DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Rams ask Favre to UN-retire

The St. Louis Rams, desperate for a quarterback like seemingly half the NFL is these days, called Brett Favre this week, according to ESPN. The franchise wanted to see if Favre would unretire for the umpteenth time and give it one last final shot, after all the other one last final shots.

Seriously. They called Brett Favre.

Favre is 44 years old and currently working as a volunteer offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Oak Grove Warriors, a high school team in Mississippi. He spends his spare time jogging and mowing the lawn.

He hasn’t played since 2010, when a week after his record 297-regular season game starting streak ended, he went 5-for-7 for 63 yards, one touchdown and one pick in a Minnesota Vikings loss to the Chicago Bears. He was concussed early in the game and replaced by Joe Webb.

That was it. Even Favre knew it. He reportedly told his agent, Bus Cook, to turn down the Rams’ interest this week. He'll remain on the sidelines, imparting his knowledge onto the next generation and counting down his days to enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

So this time, perhaps for once, this Brett Favre story is not about Brett Favre. This non-stop coverage isn’t his fault, unless you blame him for staying at his playing weight.

That the Rams made the call says a lot more about the state of quarterback play in the country than it does the delusion of coach Jeff Fisher or the perceived I-can-do-it-ego of Favre.

The NFL has a whole host of problems right now – and, mind you, a whole host of profits. Taking nothing from the seriousness of player health and safety, its most pressing concern just might be the dearth of capable quarterbacks.

That there aren’t 32 quality quarterbacks for the NFL’s 32 franchises has been obvious for years now. If you don’t have a good one, you don’t stand a chance at winning. That’s long been true. Now, however, if you don’t have an even OK one, you struggle to not embarrass yourself.

The problem is there may be only 15-20 good quarterbacks in the world. And after that, 20 more who are even remotely capable of handling the position. The job is just that difficult and with injuries and poor roster moves, the inch-deep pool of reserves becomes increasingly obvious.

Compounding the problem, the pro game lacks offensive diversity, so we really don’t have any grind-it-out, run-first teams anymore that could live with a lousy QB. Some focus on it more than others, yet even those clubs – say Minnesota or the New York Jets, which prefer Rex Ryan’s “ground and pound” – are still reliant on a QB of some acumen.

The Vikings have the best back in the league, Adrian Peterson, yet the team was a laughingstock Monday as it called on quarterback Josh Freeman to throw it 53 times in a 23-7 loss to the Giants. Freeman completed just 20 of those passes and many of the misses sailed wildly over receiver’s heads. This, of course, was the same Josh Freeman who winless Tampa Bay dumped due to poor play. And yet Minnesota still believed grabbing him and tossing him into the starting lineup was their best option.

They were probably correct. There is simply no one left. Here’s guessing that if Sam Bradford had been lost for the season two weeks earlier, rather than last Sunday, the Rams would’ve gladly claimed Freeman.

He’s better than Favre.

And that’s about where we are in the NFL right now.

[On a side note: If this doesn’t cement the idea that no one in the NFL believes in Tim Tebow, nothing will.]

There is no immediate solution here for the NFL, but the long-term problem needs to be addressed. Television ratings have shown that no amount of concussions will cause fans to turn away. At least not yet. The NFL just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

Bad teams and bad quarterbacking play, however, might pose a greater threat. There was a train wreck aspect to watching the Vikings on Monday but how long can that last? That’s on a national level, however. Counting on actual Viking fans to tune in each week for games shown locally from here on out is another thing.

A league that is reliant on strong quarterbacking needs to find a way to develop the next generation of strong – or at least moderately strong – quarterbacks. The elite guys will always be there. Football desperately needs dozens of guys who are at the very least better than dudes three years into retirement.

The NFL already does plenty of work with youth and high school football, but perhaps it needs to do more. Quarterbacking is already better at the college level, in part because of the rise in 7-on-7 offseason football in Texas and much of the South. That isn’t a perfect development system for the pros though.

And neither are the college ranks anymore. The NFL was spoiled for decades by so many college coaches running pro-style offenses that led to fairly smooth transitions. Now the spread is the rage in the college game and while many of those elements work and NFL teams are embracing that system, it has yet to fully mesh.

Maybe the NFL can take the work getting done by the Manning Passing Academy and the Elite 11 camps and take it to the next level. Maybe it can embrace the high school talent camps run by Rivals.com, Under Armor and others by either partnering or doing their own. Maybe it can just disperse an army of old quarterbacks to spread out around the country and work with young high school quarterbacks in big cities and small, little towns.

Kind of like what Brett Favre is up to these days.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--rams--...-132011360.html

I'd rather have him right now than Weeden to be honest. But this is just a way for the media to discuss Favre again.

Hell, I think the Cavs should call up Michael Jordan too.

Johnnie Unitas has only been dead 11 years, I'm wondering if we shouldn't talk to him.

Why is the media so possessed to continue to talk about Brett Farve?

He was on before the Colts vs Donks game the other day too. He was giving perspective on going back to his "home" team.

the Rams, but yes.

Sorry, I was talking about Favre in general. He likes the attention and IMO, he seeks it out.

In this specific circumstance, it's all on the Rams. I agree. For all we know, Brett was at home alone taking pictures of hi...forget it.

Seems to be common knowledge now that the NFL is all about the QB. I wonder if this will end up hurting the league in the long run. IMO, the great thing about football is the team aspect. The more the QB becomes the determining factor in whether or not a team wins or loses, the less interesting the game will be, simply because the rare elite QBs will dominate everything.

then they shouldn't have invented the forward pass..lol

I think its just one of the phases as the game evolves, i mean if you think about it, there were times and eras that were all about the running backs, then it was all about the defenses, i think it will all even it self out eventually

Maybe.... but in the past, weren't those shifts in emphasis due to strategic play on the field? Seems like the difference now is the shift in emphasis has more to do with rule changes than strategic play; and once the shift is concretized in the rules, it's hard to see how strategic play can change. Only changes in the rules could make a shift in emphasis possible now, and that doesn't look likely in the age of concussion hysteria.

Great ... this will probably be the lead story on ESPN for 2 days now.

I think it's funny one team asked farve to come back and he turned them down... Meanwhile Garcia is trying to pimp himself out and no one wante anything to do with him....

Just clicking, not addressed to you in particular but, rather to the article...

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That there aren’t 32 quality quarterbacks for the NFL’s 32 franchises has been obvious for years now.

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I think one of the issues has been solved although it will take a few more years for the thinking to change and the affects to catch up and that is the rookie scale.

It used to be that if you drafted a QB high in the first round you were stuck with him for his entire contract because of the huge millions you signed him for. Andrew Luck signed for $22 million. Cam Newton for about the same. Sam Bradford was the last big QB contracts at $50 million guaranteed.

At 22 overall Weeden signed a 4 year deal for $8.1 million. In contrast, Brady Quinn, signed in '07 got 20.2 million with nearly Weeden's whole contract guaranteed, at the same 22 slot!.

My point is, the one I am trying to make if you'll just freaking listen instead of rolling your eyes thinking, "Here he goes again making a long-winded post that says nothing worth reading", (which I'm tired of hearing you thinking by the way), "I'll just scroll down past this idiot and find someone worthwhile to read", Yeah, I know who you are. Soon, very soon.

Anyway, the point is QB contracts are much more team friendly than they were just a few short years ago.

Nobody wants to forfeit $8 million bucks but just watch the Browns do it this coming offseason , if not sooner, and go spend more money on another try at a franchise QB. That's a lot harder to do when it's $20 million and harder yet if it's $50 million guaranteed.

So with rookie QB contracts so much more team friendly teams have several shots at finding a franchise QB before the money adds up to just one high pick a few years ago. When they finally find him, sure, it cost the same as it did when you add it all up but you get a mulligan or two in the process.

The rookie scale hasn't been in effect long enough for the FO thinking to completely change with the times yet. There are still teams who parade bad QB investments out there year after year. Ponder that for a minute. Did you see what I did there? lol Damn, I crack me up.

So my point is, yes, it's still the same one, the Browns can eat Weeden's money after only two years and look for his replacement this offseason all without breaking the bank.

There's no QB worthy, at least I don't believe there is, of the overall 1st pick, (though someone will do it), so we're going to have to pick a little lower for our guy. I doubt we have the ammo to get all the way to the 1st pick anyway because a couple of teams fighting for that spot will undoubtedly take a QB there.

Lately, later round QBs have been doing very well. Wilson, Kapernick, even Gino Smith, (am I missing anyone?), They're all playing good for their teams and no one even sniffed them in the 1st round.

Of course that doesn't mean the trend can continue. Wilson and Kap run a new-fangled offense for the pros and that newness is part of their success. But it's testament that guys with good arms and smart heads WITH THE ABILITY TO READ DEFENSES & COVERAGES, MAKE GOOD, QUICK DECISIONS AND HAVE A QUICK RELEASE are out there beyond the 1st round. The trick is to find them. The 49'ers and Seahawks did well in their QB evaluations.

But as I said before, (yes I'm repeating myself, geesh, give a guy a break), teams can have a couple shots at it because the money/risk isn't as great so the pressure to be absolutely 100% right or to play a bum for 3 or 4 seasons isn't there. Still, teams can't just grab at QBs like a kid grabs candy on Halloween, they sitll have to do their homework and be good evaluators of talent, but there is a reprieve if something doesn't work out.

Here's the second half of my point, (Ha! I didn't tell you there was a second half did I? And you aren't smart enough to figure it out. Sorry, that's not my fault.) As the years roll on, maybe in 3 or 4 more, FOs will begin to change their thinking and get rid of a bum when they realize he's a bum and have another chance to hit on a good one which will bring more good QB play into the NFL as more QBs will get a chance to prove themselves. Some of these QBs would have never even been considered in years past.

Of course, there will be a graveyard of failed QBs so large they may have to buy some extra property to hold them all, but there also should be a better ratio of good vs bad QBs in the NFL as things progress. If it goes as I hope, but don't expect, with the crazy amount of money the NFL is making there my come a time when there are hardly any bums playing that position for very long.

So the problem gets solved by the rookie pay scale that many of us have been clamoring for for a lot of years.

Ok, you can scroll to a better post now. I know you've been wanting to. Asshat..

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But seriously, there's plenty more than the forward pass responsible for over-emphasizing the QB.

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Yeah, like the Colts going 10-6 in Manning's last year with them, then 2-4 the very next season without a good QB, then 11-5 the very next season in Luck's rookie year.

That alone shows the difference in a team with and without a good QB.

I can elaborate but I don't think I need to do so.

The Rams should get Bernie Kosar out of retirement. So he can "motivate" Kellen Clemens from the sideline.

With all these teams needing QBs now and in the future, Im worried about the Browns taking the BPA with their 1st round picks, then trying to get their guy in the 2nd (Georgias Murray) or 3rd rounds (LSUs Metzenberger).

Teams that could or will be looking for QBs to start down the road

Arizona -Palmer aint the answer now but could teach for a year.
Pittsburgh -0they don't have a backup and Ben is getting old.
Houston- Im sure they would love to get a backup that can let them unload Shaub.
S.D. -could do to Rivers what they did to Brees.
Oakland - Prior to start another season and who know, they might not need one but I still see them taking one.
Chicago- Cutler took them deep in the playoffs once, but finding a player to groom could be in the mix. It would be more likely then Philly taking Kold when they had McNabb.

so those teams could take a QB in rounds 2-3. The Packers had Favre and drafted Rogers so I see all those teams as very likely to draft one early. Im sure Im missing someone.

Teams that will take a QB to start right away.

Cleveland- Go into next year with the mindset Hoyer is starting and can groom a future QB. He has a year left on his contract. I wouldn't mind 2 QBs to get drafted over letting Weeden and Campbell battling it out for the 3ed backup spot.
Jax
Minnesota- I didn't see how many years Freeman signed for

Im sure Im forgetting someone. So help me out here.

So there is 9 teams I mentioned that will most likely take a QB. Then there are teams who have a QB but still surprise and take one anyway.

Freeman is signed for the rest of this season only.

Tampa Bay looks almost certain to hire a new coach, and that may put then in the "New QB Sweepstakes" as well. I would put Minnesota in the same position, at least we far as a new QB. I suspect that they could be in the market for a new coach as well.

Man, there are going to be a ton of teams looking for help at the position. Out of the teams with the same record as us o worse, I would say that the following look hard at a QB with their top pick:

Tampa Bay
Vikings
Jacksonville
Houston
Arizona

I think that St Louis may be in the market. Hopefully they will try, desperately, to get up in the draft for a certain guy, and be unable to do so.

Chicago might, depending on what they do with Cutler. I can't imagine that they let him get away though.

Philly could look at a QB. They have a couple of decent guys, but I don't think that they have the ideal guy to run Kelly's offense. I also think that they need, at least, 2 QB, because they get their QB abused.

The Giants may decide to look at the position as well, depending on where they fall in the draft.

That's 9 teams that have the same record as, , or a worse record than we do Man, I hope that we don't fall into a really bad numbers game at the top of thise draft.

On the other hand .... if we decide to take the best possible player with our top pick, and then wait to see what's available at QB with out 2nd pick, (while letting Hoyer run the team next year) then we might be able to grab an elite talent at another position.

One thing I am fairly certain of is that I don't see this group forcing a pick for a QB they don't really like. If there isn't a QB they like available when we pick, and they can't get to a position to take a QB they like, then I suspect that we'll see a pick at a different position. In that case, I would rather take a great receiver or CB than a so-so QB.

Didn't Kosar also have some rather ....... complimentary ......... things to say about their receivers as well ?

I'm already worried that we're going to be where we usually are -

on the outside looking in, and taking a gamble on a lesser tier prospect.

We are already there.

Do you see the Jags even winning one game? Well, maybe against us.

The Bucs?

We are going to see what this FO is made of come this offseason.

Jags are grabbing a QB. Not so sure about TB.

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I would guess that unless Schiano somehow, miraculously, manages to hold onto his job, that the Bucs will take a QB in the 1st round

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I think the Bucs are pretty happy with Glennon I see them going in a diffrent Direction.

From what I've heard, Glennon hasn't been doing too bad so far (I didn't watch last night). If he keeps it up, I could see him sticking around regardless of what happens to Schiano.

Glennon did nothing until garbage time yesterday. 127 of their total 297 yards came in the last 6:14 of the game after CAR went up 31-6 and gave Glennon everything over the middle while running out the clock. That 127 was all passing yards, too.

*edit* went through the numbers. In the first 53:45, Glennon was 18-31 for 164 yards and 0 TDs. In the last 6:15 when he was given free reign to dump over the middle of the field, he was 12-20 for 111 yards and 1 TD.

Also, it is not like Glennon was a first round pick. He was a third rounder, they could easily move on from him if the right guy was available.

just responding to oobernoober's hearsay with facts. Not trying to pass judgement on anyone's career.

Ok... Here are his stats for all his first games.

106/181 for 997yards (58.6%, meh) with a 5.51yd ave (yuck)
6TDs with 3INTs (good) and 3 fumbles (bad). His QBR is 59'ish, whatever that means.

I look at that and his whole situation and I say, "meh". For a 3rd-round rook playing within the dumpster fire that is the Bucs right now, I give the kid the benefit of the doubt. He played against the Panthers D, which is pretty good, without his RB and a suspect Oline. Again, I give the kid the benefit of the doubt, and I think, at draft time, the Bucs organization (sans Schiano at that point) will as well.