As Expected, Packers-Vikings Tickets an Increasingly Hot Commodity

With Brett Favre shocking the world/no one, and returning to the NFL this week, football fans across the country were annoyed and dismayed, with a few steadfast Favre supporters still delighting in his every move and untruthful word.

Regardless of their thoughts on Favre and wishy-washy inability to retire, I think most football fans would be lying if they said they were not at least a little bit intrigued to see what happens when the Vikings play Favre’s old team this year.

Especially when the game is in Lambeau, it will create one of the most ironic, unexpected, and seemingly preposterous scenes in NFL history. It would be like Derek Jeter playing shortstop in Yankee Stadium…but for the Red Sox.

Who would have thought just a few short years ago that we’d someday be discussing the prospects of Brett Favre playing in Lambeau Field wearing Vikings purple?!

Sorry, I know I’m beating a dead horse here, but the whole thing still seems pretty crazy, and a little silly.

Anyway, I was curious this morning to see what Packers—Vikings tickets were going for. I have to think that their value in Minneapolis and Green Bay had to skyrocket the moment news broke of Favre’s impending return.

Let’s take a look, with ticket values all based on the current listings at StubHub. (And by the way, you can click on the links to go directly to StubHub if you wish.)

Packers-Vikings Tickets at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 1:00

• Cheapest Ticket: $291.67 (Lower Level, Corner 131, Row 27)
• Most Expensive Ticket: $5,000 (Suite 6040)
• Median Ticket: $501 (Lower Level End Zone 105, Roy 7)

By way of comparison, the average price for the cheapest ticket at the Packers other games is around $110-115. How about for the Vikings—Packers tickets at the Metrodome?

Vikings-Packers Tickets at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MI on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 8:30

• Cheapest Ticket: $139 (Upper Corner 224)
• Most Expensive Ticket: $2,790 (Lower Sideline 109)
• Median Ticket: $345 (Lower Corner, Upper End Zone, others)

The high price on this one is lower because it looks like there are no suites available. But again, the cheapest ticket is well about the average for the other Vikings home games this year (which is around $200).

So, there you have it, breaking news: tickets for the Packers—Vikings games this year are more expensive than regular tickets in which Brett Favre isn’t playing his former team in Revenge Bowl 1 and 2!

It just dawned on me that there really wasn’t much of a point to this article.

I guess I was expecting eye-popping ticket prices, so I’m a little underwhelmed. As the games approach, especially the one at Lambeau, I’d imagine that we’ll start seeing ticket prices at StubHub, eBay, and other such sites start to rise.

$290 bucks for one ticket is still pretty damn expensive though.

Anyway, a few more resources for you below if you want to do some comparison shopping. Otherwise, time to move onto something more interesting. Have a great morning everyone.

Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings Tickets

• All Minnesota Vikings Tickets from StubHub
• All Green Bay Packers Tickets from StubHub
• Packers-Vikings Tickets in Minnesota from TicketsNow
• Packers-Vikings Tickets in Green Bay from TicketsNow
• Vikings-Packers Tickets in Green Bay from RazorGator
• Vikings-Packers Tickets in Minnesota from RazorGator
• Find Packers-Vikings Tickets and other NFL tickets at TickCo

Update: Interesting post over at The Big Lead regarding a fan who purchased tickets from StubHub.  You may want to check it out if you’re thinking of purchasing from them.

* – Brett Favre photo credit: Unique News Network

An Open Letter To Brett Favre [Humor]

Hey Brett,

Long time, no news. After months and months of glistening anticipation, me and every other football fan that isn’t from Wisconsin or Minnesota still doesn’t care.

You basically stabbed every diehard Brett Favre fan in the back by signing with the Vikings.

You should have stayed in the assisted living home and wore a cheesehead hat all season. Sure, Vikings’ fans would love to see you play for them, but does the fan base of Green Bay mean anything to you?

I am an Eagles’ fan and I am glad you finally let me and everyone else go unharmed from this hostage situation you called the offseason. I ripped off the duck tape that has covered my mouth and can finally smile because—like I said—I still don’t care.

You will probably start three games this season and then the Vikings will realize your diaper needs to be changed way too often.

Sincerely yours,

A fan from a team who can no longer sing “Who Let the Dogs Out.”

He’s Back: Brett Favre Joins the Minnesota Vikings

Go ahead and block out Monday evening, Oct. 5, on your schedule. That night, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers tangle for the first of two scheduled meetings this season.

The small side story involved will be Vikings quarterback Brett Favre taking on his former team for the first time.

That’s right. The end to the summer soap opera has come with a very predictable outcome. Favre, the former Packers and New York Jets quarterback, has reached a deal with the Vikings. The contract reportedly will pay Favre $12 million this year with an option for next season.

Favre, 39, is expected to immediately take over as the team’s No. 1 quarterback, bringing an end to the competition between quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels (ankle), an offseason addition.

These two will now duke it out for the top backup duties, and Minnesota could ultimately look to part ways with one of them. Neither has stood out in training camp or the preseason, and Minnesota reportedly began actively recruiting Favre Wednesday, Aug. 12, after a rough practice for both. Rosenfels looked better in the team’s preseason game, but it came against the Indianapolis Colts, who held out their four starting defensive backs.

Favre had offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder, and his health was the key issue holding back his potential of joining the Vikings. He still has a slight tear in the rotator cuff of his right shoulder, but he has let the Vikings know about it.

It is safe to assume Favre—and Minnesota’s medical team—believe his arm is where it needs to be health-wise for him to have a productive season on the gridiron.

He joked earlier this summer that he knows Minnesota’s offense so well that he would be able to coach it; Vikes’ offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was quarterbacks coach and offensive assistant with the Packers for six years of Favre’s Green Bay tenure. Learning the system and terminology shouldn’t take Favre much, if any, time. On the other hand, he’ll still have to build up a rapport with receivers Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice and rookie Percy Harvin.

In an ideal world, Favre would be a game manager for Minnesota and be allowed to pick and choose his spots with the football. However, we all know Favre won’t be that for the Vikings, who many thought were a “Favre away” from being the Super Bowl favorite in the NFC. While he has all-star running back Adrian Peterson behind him, Favre is likely to still go to the air often in this modified West Coast offense.

While fantasy football league participants may be worn out with the Favre soap opera, he still needs to be considered as a fantasy option this year in deeper leagues or as a backup. Favre should be considered as a midrange No. 2 fantasy option in typical 12-team leagues.

In the Jets’ first eight games (through Week 9) of last season before his shoulder became a factor, Favre posted decent numbers and was the 13th best fantasy quarterback in KFFL.com’s combination scoring format.

In that window Favre averaged 226.5 passing yards and 1.88 touchdowns per game, which is serviceable. However, he also averaged 1.5 interceptions, tied for the second most in the league in that time period; if your league deducts points for interceptions, Favre’s value obviously drops.

What A Difference A Year Makes in Green Bay

Brett Favre Tells the Minnesota Vikings No Thanks, but Is He Really Retired

Favre Averts a Juvenile Affair with Vikings

For a quarterback who tossed 22 touchdowns and as many interceptions in the overt twilight of his career last season, Brett Favre still managed to carry the airy lustre of a top draft pick.

At least that’s the way he was viewed by the Minnesota Vikings, whose exhausting pursuit and inexorable patience for the 39-year-old was more astounding than ambitious.

Adding the fact that Favre is tending to a freshly operated right arm—his throwing appendage, at that—and is but frail in his sense of being, one would be remiss not to question the motives of the Green Bay Packers’ divisional rival.

Queries were cleared yesterday when it was publicly announced that Favre would indeed remain retired, ending coach Brad Childress’ idea of seeing Favre in the centrefold of the Vikings offense.

Whether there is any long-term veracity in Favre’s vow to leave football for the second time around is secondary.

However, the sentiment of his most recent confirmation leads us to believe that there is neither the zest nor commitment to play football again.

The Vikings, of course, possessed an exclusive scenario under which Favre could exact revenge on his former team, the Packers, and general manager Ted Thompson, to whom Favre attributes his previous quarrel and ultimate severance with Green Bay.

Presumably noticing he couldn’t endure the wear of another season at his age, Favre proved that he wasn’t a selfish man when he left the sport, even though he was as stubborn as a rusty nail in wood. He didn’t allow the petty prospect of sticking it to Thompson cloud his decision.

According to ESPN, though, the Vikings were more so complicit in trying to see the record touchdown passer’s prospect of retribution come to fruition at the Metrodome.

For the Vikings, it is reported, handed Favre an additional 36 hours to reassess his final conclusion; deployed several players including star running back Adrian Peterson and ubiquitous defensive end Jared Allen to entice Favre with a final persuasive message; and maintained contact until the decision was irrevocable.

All that was missing was an open plea. Through all that, Favre—for his standards—was remarkably lucid, and that could indicate an end to perpetuating a ragged comeback.

“They (the Vikings) were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery and you’ve got to finish it off,” Favre told Ed Werder of ESPN. “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable.”

Creating such a spectacular stir for Favre didn’t deter Tavaris Jackson, one of two leading candidates for the quarterback position.

“He was his cool, calm and collected self,” agent Joel Segal said of his client, Jackson, after Favre’s declaration. “He said, ‘Great, let’s get ready for camp.’”

Sage Rosenfels is the second option in the position and would have been in a spot to battle for a back-up role should Favre have come on to the team.
Though considering Jackson wasn’t so rattled, perhaps there isn’t much need for extensive damage control on Childress’ behalf.

Besides, the Vikings haven’t actually lost anything by way of talent on their roster.

“It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not only a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but one that is very familiar with our system and division,” Childress said in an open statement. “That does not detract from the team that we have.

“As we have consistently communicated, we feel good about our team. With this behind us, we look forward to getting to Mankato (Minn.) and getting training camp under way.”

But the real testimony is for Favre in this ordeal, as he had a chance to severely hamper not the perception of his Hall of Fame credentials, but of Favre the mind. His stint with the Jets only lasted one season, understandably, although he would have made a legitimate farewell all but impossible if he signed with the Vikings.

Favre was stepping into the realm once inhabited by the late efforts of Michael Jordan, Dominik Hasek and Evander Holyfield—all of whom were unable to identify an appropriate end to their careers.

Sure, Favre played that game for a year. But say his stay in Minnesota saw him embroiled in a quarterback controversy—which the Vikings’ situation could have potentially lend itself to—or his arm couldn’t produce.

It could have been the last five games of last season with Jets, magnified and multiplied.

Looking at Holyfield, for example: the man is 47 years old, unequivocally discouraged by the New York State Athletic Commission for his diminishing skills, and, all be damned, he fought and lost to Nikolai Valuev, the current WBA heavyweight champion, last December.

If this is to be Favre’s last period of contemplation—and the Hamlet act is emphatically closed—then there is no chance of seeing him, the historic and storied quarterback, distantly decrepit in action.

Hopefully these are finalized words: “I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings—but, most importantly, the fans.”

And with that, let his name card be affixed to a mantle in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, not another locker.

Favre Averts a Juvenile Affair with Vikings

For a quarterback who tossed 22 touchdowns and as many interceptions in the overt twilight of his career last season, Brett Favre still managed to carry the airy lustre of a top draft pick.

At least, that’s the way he was viewed by the Minnesota Vikings, whose exhausting pursuit and inexorable patience for the 39-year-old was more astounding than ambitious.

Adding the fact that Favre is tending to a freshly operated right arm—his throwing appendage, at that—and is but frail in his sense of being, one would be remiss not to question the motives of the Green Bay Packers’ divisional rival.

Queries were cleared yesterday when it was publicly announced that Favre would indeed remain retired, ending coach Brad Childress’ idea of seeing Favre in the centrefold of the Vikings offense.

Whether there is any long-term veracity in Favre’s vow to leave football for the second time around remains to be seen.

However, the sentiment of his most recent confirmation leads us to believe that there is neither the zest nor commitment to play football again.

The Vikings, of course, possessed an exclusive scenario under which Favre could exact revenge on his former team, the Packers, and general manager Ted Thompson, to whom Favre attributes his previous quarrel and ultimate severance with Green Bay.

Presumably noticing he couldn’t endure the wear of another season at his age, Favre proved that he wasn’t a selfish man when he left the sport, even though he was as stubborn as a rusty nail in wood. He didn’t allow the petty prospect of sticking it to Thompson cloud his decision.

According to ESPN, though, the Vikings were more so complicit in trying to see the record touchdown passer’s prospect of retribution come to fruition at the Metrodome.

For the Vikings, it is reported, handed Favre an additional 36 hours to reassess his final conclusion; deployed several players including star running back Adrian Peterson and ubiquitous defensive end Jared Allen to entice Favre with a final persuasive message; and maintained contact until the decision was irrevocable.

All that was missing was an open plea. Through all that, Favre—for his standards—was remarkably lucid, and that could indicate an end to perpetuating a ragged comeback.

“They (the Vikings) were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery and you’ve got to finish it off,” Favre told Ed Werder of ESPN. “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable.”

Creating such a spectacular stir for Favre didn’t deter Tarvaris Jackson, one of two leading candidates for the quarterback position.

“He was his cool, calm and collected self,” agent Joel Segal said of his client, Jackson, after Favre’s declaration. “He said, ‘Great, let’s get ready for camp.’”

Sage Rosenfels is the second option in the position and would have been in a spot to battle for a back-up role should Favre have come on to the team.

That’s not the vote of confidence required for two players who were equally instrumental in capturing the NFC North title last year, Peterson’s athleticism aside.

Considering Jackson wasn’t so rattled, perhaps there isn’t much need for extensive damage control on Childress’ behalf.

Besides, the Vikings haven’t actually lost anything by way of talent on their roster.

“It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not only a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but one that is very familiar with our system and division,” Childress said in an open statement. “That does not detract from the team that we have.

“As we have consistently communicated, we feel good about our team. With this behind us, we look forward to getting to Mankato (Minn.) and getting training camp under way.”

But the real testimony is for Favre in this ordeal, as he had a chance to severely hamper not the perception of his Hall of Fame credentials, but of Favre the mind. His stint with the Jets only lasted one season, understandably, although he would have made a legitimate farewell all but impossible if he signed with the Vikings.

Favre was stepping into the realm once inhabited by the late efforts of Michael Jordan, Dominik Hasek and Evander Holyfield—all of whom were unable to identify an appropriate end to their careers.

Sure, Favre played that game for a year. But say his stay in Minnesota saw him embroiled in a quarterback controversy—which the Vikings’ situation could have potentially lend itself to—or his arm couldn’t produce.

It could have been the last five games of last season with Jets, magnified and multiplied.

Looking at Holyfield, for example: The man is 47 years old, unequivocally discouraged by the New York State Athletic Commission for his diminishing skills, and, I’ll be damned, he fought and lost to Nikolai Valuev, the current WBA heavyweight champion, last December.

If this is to be Favre’s last period of contemplation—and the Hamlet act is emphatically closed—then there is no chance of seeing him, the historic and storied quarterback, distantly decrepit in action.

Hopefully these are finalized words: “I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings—but, most importantly, the fans.”

And with that, let his name card be affixed to a mantle in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, not another locker.

So, Where Will Brett Favre End Up Signing Midseason?

That’s right: no if; no and; no but. Just a simple, declarative question: where will Brett Favre end up signing and playing midseason?

Yesterday, Brett Favre announced publicly what the Vikings have apparently known for a little over a week now. According to 1310 The Ticket in Dallas while I was driving in this morning, Favre told the Vikings 10 days ago that he was having severe second thoughts about a return, at which point Vikings coaches and key players put the “full court press” on him in an effort to convince him to reconsider.

How’s that for confidence in Sagevaris Jacksonfels!?

But alas, Favre decided that the daily grind was too much for him. So after another offseason of constant Favre speculation, we head into the 2009 season with no Brett Favre, no John Madden, and complete confidence in the fact that at least one of them will actually stay retired.

As I said when he retired, we’ll miss you John Madden.

As for Favre? Well, I don’t think you can blame any NFL observer for not being 100 percent sure that No. 4 is actually hanging up the cleats for good. Perhaps if he’d given an emphatic, no-wiggle-room, fist-pounding “I’m done, that’s it, it’s over” we could all move on (or not). But of course he didn’t. Here is what Favre said to ESPN’s Ed Werder:

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Favre said. “I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets, and Vikings—but, most importantly, the fans.”

“I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons,” Favre said. “They were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery, and you’ve got to finish it off.’ But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I’m 39 with a lot of sacks to my name.” [Editor's note: But does this one really count?]

It is telling that in the same post in which he relayed the quotes above, that PFT’s Mike Florio actually spends more time speculating about the very real possibility—because it is Brett Favre after all—that this will end up being just another retirement false start:

So what’s next for Favre?  If/when another high-profile quarterback blows out an ACL, like Tom Brady did in Week One of the 2008 season, things could get interesting.

The later it happens in the year, the more interesting it’ll would be, given that with each passing week the grind that Favre would face over the balance of the year will shrink.

Things could get even more interesting if the guy who goes down for the year is named “Aaron Rodgers.”

And if it happens in December, with the Packers in the hunt for the NFC North title.  

And lest you think such speculation is all hogwash and tomfoolery, there is this, also courtesy of my favorite NFL site:

Favre told Mariucci that he was retired, but he’s going to keep throwing and continue to work out.  (NFL Network’s Scott Hanson relayed the news on television and his Twitter account.)  

When Mariucci asked how Favre would feel about his decision Wednesday morning, Favre reportedly said, “I’m wondering that myself.”

Oh, and then there is this, just posted a few minutes ago for those of you who feel like stepping even further into the speculation and rumor mill churn:

Amid mounting evidence that Brett Favre is interested in playing football if he can find a way to shorten the season as it applies to him, there are some in the Vikings organization who are convinced that Favre will attempt to join the team after the first two weeks of training camp.

But surely Brett Favre, the simple country boy with the faded Wranglers and the tractor, wouldn’t make a public declaration with the intention of gaining leverage for his own future means, right? No, surely not.

So can we all at least agree that the only thing we really know after Favre’s announcement yesterday is that he isn’t reporting to the Vikings today? Because, honestly and realistically, that’s all we know. And if you think any differently, my only question is where the hell have you been for the last five or so NFL offseasons?

Thus, I will now attempt to do what some may call a waste of time but what most NFL fans (at least those who are not totally sick of the Favre saga) will understand is a very worthwhile endeavor: attempt to handicap where Brett Favre will end up signing midseason.

Think about it:

• Favre had the necessary arm surgery and every report has indicated that he’s throwing well.
• It is well documented that he’s not a big fan of training camp, and as a 40-year old QB he is too old to go through the rigors of an entire NFL season.
• The Vikings and Favre have to realize that a QB his age has never played a full season and led a team to a Super Bowl title. And that is the only goal for both in this entire flirtation. Is it possible that both are sandbagging so that Favre can come in fresh near midseason, have enough gas to play well down the stretch (like he did through the first half of last season), but avoid at least some of the internal and external scrutiny of Favre not being at camp and/or as committed to non-gameday stuff as the rest of the team?

Seriously, think long and hard about that last one. Favre’s friend and old offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is running the Vikings offense. And Favre is an improvisor and someone who is notorious for doing his own thing on the field anyway.

Would it really require that much preparation for him to be able to provide more value and spark at the QB position than Sagevaris Jacksonfels? Besides, he’d have a great running game and a great D to lean on while he worked out some rust over a few games.

That is why the handicapping for where Favre will end up signing midseason begins, and nearly ends, with the Vikings.

 

Minnesota Vikings – 2:1

First, take a look at the Vikings schedule:

• Week 4: vs Green Bay
• Week 5: @ St. Louis
• Week 6: vs Baltimore
• Week 7: @ Pittsburgh
• Week 8: @ Green Bay
• Week 9: BYE
• Week 10: vs Detroit
• Week 11: vs Seattle
• Week 12: vs Chicago
• Week 13: @ Arizona
• Week 14: vs Cincinnati
• Week 15: @ Carolina
• Week 16: @ Chicago
• Week 17: vs New York Giants

If he comes back during the Vikings’ bye week, for instance, Favre achieves all of the following:

• Misses all of the training camp and the preseason while he continues throwing and building up his arm strength.
• Keeps his body fresh and would only have to play a maximum of 12 games, if the Vikings were a Wild Card team and ultimately made a four-game Super Bowl run.
• He would avoid the toughest two-game stretch of defenses the Vikings face this season: Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
• He would come back for three straight home games against teams whose defenses were porous last year: Detroit, Seattle, and Chicago.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY: He would avoid having to play Green Bay. I know that people have said part of his reasoning for coming back would be to stick it to the Packers, but I really don’t think Favre wanted to play in Lambeau wearing purple. He may be selfish and self-obsessed, but he appreciates the support of Packers fans. Even though he’s not fond of Ted Thompson or Mike McCarthy, I can’t see him actually enjoying being a visitor in Lambeau. This is purely speculation on my part, but I can’t imagine I’m that far off base.

Honestly, if I were the Vikings and Favre, and seriously considering a one-year marriage in the hopes that it would lead to a fruitful postseason, I think this scenario is actually far more advantageous than Favre trying to make a go of it from the beginning. He’s too old and would break down like he did last year.

In this scenario, however, Favre achieves everything I laid out above while the Vikings get the first eight weeks of the season to see if Sagevaris can actually lead the team competently. And we pretty much know how that will turn out.

If the Vikings are 6-2 or 7-1, maybe the Favre flirtation ends. If they’re 4-4 or 5-3, they can bring in a fresh Favre to give their season a shot in the arm.

Their second half schedule is not all that tough—hell, Sagevaris might even be able to get them into the playoffs down the stretch—but I think we can confidently say that Sagevaris is not winning playoff games against good teams. A fresh Favre, however, very well could.

The more I get into this, the more it all makes sense.

 

Green Bay Packers – 7:2

It is important to note before delving into this one that Favre, quite obviously, would only be an option if Aaron Rodgers were to get hurt. But every season we see teams lose their starting QB to injury, so it’s not like Rodgers going down is out of the question.

Where would the Packers turn if they did lose Rodgers? Their current backups are second-year guys Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm, neither of whom have taken a meaningful NFL snap. Where’s the Majik Man when you need him?

The reality of this season for Green Bay, however, is that they have to win. After making it within minutes of the Super Bowl two years ago with Favre, the Packers fell flat on their faces last year despite strong stats from Rodgers.

Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy will always be known as the guys who chose Aaron Rodgers over Brett Favre (regardless of Favre’s culpability in the whole ordeal), and that is a primary reason why fan patience will be limited.

And as big an ego as Favre has, and as much as he loves reveling in the fawning of his adoring fans, how could he possibly turn down the opportunity to run onto Lambeau field, donning his old No. 4, to perhaps the greatest fan ovation in the history of sports?

I realize that he has beef with Thompson and McCarthy, but Favre loves him some him, and would love the love that would be showered down upon him if he came galloping in on a white horse to save the Packers season.

Because this one is contingent on an injury, and on Thompson swallowing his own massive pride and ego, the odds have to be lower than Favre playing for the Vikings; but if Rodgers ends up going down, the odds become a hell of a lot closer.

The rest of these are all pretty unlikely, but in the Not For Long NFL coaches and GMs will make desperate decisions to save seasons…and their jobs. For Favre to play for a team other than the Vikings or Packers, the following criteria all have to be in place:

• Teams whose fans and ownership expect to win now.
• Teams with enough talent to be legitimate playoff contenders, otherwise Favre wouldn’t bother.
• Coaches/GMs on the hot seat who might be compelled to make a desperate move if their teams struggle out of the gate.
• Teams without young, high draft choice QBs waiting in the wings behind the starter.
• Note: I realize that there are salary cap implications too, because Favre would not come back and play for nothing. Here is an old post at AskTheCommish.com from January detailing each team’s salary cap situation at that time. These numbers will obviously be different now, but it’s at least a gauge of what could be possible.

 

Houston Texans – 25:1

Obviously if Matt Schaub stays healthy, this one isn’t happening. But if he gets hurt…as he always does…the Texans only have Dan Orlovsky and some dude named Alex Brink as backups.

Houston has been a “team on the rise” for a couple of years now, and both ownership and the fanbase are itching for potential to be turned into playoff appearances.

With Indy and Jacksonville both appearing more vulnerable than usual this year, another 8-8 close call might not be enough to save Gary Kubiak’s job. And you have to think that Favre would be enticed by the possibility of throwing to Andre Johnson, one of the best WRs in the NFL.

Houston also has lots of cap space to be able to throw a bunch of $$$ Favre’s way for a partial season.

 

Carolina Panthers – 25:1

Jake Delhomme is coming off one of the worst playoff performances by a QB in NFL history. John Fox is also feeling a little bit of heat after the team flamed out at home against Arizona last year and has been inconsistent since their Super Bowl run.

This is a team that still has a lot of talent, but one that always seems to fall a little bit short when expectations are high. Sitting behind Delhomme currently are Josh McCown and Matt Moore, neither of whom are looked at as QBs of the future.

What happens if Delhomme struggles out of the gate? He’s pretty much used up all of the goodwill he built in leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl earlier this decade. Delhomme also is not the most durable QB, having played only 41 games over the past three seasons (he missed time in 2006 and 2007).

After a strong regular season last year, the Panthers expect to win. They also have a very strong running game, plus Steve Smith to throw to, which would have to be enticing for Favre.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars – 45:1

The Jags were awful last year and Jack Del Rio is feeling the heat. Plus, one of the main reasons Jacksonville struggled (in addition to all of the O-Line injuries) was inconsistency at the QB position.

After signing David Garrard to a big contract, the team expected more out of its field general. Make no mistake: this is Garrard’s team, and he would have to get hurt to be benched (or be REALLY awful), but all Jacksonville has behind him are Cleo Lemon and Paul Smith.

But you know the Jags can smell blood with all of the turnover in Indy, and this is still a team that has some solid players on defense and the explosive MJD in the backfield.  Plus, Jack Del Rio has proven that he’s not afraid to make bold decisions at the QB position, which is why Garrard is the starter now in the first place.

If Garrard goes down, or sucks badly, Del Rio and the Jags won’t be able to just sit back and endure another losing season with terrible attendance…especially in this economy.

I’m not sure if Favre would really consider Jacksonville a Super Bowl contender, especially in the AFC, but if the Jags get off to a decent start and he’s really itching to play, then I think you have to at least consider this one within the realm of possibility no matter how unlikely.

 

Washington Redskins – 100:1

They don’t have much cap space, and have a guy in Jason Campbell that everyone in the organization wants to succeed. Plus, Todd Collins proved to be a capable backup in case Campbell is ineffective or gets hurt.

There honestly is no logical reason why the Redskins would even be in any Favre sweepstakes, except for one fact: Daniel Snyder runs his team like a fantasy football owner…and he’s desperate to win.

With an enticing possibility like Favre out there on the “waiver wire” you cannot discount even something as head-scratching as this would be. It’s the longest shot for a reason, but look me in the eye right now and tell me that you’d be that shocked if it happened.

Ultimately, here is what I think:

• Brett Favre broke down around midseason last year and understands that his body can’t take a full NFL season with training camp, preseason games, and a 16-game schedule. Plus, he hates everything but gameday. So he’s not coming back right now this very second.



• However, Favre has worked this offseason to get into playing shape, and still loves Sundays…and will miss them even more once the season starts and he’s twiddling his thumbs on his tractor. He’s even reportedly stated that he’s going to keep throwing.
• If the right situation comes along midseason, he won’t be able to say no: to Sundays; to the chance for one last run at Elway-like glory; to the money; and to the attention that another comeback would bring him.

If you told me right now that I had to bet my entire savings account (despite it’s miniscule size) on whether Favre will come back at some point this season or not, I would bet that he does.

For now, we can enjoy a momentary reprieve from the constant Favre speculation…but the speculation is not over, because Favre does not want it—or his NFL career—to be over.

He just wants to come back his way and on his terms.

Truth be told, it is probably much more prudent for the old graybeard to do it this way. He does not want a repeat of his late-season flameout from 2008, nor does whatever team he plays for. I say he still ends up with the Vikings at some point this season. Now we just have to wait and see.

What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

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* – Brett Favre throwing photo credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis via the Washington Post

* – Brett Favre in Lambeau photo credit: Sun-Times blogs

* – Brett Favre out of focus photo credit: Rick Chapman photography

Brett Favre To Stay Retired…For Now

The saga that has become the Brett Favre watch took its latest turn on Tuesday when Favre told the Minnesota Vikings he would remain retired and not join them for the upcoming season. Call me a skeptic, but I’ve been down this road too many times with Favre to believe him quite yet.

There were the many long springs and summers that Favre put Packer fans through during the better part of this decade—unwilling to make a decision on his career until it was convenient for him, without any regard for teammates, management, or fans. Everyone just chalked it up to Favre going through personal issues with his family and needing time to clear his head.

Favre finally did retire from the Packers on March 4 of last year. Many felt it was a classy end to a Hall of Fame career, while doubters claimed it was only a matter of time before he returned. Favre proved the doubters right when he requested the Packers to release him in his first attempt to get to the Vikings.

After being traded to the Jets, Favre showed New York fans, media, and players what many have since found out: Favre isn’t all he’s cracked up to be. By the end of the season, fans had turned on him, the media had criticized him for his play, and even teammates questioned his commitment to them.

Favre again retired from football, but it wasn’t long after that talk came up of Favre longing to return to the game, this time with the Vikings. Minnesota would have been a great fit for Favre. They have a solid defense, a great running game, and play most of their games in domes, which would have benefited Favre by not having to play in bad weather late in the season.

Be clear on one thing, though: Favre was not coming back for any of those reasons. His return was to be solely a giant middle finger to Packers’ General Manager Ted Thompson. The two never had a good relationship and Favre views Thompson as the one to boot him out of Green Bay.

After Favre refused surgery to repair his injured arm, many thought he was done for good. He then decided to go through with the surgery, which signaled to most that his return was imminent.

Today the news came that Favre would not join the Vikings, but late word has come out that he will continue to throw and test his arm and shoulder. For those that see the real Brett Favre, this will come as no surprise. He is simply trying to buy more time to hold on to his hope of sticking it to Thompson.

Please click on the following link to read the rest of this article.

Brett Favre To The Football World: GOTCHA!

(With apologies to the Grateful Dead)

Arrows of neon and flashing marquees out on main street.
Green Bay, New York, Minnesota and its all on the same street.
Your typical city involved in a typical daydream
Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings.

Brett Favre has done it again. In a unexpected turn of events, after a summer of surgery, workouts and much anticipation, Brett Favre has turned the NFL upside down once more. Like a Formula One race car driver, Brett has navigated us through the many twists and turns of the course, and we’ve all just been hanging on for the ride.

Brett Favre has notified the Vikings that he is going to stay retired.

In an interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune, Vikings coach Brad Childress said that Favre informed the team he has decided to remain retired. Childress cited the daily grind both mentally and physically as part of the reason why Favre remained retired.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder. “I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons. They were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery and you’ve got to finish it off.’ But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I’m 39 with a lot of sacks to my name.”

Favre, who had shoulder surgery in May, experienced soreness in both ankles and his left knee during his private workouts in Mississippi. The pain would not subside and worsened as he continued to prepare for another season in the NFL.

He was concerned that the pain might never subside and could continue to worsen, and he understood that signing and reporting to camp and then leaving prematurely would result in criticism over his decision to play again.

So once again, just as we thought we had Brett Favre figured out, he throws us another curveball. Minnesota is left to put on their best “it doesn’t matter” face and act happy about having Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels to lead their offense.

And for Green Bay fans, a huge sigh of relief. Not because they feared Favre playing for the Vikings, but because they feared having to continue to deal with their beloved hero turning his back on them.

So Brett Favre is staying retired. As of today. As the song says, “Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings”.

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You can find more of Jersey Al Bracco’s articles on several sports websites: Jersey Al’s Blog, Packer Chatters , Packers Lounge, NFL Touchdown and of course,  Bleacher Report.

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