The (Un)official 2008 NFL Off-season Thread

[Shumway]

Send it to Matt Millen

Only if he agrees to quit.

Actually, I think it might be an ebay sale. Throwback. Maybe I can slap a Mitchell and Ness tag on it.

[Viper]

My prediction: Favre comes back and Rodgers ends up being traded to Miami.

1) The Packers took two QBs in the 2008 draft, including Louisville's Brian Brohm whom many observers were surprised went unselected for as long as he did (#56 overall). That tells me they're not quite as committed to Rodgers as they'd like us to believe, Favre or no Favre.

2) The Dolphins are rebuilding from the ground up, but selected OT Jake Long #1 overall. Their current quarterbacks are career backup Josh McCown, unproven John Beck and rookie Chad Henne. Don't tell me they wouldn't jump at the chance to bring in a young and improving QB with some recent big-game experience (the Dallas game last season where Rodgers rallied Green Bay from a big deficit to nearly win that game) - and who was Favre's understudy for three years. Rodgers and Long could make a strong foundation for Miami's offense for years to come.

3) And for that reason, the Packers could get a lot from Miami in a trade for Rodgers - I'd say their 1st-round pick in '09 - and certainly more than they could get by dealing Favre.

It makes NO SENSE for Parcells to bring in Favre to Miami. They're in the middle of a 3-year project to rebuild this team, and giving away draft picks for a last hurrah of Favre works against what they're trying to accomplish. Players like Beck and Henne need playing time for them to develop, and although of course Favre will bring better results next season, it will hinder the team long-term.

The best fit for Favre is Minnesota. They're a consistent QB away from the playoffs. They have the most to gain with Favre on the team... and of course Green Bay wants nothing to do with that.

Other teams that might be able to use him are Houston, Carolina... maybe San Fran?

That's a nice argument and all...but he was talking about trading Rodgers to Miami, not Favre.

LOL I noticed it after the post and tried to edit it. It still makes no sense to try to develop 4 QBs at once while giving away a (or multiple) draft picks for him.

So get rid of McCown, then.

[Braden]

My prediction: Favre comes back and Rodgers ends up being traded to Miami.

1) The Packers took two QBs in the 2008 draft, including Louisville's Brian Brohm whom many observers were surprised went unselected for as long as he did (#56 overall). That tells me they're not quite as committed to Rodgers as they'd like us to believe, Favre or no Favre.

2) The Dolphins are rebuilding from the ground up, but selected OT Jake Long #1 overall. Their current quarterbacks are career backup Josh McCown, unproven John Beck and rookie Chad Henne. Don't tell me they wouldn't jump at the chance to bring in a young and improving QB with some recent big-game experience (the Dallas game last season where Rodgers rallied Green Bay from a big deficit to nearly win that game) - and who was Favre's understudy for three years. Rodgers and Long could make a strong foundation for Miami's offense for years to come.

3) And for that reason, the Packers could get a lot from Miami in a trade for Rodgers - I'd say their 1st-round pick in '09 - and certainly more than they could get by dealing Favre.

It makes NO SENSE for Parcells to bring in Favre to Miami. They're in the middle of a 3-year project to rebuild this team, and giving away draft picks for a last hurrah of Favre works against what they're trying to accomplish. Players like Beck and Henne need playing time for them to develop, and although of course Favre will bring better results next season, it will hinder the team long-term.

The best fit for Favre is Minnesota. They're a consistent QB away from the playoffs. They have the most to gain with Favre on the team... and of course Green Bay wants nothing to do with that.

Other teams that might be able to use him are Houston, Carolina... maybe San Fran?

That's a nice argument and all...but he was talking about trading Rodgers to Miami, not Favre.

LOL I noticed it after the post and tried to edit it. It still makes no sense to try to develop 4 QBs at once while giving away a (or multiple) draft picks for him.

So get rid of McCown, then.

McCown + Draft Picks > Rodgers

[FiddySicks]

My prediction: Favre comes back and Rodgers ends up being traded to Miami.

1) The Packers took two QBs in the 2008 draft, including Louisville's Brian Brohm whom many observers were surprised went unselected for as long as he did (#56 overall). That tells me they're not quite as committed to Rodgers as they'd like us to believe, Favre or no Favre.

2) The Dolphins are rebuilding from the ground up, but selected OT Jake Long #1 overall. Their current quarterbacks are career backup Josh McCown, unproven John Beck and rookie Chad Henne. Don't tell me they wouldn't jump at the chance to bring in a young and improving QB with some recent big-game experience (the Dallas game last season where Rodgers rallied Green Bay from a big deficit to nearly win that game) - and who was Favre's understudy for three years. Rodgers and Long could make a strong foundation for Miami's offense for years to come.

3) And for that reason, the Packers could get a lot from Miami in a trade for Rodgers - I'd say their 1st-round pick in '09 - and certainly more than they could get by dealing Favre.

It makes NO SENSE for Parcells to bring in Favre to Miami. They're in the middle of a 3-year project to rebuild this team, and giving away draft picks for a last hurrah of Favre works against what they're trying to accomplish. Players like Beck and Henne need playing time for them to develop, and although of course Favre will bring better results next season, it will hinder the team long-term.

The best fit for Favre is Minnesota. They're a consistent QB away from the playoffs. They have the most to gain with Favre on the team... and of course Green Bay wants nothing to do with that.

Other teams that might be able to use him are Houston, Carolina... maybe San Fran?

That's a nice argument and all...but he was talking about trading Rodgers to Miami, not Favre.

LOL I noticed it after the post and tried to edit it. It still makes no sense to try to develop 4 QBs at once while giving away a (or multiple) draft picks for him.

So get rid of McCown, then.

McCown + Draft Picks > Rodgers

McCown. JOSH McCown. Josh F*****g McCown. As in former Raiders QB Josh McCown? You're outta your mind bro.

[tBBP]

...And then there's this story out of the NFL offices...

*CHUNKS THE DEUCE*

[quantum]

...And then there's this story out of the NFL offices...

*CHUNKS THE DEUCE*

Goodell seems to be on a morals campaign. Not that I have a problem with having one per se, but where do you draw the line? Some players just do their job while others put on a show for the fans. If you're trying to cleanse what players express on the field, do you stop at gang signs or are tattoos next to be addressed? The game is enough for me, but some fans need more. Then again, personal tributes uniform-wise are already controlled, so this isn't much different.

I honestly can't wait to see where this goes. It'll be good PR if nothing else.

[ferrousoxide66]

My prediction: Favre comes back and Rodgers ends up being traded to Miami.

1) The Packers took two QBs in the 2008 draft, including Louisville's Brian Brohm whom many observers were surprised went unselected for as long as he did (#56 overall). That tells me they're not quite as committed to Rodgers as they'd like us to believe, Favre or no Favre.

2) The Dolphins are rebuilding from the ground up, but selected OT Jake Long #1 overall. Their current quarterbacks are career backup Josh McCown, unproven John Beck and rookie Chad Henne. Don't tell me they wouldn't jump at the chance to bring in a young and improving QB with some recent big-game experience (the Dallas game last season where Rodgers rallied Green Bay from a big deficit to nearly win that game) - and who was Favre's understudy for three years. Rodgers and Long could make a strong foundation for Miami's offense for years to come.

3) And for that reason, the Packers could get a lot from Miami in a trade for Rodgers - I'd say their 1st-round pick in '09 - and certainly more than they could get by dealing Favre.

It makes NO SENSE for Parcells to bring in Favre to Miami. They're in the middle of a 3-year project to rebuild this team, and giving away draft picks for a last hurrah of Favre works against what they're trying to accomplish. Players like Beck and Henne need playing time for them to develop, and although of course Favre will bring better results next season, it will hinder the team long-term.

The best fit for Favre is Minnesota. They're a consistent QB away from the playoffs. They have the most to gain with Favre on the team... and of course Green Bay wants nothing to do with that.

Other teams that might be able to use him are Houston, Carolina... maybe San Fran?

That's a nice argument and all...but he was talking about trading Rodgers to Miami, not Favre.

LOL I noticed it after the post and tried to edit it. It still makes no sense to try to develop 4 QBs at once while giving away a (or multiple) draft picks for him.

So get rid of McCown, then.

McCown + Draft Picks > Rodgers

McCown. JOSH McCown. Josh F*****g McCown. As in former Raiders QB Josh McCown? You're outta your mind bro.

I can see McCown developing into a latter day Jon Kitna. He's certainly nowhere near as bad as he showed in Phoenix and Oakland (two toxic swamps of stalled QB development).

Whether or not that's better than Aaron Rodgers? Who knows.

[FiddySicks]

My prediction: Favre comes back and Rodgers ends up being traded to Miami.

1) The Packers took two QBs in the 2008 draft, including Louisville's Brian Brohm whom many observers were surprised went unselected for as long as he did (#56 overall). That tells me they're not quite as committed to Rodgers as they'd like us to believe, Favre or no Favre.

2) The Dolphins are rebuilding from the ground up, but selected OT Jake Long #1 overall. Their current quarterbacks are career backup Josh McCown, unproven John Beck and rookie Chad Henne. Don't tell me they wouldn't jump at the chance to bring in a young and improving QB with some recent big-game experience (the Dallas game last season where Rodgers rallied Green Bay from a big deficit to nearly win that game) - and who was Favre's understudy for three years. Rodgers and Long could make a strong foundation for Miami's offense for years to come.

3) And for that reason, the Packers could get a lot from Miami in a trade for Rodgers - I'd say their 1st-round pick in '09 - and certainly more than they could get by dealing Favre.

It makes NO SENSE for Parcells to bring in Favre to Miami. They're in the middle of a 3-year project to rebuild this team, and giving away draft picks for a last hurrah of Favre works against what they're trying to accomplish. Players like Beck and Henne need playing time for them to develop, and although of course Favre will bring better results next season, it will hinder the team long-term.

The best fit for Favre is Minnesota. They're a consistent QB away from the playoffs. They have the most to gain with Favre on the team... and of course Green Bay wants nothing to do with that.

Other teams that might be able to use him are Houston, Carolina... maybe San Fran?

That's a nice argument and all...but he was talking about trading Rodgers to Miami, not Favre.

LOL I noticed it after the post and tried to edit it. It still makes no sense to try to develop 4 QBs at once while giving away a (or multiple) draft picks for him.

So get rid of McCown, then.

McCown + Draft Picks > Rodgers

McCown. JOSH McCown. Josh F*****g McCown. As in former Raiders QB Josh McCown? You're outta your mind bro.

I can see McCown developing into a latter day Jon Kitna. He's certainly nowhere near as bad as he showed in Phoenix and Oakland (two toxic swamps of stalled QB development).

Whether or not that's better than Aaron Rodgers? Who knows.

Watching him week after week in Oakland makes it so I'm obvioulsy not convinced. If he could barely perform in the toxic swamps of Oakland and Arizona, be better get ready to enjoy mediocrity in that chernobyl-like Miami situation.

[Island_Style]

My prediction: Favre comes back and Rodgers ends up being traded to Miami.

1) The Packers took two QBs in the 2008 draft, including Louisville's Brian Brohm whom many observers were surprised went unselected for as long as he did (#56 overall). That tells me they're not quite as committed to Rodgers as they'd like us to believe, Favre or no Favre.

2) The Dolphins are rebuilding from the ground up, but selected OT Jake Long #1 overall. Their current quarterbacks are career backup Josh McCown, unproven John Beck and rookie Chad Henne. Don't tell me they wouldn't jump at the chance to bring in a young and improving QB with some recent big-game experience (the Dallas game last season where Rodgers rallied Green Bay from a big deficit to nearly win that game) - and who was Favre's understudy for three years. Rodgers and Long could make a strong foundation for Miami's offense for years to come.

3) And for that reason, the Packers could get a lot from Miami in a trade for Rodgers - I'd say their 1st-round pick in '09 - and certainly more than they could get by dealing Favre.

It makes NO SENSE for Parcells to bring in Favre to Miami. They're in the middle of a 3-year project to rebuild this team, and giving away draft picks for a last hurrah of Favre works against what they're trying to accomplish. Players like Beck and Henne need playing time for them to develop, and although of course Favre will bring better results next season, it will hinder the team long-term.

The best fit for Favre is Minnesota. They're a consistent QB away from the playoffs. They have the most to gain with Favre on the team... and of course Green Bay wants nothing to do with that.

Other teams that might be able to use him are Houston, Carolina... maybe San Fran?

That's a nice argument and all...but he was talking about trading Rodgers to Miami, not Favre.

LOL I noticed it after the post and tried to edit it. It still makes no sense to try to develop 4 QBs at once while giving away a (or multiple) draft picks for him.

So get rid of McCown, then.

McCown + Draft Picks > Rodgers

McCown. JOSH McCown. Josh F*****g McCown. As in former Raiders QB Josh McCown? You're outta your mind bro.

I can see McCown developing into a latter day Jon Kitna. He's certainly nowhere near as bad as he showed in Phoenix and Oakland (two toxic swamps of stalled QB development).

Whether or not that's better than Aaron Rodgers? Who knows.

You are entitled to your opinion but I am not buying it. To me McCown is an average QB on his best days and always will be. I have no opinion on Rodgers yet.

[Viper]

On FoxSports.com there's a poll up: "What's the best move for Ted Thompson at this point?"

With 106,539 votes cast,

• 47% voted "Swallow your pride, bring him back"
  
• 12% voted "Stick to your guns, let him go"
  
• And 41% voted as I did: "You're screwed either way"
  

As for Josh McCown, apparently he came perilously close to forcing the Dolphins' hand...

[Cujo]

I figure this deserves some mention since it could turn into a huge story later on, plus is involves everyone's favorite retired quarterback...

ESPN.com -- The Green Bay Packers have filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings alleging that the team made inappropriate contact with Brett Favre.

[illwauk]

...And then there's this story out of the NFL offices...

*CHUNKS THE DEUCE*

Re-damn-diculous...

Even if these guys were signaling "street gangs" (funny how when it's a group of young black guys it's a "gang," but when it's white guys it's, at worst, a "fraternity," but I digress...), then what? They pay a fine and come up with a new gesture.

This is nothing but pandering to racists who stopped buying tickets when the league got too brown for their comfort. Goodall should be ashamed of himself...

As far as the Favre situation... Bretty is losing my respect by the minute. I wish I would quit a job, come back 4 months later after they already trained someone else and demand that they hire me back to the position I had before. Unfortunately, Brett is seen as the second coming of Christ in NE Wisconsin and I can see the Packers having to remove a damn good GM from office because of it.

Brett's gotten his way for so long that he's going nuts now that someone actually got the grapefruits to tell him "no." As far as I'm concerned, the longer he drags this out, the more he looks like a petty chump that's just trying to sabotage his former team.

[tBBP]

Don't you just love these moves that seemingly come out of nowhere?

How's THIS MOVE whet your palette?

**************************************************************

~For those who either choose not to or are otherwise unable to click the link...Jason Taylor will be lining up not in white and white and white with aqua and orange trim this season, but instead in burgundy and (athletic) gold...and white.

Yeah...caught me off-guard, too.

[Cujo]

Don't you just love these moves that seemingly come out of nowhere?

How's THIS MOVE whet your palette?

**************************************************************

~For those who either choose not to or are otherwise unable to click the link...Jason Taylor will be lining up not in white and white and white with aqua and orange trim this season, but instead in burgundy and (athletic) gold...and white.

Yeah...caught me off-guard, too.

I'm not totally shocked by this one. I figured it was a matter of time before the Tuna was done with Jason Taylor, and you know Dan Snyder and the 'Skins all about making waves by acquiring a big-name players.

However, Taylor's best years are definitely behind him. He can still make a impact on the Redskins (similar to the end of Bruce Smith's career) for the next season or two until he calls it quits for good. I don't see him being the dominant player he was two seasons ago, especially since letting everyone know that he's only in the game still just to "stay on the map" until his Hollywood career takes off.

[TFoA]

That definitely materialized quickly. I guess its a win win for both teams. The Skins get some help on their D-Line, and the Fins are through with Taylor. Good deal for both.

[FiddySicks]

That definitely materialized quickly. I guess its a win win for both teams. The Skins get some help on their D-Line, and the Fins are through with Taylor. Good deal for both.

Personally I think that losing Taylor contributes to losing about three wins for the Phins.

Considering that they were only gonna win two games anyway, thats REALLY bad for Miami

[Braden]

Well I think this deal is a bit of a blessing cause it removes a headache. I honestly thought that Taylor would be released, so I guess I'm glad that they got something. If 2nd Round pick DE Philip Merling pans out to be an efficient replacement it won't nearly be as big of a loss as it seems.

The Redskins though are getting one helluva player.

We all know the Dolphins will be better... the question is whether they'll be 2-14 or 7-9 better.

And by the way Dan, McCown won't be the opening week starter for the Dolphins, Beck will. You watch.

[tBBP]

...And now the countdown of how long it'll take for a picture of new Washington Redskins DE Jason Taylor to pop up in the "Legends In the Wrong Uniforms" thread can officially begin...

[FiddySicks]

Well I think this deal is a bit of a blessing cause it removes a headache. I honestly thought that Taylor would be released, so I guess I'm glad that they got something. If 2nd Round pick DE Philip Merling pans out to be an efficient replacement it won't nearly be as big of a loss as it seems.

The Redskins though are getting one helluva player.

We all know the Dolphins will be better... the question is whether they'll be 2-14 or 7-9 better.

And by the way Dan, McCown won't be the opening week starter for the Dolphins, Beck will. You watch.

If I were a Dolphins fan I would certainly hope so.

[BlueSky]

The Saints apparently have another weapon...

Saints Acquire Shockey

For those not familiar, Shockey's best season was as a rookie when Sean Payton was the Giants' O-coordinator.

He wore #88 at Miami and it happens to be available in New Orleans, too.