Are you Ready for Some Football?



Of course I watched Monday Night Football and you knew I had to blog about Favre's first actual start with the Vikings (for the record, no, I don't count last week as a real start since he had been with them 3 days and played 1 series)! I still have a hard time seeing him in purple, but I'm so excited that he had a good game overall. I think that he did a great job and he also shut some people up that he can still play. Honestly, if you can make a good argument that he's not in the top 5 NFL QB conversation then I'll acquiesce, but I don't think you can. I realize that really isn't saying much right now with the status quo of NFL QB's, but you get my point.



He said that if he could still play at the NFL level then he felt like he should come back. He's doing it and he proved it Monday night. Now, a lot of people are asking me about his "chop block" and my thoughts on that. My first thought was how crazy is Childress for even putting his almost 40 year old QB that just had shoulder surgery in that type of position. The man is a QB and doesn't know how to block for heaven's sake either! Before all of you start telling me that he played D Line and SS in high school and should know how to block better please bear in mind that that was over 20 years ago. Anyway, I don't think that it was intentionally to hurt anyone...it could have hurt him too. I think it was a crazy call by the coaching staff, but I do agree with my buddy, Dunaway, who said that if anything, it did send a message that he's still got the toughness that some people have questioned since this injury and surgery.

After watching him play Monday night with all the pressure that he had to prove himself again, I have to say that I'm so glad he came back! He's always fun to watch and he looks like he's still enjoying himself...I just hope we intercept him every time on October 5th and November 1st! Those are circled on my calendar. Both teams are undefeated so far in preseason with the Pack facing the Titans Thursday night. My Pack looks REALLY good and I can't wait for that first test against our arch rival da Bears with their new QB. Watch out for the Pack this season...our D is nasty good!

It's game week for college football, people! I've never been more ready I don't think. NC State and SC as well as Troy playing the first games. Saturday night in the GA dome...it's almost too much to take and we haven't kicked off yet! I'm a little nervous about Bama this weekend with Va Tech since we've had so many distractions this week. I know that we will bring our A game though just like we did last year in the same place against Clemson.

The SEC teams will be tough this year for the most part and fun to watch. All I have to say is, "Are you ready for some football?" Have a great season!

What in the name of the NFL?...I can't believe it!

Up until Tuesday of this week I was still defending Brett Favre. Monday afternoon when the story broke from Jay Glazer I was still saying that there was nothing to it. I was saying that this was just wishful thinking from the players because they weren't happy with their QB choices. I never thought that I would hear on Tuesday that Favre was boarding a private plane to MN to sign a contract and work out with the team...BUT it happened.

Now that it has happened I'm still trying to let it sink in because I'm still a bit shocked. Everyone told me not to be, but I still am a little shocked. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a Favre fan, but this time I'm a little frustrated with how this all went down. It is obvious now that he doesn't want to go through training camps and OTAs so he just worked around that. Shame on Childress for being so star struck that he allowed that. What happened to the days where if you're in then you're in 100%? Favre used to even speak against guys doing "hold outs" during camp saying that they should honor their contract. I guess Favre wasn't really under contract yet, but that's debatable according to some people as well.

On the flip side, I'm excited that I get to see him play again. I've said a million times that he's good for the league. He sells tickets and he sells a ton of merch. People love to give their opinions on him, some love to hate him and some people are very passionate about either their love or hate for him.

It's crazy the amount of people that blog, call sports talk shows, message board, comment and follow a man that they have NO ties to at all. My dad was from Milwaukee so I grew up a Packer fan. As a result, I ended up a Favre fan so I have a reason, but some of these people have NEVER paid $300 for a ticket just to see him play like I have. I even remember going to an Alabama homecoming game in the rain against Southern Miss when Favre played. I didn't even know who their QB was and I could have cared less who it was walking into the stadium. I heard who he was listening to the pre game on my headsets because he had apparently just had a bad car wreck weeks before and had a good bit of his intestines removed as a result, but he was going to be starting that game. I KNEW this would be a cake walk after all of that. I mean, it's Southern Miss and Homecoming, for heaven's sake! Boy was I wrong...along with most of the Alabama defense I suppose. We got beat on homecoming single-handedly by a kid named Favre that had just had major surgery weeks before. Who knew?

I have to say that after that I was amazed at his talent and athleticism. Him becoming a Packer a couple of years after that was icing on the cake for this Cheesehead! That's why and how I became a Favre fan. I will always be a Packer fan FIRST though. I want him to do well this season except for 2 games...October 5th and November 1st (I'm sure the media won't have ANY hype leading up to either of these games at all). I will NEVER pull for the Vikings though...I just want Favre to do well for his career stats, etc. They are still a rival and I can't pull for them or the Bears EVER to win. It's crazy to even see him all over the Vikings website and I can't imagine him in purple and gold, but I guess we'll see it soon enough.

In conclusion, I guess I would say in my world I'm first and always a Packer fan, I'm still a Favre fan, but he's lost a bit of luster in my mind, I want Favre to do well, but I want the Vikings to lose! Is that clear as mud now? I know...I'm a dichotomy of sorts.

This is a picture I took of Favre at a game I attended when he was wearing the RIGHT

colors for the RIGHT team!

Like Sands Through the Hourglass...So are the Favre Stories in Our Life

Everyone keeps saying how sick they are of hearing about Favre, but yet so many people comment, talk about it, read, listen and have an opinion. If you're so sick of it then why give it the time of day?

I'll tell you why you do...he's Brett Favre. He's a Cinderella story - grew up in a small town where his dad coached, went to a small university not known for football, married his high school sweetheart and was eventually "discovered" after sitting the bench as 3rd string in the NFL. I don't know if he was discovered as much as someone just saw his grit and tenacity and liked it, but either way it's the story of small town boy becomes hero, the big time franchise QB, future Hall of Famer, arguably the face of the NFL for years. He speaks his mind, doesn't dodge controversy, people love him, people hate him, some idolize him, others love to hate him, most respect his abilities and bottom line for all the media coverage - he sells. There's no need in over analyzing it - he just sells.

He's a competitor and simply loves the game and people can relate to him. Early on he hated the limelight but had no choice except live his life and mistakes in the public eye. I think now he's gotten used to the attention and he's learned to embrace it...even long for it. But can you blame him? I can fathom being a nobody from nowhere-ville because that's pretty much who I am. But what I have a hard time wrapping my brain around is what it's like to be that and then all of a sudden get thrown onto a huge stage and have success after success just doing what you love to the point that people throw millions at you to do it as a job. People start asking for your autograph and talking about what you said after a game - no one gave him lessons on any of this and I'm quite sure from evidence of the past few years that he wasn't a PR major at Southern Miss.

Give the guy a break and respect what he's done on the field, what he's done for the game and for all those little kids playing pee wee football in nowhere-ville. He has given those kids hope that they could grow up and be the next Brett Favre. Although, I'm of the opinion that there can't be another one. No matter what you feel about the subject today, you have to admit he's a unique and special athlete...and he's still apparently newsworthy.

Just when you thought it was safe to cheer for the Bucs...

Another day...another twist - I had just started last night doing research on the Tampa Bay Bucs so that I would know more about them since I'm 24/7 Packers. I wake up this morning to find the city that never sleeps was making a deal last night with small town Green Bay! Now I've got to start the research all over again.

I must tell you that my last memory of the Jets isn't very fond. It was a Sunday afternoon in December of 2006 with snow on the ground and 6 degrees at Lambeau Field. This southern girl froze her buns off watching the Jets beat the Packers by 4 touchdowns. Yes, you read that right - FOUR touchdowns. It was not my first Packers game at Lambeau, but it was my first regular season Packers game at the TRUE frozen tundra. It was memorable of course...I looked like the Michelin Man (as you can see above)! That was the last time that I got to see Brett play live at Lambeau and now I'll be watching him in green and white instead of green and gold.

I guess I better go and brush up on my Jets information and get ready to yell J-E-T-S Jets, Jets Jets!!! I'm glad I don't have to watch them play my Pack this year...Go Pack Go!!!

Like sands through the hourglass...

Ok, apparently some of you have been anxiously awaiting my opinion (for some unknown reason) on the ongoing Favre saga. I've spoken to many of you about it, but haven't specifically done a blog entry on it because it's very difficult for me to have an objective opinion regarding the subject and I also keep waiting for another strand to unravel. It seems that there are new comments or developments (if you can call them that) every day...as evidenced by my plentiful Google alerts!

Before he held the press conference I was wanting him to come back one more year. I hated that he went out on an interception in OT that lost the NFC championship for them. I also felt like with his competitive spirit that he wouldn't want to go out that way either and that he had gotten so close to the SuperBowl again that he could taste it so he would make another run. After he held the press conference in March, I truly felt he would be a man of his word and stay retired. As soon as the reports started flying about him wanting to come back and play I passed it off at first and said that I felt like he was sincere when he said that he was retiring. I realize now that I'm probably the only one that actually thought that...no one else believed that he was truly hanging it up. So here it is: everyone makes mistakes and I stand corrected...no biggie...I can own up to it.

A few days and weeks after those first reports, then I started hearing that the Packers weren't welcoming him back with open arms - I realized then that there had to be some truth to all of this and was officially in a frenzy. Now Favre has broken his silence and spoke fairly candidly about the situation "on the record" the past two nights (insert chuckle here that ESPN didn't get the interview first). I have tried to be objective after seeing the interview with Greta, and I can't think of any motivation for him to lie. I totally believe him when he says that he was pressured to make a decision early and that's the way that he felt at that time...and that most veteran QB's would say the same thing in March when asked to make a choice.

I think that he should have stayed retired, personally (**shocking gasp**). I know that's hard to believe coming from me, but after the public retirement announcement then he should stick to it - that's the way my parents raised me! My opinion after the fact that he didn't stay retired though? I believe that after 16 years with an organization, 3 time MVP with that organization, leading to a SuperBowl win for that organization and all of the HUGE income just from merchandising alone for them that he has earned the right to come back. At the worst, he has earned the right to at least compete for his starting position back. Goodness, there have been a couple of times in the past that he has lowered his income on his contract just to help out with the salary cap! That doesn't sound like a diva to me!

My bottom line thoughts on the matter is that Ted Thompson (Packers GM) gets paid to put the absolute best team on the field...that team is better with Favre right now rather than Rodgers. I realize that he put them in a bad position by deciding to come back, but Ted Thompson was already walking a thin line with the Packer Nation and he certainly hasn't made that any better with how he has handled this situation. That is obvious by the rallies that are being held now outside the offices with Packer fans screaming for Favre's starting position back. Never underestimate the power of two things: the city owns the team and the majority of the owners want their beloved QB back.

Am I conflicted as a fan? It depends on which fan you're asking...I'm first a Packer fan. I was asked yesterday if Favre went to another team and came out on Lambeau Field in another jersey who I would pull for; I didn't hesitate to answer "the Packers". I was born with cheese on my head thanks to my dad being from Milwaukee...my allegiance will never change in the NFL.

Although, the Favre fan of me IS conflicted because he can't seem to make up his mind, but I love to watch him play and his style of playing. So the thought of him coming back does make a part of me ecstatic! I would hate to see him go out on a stretcher though...the thought of that is somewhat foreign because of how durable he has been, but the reality is that it can't last forever. Those are the reasons why I'm conflicted as a Favre fan.

At the end of the day, no matter what happens, I will always support my Packers. I may not agree with everything that goes on in their offices, but I have a short term memory as soon as the green and gold take the field...no matter who is in those uniforms. I would obviously feel more confident if Favre was still in #4 taking that field! Lambeau is a special place that is hard to describe in words, but it was special during the tough years in the 80's and will still be special in the 21st century when the Favre era is only a memory. Either way - Go Pack Go!

Stunned...

I can't believe it...devastation in Packer nation!

Well, we win with class so we'll lose with class. The Pack is still back. I didn't expect to do this well this season with such a young team so I'm proud of my Pack!

Gosh I love this team! (click on the link)
http://www.packers.com/multimedia/videos/2007_gameday/video_20080118__a191fca4d538__01cbc3bde3cb/

GO PACK GO!!!!

I stand corrected...

Everyone knows by now (or can tell from reading any of my blog entries to date) that I'm a passionate Packer Backer...if you still haven't figured it out then my screen name should be a clue. My late father was from Milwaukee originally and transplanted here in sweet home Alabama many years ago. I was born to a cheesehead so I was born to be one, but I digress.

As a passionate fan (and red head to boot) I can sometimes be opinionated and talk some smack (insert gasp of shock and awe here). I have to say that I have questioned many a decision made by Ted Thompson. I have to say that I even was skeptical of the McCarthy hire somewhat. Well, I stand corrected on all counts (or actually, sit at this time...it's more comfortable to type that way). I don't know if I'd call ol' TT a genius yet because some of it might just be a case of things panning out better than expected, but I have to tip my hat.

The Packers started out scary yesterday to say the least. I was questioning putting Grant back in the game after 2 fumbles that resulted in spotting Seattle 14 points, but again I tip my hat to the coaching staff and Favre also for "coaching him up" and getting him to shake it off enough to make that type of comeback. He was like a man possessed after that...he truly came back out determined to make up for the mistakes and make up for them he did - in a monumental way!

And who else but Favre could have done what he did with that underhanded dump off pass to Donald Lee? He did that instead of falling down and getting sacked in the snow at 38 years old and I don't think he was even looking up at the time!

The Giants are the only thing standing in the way of my Pack making it to the big one again! I never thought at the beginning of the year that we would be sitting here at this point. I'm amazed and excited and freaked out all at the same time! It worries me when everyone says that we've got an automatic win because we're at home at the Frozen Tundra with Favre instead of in Dallas. The Giants are a good team or else they wouldn't be playing for the NFC Championship! That being said, I believe that we will win because there is a fire and look in the eyes in the Packers like I haven't seen in years, but I hardly think that it can be considered "automatic". It will be hard fought, but I certainly don't expect to see any "gimme" sacks for Strahan.

The NFL football community is drooling over the possibility (probability according to most) of Brady vs. Favre...the future vs. the "old guy" future hall of famer. This also gets me nervous, but I know that Favre doesn't pay attention to most of his own press to the point that it becomes a distraction. I remember at the beginning of the season the sports media practically making fun of Favre for saying in a press conference that this is one of the most talented teams that he has played with in recent years. I guess he's getting the last laugh.

This is a focused and tenacious Packer team. If the expected SuperBowl matchup happens, then watch out, Patriots. You might be unbeaten, but you are NOT unbeatable. Most people won't predict the Pack to come out victorious, but that's just the way we like it. My 2007-08 Packers have proven everyone wrong (including some of us fans that are realists) since the beginning of the year so in the words of Deanna Favre herself, "don't bet against me". GO PACK GO!!!!!

Playing catch up...tis the season!

Yes, blogger land, I'm still among the living. I'm sorry for my hiatus, but it's the most wonderful time of the year...and the busiest when you are a full time working mother of 2 children under the age of 6! We're back to regularly schedule programming now and I have a lot to cover since I've been busy playing Santa's little helper.

First of all, my favorite subject of my Pack. Of course I'm disappointed with losing to the Cowboys, but I'm more disappointed in the way we lost. We really could have and should have won that game. (I will take this opportunity to complain about the fact that there aren't any "official Packers sports bars" in the greater Birmingham area according to www.southendzone.com so I sat for 4 1/2 hours at a local establishment in my most obnoxious green and gold attire talking my normal smack to the cowboys in the room instead of sharing it with only Packer fans. There were other Cheeseheads there, but let's just say that they weren't as loud as the people in silver and blue...but not to disappoint you guys...I did represent trying to make up for the short fall.) As I was saying, we had plenty of opportunities to win that game - even with Favre hurt on the sidelines and Rodgers at the helm - but we still gave it away. That frustrates me more than anything, but it wasn't as devastating as some fans would like to make it out to be.

After the win yesterday at home against the Raiders we have clinched the North currently at 12 and 2. We're at St. Louis and Chicago and then end at home with Detroit. A rematch is desired and expected after that. It's an exciting year for the Green Bay Packers and it couldn't have happened at a better time. Favre is having a blast out there and that's when he is at his best. I've had so much fun watching him this season and feel like a proud mama (even though he's older than me).

Speaking of Favre - it was announced last week that he is Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. I couldn't think of a more deserving player this year. SI did a great job honoring not only Favre on the field, but off the field as well. I even learned some things about him that I didn't know from the article (and that's saying something there)! He's truly a unique person and I'm proud that WHENEVER he retires that no matter what he'll go out on top as a Packer!

Now, moving to college football with respect to the BCS Bowl selections (wow, that is some fancy typing to get 'respect' and 'BCS' in the same sentence...and all without laughing out loud while doing so). There are several things that seem crazy to me...one being that Alabama got into a bowl game (yes, I guess that I'm Alabama's only realistic fan). Just one year ago we fired our coach after going 6 and 6...now we're paying a 6 and 6 coach $4 million. I realize that Alabama travels well (compared to SC) and there is a really "neato" story line for the talking heads with Saban going back to Louisiana, but who is going to be excited about watching this game? The SEC had 9 teams selected to go bowling...I repeat 9! Is it just me? I will "tow the company line" and will root for all the SEC schools playing in the bowls because that is the conference my team is in, but what a joke. No one else in the country could care less about 9 SEC teams going to bowl games. Good luck LSU in the "championship" game and for retaining your coach for another year...you'll need it!

Finally, congratulations to Tim Tebow of Florida on winning the Heisman. We all knew that you were a great player, but now we are also impressed with how you conducted yourself this past weekend. You added class to the crazy hype of the show and you were a fantastic representative of your school, conference and family. I pray that my boys grow up as unashamed, outspoken and with as much integrity and class as you seem to have on and more importantly off the field. I hope that you will excel one day soon in the NFL despite the majority of your predecessors with this trophy. I hate that you ended up a Gator as an Alabama fan, but glad we didn't have to play you this year and don't next year either!

In closing, it's been an interesting season in both college and NFL. We've had fruit basket turnover in the BCS and watched some very memorable games, and we've got both an undefeated and a winless team in the pros. None was probably expected, but at the end of the day both of my teams are post-season...I just hope they don't cause me to go postal this season!!

The "Amazing" Sports Media...
The sports media never ceases to amaze me! ...not in a good way though. I just read an article about Brett Favre about how people are asking him and Coach McCarthy if he's lost "his fast ball" based on his game against the Redskins ten days ago that was less than stellar. Now, far be it from me to take up the defense of my favorite QB to ever play the game, but this is ridiculous. They can't leave the man alone!

I believe that the media is getting to the point now that they are looking for anything that they can to prove that he's getting too old to play. Most of the time they go further than that and practically stalk him to find ANY story angle they can to have something about him. I realize how the media works - I used to sell broadcast television. They know how popular he is as a player - even people who aren't Cheeseheads love the guy and at least respect what he's done for the game so they hang on to anything they can to get a story about him. Why else do you think that they've had him retiring for at least 3 years now and hyped that up every year?

I'll make my case with the following experience - I went to the last Packers pre-season game this year against the Titans since it was only 3 hours north on I-65 from the 'Ham (otherwise known as my native Birmingham, AL...where American Idols are born). Again, just as a reminder, this was a Titans home game...which they won by 16 points. I was sitting about 12 rows up behind the Packer bench around the 50 yard line wearing my #4 Favre lady's jersey and cheesehead. I look over toward the aisle and there are dozens of people (not all in Packer gear) with cameras and camera phones in the air trying to get a pic of Favre. I walked down and struck up a conversation with another lady in a #4 Favre jersey with a camera and said, "Isn't this crazy? You'd never know we were the visiting team losing by 16 points". She laughed and we proceeded to discuss the fact that all the television cameras were over at the bench where Favre was sitting and trying to carry on a conversation with another player. He was the one that the tv cameras followed off the field into the tunnel...he creates a media frenzy everywhere he goes without asking for it.

I think the sports media has ended up like the paparazzi in Favre's case mainly because we as fans continue to watch anything we can on him and that begins the vicious cycle...fans watch = ratings...ratings = advertisers...advertisers = money. I would dare say that the Packers' franchise as a whole has made more money off #4 than any other one player for over a decade. Just watch the game against Denver next Monday night and count the Favre gear you see compared to anyone else - it's insane!

Look, in closing, I love a Favre story as much as anyone, but after reading the article mentioned above - my response is "CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE?" Do you agree that the sports media goes too far? He's an incredible player and fun to watch - we are all privileged to have been able to watch him throughout his career, but every player has a bad day. Don't pick him apart just to get a story...trust me - you don't want to mess with the Packer Nation...or this red headed cheesehead either!

Winners, Squeakers...and a bye bye bye...

I'm back among the living in blogger land...sorry for the hiatus.

Luckily I didn't have to add the "losers" up in the title, but squeaking by with 3 points seems to be the theme this weekend for both my college and pro teams so they get called "squeakers". I don't like just barely getting by - I like for my teams to dominate and that just didn't happen.

Let's start with my Tide. For heaven's sake, Ole Miss is the worst team in the SEC and you can't even understand their coach when he talks so why couldn't we put them away? I'll tell you why - our D-line! We need some serious help in that area, but hopefully that will improve over the next few years as Saban gets his own recruits in their to run his defensive scheme. I guess he's doing the best he can of trying to fit square pegs into round holes, but Alabama fans have never had realistic expectations from anyone so why would we start now? We expected to blow out the Rebs and just didn't do it. We've got the ol' pumpkin this weekend in T-town before a bye week and then LSU...I hate orange. 'Nuf said.

Well, it wasn't enough that I had to pull against Jason Campbell and Carlos Rogers in college and now I have to do it on Sundays. Campbell's stats actually were better than Favre's, but luckily his supporting cast likes to cough the ball up and our defense still played well for the most part and capitalized on those mistakes. My Pack's D-line needs some work as well for the most part, but they got the job done again and our offense fortunately scored more points than the opposing team's! Thankfully that's all that matters in the NFL. I'm not sure if I'm grateful for a bye week this week for the Pack or not. Normally I would say that's a good thing, but we've only lost one game and I don't want to lose momentum. After our bye this week we've got 2 road games in a row. In years past we haven't been a good road team, but this year seems to be different...we beat Minnesota on the dreaded turf already!

On paper it looks like Green Bay should do well with the remaining schedule, but we still don't know how good we are 6 games into the season...strange, isn't it? We're 5 and 1 and most people would agree. I don't like that most people say that we're not as good as our record dictates (I'm referring to talking heads here). At the end of the day, that doesn't really matter. What matters is that we're 5 and 1 regardless and in my experience it puts us in a good position to make the playoffs and Packer fans (as well as Favre) want another shot in the post season.

I'm looking forward to playing the Cowboys at the end of November since everyone is saying that Romo is the next Favre in the league. The jury is still out on him in my book. Yes, he's had an incredible year so far, but we know he doesn't do well under pressure and we'll have to wait and see how durable he is over his career. Favre has earned the Ironman nickname outright - he even had a pretty good season playing with a broken thumb!

I'm glad that this weekend I only have to worry about one nailbiter since the Pack is off, but I long for the day that both teams just seriously put someone away and I don't have to have the paramedics on standby! Roll Tide Roll!! Go Pack Go!!

IS THERE REALLY AN AMERICA'S TEAM ANYMORE?

I'm well aware that I'm probably going to get crucified by the Cowboys fans out there for bringing up this question, but I think it's a fair topic.

As long as I can remember, the Dallas Cowboys have been known as "America's Team". I remember growing up and watching football with my dad. I remember the glory years for Dallas under Tom Landry - before I show too much of my age (which is 29 of course) be aware that I was very young, but I do still remember Landry pacing the sidelines in a grey suit and usually a hat. I didn't know as much about football as I do now, but I knew that they won a lot and were everywhere - they were always on tv which is why I believe they were America's team.

...notice I said "were"...let's face it - they should no longer be considered "America's Team". I went to Wikipedia to do a little research (I don't know why I went there - it's a stupid concept when anyone can go in and change the info and we consider that a valid source) and thought that it was interesting to find that they are called that because of a "large fan base that lives outside its immediate local area" and the term actually came from an NFL highlight film. Wikipedia also references their national following being represented by sold out games, etc. Someone answer the question, "when was the last time that Lambeau Field wasn't sold out or season tickets weren't sold out?" There are people that have been on season ticket waiting lists for over a decade for the Pack!

Now, before you go accusing me of being a "homer" and thinking that my Pack needs to be dubbed "America's Team" you need to scroll back up and read. My point is that I don't think that anyone deserves that term anymore. I think that times have changed so it makes it even more difficult to name any one team "America's Team". We now have NFL Sunday Ticket or whatever your cable/satellite provider offers so that we can watch lots of games. We're no longer forced to watch whatever the network decides. Also, there are more networks showing NFL games and we now have ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN News...not to mention the internet (thanks, Al Gore - ha!).

I'm also not trying to belittle the Cowboys. I understand the incredible amount of success that they've had overall for over 40 years. They've been to "the big dance" and they're tied with two other teams for the most wins, but doesn't that further solidify my point? Why aren't those other teams (San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers) screaming to be called "America's Team" if they've won as many Super Bowls?

I love football - both college and NFL...this is my favorite time of year, but the NFL has transformed since I first started watching it as a kid with my dad - some good and some not so good. Maybe it's time that we accept that there isn't a true America's Team anymore...it's not our grandfather's NFL!

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME...
That was the title of the cover story on the December 4, 2006 edition of SI with Brett Favre on the front. After watching Favre's press conference online from after the game Sunday I'm convinced even more that he is still playing for the love of the game.

Favre will be 38 years old in a few weeks in case you've been living under a rock. He was asked in the press conference what his "secret" was (dumb question) and he said there wasn't one. He said that he feels it more after the games now, but during the games he just has fun. He said that he doesn't feel it as badly when we win. How do you not love that spirit and philosophy?!

Brett Favre was 29/38 with 1 INT for a rating of 112.4. Furthermore, Favre became the all-time winningest quarterback, with his 149th victory, breaking a tie with John Elway for the top spot. He also climbed within three TD passes of Dan Marino's career record of 420. This performance begs the question, "Who said that the old guy can't play anymore?". Seriously, when did that conversation start...just because he had some bad games and seasons?

I also love his response when questioned about breaking the record. He said that last week he "didn't do nothin'!" (gotta love the southern drawl and grammar), but they still gave him that win. He said that he gives that win to the defense and special teams...truer words could not have been spoken. He said that ever since 5th grade he's seen individual trophies and awards handed out, but it's a team effort. He doesn't like the fact that the QB gets awarded the 'W' when he can't do it by himself.

I'm thrilled with the win this weekend to say the least, but like Favre said, "there are still 14 games left to play". I'm cautiously optimistic. If we could get the defense and special teams of last week to get together with the offense of this week then we could be unstoppable, but I haven't seen a season that consistent in my lifetime with the Pack...not even our SuperBowl season in the 90's. Every team has off weeks and this season won't be any different, but in the meantime I'll enjoy the wins as long as they come. This will be a good week of excitement starting out the season 2 and 0, but the momentum can change at any moment. I just hope it doesn't until AFTER Chicago at home on 10/7! Go Pack!!!

ANOTHER FOOTBALL WEEKEND...

Good grief, I love this time of year!

I made the trip to Nashville this weekend to watch my Tide play Vandy. Everyone jumped on the bandwagon and called upset on this one, but it just didn't happen. That being said, we need a TON of work! I went in concerned about our defense and left more concerned with our offense. Wilson didn't set the world on fire. He seems to be ok if he has a lot of time, but if he gets rattled or has to run for his life (which happens way too much) then he's likely to make poor decisions. I also hate the draw plays because he just isn't a fast runner to say the least. Kicking game still concerns me because at best it's inconsistent and that needs to change because the red zone offense isn't better than last year's unfortunately.

I have to say that it is so much fun to watch Andre Smith play. As large as he is (even after losing 19 pounds in the offseason he still logs 340) he is fast. He truly might end up being the best Offensive Lineman to play at Alabama. I would certainly feel good about running behind him...which brings me to Terry Grant. If he can stay healthy (please, God, keep him healthy) then he just might be a Heisman candidate...great freshman talent!

Moving forward with my Pack on Sunday. We squeaked out a win, but apparently my college and pro teams are both going to have red zone offense issues. I'm going to have to get NFL ticket or something...I can't stand not seeing these games, btw. Anyway, I digress, hats off to the defense for containing Westbrook and McNabb, but if our offense doesn't get it together then we're going to have another season like last year if we're lucky. I don't know if I expected anything more than that anyway beginning this season, but I always hold out hope as a fan(atic).

This next Sunday we're going to the Giants and we'll be able to tell a lot more about the Packers with that game and see what they're made of and if they can man up...away from the Lambeau "magic".

The Tide welcome the Hogs to T-town and I'll be there to hopefully pull us through. As good as our defense was this past weekend, they're going to have to be even better to shut down McFadden. Vandy didn't come close to having that type of talent. It will be a line battle and for the love of all that is ESPN I hope that we can win it consistently enough to win this SEC battle in the western division.

As for our in state rivals...sports talk in Birmingham is eaten up with Auburn fans calling for Cox's head on a platter. My question is the same as some other people's that I've heard in response...who else is there? I think he's a head case more than anything...he has the talent. He's not as good as some recent past QBs that Auburn has had, but he has the experience and some talent...he's just a head case from the hits he has been taking. I may be wrong, but that's my opinion.

There are a lot of good weeks ahead in football so I would just caution anyone and everyone to not knee jerk...it's still early.

FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEKEND FOR 2007 IN THE BOOKS
...Let's not get too hasty!
Wow is the only word that I can think of to describe this past weekend in the wonderful sport of football! Mine started Thursday night when I went to Nashville to watch the last pre-season Packers game against the Titans. I was keeping up with the score of the first SEC game while I was there via Blackberry (love modern technology). I realized very quickly that it wasn't much of a game so I turned my total attention to the Pack.
I unfortunately missed the opening drive which was the only one that Favre played and he also scored a touchdown...if we had only left 30 minutes earlier! :-) I see some much needed improvement on the o-line and got to see our 3rd string QB which I didn't even know his name (it's Thompson, btw). Overall we looked good at times even though we lost - which I mostly equate that to the fact that most of our 1st string was out by the end of the 1st quarter and their 1st string was still in by the 3rd (Vince needs the reps)! Our defense has also improved thankfully, but we still need work in all of these areas.
Now, to turn to college discussion. ROLL TIDE ROLL, first of all - I had to get that out of my system once again. We hung 52 points on someone (finally), Tennessee got beat, Notre Dame got beat (loved seeing Charlie Weiss rattled on the sidelines)...I could go on and on. Auburn almost got...well, I won't be ugly - it's still early in the season...I'll save it for November (hopefully we'll still be in a status worthy of some smack talk).
I can't wait to see the Tide live and in person this weekend in Nashville (I just need to take up residency there or something I guess). I was speaking to a fellow "Bammer" this morning and we were talking about the difference on the field Saturday. You knew who was in charge and there was a level of respect that we haven't seen in a while and we never worried that our coaching staff didn't know what to do next...LOOOOOOONG overdue!
I don't want to get too hasty though either. I've said before that I'm a realist as well as a passionate fan. I try not to look too much through the green/gold glasses or the crimson glasses...which ever shoe fits. We were playing Western Carolina, for heaven's sake! We will have a much better opponent this weekend at Vanderbilt who scored 41 points this past weekend lest we forget! Vandy has been one of the SEC step-children for a long time, but they may surprise some people this year. That being said, Alabama will be prepared. We have a great coach that will study game film and will know how to call the game (again, have I mentioned that this is long overdue?).
Also, Bama fans, look out for the 22nd against Georgia. They are for real this year and it could be our first loss of the season. I've always been a fan of Coach Richt and respect him a great deal - I'm glad that they will have a good year, I just hate that they chose the year we have to play them to get it together, if you know what I mean!
I can't wait for another football filled weekend - my Packers play the Eagles on Sunday and my Crimson Tide against the Commodores of Vandy...look for me on that Lincoln Financial game as the hubby and I will be enjoying the southern hospitality in Nashville for that one!
On another note...
Thank goodness that I no longer feel alone! I'm meeting more and more females that are geeked up football fans like me this year. I don't know if they're just finally coming out or they're just catching on, but either way PLEASE know that the welcome mat is out and I'm thrilled to finally have some company. We can dispel all the myths that women can't hang in the conversation or know what we're talking about just because we're women...that has ALWAYS been my pet peeve!!! Ok - glad I got that off my chest.
It was a great beginning to the season and I look forward to the momentum continuing as the weeks go on...happy football season!

Is the NFL beginning to get a reputation like the NBA (which is what I call "thugs with money")? There are so many different things that make me wonder that have been in the news lately such as Pacman Jones, Michael Vick, and Tank Johnson. Or is it that these stories get the most press as opposed to the good things that happen?
Seriously, think about all the NFL players that have charitable foundations. Do we ever hear about that in the media? Why isn't there more press on things like that?...probably because people thrive on controversy and gossip. Why else do you think people like Paris Hilton get so much air time? It drives me crazy, honestly, but it's true.
I would like to give some "blog time" to some of the NFL players that actually do good things and try to give back to their communities or to underprivileged kids.
I would like to first highlight one of my favorite players to come out of my beloved University of Alabama which is DeMeco Ryans. He is with the Houston Texans currently and was the 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year in the NFL. More impressively to me, are his accomplishments off the field. First of all, he graduated early from Alabama - 7 semesters. There certainly isn't enough attention given to those type of things!
He also hasn't forgotten where he came from - he came back to little ol' Bessemer, AL and did his first annual football camp just a week ago. Over 150 kids showed up for this free camp - it hardly got local press here in Birmingham! He did it because he said that every kid that plays football dreams of playing in the NFL one day and he wants to try and help them make that dream a reality. He believes in giving back to his community that helped him make his dream a reality and he also wants to teach them more than just the fundamentals of football. To me, this is exciting news that should be highlighted more.
I could also go on and talk about the off the field examples of local celebrity and former NFL player Jay Barker, Shaun Alexander's Family Foundation, Brett Favre's FourWard Foundation (of course), and even people that I hate to admit that I admire such as Kurt Warner's First Things First Foundation and Peyton Manning's PeyBack Foundation.
Furthermore, tucked away in the NFL news on NFLplayers.com is a story from April of this year when there was a gala honoring NFL players for their achievements off the field. I would have loved for this to have been given more attention. This gala raised money for Special Olympics and even honored my Pack's very own Donald Driver.
I guess my overall point is that there are plenty of good things that are going on in the NFL with its players, but unfortunately we don't hear about them very often so I wanted to bring a few of them "fourward" in the off season.