Today was the first day of classes at Southern Utah University. And this story on the Pittsburgh Pirates also appeared (a story that I wish to comment on in more detail tomorrow). So today was a bit busy (between teaching classes and talking to reporters).
But I wanted to offer a quick comment on Brett Favre. If Favre wanted to play football, but didn’t want to go to much of training camp, wouldn’t he…
- retire each off-season
- un-retire after much of training camp had been completed
In other words, if Favre didn’t “retire” after each off-season, is there any way he could avoid training camp and still play in the NFL? It is possible that Favre’s inability to make a decision simply reflects that fact that Favre – at 40 years of age (he is just a few weeks younger than me) – has decided he wants to play football but wants to avoid training camp.
– DJ
Wages of Wins Journal 
Andrew
August 23, 2010
That’s what is puzzling about this particular off-season. Favre didn’t “retire” this off-season…he was contemplating whether or not to retire. He signed a 2 year deal last 0ff-season, so yes, this off-season was just a cherade he used to miss training camp.
jbrett
August 23, 2010
Does anyone know the last time Favre participated in a full camp? I’m saying 2002, as a flat-out guess. And yeah, he has to either be retired or injured to pull this off; I had pretty much drawn this conclusion when he was still in Green Bay.
Chicago Tim
August 23, 2010
It doesn’t hurt that he’s white and handsome. Something tells me Donovan McNabb would never get away with this.
TBall
August 24, 2010
Except Favre doesn’t get away with it. He gets lambasted by many fans, gets questioned by portions of the media, was ushered out of Lambeau, and was persona non grata after a year with the Jets.
Any player, regardless of skin color, will get to engage in any shenanigans, depending on the team and his ability to contribute more than the shenanigans detract from the team from the team’s pov. TO has gotten away with his share of stuff. Vick and Little and many, many other have ‘gotten away with’ off the field offenses. The Vikings are playing along because the Super Bowl is more of a reality with Favre under center than Tavarius Jackson. That is the story.
Talent makes its own rules. Talent plays.
Leroy Smith
August 24, 2010
I will bet anyone 100 to 1 that the vikings bareky make the post season thos year. any takers? remind me on my blog at the end of the year, and i will pay if i’m wrong.
John Giagnorio
August 24, 2010
I don’t think I’d put it at 100 to 1, but the Vikings simply were not that strong of a team last year, NFC championship or not, and I agree they’ll struggle to make the playoffs. If I recall correctly, the team had a good pass offense and rush defense, and a poor rush offense and pass defense. A slightly above-average team that benefited from a weak schedule and playing well in a few particularly meaningful games.
TheGreenMiles
August 24, 2010
Drew Magary made a similar point last year, in much more, uh, colorful language:
bags fly free
August 24, 2010
@Chicago Tim, yeah NFL is totally discriminating against black players….
Don
August 24, 2010
I think Tim Green wrote in his book The Dark Side of the Game about this being the reason players (especially older veterans) would hold out. To avoid training camp as opposed to purely about their contracts.
Mo
August 24, 2010
I don’t see how not going to training camp means he doesn’t love the game. A 40 year old body can only take so much wear and tear, better to have that happen on the field rather than during camp. I’d love to hear the following rant from Favre:
JoeHova
August 24, 2010
…doesn’t actually want to do any of the hard work involved with playing the position successfully?
Swing and a miss on that one.
Italian Stallion
August 24, 2010
Sorry to take this conversation a million miles off topic, but Rondo has been cut from the US team!
http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm
Italian Stallion
August 24, 2010
Here’s a report:
>>>After losing his job as the starting point guard to Derrick Rose last weekend in Madrid, Rondo’s stock had fallen to the point where he was apparently third on the point guard depth chart behind Rose and Westbrook. But on Tuesday, before Rondo withdrew, Krzyzewski said his decision would be based on assembling the best roster for the tournament. “It’s not so much what Rajon has to show, it’s what our team needs. We’ve found a good lineup, and the international game is so different from the NBA game, you can ask any of these guys,” Krzyzewski said. “Part of it is to make sure that we try not to have two non-shooters out on the court, and there’s the physicality, too.”<<<
Keshav
August 24, 2010
@Leroy:
I’m a taker depending on your definition of “bareky make the post season ” and exactly how much you want to wager
EntityAbyss
August 25, 2010
Hey, this might not be the right post to ask this, but it’s the latest one, so I’ll ask here. Before I ask this, I want you to know that I do agree with the wins produced metric and have read many posts on this blog and the other affiliate blogs, but I’m still confused about something. In the team adjustment, how is pace adjusted for. I know it is, but I don’t see how it’s adjusted for. I read how it’s calculated, but I see defensive factors. I don’t get how pace is adjusted for. I have read that wins produced is calculated per single possession as opposed to 100 possessions. I just want to understand specifically how pace is adjusted for.
Also, hoopdata.com tracks charges as well as And1 shots. Couldn’t you use those two metrics to make the wins produced formula even more accurate. It does an excellent job right now, but by adding charges and getting a specific number of how And1 freethrows a player takes can make it even better.
Russell
August 25, 2010
IS: I read on sports.yahoo.com that Rondo left the team to attend to personal issues.
Leroy: Please explain “barely make the post-season.” I’d like to take the bet, but I don’t know what you mean. If you mean that you win if they make the playoffs with the worst record of any playoff team, then I’m in.