Angel
04-05-2006, 08:18 AM
Read and React: Go take a Lambeau Leap, Brett
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
April 4, 2006
The golden halo over Brett Favre's head is turning into a noose around the neck of the Green Bay Packers.
That's what readers had to say this week, cramming the mailbag with complaints over Favre's recent declaration that he wants to play for a winner if he decides to push off retirement one more year. Support for Favre? There wasn't a single email applauding his latest statements, which came as the Packers pushed back their deadline for his $3 million roster bonus to give Favre more time to decide his future.
While none of the angry submissions came from Packerland, it is clear that Favre's pristine reputation has lost some of its luster since the beginning of last season. Surely, Favre didn't do himself any favors by having arguably the worst campaign of his career, but his latest round of hemming and hawing over his plans – laced with some borderline smug comments – apparently haven't endeared him to NFL fans.
Beyond Favre, there was the same old voluminous bickering over the draft, along with – what else? – Vince Young's stature as a future superstar. Sandwiched in there, Pittsburgh Steelers fans were angry at Mike Holmgren's renewed Super Bowl complaints, and Oakland Raiders fans raised a glass to toast the return of Art Shell.
It was a heavy week for an offseason mailbag, but we're more than happy to take it all in. So keep the submissions coming, and remember to include your full name, city and state. As usual, my thoughts are in italics.
To the mail …
BRETT FAVRE
Brett Favre wants to return if the Packers can win? Brett is washed up. His gambling style is what kills the Packers now. The Packers have a better shot at winning without Favre, who is going downhill faster than an extreme skier.
Kurt Walter
Westlake Village, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am beyond fed up with Brett Favre. For some reason, the guy seems to be largely untouchable, but in my mind he is an attention-grabbing egomaniac. It seems like Brett Favre is only interested in five things: Favre, Favre, Favre, Favre, and Favre.
Keith Bagwell
Bend, Ore.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would Green Bay want Favre back? Teams bring in vets to make contenders Super Bowl quality (Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Rich Gannon) or make a non-contender a playoff hopeful (Drew Bledsoe in Dallas). The Packers are non-contenders and last year proved he couldn't carry them. His presence hurts Aaron Rodgers not only in game time but mini-camps, training camp and practice all week when Favre gets the first-team reps.
Fran Vaughan
Antioch, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So Favre is only going to play if he's on a winning team? This goes against all that is sacred about playing for love of the game, so help me Hank Aaron.
Jordan Hall
Athens, Ga.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somebody tell Favre to retire and stop acting like a whiney little girl. If we wanted to watch a soap opera, we'd stay home and watch one that would at least have some decent-looking chicks. I am sick of his antics. He's over. I am sick of hearing about him. Tell him to get lost. He is such an attention monger – "Look at me, I'm Brett Favre. I can't spell my last name right, and I want your attention."
Tommy
Boston
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ART SHELL ("Living in a Raider dream," March 29, 2006)
Like many other Raiders fans, I have always wondered why Al Davis let Art Shell go. I believe that Art Shell IS the right man for the job and I think he will restore the glory of the Raiders. I especially liked the last line of that article about where he always should have been. It was perfect. No matter where else he's been, no matter what else he's done, deep in his heart Art Shell is a Raider. Always has been, always will be.
Robert Serna
Ventura, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al Davis, love him or hate him – you can understand why people MUST choose one or the other. The poetry of Art Shell's journey through the Raiders' organization exemplifies what it means to be tough in a league that will forget about you like yesterday's trash. But even in a landfill of players and coaches, there will be chances to be resurrected.
David Nguyen
San Jose, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hopefully, Big Art can light a fire under that sorry underachieving Robert Gallery.
Jason Meisler
Los Angeles
Shell said Gallery is on the top of his list.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am very happy as a fan to see Shell come back. He is probably the only connection that will keep the mystique alive. His loyalty and integrity are unmatched by any candidate that interviewed. I believe he is the missing piece to the puzzle and the NFL will be surprised when the old Raiders come to town.
Bill Dixon
California
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who in the hell is Tom Walsh? My grandparents used to live in Iredell, Texas – population 316 or so. If I become mayor there, should I start sending my resumes out for offensive coordinator positions?
Skip Mize
Sterling Heights, Mich.
Dreams do come true.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wanted to ask you about the Art Shell article. How was Art Shell in the interview? I'm very curious.
Ronald Laughlin
Carson, Calif.
He was great. Very thoughtful and engaging.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MIKE HOLMGREN ("Unsettled in Seattle," March 30, 2006)
Will someone give Mike Holmgren a tissue so he can wipe his tears? Enough already! What a big baby. My 6-year-old has better sportsmanship than he does. What a shame that the Steelers are still unable to really enjoy their Super Bowl victory because a few whiners cannot seem to move on!
Donna Yates
Findlay, Ohio
Just when we thought the issue was dead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So I read another article yesterday about Mike Holmgren's refusal to accept that his team lost the Super Bowl. Will it ever end? He blamed the loss on the refs and, possibly, on his team's substandard performance. Did I miss the part where he acknowledged that his poor clock management was a huge factor in the loss?
Tony Devlin
Harrisburg, Pa.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was struck by the headline about Mike Holmgren having trouble coping with his Super Bowl loss. He should take a look at real loss like Tony Dungy's. Maybe then the Super Bowl wouldn't seem so important. It is after all, only a game.
Cynthia Derr
Maynard, Mass.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holmgren needs to stop crying about officiating. I watched his team get to the Super Bowl by winning games where there were some bad calls (that went his team's way). So, to say the big game was given to Pittsburgh by the officials is out of line.
Terry Stuck
Wellsburg, W.Va.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-mailbag040406&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Continued.......
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
April 4, 2006
The golden halo over Brett Favre's head is turning into a noose around the neck of the Green Bay Packers.
That's what readers had to say this week, cramming the mailbag with complaints over Favre's recent declaration that he wants to play for a winner if he decides to push off retirement one more year. Support for Favre? There wasn't a single email applauding his latest statements, which came as the Packers pushed back their deadline for his $3 million roster bonus to give Favre more time to decide his future.
While none of the angry submissions came from Packerland, it is clear that Favre's pristine reputation has lost some of its luster since the beginning of last season. Surely, Favre didn't do himself any favors by having arguably the worst campaign of his career, but his latest round of hemming and hawing over his plans – laced with some borderline smug comments – apparently haven't endeared him to NFL fans.
Beyond Favre, there was the same old voluminous bickering over the draft, along with – what else? – Vince Young's stature as a future superstar. Sandwiched in there, Pittsburgh Steelers fans were angry at Mike Holmgren's renewed Super Bowl complaints, and Oakland Raiders fans raised a glass to toast the return of Art Shell.
It was a heavy week for an offseason mailbag, but we're more than happy to take it all in. So keep the submissions coming, and remember to include your full name, city and state. As usual, my thoughts are in italics.
To the mail …
BRETT FAVRE
Brett Favre wants to return if the Packers can win? Brett is washed up. His gambling style is what kills the Packers now. The Packers have a better shot at winning without Favre, who is going downhill faster than an extreme skier.
Kurt Walter
Westlake Village, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am beyond fed up with Brett Favre. For some reason, the guy seems to be largely untouchable, but in my mind he is an attention-grabbing egomaniac. It seems like Brett Favre is only interested in five things: Favre, Favre, Favre, Favre, and Favre.
Keith Bagwell
Bend, Ore.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would Green Bay want Favre back? Teams bring in vets to make contenders Super Bowl quality (Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Rich Gannon) or make a non-contender a playoff hopeful (Drew Bledsoe in Dallas). The Packers are non-contenders and last year proved he couldn't carry them. His presence hurts Aaron Rodgers not only in game time but mini-camps, training camp and practice all week when Favre gets the first-team reps.
Fran Vaughan
Antioch, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So Favre is only going to play if he's on a winning team? This goes against all that is sacred about playing for love of the game, so help me Hank Aaron.
Jordan Hall
Athens, Ga.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somebody tell Favre to retire and stop acting like a whiney little girl. If we wanted to watch a soap opera, we'd stay home and watch one that would at least have some decent-looking chicks. I am sick of his antics. He's over. I am sick of hearing about him. Tell him to get lost. He is such an attention monger – "Look at me, I'm Brett Favre. I can't spell my last name right, and I want your attention."
Tommy
Boston
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ART SHELL ("Living in a Raider dream," March 29, 2006)
Like many other Raiders fans, I have always wondered why Al Davis let Art Shell go. I believe that Art Shell IS the right man for the job and I think he will restore the glory of the Raiders. I especially liked the last line of that article about where he always should have been. It was perfect. No matter where else he's been, no matter what else he's done, deep in his heart Art Shell is a Raider. Always has been, always will be.
Robert Serna
Ventura, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al Davis, love him or hate him – you can understand why people MUST choose one or the other. The poetry of Art Shell's journey through the Raiders' organization exemplifies what it means to be tough in a league that will forget about you like yesterday's trash. But even in a landfill of players and coaches, there will be chances to be resurrected.
David Nguyen
San Jose, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hopefully, Big Art can light a fire under that sorry underachieving Robert Gallery.
Jason Meisler
Los Angeles
Shell said Gallery is on the top of his list.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am very happy as a fan to see Shell come back. He is probably the only connection that will keep the mystique alive. His loyalty and integrity are unmatched by any candidate that interviewed. I believe he is the missing piece to the puzzle and the NFL will be surprised when the old Raiders come to town.
Bill Dixon
California
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who in the hell is Tom Walsh? My grandparents used to live in Iredell, Texas – population 316 or so. If I become mayor there, should I start sending my resumes out for offensive coordinator positions?
Skip Mize
Sterling Heights, Mich.
Dreams do come true.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wanted to ask you about the Art Shell article. How was Art Shell in the interview? I'm very curious.
Ronald Laughlin
Carson, Calif.
He was great. Very thoughtful and engaging.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MIKE HOLMGREN ("Unsettled in Seattle," March 30, 2006)
Will someone give Mike Holmgren a tissue so he can wipe his tears? Enough already! What a big baby. My 6-year-old has better sportsmanship than he does. What a shame that the Steelers are still unable to really enjoy their Super Bowl victory because a few whiners cannot seem to move on!
Donna Yates
Findlay, Ohio
Just when we thought the issue was dead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So I read another article yesterday about Mike Holmgren's refusal to accept that his team lost the Super Bowl. Will it ever end? He blamed the loss on the refs and, possibly, on his team's substandard performance. Did I miss the part where he acknowledged that his poor clock management was a huge factor in the loss?
Tony Devlin
Harrisburg, Pa.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was struck by the headline about Mike Holmgren having trouble coping with his Super Bowl loss. He should take a look at real loss like Tony Dungy's. Maybe then the Super Bowl wouldn't seem so important. It is after all, only a game.
Cynthia Derr
Maynard, Mass.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holmgren needs to stop crying about officiating. I watched his team get to the Super Bowl by winning games where there were some bad calls (that went his team's way). So, to say the big game was given to Pittsburgh by the officials is out of line.
Terry Stuck
Wellsburg, W.Va.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-mailbag040406&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Continued.......