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Pastimes : Football Forum (NFL) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stormrider1 who wrote (22352)	3/11/2005 5:17:58 AM
From: tonto	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 45639

Arnie Stapleton / Associated Press Posted: 10 hours ago Brett Favre is returning to Green Bay for the 2005 season, Packers coach Mike Sherman told The Associated Press. Sherman said Thursday he had a two-hour conversation with his quarterback on Wednesday night. Favre informed him his wife is doing well in her cancer treatment, so he's planning to play at least one more season, maybe more if his own health holds up. "It came down to his wife and she's doing well in her recovery," Sherman said. "She wants him to play. He said he's looking forward to playing - hopefully without any off-the-field situations and 'enjoying the journey."' The three-time MVP said after the Packers' playoff loss to Minnesota in January he wanted to reflect before committing to playing a 15th NFL season following a year of personal tumult. His wife, Deanna, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, a week after the death of her 24-year-old brother in an ATV accident on the quarterback's property in Mississippi. And Favre was still dealing with the stunning news of Reggie White's death on the day after Christmas, which came about a year after the death of Favre's father, Irv, from a heart attack. "After the season, he just needed to think about some things," Sherman said. "Any man would have to contemplate his future when his wife is fighting cancer. It's not like he had to work to make money. He didn't want to be a part-time husband and a part-time football player. It came down to his wife. If she's not healthy, it's obviously a different ballgame. But now she's doing good. She wants him to play." It never was a question of diminished ability because even at 35, Favre is still near the top of his game. He topped 4,000 yards passing last season and recorded his eighth 30-touchdown season, twice as many as any other quarterback in NFL history, and the Packers set franchise records for total offense and net passing yards in 2004. "He's always been excited about playing football," Sherman said. "He's never lost his enthusiasm for the game. It's just his family situation was pulling at him." Next season won't necessarily be Favre's farewell, either. "As long as he can play at a Brett Favre level, he will," Sherman said, "unless some situation off the field, outside of football, affects him or his family." Deanna Favre has completed her chemotherapy and is undergoing radiation treatment. The Favres are helping put on a Faith Hill concert back home Saturday night to benefit breast cancer patients. Favre is scheduled to appear at the Packers' inaugural fan fest that morning in Green Bay. After the Packers were upset 31-17 by the Vikings in the wild-card round of the playoffs - Green Bay's second playoff loss at home in three years - Favre said he needed some time to figure out his future. Last season, Favre extended his record of 225 consecutive starts at quarterback, despite being on the injured report three times. Since his first start on Sept. 27, 1992, 183 other quarterbacks have made their NFL debut. Because Favre hasn't spoken publicly about his plans, it wasn't known before Thursday whether the retooled coaching staff, the stripping of Sherman's GM duties in favor of Ted Thompson or the loss of starting guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle in free agency would play a role in his decision. Rivera signed with Dallas and Wahle with Carolina last week, leaving two gaping holes in an offensive line that allowed a franchise-low 14 sacks last season. Sherman said the only thing Favre had to say about the loss of the guards was they deserved the multimillion-dollar bonuses they received. "I told him we'll get that fixed," Sherman said. "It never was an issue. Brett said he was excited about what we did on offense last year and he thinks we can do more this year. "Obviously, his major thing is to win another Super Bowl and he's excited about having that chance."

To: stormrider1 who wrote (22352)	3/12/2005 12:40:18 PM
From: LTK007	Respond to of 45639

Gees Mike this reads like he has maybe a 50/50chance of ever playing again.That would a be sad loss, he has terrific potential. The nerve in question has got to come fully back to life or it is over for him. There is no question from what they are saying this is a critical motor nerve. The only hopeful thing it reads that the nerve was damaged rather than severed. <<Eagles safety/kick returner J.R. Reed injured his leg in a freak accident last month and might not be ready for the start of training camp this summer. Reed cut the back of his knee while jumping over a fence near his home in Tampa, Fla., and damaged a nerve that affects the use of his lower leg and foot. Reed had surgery March 1, and his status for camp is uncertain. ``I feel terrible for J.R.,' Eagles coach Andy Reid said. ``He's worked his entire life to try to make it this far. And to have a major setback like this occur in such a freak circumstance is awful. Knowing J.R., he'll continue to work hard to try and make it back on the field.' Reed, the Eagles' fourth-round draft choice last year, returned 33 kickoffs for a 23.1-yard average. He also saw limited action at safety, recording 17 tackles. ``It's a bad situation, but I'm going to be very positive about it going forward,' Reed said. ``I'm in the process of trying to get my leg working again.' Meanwhile, quarterback Mike McMahon visited Philadelphia on Thursday. McMahon spent his first four seasons with the Detroit Lions. He has started seven games, but none since 2002. The NFC champion Eagles are seeking a third-string quarterback behind Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer. Updated on Thursday, Mar 10, 2005 12:50 pm EST>>

To: stormrider1 who wrote (22352)	3/12/2005 1:17:01 PM
From: LTK007	Respond to of 45639

Eagles signing Mike McMahon to back up McNabb is a relief as i have come to believe that Koy, just like his brother Ty, is simply too small to survive in the NFL, plus Koy is definitely not as good as Ty. Jeff Blake, time to retire. I think we will keep Koy to hold the ball for Akers to kick and be the #3 QB. I see they are reporting Plaxido Burress heading to Philadelphia in seeking a new team. Now he had a 8million signing bonus on the table at Giants and walked out. He went to Vikings, and walked out and now is reportedly headed to Eagles for talks. Would i feel 'Wow!" if they signed Burress? Answer, NO!. If they did sign him i can only trust Andy's ability to be convinced this guy will get his head straight--Burress will have to sell himself to Eagles, they are not going to be trying to sell themselves to Burress. I am now thinking Burress will regret he turned his back on the Giants deal(they have been burned, they could well say, we don't want you now). I realize my Mike Williams and T.O. on the same team fantasy can't happen, now ---but wow it would have been awesome.

To: stormrider1 who wrote (22352)	4/24/2005 3:24:00 PM
From: LTK007	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 45639

Mike: Message is sent to malcontents By Phil Sheridan Inquirer Columnist Andy Reid was talking about leverage. It just wasn't the kind of leverage reporters were asking him about. Reid was explaining that Mike Patterson's lack of height could actually be an advantage for a defensive tackle. Although Patterson is under 6 feet tall, Reid said his arms are long enough to turn "the leverage to your advantage." Patterson was an accomplished wrestler before becoming a star defender at Southern Cal. Wrestling is all about leverage. Patterson is shorter than most of the big-time offensive linemen, making it tough for them to get their arms in position to slow him down. Leverage. If you understand it, you can make it your friend. The Eagles obviously understand leverage. Defensive tackle Corey Simon wants a new long-term contract or a trade instead of playing under the franchise-player tag. Hollis Thomas has asked the team for a raise. Enter Mike Patterson, first-round pick. Wide receiver Terrell Owens wants a new contract after just one season. Freddie Mitchell wants something - attention, a big hug, something. He has all but talked himself out of a job. Enter Reggie Brown, wide receiver from Georgia, with the first of two second-round picks. "People can read into it all they want," Reid said after the Eagles made their first two picks of the day. Start reading. The initial impression is that the long arms of the Eagles are creating leverage with those disgruntled players. Brian Westbrook? Meet Travis Henry, the running back Reid said the Eagles were still "messing around" with acquiring in trade, or Ryan Moats, the back they took with the 77th pick in the third round last night. A few years ago, fans and members of the media scratched their heads after Reid selected three defensive backs in the first two rounds of the draft(edit: should be posts on SI proving i thought drafting 3 dbs in a row was brilliant-welles:). To any casual observer, the secondary was the strongest part of the Eagles' roster at that point. Then Michael Lewis stepped into the starting job at strong safety. Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown developed into replacements for Pro Bowlers Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor. It took two years for that draft to make sense. This one took about two minutes. There were already rumors that Simon could be traded. That seems even more likely now. It will be a shock if Mitchell is still on the roster when the team assembles for this week's minicamp. "Time will tell," Reid said. "We thought it was a position we could add to." That is undeniable, and it's also true of the defensive line. The Eagles may have improved their leverage with Simon and Owens and Thomas, but that seems like a happy by-product. The first consideration really was what it's supposed to be: the improvement of the roster. At Southern Cal, Patterson played against top competition and competed for the national championship each of the last couple years. He excelled at collapsing pockets and at getting penetration on running plays. When you think about Jeremiah Trotter playing a full season at middle linebacker behind improved tackle play, you can see the value of this pick. Brown is tougher to project. Reid's record of drafting wide receivers has not been especially impressive. Mitchell has not been the player the Eagles needed him to be. For a high second-round pick, Todd Pinkston has been good, but hardly great. The world is still waiting for Billy McMullen to turn into something. ( edit-- yeh,waiting for his hands to turn from stone to flesh-- it is a frustration to see a guy who can get open often but then only to drop the pass----welles:) Is Brown another in a series, or is he the result of Reid learning from his mistakes? Brown is taller than Mitchell, stronger than Pinkston, and more football-savvy than McMullen. There's no way to know today whether that will translate into a great NFL receiver. Owens proved what a great one could mean for Donovan McNabb and for the Eagles offense. At worst, Brown gives the Eagles depth there if things go really bad with Owens this summer. At best, Owens and Brown complement each other for the next three or four seasons. Only a fool tries to judge a team's draft the day it happens. Not so long ago, you could assume the Eagles had goofed and have a pretty good chance of being proven right. Reid and Tom Heckert, his top personnel man, have changed that. Now you have to give the Eagles the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. They aren't perfect, because nobody's perfect. If memory serves, they were as thrilled about drafting Jerome McDougle two years ago as they were about landing Patterson yesterday.( McDougle--this is it--he produces this year or it was a bad pick---3 years is about it for a DE to adapt to the pro-game.--welles) But the Eagles are good, so much so that they figure to be a winning team even if none of the players they add this weekend makes a huge impact. Reid has put himself in the enviable position of adding depth and developing replacement parts for a Super Bowl-caliber team. He has the luxury of making picks based on leverage. Both kinds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact columnist Phil Sheridan at 215-854-2844 or psheridan@phillynews.com. Read his recent work at go.philly.com.