Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
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I am surprised the Packers are not welcoming him back.
Look, I understand they had tried to turn the page and were excited about Aaron Rodgers. I am an advocate of the prioritization of drafting and developing young players, and sticking with long-range blueprints. I can see the value of a coach selling a team on a concept in the offseason and doing everything possible to follow through with it. I know that teams derive benefits from having players bond in offseason activities.
But how in the world could the Packers not be interested in a player who:
A. Was the sixth best player at his position in the NFL a year ago, according to the NFL's passer rating system.
B. Plays a position that is the most important on the field.
C. Plays a position at which they lack a proven starter.
D. Is arguably the most beloved player in team history and one of the most beloved players in NFL history.
This isn't about what Favre has done in the past. It's about what he can do this season.
Let's review his most recent season, which is the best indicator of what he could do this year. He led the Packers to a 14-4 record and as usual never missed a game. He threw more passes of 25 yards or more than all but one quarterback. He finished fourth in passing yards and completion percentage. He threw 28 touchdown passes, sixth most in the NFL.
Even if Favre has been drinking beer and driving tractors all offseason, I would bet he still would be better than the majority of quarterbacks in the NFL.
There is no chance the Packers could be a better team without Favre than with him this year. And this is a team that has every reason to believe it can make it to the Super Bowl—with Favre.
There is no bigger mistake a team can make than to become intoxicated by its own decision-making abilities. Confidence is a wonderful thing, but talent like Favre's cannot be schemed or created.
In the NFL, flexibility is next to godliness. No team wins without being able to adjust and adapt well to the hundreds of twists and turns throughout an NFL season. If the Packers can't adjust to a change at quarterback in July, how could they possibly adjust to a season ending injury at cornerback in September?
If the Packers don't take Favre back, they'll make a mistake that could have a profound impact on many careers, on their team's history and on the 2008 NFL season.
Assuming the Packers cut Favre, there should be plenty of teams willing to take in the old stray. The best bets:
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
