Beginning of an Era, first up Keyshawn and Favre

Hello Everyone!

I have wanted to start a blog for a while now, but I wasn’t sure what I would talk about, nor have I had the time. Then some recent events have inspired me to give it a shot. The first being I GRADUATED LAW SCHOOL, and the second is I’ve made some really good points regarding the NFL lately. I wanted any blogs I write to have some theme or purpose behind them. Being a poli sci major in undergrad, a few years ago any blog would have been related to politics. However after 8 years of Bush, and the democrats failing miserably to stop him from being elected, and then failing to stop him from being re-elected, I have become very apathetic to all things remotely related to politics. Although seeing the early front-runners (Obama and Hillary for the Dems and McCain for the Republicans) for this upcoming election has stirred some of my interest, but its still not to the level that I would blog about it. However, I have found something I am passionate about and have been for years now. I live and breathe football, specifically the NFL. Every single day I scour all the news sites trying to find some article I haven’t read yet. I follow several teams very closely (to the point that I read their local meatball newspaper’s articles about the team). My favorite show is NFL live on ESPN, my favorite channel is the NFL network, and every morning I listen to Colin Cowherd on ESPN radio on my way to work or school. I even make sure to tivo PTI everyday. I have my opinions, predictions, theories, and I think it is time to put it in print, so when I claim credit for it, everyone will know they could have heard it here first! Now I am still busy (I’m studying for the California Bar Exam) so I am not sure how steady these will be, nor am I going to go back and edit them and slave over my grammar and word choices. This is all off the cuff in the beginning, but hopefully they do not sound too much like a rant! Anyways, here we go….

Today’s topics include Keyshawn Johnson and Brett Favre.

First let’s talk about Meshawn, I mean Keyshawn. I was very surprised that Keyshawn was actually cut by the Panthers last week. It also made Keyshawn look like an idiot because when the Panthers drafted Dwayne Jarrett (his replacement), Keyshawn went on and on during the draft coverage how he was going to take Jarrett under his wing and be his mentor. Looks like Jarrett didn’t need long for the pupil already to surpass the master. I was also extremely confused that it happened when the first reports said he was already paid a roster bonus of 3 million dollars, but this proved to be incorrect.

The thing that got me steaming about this topic was John Clayton’s report that Keyshawn was likely going to be forced into retirement, because no one wanted a 34 year old possession receiver. I found myself yelling at the TV.

Keyshawn is a SOLID 2^nd receiver. Last season he had 70 receptions for 815 yards making him 34^th overall for yards and tied for 25^th overall in receptions. A slew of teams are in dire need of a number 2 go-to-guy. I immediately formed a list of the receiving corps that Keyshawn would upgrade, and these would include, Bills, Jets, Giants, Eagles, Redskins, Ravens, Browns, Steelers, Bears, Packers, Vikings, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Bucs, Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers. However the Bucs, Steelers, Vikings, Raiders and Chargers are all sold on their current roster and probably wouldn’t make room for him. The team I was screaming about was Green Bay. Favre is pissed that the Packers passed on Moss. All the pundits are talking about how the Packers passed on Moss and didn’t draft Favre any weapons, and how he needs some offensive help. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Well my boy Keyshawn IS that offensive help and the missing piece Favre needs to take over that weak division of the NFC North (don’t get me started on the Bears right now).

Therefore I think Green Bay should make a move for Keyshawn. Johnson keeps saying he wants to go to a playoff team. Green Bay has a legitimate shot to make the playoffs, and once you are in, anything can happen. However, will Keyshawn really want to spend a year in Wisconsin? We’ll have to wait and see, but this is a match I’d love to watch.

Brett Favre and his trade request

Okay even though this next topic concerns one of the same players in the above topic, it is completely independent of my first topic, and even assumes that Keyshawn doesn’t go to Green Bay. Brett Favre talked earlier this week about being traded from Green Bay. Now we all know this would never happen, but here is a win-win situation if these two teams would pull the trigger. Vick is on the outs with Atlanta. From going through several head coaches, to flipping off the fans, to hidden compartments in water bottles, to dog fighting, even his coddling owner is getting fed up. Vick needs a change of scenery, but no one sells tickets like “the most electrifying man in sports.” Well no one except Brett Favre. Favre lives in Mississippi, and also played his first year in Atlanta. A trade would put him on a team that is a legitimate contender, instead of in the rebuilding phase that refuses to give him any weapons. However, you can’t trade Favre for Vick straight up. So here it is, Green Bay should trade Favre and a couple of draft picks (including at least one first rounder), to Atlanta for Michael Vick. Then Atlanta can use Favre at the end of his career, to try to win now, and they have draft picks where they could draft their QB of the future. Green Bay has a QB that will win now, but also has one they could build around for their future.

Again this trade would NEVER happen, but it would be an interesting solution to two teams, and two QB’s problems.

Ok those are my topics for today… but I am going to end my first blog by ripping off a great writer Peter King and his “Ten Things I think I think” from his Monday Morning QB column.

Mine will be called, “Ten Things You Should Know, That I Already Know”

1. I know Pacman Jones doesn’t deserve to be suspended for an entire season. Our American legal system was founded upon the concept “innocent until proven guilty.” Pacman hasn’t been CONVICTED of ANYTHING and judge, jury, and executioner (Roger Goodell) is going to take away his livelihood for an entire year! Don’t give me he has had a total of ten “incidents” with the police. WHO CARES! I’ve had ten “incidents” with the police and they are about to make me a freaking lawyer, which should be a lot more exclusive than running around with a ball.
2. I know Tank Johnson’s suspension will be shorter than Pacman’s. If this happens this will be the most ridiculous thing Goodell has done yet. Tank was on probation for another offense and was found with 6 firearms! He was CONVICTED and SENTENCED to SIXTY days in jail. After all that he is going to receive a lighter punishment than Pacman? That’s just not right. However, on a side note, I LOVE the name Tank. I want to name my second boy Tank. Tank McGlothlin… that’s a name for an offensive lineman all right. Unfortunately Melissa is laying down the veto, so it looks like I’ll have to name my next dog Tank, or find another girlfriend.
3. I know the NFL will eventually add a 17^th game to be played at an international venue. It is going to be pretty difficult to get the players association to approve this, but the players HATE preseason games. So if the NFL cancels TWO, not one, preseason games, and shows the players the extra cash they would make… I think it will happen. The NFL is exploding right now. It has probably reached a plateau of popularity in the U.S. so the only way to keep up this growth rate is to go international. Finally the real “football” can get the world wide fame it deserves.
4. I know T.O. will lead the league in touchdown receptions AGAIN this year. T.O. surprised everyone by coming out and actually participating in mini-camp last weekend. Bill Parcels was probably pissed as hell about that. T.O. had 13 touchdown receptions last year with a jacked up finger. The only thing people remember is his stat of “10 dropped passes” and no one gives him credit for his league leading touchdown receptions. Is dropped passes a real stat anyways? If so, how do I figure out how many dropped passes Art Monk had in 1987? That’s right, I can’t, because that stat doesn’t exist. The first time I heard about it was from the T.O. haters.
5. I know Junior Seau will have another semi productive season this year. I think Seau is about to turn fifty, yet he just re-signed with the Patriots this week. I wish he would have held off on his graduation speech last year, until he at least tested the market, then he could get a farewell celebration when he did actually “graduate”. However, Junior was somewhat productive when he got there last year (11 games, 39 solo tackles with another 30 assisted tackles, plus 1 sack), and if he hadn’t broken his arm it would have been a great storyline when he and his Patriots came into San Diego. Although N.E. had the big free agent signing of Adalius Thomas to play LB for them, I think Seau can still be as productive as a back-up and mentor.
6. I know I’m tired of Shaun Alexander, and I definitely do not want to hear anymore about his damn “broken” foot. He is done. He will never be an elite running back again and the reason is sad. HE GOT PAID. He cashed in his big paycheck, and there went all his effort. I was always on his side. He was so underrated (until the entire world talks about how you are underrated you are, thus making you OVERRATED [the same thing is happening to the Suns’ Shawn Marion]) and I thought the Seahawks were jerking him around by putting the franchise tag on him twice instead of signing him to his deserved contract extension. But it looks like Seattle was right. After last season, maybe they should have franchise tagged him again… he might of put in at least a little bit of effort.
7. I know Trent Green will be the starter for the Dolphins come opening day. He is due to make like 7 million dollars. The Chiefs just resigned their back-up Damon Huard and paid 7.5 million over three years. They also have their QB of the future Brodie Croyle. There is no way they can afford to pay 3 QB’s good money. Trent will end up getting cut in early July, and that same day he will be on a plane to Miami (if he isn’t already living there).
8. I know that although it is a good show, the NBC hit Heroes is a complete rip off of X-Men. Claire is like Wolverine, Peter is like Rogue, and now this new character the little girl can locate people like Professor X. X-men use to be my favorite Saturday morning cartoon, now it is a primetime drama, that still has me watching every episode. I think if I had a superpower it would probably related to my cat-like reflexes.
9. I know the Warriors and Suns are playing some really exciting basketball. Although I’m sure it has happened many times it was fun watching Golden State score SEVENTY in the first half, and ONE HUNDRED by then end of the third quarter in Game three. Hopefully they can overcome this 3-1 deficit they are in to set up an awesome match-up in the western conference finals.
10. I know I like multiple teams. I love the NFL and I’ve started to like several different organizations for different reasons. Moreover, in my mind I establish a clear cut order, so I won’t have any trouble on who I should cheer for when they play each other. Still, I’ve received a ton of crap for my list getting too long… so I am trimming it to just three, and here they are. Number One is my Tampa Bay Buccaneers- in high school (1997) I got even more into football, and I saw the strides Tony Dungy was making with the Bucs by adding players I loved including Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber, and ever since then I’ve been a huge fan. Number Two is America’s Team the Dallas Cowboys- this has always been my Dad’s favorite team. He grew up loving Roger Staubach… and some of my first football memories was us getting crap every week as Dallas was going 2-14, but redemption was sweet when the Cowboys went on to win three superbowls in four years. And last, Number three, the Arizona Cardinals- I plan on returning to my home state within the next few months, and finally the ownership there has shown an interest in winning a few games. So if they finally care, I can allow myself to finally care. Hopefully they suck a season or two more, so I can get my hands on some season tickets in their awesome new stadium!

Alright folks, that wraps up my first blog EVER. Be sure to leave some comments, and to mention some topics you might be interested in for my next posting.