The Packer Pundit

"When the Great Ones
are No Longer the Great Ones...
Sometimes they are the Last Ones to Know!"
-- Colin Cowherd

Basically that was the argument Colin Cowherd layed forth yesterday on his ESPN Radio program. Not to be outdone... and further carrying Colin's water... The Mike and Mike Show (also ESPN Radio), starring Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, reiterated the point.

Here was their basic premise. Randy Johnson, Shaquielle O'Neal and Brett Favre are basically... in the twilight of their careers and maybe... just maybe they should consider packing it in.

RJ has struggled (He's 5-3) and does not seem to "go after" hitters like he used to. A commentator pointed out that 5 years ago... Randy would just bring the heat and not be concerned about who was up or what the game situation was... He was Randy effin' Johnson and he was the 6'10" Terminator!

On Shaq, their argument centered around the centers complaints of refs calling the game too tight. They bemoaned (Most Cowherd) less than stellar stats. Shaq had 21 points, 6 rebounds and 2 fouls in 29 minutes of play in the Heats' 111-89 win over the Nets.

Brett, of course, is in his off season. They seemed to focus on Brett's saying "Give me one or two more players and we can win." Ya know... I don't actually recall Brett saying that. I do recall his wanting the Pack to go out and field a competitive team... that I do recall... it's the Namath like guarantee of wins I don't recall.

Now Mike Golic, who actually played a sport, made the observation (after a listener emailed this point) that even an aging Randy Johnson, Shaq and Brett... are better than 70% of the rest of the players out there... they just don't "dominate" like they used to.

Golic further instructed that, perhaps it would be wise for the trio, as well as other elder sports hereos, to consider going all Jerome Bettis up in herrre. Basically, adapt your game. Jerome carried the ball less... specialized in Redzone and Ball control (Colts game goaline fumble hahahaha). Jerome also took a pay cut. Jerome... went out on top! Point taken.

Mike Greenberg, illicted the incredibly ridiculous statement of... Brett can't do the things he could when he was 30. First off... he's only effin' 36 now... that's just 6 years Greeny... duh! Secondly, anybody that's actually been following Brett knows full damn well Brett hasn't lost a single rpm on his patented fastball. Hell they still marvel at that with jugs guns during Pack Monday nighters! So basically my point is... double duh... What you saw out of Brett last year was exactly what you saw out of Brett in 2000. He just looks older.

Now listen... I get the point.
I'm old enough to remember the fat Elvis.
Sure... it would have been nicer to just remember the King as the good looking swivel hipped lady killer that he was in the 60's.

But age... pills... and the "all you can gorge" buffet table at Ceasers did Elvis in.

I swear... on my mother's eyes this happens at least 4 times a year!

As to Last season's interceptions to TD's ratio...
Bite me!

As Packer fans we know full effin well Brett was on his 5th Running back (Green, Davenport, Fisher, and Gado... all injured) Walker and Franks went down early... Walker for the season! He ended the season throwing to Driver, Lee, Chatman, Gardner and Thurman. Bite me!

All that with Wahl and Flannigan and Rivera gone. (Flanny due to injury but that still counts) It just floors me that they lumped Brett into that mix of players.

I mean... seriously... who reads defense's better than Brett Favre?
Nobody

Who scrambles better than Brett... seriously... don't give me no Michael Vick crap... dude looks to run the ball coming out of the tunnel and you know it... I guess I should word this... who has the best escapability?
Brett does... the dude has butter hips when he's scrambling and here's a little secret we all know and thankfully the rest of the league hasn't learned... Brett is more accurate when he's on the move.

Why the Hell don't they roll his ass out more???

Lastly... I will admit... Brett does need to play smarter. Hey I liked Sherm but he had No discipline over Brett. Truth be known... Holmgren barely had it.

Hopefully, McCarthy will be able to reason with Brett to "stick to" the system a bit more and Not try to win every game with a single throw.

Brett Favre's biggest enemy has always been Brett Favre.

All that said... Brett aint no Fat Elvis!

THE PACKER PUNDIT
By Pat Stuckey 5/11/2006