Suicide is never the Answer!

Yesterday a tragic event took place in the NFL. A linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs took the life of his girlfriend then Jovan Belcher went to the practice facility and took his own life. Now, as I watch the pregame programming on ESPN, CBS and Fox a lot has been said about how tragic it is that former Chiefs linebacker took his own life. The only person that I have heard to this point that actually got the story into perspective was on ESPN when former Denver Bronco Tom Jackson articulated that former Chiefs linebacker killed someone and that due to his murder and death that there will be a little girl without her mom and dad.

Tom Jackson hit the nail on the head of where my frustration has been with the coverage of this event. Apparently, the NFL gave the Chiefs until 9:30 pm last night to decide if they wanted to play this game in light of recent events. Coach Romeo and the Chiefs GM were eye witnesses to the former Chiefs linebacker's cowardly act as he walked away from them and shot himself as the police were rolling up on the scene. The focus of this story shouldn't be on the former Chiefs linebacker; rather it should be focused on Kasandra Perkins, 22 year old, that had her life ended prematurely.

The two, the former Chiefs linebacker and Perkins, had a three month old girl. THREE months old. Imagine the questions this little girl is going to have as she grows up without her parents. I am sure more information will come out in the coming days to soften the suicide of the former Chiefs linebacker as that is the nature of our society. The focus should be on the fact that suicide is never the answer. Take a moment today to do a person inventory and realize that life is short enough. Talk to your kids, your family and your friends today about the importance of life and that suicide doesn't impact the coward that takes their own life as it does those that are left to deal with it. My prayers go out to Perkins family and to Kasandra's three month old daughter.

In full disclosure on why I view suicide in the nature that I do. I once was in Romeo's shoes.

Get your Popcorn: Farve circus coming to town.

Last night Joe Buck had Brett Favre on HBO to discuss his future in the NFL. Brett Favre pulled no punches when he said, “it makes perfect sense as far as coming back because it’s an offense I ran for 16 years. I can teach the offense” when asked about unretiring to become a Minnesota Viking. Coach Brad Childress had invited Brett Favre to the OTA’s but Brett felt it be a better idea to stay away. Brett thought multiple “media frenzies” would detract from the team, plus Brett said, “If the arm is not up to par when the time comes. I can’t play. I went through it last year. I gutted it out, but it affected me and it affected our team. I won’t go through that again.”

Brett admitted that he had arthroscopic surgery 2.5 weeks ago to repair a torn bicep tendon on his throwing arm. The healing time is reported to be four to five weeks. So, it does make sense that Favre not showing up at OTA’s would have done nothing more than expand upon his need for media attention. The interesting question that wasn’t asked or touched upon during the interview was whether Brad Childress put a time line on his decision to join the team as reported by ESPN.

Brad Childress previously had stated that no such deadline was imposed upon Favre as reported by two ESPN reporters. With the air clear that Favre, depending on arm strength, will become a Viking is how will this improve the chance of making it to the Super Bowl? Does the addition of Favre automatically move the Vikings up the ladder on potential Super Bowl contenders?

I don’t think so. The move not to re-sign Matt Birk will be one of the reasons why the Vikings will not be in the Super Bowl. Favre will improve the chance that the Vikings will score in the 4th quarter though. Being a gunslinger he will put the ball in places that a normal quarterback will not. The other reason is that the Vikings will need to win the division to make the playoffs and that will not be an easy task this season.

The Chicago Bears trading for Cutler puts them at the top of the heap. Word from Bear OTA’s is that Cutler and Hester are clicking in midseason form. If that is happening now, watch out when the season starts. There is no one in the NFL that can stay with Hester one-on-one. Granted Foote does not have the same numbers of Peterson, he is solid enough to rip off the tough yards to keep the chains moving.

The benefit that Favre will bring is twofold. Blackout worries will be no more and it will add fodder for those Viking/Packer families. The next question is will Paul Allen have a new color man? Will John Madden park the Madden Cruiser at Winter Park?

Favre Flu displaces Swine Flu in Minnesota

A day after Trent Dilfer reported receiving a text message from Brett Favre on whether he will return to the NFL in 2009 the “NO” appears, at least right now, to be a maybe. Coach Brad Childress will be meeting with the ageless veteran Favre at an undisclosed location later in the week according to the pundits on ESPN. The Favre fever has temporarily replaces Swing Flu in Minnesota.

Many pundits feel the Vikings are a quarterback away from a Super Bowl Champion. Now, the brain trust went out and signed Sage Rosenfels to come in and compete with Tarvaris Jackson. If the Vikings wanted an older quarterback why not go after someone like Garcia (who has signed with the Raiders)? Favre broke down as the season wore on while Garcia, and others, remained stout as the season wore on.

Granted the signing of Brett Favre will increase ticket sales and get more national television coverage. What happens after 2009? Will Favre be willing to come in and teach Jackson or will the blinders be on? I know many bleeding purple are foaming at the mouth as the rumors swirl about Favre wearing a purple 4. Buyers beware with Favre. Now if Percy Harvin can hook the hold man up with some good pain killers, then the Vikings decision to move forward with Favre signing may give them the upper hand in the NFC.

I understand that Viking fans want to win the big game after four gut wrenching chances and a missed field goal in the NFC Championship game, but at what cost? Adding Favre could mean adding John Madden. While, being a loyal Raider fan, I acknowledge the wealth of knowledge that Madden has stored away in his cranium, but are Viking fans prepared to hear Madden’s man-crush of Favre. The Madden cruiser will become a mainstay at Winter Park. Watch out Paul Allen!!!!

Favre is no doubt a Hall of Fame quarterback and a proven winner. With all that in play, the Vikings are best to not go down this road. If Childress does decide to bring in Favre, I will, like the rest of America, sit back and watch the circus that will take place. Not to mention the divorce rate increase between Minnesota and Wisconsin football fans.