Favre better put in a full season of conditioning, if not, its time to retire.

FTFY.
Do you really think at this point of his career, that he is going to spend the off season conditioning to learn another totally different scheme?
I really think the only way Favre stays is if the JETS throw enough money at Mike Holmgren that he forgets about taking a sabatical and asks Brett to stay on for another year. Otherwise, Brett will be reciting that same retirement speech from last season.

I just find it odd that Bellychick's assistants, for the most part, have failed as head coaches.

It's also odd that the Patriots haven't been as dominant since they were caught CHEATING. GOD DAMN CHEATERS.!!!

Green Bay hired trainers and sent them to Mississippi to keep Favre in shape. Nothing happened this year, then Favre pulled his crap, and it showed down the stretch that he tired out.

Agreed that he wasn't good. But neither was the coaching, the play calling, the running game, the wide recievers. And then you had the defense.........

LOLZ... 16-1 last year since Spygate and 11-5 with a career backup QB this year.
I'm a fan of a team in the same division and I STILL think that's impressive.

No explaining the Bellyboy's assistants not doing well as head coaches though, it's like sires I guess- an inexact science.

The pats were 2-4 against playoff teams this year. That would make them 9-1 against the dregs with the 1 coming at home to the jets. Of those 4 losses, 3 came by 20 points or more. What does that tell you?

Belichick is a good coach that caught lightning in a bottle with one Tom Brady. Look at his record before Brady. Nothing special.

Not to say that Belichick isnt a fine coach. Just to say that maybe the reason his assistants don't do so well when they leave is because of lack of brady.

It says a lot about a coach to me when their team/system succeeds with different QB's at the helm. It will be interesting to see how well Belichick does Post Brady.

A lot of dipshit Pats fans (somewhat redundant) are already aboard the Cassel bandwagon and are talking about the Brady era in the past tense. If there was one instance to sum up why Pats fans have no credibility, there it is.

They can't possibly be serious. Brady is one of the best ever and still in his prime. Cassel has a super chance to become Scott Mitchell.

If he's lucky.

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal..._brady_be.html

Check the comments.

Those are hilarious. Talk about panic.

I'm sure Cassel will be okay in the NE system, but they are out of their minds to think that he will be better than a surgically repaired Brady. Even if Brady is behind and isn't ready until mid-season or so, he's still a better option than Cassel.

There are dumbass Jet fans (shocking, I know) that are clamoring for Cassel too. Luckily they get shouted down by other, not totally moronic fans. I'd prefer Ratliff and even Clemens over Cassel.

Just about every Jet fan in my office is clamoring for Cassel.

Would be a TERRIBLE mistake to go after him. He's better than anybody ever expected... but the fact of the matter is Randy Moss and his coach make him look good.

Dolphins: 1-2 against playoff teams
Ravens: 2-5 against playoff teams
Steelers: 3-4 against playoff teams
Titans: 3-1 against playoff teams
Colts: 5-1 against playoff teams

Says here their 2-4 record against playoff teams is competitive with the two teams they were competing with for a spot.

Postscript: the more I look at it, the more I think the Colts can run the table on the road and win this thing.

I've thought for a few weeks now that the Colts are gonna win the SB... they have been an under the radar team who started off slow and is as hot or hotter than anyone..

not to mention the best QB actively playing.

I think the Chargers will beat 'em. They're the only home team I'm picking this week.

That's the only thing you and I have agreed on this month;)

Those are the same dumbass Jet fans who were/are dying for Favre, Cowher, etc. Whatever big name they trick themselves into thinking is the saviour. It pisses me off because these are the morons that Woody feels like he needs to pander to when, in reality, true Jet fans can see through marketing ploys and just want a winner. We'll take a bunch of no-names who win 10+ games ('06) over a bunch of underachieving Pro Bowlers ('08).

If they go get Cassel, I'll be pissed.

Keep this in mind, too... Even though he'll be a free agent the Pats are a very smart organization- they're not going to just let him walk to sign with a division rival if they think he's worth his weight in jockstraps, especially with Brady not progressing as planned. If they do, that speaks volumes.

That would be cap destruction though phil. Even if the pats thought Casell was worth it, they cant afford to pay a backup QB starter money and starter money is what Casell will get from any other team. They would have no choice but to let him walk.

Casell leaving is a foregone conclusion if there is any interest and it appears there will be...regardless of how misguided that interest may be.

The problem with the Favre situation is that for the last couple of seasons all you heard was that Chad Pennington didn't have the arm strength for the Jets playing in the Meadowlands. So they gave Clemens a chance, which didn't work out so good either. In both of their defenses the o-line was awful, which also led to Thomas Jones needing a GPS to find the endzone and the qb running for their lives. This season they revamp the line and Thomas Jones has a resurrection, but the passing game play calling is the same crappy screen and 5 yard outs that they were running last season. They are supposed to have this QB with the big arm now, but it seemed like they never threw the ball downfield. Favre averaged 217 yards a game (only about 10 yards more than Chad averaged when he was a Jet) and didn't throw for 300 yards once this season (I know not that big a deal, they were a running team when they were playing well, but I think it speaks volumes about the play calling), including the game he threw 6 td's. If this was going to be the case, they were better off with Chad. I am not trying to compare the two in any way or form, but one thing I assure you is that Chad would have never thrown 22 interceptions.
I thought getting Favre was the right move, but it just seems that they ran the same plays and packages that they had for Chad and Clemens. Instead of changing the playbook around for Favre the just changed Favre's game to adapt to the playbook they had.

Cant they just franchise him and take a one year hit? I dont know why everyone is so down on Cassell. He may not be Brady but lets give the guy some credit considering he had to basically learn on the job in a very tough situation with almost no experience to fall back on. He played pretty well and will likely still get better.

I dont think they had the receivers to throw the ball down the field consistently. If I'm the incoming coach the last thing I want is Favre. The drama and decision making isnt worth it and when you have a guy that can pretty much do whatever he wants without recourse you have a bad situation. There is no future with Favre and they simply dont have the horses to win it all now. I would rather have Cassell than Favre in 2009 (never thought I would say that) for at least you know you have a competent QB who you can count on for a few years. If you dont want Cassell who exactly is out there that is better?

Cassel's trash. He throws dumpoffs to Welker and Kevin Faulk and once in a blue moon completes a deep ball to Moss. Being hopeful that the Jets will get a better deep threat (or start using Clowney more), I'd prefer Ratliff or Clemens. Unproven as they may be, at least they can make all of the throws.

I just wish the Bills had waited 24 more hours to determine Jauron's fate now that Shanahan is available.

The NFL is a fickle sport, isn't it? The Broncos were a terrible team this year and he had them in position to make the playoffs. I don't really understand the firing.

I'm not as down on him as Joey is but I don't see him as the savior. He's got tools and brains which helps a lot but it'll be a huge shock going from Moss/Welker to average receivers for the Jets.

They could franchise him. But that would be 12 million dollars for a backup QB. Thats 10% of your cap for a guy that you hope doesnt play. I highly doubt the Pats would do that unless they were pretty sure Brady wasnt going to be ready.

I dont buy the Moss/Welker arguement. They had no consistent running game all year. Welker is a good player but hardly a difference maker. He is an excellent slot receiver who gets matched up against the other teams third best corner or a safety. Moss had 11 catches the last 4 games. Cassell was certainly a better QB as the season went on and saying he is garbage is ridiclous. He may not be Johnny U but he is better than what the 49ers, Bears, Vikings, Chiefs, Bucs, Rams, Bills, Browns, Raiders, Redskins or Lions run out there and he is proven to be a lot better than Clemmons. I have no idea how good Ratliff is but the fact no one bothered to draft him gives me an idea. The thing is there are only a few really top QB's and guys like cassell who can run an offense, manage a game and not make mistakes are valauble guys.

He is not a backup until Brady returns and has proven worth. If Brady makes it back they could trade him for a number one pick or package of picks as opposed to just letting him walk.

Call him what you will but he isnt a 12 million dollar QB any way you slice it and there is no team in their right mind that is going to trade anywhere close to a number one pick for the right to pay him 12 million dollars next year.

I think the pats would realize that there are cheaper short term alternatives than to pay Cassell that kind of money.

He isnt better than Jeff Garcia. He isnt better than Trent Edwards. He isnt better than Jason Campbell. He is not better than Marc Bulger. He isnt any better than Shaun Hill or Tyler Thigpen.

He has more talent around him than all those guys and he played a much easier schedule.

Game managers are a dime a dozen in the NFL. The problem is that most teams arent good enough running or defensively to win with a game manager. Thats when the expectations change. Thats when coaches get fired.

We will see

He is better than Jeff Garcia 2008 version, he is as good as Trent Edwards and is better than Hill or Thigpen. Campbell stinks, cassell is way better than he is. Maybe you are forgetting that this guy NEVER played in college or the pros because of who he was playing behind. His season considering that fact alone shows his ability, period. Game managers are a dime a dozen? What league do you watch? He played an easier schedule? I understand that he is not a great QB but he played far better than average this season in his first game action ever. He is already pretty good and will get better. Jeff Garcia? Done. Tyler Thigpen? Huh? jason Campbell? Terrible decision maker. Wow.

LOL. i was just about to type the same thing. Swear.

You put Jason Campbell behind that line with those receievers in that system and you tell me who would be better. You put any of those guys named in that situation and you tell me who would be better.

Its not just Welker and moss- Its the line and the system as well.

You dismiss Shaun HIll. What kind of line was Shaun Hill playing behind? Who did he have to throw it to?

Game Managers are a dime a dozen. The only thing is that the game managers need a solid team around them to be successful. Hence...game managers. What is Kerry Collins? What is Chad Pennington? Gus Frerotte? Those guys arent really asked to make plays but yet their teams are in the playoffs.

Cassell, at best, is in the bottom third of the league...At best.

Interesting that you can make this statement that he is in the bottom 1/3rd of the league based upon an 90 QB rating in his only body of work that you or anyone else has ever seen. The guy who was named AFC offensive player of the week twice this year. You make it out like the offensive line makes the decisions with the ball. Cassell was sacked 47 times and SF gave up 55, not much of a margin considering how great NE's line supposedly is. Shaun Hill is and never has shown much, he isnt a rookie. Beating the Rams and a lame duck Skins team doesnt mean he is any good. Jason Campbell has always been a bad decision maker. Game managers are hardly a dime a dozen or guys like Collins wouldnt still be in the league and Vinny Testaverde wouldnt get a call every year. Pennington is the same guy who supposedly cant make the throws yet Miami hasnt been able to find a game manager for years before him. Gus Ferotte? you are kidding right?

Regardless of what people think there has never been a situation like this guy was put in and he played really well. Maybe i'm wrong but everytime I saw the guy play, he played well which is more than I can say for the QB of the Jets. Way more NFL QB's lose games than win them.

I would take Week 17 Cassell over Orton right now, no questions asked.

This was one of the rare times in where you could see him improve week to week. This was maybe because of the spotlight being on him, but how he played the last 6 games was unbelievable if you ask me, especially from a guy that threw 11 passes IN COLLEGE

Matt Cosell

The fact that Cassell was even close to 50 sacks is more a testament to the QB than the line. That same unit allowed just 21 last year and their schedule was more difficult then. What was the difference? QB. Nothing changed in the line. The decisions are exactly what were the difference. Decisions to hold the ball too long can be just as deadly as throwing it to the other team.

There are plenty of game managers in the NFL. Frerotte isnt one? His team is in the playoffs and he isnt asked to make many plays. He is the definition of game manager.

I say he is in the bottom third of the league. I will go through twenty that are better:

Would you take him over Phillip Rivers? No.

Jay Cutler? No.

Donovan Mcnabb? No.

Tony Romo? No.

Eli Manning? No.

Peyton Manning? No.

Ben Roethlisberger? No.

Jake Delhomme? No.

Matt Schaub? No.

Matt Ryan? No.

Aaron Rodgers? No.

Carson Palmer? No.

Chad Pennington? No.

Marc Bulger? No.

Tom Brady? No.

Matt Hasselbeck? No.

Drew Brees? No.

Kurt Warner? No.


Those guys are all better and i dont think there is much to debate. These guys are right there and i think are better although its debatable:

Trent edwards
David Garrard
Joe Flacco
Shaun Hill
Kerry Collins

That leaves him at the bottom third...at best.

You give all those guys moss, welker and that line and system and you tell me what they would do.

LOL. Orton was one of the worst QB's in the league. I would take Sam Cassell over Orton.