Why The Streak is Over

The Streak is over.

If it isn’t, it should be.

 Brett Favre’s staggering streak of 297 consecutive games started is in serious jeopardy this week after he sustained a sprained shoulder courtesy of the Buffalo Bills’ Andrew Moats who hit Favre from the blind side, causing yet another interception in one of Favre’s least memorable seasons, and drove him into the turf, leaving Favre in obvious pain that forced him out of the game. Backup QB Tavaris Jackson took over and promptly took over the game, throwing the ball much like a young Randall Cunningham and leading the Vikes to a big win over lowly Buffalo.

The Vikings are mum on Favre’s condition and whether or not he’ll even practice, let alone start. But Brett should take stock, and end The Streak now.

It would be for all the right reasons. All the reasons Favre says himself.

Favre has repeatedly preached “The team, the team, the team” and doing what is best for the team.

A banged up and ailing Favre is not best for the team.

A QB with as putrid a QB rating as Favre has is not best for the team.

A QB who is throwing ints at an embarrassing rate is not best for the team.

A 41 year old grandfather at QB is not best for the team.

Keeping a promising young QB on the bench is not best for the team.

And, most damning, a QB who can longer get the job done is not best for the team.

Boxing analogies are always compelling. An aging Joe Louis was soundly and roundly beaten by a young Rocky Marciano (photo R), who later wept at beating up his former idol. There is a famous Sports Illustrated cover featuring an overweight, over aged, over-the-hill Muhammad Ali slumped helplessly on his stool between rounds while being pounded relentlessly by a young Larry Holmes. The image of these valiant, aged, and beaten former champions is not how we choose to remember them. Hanging on too long can tarnish the image.

Selfishness does the same thing.

The beatings for Favre
have taken their toll
this year

Yes, there is something to be said about answering the bell. There are great plaudits for showing up for work every day and never calling in sick. There is respect in seeing a player play through pain and injury.

But when those qualities wane in favor of a player just hanging on for one more, it is time to call it a day.

We have witnessed the great Brett Favre do many great things. This season cannot be included in any of them. When Favre enters the Hall of Fame, as he should, and goes in as a Packer, as he should, Packer fans everywhere should show up armed with a bucket of white out for this finale to his career. This is not how Favre showed be remembered, nor should it diminish his accomplishments. His on field shortcomings coupled with his off fields shortercomings are enough for Brett to finally look reality square in the eye and blink. Brett has always been proud, vain, maybe, and record conscious. His Streak is ready, as he should be. If he is honest with himself, his measure of this year should be enough for him to see he is tarnishing his own reputation.

And to continue would do just that.

It would be Brett doing what is best for Brett in Brett’s mind and to hell with the consequences. This would be ego, and hubris of the highest order, and to carry on is no longer about “The team, the team, the team”.

It would be all about Brett, and all about The Streak.

The Vikings now have a better chance to win with Jackson at the helm. Favre has been given ample time to produce and has failed to do so. He has been given enough slack and rope, and used it to hang former Head Coach Brad Childress. He is in danger of fitting the noose around his own neck.

Favre down and out this year

If Brett truly is all about “The team, the team, the team” and what is best for the team it would be time for him to go out, and go out on his terms. No mas, no mas. Enough already and call it a day. It is time for Minnesota to cut its losses and start the rebuilding. Favre has taken a beating this year, and beating young men half his age would find difficult to take. These are injuries that could spell the end of a young older man and the ability to have a quality of life. Forget for a moment Favre’s ability to play. Favre’s ability to walk is being compromised by his stubbornness. Tavaris Jackson looked good in relief and he has certainly earned consideration. And let’s face it – the Vikings really can’t do much worse at QB than they are right now. The future is now.

Brett Favre is not part of that future. His past, his legacy is at 297, and should end at 297.

Not 298.

Or 300.

297.

297 days, 297 great days that will never be forgotten or lost in the record books.

These past few years have been an exercise in watching Brett indulge himself and the notion of walking away has to be daunting.

The Streak is over, Brett. It was a helluva ride.

Brett Favre as he should be remembered

Packers Strike Gold Against 49ers

Okay, we can all breathe a little easier now. Lots of good things to come out of the game against San Fran and we’ll dole out the game balls to the deserving.

But let’s collectively bask in the glow of a win and enjoy it. The Pack looked shaky to start but finished with a flourish and played right where they should be playing. We, of course, are ecstatic that our pregame call of GB 34/ SF 13 was almost dead solid perfect so this is time for Packer Nation and all little Cheeseheads everywhere to gather and raise a cup of egg nog and toast our boys for a job well done.

Okay, it helps that the 49ers are riding a QB in scatter armed Troy Smith, who couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean from a pier at high tide and that their best player Vernon Davis has the maturity level of a 5 year old. Did anyone else catch his mini meltdown AFTER catching a TD pass?? Or HC Mike Singletary having to personally babysit his prize pupil? And the saddest statement of all is SF is not yet dead in their division at 4 – 7 while a team that goes 10-6 could miss the playoff party. Oy vey.

But we won’t quibble. Green Bay actually controls its own destiny and can secure a playoff spot by running the table. We’ll even credit MM for being prepared and deploying a few weapons more judiciously this week. So let’s get those game balls out.

MM and the Coaching Staff – Great job in being prepared his week. And Dom Capers will certainly have his stock rise. We will even give one to Head Coach Mike McCarthy who used all various forms of a running game. As much as MM has been taken to task on some issues his role in developing his players at his pace and damn the criticism has to be commended. It has paid dividends and if Rookie James Starks, who hit the field running for 73 very closely monitored yards, can continue we will laud MM for his handling of Starks. Using Starks for 18 carries allowed Brandon Jackson to do what he does best – be an effective 2 Back and catch the ball, which he did beautifully on a screen pass we haven’t seen since maybe the Clinton administration. And we finally got to see a true full house backfield with John Kuhn getting 2 key 1^st downs and a TD via a 3 FB set. Hallelujah! This week we rejoice!



Rookie RB James Starks



James Starks RB – Welcome to the show, kid… we’ve been waiting for ya. Now – can you do it again against Detroit?

Aaron Rodgers  QB – Think the 49ers want a do over on their decision to take Alex Smith? But, who knows? Maybe if Arod stayed on the left coast his brain would be scrambled and he’d be out of football playing his guitar n a beach somewhere. As it is he looked positively sick on a few deep balls and seems to get stronger and better as the season progresses.

FB John Kuhn

John Kuhn FB – This kid never gets knocked backwards. Ever. And now with a true 3 FB set to run out of MM has a lot of weapons to deploy and he fired Kuhn very successfully on no less than 3 occasions, picking up 2 first downs and a TD. Nice.

WR Donald Driver celebrates
after a huge TD

Donald Driver, WR – His unbelievable body twisting, leg churning, tackle breaking TD grab and run is a ‘must-see’ highlight for the ages and embodies everything that makes DD a future Packer Hall of Famer. And to see James ‘Ledfoot’ Jones using the same techniques DD has to feel like a proud papa. That TD grab is an NFL Play of the Year candidate. Well done, Donald!

Greg Jennings WR – The 2^nd of the 4 headed pass catching monster had a monster day (again). Over 120 yards and 2 TD’s again (yawn). And if Nate Clements doesn’t get dumb lucky and have a Rodgers pass bonk him on the bean Jennings’ numbers are even sicker. Another one whose 2^nd half is rendering his first half output moot.

BJ Raji NT – There is not enough written about how good this guy has played or how much he has meant to this D. He has done everything and more asked of him this year. He has anchored the line, tied up blockers and been a beast to contain. No, Mr. Raji, you are not toiling in anonymity here… we see you just fine. Here’s a game ball for your trophy case.

CB Tramon Williams

Tramon Williams, CB/ PR – Williams has become the unexpected story of the season. His rise to stardom is nothing less than meteoric and he has been as an UDFA the gold nugget found amongst the coal. Outstanding cover D as he stifled Michael Crabtree with a total shutdown performance that has him moving into (dare we say??) Sir Charles territory. No wonder Al Harris became expendable. Throw in a few very nice punt returns and Tramon is earning his hefty raise. And doesn’t it feel good to know TT locked this kid up with a shiny new contract?

A little concern still exists in the Special Teams play – Mason Crosby uncharacteristically missing a chip shot and some recurring coverage issues – along with what seems to be FB Quinn Johnson’s inability to grasp the playbook. For the 2^nd week the 2^nd year back has been chewed out by Aaron Rodgers – last week for deflecting a goal line pass clearly intended for Donald Lee that may (or may not have) been a TD and this week for not lining up correctly that cost the Pack a timeout. In both instances Rodgers was seen chastising Johnson who should, at this point, know better.

God, insisting the Packers
do it the right way

We have to place a dunce cap on S Nick Collins for his matador move on Vernon Davis’s TD catch and run for his ole move of a tackle attempt. Another coach would have blown his stack over that and it would have made a great sound bite… “WHAT THE HELL IS GOIN’ ON OUT HE-YAH??? GRAB! GRAB!! GRAB!!! EVERYBODY GRABBIN AND NOBODY TACKLIN’!!!!!!” C’mon Nick – you’re a Pro Bowler and better than that. 

Now it’s onto Detroit. Starks will get a reprieve from the weather, and the Packers cannot let down. They earned a couple of round of drinks with this game. Enjoy ‘em, fellas… then get ready to get back to work.

Let the 'Soft' Part of the Schedule Begin

This week’s game against San Fran has us at a veritable loss. We are in a quandary over this one. We readily admit it. We see this game on paper and it reads pretty easy. Green Bay has a better offense. Green Bay has a better defense. Green Bay has a better QB. GB is the better team. Frank Gore, the 49ers leading rusher, is out for the season. So is the running game for the Packers. GB is a better team. Green Bay has a better matchup in both their O vs. the 49ers D and vice versa. In spite of Michael Crabtree (WR) and a maturing Vernon Davis (TE) the Packers still look better on paper.

We keep repeating this much like the Little Engine that Could…

“… I think we’re better…”

“… I think we’re better…”

“… I think we’re better…”

So why is it so damn hard to say flat out Green Bay WILL win this game?

These are the types of games that sink the Packers hopes. They’re the favorite, they’re at home, and they need to win. In the past the Lambeau mystique was enough to ease any tensions. But no more, not in this bizarro, injury laden season. The pack puts up points with the best of them. The D hangs tough week in and week out. They have been favored in most games they have played. And somehow defeat gets wrestled from the jaws of victory. For evidence this season look no further than the Bears or Skins or Dolphins games.

The Packers are coming off a tough loss against the high flying Falcons and the news is more of the same – the hits just keep on coming. OLB Brandon Chillar and newly signed TE Spencer Havner were both placed on the IR list this week, now making it 25% of the entire roster on the injured list. At some point the attrition and body count will catch up.

It has caught up with and now has consumed the running game. Dmitri Nance will probably be out for this game with a concussion unless a trip to Lourdes can be arranged quickly, and WR Greg Jennings has a bum wheel. Will Donald Lee recover to be able to play? The running game is killing whatever hopes the Packers have of making the playoffs. Will James Starks finally see the field? Will Nance even be in uniform? Is it too much to expect Brandon Jackson to shoulder the load? The running game is littered with questions and no clear answer in the foreseeable future.

But the Niners have RB woes of their own – All Pro Frank Gore is done for the year with a broken hip. And while the Troy Smith to Crabtree or Davis passing game gives hope to SF, the Pack still holds the upper hand offensively.

The same can be said for the Packer defense. It is Green Bay’s defense, depth and resiliency that is keeping them in games and still a bright spot. The front line of BJ Raji (photo L),  a healthier Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett is looking good to compliment the uber-good LB’s. But this group cannot withstand anymore defections to the IR. The DB’s are jelling well and Tramon Williams (photo R)got rewarded with a nice, long term deal that will not only keep him happy but keep him in Green Bay.                               

SF has a terrific LB in Patrick Willis but like their offense their defense has been suspect and woefully inconsistent. A pre season favorite to run the table in the pathetically weak NFC West, SF has risen like a stone in the water this year. A team with a losing record from this sorry sack of pretenders will make the playoffs while a more deserving team gets the winter off. Gulp.

Head Coach Mike Singletary is precariously close to moving from “Mad Genius’ to ‘Mad Man’. Once a promising young coach Singletary has had issues this year and not performed well under fire and that shows directly on the field. His rants and tirades have worn thin on his young players. SF has hardly looked playoff ready and has stunk the joint out on numerous occasions. Even beating lowly Arizona was unimpressive last week. Singletary needs a statement game from his team and this has to one on his calendar.

The Pack, on the other hand, has but 5 games left to sneak in the playoff door. This game and next week’s against an improving Lions team are the soft part of the schedule. All the requisite ingredients are here for the Upset Special of the Week. With New England, the Giants, and the season closer against the improving and NFCN division leading Bears looming the Pack might overlook the patsies. Green Bay simply needs to focus on their own game and stop waiting for Chicago to shoot itself in the foot.

It is on Head Coach Mike McCarthy to play one game at a time. Looking past anyone will spell the end for whatever hope Green Bay has of advancement. Now is when MM must, in no uncertain terms, step up and not only prepare his team for battle but actually lead them into and take the battle to the other team.

In times of crisis the leaders step up.

Everything on paper says Green Bay wins big.

But a famous newspaper once published a headline that read “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN” in bold large type.

Green Bay’s defense is enough to cover and smother the Niners. So should the offense. We cannot ignore the talent inequities of the two teams and we are making our pick with a deep gulp and holding our collective breath until it is over.

              

          GREEN BAY 34

                                             

                                                               

           San Francisco 13

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

This just in...

Former Packer QB and current Viking coach killer Brett Favre stated clearly and for the record today when asked about next season "I'm done. I'm done."

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In an unrelated story a sty of pigs was seen being outfitted with wings and taken to a Hattiesburg, Miss. airport.

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Former Viking Head Coach Brad Childress was unavailable for comment.

More on this story (probably next July).