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Brett Favre : How Can You Not Love The Guy?
Published: November 19, 2009
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If there is one player in the NFL that people love to see succeed, it is Brett Favre. To go along with that, if there is one player in the NFL I love to write about, it is Brett Favre.
Coincidence? I think not.
Brett Favre has stolen the hearts of NFL fans since the 1992 season when he became the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. He is in his 19th season as an NFL quarterback, and he has done a pretty good job.
Favre is the NFL leader in all time wins. That record stands for itself.
But I’m not here to brag about Favre’s records, I think we all know what he has done.
Let’s talk about the 2009 Minnesota Vikings’ Brett Favre. The guy is remarkable.
Through 10 weeks of NFL football he is leading the league in passer rating, something he has never done. Brett has thrown 17 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Jay Cutler, the guy who was supposed to be the next Brett Favre, has thrown 17 interceptions this season.
Ironic.
Favre’s 17-3 TD to INT ratio is easily the best of his career. Brett is also second in the NFL in plays over 40 yards, with 10. Another stat that is amazing to me is that Brett is 20th in the league amongst NFL quarterbacks in passing attempts per game, with 31.
Let me put this all together for you. He is fifth in TDs, 20th in passing attempts, and second to last with three INTs. The guy who has thrown less interceptions than him has only started at quarterback for his team for a few weeks. He’s Shaun Hill of the 49’ers and he has two.
Brett’s 68 percent completion rating is the highest of his career as well. Oh what’s that, you want another career best? How about his career high yards per completion? That’s right. He is averaging eight yards per completion.
So let me get this right…
The man with all the records is breaking his own career bests?
Yes!
The thing about Brett is that he does not care about the records. Yes, he is thankful to have them, but his No. 1 concern always has been, and still is, winning football games.
This year is no different, as he has led the Minnesota Vikings to a 8-1 start.
The Vikings are second in the league in scoring, and seventh in the league in yards per game.
To all the Brett Favre doubters, Child Please. Thank you Chad Ochocinco for being so modest.
The fact of the matter is, Brett Favre is playing great football. Possibly the best football he has played in his career.
If you are a Green Bay fan, I understand your bitterness. If you want to see your NFC North team succeed, I can understand you not rooting for the guy. But if you’re just Average Joe and you don’t like Brett Favre, I’m confused.
Brett is an exciting player to watch. He does not give up on plays and will always play with his heart over his head. He has never played scared and never will.
He represents a you-get-what-you-earn kind of attitude and that seems really American to more people than just me.
Anytime I can watch Brett play I will, no matter what team he is playing for.
Here’s to you Brett. This Sunday I’ll have a beer and watch you tear up the Seahawks and continue your dominance of the NFL in 2009.
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Schaub, Johnson, and Daniels: Can They Make the Texans Contenders?
Published: October 23, 2009
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The Houston Texans are arguably the most inconsistent team in the National Football League.
The Texans are off to a 3-3 start to the 2009 regular season and are hoping to reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They have defeated the Titans, Raiders, and Bengals. In each of these games, the Texans have had to score at least 28 points to win.
Matt Schaub is second in the NFL in passing yards and first in the league in passing touchdowns. He is in the midst of a career season and is considered a first tier quarterback in nearly all fantasy football leagues.
His main man, Andre Johnson, is second in the NFL in receiving yards, averaging 96 yards per game.
The Texans are 12th in the league in points per game, scoring an average of 24 points.
One of the main reasons for the Texans’ disappointing record compared to their great passing stats? The rushing game.
The Texans only have two rushing touchdowns on the season, compared to Schaub’s 14 passing touchdowns. We have scored the fifth-most touchdowns in the league, with 18 (two coming on defense and special teams).
The Texans are ranked 30th in the league in rushing out of 32 teams.
Steve Slaton has had a bad case of the butterfingers so far this year, and we just have not been able to get it going on the ground.
The Texans’ defense was supposed to be greatly improved this year with the additions of Brian Cushing, Connor Barwin, Shaun Cody, and Antonio Smith.
The Texans’ “shutdown” corner, Dunta Robinson, held out all of training camp with contract disputes and has not been much more than an attitude problem since then.
Can Schaub and Johnson carry this team to the playoffs for the first time?
From the looks of the way things are going right now, Schaub is going to have to throw for 30+ touchdowns this season and Andre is going to have to catch the majority of them.
The Colts are the favorites to win the AFC South, as they have started out undefeated. Are the Texans good enough to take a wild card spot?
Other likely contenders for the wild card: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Miami, NY Jets, New England, and San Diego.
The reason I listed all of these teams is because only one team can win each division, and there are only two wild card teams left over.
That is a pretty good looking list of teams, and the big question: Can the Texans be better than these guys?
Yes. They can.
They already beat Cincy, who is no slouch to say the least. The other teams on this list are all solid all around, though.
In order for the Texans to be as good as these teams and for the record of the Texans to be as good is to be better all around.
That’s quite the recipe that needs to be served up.
Schaub and Andre have to keep doing what they are doing.
Tight end Owen Daniels has not been mentioned in this article, but he is leading all tight ends in touchdown receptions this season and is Schaub’s favorite target in the red zone.
The running game has to improve because one dimensional teams will not win the Super Bowl.
On top of that, I think it is fitting to end this reading with…
“Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.”
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Does the Oakland Raiders’ Fountain of Youth Equal a Bright Future?
Published: October 2, 2009
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The Oakland Raiders have many early picks in the NFL Draft over the past few years. During these seasons, people were not happy that the Raiders were playing so poorly. Looking back, were a few rough years worth a possible rebuilding of a respectable franchise?
The latest young superstars of the Oakland Raiders come from the offensive side of the football. JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, and Darrius Heyward-Bey are all first-round picks. Robert Gallery is also a first-round draft pick.
Aside from these guys, there are defensive leaders like Thomas Howard, Nmandi Asomugha, and newly acquired Richard Seymour.
The rebuilding process for the Raiders was a long one, with many disappointing seasons. Is now the time for hope in Oakland?
Can JaMarcus Russell establish himself and one day lead these guys to a championship? Can Zach Miller stay a consistent tight end and catch 80 balls every season?
Oakland has many questions to answer, but the good news is that they have plenty of time to answer them.
No one can expect a 13-3 season this year, and a .500 winning percent would be great compared to the last few years.
Oakland is back to being a contender instead of a pretender in a division that has gradually weakened over time.
Raider fans stay faithful; Oakland is back on the uprise.
The young have talent, and they will grow into veterans.
Raider Nation: Prepare yourselves for a change, and be ready for an offensive explosion in the years to come.
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Analyzing the Houston Texans Defense, or Lack Thereof
Published: October 1, 2009
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Football season is underway, and the first few weeks are in the books. Surprises around the NFL have not been rare this year.
The Jets, Broncos, Ravens, Colts, Giants, Vikings, and Saints are all still undefeated. The Dolphins, Browns, Titans, Chiefs, Panthers, Rams, and Buccaneers are all defeated. We have seven 3-0 teams and seven 0-3 teams heading into week four.
The unexpectedly strong teams, such as the Broncos and Jets, are living the high life. The biggest letdowns (Dolphins and Titans both won their divisions last year) are looking for answers.
The Houston Texans defense? Lost. Ranked dead last. They are ranked 28th in points allowed on the season, giving up 86 total points so far. The fewest points they have given up in a game? 24. Not acceptable.
This is an NFL franchise that has hopes of reaching the NFL playoffs. After two years of finishing 8-8, an explosive offense and subpar defense, at best, are not going to get us where we want to be.
In three games, the Texans defense has one sack. ONE. Mario Williams is coming into his prime and is supposed to be one of the best defensive ends in the league, and we cannot get to the quarterback.
Brian Cushing, the rookie from USC, is leading the team in tackles with 24 total.
The Texans have a lack of discipline. This could have something to do with their struggles. When the Saints came into town for preseason, a fight broke out between DeMeco Ryans and Jeremy Shockey. There was another altercation when the Minnesota Vikings came to town in preseason week four.
Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones were both fined for fighting Titans players in our week two win at Tennessee.
Dunta Robinson was fined $25,000 for writing “pay me Rick” on the back of his cleats in the week one loss to the Jets. Seriously? Grow up.
The Rick he is referring to is Texans general manager Rick Smith. Robinson held out all offseason, and when he showed up for the first game, he got the start. If I was the guy behind him on the depth chart, my bags might be packed.
There is a definite understanding for backing up your teammates and looking out for one another. It’s a different story when it’s happening more than it should. These guys need to act like grown men and drop the egos. Instead of worrying about how they look on the field and how tough they are, they need to worry about the opposing team is running the score up on them.
They have given 100-yard games to every starting running back they have faced thus far in the season.
The Oakland Raiders are making a visit to Reliant Stadium Sunday at noon. If the Texans don’t show up to play, Darren McFadden will have his way and put up a fantasy football player’s dream game.
A comment was made after the week one loss vs. the Jets as I was leaving the stadium. I heard a woman say, “It’s not fair that the fans have to pay to be here and the team does not even show up.”
The Houston Texans have a solid home crowd, and they have never not sold out a home game. Our fans are faithful, but the team needs to do their part.
As usual, I will be there to watch the Texans Sunday, and I’m hoping the guys will show up to play.
C’mon Texans.
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