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      Is Brett Favre getting the “itch” to play again?

      July 2, 2008 /

      ESPN is reporting that “sources close to the team and player” say that Brett Favre may be getting the “itch” to play again as a result of his family “tugging” him to return to the Packers.

      Favre has communicated his potential desire to coach Mike McCarthy but talks have not advanced to a substantive stage, a Packers source said.

      The source said the Packers would be reluctant to open the door for Favre because “Brett retired for the right reasons, even though I know his family is tugging on him [to play].”

      However, Favre’s agent downplayed the likelihood that the quarterback could un-retire or that he was prepared to report to camp July 28.

      “As far as I know, right now, Brett Favre is retired and until he tells me something different, that’s what it is,” James “Bus” Cook, Favre’s agent, said.

      If Favre decides that he absolutely wants to play this season, the Packers could be confronted with a sensitive issue. The entire offseason has been spent preparing Aaron Rodgers to play quarterback to the point where “the offensive scheme has evolved” and, psychologically, closing the door on Favre’s legendary 17-year career.

      If the Packers resist a stronger push by Favre to return, sources speculate that the quarterback could press the team to release him from his contract so that he could seek a job with another team. A league official said that Favre could force a decision by asking the Packers, in writing, to reinstate him to active status. The team would have to comply or release him.

      Regular readers know that I’ve been a Packer fan since I learned how to walk and I’d love to see #4 under center again. But I have mixed feelings about this. Psychologically and emotionally, I just recently got over the fact that Favre retired and that we have a new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, to rally around. What would Favre’s return do to his state of mind? By most accounts, Rodgers has looked great in the minicamps, so it would have to be demoralizing for him to take a back seat to a guy who can’t decide whether or not he wants to stay retired.

      Are the Packers a better team with Favre under center this season? Probably. Are they a better team two or three years down the road? I’m not so sure. As much as I’d like to see Favre come out of retirement and lead Green Bay to the Super Bowl, chances are that’s going to happen. Maybe it’s time to move on and see what this kid Rodgers can do.

      Honestly, I’m really torn about this news.

      Fantasy Football, NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Where will Corey Maggette land?

      July 2, 2008 /

      Several teams are courting unrestricted free agent Corey Maggette. Orlando, Boston, San Antonio, Philadelphia and Utah have all expressed an interest in signing the athletic wing, but only Philly has enough cap space to offer more than the mid-level exception, which starts around $5.5 million. If Elton Brand decides to re-sign with the Clippers, the word is that the team has to renounce their rights to Maggette, which would seem to make a sign-and-trade complicated if not impossible.

      Will Maggette end up signing for the mid-level? If so, he would have his pick of contenders and whoever gets him will be scoring a great deal. Maggette is one of the best slashers in the league and gets to the line better than any other guard or forward in the league averaging more than 25 minutes per game. His FTA/FGA ratio (0.686) is second best among all players averaging at least that many minutes. (Dwight Howard is first with a ratio of 0.913, but that’s because he can’t shoot it from the line.)

      Of those teams listed, I think Maggette would be a great fit with the Spurs, the Magic and the Jazz. Those three teams lack wings that can penetrate and finish. The Celtics are the dark horse. I don’t know how many minutes Maggette will see with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen already on the wings, but the C’s are probably Maggette’s best shot at a ring.

      But the Sixers could potentially offer the most money if they fail in their bid to steal Josh Smith from the Hawks. However, Maggette’s skill set is quite similar to Andre Iguodala’s, so it’s not clear how the two would fit together, especially with rising star Thaddeus Young on the roster.

      NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      32 Burning NFL Questions

      July 2, 2008 /

      Peter Schrager of FOX SPORTS has 32 burning questions surrounding each NFL team.

      Chicago Bears
      Q: Is the Bears offense the worst unit in the entire league?
      A: Well, the quarterback duo of Grossman and Orton has to be in the bottom half of the league. The running attack — a trio of unproven guys not named Benson or Jones — has to be in the bottom quarter of the league. The offensive line — anchored by a rookie tackle out of Vanderbilt — is a giant question mark. And the receivers? Well, there may be no worse depth chart in the NFL.
      So, Bears fans, you tell me.

      Cleveland Browns
      Q: Can the Browns defense stop a Junior Varsity offense?
      A: Upgrades had to be made and they were. In comes Shaun Rogers, Corey Williams and linebacker Beau Bell, a rookie projected to go as early as the first or second round but who slipped all the way to the fourth round. The offense is simmering. The defense is getting there. Cleveland’s got a real shot at the franchise’s first divisional title in 19 years.

      Green Bay Packers
      Q: Does life go on without Brett Favre?
      A: Yes. But please give the national sports media a few years to recover. Remember, Brett Favre was and is the most important American to ever walk the Earth.

      New England Patriots
      Q: Can the Pats go undefeated in 2008?
      A: The odds in Vegas are currently 15:1 that they do. Sure, there’s been SpyGate, that whole Nick Kaczur Donnie Brasco thing, and more arrests than the Bengals this offseason. But the Pats are playing angry and their schedule is actually more manageable than it was in ’08. Now, if they can just find someone to play cornerback.

      The NFC North will be interesting on a whole this year. Are the Vikings the team to beat, even with Tavaris Jackson at quarterback? Did the Packers overachieve last year and therefore come crashing down to earth without Favre? Is the Bears’ offense that bad? Is the Lions’ defense that bad? It’s going to be a fun year.

      NFL

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