How Brett Favre helped the Green Bay Packers out in the long run

The epic drama that is Brett Favre's long and illustrious NFL career was given another chapter Tuesday when the gunslinger from Mississippi stepped off the chartered jet in Minneapolis-St. Paul, was followed like the Beatles in their hay-day on a freeway on the way from the airport to the Winter Park training facility and signed his name to the bottom of reportedly a two-year, $10-12 million contract with the hated Minnesota Vikings.

Here's the thing: his actions today helped the Green Bay Packers out in the long run.

No really. Here me out.

As I'm typing this, I'm pretty much certain he'll find a way to convey that same message to Ed Werder, Rachel Nichols or friend/reporter Al Jones.

Here's why Favre's unretirement (Did he actually retire this last time? And how will anyone believe this King of Wafflers when he finally does hang up the cleats again for the third time?) actually helped Green Bay in the long run. In years past, no one wanted to be that guy -- the guy that follows the legend. Look at Brian Griese in Denver after John Elway left, or Elvis Grbac after the era of Steve Young and Joe Montata ended in San Francisco, or even Mr. What's His Face after Troy Aikman was concussed for the last time in Dallas. That guy usually gets its butt kicked, leaving everyone wishing for the Legend to return.

Look in Green Bay. No one's looking for Favre to come back. The town, the team and Packer Nation has galvanized behind Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback that did alright in his first year but only lead Green Bay to a 6-10 record after the team made the NFC title game the year before. Part of that had to do with Ryan Grant running on a bad leg, part a piss-poor defense. But going into Year 2 of the Rodgers Era in Green Bay, no one's looking for Favre to ride in on his tractor from Mississippi to save the day.

Instead we as Packer Fans are looking forward to Week 4 of the NFL season, when Rodgers and Co. travel to the Humpty Dump to take on Minnesota and Favre. How sweet would it be to see Rodgers lead the Pack to a big win over Minnesota and lead the Pack to a 4-0 record going into the bye week?

Brett Favre, through all his crying, whining and diva B.S., has made Green Bay a stronger team in the long run.

Thanks again Brett.

MY BCS plan

The sun is shining outside, the temperatures are in the 80s .... and I'm stuck inside on the computer listening to ESPN radio. One of the items mentioned is Congress looking into possible antitrust issues with the BCS Championship system, due in large part to the University of Utah getting hosed and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) having a little bit of clout.

Anyway, here's my plan to fix college football. Take it for what it's worth.

College football needs an 8-team playoff to determine a national champion. Selection for the field would be the conference champion from each of the Big Six Conference (Big Ten, Big XII, Big East, ACC, SEC, Pac-10) and then two at-large berths from outside conference champions only (such as Mountain West, MAC, WAC) based on the AP and coaches poll. No computer BS needed.

That's right; Conference champions only -- no Big XII North Champ Nebraska if they lose the Big XII title game to Texas. Just Texas and that's it. That takes care of the possibility of two or three teams from one conference in the playoff. Just give us the best from your area and we'll go from there.

The four games of the first round would begin on New Year's Day with sites in Florida (preferred bowl game - Orange Bowl), Texas (Cotton), California (site like the LA Coliseum) and then a fourth site like Nashville. No team from that region (i.e. Florida) cannot play in that game -- travel for everyone to make it fairer. No reason USC plays at the Coliseum in the playoffs, or the Gators play in Orlando.

The remaining Big Three bowl games, Rose, Sugar and Fiesta, are revolving semi-final and championship sites. Second-round games are on the next Saturday, with the title game likely nine days later on that Monday night (the NCAA likes to put title games on Mondays. Bastards.)

Teams not eligible for the NCAA playoff gets to compete in the traditional bowl games that all conclude on New Years Eve.

This plan takes care of two things: 1.) true declaration of a national champion; 2.) need for the piece of crap BCS system to select teams. There's still plenty of money thrown around and everyone still gets a chance to play ball.

The only loser in all this I think would be the Rose Bowl, losing the tradition that is the New Years Day game. But you know what, deal with it - and that's coming from a Big Ten guy. If the only sacrifice made in all this is having the Granddaddy of Them All lose a little bit of its luster, then so be it. You don't think the bowl's history remained pristine with the introduction of the BCS, did you?

There's my plan. Whatcha think?