But now that there are the “rumors” that he could once again come out of retirement, here I am once again talking about him. You have to admit one thing, the guy is never boring. Not in the way he plays and not in the hype that follows him.

In case you haven’t heard, Favre asked for a release from the Jets way back in February when he retired. It was finally granted late Tuesday night after the Jets had finally secured a quarterback. The Jets couldn’t have kept Favre because they couldn’t afford him under the salary cap this year. A release was the only option.

Now the “rumor” is that he could go to Minnesota, something he wanted to do last year when the Packers decided to play hard ball. But who is more stubborn? Packers GM Ted Thompson or Favre? Rumors have swirled that the two have butted heads from the beginning, with Thompson wanting Favre gone so he could bring his new favorite Aaron Rodgers on the scene. Last year, Thompson finally made that happen. To make darn good and sure that Favre couldn’t play against Green Bay (and perhaps because Thompson wanted to stick it to Favre a bit more) he put a clause into his trade agreement that if the Jets traded Favre to any NFC North team, they would give Green Bay three first round draft picks.

So you know the Jets weren’t doing that!

However, Favre retired. (I know… again.) And asked for his release. The Jets, now secure with a new quarterback, granted it. That leaves Favre a free agent should he want to return to football. (I can hear Ted Thompson gnashing his teeth as I write this.)

Favre, for his part, said, “At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.”

Those three words (”at this time”) are what has everyone reeling.

For my part, I think Favre very much could come back to the league. After all, he’s the same age as my favorite Kurt Warner, who just got re-signed with the Cardinals. Since the Vikings are missing a great quarterback at the moment, it might make sense for him to go there.

Will Packer fans be pissed? If they are anything like me, they will be reminded of a very ugly part of their history, where a GM and a player couldn’t treat each other with respect. It won’t diminish the player’s records, but it does bring back a whole set of issues that have nothing to do with the spirit of the game.

All last year we were reminded about “the Favre saga” every single game. Packers Coach Mike McCarthy even went so far as to compare Rodgers physical stats to Favre. Like…. who cares? Can everyone just shut up and play?

I was looking forward to a season where Rodgers would stop trying to jaw about being a great quarterback and just show us he is. I was looking forward to announcers to calling the game that played before them, and not one that happened a few years before with another quarterback. I was looking forward to people realistically looking at the Packers, and not “what they were” or “what they could be.”

But now? I am filled with a combination of fascination and dread at the thought of having “the Favre controversy” brought back to the NFC North once again. One thing is for sure, I’m never saying “the Favre saga” is done ever again!

Image: Bauer-Griffin

Post from: EveryJoe

Packer Fans and the Favre Saga

The Dallas Cowboys have released Pacman Jones.

Bah-bye. Kaput.

According to Yahoo sports, “Jones was arrested six times and involved in 12 instances requiring police intervention after Tennessee drafted him in the first round in 2005.”

Pacman will become a free agent now. Any guesses on where he’ll end up next?

Post from: EveryJoe

Pacman Jones Is a Free Agent Now

So… it’s confession time here at Gossip on Sports. I secretly love Kurt Warner.

Just a little, of course. I mean, I’m not a stalker and don’t know him. And I usually don’t feel LOVE for players (and am really not one to develop crushes), but I seem to love him nonetheless.

So here’s my dilemma. Kurt Warner (who is going to the Superbowl with his team the Arizona Cardinals this weekend – for all you dolts that are living under rocks) is up for free agency after the Superbowl. Will he stay with Arizona? He’s been with quite a few teams… but there’s a rumor that he could end up on Da Bears… and that has my stomach turning in knots.

Here’s the thing, I’m a Packer fan (for those of you who haven’t gotten that yet) and if he goes to the Bears… well… I will be forced to NOT LOVE HIM.

Not that I don’t like the Bears coach. I do. I like him a lot. It’s just all of the players and most of the fans that I don’t love. The fans like to complain. If they win, they gripe. If they lose? More griping. That’s about all they do. Oh, and complain about Brett Favre… who isn’t even in their conference anymore. Still, the memories of their numerous butt-wallopings by him apparently are still fresh.

It’s a big IF, of course, if Warner will go to the Bears. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, is trying to shop Warner around. Here’s a quote from Bartelstein (who apparently likes to say the word “obviously” a lot:

“The Bears obviously have to figure out which direction they want to go with the quarterback thing… It has, obviously, been a point of contention for quite a while. We have to wait and see what they decide they want to do.”

OBVIOUSLY, Mark. Obviously. I wonder if Mark knows his client is 37? And yeah, quarterbacks can do amazing things at 37 but how many amazing years does Warner have left? (I know, I am biting my tongue as I write this…. but still….)

So I guess it’s the best possible time to get Warner a new contract, but if he is seriously thinking about going to the Bears? I’d rather he just retire.

Post from: EveryJoe

Kurt Warner as Free Agent… My Personal Dilemma