Enjoy the Jailhouse Rock, Plax! WORD!

Hope it was worth it, tough guy. You - Mr. Cowboy. Mr. Gangsta. Loaded weapon in a nightclub. You're one bad mama jama, Plax. Ya...your team beat the Packers in OT and went on to win the Super Bowl. Great memories...and great memories to hold you over for the 2 years you're gonna spend in the pen, Bitch! Ain't so tough, be'in tough. This song's for you, BRO!

Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley

(Funny...people can say all they want about Brett Favre. But Brett ain't spending time behind bars for drinking/driving and killing someone or killing dogs or failing dope tests...or carrying loaded weapons into nightclubs. Hahahahahahahahahahaha.)

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Part 2/Bitter Fran. Someone sedate Fran Tarkenton...for my own good.

I blogged about the bitter, old, ex-Viking QB in May. Well, Fran's back. Maybe he's pissed 'cause his jersey wasn't offered up for sale on FoxSports.com (see comments below).

"I really have no interest in what Brett Favre does. He kind of lost me a few years ago by retiring and unretiring and here and there," Bitter Fran said on "The Opening Drive" on Sirius NFL Radio. "I asked a few friends here, maybe 10 or 12 people we were out with last night. I said, 'What do you think about Brett Favre going back to the Vikings?' You know who cared? Nobody." THEN WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HIM (AGAIN) ON SIRIUS RADIO, YOU ASSHOLE?! HYPOCRITE!

"I think he has been a great flamboyant quarterback, but he has made more stupid plays than any great quarterback that I've ever seen. Look at his final game in a Packers uniform. He blew that game [NFC championship] against the Giants," Bitter Fran said in late May on KFAN-1130 in the Twin Cities. YOU BLEW 3 SUPER BOWLS, FRAN! HYPOCRITE!

"Wouldn't you be upset if you're a Packer fan? I think you're going to have Packer fans burning the No. 4 Favre Green Bay jersey. I think the Packer fans have every right to be outraged." BURN YOUR JERSEYS...THAT'S RIGHT. NO - WAIT...GIVE THEM TO ME! AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, BURN BOOKS...AND WITCHES TOO!

(Paraphrasing Bitter Fran's comment in May) "I hope he signs with the Vikings and I hope he fails." IF FAVRE FAILS, DOESN'T YOUR EX-TEAM THE VIKINGS FAIL? AREN'T YOU BEING HYPOCRITICAL AND SELFISH JUST AS YOU HAVE ACCUSED FAVRE OF BEING? HYPOCRITE!

Get a grip, bitter, old man.

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Favre + Vikings. Front page headlines.

Course...it depends on who you talk to. Obviously, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Green Bay Gazette aren't too happy. Minnesota papers like the St. Cloud Times, Pioneer Press, Duluth News and Free Press are optimistic - even giddy - that Brett Favre brings leadership and diversity to the Minnesota Vikings that the team didn't have before. Or the NY Daily News - who's just plain pissed (along with columnist Gary Myers) that the Jets fell apart at the end of last season after starting 8-3. Fuck NY. That city, the press and those fans (long-time Jets' fans) crowned the Jets SB bound at 8-3. And the media there basically blamed the 1-4 year-end tumble on Brett. That's on THEIR heads.

Time will tell. I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy this for now. GO FAVRE IN 2009! Jealous bastards.

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It's Favre-a-lot on Vikings.com!

Vikings.com has some excellent graphics on its site pertaining to Brett Favre's becoming a Minnesota Viking today. Check'em out on the site for the full effect.

Video from Favre's first day of practice as a Viking.

That's Steve Hutchinson. There's a reason Favre is embracing him - Steve's a guard on the offensive line. His job is first to protect Favre, then open up lanes for Adrian Peterson to pummel through. He's a 6-time All-Pro and 6-time Pro Bowler from 2003-08 and is widely considered the top LG in the NFL. Good man to have on your side.

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It's official!! Favre signs with Minnesota Vikings!

Brett practicing with the Vikings earlier today. More from the press conference that's occurring right about....now.

As a long-time Green Bay Packer fan (except for last year), it'll be....odd...cheering for the Vikings. They've been Packer rivals for eons. But, I'm a Favre man and I will follow him into hell if need be.

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Brett is a VIKE!

Favre has just arrived in Minneapolis. Pending his physical, he will sign with the Minnesota Vikings. Haha...just when you thought this saga was over (I certainly wasn't sold on Brett's decision a couple weeks ago to not sign with the Vikes). I LOVE IT! GO FAVRE IN 2009!

NOTE: That's 291 consecutive starts with playoffs. Brett needs 2 more games to overtake former Viking Jim Marshall for the ALL-TIME consecutive start record (he already holds the QB consecutive start record).

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Minnesota ain't sore at Favre, says Bob Viking of Portage. Neither was I.

My brother sent me this letter that appeared in the Wednesday, July 29 edition of the Wisconsin State Journal.

Reader views: Favre, the merits of Madison, dachshund-eating wolves

"Favre respectful of Minnesota's offer - Again the slams against Brett Favre from State Journal sports columnist Tom Oates. Put it to rest. Minnesota's not upset. Speaking as a former Minnesotan, we would have loved to have him, but he didn't sign. End of story, no drama hold out. It would have been great for Minnesota. I think your problem is rooted in the way Favre was mistreated by Packer general manager Ted Thompson. Since you don't want to blame Thompson, you've been on Favre's case since they booted him. Go back and see how he was mistreated by "your team." That's where the disgust is and will always be. Years from now all that will be remembered is him being kicked out of Wisconsin. Minnesotans wish him well. He didn't lead us on and he made a timely decision. The Vikings asked him to come, not the other way around, but he couldn't do it. End of story in Minnesota, but not in Wisconsin. Your team mistreated him and that's your state's legacy. Live with that forever. - Bob Viking, Portage

Well put, Bob Viking from Portage.

Personally, I took Favre not coming out of retirement and joining the Vikings as a selfless act. No? Won't give Favre that credit, eh? Brett's too much of a egotistical diva to be selfless? Funny - he wasn't selfish the 16 years he spent at Green Bay, helping to bring the Packers out of the doldrums of the 70's and 80's.

Favre stringing the Vikings along? Come on. Favre is friends with Minnesota Coach Brad Childress - Childress himself said Brett was honest the entire time they spoke about the possibility of Favre becoming a Viking. No hard feelings. And the Vikes pursued Favre.

I'm sure Brett thought about his legacy and the fact that if his body wouldn't hold up for an entire season he'd look foolish. But I'm not going to try and surmise what was going through Brett's head. You're the mind readers - I'll let you do that. But the Vikings were a perfect fit for him - maybe one of the best scenarios he could have EVER walked into. I believe Brett also considered the fact that if his body failed him, he'd also disappoint the team and Childress and Favre didn't want that either. Brett needed to start just two more games to surpass the all-time consecutive starts record (he holds the record for QB's). He could've added to the NFL records he already has. He could've made around $10 million. He could've played the game he loved and basked in the glory one more year. But he chose not to, that egotistical bastard.

Who's to say he doesn't change his mind halfway through training camp? Who's to say some QB goes down hurt and the Favre phone rings midway through the NFL season? I don't know. You don't know. Favre doesn't know. And so what if he does? Am I delusional? Is it possible that I can't be objective? Whatever. I feel good that I supported him through his departure from Green Bay, while he was playing with the New York Jets and while he is retired. Those of you who rip on Favre for being a diva, for being selfish, for being an egotist are the same people who are cheering that he didn't sign with Minnesota. Self-righteous bastards. Now who's selfish? If you disagree with me that's your problem, not mine. If your opinion of Favre has changed since he left Green Bay, that's your problem not mine.

Remember one thing - all Favre wanted to do was play the game he loved. He didn't kill dogs, shoot people, do illegal drugs, or cheap shot guys on the field. So hold it against him - that he wanted to just play ball. No one gave the game more. And he did it his way, no matter what the media or the fans or his critics said about him. Not sure how many times I heard, "Ircink, you were a Favre fan and not a Packer fan...don't ever cheer for the Pack again; you're a bandwagon fan". Fine. Then I don't wanna hear YOU ever praise Favre again. Matter of fact, I don't even want to hear the name "Brett Favre" come from your lips. 'Cause that would make you just as much of a fair weather fan of Favre's as you say I am of the Pack. While you languished since the Packer divorce, I relished in seeing Favre play one more season - and a pretty good season it was before he tore his bicep tendon. Talk of SB. You languished. Not me. Not once. You bitched and cried. I cheered.

Your problem - not mine. Or Brett's. So kiss my ass.

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Favre to remain retired. Dammit.

Favre told the Minnesota Vikings today that he will remain retired.

ESPN's Ed Werder said that Favre's decision not to play for the Vikings was incredibly difficult, and in the process he indicated that he is unlikely to ever considering playing again in the NFL. "It was the hardest decision I've ever made,'' Favre said. "I didn't feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings -- but, most importantly, the fans."

Favre, who had shoulder surgery in May, experienced soreness in both ankles and his left knee during his private workouts in Mississippi. The pain would not subside and worsened as he continued to prepare for a potential 19th NFL season, which Favre considered proof that his health was too precarious to be trusted for a 16-game season.

"I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons,'' Favre said. "They were telling me, 'You went through all this, you had the surgery and you've got to finish it off.' But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I'm 39 with a lot of sacks to my name."

Here are just a few of Favre's NFL records:

consecutive starts by a QB = 269 (291 including playoffs, 2nd all-time)
wins = 169
completions = 5720
attempts = 9280
pass yards = 65, 127
pass TD = 464
ints = 310

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Montana & Elway to Favre: Play football.

In case anyone cares, NFL Hall of Famers Joe Montana and John Elway both chimed in in favor of Brett Favre playing his 19th year with the Minnesota Vikings.

So all the naysayers just shut the hell up.

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Will he or Won't he? Favre & the Vikes.

Last week former Green Bay Packer and New York Jet QB Brett Favre announced he'd make his decision about whether or not to unretire and play for the Minnesota Vikings. Apparently, Favre then upped his deadline to tomorrow (Friday).

Will he or won't he?

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Favre throwing the pigskin around in Hattiesburg, MS.

At a recent high school football workout in Mississippi, someone commented, "(Brett Favre) was crisp on short timing passes and was hitting receivers in the end zone from about 50 yards away. He attempted a few deep passes off bootlegs and usually hit his targets in stride...Favre's spirals held true and he proved he still has plenty of zip when he tossed a deep pass to a college receiver who dropped by to work out. The pass split the receiver's hands and hit him in the face."

"He's a senior from Southeastern Louisiana, so I put a little more on it," Favre said with a smile.

WR Micah Williams from Oak Grove High in Hattiesburg, Miss., told the AP, "He's still throwing hard like he used to...Still with zip. Hard. If you don't wear gloves, your hands are going to be through."

Favre commented, "With the small ones (receivers), you've got to learn to take a little bit off when you throw it," Favre said. "I haven't had a parent call me and say, 'Are you trying to kill my son?' "

Favre recently said he'd make his decision whether or not to come out of retirement once again to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season by July 30. He then upped his deadline to this Friday.

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Driver says "legacy tarnished" for Favre is bull.

"My own opinion is that his legacy is not going to be tarnished by anything," Driver told Sirius XM radio. "He’s going to be able to still retire as a Green Bay Packer. I don’t think anyone will ever wear the No. 4 jersey in Green Bay ever again. It would not hurt him. I think when you love the game as much as he loves it, (if) you’re going to go somewhere else and play, then you’re going to go somewhere else and play. And that’s one thing we don’t have control over. We don’t have control over our careers. Sometimes you play with a team for a certain amount of years and they let you go and you still feel like you can play, you’re going to go out and play and that doesn’t matter where it’s at."

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The One Win Brett Favre Will Never Get.

Reprinted from my Bleacher Report article, July 16, 2009.

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Favre sets a deadline for word to Vikes.

Former Green Bay and New York Jet quarterback Brett Favre has announced that he has given himself a July 30 deadline - the start of NFL training camp - to give his decision to the Minnesota Vikings about whether or not he's playing for them this upcoming season. Here's the story.

Regarding the condition of his arm, there doesn't seem to be any question the Ironman gunslinger still has it. According the AP article, "He was crisp on short timing passes and was hitting receivers in the end zone from about 50 yards away. He attempted a few deep passes off bootlegs and usually hit his targets in stride...Favre's spirals held true and he proved he still has plenty of zip when he tossed a deep pass to a college receiver who dropped by to work out. The pass split the receiver's hands and hit him in the face."

"He's a senior from Southeastern Louisiana, so I put a little more on it," Favre said with a smile.

Any hesitancy by Favre about making a bid for his 19th season and adding on to his record-setting consecutive starts for a QB (2nd overall for any position, and if he plays he will be the all-time leader in this category for any position) is explained in his Tiger Woods analogy,

"He goes out and hits a 2 iron and he thinks it will go the normal distance it has all his life, then all of a sudden it's 13 yards short, and he says, 'I don't know why that is because everything felt perfect,' so that's what I have to get through," Favre said.

If you've read this blog, you know I'm a Favre groupie. Always have been. I support whatever his decision is. However, I hope he plays for the Vikings and kicks the shit out of the Green Bay Packers - and every other team they play. GO FAVRE IN 2009!

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Dave Myers' view on Favre is smart, objective and rational.

Dave Myers of the Lacrosse Tribune (WI) weighs in on Brett Favre's potential signing with the Minnesota Vikings. One of the more smarter, objective and rational articles I've read thus far. Especially number 5.

Check out the comment section too.

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Whatever you think...Brett Favre is still relevant. And dangerous.

We've heard Michael Irvin say Favre should stay retired. I know there's others who agree. As I mentioned below, former dirty player and performance enhancing drug user NFLer Rodney Harrison said he's sick and tired of "this whole thing" and claims that all the players he's talked to view Brett as "pretty selfish".

Who cares (thanks, Sidney) what Rodney Harrison has to say? Come on, illegal drug user and dirty player Rodney has a lot of balls calling Favre "selfish". Obviously Rodney didn't talk to Packer CB Al Harris. Harris doesn't think Favre would be hurting his legacy by playing for the Vikings, telling Sirius NFL Radio that true Packers fans will "always love Brett Favre, wherever he plays."

What about Bart Starr (ex-Pack HoF'er), Joe Nammath, Paul Hornung (ex-Pack HoF'er) or Jerry Kramer (ex-Pack HoF'er)? They feel Favre should play if he wants to. Have you talked to them, Rodney?

Who are you, Rodney, to tell Brett Favre what he can or cannot do AND why is it selfish for Favre to want to play football? Ever change your mind, Rodney? I think YOU'RE selfish, Rodney. And I think you're a dick.

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Okie Barry Tramel says Favre too old for Vikings.

Columnist Barry Tramel of the NewsOK thinks Brett Favre is too old to take the Viking's to Super Bowl:

"Favre’s quarterback ratings the last four years: 70.9, 72.7, 95.7 and 81.0. Rosefels’ ratings the last two years, in which he’s been a part-time starter: 84.8, 79.5. Jackson’s ratings his three years in the NFL, during which he’s made 19 starts: 62.5, 70.8, 95.4.

Favre is descending quickly, which is what 40-year-old quarterbacks do, and Jackson, particularly, is improving, which is what 26-year-old quarterbacks do."

You lost me, Barry.

Rosefel's ratings were over two years, part-time and went down. Jackson's ratings are on the rise, but he's only started 19 times in 3 years. Comparing the stats for both Viking QBs to Favre, who started 48 games in the last 3 years (regular season) is, I think, like comparing apples to oranges. Sure, Favre is gonna be 40 this October, but the Vikings are poised to make a Super Bowl Run NOW. And NOW is when a guy like Favre can make a difference. Rosefel and Jackson have been inconsistent at best.

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Letters to the Editor DO get published! Let's hear it for FAVRE!!!!!

Last week on PASSION = TRUTH, I posted my retort on to Mike Hunt, sports columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, my hometown newspaper. I was lucky enough that the Journal actually published my letter in last Sunday's sports section:

I received a call from a Journal representative while I was whooping it up with family in Santa Barbara so I had a pretty good idea the letter would make the paper, and my mother alerted Sunday morning and sent me a copy. Oddly, the sports department doesn't publish their letter to the editor online (like the rest of the paper does). And boy, did my mother get the phone calls - relatives in the Packer camp wondering what in the hell I'm doing, coffee-clutch friends contemplating my return to the Fatherland in July and if that's such a good thing as Favre might be playing for the Packers' arch-rival Minnesota Vikings...nuts.

Generally speaking, I hate the media. A DetroitNews.com columnist was bitching yesterday that, though he felt Favre has every right to want to play football, it's Favre that's the cause of the media circus due to his inability to make up his mind - retire or not retire. I sent Tony Augusty a copy of this letter, reminding him that the only thing Brett Favre is guilty of is breathing and being human. It's the MEDIA that's created the circus with its non-stop coverage of Favre farting, getting in his SUV to go anywhere, tossing a football at the local high school. LET ME REMIND YOU - all the sound bytes from Favre and interesting stories of him fishing and bowhunting and his practical jokes were sufficient when he was playing for Green Bay. Since that nasty divorce debacle, Favre has been more the butt of jokes than on the giving end of them.

You see - Favre doesn't need the media to play football. Just put up signage and direct the fans to the football field. They'll come. But the media needs sports celebrities and the game to fill its newspapers, magazines and plethora of online sources.

I applaud the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for publishing my letter. It's not that often it happens. And - it was a good letter.

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Favre not a Viking just yet.

There's been some hubbub the last few days by Wisconsin media that details have been hammered out for Brett Favre to join the Minnesota Vikings this season. That may be all well and good (as long as Brett feels his arm is up to snuff), but NONE of this has been confirmed by the Vikings or Brett.

I'll keep you posted - when I know it's a done deal.

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The Business of Being Favre.

Interest is high in Vikings-Packers game
By Don Walker of the Journal Sentinel
Jun. 19, 2009 7:46 a.m.

The prospect of Brett Favre as the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings has certainly generated more interest than normal for the two Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings games this coming season.

StubHub, a major secondary ticket provider in the country, reports that the Nov. 1 game between the teams at Lambeau Field is already the second highest-grossing game of the upcoming season. It trails only the season opener against the Chicago Bears.

That Nov. 1 game is also fetching the highest average ticket-selling price for all of the Packers' homes games. The average price is $267.

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