Quarterback Friday: Favre is gone?

Now, on the Wednesday Round-Up I said I was undecided as far as Quarterback Friday. And if you couldn’t tell by the title, I went with the retired one.

We all know the news by now, Favre is “staying retired”, believe it or not. I’m mad too, it’s much easier to write a story about a HOF QB coming out of retirement, than a guy that made no real move at all. Still, I’m not so sure th Fat Lady has sung just yet. The door is still open for a return.

To be honest, I’m surprised – I really saw Brett pulling another return. But hey, you don’t know till you know. Now I know, and I was wrong. I’m not the only one that made a wrong prediction. ESPN’s own John Clayton said he was go into return – and he said that about a month ago. Anyway, we can all make the wrong call.

Now I’m going to ask for an opinion. Does Favre going to the Jets change your opinion of him? What I’m asking is, does Brett pulling all these shenanigans change your view of him. Because before all this, if I heard Brett Favre I thought Packers. Now, I think of him as a decisive and somewhat annoying QB. I still see Packers at heart. But the stint as a Jet will taint that vision.

Anyway, that was today’s QB Friday. Comment, or don’t. Just hope you enjoyed it.

The Glass Is Either Half Empty Or Half Full …………

When one looks that at both NFL franchises in the Bay area of California. I can’t help but wonder what went wrong with both ? The Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers have become the complete antithesis of everything you’d expect to see from a successfully ran NFL team.

Oakland Raiders' logo

And desptite a rich vein of success by the two franchises through the course of their history. Over the last few year it has been anything but that for these two proud NFL franchises. Whether it’s been through a lack of genuine care by their respective ownership structures . Or merely from the fact of the inexperience shown by their coaching staff. What has gone on and has been exhibited as coaching prowess , has merely brought about abject failure and ridicule for the two teams. It can be said that when these two teams aren’t part of the equation within the NFL . In many respects one could view that all is not necessarily right in the world of football . For both the Raiders and 49ers their’s is a unique history and one that the NFL has every reason to be proud of. Of late however , that’d be the furthest thing from the truth.

49ers' logo

For the Oakland Raiders (5-11) coming off a season of disappointment. And when considers that in the AFC West , an (8-8) record brought a divisional championship and a playoff berth for the San Diego Chargers . It tells you how woefully inept, the division really is ! It has to be said that the expectations were indeed high for the Raiders. But once again they failed to live up to them. And even if perhaps their best display of the season was their derailing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), 31-24 in a meaningless game at the end of the regular season. In reality it did very little to brighten the hopes of their fans. As devout and vociferous as they are , most members of the Raider Nation tend to know what’s right , from what’s wrong, with their team. They may not always show it but many of them are some of the most knowledgeable fans in all of the NFL.

Raiders' starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell at the team's training camp in Napa , California. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Paul Sakuma ...........

The upshot of it all is with first year coach Tom Cable , the team is still finding some semblance of discipline when it comes to playing the game with any real authority and understanding. And it certainly hasn’t helped that the team’s starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell continues to struggle , despite his alleged athletic prowess. He most definitely doesn’t show that he understands the complexities of playing the postion. Furthermore , his over reliance on the fact that he has an explosive arm, seems to do little in serving him or his team well.

Raiders' coach Tom Cable watches the team's practice with a great deal of inensity and some might say apprehension. This upcoming season will no doubt be filled with a great deal of ups and down for the franchise as well as Cable's coaching staff. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Paul Sakuma ..........................

Offensively , all the arsenal seems to be in place. But it was the inexperience shown by the players that basically has laid the groundwork for their failure throughout much of last season. On the defensive side of the ball things were bearly measurable there, as well. If anything the Raiders’ defense left a great deal to be desired. These stats show that there’s still a great deal to be done by the team before they can be thought of as a legitimate contender not only within their division. But very much also, within the AFC and the entire NFL as a whole.

Whatever leadership that can be provided to the team , may well have to come in the guise of veteran quarterback, Jeff Garcia . The player has now become somewhat of a journeyman around the league. Bringing along with him a somewhat disciplined art to his play. If anything at the first sign of real adversity and undue pressure shown by Russell. There’s no doubt that Cable, will look to Garcia, to provide the stability and leadership needed for the team.

And if the Oakland Raiders are to fare well. Then a great deal of presence will have to be shown by the entire team , both on and off the field.

For Niners’ coach , Mike Singletary , his biggest problem this upcoming season, may well be to entrust one of the two quarterbacks he feels, will be able to lead this team with the reins. On the one hand, he has former overall #1 draft pick, Alex Smith . The player’s career thus far in the NFL , has proven to be something of a bust . Inexplicably, however, he still remains a part of the franchise’s plans for the immediate future. Alongside Smith , there’s also Shaun Hill . Both have in excess of five years experience in the NFL. But the effort put forth by either player , can be best described as meager by NFL standards.

Denise DeBartolo-York and her husband , Dr John York , owners of the San Francisco 49ers. At the helm of the franchise as owners. The couple have squandered whatever goodwill that they'd built up within the city of San Francisco and the franchise's fans. picture appears courtesy of jamd @ copyrighted material . All rights reserved

And for the San Francisco 49ers (7-9) , coming off another sub par season. It can be best explained away, that there was both turmoil on and off the field in terms of their competitive mindset. Not that Singletary hasn’t brought about some resolve to the team. But herein, lies the fact, as to the woes of the Forty Niners. This is a team where its ownership, if anything , hasn’t been overly concerned with putting a competive product on the field of play. For owners , Denise DeBartolo-York and her husband , Dr John York . It has been more about the perceived appearance that they do care about the franchise. If anything the couple has shown a great deal of apathy as to the plight of the franchise over the years.

Problems You Think You’ve Got Problems ?

Well let the fun and games begin. NFL teams are already in training camp. And there’s a great deal that’s being speculated over. Where’ll Michael Vick end up ? And how’ll Tony Romo survive without the former love of his life , Jessica Simpson ? Now don’t get me wrong , I’m not about to assail these two problematic quarterbacks who’ve struggled to show their maturity , let alone leadership qualities within the NFL .

Vick seen here speaks at a press conference having just entered his plea of guilty in a federal dogfighting charge. Having served his sentence the player having been re-instated by the NFL now looks for a team to acquire him as a free agent. It's been rumored that the Seattle Seahawks are said to be interested in the player. But no formal announcement has been made by the organization. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ George Herbert ..........................

But in reality I look at this way. You’re only as good as your last game. And for Vick his last game in the NFL wasn’t all that enlightening or entrhalling. But yet we’re to believe that his return to the NFL , will be almost like the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo seen here at the team's training facility in San Antonio , Tx,. It'll be up to the player to prove his effectiveness and leadership skills if the Cowboys are at all to prevail in the NFL this upcoming season. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Eric Gray ..............

As to Romo and his problems. Let’s just say that the signs pointing to the fact that he could be the savior that the Dallas Cowboys were said to be looking for . Exaggeration or aberration, which was more likely ?When one considers that the Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game in over a decade. It ought not to be cause for concern at all. The hype over America’s Team is merely like that of Simpson’s career. One great big bag of jokes that are self explanatory. You’ve got a coach whose greatest claim to fame is that his name is Wade Phillips , son of Bum Phillips . That should be explanation enough , don’t you think ?

Moreover, you’ve an owner in Jerry Jones , who’s now about as able to assess footballing talent. As Elizabeth Taylor has been , in her choice of husbands. And we all know how that has been for the Oscar winner over the last three decades , don’t we ? Suffice to say that Liz’s choices have been about as adept as Jones’ have been over the last decade.

Well the ensuing problems of former New York Giants’ star Plaxico Burress seem to be going along unabated. While I have the utomost respect for the legal community. I’ve now got to question the mindset of Burress’ lawyer , Benjamin Brafman . Having given his testimony in front of grand jury. Brafman had the temerity to suggest that there were mitigating circumstances with regard to his client’s disposition and the fact that he was in possession of a gun inside a night club where hard liquor was being served. Unless Brafman is fully cognescant of the law. He seems to forget that Burress was in the possession of a weapon that was unlicensed within the state of New York. And the fact that he brought the weapon across state lines meant that his client had already committed at least one felony , amongst others.

Plaxico Burress seen here leaving the Manhattan Courthouse after giving testimony to the grand jury for illegal gun possession . picture appears courtesy of nytimes.com/ Michael Appleton ...........................

Furthermore , Brafman’s belief that New York District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau spoke out of turn when making the statement that Burress ought to serve jail time the criminal charges he was facing. It doesn’t speak well of the fact that Brafman seeks preferential treatment for his client and the belief Burress has paid a price for his misdeeds. I was under the impression that the law was meant to be impartial and blind to prejudices and preferential treatment ? But then again isn’t that how many athletes now see themselves ? Above the law ?

Burress and his lawyer Benjamin Brafman seen here leaving the Manhattan State Supreme Court , New York after a hearing in March. picture appears courtesy of reuters / Lucas Jackson ............................

It’s at times likes this I’d prefer to see the justice meted out , as it’s done in the Middle and Far East. It is far more of a deterrent than what we’re led to believe than the so called impartial judicial system , here in the United States. You steal from someone, you’ll most definitely lose an appendage. You lie and you’ll have your toungue cut out. But hear the sound of money tends to lighten the appearance of justice being served and its apparent impartiality.

SI article :

Burress gambles on testimony in hopes of avoiding prison

By Michael McCann of Sports Illustrated

Plaxico Burress hopes an unusual legal strategy will keep him out of prison. On Wednesday , the former New York Giants’ star testified before a Manhattan grand jury on the charges he faces for criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. The charges , which carry a minimum three-and-half-year sentence, stem from Burress accidentally shooting himself in Manhattan’s Latin Quarter Club , last November. Burress’ counsel, Benjamin Brafman and prosecutors have reportedly been unable to strike a plea deal, with Burress willing to serve one year behind bars and prosecutors demanding two. For a 31-year old wide receiver the difference between one and two years in prison could be worth millions of dollars.

The unusual nature of Burress’ strategy derives from the dynamics of the grand jury proceeding and his decision to testify in it. In New York, as elsewhere , a grand jury is completely secret with the defense counsel barred from participating. Under New York law , a defendant enjoys the right to testify but the grand jury proceeding has no judge and is instead run entirely by the prosecutor. As a result the prosecutor determines how to apply the rules of evidence , which questions to ask of the testifying party and other facets of the proceeding . cont’d …………….

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So now we await to see how the justice system will deal with another wayward player who once again feels that they can flout the law. But then looks to the mercy of his peers to absolve them of all responsibiilty for their sheer utter stupidity. And we’re meant to look to individual such as this and admire them , merely because they possess a physical ability to , run, jump and play better than the average individual. We’ve seen the justice system at work with Donte’ Stallworth . And there it wasn’t something that one could admire at all !

Let’s hope that this time around the law and its tenets will prevail , rather than it being subverted for the benefit of others. In this case , a rich spoilt and narcissistic athlete !