I'm sure you heard or read by now the comments that former Vikings QB Fran Tarkenton said regarding Brett Favre. Tarkenton was on 790 the Zone in Atlanta and made some harsh comments about Favre. Tarkenton looks like a sweet old man. I never knew he had it in him, really. I decided to break down what he said and give my opinion... bit by bit

"I think it’s despicable."

Ummm.... did anyone else read that in a Daffy Duck voice???

"What he put the Packers through last year was not good. Here’s an organization that was loyal to him for 17, 18 years, provided stability of organization, provided players. It just wasn’t about Brett Favre"

Can't argue with this comment here. I feel the same way, I think Favre thinks folks owe him something when they don't. I'll let this one ride

"In this day and time, we have glorified the Brett Favre’s of the world so much, they think it’s about them."

Again, can't argue here

"He goes to New York and bombs".

Bomb he did not. Break down at the end of the season, he did

"He’s 39 years old."

Okay, and?! I know that NFL years, he's about 230 1/2 years of age. But kickers last til they are close to 50. This was irrelevant.

"How would you like Ray Nitschke in his last year (playing for) the Vikings, or I retire, and go play for the Packers."

You and Nitschke are old dudes... no one really cares cause we know you won't.

"I kind of hope it happens, so he can fail."

Uuuuhhhhhhhhhh..............................



What kind of bitchassness type of comment is this?? Who says that??? You wannabe Rush Limbaugh. How can you love the Vikings, but want Favre to make a mockery of your beloved team??? real smart, genius!

"I think he has been a great flamboyant quarterback, but he has made more stupid plays than any great quarterback that I’ve ever seen."

Maybe, but he still has more records than you...

"Look at his final game in a Packers uniform. He blew that game against the Giants"

Touche'... can't argue there

"He’s playing against Eli Manning, I love Eli Manning, but he’s still not a great quarterback. He’s not Peyton yet, or Tom Brady. He’s just a guy."

He's just a guy??? Dude, are you serious..... Why are you side swiping Eli Manning now... how much Haterade did you have for breakfast???

How many Super Bowl MVPs have you won??? Oh, that's right. You don't have a Super Bowl WIN! Let's not go there............

"And they’re (Packers) are playing at home, and they’re in a tight situation, they went to overtime and he (Favre) throws the interception that allows them (the Giants) to come back and win the game. He has done that and driven his coaches crazy all of his career."

Tarkenton was a great QB in this league for 18 years. He also has the right to say whatever is on his mind. But he needs a serious does of STFU soup. Not only does he insult Favre, but he takes shots at Eli Manning, a topic totally unrelated to the initial target. I'm wondering if someone forgot to take their Aricept before the interview.

Please go back and tell 40 year old football tales to your grandchildren. You've embarrassed yourself enough for the year. Remind me to add you to my next "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong" blog. You'll be my honorary dedication.

Tarkenton, take my advice.... this is all you need to do....


Trust me.... it's for the best!

One day not long ago, I was at home watching the NFL Network's Top Ten show. One episode that caught my eye was the "Top Ten Draft Classes"

So, I'm watching the show and on the Top 10 list was the 1983 draft class, which featured Hall-of-Famers such as Eric Dickerson, Bruce Matthews and Darrell Green.

But those weren't the players that stood out to me. I had forgotten that QB's John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino all were drafted in the 1st round of the 1983 draft. I was only 4 years old in 1983, but even today I know who Marino, Elway and Kelly are. They are looked at by many as NFL icons. Some call the 1983 draft one of the best QB drafts in the history of the league.

However, there's another draft class that has had QB's in the 1st round flourish in today's NFL. The 2004 NFL Draft.

Can you say... Manning, Rivers, and... oh yeah... Roethlisberger???

While they still are young QB's and have some years ahead of them ( if they stay healthy), this class of QB's are trying to give the 1983 boys a run for their money.

There's no question what the old schoolers have showed the youngins how it's done. They are all first ballot HOFs and with no argument.

But will the 2004 QB class surpass this class as far as excellence and accomplishment is concerned??? It depends on how you look at the overall body of work. But I'm gonna give you some things to look at while making this decision.

C'mon... It's Thursday, it's the off season and you don't have nothing else to do.

I've taken the time to review the QB's from both classes and combined their numbers in the important categories, while combining their Pro Bowl and Super Bowl appearances/wins. Now keep in mind that these numbers are based on the first 5 seasons of each player, some of which did not play each year in it's entirety. Rivers was on the bench for about 2 seasons, and Manning didn't play a full season during his rookie year.

Let's take a look, going by draft class:

1983 First Round Quarterback Class- Elway, Marino and Kelly


Combined win-loss record: 134-73-1
Avg completion %: 58.0 (note- Both Marino and Kelly were 60% or higher, but Elway's 53.6 brought this down)
TD total: 358 (note: Dan Marino broke the TD record during this tenure)
INT total: 229
Avg QB rating: 84.5
Avg passing yards: 3332
Total fumbles: 98
Total Pro Bowl Appearances: 8
Total Super Bowl Appearances: 4
Total Super Bowl wins: 0


2004 First Round Quarterback Class- Manning, Roethlisberger and Rivers


Combined win-loss record: 125-65 (Note- Big Ben has the most wins with 51)
Avg completion %: 60.2
Total TD's: 277
Total INTs: 179
Avg QB rating: 86.1
Avg passing yards: 2686 yds
Total fumbles: 101
Pro Bowl Appearances- 3
Super Bowl Appearances- 3
Super Bowl Wins- 3

As you can see, the total amount of fumbles and the win-loss records for both classes are pretty close in avg. Clearly the TD total in the 1983 class blows the 2004 class out of the water, as well as the total Pro Bowl appearances. But the best stat of all are the total amounts of SB appearances and wins. The 1983 class reached the SB 4 times within their 5 years spans, yet none got the Lombardi trophy in the end (as most of you know, Marino and Kelly retired without a SB ring. Elways did get his 2 rings at the end of his career)

The 2004 class has done what the 1983 class did not- Win Super Bowls within their first 5 years of playing, going 3-for-3 in each trip (honorable mention- QB Rivers play in the 2007 AFC Championship with a knee injury). In my opinion, that trumps just about anything else on the list.

****************TV TIME OUT**************


As a Ravens fan... it makes me want to puke just a little, to talk about Ben and his two Super Bowls. So what if I sound bitter, or more like a hater. This is my blog! (j/k... I actually like Ben)


****Now Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Program****



A lot of folks will point out that today's NFL has more complex defenses than the ones of the 80's. But the 2004 QB's have so far shown that they are on their way to elite status by complementing the stingy defenses they played with. In addition, their average completion % and QB ratings are higher than their predecessors.

We know how the careers of the '83 class ended. Marino went out holding the record for TD passes in a season (which has since been broken by Manning and Brady). Kelly had taken the Bills to 4 straight Super Bowls. And Elway rode into the sunset, with 2 late SB wins after 3 failed attempts. Much of these are why they are in Canton today. But the '04 class has thrived almost from the beginning of their careers in the NFL, and they are just getting started.

The'83 class has some SERIOUS competition. The 2004 class is ready to take the crown of "Best QB Draft"!

So which class is better in your eyes??? You be the judge.