By now, I’m sure all of you have heard that Brett Favre is mulling yet another return to the NFL. It seems like this has become a yearly event, and frankly, I’m sick of hearing about it. But with all the stories about Favre surfacing, it’s clear that he still commands a lot of interest and respect from the media and fans.
The latest rumors have the 39-year-old quarterback contemplating a comeback with the Minnesota Vikings, a huge rival of Favre’s old team, the Green Bay Packers. I wonder if Favre is just trying to stick it to his old bosses, or if the fire to compete is really there.
Anyway, for Gator fans who like to keep tabs on players who make it to the next level, the question is, would having Favre in a Viking uniform benefit or hurt rookie receiver Percy Harvin?
On the surface, it would seem pretty evident that the veteran quarterback’s presence could only help Harvin along. Minnesota’s quarterback situation is not very rosy right now. The Vikes did pick up Sage Rosenfels, but the nine-year veteran is really nothing more than a journeyman. They also have Gus Frerotte, who, at 37, has to be close to retirement, and Tarvaris Jackson, a young gun who has shown flashes of competent QB play but lacks the consistency at this point to be the man.
Upon further examination, however, I’m not sure how much Favre would help Percy for two main reasons. First, regardless of who is under center, Minnesota is going to be a run-first team. When you have arguably the best running back in the NFL in Adrian Peterson, you’re going to give him the rock early and often. In 30 career games, he has carried the ball 601 times. You can bet that number will continue to rise as Peterson begins to reach his prime.
The other thing to consider is Favre himself. If you followed the Jets down the stretch last year, you know that Favre looked like a shell of his former self. In the final five games of the 2008 season, Favre only completed 56 percent of his passes, had nine interceptions to just two touchdowns and never threw for more than 247 yards in a game. New York went 1-4 in that stretch and missed the playoffs, and a good deal of the blame for the collapse falls squarely on Favre’s shoulders.
It has been reported that he suffered a torn biceps muscle at some point in the season, and that led to the decline. Doctors recommended he get surgery or try and rest it. He went the rest route, but it’s not known how he will come back, if he ultimately decides to come back.
Regardless of who is at quarterback for the Vikings, the team would be well served to get the ball in Harvin’s hands as much as possible. I really think that Minnesota can use him in many of the same ways he was used at UF. With his size (5’11”, 192 pounds) and injury history, it probably wouldn’t be wise to run him up the middle like he was accustomed to doing at Florida. But you could give him the ball on wide receiver sweeps, throw him screens and get him involved in the return game, something the Gators didn’t have to do because of Brandon James.
Looking at Minnesota’s roster, the most accomplished receiver is Bernard Berrian, who is, for the most part, strictly a deep threat. That means Harvin should get the opportunity to step right in and make an impact. While Favre’s presence in Minnesota might make for some drama, I don’t think he will have a huge influence on Percy one way or the other.
How many times this year, did you hear players and coaches using this comment? “We’re in control of our on destiny.” Time after time, interview after interview, they insisted on saying the same thing, over and over. But any owner of a basic dictionary, knows it isn’t so. According to Webster’s NewWorld Dictionary, Destiny is: The seemingly inevitable or necessary succession of events. What will necessarily happen to any person or thing(one’s)fate. That which determines events: said of either a supernatural agency or necessity – SYN, Fate.Your destiny is already predetermined, it’s decided by a higher authority.
On Sunday, the Dolphins’s destiny was winning the AFC East Title. But who would of guessed that, way back in the preseason. First off, there was a quarterback shuffle in Green Bay. Aaron Rogers and the Packers said good-bye to Brett Favre. It appeared early on that the gamble might pay off. Rogers and the Packers started off ok, but as destiny would have it, it wasn’t to be, and the Packers finished 3rd in the NFC North, at 6-10. No Playoffs, and no certainly no improvement from last year.
Flash back again, Brett Farve heads east, and takes over the steering wheel in New York, and Chad Pennington says good-bye to the Jets. It seemed at mid season that Farve and the Jets were destine to make the playoffs. Not so! As destiny would have it, the ending of this story all came down to one game. That game, was between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. Brett Favre, and the Jets had to beat the Miami Dolphins, and Chad Pennington, to make the playoffs. It wasn’t to be, and the Dolphins won 24-17, leaving the Jets 9-6, and headed home for good. No playoffs, no happy endings, and hopefully no more wrangler commercials with Brett Farve in them for awhile.
I’m not hating on Brett, he’s been my favorite QB for a long time, but it wasn’t his time to shine. And destiny had it’s way, because Chad Pennington ended up leading the Miami Dolphins to a division title, and the playoffs. Earlier this season, I wrote an article entitled, “Are the Dolphins back?” I knew that the Dolphins were a special team then, and now they are headed to the playoffs. The first time since 2001. Bill Parcells has turned that entire organization around in one year. In his new role as V.P. of Operations, Big P., quickly enticed G.M. Jeff Ireland to join the show, who in turn hired 29 new players. Parcells then went shopping for a new coach. Tony Sparano got the gig, and since that moment, the Dolphins have never looked back. Parcells did it with the Patriots, Giants, Jets, Cowboys, and now with the Dolphins.
The season started out for three teams, like some low budget NFL soap opera. One QB here, the whining, another QB there, the interviews, and in the meantime, Chad Pennington just hangs low, and puts in solid performances every week. The events leading up to this climatic ending couldn’t have played out any better. Like dominos falling in rapid succession, the last one has just hit the table. And now it all makes sense, because destiny belongs to the Dolphins.
By: Charles J Asbury II
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It’s safe to say that the Jacksonville Jaguars need some serious help, but what is really the answer for this sick team? Do they need a new head coach? A new defensive coordinator, as rumored? Or a new defense, period! Maybe a more consistent Quarterback might help some. Hey, how about more depth in the receiving class. They have to be Jonesing for something, now that Matt the crack head is gone, and Jerry Porter is on Injured Reserve. What a waste Porter has been , costing the Jaguars approximately $1 million dollars per catch, after making 11 catches all year, but was paid $10 million just to sign on the dotted line before the season even started.
Anyways, there are plenty of areas to address with this team, but I want to try and break it down, one section at a time. The first, but not necessarily the most important, will be the running backs, or lack there of. I’ll tackle the other problems later.
One of the areas that Jacksonville needs help, is at the running back position. I’m not suggesting that they get rid of Maurice Jones-Drew. Drew in my opinion is one of the elite running backs in the league. Jones-Drew leads Jacksonville in rushing, ranks second in receptions and is one of the league’s top scoring threats. He has 14 touchdowns in as many games this season, 40 in his three-year career and hasn’t missed a single game because of injury. And for $445,000, he’s a steal.
What I am suggesting, is that Jacksonville get Jones-Drew some help. I’m proposing a duel threat, such as the type that the Carolina Panthers present each and every game. The old one-two knockout combination called DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
I have always loved Fred Taylor. His work ethics are unmatched, and he’s also just a great guy. The Ex-Florida Gator, is 16th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 11,271 yards, 81 behind John Riggins. He had 556 yards on the ground this season, splitting time with Maurice Jones-Drew, and averaged a career-low 3.9 yards a carry behind an injury-riddled offensive line.
Taylor was a first-round draft pick from 1998 who has played his entire career in Jacksonville. I hate to see him go. But that day has come. Lets face something right now, Freddy T has probably played his last game for Jacksonville. On Thursday, Taylor was placed on injured reserve because of a thumb injury, ending his season with three games left and questions about his future with the franchise are flying rampant.
Taylor has said as recent as two weeks ago, that he never wants to leave Jacksonville. But with a $6 million dollar check due next year, it’s likely that Taylor is gone. Taylor did say that he would consider staying for a reduced rate. But just how much reduction in pay is he willing to take? I’m telling you, the Jaguars won’t pay him anywhere near $6 fat ones for a part-time player.So, the Jags need a second productive running to help Marice-Jones-Drew. The answer is not Chauncey Washington or Alvin Pearman. The question might remain unanswered until the 2009 draft. There are plenty of good running backs coming out of college this year and the Jags should take their sweet time before making any selection.No need to rush now Jacksonville, because one thing is for sure certain, you’ll be watching the playoffs from your sofa this year. So take it easy, and think about the wasted year, and why it all went wrong. Make a list, and check it twice, because the crew you got now won’t suffice. Look down south, and check out what Big Tuna has done. And maybe one day, one day, you too can make a run. But for now, just take your medicine.By: Charles J Asbury II
Last year this time, the Dolphins were 0-13. Flash forward one year, and the Tuna Fish are 9-5. Is this team, and it’s turn around another product of the football savior, Bill Parcells?
In the past, Bill Parcells has taken three teams and transformed them into winners. The Giants, Patriots, Jets, and Cowboys all excelled under the grumpy old coach.
In his new role as V.P. of Operations, Big P., quickly enticed G.M. Jeff Ireland to join the show, who in turn hired 29 new players. Parcells then went shopping for a new coach. Tony Sparano got the gig, and since that moment, this Dolphin show finally has more fans at their home games than Marineland has on any hot summer day.
Tony Sparano is the Dolphin’s fifth coach in as many years, and could possibly end up being selected “Coach of the Year. And although, Parcells’s primary role is obviously personnel decisions, he still offers his coaches tips on things he sees on film, in practice, or even in warmups.
While they do have the luxury of a soft schedule this year, right now, the Dolphins are tied with the Patriots and Jets for first place in the AFC East, and if they sweep their final three games, they’re in the playoffs for the first time since 2001. They also could become the first team to win ten games after going 1-15 the previous year.
While never being a huge fan of Big Tuna, I must give props where they’re due. So good job ole Sour Face, and can you please help out the Jacksonville Jaguars next?
