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Back to the Pack For now, retirement is just a thought for FavrePosted: Monday January 06, 2003 11:20 AM
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- First, let me take a breath. Wow. What games on Sunday. Incredible! What comebacks ... 36-33? 39-38? Ridiculous. Fun. Hotline for Butch Davis, Jim Fassel: 1-800-DONTJUMP. One-way ticket out of town for Trey Junkin. One-way ticket to Canton for Jeff Garcia. Drinks on Hank Poteat for everyone! His job is safe! And Bill Parcells wants to get back into this Coronary Cafe?
I was thinking last night about what to write about here at the top of the column, because so many weird things happened over the weekend. I thought my angle could be Michael Vick, or the Packers go down hard, or Chad Pennington-is-God, or about 58 paragraphs on other observations from the weekend. But I spent some time with Brett Favre last Friday, and I thought what he said would be the most interesting slant I could give you this morning. Oh no! King on Favre again! King's all over this guy! Please, just one column without mentioning Favre's name! And we beg you: Don't tell us what entree you had with him! Sickening! I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
I saw that ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported after the 27-7 loss to Atlanta on Saturday night there was "a smattering of speculation ... inside Green Bay's locker room that [Favre] is contemplating retirement." He may be right. I wasn't in Green Bay's locker room Saturday night, spending the time instead with the gleeful Falcons for a story that will appear in this week's Sports Illustrated. In the strictest sense, Mort is right. Favre is contemplating retirement. He thinks about it a lot. I wrote this dispatch for SI on the evening of Aug. 30, after the Packers finished their preseason slate with a game against Tennessee in Green Bay last summer:
"Retirement flits in and out of Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre's mind more than anyone thinks. One day this summer he said to his wife, Deanna, out of the blue: 'Maybe two more years. That's it.' Deanna, no slave to money, told him that was fine with her. On the morning he had to leave his beloved home and 465 acres in Hattiesburg, Miss., to report to training camp, he began to think this might be his last camp. A private plane stood by at a nearby airstrip for the two-and-half-hour flight to Green Bay. He had to check into camp at 7 p.m. And there he was, sweating a stream while edging a mile of his property where it meets the road, refusing to leave till he finished the job. He got done just after noon and jetted off, reluctantly, at 2. 'I think about retirement a heck of a lot more than I used to,' Favre said, neither wistfully nor sadly, last Thursday night at his Green Bay home. 'I miss home in Mississippi. I know it's nuts, but [coach] Mike Sherman told us today he was giving us Saturday and Sunday off this week, and the guys were all excited about it. All I could think was, I wish I could be on my lawnmower back home.'" Favre isn't capable of not telling people what he's thinking, so every time this subject has come up this season, he says, yes, retirement is something he thinks about, and he thinks he's playing next season, but who knows what could happen? On Friday I asked him if there was any way this season might be his last. "I have every intention of playing next year," he said. "That's what I've told the Packers. Physically, I feel great. The desire is still there to win. Winning and losing still mean so much to me." [Saturday night interlude: I run into Packers chief operating officer John Jones, a former Saints' beat man for the Times-Picayune, and I ask him about Favre and retirement. He tells me Favre has assured the club he's playing next year, which is doubly significant: The Packers will rededicate the reconstructed Lambeau Field at the Sept. 7 season-opener, and they don't have Favre's heir on board. They probably will after this draft, but he's sure not there now.] "I'll be back," Favre said, "for at least next year." I mentioned that he would need four very good Favrian years to reach Marinoland, the all-time touchdown-pass record of 420. Favre trails that mark by 106. "Tell Dan he's safe," Favre said. "Four years. No way I'll be around that long. I won't hang around to break any records. That's not how the game should be played. I'm planning on playing next year -- that'll be 13 years -- and then seeing how I feel." What about the fact that he has listed his Green Bay home for sale, and that the family will live in a condo or townhouse next year? Is that a hint of retirement? "A house that size in Green Bay doesn't sell very easily, so we figured we'd give it time. It's been on the market for a while," he said. "That has nothing to do with this. We've got one big place in Hattiesburg, and that's enough for us for now." Favre did say he feels the lows of the losses more than the highs of the wins these days. The debacle at the Jets the previous week hurt badly, as did, I'm sure, this playoff loss. I didn't speak to him after Saturday's game. He talked to the press Monday morning. Retirement speculation had been advanced by a report that said he didn't hang around to talk Saturday night -- supposedly the first time ever that Favre had ducked the press after a game -- because he had something momentous to say today. Untrue. According to Packers PR man Jeff Blumb, this was at least the third time he hasn't spoken after a game. I hope that sheds some light on the situation. My feeling is if the Packers are a double-digit win team next year -- and Mike Sherman has proven himself an adept franchise architect -- that Favre will play two more seasons, then call it quits. It's a guess, but that's all I have for you. I don't think the man himself knows.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Cleveland QB Kelly Holcomb, who played as well as any quarterback can play in the biggest game of his life ... even though it was in defeat. The Browns lost 36-33 by giving up 15 points in the final four minutes, but Holcomb was absolutely superb: 26-of-43 passing, 429 yards, three touchdowns, one interception. The ball he throws is beautiful, a high-arcing, accurate deep throw. Maybe he should have been playing safety on that last Steelers drive. We should also recognize San Francisco QB Jeff Garcia. What a game. Down by 24, Garcia brought the Niners all the way back in the second half. He threw for 331 yards and ran for 60 more. There haven't been many, if any, better clutch efforts in the league this season. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK The New York Jets defense. A team award for holding the Colts to zero points, 176 yards, one serious touchdown threat (in the last five minutes of the game), four Marvin Harrison catches and creating massive Peyton Manning confusion. "This defense knows it can go out and just nail people now," said defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell. SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Atlanta LB Mark Simoneau, who blocked a Green Bay punt deep in Packers territory in the first quarter, enabling the Falcons to score their second touchdown ... and to take the first 14-point lead by a visitor in Green Bay in the Packers' playoff history. "We liked the matchup up the middle with Mark," said Falcons head coach Dan Reeves. I guess so. Simoneau steamrolled in and had a good shot at the punt. COACH OF THE WEEK Atlanta's Dan Reeves. He told his team after the historic 27-7 rout of the Packers Saturday that for years people had been making a big deal over his halfback pass for a touchdown in the famous Ice Bowl game 35 years earlier. "But now people are going to be talking about this win for the next 35 years," Reeves said. He had his team primed, pumped and ready to play at a high level against a beat-up team that looked listless much of the game. GOAT OF THE WEEK New York Giants long-snapper Trey Junkin, a 19-year vet just signed this week because of an injury to the Giants' usual snapper. Junkin threw a two-hop fastball way outside on a kick that would either end or extend the season for the Giants. Unfortunately for the New Yorkers, the mis-snap ended their season. I seriously wonder this: Did the Giants take Junkin back on the plane with them last night for the five-hour plane ride home? I don't know how he'd survive that trip. QUOTE OF THE WEEK I
"If the 49ers win, [Bill Walsh] will probably take credit for the win. He takes credit for everything else."
QUOTE OF THE WEEK II
"Now I think Giants fans know exactly how Red Sox fans felt in 1986."
QUOTE OF THE WEEK III
"Holecek has been bothered by a broken arm."
The Jets' playoff game against the Raiders Sunday will be New York's fourth road game at Oakland in 53 weeks.
Not a lot of controversy this week, after we shut off the Ray Lewis issue. Enough, people. You've had your say. I've had mine. Here we go with a new set. HOW CAN PORTIS NOT BE YOUR OFFENSIVE ROOKIE? From Mike Novack of Chicago: "Love your column, but how can you choose LeCharles Bentley as your offensive rookie of the year after the season Clinton Portis had? Portis didn't start the first few games, then split carries with Olandis Gary over the next several. All in all, he was the No. 1 back for a little over half the season. And what did he do in that time? Only put up one of the top rookie rushing performances ever -- more than 1,500 yards, which ranked fourth in the league, and 17 touchdowns." Not that hard, really. For two months, Portis was a meteor, one of the best backs in football. For four months, Bentley, in my estimation, was one of the best two guards in football. YOU SHOULDN'T PICK A SCHMOE FULLBACK FOR YOUR ALL-PRO TEAM. From John Brinegar of Arlington, Texas: "I enjoy reading your column every Monday, but your All-Pro selections caused me minor irritation. Why aren't two running backs selected for the team, as in the good old days? I remember times when Tony Dorsett and Earl Campbell were the All-Pros. Who could argue with Ricky Williams and Priest Holmes as your All-Pro picks at running back?" I pick a fullback because football teams, most of them anyway, use a fullback throughout most of the game. Just because he doesn't put up great numbers doesn't mean he's not a valuable player on the field. Blocking is important. Fred Beasley's a great blocker and a versatile, though underused, offensive weapon. WHY DID THE SAINTS DIE? From Joey D'Antoni of Raleigh, N.C.: "I'm a Saints fan and wonder what you think the deal is with the two consecutive December collapses? Realizing their defense was pretty awful, do you have any idea why the offense suddenly faded into the woodwork?" I think Aaron Brooks, because of injury or whatever, faded horribly in December, and Jim Haslett didn't have the guts to pull him. I would much rather have seen Jake Delhomme, unproven as he is, go in and try to shake up the offense than to see the consistently weak tosses late in the year from Brooks. Of course, they have to get a corner. Or three. That is as glaring a weakness as any contender has right now. MICHAEL, MAYBE YOU SHOULD ADVISE JIM HASLETT. From Michael Haslet of State College, Pa.: "Why does pulling a struggling starter always create a 'quarterback controversy'? Football would benefit from the baseball mindset: If a starter doesn't have his stuff on a particular day, he is relieved. At the same time, he knows he'll be back out for his next start. I believe the reluctance to yank underperforming QBs leads to losses that may be avoided with a hot hand off the bench." Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I couldn't have written it better myself. YOU'VE GOT THE MVP WRONG. From Frank Morse of Colorado Springs, Colo.: "After the Packers rolled over and played dead against the Jets, do you still feel Brett Favre is MVP? He didn't do much, if anything, to help put them in a position to win that game. He has also had two abysmal games this season, where the other clear contender has not. Rich Gannon should be the league MVP." Good argument. Gannon is a very worthy MVP. To me, though, the Packers-Jets game was an illustration of why Favre's my MVP. Did you see him running for his life for 50 minutes? With new guys everywhere on offense, and a second-string left tackle and third-string right tackle, the Packers won 12 games. No player meant as much to a team that won big than Favre, in my opinion. CAN'T ANYONE HERE RUN THIS CLOCK? From Sean Kron of Hoboken, N.J.: "Why do so many head coaches appear to have such problems with the concept of clock management? The latest example being Dave Wannstedt and his poor decision to throw on first and second downs at the end of the Dolphins-Patriots game, knowing that New England only had one timeout and the two-minute warning remaining. Shouldn't the head coach be a bit more of a strategic thinker?" Excellent point, Sean. I agree. The Dolphins said the Pats were stacking the line with eight men in the box and therefore running Ricky Williams would have been borderline fruitless. My point: It wouldn't have been fruitless had Williams run three times and the Pats gotten the ball back with, say, 70 seconds left. One other point here, though. Jay Fiedler has to be able to complete a couple of big passes, doesn't he? Especially with eight men concentrating on the run. There's enough blame in Miami to go around, but I do agree that clock management in the NFL is weak, in general. WE WILL MISS JOEL BUCHSBAUM. From Daren of Anchorage, Alaska: "Thanks for the item on Joel Buchsbaum. I used to tune in to KTRH in Houston every Wednesday night to hear him respond with that thick accent after the callers would ask, 'How are you, Joel?' In his very inimitable way, he'd say, 'OK, yourself?' Joel DID know what he was talking about, lived a sports hedonist's life and was as colorful a character as there ever will be. He will be missed." For all who liked and respected Joel, I'm told by Pro Football Weekly there will be a memorial service for him at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. The place should be packed. I'll send along more details when I have them. One tiny bit of good news after a sad passing: Joel's scouting report will be published on schedule this year. He had much of it in progress already. WHY DID YOU SNUB DARRELL GREEN? From Jeff of King of Prussia, Pa.: "I'm a pretty regular reader and enjoy your MMQB column, but I just couldn't stomach something and had to tell you about it. One of the greatest cornerbacks in the history of football and quite possibly the classiest football player ever to wear a uniform retires after 20 years and you gave him two sentences. Do you feel that Dick Hantak, Jim McNally, the Parcells/Jones fiasco, Dick LeBeau, and Tiki Barber were more worthy of recognition in your column, or was this just an oversight? I understand that the media bias toward the Redskins, Dan Snyder and Steve Spurrier is very strong, but could we all just put that stuff aside for a moment to honor one of the NFL's all-time great players? Green embodies every single thing that we want our athletes to be, yet the media spent more time a few weeks ago on Terrell Owens' Sharpie than did on Green. Other than the actual coverage during the game, I believe that the media had an opportunity here and totally blew it!" Great point. I should have done more on Green. You're right. CHAD FOR MVP. From Marshall Auerback of London, England: "Nobody has mentioned him, but doesn't Chad Pennington actually merit some consideration for MVP? Look at the record pre-Pennington and after he took over the starting job. Isn't that one of the most tangible ways of measuring a player's value to his team, particularly after leading the Jets to a comprehensive thrashing of your MVP and the Packers? Tell me the flaw in my reasoning." I wouldn't say it's flawed. I would say, rather, that Pennington had 75 percent of a great season, having made his initial start in his team's fifth game. Several other players had better full seasons.
On the front page of Friday's Green Bay Press-Gazette were stories about 1) a local woman who puts up a green-and-gold holiday tree in the preseason and doesn't take it down until February, and 2) the fight over Lake Superior (Mich.) State University's attempt to have the phrase "frozen tundra" added to its list of words banished from the language because, the college says, it is redundant.
1. I think pretty soon I'm going to have to start a Chad Pennington Fan Club. Three straight weeks now he has played the biggest game of his professional life. Three straight weeks he has played an accomplished, famous quarterback. Three straight weeks he has won and played great. Comparing Pennington to Tom Brady of New England, Favre of Green Bay and Manning of Indianapolis:
I cannot say this strongly enough: What we have here is a level-headed, egoless kid who is as accurate as anyone in the league today, and he feels no pressure. This is the second week in a row I am going to mention Pennington in the same sentence with Joe Montana. And that's where I'm going to leave it. 2. I think these are my quick-hit football thoughts of the weekend: a. I hear team medics have told Rams higher-ups that Marc Bulger will be hard-pressed to ever make it through a 16-game season healthy. The Rams have to be apoplectic over what once seemed like a terrific quarterback situation but now is filled with question marks. b. As great as the Jets played on Saturday, it would have been nice had an actual opponent shown up to play them at the Meadowlands. c. Guttiest player of the weekend: Green Bay wide receiver Donald Driver, who braved a deep right shoulder bruise that nearly kept him from playing, but he still continually dove and leapt and got drilled in that shoulder for four quarters. I can't believe he kept getting up. d. Credit Terrell Owens if you will on the first touchdown of the Giants-Niners game. But I can't believe Will Allen and Michael Barrow didn't wrap him up on contact before he made the long touchdown run in the first quarter. e. Hey, Giants: Who left the 49ers tight end open and alone on the play up the sideline? f. Hey, Giants: Rush the passer lately? g. Great line from Joe Buck during the Giants-Niners broadcast, on the New York punter: "The best thing you can say about Matt Allen as a punter is he's a good holder." h. Shameful act, Terrell Owens, hitting the Giants return man out of bounds. Cheap, cheap, cheap. i. Junkin, Allen, Bryant. Did they need police protection in their own locker room after the game last night? j. I think Tom Coughlin and Mike Brown would be a great match. Like me and thin. 3. I think the most interesting quote of the bowl season belongs to Chris Simms, when asked how he'd feel about playing for Bill Parcells and the Cowboys: "I'm a big Cowboy fan. I was always a big Troy Aikman fan. Bill's a family friend of ours. We all love him." Hmm. The kid likes the Cowboys? Interesting. How'd that happen? I don't think Parcells will be the sentimental type on draft day. Look for him to pick up a middle-aged and cheap free-agent quarterback, while using high picks on positions of desperate need. 4. I think I can't wait to see Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice and Ronde Barber and Warren Sapp and John Lynch chase Jeff Garcia. That'll be some track meet on the field in Tampa next Sunday. 5. I think these are my non-football thoughts of the week: a. If there is a better clutch player in college athletics today than UConn guard/forward/phenom Diana Taurasi, I have no clue who it is. The shots she made under pressure to beat Tennessee Saturday with a cast of new kids were ridiculous, including the 65-foot heave at the end of the first half, and the key three-pointer down the stretch to extend the game to overtime. b. I hate it when my daughters, because kids love vastly oversized things these days, wear my XXL sweatshirts. I have a black, North Face hooded sweatshirt, and Laura was wearing it. "Take off that sweatshirt," I said. "You can't wear it or it'll smell." Look of shocked anger crept over Laura's face. "I mean, you and Mary have this girly smell about you, " I said. "I can't wear my clothes after you've worn them or I smell too sweet." Much laughter. c. Coffeenerdness: Props to the Barnes and Noble in Green Bay, just down the street from Lambeau. They made me one nice eggnog latte Friday morning, and I can't even get one back home. I think eggnog ought to be a 12-month flavor, not just a holiday one. Whom would I petition on such an important issue? Nestor Aparicio? Howard Schultz? d. Nice job on the anthem at Giants Stadium Saturday, Jamie-Lynn Sigler (aka Meadow Soprano). No one has worn the Pennington jersey better. e. Going back, I must say The Sopranos finished strong. I loved the Dean Martin touch on the boat outside the idiot's Jersey shore house. f. Prediction of the Week: The idiot gets whacked in Week 1 when the show resumes. g. In 2009. 6. I think Bill Parcells has no second thoughts. Yet. I talked to him Saturday night by phone -- he was in Dallas -- and he said: "It's just the opposite. I got here in the pitch dark at five minutes to 6 this morning and got to work. In fact, I would say that I'm more fired up than I was the other day when I flew down here in Jerry's plane." 7. I think the poetic justice of the year with Parcells coaching the Cowboys is Dallas going to Tampa Bay, the Giants, the Jets and New England next season. The Philly trip will seem like the Bahamas to him. This guy is going to get roasted every week on the road next year, big time. 8. I think the one thing about my job that you'll never be able to experience, and it is a pity if you love human board games, is the maze that marks the journey from the Lambeau press box to the locker rooms and interview rooms in the bowels of the refurbished place. My head is still spinning. 9. I think you can say a lot about the Jerry Jones-Parcells marriage, but one thing you can say is that Andy Reid, Jim Fassel and Steve Spurrier just cursed their fates. They used to have it either easy or tolerable with the past three Dallas coaches. No more. 10. I think it is not a good thing to ever have the stomach flu in Green Bay, as I did the other day and night. But it is particularly bad when the smell of a brat in the parking lot just roils the stomach. That sort of negates the whole purpose of a football game there. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Monday Morning Quarterback appears in this space -- no kidding -- on Monday mornings. Click here to send him a comment.
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