NFC North Gap Narrowed After Bears and Lions Free Agency Moves

While NFC North rivals the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers were forced to sit idle during the free agency bidding wars, the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions were the most aggressive teams on day one.

Lovie Smith and Da’ Bears snatched the biggest prize of the day when they signed defensive end Julius Peppers to a six-year contract worth a maximum $91.5 million. The five-time Pro Bowl player will receive a record $42 million guaranteed.

In addition to Peppers, Da’ Bears also snatched running back Chester Taylor from the Vikings signing the rusher to a four-year deal worth $12.5 million with $7 million guaranteed.

Knowing the importance of granting quarterback Jay Cutler more time to throw, they also added blocking tight end Brandon Manumaleuna from the San Diego Chargers.

Not to be outdone, the Detroit Lions made a few quick moves of their own, signing three sure starters when they inked deals with two defensive linemen and a No. 2 wide receiver.

Wanting to shore up a defense that was last in the NFL in points allowed and total yards, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz personally visited Tennessee Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch at 12:01 AM on day one of free agency and convinced the Pro Bowler to sign with the team.

While Vanden Bosch and his agent were working out the details of a four-year, $26 million deal, the Lions also inked a $25 million contract with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson.

Burleson played in 13 games for the Seahawks last year, catching 63 for 812 yards and three touchdowns and is expected to free up Calvin Johnson from the double and triple coverage he sees on a weekly basis.

Joining Vanden Bosch on the Lions’ defensive line will be Cleveland Browns Corey Williams, another proven starter who was obtained by a trade.

With the Lions adding these proven veteran linemen to their defense and with the team expected to use their No. 2 overall selection in the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft to select defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, you can throw last year’s dismal defensive stats out the window.

These aggressive moves by the Bears and Lions are certain to make the NFC North more competitive.

Minnesota lost a huge piece of their offense when Taylor left and while Brett Favre sits on the fence in Minnesota still contemplating a return, The Green Bay Packers lost Pro Bowl defensive lineman Aaron Kampman to free agency as well.

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Favre Defeats Packers 30-23 on MNF

MINNESOTA - Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre won the first round of his bout against his former Green Bay Packer team on the Monday Night Football national stage when his Vikings won 30-23.During post-game interviews, Favre admitted he entered the game “as nervous as I have ever been before a game.”

Favre who unmercifully dumped the Vikings just two days before training camp this summer, later pulled an about-face and reconsidered, coming back to the team at the last minute. Maybe all that disruption was worth it for the Vikings.

Favre who turns 40-years-old later this month, battled his younger counterpart Aaron Rodgers in a game that was not totally decided until the final onside kick attempt with less than one minute to play in regulation.

Favre finished 24-of-31 for 271 yards and 3 TDs while Rodgers set a career high in passing yards, finishing 26-of-37 for 384 yards. Rodgers also tossed for one TD and an interception.

The much-anticipated rematch will be played on Lambeau Field in Green Bay on November 1st.

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Stafford Injured, Titans 0-4, Broncos 4-0

Lions Get First Win Since 2007

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

Giants Spoil Cowboys Opener; Ochocinco Does Lambeau Leap

The New York Giants ruined the Dallas Cowboys big bash at the opening game in the new Cowboys Stadium Sunday  night defeating the ‘Boys 33-31.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones showed off the $1.2 billion structure to a raucous crowd of over 105,000 that included several past Cowboy greats, LeBron James and George W. Bush.

The stadium lived up to much of it’s hype with its seven-story high state-of-the-art television screen and dancing towers for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders; the only thing missing was a win.

Between three interceptions thrown by Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Giants QB Eli Manning passed for 330 yards, 284of them to wideouts Mario Manningham and Steve Smith. Manning then orchestrated a near-flawless final drive from his own end to set the stage for placekicker Lawrence Tynes to connect for a 37-yard game-winning kick, silencing the raucous crowd as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

In upsets Sunday, Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets beat the New England Patriots 16-9, the Chicago Bears upended the Super Bowl Champions Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14 on a last-second field goal and the Cincinnati Bengals upset the Green Bay Packers 31-24 at Lambeau Field in a game that included Ochocinco catching a TD pass and performing the Lambeau Leap.

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Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

Brett Favre Reconsiders & Signs With Vikings

MINNESOTA - Let the drama begin. Brett Favre will be visiting Lambeau Field in purple this season after all.

In the biggest news to come out of Minnesota Vikings camp since WR Visanthe Shiancoe was shown naked in the locker room during post-game last year, Favre reconsidered his reconsidering retirement and signed with the Vikings on Tuesday.

After deserting the Vikings on July 28 just hours before preseason camp opened, the gray-haired, twice-retired 39-year-old hurler will be donning purple and facing his former team the Green Bay Packers in at least two contests this season.

Favre signed a deal for somewhere in the vicinity of $10 million to $12 million and actually tossed a few passes at the Vikings training facility this afternoon.

Favre arrived in St. Paul early on Tuesday, was picked up by Coach Brad Childress (pictured with Favre here) and later in the day the rest of the scenario unfolded.

Favre is a sure Hall Of Famer and holds a laundry list of records.

Lately though he has shown major signs of an aging quarterback. Last season while playing with the New York Jets his worn-out arm led the NFL with 22 interceptions and the Jets faltered late and were unable to make the playoffs.

This news may come as a surprise to many but with Favre’s history of avoiding preseason practices others saw it coming.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, current Vikings quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson had not commented on the Favre situation.

Related NFL Vikings Articles:

Fox shows naked Vikings’ Player During Live Telecast

Favre Dumps Vikings Just Days Before Camp

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

Favre Dumps Vikings Two Days Before Camp

MINNESOTA - NFL icon Brett Favre announced he has reconsidered wearing purple and will stay retired.

In Favre fashion, the prima donna quarterback took the Vikings down to the wire when he told the Vikings on Tuesday, just 48 hours before training camp opens, that he would not team up alongside Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson to battle his former Green Bay Packers for the NFC North title this season.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Favre said. “I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings — but, most importantly, the fans.”

The Vikings now have to switch gears to ‘damage control’ since several of their star players had contacted Favre encouraging him to take snaps in a Viking uniform.

Vikings Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen and Steve Hutchinson are said to have contacted Favre by text or phone to recruit the 40-year-old slinger who had already agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the team.

Gallant efforts to get Favre on the roster like those made by the stars listed above may have sent a message of ‘lack of confidence’ to quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and newly-acquired Sage Rosenfels who are currently on the squad.

While Vikings management and coaching staff concentrate on smoothing things over in their locker room, the announcement did not come as a surprise to many of us.

With Favre’s history of stringing teams along, many of us expected these results while some seemed oblivious to Favre’s past history.

Vikings linebacker Ben Leber told the AP, “When I heard the news, I was probably as surprised and shocked as everybody else. The writing on the wall was as long as his arm was healthy he was going to play. I really expected him to be at camp. I was really surprised.”

FYI Mr. Leber, Favre seems to write on the wall with one hand while holding an eraser in the other.

Related Stories: Favre Begins Annual Roller Coaster Ride

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

Favre begins annual roller coaster ride

NEW YORK - Now that the Green Bay Packers and their Cheesehead fans have settled into the fact Aaron Rodgers is their starting quarterback, it’s the Jets’ turn to climb aboard the gut-wrenching amusement ride known as the ‘Favre roller coaster’.Brett Favre, like he did over the past few season in GB said he is ‘going to wait’ to announce his plans for next season. Yes as expected the aging quarterback is beginning his annual guessing game with the Jets, but after faltering and struggling through the last five games with 9 interceptions and only 2 TDs, don’t expect this fiasco to go the distance in a place like the Big Apple.

New York is the media capital of the world and along with that title comes aggressive reporting and a lot more pressure. People are known to be a little more polite and less aggressive in a smaller town like Madison, maybe that’s the reason Favre has not met with the N.Y. media and spoke to an ESPN reporter instead. Does the term, ‘chew him up and spit him out’ come to mind here?

The 39-year-old Favre is a warrior, we all know that. There’s a reason he set the record for most consecutive starts in the NFL in a position where guys wear a bulls-eye on the front of their jerseys. Favre has survived many Sunday afternoons as a human piñata, spent the week in ice packs and managed to climb back into the ring just days later.

Jets’ teammates like Thomas Jones and Kerry Rhodes recently used an interview with that New York media I was speaking of to voice his concerns over the All-Pro quarterback not offering to take a seat on the bench during that five-game skid.

When asked about the recent comments, Favre responded, “It’s upsetting that a couple of guys have said some negative things, but what can you do?”

What do you do? Normally ignore the comments and move forward but in this case, Jones may be concerned about another badly-timed Favre circus that could interfere with the Jets prepping for the 2009 season.

Favre has a weak argument for asking the Jets for too much time this time around.

Last season in Green Bay he was coming off a 13-3 season, this year he led the league with 22 interceptions and the Jets’ lost 4 of the last 5 games, blowing a chance at the AFC East title and a sure playoff spot.

To make matters worse he lost the final game in front of the hometown fans against ex-Jet QB Chad Pennington who also was voted this year’s AP Comeback Player of the Year.

Favre commented on his weak performance down the stretch, “Do I have to redeem myself for the last five games? No. There is nothing left out there for me from that standpoint. I’m disappointed with the last five games, sure, but I know I did everything I could have.”

If that is ‘everything you could have done’ then the writing is on the wall because that was not enough, it’s officially time to retire.

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

Favre in 2008 is a slideshow & sideshow

As we let the news settle in that Brett Favre, QB of the New York Jets, has made the Pro Bowl for the umpteenth time in his career and take side bets if he’ll schlep to Hawaii with Deana and the family, let’s remember what it took to get him to this place.

Winter

Favre, still a member of the Green Bay Packers, slinks home to Mississippi after a cruel loss in the NFC Championship game on the home field of Lambeau. He threw an interception in overtime that paved the way for the New York Giants to go to the Super Bowl.

Speculation begins about his future in Green Bay.
The Packers press him for a decision to avoid the previous year’s strung-out process. Aaron Rodgers keeps mum on it all and waits to learn his fate as the new starter on the Packers or the perpetual backup.

Favre calls a press conference and mesmerizes the public with a tearful and seemingly clear statement: I am retiring of my own volition.

Speculation begins anew that he is not clear on that statement. He has conversations almost immediately including with the Packersa bout returning. The team’s concern is that he isn’t 100% certain, just as he wasn’t prior to the announcement.

The Packers are relieved, name Rodgers their starter and set about planning for their first draft without having to keep Favre in mind, except they do. Brett is having retirement remorse.

Spring

Favre, the Packers and sports media begin a months’-long soap opera about whether the Packers gave Favre the signal that they wanted him gone and if he jumped too soon.

The contractual side of the story gets ugly as the Packers refuse to consider Favre’s return. If he doesn’t file retirement papers the team owns his rights and refuses to consider releasing him which would net them nothing in return, especially if he goes to a rival.

Favre takes the bait and starts taunting the team with going to a division rival but…he can”t say for certain if he wants to play at all. He still might retire but he doesn’t understand why he wouldn’t be welcomed back to Green Bay.

The war of wills continues as Packers fans are split down the middle on the loyalty front. Half believe he should come back, half don’t.

Summer

Favre shows up in Green Bay via private jet, as training camp is in progress, won’t take questions about his future and realizes there isn’t much sentiment left for him in Wisconsin. The impasse over him wanting a release and not being accommodated with one gets deeper.

He goes on Fox News with Greta Van Susteren to tell his sad tale of woe. Still can’t understand why the Packers won’t release him from his contract if they don’t want him to start for them any longer.

The commissioner gets involved and asks both sides to enter counseling. The Packers show their good faith by saying he’ll be benched and hold a clipboard for Rodgers if he wants to stay in Green Bay. Favre threatens to go to Minnesota and beat the Packers brains in. This is why they needed counseling.

Favre signs reinstatement papers but doesn’t file them.

The Packers get down and dirty and claim he is a malcontent who just wants it all his way. Immediately, the team hires a PR specialist who used to work at the White House but some say it’s too late.

Reinstatement papers are filed and commissioner expresses sadness as he accepts the inevitable.

Packers and Favre’s agent get down to business to try to break the impasse of where his rights get traded.

Minnesota Vikings look like jerks for having had conversations with Favre supposedly about fishing and hunting, not about coming to their team.

The sweepstakes begin in the NFL. Jon Gruden pisses off his QB by considering Favre joining him. The Packers have offered Brett an alternative to playing for them or anyone: a ten year marketing agreement with unspecified responsibilities but a pay check of $25 million in total.

And that is a first offer.

Favre who a month prior wasn’t interested in New York signs with the Jets, gets welcomed by the Mayor of New York and Jets fans dance in the streets. EA is forced to provide download image of Favre in Jets’ uni after their game went to press with him in Packers’ colors.

Fall

Favre starts slow, gets on a roll, settles back down to earth and proceeds to take the moribund team to the brink of the playoffs and gets voted into the Pro Bowl.

Future?

What’s in store for this offseason? Why wait for that? Favre is already starting the cycle of drama again as he told the media in New York that these last few games might be his last. Don’t act surprised. It’s got to be this way for him and unfortunately for fans of the team he plays for.

Happy New Year, everyone.

See the slideshow pertaining to this article at Paula’s Examiner column.

Tired of the same old sports page? Then check out Paula Duffy’s insightful (and often humorous) take on the sports day at her Examiner.com page! The popular co-host for Sports Journey Radio is also a contributor to the Huffington Post and founder of the sports learning site Incidental Contact. In her spare time, Duffy practices law in Los Angeles. But don’t hold that against her.

Favre admits phone call; Lions refuse comment

Updated on Oct. 23 @ 6:50 a.m.

NEW YORK - Looks like it’s time for the ”he said, she said” game. Brett Favre denies giving Matt Millen and the Detroit Lions information on his ex-Packer’s offense prior to the Lion’s Sept. 14 game against the Packers earlier this year and reporter Jay Glazer said he investigated this story fully and continues to defend it.

“I stand by my story 1000 percent,”Glazer told The Associated Press. “I guess Brett and I will just agree to disagree on certain things. The way I do my work, I don’t go on what just one person told me. I investigated this fully and for quite some time. I spoke with several sources, and when I go with something, I make sure it’s dead-on. I think my track record speaks for itself.”

Favre made a few comments at the Jet’s weekly press conference, “When Matt called me and was talking about hunting . . . don’t think for a second I wasn’t thinking, ‘Now, surely he wants to know something,’  Yeah, I played for the Packers for 16 years and we played against the Lions a bunch, but it’s no secret what we did against them. I don’t have a playbook from Green Bay. I didn’t send the playbook. I didn’t call him and say, ‘Look, if you do this, you’re going to win the game.’ I didn’t do that.”

He added that if he were “a guessing man,” there’s a chance other (Lions coaches or staff) might have been listening in on the conversation.

Favre went on to say that sharing information is common in the NFL, and it isn’t against league rules.

“It happens every day,” Favre said. “It happens more than you know. Nothing happened that was any different than happens any other day. But the fact I was in Green Bay for so long and what happened this offseason, that makes it a big deal. I didn’t give (Millen) any game planning, I haven’t been in that offense in over a year. I don’t know what else to tell you. It was pretty simple.”

Against the rules or not, this doesn’t sit well with many players or fans. Glazer’s report said that Favre who was sent off to the New York Jets after an ugly divorce with the Packers, spent over an hour on the phone with Lions coaches, giving the hopeless Lions information on his former team’s offense. Favre says he spoke to Millen for ‘no more than 25 minutes’.

Either way, how embarrassing is this for the Lions since it appears Matt Millen did indeed contact Favre and his Lions got their asses handed to them on their home field 48-25 in front of 60,285 fans.

The Lions continue to ‘refuse comment’. Most anyone would agreee if there was no ill-intent on the Lions part, then they should step up to the plate, look the media in the eyes and explain nothing unethical happened.

The Lions Coach Rod Marinelli preaches accountability and good character to his staff and players, yet when something like this occurs or when one of his coaches drives through a Wendy’s drive-through naked, he is the first one to turn his cheek.  

If and when all the facts surrounding this surface and prove their was info sharing, this is worse than the New England Patriots spying scandal that rocked the NFL last year. At least the Pats were cheating trying to help themselves and those games in question were all victories.

The Lions are embarrassing enough when they get blown out playing fair but if they had a little extra helpful information and still got blown out, that is nothing short of pathetic, and Favre would be nothing short of pathetic for offering it to them, regardless of who called who.

Favre’s move would be taken as a blatant retaliation for the Packers offering the player an invite to come out of retirement, AGAIN, and compete to earn a starting spot on the team.

Favre didn’t want to compete. He wanted the QB spot handed to him.

After seeing Aaron Rodgers perform so well several weeks into the season, it’s obvious why the coaching staff wanted the white-hairing, old-timer to have to beat out the younger, quarterback.

Favre then said he was done and the relationship was trashed. His ego took off like a rocket and landed him in New York.

Speaking of Rockets and NY; almost overnight, Roger Clemens has lost most of the trust and respect that took him decades to gain and Favre may be following those same footsteps.

Some of the players were not afraid to voice their opinion on the issue. “He contacted them? I don’t respect that,” former Michigan Wolverine CB Charles Woodson said. “To seek a team out and to feel like you’re trying to sabotage this team, I don’t respect that. I know he’s been the greatest player around here for a long time, but there’s no honor in that.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league had no comment but stressed that Glazer’s report detailed no illegal action. I can hear the Patriots screaming from here.

If such actions aren’t considered out of bounds, Woodson said they should be.

“I’ve never called a coach on another team and told them what’s going to happen,” Woodson said. “Obviously . . . there is a little bit of resentment there.”

Offensive lineman, Scott Wells said it would be disappointing if Favre shared information with a division rival. “Obviously it didn’t work out too well for them. We were still able to go out and move the ball on them and win the game.”

Copyright © 2008 – Sports Climax