Brett Favre's Offseason Daily Planner

I know, I'm piling on now but I can't help myself. I promise I'll stop soon. You know, when I quit "having fun out there". This one's from Barstool Sports.

Jan 24 – Throw inexcusable pick to blow Vikings Super Bowl chances.

Jan 25 – Announce that “It’s highly unlikely” you’ll come back to play again in 2010.

Feb 1 – Get interviewed for Peter King’s MMQB column. Tell him “no decision” has been made, but “Deanna and I are going home to Mississippi” and give it some thought. Fish for compliments by telling King how banged up I am. Be sure to mention that this gets harder every year.

Feb 1-9 – Quality time with family. Also monitor the web for speculation about my future.

Feb 10 – Leak to John Clayton I’m retiring.

Feb 11 – Deny reports about my retirement.

Feb 15 – Formally announce my retirement in teary press conference. Don’t forget to say “I don’t have anything left” and “I gave it everything I had.”

Feb 15-19 - Keep schedule clear to watch “Brett Favre Tribute Week” on ESPN. TiVo same on NFL Net.

March 1 – Call Adam Schefter to start “second thoughts” rumors.

March 2 – Deny second thoughts.

March 15 – Dinner with Chilly.

March 16 – Call Minneapolis Star Tribune. Say “This is the best I’ve felt in 10 years.”

March 20 – Call in with “Mike & Mike.” Insist you’re not coming back but if you did you could compete at a high level.

April 22-24 – NFL Draft. Encourage Chilly to draft a QB because you’re done.

April 30-May 3. Skip mini camp.

May 30 – Have agent call Zigi Wulf re: new contract.

June 1 – Tell Jason LaCanfora “I’m not sure” about coming back.

July 24 – Training camp opens. Go fishing in Lousiana.

Aug 24 – Sign record contract.

Aug 25 - Report to Vikings camp. Tell press “I’m here to win.” Say you don’t want the focus to be on you. Cry.

The Brett Favre Anti-Appreciation Society

The following article was lifted from Deadspin.com. It nakes me happy.

In sports, everyone is a winner—some people just win better than others. Like all the Brett Favre haters who got exactly what they wanted at precisely the time they needed. You have two more wishes.

No matter what you think of him the story of this entire season was Brett Favre. He drove everyone crazy with his will he/won't he move to Minnesota, his "schism," his torturing of Packer fans, Peter King, those damn jeans commercials. He annoyed the crap out of everyone for six solid months, even the folks who were rooting for him. But he kept playing better, the Vikings kept winning and the guy never went away. Man, that pissed people off. (And it's already started again.)

Then it happened. In the most crucial moment of the Vikings' season, with a path to victory laid out before him, Favre had one more chance to be the hero ... and threw it away. When running for five yards might have given his team a chance at victory, he decided to throw for ten and denied them even the opportunity. As we'd seen him do before, he tried to do a little too much, take the big risk, make the dangerous throw. All the qualities that the blowhards of the world praise him for, turned out to be his downfall. Again.

It's not often that someone gets to see their nemesis fail in exactly the manner they long dreamed of. The fact that he got the Vikings as far as he did only makes the sadistic glee even sweeter. For those who were desperate to see Favre screw everything up, his season could not have had a more perfect ending—unless the interception had been returned for a touchdown to avoid that awkward and unsettling overtime. Following four incredible quarters with replay reviews, questionable penalties, and an anti-climactic field goal made that particular ending oddly unsatisfying.

Except for the part where Brett Favre lost.

New Top 150 for April

Newly constructed since the January 15th deadline expired. Many changes have been made since the Top 100 I put out over a week ago.

1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska- 6’4 300
2. Gerald McCoy*, DT, Oklahoma- 6’4 297
3. Eric Berry*, S, Tennessee- 5’11 203
4. Jimmy Clausen*, QB, Notre Dame- 6’3 224
5. Rolando McClain*, LB, Alabama- 6’4 260
6. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State- 6’5 305
7. Joe Haden*, CB, Florida- 5’11 190
8. Derrick Morgan*, DE, Georgia Tech- 6’4 270
9. Anthony Davis*, OT, Rutgers- 6’6 325
10. Dez Bryant*, WR, Oklahoma State- 6’2 220
11. Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma- 6’5 315
12. Brian Price*, DT, UCLA- 6’2 300
13. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson- 5’11 195
14. Sam Bradford*, QB, Oklahoma- 6’4 225
15. Bryan Baluga, OT, Iowa- 6’6 312
16. Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida- 6’6 290
17. Earl Thomas*, S, Texas- 5’10 195
18. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee- 6’3 325
19. Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU- 6’3 257
20. Jason Pierre-Paul*, DE, South Florida- 6’5 262

Somebody Up There (That's you, Football Gods) Hates Me.

You know, before the playoffs began, if I had to pick two teams I wouldn't want to see play in the Super Bowl this year they would have been:

1. The Minnesota Favrekings.
2. The Indianapolis Colts

Yep, that's 2 out of the 4 teams that are left. Geesh.

My hatred of the Brett Favre-led Vikings has been well documented on here, mainly for one reason - Brett Favre. I actually used to admire the guy. Now, not so much. I finally went over the edge when, after a couple of years of hem-hawing about whether he was going to play or not, he actually held a press conference, during Super Bowl Week no less, to announce he was thinking about retiring. That's right, THINKING about retiring. Talk about a spotlight whore. Then he put us through the whole "I'm retired (sob-sob)" routine and changing his mind bullshit with the Pack, only to decide he wanted to play again after they'd commited to Aaron Rodgers. This was followed by the trade to the Jets, where he basically sold them down the river and held them hostage until he ended up with the Minnesota Vikings, who were coincidentally the arch-enemies of the fans who were devoted to him for 17-years back in Green Bay. Nice guy.

And please, spare me all the talk about what a great year he's had. I know he's had a great year. I don't care. I'm sick of all the "gunslinger" talk, the "he brings such a youthful enthusiasm to the game" bullshit, and the "he's just like a kid out there" nonsense. He's a freaking phony and if he gets to the Super Bowl we'll be hearing that shit for 2 solid weeks ad nauseum and watching the ESPN talking heads get boners singing his praises. God help us all.

PS - And I don't care if you call me old school. That fake punt against the Cowboys and the prancing and preening that went on after it was classless. And spare me the "if you don't like it you should stop us" load of batshit. Run it up the middle, take a knee, try a field goal, or punt. The extra TD only showed what asses the Vikings are. And you know what? I bet Brett Favre called the play.

As for the Colts, I've always respected their organization and in particular Peyton Manning. But when they had a chance to go 16-0 and rolled over like a whipped beagle at the hands of the Jets it pissed me off. It was a mistake. They spit in the face of their fans. Imagine being a season ticket holder in Indy and watching that disgraceful game. Your team has a chance to make history and they shrug their shoulders and give it away because they want to be "rested." Wow. Instead, I think they saw what happened New England a couple of years back didn't want the pressure of entering the playoffs (PLAYOFFS?) unbeaten. Gutless.

In the end they lose either way. If they don't win it all people will say they lost their mojo that day. And if they win it all? Just think, they could have gone 19-0.

So here's the scenarios I'm hoping for. The Jets beat up on the Colts, the Saints put a whuppin' on the Vikes, and Shoe has a happy Super Bowl Sunday watching Rex Ryan get his fat ass walloped by The Real America's Team. Yeah, I don't like him either but I hate the other guys worse. Next best scenario - The Minnesotas beat the Saints, we have to put up with a ton of Brett Favre slurping for 2-weeks, but it's worth it because the Jets get revenge on the Gunslinger by sacking him 6-times in an upset Super Bowl win. Bonus fun for me if Brett gets concussed at some point. Just sayin'. I'd prefer a Saints win over Indy in the big game for reasons mentioned above, and finally, I could live with an Indy win over Minnesota. But still we'd wonder. Could have they gone 19-0?

But please God, please. Anything but a Brett Favre Super Bowl victory.

Propelled By Jackson's 19, Xavier Topples Dayton, 78-74

Made it down to the Cintas Center yesterday for the first time this season to watch Greenfield's favorite son, Dante Jackson play. What my wife & I were able to witness, however, was a terrific basketball game, a victory over main rival Dayton, and Mr. Jackson's finest game as a collegian. Xavier defeated Dayton 78-74 in a see-saw battle, and now sits atop the Atlantic 10 at 4-0.

The scene in Cincinnati was electric as it was a special 11:00 a.m. tip-off in front of a nationally televised audience. These situations usually mean Dante Jackson will have a good game, and more often than not Dayton is a witness. Jackson peppered the Flyers with 5 three-pointers, and a tide-turning dunk off a steal en route to a career high 19 points, to go along with 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Dante was honored after the game with the "Blackburn-McCafferty" award for the most outstanding player in the Xavier/UD rivalry. Even more gratifying for us as proud Greenfield McClain Tigers was watching the entire XU student section chanting Dante's name as he accepted his award. It was also a lot of fun for us watching the young man "work" the referees & opposing players so hard during timeouts and game stoppages! The kid never shuts up, but the chatter is all positive & light-hearted, you can't help but smile and laugh. "That's our Dante," we kept saying...with a chuckle.

In post-game comments Xavier head coach Chris Mack likened Dante Jackson's big-game prowess to that of Robert "Big Shot Bob" Horry. Jackson seems to play his best the bigger the stage, and the more important the outcome. Ever since hitting a big three-pointer to lift XU past Georgia in the NCAA tournament his freshman season, and his famous half-court buzzer beater to beat Virginia Tech in Puerto Rico last season, the Musketeers have counted on their defensive specialist to have the focus and composure to lead them out of tight spots on the offensive end as well. Jackson is now more or less the unofficial, official spokesman of the basketball team as well as the TV & newsprint media seeks him out for comments before & after games & practices due to his well-spoken manner and understanding of situations.

Congrats Dante, we're really proud of you. Here's looking toward another great March run!

Damn it. Mountaineers fall short against Syracuse.

Yeah, that's Boeheim's wife. Life ain't fair.

Anywho, Syracuse survived a frantic West Virginia rally for a 72-71 win on Saturday in Morgantown, W. Va.

The win improves the No. 5 Orange's record to 17-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big East. No. 10 West Virginia falls to 13-3 overall and 4-2 in conferene.

Truck Bryant led West Virginia with 18-points, followed by Da'Sean Butler with 13 and Kevin Jones with 11.

The 'Neers visit Marshall on 1/20, then entertain Evan Turner and The Ohio State University on Saturday, 1/23 at 2:00 PM. Yes, I will be in attendance.

Retailer plans to donate Lane Kiffin shirts to Haiti recovery efforts

From The Associated Press:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Knoxville retailer will donate fans' Lane Kiffin T-shirts to earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti.

HoundDogs, which sells Tennessee apparel, advertised a 20 percent discount for fans who brought shirts to the store for donation.

Manager Mitzi Sherrill says the owners, Dan and Tona Burks, were hoping to turn a "negative into a positive" when they heard fans talk of burning and ripping up shirts with the former Volunteers coach's name or face on them in the wake of Kiffin's abrupt resignation. He accepted the head coaching job at Southern California.

Sherrill says the store had already been promised a large donation of shirts from a fan in Maryland.

(Ed. What a douchebag. Both UT & USC deserve this. DJ)

Top 100 for April.

1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska- 6’4 300
2. Gerald McCoy*, DT, Oklahoma- 6’4 297
3. Eric Berry*, S, Tennessee- 5’11 203
4. Jimmy Clausen*, QB, Notre Dame- 6’3 224
5. Rolando McClain*, LB, Alabama- 6’4 260
6. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State- 6’5 305
7. Joe Haden*, CB, Florida- 5’11 190
8. Derrick Morgan*, DE, Georgia Tech- 6’4 270
9. Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma- 6’5 315
10. Dez Bryant*, WR, Georgia Tech- 6’2 220
11. Carlos Dunlap*, DE, Florida- 6’6 290
12. Brian Price*, DT, UCLA- 6’2 300
13. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson- 5’11 195
14. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama- 6’5 360
15. Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU- 6’3 257
16. Anthony Davis*, OT, Rutgers- 6’6 325
17. Earl Thomas*, S, Texas- 5’10 195
18. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee- 6’3 325
19. Bryan Baluga, OT, Iowa- 6’6 312
20. Jason Pierre-Paul*, DE, South Florida- 6’5 262
21. Sam Bradford*, QB, Oklahoma- 6’4 225
22. Everson Griffen*, DE, USC- 6’4 280
23. Johnathan Dwyer*, RB, Georgia Tech- 6’0 230
24. Arrelious Benn*, WR, Illinois- 6’2 220
25. Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas- 6’4 255
26. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma- 6’6 258
27. Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri- 6’2 246
28. Taylor Mays, S, USC- 6’4 225
29. Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- 6’2 260
30. Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida- 6’2 250
31. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati- 6’1 189
32. Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State- 6’5 295
33. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida- 6’3 251
34. Golden Tate*, WR, Notre Dame- 5’11 195
35. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State- 5’11 193
36. Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho- 6’6 330
37. Bruce Campbell*, OT, Maryland- 6’7 310
38. Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU- 6’3 210
39. Navorro Bowman*, LB, Penn State- 6’1 230
40. Nate Allen, S, South Florida- 6’2 205
41. Vladimir Ducasse, OG, Massachusetts- 6’5 330
42. Daryl Washington, ILB, TCU- 6’3 235
43. Bruce Carter*, LB, North Carolina- 6’2 225
44. Rickey Sapp, DE, Clemson- 6’6 240
45. Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse- 6’4 293
46. Jon Asomoah, OG, Illinois- 6’6 315
47. Eric Norwood, LB, South Carolina- 6’1 253
48. Kris O’Dowd*, C, USC- 6’5 305
49. Darrell Stuckey, S, Kansas- 6’1 205
50. Damian Williams*, WR, USC- 6’1 210
51. Javhid Best*, RB, California- 5’9 200
52. Anthony McCoy, TE, USC- 6’5 245
53. Charles Brown, OT, USC- 6’6 290
54. Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest- 6’0 190
55. Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky- 6’1 185
56. Dexter McCluster, RB, Ole Miss- 5’8 170
57. Maurkice Pouncey, OG, Florida- 6’5 318
58. Marvin Austin*, DT, North Carolina- 6’3 305
59. Anthony Dixon, RB, Miss St.- 6’1 235
60. Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss- 6’5 240
61. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas- 6’2 215
62. Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas- 6’0 190
63. Jermaine Cunningham, DE, Florida- 6’3 251
64. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida- 6’3 245
65. O’Brien Schofield, OLB, Wisconsin- 6’3 243
66. Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama- 5’9 195
67. Owen Marecic, FB, Stanford- 6’1 244
68. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa- 6’3 284
69. Von Miller, DE, Texas A&M- 6’3 240
70. Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan- 6’0 190
71. Reshad Jones, S, Georgia- 6’2 212
72. Kai Forbath, K, UCLA- 6’1 192
73. Sean Canfield, QB, Oregon State- 6’4 214
74. Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State- 5’11 220
75. Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri- 6’5 215
76. Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU- 6’5 248
77. Tony Washington, OT, Abilene Christian- 6’7 205
78. Sean Lee, LB, Penn State- 6’2 236
79. Darryl Sharpton, ILB, Miami (Fl.)- 6’1 235
80. Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State- 5’10 190
81. Harry Coleman, S, LSU- 6’2 205
82. Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon- 6’5 243
83. Kyle Calloway, OT, Iowa- 6’7 315
84. Barry Church, S, UCLA- 6’1 220
85. J.D. Walton, C, Baylor- 6’3 304
86. Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama- 6’3 305
87. Colin Peek, TE, Alabama- 6’6 255
88. Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota- 6’2 215
89. Rashawn Jackson, FB, Virginia- 6’1 245
90. James Starks, RB, Buffalo- 6’2 210
91. Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati- 6’6 225
92. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford- 6’1 235
93. Stanley Havili, FB, USC- 6’1 225
94. Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas- 6’3 200
95. Anthony Costanzo, OT, Boston College- 6’7 290
96. Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida- 6’5 320
97. Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson- 6’4 305
98. Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina- 6’2 235
99. Thaddeus Gibson, DE, Ohio State- 6’2 245
100. Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia- 6’2 200

Fanhouse NFL Rankings, Playoff Edition

This article was originally posted on www.fanhouse.com.

1. Chargers (13-3) First-Round Bye

The hottest team in football by virtue of their 11 straight wins and in possession of a passing attack that will test any defense thanks to the number of options and height of the targets available to Philip Rivers. The defense hasn't been particularly scary, but it hasn't had an awful outing since the fifth game of the season. They enter the playoffs with a well-balanced team capable of winning the whole thing. In other words, it's a lot like 2004, 2006 and 2007.

2. Colts (14-2) First-Round Bye

There wouldn't have been so much hullabaloo about the decision to quit against the Jets if people weren't fairly convinced the Colts were capable of running the table this season. As long as Peyton Manning is running the offense, they still can. And there may be even more reason to think they can make a playoff run with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis well-rested and ready to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

3. Vikings (12-4) First-Round Bye

Are we ready to proclaim the offense healthy again off the last six quarters against the Bears and Giants? The fact that both teams changed their defensive coordinators in the last 48 hours should give some pause, but it was encouraging to see the Vikings going back to throwing the ball all over the field. That's been when they've been most effective this season. One last note: The Vikes are 10-0 on turf this season and won't see grass unless they make it to Miami.

4. Cowboys (11-5) Saturday 8 P.M. vs. Eagles

They aren't as hot as the Chargers, but they're as close as any team in the NFC. The wins over the Saints, Redskins and Eagles to close the season showed off the multi-faceted offense that was promised all season and, more importantly, a defense that forces errors at every turn. There's still that lingering doubt about Wade Phillips and Tony Romo in the playoffs, of course, but there's a very different aura about this team than in past years.

5. Saints (13-3) First-Round Bye

It's more than three straight losses to close out the year that's created some doubt about the Saints, it is the fact that they haven't played remotely well since routing the Patriots in late November. That's an awfully long time and you have to wonder if they can just turn things back on in the second weekend of if they have to face a Cowboys team that's already beaten them once.

6. Patriots (10-6) Sunday 1 P.M. vs. Ravens

The Wes Welker injury hurts, no doubt, but the defensive resurgence in the three games preceding Sunday's loss to the Texans is very encouraging. Throw in the rather robust playoff resumes of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady and you've got a lot of reason to believe in what the Patriots can do. They'd rank higher if they didn't have to win twice on the road in the U.S. during the postseason since they only pulled it off once during the regular season.

7. Cardinals (10-6) Sunday 4:40 P.M. vs. Packers

Pro: It's very tough to stop the Cardinals passing game when they're at home or indoors. Con: It's very tough for the Cardinals to stop anyone else's passing game in any setting. Pro: They've been here before. Con: They aren't sneaking up on anyone this time. Pro: They've won without Anquan Boldin before. Con: They may have to win without Boldin again.

8. Packers (11-5) Sunday 4:40 P.M. at Cardinals

How much does that home loss to the Vikings sting right now? That one win means the Packers have to go on the road three times to make it to Miami instead of getting a chance to hang out at Lambeau for at least one week to get their playoff feet wet. You can't write off a team that has players like Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson playing as well as they are, but it's a tough road to follow to the promised land.

9. Eagles (11-5) Saturday 8 P.M. at Cowboys

Let's just put to rest once and for all the notion that the Eagles were playing possum in Week 17 because it's insulting to them, the Cowboys and anyone with intelligence. It is tough to beat a team three times in one season, but it's also tough to commute from Philly to Dallas to face that Cowboys pass rush twice in a row when you were devoid of any answers the first time around.

10. Bengals (10-6) Saturday 4:30 P.M. vs. Jets

Give Marvin Lewis a lot of credit for keeping his team together in a rough season emotionally. The loss of Chris Henry and Mike Zimmer's wife would be too much for some teams, but the Bengals kept grinding and did what they needed to do to win the division. If Domata Peko isn't 100 percent on Saturday, though, they aren't going to be able to stop the Jets rushing game.

11. Ravens (9-7) Sunday 1 P.M. at Patriots

It's pretty simple what the Ravens need to do to advance past the first round. They need to run early and run often to keep Brady and Randy Moss from getting too many chances to put the ball up against their leaky secondary. Ray Rice and Willis McGahee are certainly good bets to keep the chains moving, but it would be the first time they beat a decent team on the road all season since September.

12. Jets (9-7) Saturday 4:30 P.M. at Bengals

The Jets don't owe anyone any apologies about the way they got into the playoffs, but they can't spend too much time patting themselves on the back either. The Bengals will give them a whole lot more on Saturday than they did on Sunday night and Mark Sanchez on the road is a bit of a scary proposition. That said, they match up well with Cincinnati, although you can't say that about any of the other teams they're likely to see in January.

--- Josh Alper for http://www.fanhouse.com/ .

In Sin-Filled Kentucky, Calipari Beats Pitino

Jay Mariotti writes for www.Fanhouse.com. He's also a colossal douchebag. Still, any article bashing Pitino and Calipari is a must-read.


LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Sport is relentless in its sleaze, whether it's Mike Leach's twisted way of handling a player's concussion or the frightening allegation that Gilbert Arenas and a teammate flashed guns at each other in an NBA locker room -- firearms, not forearms -- in a surreal flare-up over a gambling debt. Happy New Year, huh?

Still, it was hard to top Saturday in Rupp Arena as a crossroads of wrongdoing. On the Kentucky bench, in a dark pinstriped suit and slicked-back hair, was John Calipari (right), the only college basketball coach ever forced to vacate two FInal Four berths at two programs over two decades because ineligible players were used. And on the Louisville bench, in a gray suit and slicked-back hair, was Rick Pitino (left), the only college basketball coach ever to be caught in an after-hours, extramarital sex romp at a four-star Italian restaurant, though the table utilized by Pitino and Karen Cunagin Sypher at Porcini since has been removed -- just in case you wanted to sit there with a date and order the linguini with clam sauce.

"He's Italian. Our coach is Italian," Louisville guard Preston Knowles famously told USA Today. "It's the big old clash of Italians."

Oh, Tony Soprano would be so proud.