We’re a big fan of freelance artist Gary Finkler. His take on the world of sports is always entertaining and humorous and whenever we have the chance, we like to show off some of his stuff to all of our loyal readers here at Juiced Sports. With the 15-1 Packers — by far the runaway favorite to win it all, pretty much all season — now eliminated after getting thumped by the New York football Giants, the Twitter-verse was abuzz with Discount Double Check puns.  Hard to blame them. While the commercial is original, funny, and catchy, and spawned off two more versions (one with B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews), people love it when the person plastered all over their TV takes the fall.

So now we’re stuck with those State Farm Discount Double Check commercials throughout what I’d have to assume, the rest of the playoffs, but we have no Rodgers! or the Pack to go along with ‘em.  The reality is this: becoming the spokesperson for a company and doing an extremely over-played ad which plays over and over throughout a sports’ postseason, doesn’t seem to work. Remember when Kobe and LeBron had their puppet show commercials?  Remember how neither made it to the Finals that year? When the player advances as the commercial runs its course it’s poetica synchronization at its finest.  But when the star of your ad flops out an hour into the dance, and you still continue to showcase him for the next 3 weeks, well — that can get a little awkward.  Sometimes, you might even get caught with your pants down:

Pretty funny stuff, right?

Some of our favorites circulating Twitter yesterday:

Discount Double Choke
Discount Double D’oh!
Discount Double Done

Rodgers!

JIM RUBERA
(Rubera writes for The Spop)

Football is back (although it never really left) and it’s time for SPOP’s second annual season preview.  Last year there was so much anticipated drama with Favre, TOcho, and the Jets that TNT would struggle to find air time for all of it.  This year doesn’t have as much soap opera hype, but there’s still plenty to look forward to.

Reggie Bush: Taking his talents to South Beach

The Dolphins surprised a lot of people by acquiring Bush and making him the feature back.  With Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams gone, Reggie will be left in the backfield with only rookie Daniel Thomas as the tough yardage and goal line ball carrier.  Even if Thomas turns into a decent player and picks up first down duties, that still leaves Bush with the majority of the touches. He has proven to be an atrocious runner between the tackles, so on paper this looks like a bad move for the Dolphins. However, Bush still has the speed to get to the corner and with inexperienced QB Chad Henne sure to be looking for a lot of check downs, he could approach his rookie season total for receptions (88).  So basically, don’t expect much from the Miami, but keep Bush in mind for your second fantasy running back this year.

The Eagles

Last year the Jets made a deal with the salary cap devil and assembled an all-star team of veteran playmakers.  This year Philly followed suit.  Through free agency and trades they acquired Nnamdi Asomugha, Ronnie Brown, Steve Smith, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Anthony Hargrove, and Vince Young.  They lost…Kevin Kolb.  So the talent is there.  They have the most dynamic QB in the game, a big play wide receiver in DeSean Jackson, a Giants’ style Thunder and Lightening running attack with LeSean McCoy and Ronnie Brown, and their number three cornerback could be a number one on just about any other team in the league.

At 7/1 Vegas odds, they are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl (behind only Green Bay and New England), but it all rides on Vick.  He has only played a full season once in his professional career.  Chances are, especially with the way he plays, that he will miss some time.  Depending on the opponents, Vince Young can hold down the fort for a game or two, but he’s not a leader at this point in his career.  Any extended absence by Vick toward the end of the year will crush the Eagles’ chances at the Lombardi Trophy.  We saw what a hobbled Vick looks like in the playoffs last year and it wasn’t pretty.  He led Philadelphia to just 16 points including a long 75 yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter when the Packers were in prevent (a.k.a. garbage time).  Let’s all hope he stays healthy this year because there’s nobody more exciting to watch in the league when he’s on his game.

The Texans

Is this finally the year?  Since their inception Houston has done their best to emulate the 1919-2003 Red Sox by beaming with potential, but disappointing in the most heartbreaking ways. After beating the Colts to start last season and starting 4-2, they proceeded to lose 8 out of their next 9.  They have never made the playoffs in their ten year history.  Three years ago they had the league’s leading receiver.  Two years ago they had the league’s leading passer.  Last year they had the league’s leading rusher.  THEY STILL HAVE ALL THREE OF THOSE GUYS.  Defense has always been their problem, but they still have former number one overall pick Mario Williams, former HGH user Brian Cushing, and added former Bengal (but elite) cornerback Jonathan Joseph.

They have a decent schedule too, playing only seven games against teams with a winning record from last season.  If they just win two of those, they can afford to drop one game to a bad team and still finish 10-6.  The road to success is laid out.  They just need to get rid of the bad vibes.  It’s like being on a cold streak at blackjack, being dealt a 20, staring at the dealer’s 6, and saying “Ok, let’s see how I lose this one.”  Let’s root for the AFC to bust so the Texans get comp’d a spot in the playoffs.

Redemption?

“What the f%@# was that?”  That was what was going through the minds of Falcons and Patriots fans as the sun finally set on the weekend of January 15th-16th.  The two best teams in the league got steamrolled at home in their first playoff games.  Atlanta took care of most of its business in house by re-signing key players, but made waves by bringing in studs on both sides of the ball.  They signed aggressive pass rusher and former Viking Ray Edwards and drafted college star receiver and BCS National Champion Julio Jones.

Similarly, the Patriots re-signed veterans Matt Light and Logan Mankins and brought in potential studs/duds Albert Haynesworth on defense and Chad Ochocinco on offense (see next item).  Both teams are still stacked and are near the top of everybody’s power rankings.  Expect another set of stellar records for both teams, but it will be interesting to see how each fare in the playoffs where neither has had much success in recent years.

Ocho/Psycho

If you live near a casino or a racetrack, keep an eye out for Bill Belichick toward the end of this decade.  Because when he retires I’m pretty sure he’ll have a reserved seat in every single one across the country.  The man is a gambler.  It all started with choosing Brady over Drew Bledsoe and that worked out pretty well, but recently a lot of his moves have blown up in his face.  He let Asante Samuel walk and has been scrambling for a good corner ever since.  He traded Richard Seymour and has been scrambling for defensive line help ever since.  He blew a Colts game on a 4th and 2 play call.  He had awful game plans for the last three playoff games (all losses).  He benched Wes Welker for the first series of the Jets playoff game, which may or may not have led to Brady throwing his first interception in 12 weeks on that drive.

So now he’s going back to his bread and butter…importing other peoples’ problems.  Chad Ochocinco is a workhorse and I am personally a fan of his.  But you have to wonder why he was always on the outs with his coach, management, and his quarterback.  He’s a walking side show, which is exactly the opposite of the way the Patriots prefer things.  He wants the ball like Keyshawn Johnson and Randy Moss did and according to reports he’s dropping a ton of balls in practice because of his unfamiliarity with New England’s unique offense.  It will be very interesting to see if he can keep his mouth shut and his Tweets to a minimum, but if he holds on to the ball the move could pay off huge for the Patriots.

Then there’s Albert Haynesworth.  There’s not enough room on my server to list all the despicable things this guy has done, so let’s just say he’s been a naughty boy.  Belichick has taken in headaches before, but Haynesworth is a sledgehammer migraine.  All his off the field issues are one thing, but the inexcusable things in this league is not putting in full effort and that’s exactly what he has been guilty of since he signed his huge contract.  Like everybody says, if anybody can get the most out of him it’s Belichick.  They restructured his contract so that it won’t cost much to cut him if he misbehaves or slacks off and a pass rush is a key need to intimidate Sanchez and beat the Jets.  But I wouldn’t feel safe having my ace in the hole be a guy who thinks swiping his credit card down a waitress’ cleavage is a good idea.

Party in the Heartland?

Every year there is chatter about the Super Bowl hosts playing in the game, but it hasn’t come to fruition yet.  Last year Dallas was the talk of the preseason and Jerry Jones was planning to make history.  They started 1-7.  This year Super Bowl XLVI will be held in Peyton Manning’s house.  The Colts and Manning are not what they used to be, but as long as #18 has the ball they always have a chance.  They have a good core on both sides, but need more production out of their running game and for Austin Collie to not get a concussion every time someone orders a hot dog at the stadium.

They have a pretty rough schedule having to play New England, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Baltimore, but depending on what Houston does they should still make the playoffs as division champion or as a wild card with 10 or 11 wins.  From there it will be all rivalry games as a mix of the Patriots, Jets, Steelers, and Ravens should all be in the playoff conversation.  Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson each have one Super Bowl ring.  Manning knows he needs another to separate himself from the lucky ones and he knows his window is closing too.  Guaranteed home field advantage in the Super Bowl might provide enough motivation to inspire him and his teammates to get back to business.

The Packers

This one’s real simple.  Green Bay annihilated the competition down the stretch of the regular season and the playoffs.  And they did it with half of their roster on the injured reserve.  The other 31 should be very scared.

Who’s Your QB? / You play for who?

I lack the resources and am too lazy to check year by year, but I’ll say unofficially that this is the biggest quarterback turnover in NFL history.  Ten teams have changed starters since the beginning of last season.  That’s 31% of the league.  Here’s a rundown of the new faces in new places…

Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buffalo): Career backup and fantasy sleeper finally gets his chance at making the team his.

Kevin Kolb (Arizona): See Ryan Fitzpatrick (above).  Had the gig in Philly last year but got knocked out and lost his job to…

Michael Vick (Philadelphia): Given the reigns to begin the season for the first time since 2006.

Donovan McNabb (Minnesota): With all defensive eyes on Adrian Peterson, there’s no excuse if he screws this one up.

Matt Hasselbeck (Tennessee): Same deal as McNabb.  Upgrade for the Titans, but still an uphill climb in that division.

Colt McCoy (Cleveland):  Why not?  Just hope he doesn’t die in one of the four games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Cam Newton (Carolina): He’ll be better than Jimmy Clausen.  Barely.

Tavaras Jackson (Seattle): He has a nice toy in Sidney Rice, but the kid is a career loser.

John Beck/Rex Grossman (Washington): Does it really matter?  Division basement either way.

Andy Dalton (Cincinnati): Poor kid.  This will be the worst team in the league and it won’t even be close.

Photo: Getty

SCOTT JACOBS

If that was the last football game we see for some time, boy did the NFL go out with a bang.

What started out as a blowout, turned into a classic as the Packers did just enough to hold off the pesky Pittsburgh Steelers 31-26, securing their 4th Super Bowl title, and 13th NFL championship in 80 years.

And what once amounted to “boos” for the handling of the Brett Favre situation just 3 years ago, is now “Favre who?”  The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, and he’s doing just fine.  In fact, he’s got that MVP shine to him after corraling the game’s most valuable player, a feat not even mighty number 4 could accomplish in his illustrious Packers career.  And a Green Bay team that was once 8-6 and on the brink of elimination, is now the NFL’s last group standing, a testament to playing their best when the pressure was its greatest, overcoming all obstacles thrown their way.

The Lombardi Trophy is coming back to the NFL’s smallest market.  The league’s only publicly owned team is getting another parade, and the Steelers six year reign over the NFL has come to a screeching halt. The number one song may be Black and Yellow, but it’s the Gold and Yellow that are World Champs.  Hard to believe it’s been 14 years for the league’s most storied franchise, but the drought is over.

Led by a ball-hawking defense, another clutch performance from Aaron Rodgers, and a team that just would not quit, the Packers raced out to a 21-3 lead, before holding on after a frantic Steelers rally.  But the man they call clutch was not Big Ben tonight.  Instead it was Rodgers who led the Packers on a huge 10 play, 70 yard drive up three, eating up 5:27 of clock late in the 4th to put Green Bay up a touchdown, a deficit Pittsburgh simply couldn’t overcome.  Needing a touchdown and the PAT to pull out another epic Super Bowl win, the magic ran out for the Steelers, who never led.

The Packers needed to win 6 games in a row to win it all.  No problem.

Crushing the Giants in Lambeau and just doing enough to beat the Bears at home, the Packers snuck into the playoffs as the NFC’s lowest seed, and from there they never looked back.

Philly couldn’t stop them.  Atlanta couldn’t contain them.  The Bears didn’t have the firepower to match them.  And the Steelers ran out of time to comeback on them.

And walah, the Packers are Super Bowl champions.

At times it seemed like destiny’s darlings were bound to fall short.  The injury bug attacked early and often, taking out Charles Woodson, Sam Shields, and Donald Driver, but the Packers were not to be denied.  They’d come too far.

Of course it’s not a surprise that the Packers won the Super Bowl.  Many experts and pundits had them going to the Big Game before this season even started after their harrowing OT loss in the playoffs at Arizona last year.  But few could have foreseen a path that included losing their starting running back, and their franchise  quarterback to a concussion for a few games, amongst a bevvy of other injuries. But that was the year it was.  It wasn’t exactly dominant from start to finish, but it had its solid, if not spectacular moments when needed most.

Philly couldn’t stop them.  Atlanta couldn’t contain them.  The Bears didn’t have the firepower to match them.  And the Steelers ran out of time to comeback on them. And walah, the Packers are Super Bowl champions.

But the defining moment, the game that changed everything, and gave the Pack confidence that hey, maybe they could win this thing afterall, may have actually come in a loss.  In a Sunday Night football game against the Patriots in mid-December, the Pack came in with an 8-5 record, a concussed quarterback, and a backup in Matt Flynn who was expected to get devoured alive by a red hot New England team.  But the Pack held their own, and if not for a historic kickoff return by Dan Connolly of all people, it’s very possible they would have beat the Pats.

They lost 31-27 but from there they knew, that if they could hang with the NFL’s best team without their franchise QB, they sure as heck could beat anyone in their way with their franchise QB.  And lo and behold that’s exactly what happened.  Green Bay never lost again, and tonight they culminated that resurgence in confidence with the NFL’s biggest prize.  On it’s biggest stage.  In front of a near NFL record crowd, made mostly of Terrible towel wavers.

It’s been quite a rise from the ashes for Green Bay.  Just two seasons prior to this one, they were 6-10, and fans were questioning if Aaron Rodgers was the guy.  Well, newsflash, he is.  The Packers steeley QB followed up an incredible post-season with a grand finale, throwing 3 touchdowns and no picks, not to mention watching Jordy Nelson drop three huge throws.  But that was just it.  For every time Nelson dropped a ball, he came back and recovered, making a huge play:  His grandest highlight coming near the end as he dashed to the goal line, nearly scoring what would have been the clinching score.

It was that resolve, that heart, that desire to overcome turmoil that makes a good team great.  A young team special.

The Packers are World Champions.

Green Bay, party like it’s 1997. Lombardi’s back.  And we’re not just talking about Broadway.

Photo: Getty

We are one week away from Super Bowl 45.

7 days. Roughly 160 hours. 9600 seconds.

Tick, tock.

Until two of the NFL’s most well-versed franchises square off for all the Lombardis.  Until two of the NFL’s biggest crown jewels do battle in the NFL’s shiniest palace.  Two old school teams, whose uniforms and colors harken back to generations of greatness, meeting in North Texas under the NFL’s largest scoreboards in the world.

Green Bay Packers.  Pittsburgh Steelers.  The team that was there when it all started.  Versus the team that has won the Super Bowl more times than any other.  The Green and Gold versus the Black and Gold for the NFL’s largest chunk of silver.

Wagering on these two to be successful is as smart as betting on the Super Bowl at BetUS.  They’re gonna be good.  They almost always are. And when you have a combined 9-2 record in the Big Game, it’s hard to argue with the results.

No upstarts here.  Green Bay and Pittsburgh reek of NFL royalty.  Their fans are amongst the most passionate and well traveled in North American sports.  And though they sport between them nine Super Bowl rings, they’re two of the NFL’s most blue collar franchises.

You want history? How’s this for history: when the Steelers came into the league (1933), the Packers won their 4th NFL championship.  When Green Bay was finished destroying teams in the 60’s (5 NFL Championships), the Steelers took over in the 70’s (winning 4 of their own).

You want success? Green Bay and Pittsburgh have 39 division titles between them.  Both teams have made the playoffs 26 times.

You want Hall of Famers?   Green Bay has 21 of ‘em.  The Steelers, 18. Put them together and you could make the meanest, scariest group of s.o.b.’s the football world’s ever seen.

But this is more than just numbers.  This is names.  Guys like Johnny McNally, Ray Nitschke, Paul Hornung, Bobby Layne, Joe Greene, and Jack Lambert.

These teams are the glue that hold the NFL history books together.  They’re the yin and the yang.  The black and the blue.  The iconic G in a cyclinder.  The 3 diamonds in a circle.

And a week from now they meet for the first time in a Super Bowl.

A two seed and a six seed.  Roethlisberger versus Rodgers. Pass versus run.

Defense versus more defense.

One team will walk away with another championship. 

This is the NFL’s big-boy table.  The high rollers V.I.P. you better have rings if you want in on this shindig, extravaganza.

Because when you think excellence, well it’s hard to top these two.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they know they’re damn good.

Next week, one of them will simply add to their legacy.

Photo: Life

SCOTT JACOBS

Today I had the opportunity to interview Cowboys rookie fullback Chris Gronkowski (who, with his season over, is effectively now a second year player).

We talked about everything and it was a long interview so it’s going to take some time to transcribe.  But one subject that’s time sensitive is his AFC and NFC Championship Game picks and his thoughts on Rex Ryan and the Jets, who he had a chance to see in person the other day while watching his brother Rob, who is  a TE  for the Patriots.  Here’s an excerpt from our interview, the entirety of which will be posted within the week.  It’s a Juiced Sports Exclusive.  Enjoy!

Juiced Sports: It’s Championship Week! Bears-Packers, Jets-Steelers, who do you think is going to make it to the Super Bowl?

Chris Gronkowski: I’m gonna go with the Packers in their match up and I think it’s still a tossup between the Steelers and the Jets.  I think the Jets will be able to pull it off, especially coming off of their big win over the Patriots.

JS:  You had a chance to see the Jets in person this weekend watching your brother Rob with the Patriots and the Jets surprised a lot of people.  What did you make of that game?

CG: I thought it was unbelievable how they came out with a whole different scheme that the Patriots didn’t really expect, as far as the defense of the Jets.  They were rushing three and dropping everyone, and obviously it was the perfect defense to play against them.  No one else has really done that against them.  It was a smart move by the Jets and it definitely paid off.  It shows that they’re willing to do anything, change the whole game-plan, just to win a game.  Definitely good coaching on their part and I think they’re in it to win it  They got a lot of older guys who haven’t won a Super Bowl yet and they’re dying to get there.

As we mentioned, we’ll have the whole interview up for you soon.  Some real interesting topics covered: including the CBA, what he would do if he was Commissioner for a day, and much much more.  Stay tuned.

In the meantime, check out GronkNation.com, a site recently launched by Chris and his brothers Rob and Dan.

Photo: Reuters

SCOTT JACOBS

It was amazing.  Almost poetic, the way the Packers picked apart the number one seed Falcons in tonight’s shocking 48-21 rout, sending the 10-6 six seed to the NFC Championship.

It’s not the fact that Green Bay is one win away from a trip to Dallas.  It’s the fact that they simply annihilated Atlanta in the Georgia Dome, breaking open a 14-14 game into an Aaron Rodgers showcase.

If you had any questions about the third year starter and six year veteran, it’s hard for Rodgers to do more than he did today. Finding and exposing any of Atlanta’s holes on defense, Rodgers imposed on the Falcons neighborhood to the tune of 366 yards, 3 touchdowns, and just 5 incompletions. Incredible numbers for a guy who clearly has overcome Brett Favre’s humongous shadow.  Instead, it’s Rodgers who has proven himself to be nothing but money in the NFL’s second season. In just three playoff games Rodgers has 12 touchdowns (rushing and passing combined) to his name, and his Packers are now 2-1 in those contests, with their lone loss coming in the epic offensive shootout at Arizona last year.

With the win the Packers instantly vault to NFC favorites.  Yeah, the six seed that really is only a six seed by name (because they could have easily been 12-4 had their quarterback not been sidelined with a concussion) will very likely be favored next week on the road, whether that road trip takes them to Seattle and the 7-9 Seahawks or to the Windy City, and a third matchup with their arch-rivals, the Bears.  And they should be favored. Because in a year where no one truly stuck out in the NFC (despite Atlanta’s 13-3  record), the Packers now look like the cream of the crop.

It’s one thing to beat a team on the road.  It’s another to emasculate them.  To shred them up like beef brisket in a southern kitchen.

38:19, 442 yards, and a team playoff record, 48 points.  It was a night to remember. “A special night,” said Rodgers who is now living the charmed life, after waiting in the wings for 3 years.

But it was defense ironically that completely changed the outlook of this game.  Driving down the field late in the first half, down just 7, the Falcons were already in field goal range with 10 seconds left and no timeouts.  But rather than kick it, Atlanta decided to try to get Matt Bryant a little bit closer.  The move backfired horribly as Ryan’s poor throw to the sideline was picked off by Tremon Williams who raced 70 yards downfield for a crippling touchdown as the half expired (ala: James Harrison).

Instead of being down by 4 or even 7 at the half, the Falcons (who are not known for being a big play team) went into the locker-room down by 14, and the rout was on from there.  Thanks to 4 turnovers and 4 sacks on Matt Ryan, Green Bay stifled Atlanta’s usually balanced attack.

Green Bay had nearly double Atlanta’s first downs (28-15).  They were 8-12 on 3rd down.  And though they’re not known as a powerhouse running team, they still managed to milk 96 yards out of a rushing attack that far outdid Atlanta’s much more heralded attack, which finished with 45.

A lot of people wondered whether Rodgers could be an elite quarterback in the playoffs.  Well the answer has been a resounding yes.  In three playoff games (all on the road), Rodgers has amassed mind-blowing numbers. 77/105, a 73% completion percentage, 10 passing touchdowns to just 4 picks (and 2 rushing TDs), and most amazingly his QB rating is nearly 127.

Simply put, when the lights shine brightest, Rodgers plays his best.  And that’s the reason that Green Bay just may win the whole damn thing. Seattle or Chicago. New England, New York, or Pittsburgh, they can beat anyone in this league.

And come the first weekend of February, they just might be Super Bowl champions.

Photo: Reuters

SCOTT JACOBS

Well that’s it. Brett Favre’s starting streak is over. Declared inactive for tonight’s game against the Giants, Number Four’s magical, mesmerizing starting streak which began way back in good ole 1992 was pronounced dead tonight at approximately 6:30 p.m. eastern time. The streak was 297.

The streak has endured a lot. From Favre’s father passing away the day before a Monday Night game in Oakland to a pair of retirements and a pair of comebacks, Favre has played through more pain (both physical and emotional) than I could ever imagine.  The longevity of his streak (19 years) is one of the most impressive in sports and the next closest competitor to the streak is Peyton Manning, who has six years plus to match it.

Favre has broken records, hearts, and got America to fall in and out of love with him all over again during this nearly two decade streak. Tarvaris Jackson will get the start as Favre, adorned in a purple Vikings winter cap and long sleeve shirt sits it out. And when they ask 10 years from now, where Favre’s streak ended, it won’t be Minnesota (despite the fact that it’s a Vikings home game). It will be Ford Field in Detroit. It’s an odd place for a historic streak to end. Would have liked to see the reaction Minnesota fans would have given him had it been at the Metrodome, but I guess it’s kind of fitting given the weird season Minnesota’s had.

Since being anointed starter of the Packers on September 27, 1992 Favre had  never missed a start. His streak took him to 46 different stadiums as he collected 186 wins along the way.

Favre’s streak will end tonight. On December 13, 2010. Just let that sink in for a second. So much has changed since September 27, 1992. Let’s take a look.

The first web browswer (Mosaic) wasn’t even invented until 1993.

> The Jacksonville Jaguars (‘95), Carolina Panthers (‘95), Cleveland Browns (`99), and Houston Texans (‘02) weren’t in existence.

> Tom Brady was 15 years old and in high school.

> The Buffalo Bills were in the middle of their unprecedented four year reign over the AFC and were clearly the best team in the conference (they currently have the worst record in the AFC).

> Sam Bradford was four years old.

> In 1992 the average gas price was $1.50.

> Humpin’ Around by Bobby Brown was number 1 on the U.S. R&B Chart. Billy Ray Cyrus was relevant.

> Unforgiven won best picture in 1992.

> George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot were in a three man race for President of the U.S. (Clinton won).

So in honor of Favre’s streak and the End of an Era (he could possibly even be put on injured reserve for the rest of the year) we bring you an interview from September 20, 1992, a week before this historic streak began. A few gray hairs later, his streak is over. At 297.

Photo: Reuters

SCOTT JACOBS

I’m not sure what Minnesota’s state slogan is as of the moment, but I have a suggestion that whatever it might be, it needs to be changed A.S.A.P.

Minnesota: where old retired legends don’t want to come out of retirement, no matter how good your team is.

In 1999 it was Dan Marino who opted to stay retired after the Vikings made a full court press to bring the Dolphins legend out of his then recent retirement.  The thinking was that Marino was the last piece of the puzzle that the Vikings needed to win a Super Bowl, but after flirting with the idea for a few months Marino opted for a cozy desk job with HBO instead.

Fast forward the clock 10 years, and today, in almost the same situation, with a team that many believe is just a quarterback away from being Super, the Vikings were once again spurned by a legendary signal caller.  Making matters worse, it was the man who never actually retires, who struck the latest blow.  Favre made it official today that he’s done (for now) ending a Vikings courtship that included everything but a boat (anyone who follows football will get that joke).

And with it, Minnesota’s “all in push for Favre” just blew up in their face.

The Vikings were quick to profess their man crush on Favre after he asked for and got his release from the Jets earlier this off-season, and their was a common belief that Favre would be extra motivated to come back for the purple and gold with the chance to stick it to former GM Ted Thompson and the Packers twice a year.

But apparently, motivation wasn’t enough and so the man who’s become almost as famous for his off-season waffling as his on-field accomplishments is done with the game he seemingly could not let go of.

As for the Vikings, well, they’re screwed.

They’ve completely alienated their two quarterbacks with their very public display of affection for Favre, and most likely divided a locker-room in the process.  Many are laughing at head coach Brad Childress and who can blame em.  He stuck all his eggs in Favre’s shoulder and now all he’s left with is yolk.

Favre is making the right decision.  There is no doubt in my mind.  His body is celebrating right now, knowing it doesn’t have to go through the gauntlet another year, and his legacy (what’s left of it) doesn’t have to take another hit.  And for as much as I’m completely and utterly sick of what has become an annual tradition of Favre Fascination, I kind of wanted to see him fall on his face one last time.

Favre is the last of the NFL’s elite quarterback class from the 90’s.  Marino, John Elway, Jim Flutie, Troy Aikman, and Steve Young all hung up their cleats a long time ago.  Favre was really the only one left.

But even he has apparently come to the realization that he can’t play forever, so he might as well give his body a break before it breaks down on him.

Whatever his reason: rather would stay home with his family, doesn’t have it in him to go another 16 games (remember his streak remains intact), he didn’t feel he was healthy enough, he didn’t think he could lead the Vikes to a Super Bowl… whatever the reason, Favre has made his decision.

O my goodness!  It just hit me. Brett Favre made his decision! Do you know what this means? Now the attractive red headed reporter from ESPN whose name escapes me at the moment can be given real assignments, like covering teams or games or something dignified, instead of hibernating in Mississippi outside of his house like a professional stalker.

As for Minnesota, well, let’s be honest: was Favre really going to take them to the top?  Was he going to come in, slurp up their playbook in two seconds and return to vintage Green Bay form?  No, and no.

So maybe, just maybe, all of this is a good thing.  Instead of some stupid one year experiment that was more than likely to fail, the Vikings get to find out what they have in Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

I tried saying that with a straight face.  I really did.

But hey, for those of you Vikings fans and players who were wetting your pants in excitement over Brett Favre taking his act to the Twin Cities you can at least take solace in this: it could always be worse.  Your team could be the Lions.

SCOTT JACOBS

The morning that the Jets made their huge trade to acquire Brett Favre from the Packers– officially ending what felt like the longest, most drawn out process in recent memory– I was listening to talk radio.  All day, the analysts and sports radio talk show hosts were breaking down what it meant, how good the Jets could be, even what would happen to Chad Pennington.

And I remember vividly the analysts proclaiming that Favre made the Jets an 8-9 win team, 10 tops, but that was only if the stars truly aligned. He will make them better I remember them saying, but he will not make them great.

Not even a year later, the Jets were better, but not great.  They weren’t even good enough after an 8-3 start to make the playoffs, and they couldn’t break the 10 win mark.  I just remember thinking, for once, the analysts were spot on.  They had this thing pegged from the start.  Brett Favre was not what he once was.  The Jets found that out the hard way.

And so today, Brett Favre, the man, the mystery, the larger than life Wrangler Jean wearing quarterback from Mississippi called it quits– for good, leaving behind him the game that he just could not leave.  His last game, a disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins.  His last pass, an illegal forward pass.  His final moment on the football field: running off the field as the Dolphins celebrated an improbable, unbelievable, unexplainable AFC East title.

It is what it is, were along the words that Favre used.  He looked frusturated, but not devestated. The experiment, playing for Gang Green resulted in a five win improvement from the year before’s four win nightmare, but it still cost Eric Mangini his job, and ultimately now that Favre is retiring for good, leaves the Jets with one heck of a mess at the QB spot.

If you’re a glass half full/glass half empty person, then it was only fitting that Favre’s final game netted him 20/40 for 233 yards passing, and one touchdown.  And he left the game he loved doing what he did best- throwing interceptions (three of them in fact).  For all of Favre’s greatness and for all of his remarkable records, he also leaves the game with the dubious distinction of being one of the NFL’s greatest risk-takers, and the career leader in all time interceptions.

Who could have possibly foreseen the former Southern Miss star becoming one of the NFL’s most iconic figures?  No one, that’s who!

But that was how Favre played.  Sometimes his decisions were baffling, other times shocking, but he darted that pigskin all across the the field during his long and illustrious 18 year NFL career, one of the most spectacular and exhilarating careers the NFL has ever seen.  Favre was a gritty, hard nosed player, whose passion for the game probably caused him to overstay a little longer than he probably should have, but that was who he was, a great player, who for the longest time refused to give in, and give it up.

He leaves the game with some remarkable numbers:

Ever since the start of the 1993 season he has played all 16 games each season, and holds the all-time record, a mark that may never ever be touched, never-mind threatened of starting the most consecutive games ever, 291 including the playoffs.  Constantly labeled a warrior, one of the most enduring memories of Favre was when he decided to play a Monday Night football game against the Raiders in Oakland, even after his father had passed away.  Number four had one of his greatest games that night, and dedicated his performance to his father, and that captivated a nation to embrace the man who was already larger than life in Green Bay.

Favre’s marvelous career began in Atlanta, where as a rookie he played in two games, going 0-4 on pass attempts, while throwing up a pair of picks, and a 0.0 QB rating.  Needless to say, the Falcons and most likely every other NFL team probably weren’t too devestated when Favre was traded to the Packers after the 1991 season.  Who could have possibly foreseen the former Southern Miss star becoming one of the NFL’s most iconic figures?  No one, that’s who!

It’s kind of entertaining, the idea that Favre started his career on a forgettable note, and ended it not on a magic carpet ride, singing “I’m going to Disney” but in a statement to the Jets that said he was done.  Favre started as a relative unknown and closed his long and incredible career almost as quietly as he started (at least the second retirement that is).

Favre’s dumbfoudningly insane numbers go like this: 273 regular season games, 5720 completions, 9280 incompletions, 65,127 yards passing,  464 touchdowns, 310 picks, and 169 regular season victories.  While many of his records were achieved during not his prime, but during the tail end of his long career, it’s undeniable that he earned everything he got.

So while we will never forget Favre’s horrible handling of a botched retirement with the Packers, and the summer long circus that followed it, until he was shipped to the Jets,  it’s important to remember that before he became a side show, Favre was the show.

A three time league MVP, Favre led the Green Bay Packers to a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, and at the time, few probably thought that would be his first and only Super Bowl title.  But after leading the Packers back to the Big Game the ensuing season, and losing to John Elway and the Broncos, Favre never got back.  He got close, such as the 2007 season when the Packers were a Favre pick away from possibly winning the NFC title, but never got over the hump.

So however you choose to remember him: just keep this one thing in mind: Favre was great.  He failed spectacularly, he succeeded epically, and he played the game the right way.  Like anybody, he made mistakes, many of them on the field, and a few off of it, but he was only human.  And while he probably should have hung up his cleats about three to four years earlier, his retirement as a battered Jet and not a glorified Packer doesn’t tarnish a legacy that stacks up there with any of the NFL’s greats.

So farewell Mr. Favre.  It’s been one hell of a run.

The show is over.  It’s the end of an era.

All of the dominant quarterbacks of the 1980’s and 1990’s have officially hung up their cleats, and moved on.  Favre joined that group today, and surely in due time he will join them in the Hall of Fame as a first ballot Hall of Famer.

It’s been fun.  It’s been interesting.

Photo: Reuters

SCOTT JACOBS

Brett the Jet.

Jet Favre.

If he goes to a Mets game (Met Favre).

Broadway Brett.

Welcome to New York New Jersey Brett. Welcome to the Jets.

You wanted your release trade. You got it. Welcome to the Meadowlands. Welcome to second fiddle, where you’re not even the most important team in town. That would be the defending champion Giants. You’re not even the best quarterback in your area. That would be Eli Manning.

But hey, welcome to New York New Jersey. Enjoy the big city swampland. Take advantage of the laid back totally out of control, in your face every minute media. Enjoy hunting… for fake Rolexes and sunglasses.

At the young and crisp ripe old age of 38, Brett Favre is heading to a very impressive mediocre Jets team that is stocked with new free agent pickups and big signings. The Jets were 4-12 last year. Hey the Giants Dolphins were worse.

So welcome to the spotlight Brett.

Welcome to New York New Jersey.

Some people expect you to win the Jets a Super Bowl playoff game. Others aren’t even sure if you make the Jets the second best team in their division.

But hey, at least the Jets Vikings are leading ESPN’s poll which asks which team in the Favre Saga will have the best season next year.

The facts are this. Favre in green. We saw that for 16 years.

Favre in Gang Green and white. This is all new. It looks a little goofy.

Favre in a t-shirt and a plain NY hat: a little plain. It’s in a situation that’s been anything but.

“I don’t know these guys,” said Favre. “They don’t know me. It’s about the team. I hope that after today and tomorrow the distractions are at a minimum. I’m just one man. One of 53.”

He may be just one man. But that one man has a national spotlight centered on him that’s been blinding everything else going on in sports for the last month. And now that spotlight is as big as the Big Apple.

“I don’t know what I’m getting myself into,” said Favre.

No kidding Brett. You thought the Packers would just accept you back and you cried foul when they didn’t. You thought they would just release you when you pleaded. They didn’t. You cried foul. You thought they would trade you within the division, because you only play them twice a year. They didn’t. You were stunned.

So to say you don’t know what you’ve got yourself into actually makes sense.

Here, I’ll clue you in.

The Patriots went 16-0 last year. You won’t win the division.

The Bills were 7-9 last year. The consensus is they’ll win at least nine games this year.

The Dolphins, well, they’re eyeing Jets ex-quarterback Chad Pennington. A hanging chad helped determine the presidential election in 2000. A certain Chad would make for a very intriguing week one matchup between the fish and the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! Pennington versus Favre? Now that would be interesting.

But back to your situation Brett.

The Colts, Chargers, Jaguars, Steelers, and Titans all made the playoffs last year. None of those teams took a major step back, so inevitably it looks like your Jets will battle just to make the playoffs.

If I were you, I’d be more concerned about ending your career limping.

Football isn’t exactly the sport where your body is built to play every game for such a long time.

Don’t you think you’re uh, pushing it Favre?

Then again, it’s not like this whole thing wasn’t pushing it. O wait, yes it was.

Hey, at least one chapter in this overblown mess is over.

Now the Jets and Brett get to write number two.

Can’t wait.

(Yeah right).