Read this great article on Brett Favre - "Here Goes Nothing", which appeared in the New York Times Play Sports Magazine this past Sunday. The photo below was the lead shot inside the magazine. Writer Jeff MacGregor does a nice job of writing an objective feature on the future Hall of Famer.
BeerKid From Packerpalace.com - Monday, November 3, 2008 writes:
Brett Favre Come Back!!!
Here I am admonished, on bended knee, pleading for Brett Favre to come back to the Packers... as Offensive Coordinator. What do you say Brett, didn't you say during the summer that you wanted to be a coach? Here's an excellent opportunity.
It used to be a crazy-assed wild conspiracy rumor that head coach Mike McCarthy got rid of #4 because he kept changing the play-call from a standard 2 yard off-tackle run to a exciting pass to any of the league's best group of YAC WR's. But now I'm not so sure, especially after watching a completely half-assed attempt at trying to win the game with a strategy that rivals Minnesota's Brad Childress in it's ineptness... I'm reduced to pleading for the Packers offensive coordinator from last year to come back and save the Packers season. Apparently that was ex-QB Brett Favre.
Who want's their team to try to be a power-running team (something where the Packers can never be again ever, in the red-zone, on 1st down, never, ever, with underweight o-lineman and the ZBS installed) and lose games... not me... and one last thing, hey coach, thanks for breaking in a rookie TE at the expense of completed passes and first downs.
BeerKid's one of the two owners/proprietors of the site, Packerpalace.com - a site I used to go all the time. The 3 Wise Monkeys are Packers' Coach Mike McCarthy, GM Ted Thompson and President Mike Murphy. The Packers are currently 4-4...one more loss than they had all last season. I have boycotted them after decades of fanaticism and am supporting Brett Favre and the New York Jets, currently 5-3 (4-12 last season).
A perfect NFL football weekend for me. Divisionally - the Jets beat the Bills, Patriots lost to Indy, Miami lost. And the Packers lost to Tennessee in OT. The only thing that was disappointing was Brett had no TDs. Not that stats matter (particularly when you win), but they sorta do to Favre fans, you know. With the win, the Jets move into a tie with New England for 1st place in the AFC East.
Favre registered his 260th career consecutive start - since 1992, the longest streak by any QB ever and 2nd of all players in the history of the NFL. Statistically, Favre didn't have a Favrearian day - 201 yards or so, no TDs and one INT (his 300th, also an NFL record by the way..well, he DOES have EVERY QB record you can attain). But up until that INT, which put the Bills within 6 points of tying the game in the 4th quarter, Brett managed the game well. After the win, Brett said something about how odd it was not throwing any TDs - "at least, not to my own team".
But the overriding factor is THE TEAM jelled and played an entire game. Together. They didn't panic.
"He's a beast," Coach Mangini said of Kris Jenkins (above), who registered two sacks on the day. "He's tough to handle. He plays with very good technique and he's able to control the gap and he's got another gear when he's getting off the ball in a pure pass-rushing situation. And he just causes a lot of problems internally for our opponents."
After the INT, Favre responded by efficiently producing a 14-play, 65-yard drive that ate up nearly 9 minutes and ended with Jay Feely hitting a 31-yard field goal to clinch the victory. I have reservations about Feeley - missed a 37-yarder yesterday and another last week or the week before. Looks squatty, like a running back. And his kicking style bugs me - like I'm not confident he'll make it through the uprights.
Abram Elam intercepted the Bills deep, deep in Jets' territory and ran back a TD for 92 yards. It took the wind out of the Bills' sails after a questionable coaching call by Jet Coach Eric Mangini, but...the defense did their thang. WHOO!
Hench's last article for Fox was what would happen if you took scathing political ads and applied them to the sports world. Brett made #1 (out of 10, I believe).
I know who Brett is. I don't think many care who you are, Hench. And I'm pretty sure Brett doesn't either.
I have very strong inclinations to picket the FoxSports offices here in Los Angeles over the Jay Glazer article on Brett Favre. However, I believe the story is slowly dying and I don't want to adversely affect Brett or the Jets.
(No animals were harmed while writing this story. Uh...that one? Not sure. It's not my picture.)
For fear of beating a dead horse (or a dead story), I must clarify something I keep seeing in the media regarding Brett Favre's press conference this morning where he addresses FoxSports.com columnist Jay Glazer's borderline defamatory article on Brett supposedly having a coup d’état/tête-à-tête with members of the Detroit Lions organization. (You can read earlier posts on the subject but man...that was one long-ass sentence.)
There’s one point I keep seeing in the press that came from Brett Favre's press conference Wednesday morning. Tom Pelissero's Insider's Blog on Packernews.com (which was a pretty fair summary of the events up 'til now - nice job, Tom) echoed what I found in many articles that reported on the press conference - that Favre's admission that he talked to the Lions was, "a far cry from Favre's initial reaction to Sports Illustrated's Peter King that Glazer's report was 'total B.S.' "
But that's not what Favre texted Peter King. According to King, "he (Favre) texted me before the Jets-Raiders Sunday to call the story 'total BS ... not true and pretty ridiculous. I'm telling you it's not true. What the hell is their [Fox's] problem?' "
Doesn’t anyone see the difference?? Favre's quote was non-specific. It's not in reference to talking to anyone OR to the content of the story itself. He just states it without directing it to any one thing. Since Favre stated Wednesday morning that ex-Lion Pres. Matt Millen called him, I'm to infer that Brett's text to King was in reference to the content of Glazer’s story, not whether or not he talked to anyone from the Lion’s organization. It doesn't matter if you THINK Favre denied talking to anyone and now he said he did - because he never actually said "I never talked to anyone from Detroit - it's B.S." in his text to King.
Lastly, Tom Pelissero of Packernews.com states in his Insider’s Blog on October 20th that Glazer said when he first got wind of the news, he was told that Favre may have been helping several of the Packers' opponents. "I did not find that to be true," Glazer said. "But that was the original tip I was given." Yet Glazer stated in his article, “In addition, there have been rumors that Favre has spoken to other teams giving them information, but most of those teams insist they have not heard from the famed gunslinger.” So if Glazer found this information to be false, why did he mention it? “I’m sorry, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury – please disregard what Mr. Glazer just said”. Am I to assume that FoxSports.com is now in the habit of publishing stories based on rumor and innuendo?
People are asking questions about Brett Favre’s integrity and character, but aren’t these points enough to question the integrity and character of Glazer’s and FoxSports.com’s Or should people continue to follow whatever they say blindly? Why can't journalists learn to just do their job? Fucking assholes.
Look four posts down at the story on the biased FoxSports.com poll. Read it. I called them here in Los Angeles and pointed out how stupid they looked - and how their biased poll (joke or not) incriminated their own company. Several others commented online as well. Here's another screen capture with the time of 12:10 p.m. in the bottom right corner.
Now look - magically! here's the NEW POLL they put up sometime before 4:01 p.m. (I know - I'm very smart). New question. Someone at FoxSports.com must have realized what a bunch of idiots they looked like. Talk about "character" and "truth" and "non-biased reporting". More importantly, it should make anyone question Jay Glazer and his reporting, an employee of FoxSports.com, as well as FoxSports.com itself for publishing the story in the first place...particulary without Glazer contacting Favre for his side of the story.
(From Merriam Webster online) "hearsay evidence": evidence based not on a witness's personal knowledge but on another's statement not made under oath.
FoxSports.com columnist Jay Glazer's article on Brett Favre contained information that wasn't sourced to Jay himself, but by unnamed sources. Brett Favre's account of the same information in Jay's article comes from Brett himself.
This means Jay's article is based on hearsay, which is inadmissible in any court of law. Therefore, it's a piece of shit article and Jay Glazer is a piece of shit, yellow journalist.
FYI: Here's the Wikipedia definition of "yellow journalism". The definition includes such words as, "exaggerations of news events", "scandal-mongering", "sensationalism", (i.e. "VIDEO: Watch Favre's Denial!" or "Read the Story that got the Controversy Started!"), or "unprofessional practices by news media organizations or journalists" and "heavy reliance on unnamed sources".
You can check out the Jets website and watch the Brett Favre press conference dated today - 10/22/08. Watch it all and then you'll have Brett's side of the story and not just Glazer's unsourced side. I left satisfied with Brett's explanations.
Also if you go to the FoxSports.com site where they talk about Brett's comments regarding Jay Glazer's article, you'll see one of the common FoxSports polls that reads: "Who do ya trust - Jay Glazer or ESPN?" Your choices to click on are "Jay" and "Jay".
Unless that's a mistake (a pretty odd one considering), if that isn't a blatant admittion of FoxSports' biased and slanted reporting, what is? Also, it's pretty brazen...showing that they don't care about YOUR opinion when asking you to vote on their stories - enough to give you a choice, isn't it? "Hey, Joe the Plumber! Here's your Presidential ballot. It reads, Vote for President. Here are your choices. Obama. And Obama. Now vote."
What? It's what I was told! I have confirmed with three reliable sources that Glazer, Schein, Hench, Kreigel and Florio really do this - among other things, reportedly. But I can't tell you who the sources are (they're trusted, don't worry). I stake my always solid reputation on the story. There's nothing wrong with pulling a train with three or four of your closest but-tees, is there? My sources said its a million percent true. I mean, Jay Glazer "broke" a story and didn't name his sources. Why can't I do the same? He's a big-time, respected, national columnist for Fox Sports and I'm just a no-name blogger. What's the difference?
(NOTE: If you surmise any reference to homosexual tendencies, that's your business. This is not in any way a condemnation on the gay community. I'm a straight actor/playwright with a numerous gay friends who fully support gay marriage and gay rights.)
What are the odds that so many douche bags would pick the same place to work? Glazer "broke" a story yesterday that former Green Bay QB and current Jets' QB Brett Favre "prepped" the Detroit Lions prior to their Week 2 game against the Pack (a game the Pack won). "Prepped" as in gave the Lions' coaching staff inside information - nuances - on the Packers' offense.
Now all the other douches at FoxSports.com are picking up on the same story and repeating each other. Kreigel hasn't yet but he will. Toady, douche writer Kevin "I need a real haircut" Hench wrote an equally defaming article on FOX Sports that was based on Glazer's tell-all story, with the title, "Spoiled Brett".
This morning, Favre denied the report via SI.com's Peter King. Favre texted King before the Jets-Raiders Sunday to call the story "total bs ... not true and pretty ridiculous. I'm telling you it's not true. What the hell is their [FOX's] problem?'' Lions' Chief Operating Officer Tom Lewand stated, "Our coaches are perplexed. There was no coaching of our coaching staff [by Favre].''
First of all, where's the paper trail? Phone records of the incident? Aside from Glazer's word and his no-name, reported sources, what is there?
Second, if Glazer wants to help downplay those of us who question his story because it's not sourced, then name the source or sources. If you're gonna have the balls to accuse someone of something, be a fucking man and have your name printed.
Third, for it to matter to the Lions, wouldn't the inside info have to be fairly specific? How could Brett know anything about the Packers' offense if it's been modified for current GB QB Aaron Rogers (according to Coach McCarthy)? And why would Favre try and help a team that has sucked against the Pack for eons? Certainly with Brett's "inside information", wouldn't it be in better hands with a formidable opponent, someone other than the Lions?
Fourth, if this is a big deal, why isn't it on the lead pages of ESPN.com or NFL.com?
Fifth, Mark Kreigel works for FoxSports.com; he is a douche bag and I still want him to die (see 9/23 post). Also, flip-flop Kreigel/Danny Bonaduce said the Dodgers should win the World Series, then a couple weeks later said that Tampa Bay will win the series. You're right, Kreigel, you do have one of the only jobs in the world where you get paid to be wrong - and be a dick.
Sixth, did Glazer try and contact Favre to get his side of the story? No - Glazer doesn't mention that in his tell-all tale. I guess that's not Glazer's protocol - fairness.
Seventh, Favre has a lot of friends in the NFL. It's getting to be that he can't talk to anyone without someone trying to find as story in it. Saddly, most columnists picking up on this story and assuming Favre is guilty based on Glazer's word alone.
Bullshit. The media can blow me (as I've said too often). Now there's another dumb ass on SportingNews.com, Mike Florio from ProFootballTalk.com, says, "burn your Favre jerseys" and then follows with, "if the reports are true..."
OK, Jay and Mike Show - your mother's are witches. Let me burn them to death THEN find information to substantiate my claim. How's that? I burn your mother THEN try and find out after she's burnt to a crisp IF she really was a witch.
Little too late once you've accused someone isn't it?
The problem with the press is a story based on anything anyone tells you is published first - people believe what they read 'cause they're idiots - with no sources and a pack of rumors and 'I heard this" or "I think's". If you wanna "think", think Watergate. Think Washington Post. The unnamed source (Deepthroat) had to be verified by numerous named sources before Woodward and Bernstein could print their stories. Glazer should be sued for defamation of character or libel (one is a verbal slander and one is written), particularly if one of the company's Favre endorses (Snapper, Remington) expresses concerns over the issue. Think about this, with Glazer's "stellar" reputation in the media and "breaking" stories with unnamed sources, theoretically, he could publish a story on FoxSports.com that states I am a pedophile and my life would be in ruin. True or not, if Glazer writes it, it's fact - unnamed sources and all. Right? What about innocent until proven guilty? People are saying burn your #4 jerseys and that Favre's legacy will be tarnished - based on what? A story with no sources? Just because it's in print for the public to view?
One thing's for certain, until Favre decided to come out of retirement, there was nary (like that...."nary") a bad news item on him. It's evident there's some bad blood - to whatever extent it is - between Favre and the Packers, regardless of whether or not there's any truth to this story. Favre didn't beat a teammate or his wife, get stopped for DUI or illegal steroids, or do a bayou dance on the Dallas star while autographing footballs with a Sharpie. A spat's a spat and that's all it amounts to. My take on Glazer's "scoop" is that it's bullshit, irresponsible journalism; that Favre and the Packer story is ripe for being beat like a dead horse by this beat-off, balding, goatee-wearing, mutha Glazer, and that Glazer doesn't have the nuts to name his sources. Quite frankly, if my team screwed me over and royally fucked up the PR on the entire retirement/trade story, I'd give their game secrets away too. It's not illegal by NFL standards to do so.
Or maybe it was the hapless Jets. Can't give you a great review of the game as I only watched it a few minutes into the 3rd quarter. I had to be at the Carl Wilson Cancer Foundation shindig at the Roxy in West Hollywood and didn't want my evening tainted should the Jets lose. And they were losing 3-10 when I turned it off.
The one observation I will make is that Favre spent too much time either on the turf or running for his life. The Raider defense left Brett little time to get the ball to his receivers.
NEXT WEEK: Kansas City Chiefs (1-5) at Jets (3-3).
The media sucks. Wherever the slimeballs are, they can not hide. Not even under their rock.
Brett Favre was asked about returning next season, and he said he won't make that decision until next year. "We'll take it week to week," the Jets' quarterback said Wednesday. "At the end of the season, I'll take a look at ... I'll assess how I played this year and talk with the Jets and we'll see from there. I think it's way premature to even think about next season."
Didn't Brett already address this issue with the Jets' management when they signed him? They asked him for a 2-year commitment and he said no - we'll take it year-to-year. And this fact was shared with the media. Deaf motherfuckers. You see? What have I been preaching? Favre has NEVER brought up the retirement issue - at Green Bay nor at New York. He was JUST signed this season by the Jets and has played 5 games and the scum-sucking journalists can't stop with the "are you coming back next season?" questions.
ESPN is debating on number of "hot" topics - current MVP, best running back, best team, worst team and, who got the better end of the Brett Favre trade: Jets or Packers?
As of 11:06 a.m this morning PST, 30,101 voters chimed in and 75% say the Jets got the best of the deal, while 25% say the Pack got the best of the deal.
Heeehawww!! So sorry, 3 Wise Monkeys (Pres. Mike Murphy, Coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson). You know where I stand, regardless of how either team's season ends up. The Packers can lick my lingum. I remain a loyal boycotter of Green Bay and will NOT cross the scab picket line. GO JETS IN 2008! GO FAVRE IN 2008!
CBS commentator Dan Marino had this to say about Green Bay’s decision to trade Brett Favre to the Jets.
“They shouldn’t have traded away Brett Favre because last year they were 13-3 with him and went to the N.F.C. Championship game…He is a guy that still has ability. You see what he’s doing with the New York Jets. He’s healthy. You have to go with the veteran that is there. Aaron Rodgers could be a good player some day. He is still unproven…They made a mistake trading away Brett Favre.”
Thomas Jones ran for two TDs and caught a Brett Favre pass for his 3rd TD of the game in what was a sort of sloppy offensive showing by the Jets (Favre had two INTs and one fumble that resulted in a Bengal TD). But honestly, it was the perfect scenario for the Jets' defense to make a stand and show they can play four quarters consistently. The Bengals' backs were held to under a 100 yards, as were the Bengals' receiving corp, including Chad Oocho Dicko, who was not a factor in the game.
Brett did complete 25 of 33 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, giving him his highest percentage completion of the five Jets' games he played.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jets coach Eric Mangini’s third son was delivered at 7:43 a.m. Friday. His name: Zack Brett Mangini. And he was born on Brett Favre’s 39th birthday.
Said Favre, "The odds of the child being born the same day as my birthday, I don’t know what the odds are. He told me that today was the day and I asked, ’Well, is he still going to be Brett?’ He said, ’Yeah, Zack Brett.’ I thought it was pretty cool. First of all the odds, in some respects, are a lot like me. What were the odds of me ever coming to the Jets? It is a pretty cool thing."
"I’m not inherently superstitious," Mangini said. "But I like the way it felt."
It was John Lennon's birthday yesterday. I missed it. Sorry, John. He would have been 68.
"Sugarplumb fairy, sugarplump fairy..."
39 years and counting...backwards. Huck Finn is a day older, a bit wiser - but certainly the same ole Brett. Glad to have you back in the NFL for at least one more season with your new team, the Jets. GO BRETT! AND GO JETS IN 2008!!!
(Wonder what you'll find in your locker today?)
At home in the Meadowlands. Favre will be making his 258th straight start as a QB. 1st all-time for quarterbacks and 2nd all-time...period.
In paraphrasing Coach McCarthy during the heat of the Brett Favre PR debacle, "We've moved on. We've designed our offense around the strengths of Aaron Rodgers."
"kenwinter" posted on Packernews.com: 'Did anyone read the "Real Football" article on Brett? After describing how the Jets coaching staff has literally revamped their offensive scheme to take advantage of Brett's skills and experience, the author concluded by saying..."The quarterback has already done his part to change the culture. There is a chemical reaction going on here that has removed all limitations on this team for the first time in a long time. The Jets feel like they can win every week. Will they? No. But they will win enough...Intangibles, intangibles, intangibles...'
And from "doughsellsz": 'What's it been now, two months & NYJ have "completely revamped" their offense to accommodate the NAME? Didn't MM say that's why the NAME couldn't come back to GB? Somehow NYJ has been able to adjust.'
I couldn't agree more.
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