Brett's Lambeau Leap of Faith

Brett Favre needs to handle himself this offseason like Brett Favre handles himself on the football field.

Make up your mind, bite your lip, go out and make your statement with fury and passion, and accept the results of your decision.

Favre was the John Wayne of the NFL- the reckless cowboy who would take to the field guns'a'blazin and always seemed to make the impossible possible. Give or take a few unforced interceptions and a sack here and there. And yet, now two months into retirement, Favre has morphed into a whole new character- a shy, unsure, and indecisive media mess.

ESPN reported on Friday that while The Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre were publicly remaining quiet on reports that the quarterback is reconsidering his decision to retire, there is much work being done behind the scenes. A WTMJ-TV news report from Milwaulke broke the story that Favre sent a text message to Packers GM Ted Thompson and that the two men are to sit down and have a discussion at a later date. Sports Illustrated reported on its website that Favre had also discussed the potential desire to return with coach Mike McCarthy, but talks had not advanced to a substantive stage, according to a Packers source.

I see two problems.

What Farve is doing to the Packers organization is very unfair. In 2007, Green Bay went 13-3 and won the NFC North. They were one interception away from capturing the NFC Championship and going on to challenge New England in the Superbowl. As much as Favre meant to that organization, he needs to understand that they can and will be successful without him. Aaron Rodgers was drafted in 2005 and all he's gotten since joining an organization with the most deeply rooted traditions in all of sports is about eight pounds of dust collected on his jersey and helmet and chinstrap from a lack of use. This on-again off-again waiting game that Favre has been playing with the Packers for the last three years needs to stop. Favre's problem is that he wants to quit before his heart does. He's torn. He has retired, un retired, and retired again all in the past few off-seasons. I would argue that the biggest trouble with having NOTHING to do is . . . not being able to tell when you're done. Favre meant too much to the game of football to put himself into the category of "didn't know when to stop" athletes. He should leave the game with his pride and dignity and not push fate. Too many have tried and failed at this; Jerry Rice's short stint with the Broncos as a 3rd string wideout and his weakened attempt to join Seattle before being cut is a perfect example. Take some time off. Go fishing. Do some Levi's Jeans ads. Maybe join the Monday Night Football crew and let Madden bust his nut all over the broadcast booth.

Green Bay shouldn't allow this to happen, either. The only thing they are accomplishing by being quiet is adding to the growing media speculation that Favre will return. Come out and make a statement! Here, I'll even write it for you. "The Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre have been a longstanding and successful team in the NFL for the past sixteen seasons. We are saddened by his decision to retire but understand all the factors that go into making such an important choice in Brett's life. We fully support him and invite him to take a position in our front office in the near future. The Packers organization is committed to improving our team with our current roster as well as via the draft and free agency, and we look forward to the future play of our young talent." There. That wasn't hard.

Please Brett, listen when I say that the gradually declining years are among the sweetest in a man's life. You have nothing left to prove. And trust me, while the money's no better in retirement, the hours sure are. Just think about how many more nights you will sleep easy not having to worry about Dwight Freeney flattening you into the 50 yard line logo.

After all, that's Aaron's problem now.

The Cocky Boys Need a Change

For the past 6 years, the Detroit Pistons have been the “darlings” of a J.V. conference that is the Eastern Conference. They have recorded at least 50 wins for seven straight seasons, gone to the Eastern Conference Finals for the past six seasons, gone to the finals twice, one time coming out with the Larry O’Brien trophy, and many All-Star appearances from Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace. But, with winning comes expectations, and the expectations of the Detroit Pistons is simple; to win championships. Nothing else really matter here. We may be spoiled, but so be it. We hired a coach who was known to fizzle out in the playoffs in Flip Saunders as he was booted out of the first round with the Timberwolves for seven straight years. That was already a foreshadowing of the things to come.

Lazy players, cocky attitudes, big-heads, hot-heads, turning it on in the 4th quarter, failure to listen to their coach, and always being second in a mediocre conference are all things the pistons have had and have become in the past few years. As Joe Dumars said in a recent interview with Stoney and Wojo when discussing the Pistons series loss to the Boston Celtics,

“We come back 1-1, and we put on that display in game 3? That’s sickening, that’s sickening to me. And then we get closed out at home, we have a ten point lead with ten minutes left in the game and we completely shut it down and get closed out? That’s sickening and disgusting to me.”

Since winning a title by crushing the Lakers in 2004, they think they are invincible and can play whenever they want. I do not know another team in the league who thinks like this. How can you play like shit for three quarters, be trailing by 15 points, and then assume you can turn it on in the fourth and pull out a victory? It is ignorant and absurd to assume this outcome will occur every time.

You have a point guard who doesn’t listen to his coach and I believe the worst thing that ever happened to him was getting the nickname “Mr. Big Shot”. When was the last time he made a game winning shot? All I ever see him do is pump fake and try to draw a foul when he could just take a damn shot and probably make it. You have a small forward in Tayshaun Prince who is one of the best defensive players and is a strong threat when he wants to be, which is only 20% of the time, but for that other 80% of the time I have never seen anyone be more hesitant than this man. Holding the ball at the three-point line with a blank look on his face like he has never touched a basketball in his life. And then the one advantage he has, his wingspan, he does not even use most of the time. It is almost as if Tayshaun is afraid to get hit at the basket. You are making ten plus million dollars per year, grow a pair and play hard all the time. Be aggressive, if not then get out. A weak and scared player is no good to have on a championship caliber squad.

Now I started a new paragraph for this man because I could write a whole page on this man. “Time to MEEETTTT MR. RASSSHEEEEED WWWWWAAAALLLLACE!,” is heard during every home game all throughout the palace as announced by the Pistons John Mason. But after meeting Rasheed Wallace, he usually just decides to get two quick fouls within the first five minutes, bitch about every call against him or any one else on the team, shoot three’s against inferior opponents, and not put in the effort. Does anyone else think he does not care? I have been saying this for the past three years and no one believed me until the 2008 playoffs when his true-self finally came out. I honestly would not be surprised if he was high for half the games this season. Sure he is fun, sure he is enjoyable and a jokester, and yes he is a freakish athlete with an insane set of basketball skills, but he does not use them to his full ability.

What makes a professional athlete think that he or she does not need to come to work everyday? You are getting paid millions per year and you don’t perform on a daily basis? If the person working at McDonalds who makes $7.00 an hour did not put any effort into their job, their ass would be fired in one second, but a man who claims he is motivated every year after a devastating loss cannot put in the effort after being paid millions? Rasheed is out of his damn mind. You are 6’11, no one can block your shot, GO DOWN TO THE BLOCK, PUT YOUR ASS INTO SOMEONE, AND TURNS TOWARDS THE HOOP WHILE YOU SHOOT!!! Is anyone else sick of his three pointers? I know I am. Is anyone else sick of the lack of effort and enthusiasm he seems to have for the game? I know I am. Is anyone else who used to be a Rasheed Wallace fan disgusted by his antics and want him out of this organization? I know I do.

2005, the Pistons lose the finals in seven games, but basically because a knuckleheaded play by Rasheed Wallace as he double-teamed Ginoboli in the corner to leave “Bigshot Bob” wide open to drill a game winning three, which would then lead to a Spurs championship. 2006, Pistons lose to the Heat. What? I never got this one. The Heat were not a good team, and the Mavericks were phony as the Heat exposed them by winning four straight to take the series. The Pistons could have easily beaten them, so there is two straight championships blown by them. 2007, I do not even want to discuss how much LeBron James owns the Pistons. It made me sick. Where was Tayshaun’s great defense that series? Finally, 2008, as Joe said you are tied 1-1 after two games, you steal one in Boston, and you cannot finish at home? Sounds like a solid team to me.

Honestly, I do not know what the Pistons should do. I would say keep Chauncey because as much as everyone is in love with Rodney Stuckey, he is not a point guard. If you say him play in the playoffs he did very well, but he is not a good ball handler, he is a scorer. Rip is the best player on the team and I have no complains about him. Keep up the good work. Tayshaun and Sheed are the two I believe need to go. I would say try to package them for a PF like Carlos Boozer who plays with their back to the basket, is aggressive, and is hungry. A lineup of Billups, Stuckey, Hamilton, Maxiell, and Boozer sounds pretty damn good to me. But I have a hunch that nothing will happen this offseason and yet again, the Pistons will win just enough to give you hope and then rip out the hearts of Detroit sports fans around the world.

Congratulations Pistons, you have become the Buffalo Bills of the NBA.

Listen to the entire Joe Dumars Interview
from Sports Radio 1130, WDFN the Fan