowns.

Runners-Up: Priest Holmes, Marshall Faulk, Jamal Lewis, Clinton Portis, Shaun Alexander, Curtis Martin, Edgerrin James, Ahman Green, Tiki Barber, Corey Dillon, Fred Taylor, Brian Westbrook, Adrian Peterson, Larry Johnson

Fullback

It's probably the NFL's most underappreciated position. In fact, sometimes I even forget it exists (not hard to do as an Eagles fan).

No one has been better than Lorenzo Neal, who has played on five separate teams thus far this decade.

That hasn't stopped him from earning four Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro honors. He has blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher eight separate times this decade.

Runners-Up: Tony Richardson, Mike Alstott, Mack Strong, Fred Beasley

Wide Receiver

Four names come to mind for the NFL's top wide receiver—Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, and Randy Moss. All four defined the decade, and you can make a case that any one of them deserves it.

I can only choose two.

Terrell Owens

T.O. has the edge in first-team All-Pro selections, with just one fewer than Moss, Holt, and Harrison combined. He also has more 1,000-yard seasons and 10 TD seasons than the other three, and he ranks first in touchdown catches.

If it weren't for an abbreviated season in Philadelphia in '05, T.O. would be the only one on this list to top 1,000 receiving yards in every season this decade.

Marvin Harrison

Harrison has the most Pro Bowls out of the group (tied with Holt), although he does have the second fewest first-team All-Pro selections. This is more a testament to his consistency and excellence than domination.

He has the second most catches out of the bunch—including an NFL-record 143 in 2002, a record that will probably not be broken anytime soon—but the second fewest touchdowns. He is also the only one of the bunch to have played on a Super Bowl champion team (in this decade, so Holt's 1999 season does not count).

Torry Holt

The most underrated player of the bunch. By far.

When I originally made this list, I automatically just included Holt in the “runner-up” category. It wasn't until I went back and looked at his credentials that I realized one could make a pretty legit case for Holt as a member of the All-Decade Team.

He has made seven Pro Bowls, tied with Moss for the most out of the group. He has by far the most receptions and receiving yards out of the group but the fewest touchdowns by an embarrassing margin.

This can probably be linked to: 1) Marshall Faulk, the versatile running back and touchdown machine who took away many of Holt's touchdowns in St. Louis; 2) The simple fact that the Rams have not been a very good football team over this decade.

Holt has only been a first-team All-Pro selection once, but he has been arguably the most productive receiver year in and year out.

Randy Moss

Moss is the only player who does not lead in a single category, and he is penalized the most for what he has done in a previous decade.

In the first two seasons of his career (1998-99), Moss earned two Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro selection while averaging 1,363 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns per year.

Add in those two years and take away his disappointing two seasons in Oakland (2005-06), and I think Moss would have a much stronger case.

I will give him this though—go look up Daunte Culpepper's stats in 2000 and 2004 compared to his years without Moss. Then check out what Moss helped Brady do in 2007. Moss probably has the biggest impact on his quarterbacks out of any of the others.

The Verdict

As of now, I have to take T.O. and Harrison.

In my opinion, T.O. is the most talented as a pure receiver. He will go across the middle, block, catch the ball, do whatever it takes to help his team win.

I won't defend his attitude—I can't—but he gives everything he's got out there on the football field. He never took two years off, like Moss.

Runners-Up: Moss, Holt, Steve Smith, Chad Johnson, Reggie Wayne

Tight End

L.J. Smith. No question. He has been one of the best draft picks Andy Reid has ever made...

Other than him, I would go with Tony Gonzalez. He might go down as the greatest tight end of all time. He has made the Pro Bowl in all nine seasons this decade, including four selections as first-team All-Pro.

How many 32-year-old tight ends do you know who can catch 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns from the likes of Tyler Thigpen, Brodie Croyle, and Damon Huard?

Runners-Up: Antonio Gates, Jason Witten

Offensive Tackles

It's very difficult to judge offensive linemen. Very difficult. There are no stats to which I have regular access.

I go by the Pro Bowl selections, first-team All-Pro selections, and their reputation. The first two names that came to my mind were Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Pace.

Ogden made eight consecutive Pro Bowls this decade before retiring at the end of the '07 season. Five times he was named first-team All-Pro, and two additional times he was second-team All-Pro. He also helped the Ravens capture the Super Bowl championship after the 2000 season.

Pace was the NFC's version of Jonathan Ogden—a mammoth-sized offensive tackle who was a fixture for the Pro Bowl roster. Pace earned six Pro Bowl selections in the '00s, including five selections for first-team All-Pro.

Yet I'll take another tackle—Walter Jones. Jones has been selected to the Pro Bowl in his last eight seasons and been voted an All-Pro seven times. He has blocked for the 2005 league MVP (Shaun Alexander) and was selected by Sporting News as the best player in the NFL following the 2006 season.

Runners-Up: Pace, Willie Roaf

Guards

Alan Faneca was the first name that came to my mind when I thought of guards.

Anyone realize how good he's been?

EIGHT consecutive Pro Bowls. He has been a first-team All-Pro five times and second-team All-Pro three times.

He helped the Steelers to three conference championship games, including a Super Bowl win following the 2005 season. It's a shame he left for the Jets after the '07 season, because he would have another ring to his name if he had remained with the Steelers.

Faneca was voted Tuesday Morning Quarterback's Non-QB Non-RB NFL MVP for his stellar performance in the 2001 season.

Three other guards have earned at least six Pro Bowl selections this decade—Will Shields (7), Steve Hutchinson (6), and Larry Allen (6).

Again, it's difficult to judge these guys on anything but their Pro Bowl selections, but I have always felt Hutchinson was the best guard in the league.

He has been an All-Pro six times, five of them as a first-team guard. He has been hugely instrumental in the performance of Shaun Alexander (2005 NFL MVP) and Adrian Peterson, the league's top runner and 2008 NFL rushing champion.

In fact, Hutchinson has blocked for a 1,300-yard rusher in five of his last six seasons.

Runners-Up: Shields, Allen, Brian Waters

Centers

I've always loved watching Olin Kreutz play. He's a little, undersized guy, but he gives it his best. He's earned six Pro Bowl selections and been named to the All-Pro team once.

Matt Birk of the Vikings has also earned six Pro Bowl invitations and been named All-Pro twice.

It's either Kreutz or Birk.

I've got to go with Birk. He's been slightly more dominant (more All-Pro selections). He's been more vital to his team's success in the running game, helping turn Adrian Peterson into the league's top running back and Chester Taylor into one of the best backups.

Runners-Up: Kreutz, Kevin Mawae, Jeff Saturday

Defensive Ends

There have been a LOT of great defensive ends thus far this decade.

Five in particular I will evaluate.

Jason Taylor leads in Pro Bowl selections (6), All-Pro nominations (4), and is one of just two defensive ends to have won the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Michael Strahan is the other to have won the Defensive Player of the Year award. He also holds the NFL single-season record in sacks (22.5) and has four Pro Bowls to his name.

Dwight Freeney and Julius Peppers have consistently been among the league's best pass-rushing ends. In fact, they are two of the most similar players in the NFL, not so much in their physical stature, but more so their accomplishments.

Each has totaled four Pro Bowls since their arrival to the NFL in 2002. Each has earned two All-Pro selections and accumulated exactly 70.5 sacks in seven years.

Personally, I feel Peppers is slightly better. He's faster, more versatile, and can create a play out of nothing.

Last is Richard Seymour, a versatile lineman who can play both end and tackle. Seymour has been primarily used as an end, earning five Pro Bowl selections in eight years as a pro.

He has been a key part of the Patriots' three Super Bowl championship teams and is often regarded as the most dominant defensive lineman in the NFL.

He has struggled with injuries but has been significant in the play of teammates Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork, two up-and-coming talented linemen.

It's very difficult to choose just two of these five players, but I think I'll take Taylor—probably the best pure pass rusher of the group—and Seymour, a huge unblockable end who can play anywhere on the line.

Runners-Up: Strahan, Peppers, Freeney, Simeon Rice

Defensive Tackles

Probably the least dominant position out of all of them.

Warren Sapp was the first name to come to my mind, but he was at his best in the late '90s and early part of this decade. Same with La'Roi Glover, who leads all defensive tackles this decade with six Pro Bowl nominations.

I've always loved Kris Jenkins, although he has been injury-prone during his career. Jenkins has earned four Pro Bowl selections from two different teams, played in a Super Bowl, and been an All-Pro three times.

Kevin Williams is arguably the top defensive tackle in the game right now. He is a tremendous run stopper who has earned four Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro nominations in the last five years.

I'll take Glover and his six Pro Bowl invitations, along with Williams, the tackle most primed to have another dominating season in '09.

Runners-Up: Sapp, Jenkins, Pat Williams, Shaun Rogers, Casey Hampton, Marcus Stroud, Sam Adams, Tommie Harris

Middle Linebacker

Who else but Ray Lewis?

He might be the greatest middle linebacker of all time, every bit as good as Ray Nitschke or Dick Butkus. In a poll the other year, Lewis was voted the third greatest linebacker of all time.

Lewis is a future first ballot Hall of Famer, no question. He is a living legacy. Just ask Baltimore fans. There are those who swear that even at age 34, he hasn't lost a single step.

In this decade alone, he has been voted to the Pro Bowl seven times, earned five All-Pro selections, and been named the game's MVP following the Ravens' 34-7 win in Super Bowl XXXV.

Lewis is also one of just six players in the history of the NFL to have earned the Defensive Player of the Year award twice (2000 and 2003).

Runners-Up: Brian Urlacher, Al Wilson, Keith Brooking, Jeremiah Trotter, Tedy Bruschi

Outside Linebackers

Very few people know just how good Derrick Brooks has been during his future Hall of Fame career. He has been selected to 11 Pro Bowls, eight of them within this decade.

Brooks has also earned six All-Pro selections for the decade, earned an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award (2002), and helped the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl following the '02 season.

Perhaps no player in the NFL has been as versatile as Julian Peterson, an outside linebacker who has lined up at defensive tackle, defensive end, middle linebacker, cornerback, and safety.

Peterson is a five-time Pro Bowler who has earned three All-Pro selections. He is one of the league's best pass rushers and coverage linebackers.

Runners-Up: Joey Porter, Shawne Merriman

Cornerback

The most valuable part of a top-notch defense is a shutdown corner, a guy who can literally shut down one side of the field.

Players like Deion Sanders and Mel Blount come to mind. These guys could cover the opposition's top receiver and hold him to two or three catches and no scores.

Champ Bailey is the closest thing to a shutdown corner in today's game. He has been arguably the top cover corner in the NFL over his career. Bailey has been voted to eight Pro Bowls thus far this decade, earning four All-Pro nominations.

His 2006 season, in which he led the NFL with 10 interceptions, did not allow a touchdown the entire year, and was voted unanimously to the All-Pro team, is one of the greatest by a cornerback in NFL history.

The Bucs' Ronde Barber is one of the most underrated guys in the league. Barber has been voted to five Pro Bowl teams and earned five All-Pro nominations during his career. He helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl following the 2002 season.

Runners-Up: Ty Law, Troy Vincent, Chris McAlister, Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel

Free Safety

I love a good free safety. A ballhawk who can play center field and roam around the defensive side of the field. A hard-hitter who can rush the quarterback, stop the run, and pick off the pass.

Like my man, Brian Dawkins.

Nicknamed “Weapon X,” Dawkins has been an icon during his reign in Philly. He earned six Pro Bowl selections during the decade and five All-Pro nominations while leading the Eagles to the playoffs seven times, including five trips to the NFC Championship Game.

And he's not the best free safety of the decade.

Unfortunately.

Ed Reed is.

Even though he has played just seven seasons in his NFL career, Reed is already being talked about as the greatest safety to ever play the game.

He is a ballhawk like no one I have seen in my lifetime, with 43 interceptions in his career, 11 total touchdowns, and five interceptions in five career playoff games.

Reed has been voted to five Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams, earned a Defensive Player of the Year award, and led the NFL in interceptions twice.

At just 30 years old, Reed will most likely go down as one of the two or three greatest safeties to ever play the game.

Runners-Up: Dawkins, Darren Sharper, Roy Williams

Strong Safety

I hate the Pittsburgh Steelers with a passion, but I can't tell you what I would give for a playmaking safety like Troy Polamalu.

One of the top defensive players in the game right now, Polamalu has made five consecutive Pro Bowls, earned three All-Pro nominations, and helped the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles.

Despite Polamalu's success, I'll have to go with John Lynch. Lynch has been around the entire decade, compared to Polamalu, who didn't break into the NFL until 2003.

While both players have earned three All-Pro selections, Lynch has earned seven Pro Bowls to Polamalu's five. And Lynch was doing work for the Bucs at the beginning of the decade, while Polamalu had yet to finish his college career.

Runners-Up: Polamalu, Rodney Harrison, Bob Sanders

Kicker

Adam Vinatieri is the obvious choice.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Vinatieri has played on four Super Bowl champion teams, three with the Patriots and one with the Colts.

He has been a part of some of the most clutch plays in NFL history, twice kicking last-second, game-winning field goals to win the Super Bowl, while adding a 45-yard field goal in a foot of snow in overtime to beat the Raiders in the '01 Divisional Playoffs.

Vinatieri is on track to be just the second pure kicker to earn admission to the Hall of Fame.

Runners-Up: Mike Vanderjagt, David Akers, Jeff Wilkins, Jason Elam, Matt Stover

Punter

Shane Lechler has long been considered the top punter in the game. He has earned four Pro Bowl selections and been voted an All-Pro six times.

Lechler also holds the NFL's second-best single-season mark for punting average (49.1 in 2007).

Runners-Up: Brian Moorman, Todd Sauerbrun, Jeff Feagles

Kick/Punt Returner

It's a close one here between Dante “The Human Joystick” Hall and Devin “Anytime” Hester.

Hall was dominant from 2002 through 2004, putting together three of the finest seasons a kick returner has ever had. During those three seasons, he earned two Pro Bowl selections and returned nine total kicks for touchdowns.

Hester hasn't been in the league longer than three years, but he has already earned two trips to the Pro Bowl and returned 11 kicks for touchdowns, plus a 108-yard missed field goal return for a score and the opening kick of the Super Bowl back for a TD.

I think Hester was slightly more dominant in his prime than Hall, but I'll take Hall due to more years in the league during this decade.

Runner-Up: Devin Hester

Pedro Martinez to Make First Start Wednesday vs. Chicago Cubs

2009-08-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

By Shady Botros: The Phillies have just made the announcement that right-hander Pedro Martinez will make his first start in a Phillies uniform Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field.

JA Happ will start tomorrow. His last outing was a complete game shutout against the Colorado Rockies; ironically the start came on the same night in which Pedro fanned 11 batters in the minor leagues.

Happ may have saved his job in the rotation.

It is almost certain that Jaime Moyer is headed out of the rotation; Moyer has been regarded as the weak link of the rotation as he is 10-9 with a 5.47 ERA. Moyer would be headed to the bullpen.

However, the big question to me is how Jaime Moyer will fare out of the pen.

Moyer is 46 years old and he would probably take longer to get loose since he’s a starter, and the transition from starter to reliever is pretty tough as Moyer will get a different workload.

Where does Moyer fit in the pen? Will he be a setup guy, or possibly a long man. That remains to be seen.

Whatever the outcome, it’s unlikely that either Moyer or Pedro will make a start in the postseason as the Phillies will probably go to a four-man rotation, unless Pedro out pitches Happ or an injury occurs. It is yet to be seen how the 37-year-old Martinez will pitch in his first big league start of the year.

A Surplus of Philly Starters But Only Five Spots: Who's In, Who's Out?

2009-08-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

By Cody Swartz: There is no such thing as too much pitching.

Right?

Welcome to the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies feature an astonishing number of pitchers with the ability to start ballgames, but can only implement five in their rotation.

Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, and Joe Blanton are mainstays in the rotation. Brett Myers has already volunteered to join the bullpen upon his return, which leaves it to J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, and Pedro Martinez to fight for the final roster spot. Not to mention that Chan Ho Park and Rodrigo Lopez are very capable starters being used as middle relievers.

Happ, Moyer, and Martinez. A rookie, a future Hall-of-Famer, and the oldest active player in the major leagues.

I reviewed the three starters, then broke down an analysis of the three candidates, with my verdict at the end.

The Three Starters

Cole Hamels

The lefty ace is on track to become the best homegrown Phillies' pitcher of all-time. He is a two-time All-Star and last year's postseason hero, taking home both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards, while helping the city of Philadelphia to its first world title in 25 seasons.

Hamels has struggled at times this season and his current 4.68 ERA won't turn any heads, but he is still one of the league's elite pitchers when he is on his game.

For his career, Hamels is a much better pitcher in the second half of the season, with a second half ERA close to a full run less than that of his first half.

Phillies fans should expect to see their beloved World Series star pick up his game down the stretch, as the Phillies get closer and closer to an attempt at becoming the first NL team to win back-to-back World Series in over 30 years.

Cliff Lee

Recently acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Indians right before the trade deadline, Lee may not be Roy Halladay, but he and Hamels give the Phillies one of the best 1-2 punches in the National League.

Lee threw a complete game in his first start as a member of the Phillies and a dominating seven inning, one run outing in his second start. He has allowed just six runs in his first five starts, and despite just a 9-9 record for the season, he owns a 3.02 ERA for the year.

Lee is an experienced veteran who has been around for eight seasons and knows how to pitch effectively.

Lee should prove to be a huge part of the Phillies' playoff run.

Joe Blanton

Joe Blanton's stock in the rotation is even more important, given the overload of lefties in the rotation.

Blanton, this season, has become more than just an innings eater, but quite possibly the most valuable Phillies' starter since late May. Blanton has a 5-2 mark and 2.33 ERA in his last 12 starts, and he's provided the Phillies with solid starts nearly every single time he takes the mound.

He has gone at least seven innings in nine of them, including five straight. With Hamels and Lee as the 1-2 punch, Blanton has a huge role as the No. 3 starter.

The Remaining Candidates

J.A. Happ

The Phillies' left-handed rookie is one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball this season. Happ wasn't even expected to be a starter at the beginning of the year, but has since proven he is well deserving of a spot in the rotation.

Although he is just the No. 4 starter for the defending World Champions, Happ could easily be a No. 1 or 2 on many other teams, and he is a huge reason why the Phillies have maintained a solid lead in the NL East.

Happ has had to pitch around trade rumors and the possibility of a demotion to the bullpen, but he's continued to pitch very well.

Happ's 2.74 ERA is over a run and a third better than the next best Phillies' starter. He leads the team in winning percentage (.800). His 1.12 WHIP is one-sixth of a batter better than the team's second best pitcher. And he has 10 quality starts in just 14 starts, good for a team-best 71.4 percent.

In fact, Happ has been so dominant this season that he is a prime contender for the National League Rookie of the Year award.

Look how Happ fared Wednesday night with talk of a possible switch to the bullpen swirling. He tossed a complete game, four-hit shutout, striking out 10 batters. In doing so, Happ moved into a tie for first place in the National League with two shutouts.

Simply put, he is the Phillies' best starter each and every time he takes the mound. Phillies' general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. stated, "Happ's not going anywhere. He deserves to stay in the rotation. He's pitched very well. He's probably been our most effective starter."

That should be enough to guarantee him a spot in the rotation.

But is it?

Jamie Moyer

The fan favorite, the ageless one, the player-coach, the proven 23-year veteran born and raised just outside of Philly.

Moyer is a crafty lefty who gets by on experience and guile. He won't fool anyone with his 82-mile per hour fastball, but his changeup can be devastating. Moyer has proven to be an excellent mentor for young Cole Hamels, a similar left handed pitcher with a nasty changeup.

Last season, Moyer's 16 wins led the team and his quality start in Game Three of the World Series helped bring a title back to Philly.

This year, Moyer has struggled, to say the least. His 10 wins still lead the team, but the more revealing numbers are the astronomic 5.55 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He has pitched a quality start in just nine of his 21 starts this season, for a meager 42.7 percent.

Moyer has been very inconsistent, especially as of late. In his last nine starts, Moyer has either been very good or very bad. No in-betweens.

In the four even starts, he has pitched 26 innings and allowed just three runs, earning the win in all four games.

In the five odd starts, he has pitched 26 innings and allowed 26 earned runs.

I hate to say it, but it would have been nice if Moyer had retired after last season, just to go out on top.

That hurts me to say it, but Moyer doesn't have his best stuff this year, the first of a two-year, $13 million deal he signed last December with the Phillies.

So should he go to the bullpen?

Well...it's either him or Pedro.

Pedro Martinez

A three-time Cy Young award winner and future Hall-of-Famer way past his prime, just barely hanging on in the major leagues.

Pedro Martinez has yet to pitch in the majors for the Phillies, but he has looked good in his rehab starts, particularly his last one in Double-A Reading, in which he struck out 11, while walking none in a six-inning, quality start.

Martinez is a righty, which would help mix up the core of lefties in the rotation. From what I understand, Martinez has a clause in his contract, which says he is not allowed to pitch in the bullpen.

At best, Martinez appears to be a fifth starter for the Phillies, but who knows? Maybe he'll be much better than we expect. Maybe he'll be the pitcher to push the Phillies over the top.

After all, Martinez has plenty of big league experience. He most likely won't start in the playoffs—given that he is likely to be the fifth starter at most and teams only implement four-man pitching rotations in the playoffs—but he could be vital down the stretch for a club looking to wrap up its third consecutive NL East title.

Martinez has only pitched 269.2 innings since 2006, and none yet at the major league level thus far this season. During that stretch, he has a 17-15 record with a 4.74 ERA, numbers that are marginal at best.

The Verdict

Well, it's not an easy decision, but I think I would go with Pedro as my fifth starter and Moyer to the bullpen. It is a very awkward move to send an experienced veteran and one of last year's postseason heroes to the 'pen, especially at his age, but I think it has to be done.

Moyer has pitched in the bullpen before. In 1996, he was briefly sent to the bullpen for the Seattle Mariners, where he posted a 2-0 record and 3.71 ERA in 13 games, before returning to the rotation.

Relief pitchers are normally expected to throw hard, and Moyer sometimes has trouble hitting 80 with his fastball, but I see no other logical decision.

Putting Pedro to the bullpen wouldn't make sense to me, because he has been doing well in rehab, he has been a capable starter before in his career, and Moyer is hurting the team vastly every other time he takes the mound.

I don't know if Amaro will necessarily demote Moyer to the 'pen—I would be surprised if he does—but I think if the Phillies want to win as many games as possible, that move makes the most sense.

The NFC Team of the Decade: The Philadelphia Eagles

2009-08-03T07:32:00.001-07:00

By James Williamson: Everyone is talking about how the Patriots are the team of the decade, or how if the Steelers repeat, they should be the team of the decade.

Yet both of those teams are from the American Football Conference. So, who would represent the National Football Conference if the question was asked about who was the most dominant from that conference?

Out of nine Super Bowls, the National Football Conference has won only two, in the 2002 and 2007 seasons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the first one and the New York Giants captured the second one.

However, are either of these teams the team of the decade? Not in my opinion. The Buccaneers never repeated the same success they had in 2002 or even came close to it.

The Giants make a great argument since they won the Super Bowl and went to one in 2000, so it is tempting to put them there. Very tempting actually, but I'm going to pass on them and go to a bird that has given me a lot of pain.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been the best team in the National Football Conference this past decade barring New York wins another Super Bowl this final year.

I mean really, how can you not pick them? Let’s start with some numbers for those stat-addicts out there.

1. 92-51-1 in the regular season. The second best in wins is Green Bay with 84 and third goes to the Giants with 80. They beat every team in the NFC by at least half a season.

2. Seven winning seasons to one .500 season and only one losing season in which Donovan McNabb got severely injured for a large portion of the season.

3. Six winning seasons with 10 or more wins.

4. Seven playoff appearances.

5. Ten playoff victories, five championship game appearances, one Super Bowl appearance, and the team they have now is definitely a contender.

6. Five times they have been in the top 10 ranked offenses, and seven times they were in the top 10 ranked defenses.

7. Twenty of their players have been selected to the Pro Bowl at least once.

If you look at the numbers by themselves, that's quite a list of accomplishments.

But, how about we look at where this all started?

To use the famous lines, from Sophia Petrillo of the hit comedy, Golden Girls. "Picture it!"

Philadelphia, 1999. It is early January and the championship games for a berth in the Super Bowl are between the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC, while the Denver Broncos are looking to repeat as champions as soon as they dispose of the New York Jets.

Meanwhile, there will be a week of waiting for these games, and the Philadelphia management makes big news for Philadelphia fans to get their attention.

They have decided to hire Andy Reid, the former quarterback coach for the Super Bowl Packers, as the new head coach for the 3-13 Eagles.

Now, after conversing with good friend and Philadelphia fan, Dan Parzych, I have gotten a personal viewpoint as to the events of this time.

To paraphrase Dan, the Philadelphia fan base was disappointed to say the least. They were not thrilled with Andy Reid because he had never been a head coach. This guy was just Brett Favre's babysitter in a sense.

Dan wanted Mike Holmgren, who had been the head coach of that Packer team. Also, Brian Billick had been available.

So, to sum up the reaction of Philadelphia in one word: "HUH?!"

That was just the beginning though. This was around the time that the University of Texas was in the spotlight for having the best player in college football and arguably, in its entire history.

Ricky Williams had won the 1998 Heisman Trophy and had broken the NCAA Division I-A career rushing record previously held by Tony Dorsett with 6,279 yards.

He had run for 318 yards and six touchdowns in one game against Rice University. All the scouts were giving him high marks. Even former running back, Eric Dickerson, said that this guy reminded him of Earl Campbell, except faster.

Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, and Earl Campbell. All three of these men are in the Hall of Fame as the three best running backs of their generation.

To put it simply, the city of Philadelphia wanted Ricky Williams, period. No one else.

The Eagles had the second overall pick and everyone was praying that the Cleveland Browns, who had the first pick, would pass over Ricky Williams.

However, Andy Reid wanted a quarterback, and this was the year to get one.

The 1999 draft had five quarterbacks taken in the first round, and Philadelphia chose the best one of the five with Donovan McNabb.

When he was first drafted, the city of Philadelphia booed so loudly that Paul Tagliabue, the commissioner announcing the draft choices, could barely finish his sentence because of the noise from the Philadelphia fans at the draft wearing jerseys that had Ricky Williams’ number on it.

No one knew or even thought that these few decisions were the start of something truly great.

To go along with Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb, the Eagles also hired the recently deceased Jim Johnson, as their defensive coordinator. He was the man who turned the defense around.

The Eagles already had Brian Dawkins on the roster since 1996, but his first Pro-Bowl came in 1999, the year all these changes happened. Coincidence? I think not.

Because of Jim Johnson’s teaching at defense, the Eagles have a definite Hall of Famer in Brian Dawkins. Dawkins has been a complete free safety.

I learned from Paul Zimmerman that there are two basic kinds of safeties. One that is a great hitter, he puts fear and intimidation into the receiver every time he tries to catch a ball and after the catch is made, puts pain into their body.

The other is a ball hawk. He’s the kind that doesn’t scare the receiver; he scares the quarterback who doesn’t want to throw the game away. Very great at playing the ball in the air and probably played receiver in school, so he has great hands.

Brian Dawkins is both. He is a free safety that shows leadership to the front seven by his deadly collisions and then to the secondary by his ability to take the ball out of the air and possibly return it for six points.

From the 1999-2008 seasons, he has been to the Pro-Bowl seven times and made first team All-Pro four times.

21 sacks, 34 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, three defensive touchdowns and 723 tackles.

If that is not a Hall of Famer then I’m in the wrong business.

After the 1999 season that was a 5-11 season, to break the new team in, the Philadelphia Eagles exploded onto the NFL in 2000 with an 11-5 record, and a trip into playoffs. They became the saviors instantly.

What happened to Ricky Williams? Ricky Williams had too many personal problems with himself and drugs that he never truly became the player he should've been.

Donovan McNabb has played at a level of excellence to the point where he would get my vote for the Hall of Fame, Super Bowl or no Super Bowl.

Jim Johnson took the defensive players, no matter who they were, and made them successful with his ability to change blitzes and cause pressure from anywhere.

Through his amazing skills, the Eagles have had one of the deadliest defenses in the past decade, and he was the only coach that I can truly say scared me.

He had these dead eyes when on the sidelines, and those eyes told me that he was going to hurt the offensive players on the other side of the ball, and I mean really hurt them.

Andy Reid was named Coach of the Year in 2002 for his work in Philadelphia and despite family problems; he still has come through for the Eagles.

Without any great receivers, he and Donovan McNabb have reset the Eagles’ franchise records with 97 wins and 29,320 passing yards.

Then there are the great highlights like 4th and 26, or the McNabb scramble against Dallas, or the 24 consecutive completions record or even the game where McNabb played on a broken ankle.

Also, being 14-6 against the Cowboys doesn't hurt either.

There you have it folks. The NFC Team of the Decade and going. For all we know they could complete Philadelphia's dream and win the Super Bowl this year. They certainly have the talent.

All I can say is that these men have made football fun in Philadelphia for the past decade, and they are ready for another season.

In memory of Jim Johnson (1941-2009).

With the Farm Still Intact After Cliff Lee Deal, Phillies' Repeat Hopes Grow

2009-07-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

By Christian Karcole: For nearly three weeks, Roy Halladay was the presumed starting pitcher the Philadelphia Phillies would acquire at the trading deadline.

Yet the Toronto Blue Jays' overwhelming asking price became too much, as the Phillies were unwilling to give up their top two prospects, Kyle Drabek and Dominic Brown. The Phillies were also unwilling to give up current starter J.A. Happ.

Happ lost his first start last Friday since his major league debut, which ran across a span of 32 appearances.

But less than one hour ago, it was reported that the Phillies have moved on from the Halladay sweepstakes and traded for Cleveland Indians pitcher Cliff Lee.

Lee, who won the Cy Young Award for the American League last season, has a 7-9 record this season with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

The Phillies also acquired outfielder Ben Francisco, who is a right-handed bat the Phillies will be able to bring off the bench when needed.

Moving to Cleveland are pitching prospects Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, catcher Lou Marson, and infielder Jason Donald.

Knapp, a second-round pick in 2008, has the highest potential of any of the four. At 18 years old, Knapp is not ready to be moved to the majors, but has a few years to improve.

He is 6'5", 240 pounds, and throws a menacing 98 MPH.

Carrasco's hype has died down after his disappointing showing in the minors this season, yet he remains a top pitching prospect. He was overtaken by Kyle Drabek as the Phillies' No. 1 minor leaguer this season.

Marson has played very well in the minors this season and is likely going to be a solid catcher in the majors. His short time with the Phillies this season was not impressive, yet he returned to the minors soon after and continued his great play.

Marson was expendable due to the fact that the Phillies' Single-A catching prospect, Travis D’Arnaud, appears to have more potential. Marson is much further along than D'Arnaud, and with Carlos Ruiz as the apparent Phillies catcher for the next few seasons, D'Arnaud is a better fit.

Donald was a highly touted infielder coming into spring training, yet with Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins already occupying the middle infield, he has no place on the team. His trade value wouldn't have been higher than now, and the Phillies have zero use for him in the future.

The Phillies addressed two of their most gaping holes by acquiring a No. 1 pitcher and a right-handed bat off the bench, while the Indians acquired four high-potential prospects, all of which except for Knapp will be major league-ready in 2010.

Both teams saw improvements, and neither hurt the state of its chances of winning in the near future.

Marson and Donald were very expendable for the Phillies, and Carrasco was the pitcher the Phillies were most looking to use in a trade.

Knapp is an extremely talented pitcher, and the Phillies would have loved to keep him. But if you want the best, you need to give the best (or close to it).

Many Phillies fans will be left unhappy, as they were drooling at the fact of having a Cole Hamels/Halladay combination at the top of the rotation. But in all honesty, the difference in price between Halladay and Lee was too large.

Acquiring Halladay would have meant giving up Drabek, Happ, Brown, either Michael Taylor or Marson, and possibly even Knapp. The fact that none of Drabek, Happ, Brown, or Taylor was dealt to the Indians shows how extreme the price for Halladay was.

The future for the Phillies is not hit as hard as a trade with Toronto would have been, and the current team improves nearly as much as it would have with Halladay.

Steve McNair: A Tribute to The Man, The Myth, The Legend

2009-07-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

By Isaac Barrow: On Saturday, July 4, the world lost a very good man when former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was shot to death behind a market in downtown Nashville, Tenn. McNair played 13 seasons in the National Football League, 11 with the Titans, and two with the Ravens. In 161 games, he threw for 31,304 yards, 174 touchdowns, and 119 interceptions. He threw for 27,141 yards with the Titans, second most in Titans history, was named to three Pro Bowls and won 2003 NFL MVP.

McNair was born on Feb. 14, 1973, in Mount Olive, Miss. Steve played many sports early in life, but he knew football was where his future would be. He was an athletic player, but also had an extraordinary throwing arm, which led him to starring as a quarterback in high school. He would often come home with bumps, bruises, cuts, but he seemed to enjoy the pain. Steve entered Mount Olive High School as a 14-year old in 1987. He played four sports (baseball, basketball, football, and track), and even got drafted by the Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates, but because he wanted to become an NFL quarterback one day, he refused the offers both times.

As a junior, Steve led Mount Olive to a state championship, and as a senior, broke all of his brother's school records. He played both offense and defense, quarterback on offense and safety on the defensive side of the ball. In 1990, he intercepted 15 passes, and was named an All-American by Super Prep Magazine. Steve was recruited heavily by schools like Florida State, but every school who recruited him wanted him to play safety. However, Steve's dream was to be an NFL quarterback, not safety. Then, his only choice was to go to nearby Alcorn State University, where Steve would accept a scholarship offer.

Steve felt comfortable signing on with ASU because head coach Cardell Jones had all the confidence in him, and McNair would be able to flourish in a shotgun offense. As a freshman, he did just that. He gained 3,199 yards of offense and posted a record of 7-2-1, exceeding even Jones' expectations for him. As a sophomore, he broke out, throwing for 3,541 yards and 29 touchdowns and showed his athleticism, running for 10 more scores. The Alcorn State Braves finished 7-4, but McNair was certainly a bright spot. By this time, McNair was already earning high praise from NFL draft analysts.

In 1993, the Braves finished 8-3, and McNair threw for over 3,000 yards and tossed 30 touchdown passes, and his draft status was getting higher and higher each day. Despite being at a little-known Alcorn State school, he was a Heisman Candidate, finishing third. In Steve McNair style, he played the season through mental pain, as his grandmother Hattie had died. He dominated in his senior year, and NFL scouts had seen enough. Teams were intrigued by his toughness—mental and physical—athleticism and great character. The team most interested? The Houston Oilers. The Oilers took him with the third overall pick of the 1995 draft, and signed him to a seven year, $28 million contract.

In typical Steve McNair fashion, the first thing he did with the money was buy his mother a new house. The house was at the same location in which she picked cotton as a young girl. As a rookie, he didn't play very much at all, appearing in four games, going 41-of-80 with 569 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He was playing behind Chris Chandler, who threw for 2,460 yards and 17 touchdowns in 1995. The Oilers coaching staff admired his ability to handle being a backup and not complain. The staff wanted him to get chances, and he threw for nearly 1,200 yards in 1996, along with six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Following the team's move to Tennessee in 1997, McNair became the full-time starting quarterback. He had a respectable season in '97, throwing for 2,665 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He not only didn't throw many interceptions, he ran for 674 yards along with eight touchdowns, and the future looked up for "Air" McNair. The following year, Steve and the Tennessee Oilers made names for themselves. Steve threw for 3,228 yards and 15 touchdowns, had 289 completions, and led the newly-named Titans to an 8-8 record. While it wasn't elite, the future was clearly looking up for Steve, and the team as a whole.

In 1999, the future officially arrived. Steve battled through 11 regular season games, throwing for 2,179 yards, 12 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He led the Titans to a 13-3 record, and helped the Titans to playoff wins over the Bills (also known as the Music City Miracle), Colts, and Jaguars. In the Super Bowl, he fell to the NFC Champion St. Louis Rams, but had a solid game, going 22-of-36 with 214 yards, and running for 64 yards on just eight attempts. He even threw a complete pass with seconds left to Kevin Dyson, but the wide receiver was tackled by Rams linebacker Mike Jones, thus ending the game. His great effort in the Super Bowl gave the Titans reason to give him a new contract, signing him to a six year, $47 million deal. In 2000, the Titans picked up where they left off, finishing the year 13-3 again.

McNair didn't have a dynamite year, throwing for 2,847 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, but he was 12-3 as a starter and made the plays when needed. He could make them through the air or on the ground. The Titans again fell short in the playoffs, losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, 24-10. A McNair pass to running back Eddie George was bobbled—into the hands of Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, and that sealed the deal on the game. However, McNair was having quite a start to his career. He didn't have especially flashy career statistics after the year was over (12,685 yards, 65 TD's, 49 INT's), but had a record of 41-23, and that's the statistic that matters most.

The next year, McNair made a name for himself as a truly solid passer. For a disappointing 7-9 Titans team, he threw for 3,350 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, his best statistical season to date. However, the Titans were just 7-8 under McNair, and his job description was to lead the Titans to the playoffs. He was eager to do that in 2002. That he did. McNair didn't miss a game, throwing for 3,387 yards, 22 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, leading the Titans to an 11-5 record and AFC South division crown. He led the Titans to one playoff win, but they were crushed in their second postseason game by the Oakland Raiders, 41-24.

The next year, he had his best campaign to date, throwing for 3,215 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons showed why the Titans tabbed him with the third overall pick in 1995. The Titans won the AFC South again, but yet again, fell short in the playoffs. After the year, McNair took home his own award, winning NFL MVP for the 2003 NFL season. The next year was a very disappointing one for Air McNair and the Titans as a whole. McNair, as usual, battled injuries, starting just eight games, winning three of them, and following a string of successful years, the Titans finished 5-11 in 2004.

That's when things went downhill between McNair and the Titans. The Titans went 4-12 the next year despite McNair throwing for 3,161 yards and 16 touchdowns, and following that season, the Titans traded McNair to the Baltimore Ravens, ending a very storied 11-year marriage. McNair made an instant impact in Baltimore. Despite coming in late and having to adjust to the playbook, McNair led the Ravens to a 13-3 record, throwing for 3,050 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He didn't have the legs to make plays on the run anymore, but still had the intelligence of the game.

McNair wasn't able to get anything done in the playoffs, going 18-of-29 with 173 yards and two interceptions in a 15-6 divisional round loss to the Colts. His counterpart in that game, Peyton Manning, had kind words to offer after the passing of McNair. "Steve McNair was one of the greatest competitors I've ever played against. I'll always remember playing against him. Many of our defensive players always talked about what a huge challenge it was having to play against him. He and I had some great battles against each other."

The next season, McNair battled injuries yet again. In six games, he was 133-of-205 with 1,113 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. After the season, he elected to retire. But it was no façade. He said he wanted to retire to spend time with his family. He did just that.

McNair is known for his toughness, both mental and physical, and I would bet any amount of money he fought as hard as he could to survive the gun wounds. “The football thing was one thing and I remember his playing days, but just the human being. He brought so much joy to so many people. He was a consummate pro and he was a gentleman. He was a great father. He raised his boys very well, they are well behaved. His legacy will live on,” former teammate Eddie George said.

Steve didn't deserve what he got on July 4, 2009. Rest in peace, Steve "Air" McNair. You made Titans fans happy. You made Oilers fans happy. You made Ravens fans happy. You made NFL fans happy. And most of all, you made your family happy. My thoughts go out to them.

After passing, ESPN ran a feature on him, and Jeremy Schad had some very fine words to offer. "McNair lived his entire life under the spotlight, but was decidedly uncontroversial. He was basically the model athlete, which makes his violent death all the more incomprehensible.”

R.I.P. Steve McNair.

Week Five NFL Picks Column: Upsets Galore!

2008-10-02T19:42:00.001-07:00

By no means is a pick set in any way accurate, but without an attempt at that goal I will present my first ever Win-Loss Column for the upcoming NFL week. I will also add a few upsets here and there, as is "customary," most of which will probably not be correct. You will also see each match-up labeled as BIG WIN, CLOSE GAME, or UPSET. In this article, I will solely take a look at eight key match-ups for Week Five, ordered from least interesting to most interesting. With that said, here goes:

8. Seahawks at Giants: Seahawks take win in UPSET

I just don't see the Giants continuing their regular-season successes for now; if there was any one thing that heralded this defeat was the fact that they had to go to OT with a now 0-4 Bengals team. Don't get me wrong -- it will be a close game dominated by the defenses, but although I see the Giants forcing a few turnovers, Eli Manning and their offense will disappoint in a big way as the Seahawks squeeze by on a last-minute field goal.

7. Falcons at Packers: Packers take win in BIG WIN

Nothing against Matt Ryan, but I see the Falcon's offense struggling in the red zone as they watch Aaron Rodgers and the Packers drive down the field for TDs three times in the opening half, then continue their dominance in the second half. Coming off a rough loss, I don't see the Packers disappointing again.

6. Bills at Cardinals: Cardinals take win in UPSET

Undeniably, the Cardinals' offense has so far been prolific, led by QB Kurt Warner and WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Although they started off the season 2-0, their defense has since curtailed and looks like it may have realistic problems the team will soon have to deal with. But for now, the Cardinals' offense comes up big in a high scoring upset versus the 4-0 Buffalo Bills.

5. Bengals at Cowboys: Cowboys take win in BIG WIN

Playing on home turf will help, but several other factors have me taking the Cowboys big over the Bengals. One, they just lost a tough game to an NFC East division rival, so they want to come back strong and show they are still the best. Two, their high-powered offense will make short work of the Bengals injury-ridden defense. And lastly, the Bengals once heralded offense looks to be a very sorry group now -- partly because watching them makes it seem like nobody is ever really trying. As much as I hate to say it, easy win for the 'Boys.

4. Colts at Texans: Colts take win in CLOSE GAME

There is no doubt that the Colts' once effective offense is having problems based on some of its slumping stars (i.e. Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai). Until the offense straightens itself out, the team may have problems in the long run. With that said, they will squeeze out a win against a seemingly pathetic 0-3 Texans team.

3. Bears at Lions: Lions take win in UPSET

Although the Bears offense has certainly turned out better than most people expected, a now desperate 0-3 Lions team with a new GM will surprise the Bears in Detroit. The Big O will spell the difference for the Lions, who go for at least three TDs in the air.

2. Redskins at Eagles: Eagles take win in CLOSE GAME

It's difficult for me to predict a big win by either team, especially with the fact that both teams have dominant defenses. But the Eagles have a lot to prove as they try to distance themselves from their disappointing 2007 campaign, and I do not see the Redskins winning two consecutive road games versus tough NFC East rivals.

1. Patriots at San Fransisco: Patriots take win in BIG WIN

In my mind, the stunned Pats will finally take some pressure off themselves by going about beating the 49ers in a big way. Matt Cassell will be at the top of his game, what with reports surfacing about rookie QB Kevin O'Connell possibly taking over as starter. Expect a well-rounded game from both teams, but despite their recent struggles, the Patriots clearly have more talent.

There it is, my very first Pick Set. Like any picks column, it will be interesting to see how many of my predictions turn out true! Probably not too many, but I will be sure to keep up to date with Sunday's games. WEEK FIVE, HERE WE COME!!!

Top Five Fantasy Football Draft Busts Heading Into Week Three

2008-09-10T19:39:00.000-07:00

Sure, it's only two weeks gone by to the 2008 season. There are some interesting story lines to follow -- a Brady-less Patriots, an 0-2 Chargers, a 1-1 Colts with a seemingly average QB in Peyton Manning. Also, the expected "surprising" up-and-coming teams; this year's Bills, Broncos, and Cardinals. But fantasy-wise, this year more than ever certain players are standing out as fantasy draft busts pretty early in the season.

Here are my Top Five, not counting players who are out for the season due to injury (i.e. Tom Brady).

5. Laurence Maroney, Patriots

Though not many people were banking on him to be a #1 fantasy RB, his excellent end to last season had people wondering whether the Patriots would use him often in a more balanced offensive attack. Not only has this not yet happened, but Maroney doesn't even seem to be the Patriots' starter as of right now. 67 yards in two games isn't all that impressive.

4. Carson Palmer, Bengals

Coming into fantasy football season, I had never thought too highly of Palmer. Any QB with an average offensive line and two amazing wide receivers could do what Carson Palmer did in three years with the Bengals. Although his wideouts are a little bit banged up right now, Palmer has no excuse for just 228 passing yards, no TDs, and a pathetic 37.1 QB rating.

3. Larry Johnson, Chiefs

Another player I stayed away from during draft time, Johnson is nearing the end of a long, successful NFL career. The truth is, though, he is worth nearly nothing to me in fantasy right now, partly due to his slowened speed and his shored-up offensive line. 34 carries for 96 yards and no TDs telll the tale. Not to mention his meager 2.8 YPC average.

2. Steven Jackson, Rams

Fantasy owners who drafted Jackson last season probably ended up regretting it, due largely because of his knack for getting injured. However, when Jackson is healthy, there is no denying that he is a beast. So with a healthy Steven Jackson coming into the 2008 season, he's the ultimate #1 RB, right?

Not so fast.

Even a healthy Jackson couldn't land himseld a TD in his first two games, which must be pretty demoralizing for the owners who bought into his potential.

1. Joseph Addai, Colts

For someone who was listed as a Top Five RB by virtually every fantasy rankings imaginable, Addai certainly hasn't put up the numbers to show for it. 27 carries, 64 yards, a 2.6 YPC average, and only 1 TD in an offens which loves to use its RB in the red zone. The only hope for fantasy owners who drafted Addai is the one consideration that both the defenses he has faced so far (Bears, Vikings), have prolific run defenses. If Addai doresn't shape up pretty soon, however, I would consider cutting him.

Other than that, here are a few honorable mentions who have definitely not been playing up to par so far this season: Peyton Manning, Matt Hasselbeck, LaDainian Tomlinson, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Todd Heap, and a few others which I am not remembering right now.

For those fantasy owners who did draft any of these players (like me), good luck for the 2008 season!

The NFL Is Set To Kickoff: Week One Preview and Predictions

2008-09-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

By Christian Karcole: Yes the NFL season kicks off on Thursday. So what am I going to write about involving the NFL season? A preview of every team? Why DeSean Jackson will be a monster? Or is it a complete rundown of Week One?

You got it, a complete rundown of Week One.

What I will do is take every single NFL game in Week One and give you a preview and prediction. I will be doing this every week in the NFL season.

So here we go!

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

Are the Giants in big trouble now that Osi Umenyiora went down? Yes. But will it mean their defense will be much worse than it was before this? Maybe. Before this, their defense was already looking down after losing many key components.

And now that Mathias Kiwanuka has to move from linebacker to the defensive line, it's even worse. Now the linebacker position will be weaker. With that said, we will now concentrate on the task at hand...the preview and prediction.

The Redskins' defense may not be that superior to the Giants, but it is better, in my humble opinion. The offense? The Giants have the upper hand there, but only because the Redskins' offense is nothing special.

So who wins the matchup?

The Giants will win, pulling away late in the fourth. Plaxico Burress will be too much for the 'Skins' secondary, and Brandon Jacobs will have a strong start to the year (although I don't think he will end up having a good year).

Clinton Portis will have a good game, but it won't be enough to help the Redskins pull out the victory. Giants win 31-17.

Detroit Lions @ Atlanta Falcons

Boy, this will be an exciting game, won't it? Two terrible teams going head to head, you gotta love it! Seriously though, it could turn out to be a decent game. Both teams have questionable offenses and questionable defenses, so maybe it could turn out to be a high scoring or low scoring, close game.

Who would win this engaging affair? The Lions, carried by Kevin Smith and his outstanding debut. Lions win 17-14 with a late field goal.

Seattle Seahawks @ Buffalo Bills

Although I do think the Bills could be a surprise team this year, I don't like them in this matchup. The Seahawks' defense will be too much for Trent Edwards to handle, and Matt Hasselbeck will make a strong start to the season, mainly passing the ball to Nate Burleson, who will also start the season off strong in this game. Seattle wins, 35-21.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

The Titans are not facing a good matchup here at all. The Jaguars are superior across the board, and there's no way I see Vince Young and Co. beating Jacksonville. Maurice Jones-Drew and David Garrard will easily showcase their talent in this game, and Vince Young will show why he's another Michael Vick, as the Jaguars come away with the 27-9 win.

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

Are the Jets as good as people think they are, even with Brett Favre? Maybe. I personally think they could be a surprise playoff team. But this isn't the week it will be showcased.

For some reason, I have the gut feeling that the Dolphins will come out and play a whole lot better than the Jets. Favre won't be in tune with the Jets' offense, as much as he wishes he could, and the defense may not perform as well as they should.

I don't know, I don't have a great rhyme or reason for this choice, but I have the Dolphins pulling out the upset, 13-7.

Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots

Is there much debate here? The Patriots overmatch the Chiefs all across the board. Patriots win, 56-17.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

This is possibly the game of the week. I still like Tampa Bay's chances of making a splash this year, and with Shockey as another weapon for Drew Brees to utilize, both teams could make the playoffs.

But who will win this matchup?

Well, Drew Brees will be excited to show off his new toy (Shockey), and he will use him a lot, as well as Marques Colston. The Saints' passing game will be too much for the Bucs too handle, but it will be close. Saints win 27-21.

St. Louis Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles

I will be watching this game from my Eagles seats on Sunday, and I think I will be quite pleased. As I stated in my Eagles preview, I think DeSean Jackson will have a nice debut, and will help the Eagles in a 24-13 win. But it will be close until the fourth, because this Rams team will be dangerous this year.

Houston Texans @ Pittsburgh Steelers

I love the Texans this year, I really do. But do I think they can pull of this win? Eh, no. Andre Johnson should have a monster year in my opinion, and this could be a good game for him, but Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward will have even better games this week, as the Steelers' passing attack single-handedly defeats the Texans, 34-28.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens

Another interesting game between two bad teams. If Chad Johnson can find a way to make himself look like a fool again before the game, I will be very interested in this game. If that doesn't happen, who cares about it?

In all seriousness, I do think the Bengals' passing game will have a good day, but Johnson will not be a big contributor. This may not be the best matchup, but the Bengals always find a way to play better against bad matchups. The Bengals pull out a win, 35-31, in a high-scoring affair.

Carolina Panthers @ San Diego Chargers

Are the Chargers as good as people say they are? Absolutely. Are the Panthers as good as people say they are? Nope. The Chargers overpower the Panthers everywhere in this matchup, which is why the Chargers will trounce the Panthers, 31-13.

Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers

I like this game a lot this week. We have a high-powered offense in Arizona and a questionable offense in San Fran. But who says J.T. O'Sullivan can't have a great year? I say he could be the next Joe Montana!

Eh, maybe not, but in this game he could. Since he's basically a nobody, and defenses don't have much tape to put together a full game plan, I see him coming out firing in this game and lead the 49ers to a 17-10 win over the Cards'.

Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns

Two overrated teams will go toe-to-toe in this matchup, but the more overrated team will lose. Who is that? The Cleveland Browns.

They really are a one-hit wonder in my eyes, and I don't like Derek Anderson this year at all. Besides Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards, I don't think this team can do enough to stay with the big boys (Jamal Lewis should only have a decent year).

And the Cowboys just have a better defense, and a deeper running game. Cowboys win 21-13.

Chicago Bears @ Indianapolis Colts

Once again, do I have to give much reason for this one? Bears are the far better team and will come away with an easy win, 35-17.

Ha, you should have seen the look on your face Bears fans! You were excited that someone believed in you! Eh, how quickly that emotion will leave, as I can just substitute Colts for Bears. Colts win 35-17 (see). (I'm so sorry Bears fans, please forgive me.)

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

Are the Vikings as good as people think? Nope. Their defense may be outstanding this year, but they have one BIG problem. Tarvaris Jackson. Is there a worse QB in the league right now? Of course. But is Jackson that much better than the bottom five QBs in the league? Not really.

His passing skills match those of Vince Young and Michael Vick. His game is running, and the Vikings already have enough of that (although I don't think Adrian Peterson will do well this year...).

With that said, the Packers' defense is too strong to not take advantage of Jackson's passing inabilities. The Packers win 13-10 in a great show by their defense, bringing in at least three interceptions and stopping Peterson all night long. And Aaron Rodgers won't do too bad, either.

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders

We finish off this long preview with a "meh" game. I look at this game, and I just go "meh." The Broncos could have a surprising year, but with Marshall not in this game, and not much else for Cutler to throw too, who knows what their offense could do.

And the Raiders aren't terrible; they just don't have the right talent. With that said, whom do I think will win? I'm going with the upset and taking the Oakland Raiders in a 20-14 win, with Justin Fargas, not Darren McFadden, stealing the show.

Offensive Player of the Week

Justin Fargas-RB-Oakland Raiders (127 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 37 receiving yards)

Defensive Player of the Week

Al Harris-CB-Green Bay Packers (1 INT, 1 TD, 1 sack, 2 TFL)

So I went on a limb in some picks this week, but what the hay, you gotta do that if you want to get 'em right!

I hope you enjoyed this preview of Week One, and I'll be back next week to recap Week One. I'll then do my Week Two previews and predictions.

Brett Favre Traded to Jets, Packers Get Rid of a Headache

2008-08-07T18:43:00.001-07:00

By Kody Scott: I cannot figure this whole thing out.

The Jets have traded a future conditional draft pick for Packer legend Brett Favre. I know most Jets fans are happy about the move, but I can't figure out why.

The Jets trade a potential first-round pick, more likely a second-round pick, for a soon to be 39-year-old quarterback making $12 million dollars this season and potentially another $20-plus million over the next three years.

Favre will be arriving in Jets camp with only four weeks to learn a completely new offense with completely new teammates and coaches. With that said, I would expect to see his touchdown numbers from last year, 29, take a sharp decline, somewhere around 20.

I would also expect to see his interception totals from last year, 15, rise to somewhere around 20. Even if I'm wrong and Brett has a great season, if they don't make the playoffs and win games then this whole move was just another bust for the Jets.

Jets fans seem to be forgetting the aging quarterback is only 3-7 in his last 10 postseason games. I find it incredibly hard to believe that this is the move that is going to put the Jets over the top, or even over the Patriots.

Obviously this is a short-term move, but unless you think this move is going to put you over the top and make you a Super Bowl contender, why make it? I don't think anyone at this point sees the Jets now leap frogging teams like the Patriots, Chargers, or Colts.

Did the Jets not see what Favre did to the Packers the last few years? With the exception of ONE good regular season, Favre held an entire organization hostage for years. Who or what's to say he won't do the very same thing to the Jets?

Favre has proven to be what I like to call a diva. Mr. Look At Me, Aren't I Great. His amazing ability to waffle and waiver over retirement is astounding. I mean, I understand most athletes are selfish, but did this guy even consider anyone else when he decided to pull this disgustingly ugly power move?

The guy finally retires, and then essentially throws the Packers, a team that was nothing but great to him over all the years, under the proverbial bus.

HE is the one who retired and yet he blames management for "pressuring" him into retirement. What does that even mean? Did they threaten him? I doubt it.

All they wanted was an answer and they just wanted it in a timely fashion, unlike the previous three seasons where they gave him the entire offseason to decide whether or not he wanted to retire.

Brett retired for the attention and because he thought that is what he was supposed to do. Once that was over he realized, wait a minute, I still want to play football, I still want more attention. Well, Brett got what he wanted. More attention than I can even stand: 24/7 ESPN coverage, the new unofficial Brett Favre network.

Happy Brett? You get all the attention you want, and all you had to do was alienate an organization that bent over backwards for you over the years and leave behind a fan base and city that has worshipped you for years.

Well congrats Brett, but I have to ask: Is this what you really wanted?

I've never been a Packer fan, but I've always had great respect for Brett and what he has done. This whole situation has really made me lose a lot of that respect, and I can't help but feel like his legacy is tarnished.

Of course he will go down as a legendary quarterback, one of the best of all-time. But when I look back and think about Favre after he actually has retired, I'm also going to think about this whole ugly debacle and how it was Brett's fault.

I can't imagine how this whole thing must feel for the die hard cheesehead fans that have loved and supported Brett Favre for years. Cheeseheads everywhere are now left with nothing but the sight of Brett in a Jets jersey and Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback.

As far as the Jets go, they release quarterback Chad Pennington, getting nothing in return. Pennington will likely end up signing with an AFC foe of the Jets.

They also send Kellen Clemens, a young quarterback selected in the second round only two years ago and basically groomed to take over the position this season, back to the bench and essentially out of a Jets uniform once his contract is up.

So I have to ask, who does this trade help? The Jets? I doubt it. Brett? No way. The Packers? Only in the sense that they get rid of a huge distraction, but they certainly didn't become a better team.

And to think, this whole thing could have been avoided if Brett had just said, "I'd like to play another season" instead of fake retiring. What a shame.

Philadelphia Eagles Fans Deserve a Break

2008-07-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

By B Deck: Take a minute and look at that picture above the article. Look at it and study it.

How can you not love that face, which also represents so many other Philadelphia Eagles fans?

OK, well I just can't love it either, but I'm here to show you the lighter side of one of the most ridiculed fanbases in all of sports.

Yes, Eagles fans did pelt good 'ole red cheeks with snowballs, and Eagles fans did applaud Irvin's injured neck, and there really was a court system in their stadium.

Oh and don't forget the fact that Eagles fans don't need to be drunk to start a fight or pelt snowballs at the players as well as red cheeks. (For those of you who are not "in the know", red cheeks is Santa Claus...)

But it is all in the love of the game, and Eagles fans mean well. They really do. And here are five reasons explaining how.

First off, in what other stadium do you get the pleasure of learning a whole new vocabulary every time you go to the game? You hear words that you didn't know existed, and you hear the same word used more than a thousand times (not an exaggeration).

Also, in what other stadium do you get to learn about the players' mothers straight from the fans? You learn the true facts about Rex Grossman and Eli Manning's mothers.

Plus, in what other stadium do you get to learn the true meaning of "blue collar"? There is not another stadium where you can look around and immediately understand the meaning of the phrase "blue collar".

In addition, in what other stadium do you get to go to court right there if you get in trouble? If you get in a fight with an Eagles fan, you don't have to take a car ride down to the police station. Nope, you can just go down the tunnel and into the Eagles' court.

Finally, in what other stadium can you say that you sat in a historic section called "The 700 Level" and have your main bragging point be the fact that you survived?

When the Eagles played in Veterans Stadium, the 700 level was not a place you wanted to sit. Many horrible events occurred in that section, and if you sat there and survived, you could brag about it for the rest of your life.

So there you have it. Those are the five reasons why Philadelphia Eagles fans are not as bad as a lot of people think they are. You can learn a lot of things from Eagles fans, and they provide you with a few luxuries.

So just give 'em a break.

Note: There isn't a court system in Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles current stadium), but I'm sure there was one in Veterans Stadium. Also, I am an avid Eagles fan, and I love to make fun of my fellow fans, but we are truly very passionate fans. This was just a little article to make fun of my fellow fans.

Jeremy Shockey's Impact on the New Orleans Saints

2008-07-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

By Paul Augustin: The New Orleans Saints landed tight end Jeremy Shockey in a trade with the New York Giants. The Saints surrendered two picks in the 2009 draft.

Jeremy Shockey gives the Saints' explosive offense another dimension. Head coach Sean Payton has been looking for a dependable pass-catching tight end to integrate into his offense since his arrival in New Orleans in 2006.

The Saints have not had a reliable pass-catching tight end since 1995, when they had Wesley Walls.

Quarterback Drew Brees racked up over 4,000 yards last year despite the lack of a consistent second option or a reliable tight end. Not only is Shockey good enough to be a reliable threat over the middle, he can be that second option to pair with wide receiver Marques Colston.

The presence of Shockey will relieve Colston from facing constant double teams and allow for a number two wide receiver to develop.

Last year's New York Giants' offensive weapons are similar to this year's Saints' weapons in that they both have a big play-making number one wide receiver (Plaxico Burress and Colston), Jeremy Shockey at tight end, an old receiver on the down end of his career (Amani Toomer and David Patten), and a young receiver looking to establish himself as a quality number two wide receiver (Steve Smith and Robert Meachem).

Not to be overlooked is Shockey's attitude. If Payton can convince Shockey to harness that attitude, Shockey's emotion will positively affect the Saints on the field.

Philadelphia: 100 Seasons of Losing...and Here's Why!

2008-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

By David Halpren: First off, I'm a 33-year-old die-hard Philadelphia sports fan who has grown sick and tired of his hometown teams not being good enough.

As you all know, its been 25 years since this town has won a major sports championship and frankly, that's embarrassing considering we're the sixth largest city in the United States (we were fourth for most of this futility).

What makes it even sadder is that we have a team in all four major sports while cities like St. Louis (Rams/Cardinals), Baltimore (Orioles/Ravens) Tampa Bay (Bucs/Lightning), and Anaheim (Angles/Ducks) have not only won championships in that time frame, they did it in multiple sports!

But on top of all that, we have city rivals such as NY and Boston winning championships like its second nature. I mean it wasn't that long ago that I actually felt sorry for the city of Boston and now look at them...why can't that be Philly? WHY!

Actually, there are many reasons why it hasn't been us, and a lot of it starts with the ownership, especially with the Phillies and their unwillingness to spend money. But let’s focus in on something that has been bugging me for years...bad timing.

The Fly Guys
Since the Sixers won the NBA Championship in 1983, the Flyers have appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals three times. In both '85 and '87, they lost to one of the greatest Dynasties in hockey history, the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton advanced to the finals and won every year between '84 and '88, with '86 being the exception. Of course, that year the Canadians represented the Eastern Conference instead of the Flyers who did the year before and after.

Then in '97, the Flyers made it back to the finals only to be swept by the mighty Detroit Red Wings, a dynasty at the time, who went on to win again in '98.

It's now been a painful 10 years since the Flyers have even appeared in the finals and a dreadful 33 years since they have actually won a championship.

Bird Seed
Talk about championship futility and you have to look no further than our beloved Eagles. While they have managed to win three championships in their storied history, none have come since 1960, and they have never won a Super Bowl.

Since '83, they have made just one appearance in the Super Bowl and once again a Philly team was matched up against a dynasty. The Eagles faced the now hated Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX (39 for you non Romans) and narrowly lost, 24-21.

Of course, there are many areas to discuss here, but why they lost the game is not the point right now. It’s once again the timing. By defeating the Eagles the Patriots won back-to-back Super Bowls and their third in four years.

Phillies Phodder
With the distinction of losing more games than any other team in the history of baseball, at least this team has won a championship in my lifetime, which is more than I can say for the Eagles and Flyers (I was born three weeks after their '75 finals series ended).

But that's not saying much since I was merely five years old in October of 1980 when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson giving the Phillies their ONLY championship in their 124 year history.

Yeah, you read that right, one in 124 years. Anyway, the Phils have made one appearance in the World Series since '83 and that was in 1993 against the Toronto Blue Jays. While the Phils sported a very likeable team, they too were going up against a dynasty.

The Blue Jays won the World Series in '92 and took back to back titles in beating the Phillies. The best team the Phillies had fielded in years (and probably since, until maybe '07), and they happen to run into a team like the Blue Jays.

Six Shots
The franchise started off in 1939 as the Syracuse Nationals and did win one title in 1955. In 1963, they officially became the Philadelphia 76ers, and since then, have won just two titles, '67 and '83.

Since the '82-'83 Sixers, who are recognized as one of the greatest teams in NBA history, won the NBA Championship, the Sixers have fallen on hard times. They finally got their act together in the 2000-01 season under Allen Iverson and Larry Brown.

On a personal level, that was a great season for me as I had season tickets and attended every home playoff game.

With exciting victories over the Paces, Raptors, and Bucks, the Sixers reached the NBA Finals, only to face a Laker team with Shaq and Kobe (coached by Phil Jackson) who were in the middle of winning three straight NBA titles...yes, ANOTHER dynasty.

While the Sixers did manage to win game one of the finals, the Lakers won the next four and set a winning percentage record for a playoff season going 15-1.So there you have it...every team a Philly Sports franchise has lost to in a final since 1983 has been to a team in the middle of winning at least back to back titles.

Unfortunate, bad timing, bad luck, sour grapes...whatever you want to call it, those are the facts and no matter how you twist them around, we're still winless since '83.

Note to Brett Favre: Meet Aaron Rodgers and a Disgruntled Fan

2008-07-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

By Samuel Bell Jr: Dear Brett Favre,

You are an NFL legend, period. We have thoroughly enjoyed watching you over the past two decades.

When I think of Brett Favre, I think improvisation. I think toughness, field vision, humbleness, talent, rocket arm, and a will to win.

A man who put an entire city and franchise on his back, and made them both staples in football conversation.

I can't even think the words "Green Bay" without thinking Brett Favre. The popularization of the "cheeseheads" and bringing back to life the words "frozen tundra."

Green Bay seemed desolate in football conversations for years before your coming. Never had a figure been so polarizing in that franchise since the great Vince Lombardi.

I loved to watch your excitement and funny antics on Sundays, lifting players on your shoulders, smiling, and being a terrific role model for young players.

I nearly cried when I heard of your struggle with addiction.

I yelled in excitement when you won the Super Bowl. I was in tears when you played one of your best games on Monday Night Football after losing your father, and I vehemently defended you when you threw nearly 30 interceptions in one season.

And after 16 years of a great career filled with memories and triumphs, it hurts to watch you like this.

Last season was one of your best, and the resurgence you and the Green Bay Packers underwent was one of the season's best stories.

Everyone believed that the interception you threw in the NFC Championship game against the New York Giants in overtime might not be your last.

Nevertheless, we weren't surprised when you retired on Mar. 4, 2008.

It only made sense. No need to come back and try to vouch for that final interception on that faithful winter day. You had done enough, and unlike many athletes in the past, you knew what to do.

After juggling your future plans in past offseasons, this time you let us know in a timely fashion. You didn't make us wait, or put your team in a bad position by not giving them the green light to move on.

With each tear we saw fall from your face like baseball-sized hail, we saw your career officially come to an end and waited to vote for you as a first-ballot, sure-fire Hall-of-Famer.

We didn't expect this. Or maybe we did.

Regardless, I feel betrayed, Brett.

So do Mike McCarthy and the whole Green Bay Packers front office, as well as the fans that believed you this time, and not to mention, your replacement, Aaron Rodgers.

After all, the team did announce him as the starter and tailor-made the offense to fit his abilities.

As if following a two-time MVP, Super Bowl champion wasn't hard enough. Now he has to be the reason that you may not be welcomed back this time.

And we expect him to be quiet, too.

Amidst all of this, you apparently have written a letter asking for your release? You're going to play for another team, after such a glorious and decorated career with one franchise?

Is it really worth that, Brett?

What do you stand to gain? What will you attain that you don't already have? A new jersey?

Don't be selfish Mr. Favre. We understand that you still have the "itch" to play, as Al Harris said it.

What retired athlete doesn't?

We had to watch Michael Jordan lose often in a Wizards uniform, Joe Montana look old in a Chiefs uniform, and I don't want to see you look vulnerable in a Bears or Redskins uniform. No way.

It's not worth it Brett.

Let the past and your legacy speak for you. It is Aaron Rodgers' time in Green Bay, and it is not the Packers' fault that you retired four months ago.

They have moved on, and it's time that you do the same.

Call it a career, Brett. We love you and will always remember your game and what you brought to the NFL.

Now it's time you let Aaron Rodgers try and create his own legacy, and let him do it without your shadow looming around everywhere he goes.

He's already going to have to answer to you all next season, at least give him the benefit of doing it with you retired. That will be difficult enough.

Trust me, it's not worth you playing for an entirely different city and angering your fans. If you still love the game, become a coach or ESPN analyst. We know you can still play, but not for the same team.

We don't want to see you in anything but yellow and green.

Sincerely, NFL Fan and Brett Favre Enthusiast,

Samuel Bell Jr.

(P.S. When it's time, it's time Brett. You knew it in March, Seinfeld knew it, and Gary Coleman knew it. That was a joke, but the point is the same.)

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