So it's been a while since I posted, but I feel like all the big news stories have broken in the last week or so. Coincidentally, they all seem to be NFL stories. Regardless, I've got some thoughts on all these developments.

First, Brett Favre is now a Minnesota Viking. And you know what? Good for him. Seriously. I'm SICK of listening to these Brett Favre haters. It's really ridiculous. Look, here's how I see it: The man loves football, let him play. He's in the late stages of his career, so you can't really blame him for being so indecisive. He was also coming off a relatively severe injury, so he had to see how that progress.

Let's look at this from all the different angles. First, from the Vikings angle: I love it. What's not to like? The Vikings, in my opinion, were a decent quarterback away from being a legitimate Super Bowl team. Favre is more than decent, even at 40 years old. For anyone arguing that the Vikes should have stuck it out with Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, just stop it. The Vikings were NOT going to win a Super Bowl with either of them, trust me. Favre is prone to some stupid decisions, but all he has to do is bomb the ball down field to either Bernard Berrian, Bobby Wade, Sidney Rice or rookie Percy Harvin. OR, he could simply turn around and hand the ball off to the best running back in the league in Adrian Peterson.

He's backed by one the best defenses in the league as well. On paper, this team looks scary. And for me, they have become the team to beat the NFC. They are already the defending NFC North champions. Seriously, look out NFC.

Now, how about this signing from Favre's perspective? I think it's fine, I really do. Yes the man is a Green Bay Packer legend. Has it always been blasphemous to even think of Favre in a Vikings or Bears uniform? Well, yes. But here's the reality bitter Packers fans: Deal with it. Favre should always be revered in Packers lore. Him playing a season or two, after Green Bay gave him the boot, should not take away any of that. Favre just joins a lengthy - but disappointing - list of all-time greats who played the majority of their career with one team, but finished it out with one or two others. Michael Jordan (the WIZARDS?), Joe Montana (Chiefs), Patrick Ewing (Sonics AND Magic), Willie Mays (the Mets) and literally hundreds more that I can't even bring myself to name. It's a sad reality of sports. Just accept it. Look at it this way: Picture a man who worked for 30 years in one factory. And this man's bosses essentially helped push him toward retirement, even though he wasn't exactly sure that's what he wanted. He thought it was, but after about two months of sitting at home, he knew it wasn't what he wanted. So one day he comes back to the factory, says he's changed his mind and would like his old job back. Only problem is that, wouldn't you know it, his bosses have hired a new, younger worker. They aren't interested. Would you blame that man for finding work at another factory?? Absolutely not. Why is Favre any different?

Let's look at this from Jets' fans perspectives: ... actually, let's not. Jets fans should have absolutely nothing to say on this matter. Favre is gone. Gone from the Jets, gone from the AFC, gone from their 2009 schedule. The only way the Jets would see Favre is in the Super Bowl, and there is NO way the Jets are even sniffing the Super Bowl this year. So just shut up Jets fans. Contrary to what you may think, it wasn't Favre's fault your team missed the playoffs last year. I would maybe take a look at your team's defense, which allowed an average of 24.4 points and 358.8 total yards of offense over the last five games of the season - four of them losses - in 2008.

Brett Favre has earned the right, after a 20-year, Hall-of-Fame career, to do whatever the hell he wants. End of discussion in my eyes.

Michael Vick has also been in the news since joining the Philadelphia Eagles just a few days ago. Rather than ramble on here, I'll just post the link to a column I wrote about Vick for the New Britain Herald. It basically conveys everything I feel about Vick, both personally and sports-wise. Here's the link: http://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2009/08/14/sports/doc4a861b2c75040561142922.txt

Finally, we've got Plaxico Burress, who just today agreed to a plea deal that will earn him a two-year prison sentence. Really, I don't have too much to say about Burress though. It's just a shame and, truth be told, one of the biggest and quickest falls from grace the sports world has ever seen. Two years ago this guy was on top of the world. Now he's heading to jail knowing his NFL career is almost surely done. Who's going to take a chance on a fresh-out-of-jail, 34-year-old Burress in two years? By my estimation, not too many teams.