Favre to Throw a Lil' Love

Throughout his entire career one word has repeatedly been used to describe Laveranues Coles: Tough. Eric Mangini, Al Groh, Chad Pennington, Bill Parcells, whoever was coaching the Redskins when Coles left Chad in New York for more money in Washington (it was Joe Gibbs)… they’ve all pretty much said the same thing. He’s tough. He’s tough on the field, he’s tough on the coach, and now he’s tough on his teammates. I would like to add that he also seems to be grumpy. If he was a Saturday morning cartoon he’d be Grouchy Smurf (except green). Has anyone considered that maybe the smartest thing for the Jets and Coles is for him to keep his mouth shut? Frankly, I’m impressed that he hasn’t come out and said something really stupid. If he even hinted that he didn’t like Brett Favre ESPN would have a one hour Sports Center Special faster than you can say, “offensive pass interference.” These two, Favre and Coles, need each other this season and what’s more, they’re going to love each other. I’m talking full-on football romance… midweek dinners, sideline pow-wows, end zone bear hugs. All the tension in the world can’t hide that these two are cut from the same cloth, they’re a match made in football heaven.

So Coles is “tough.” Everybody says so. It must be true. Brett Favre has started in 253 consecutive football games. Isn’t that the definition of toughness? Grumpy Smurf can’t help but look at that statistic in awe. If he can stand, Favre will play. No doubt about it, Favre and Coles share a warrior spirit on the football field. Favre just does it with a smile and that’s something Grumpy’s just going to have to get used to.

Favre likes to chuck the ball 65 yards, yes. Favre also likes to dump the ball six yards and watch his receivers turn it into a 45 yard touchdown. He’s great at giving his receivers an opportunity to go to work. In case you haven’t noticed, when he’s not complaining about practice, Coles likes to go to work. It’s only a matter of time before these two start working over defenses.

Favre has already connected with his offensive line. Check out the picture from the Times of Nick Mangold running penalty laps with Favre. Favre looks like he’s going to puke. Mangold looks like he’s just won the lottery. The Jets have spent the past few seasons assembling a grade-A offensive line and Brett Favre is no dummy. It took only two days and a few laps to win them over. If only the wide receiving corp could be so easy.

Actually they can be. Favre figured out Jerricho Cotchery right away. During his second practice (that’s right- practice #2) Favre dropped a 75 yard touchdown pass into Cotchery’s unbelieving outstretched hands. Now Jerricho can’t stop talking about Favre.

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“Hey, he can zip it now,” and, “all the rumors about him throwing hard, yeah, they’re true. That was a great ball.” When asked about playing with Favre Jerricho responded with my favorite quote out of camp so far, “I know it’s going to be fun.”

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So what’s it going to take for Coles to come out of his cocoon? Brett already took care of it with a little joking around and praise for Chad Pennington.

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“Every time I’ve faced Chad, I’ve lost,” Favre said. “He’s played extremely well. I hope this time it is different. I have nothing but the highest regard for Chad. … He’s very effective. I haven’t heard one person say anything about him negatively — a high-character guy, a lot of class. I’d just like to beat the guy for a change.”

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This Favre character is no dope. The next thing you know, Favre’s joking around with Laveranues about his media silence saying, “I heard you’re not talking to the media, I understand you don’t want to say anything good about me.” He gives Coles a reason to warm up to him, he didn’t wait for Coles to come around because there just isn’t time. Favre understands that the relationship between the Jets QB and #1 receiver is extremely important and it has to start developing now. Here comes my point… wait for it…wait for it…

Tomorrow night against Washington look for Favre to repeatedly hit Coles whenever he can. Favre probably won’t play much (it’s a great sign that he’s playing at all) but with the offensive line in his pocket and Bubba Franks doing PR work with the tight ends, Favre’s focus will be on the receivers. Cotchery already has seen the light leaving Grumpy Smurf as the #1 target.

Instead of looking at Coles’ silence as a negative, Jets fans should be thankful he hasn’t gone off on some nonsensical rant that other wide receivers in the league are so good at. Imagine Terrell Owens in this situation. On second thought, don’t. All reports out of Jets camp are that Coles is doing an outstanding job as a team captain and mentor to the newer guys. Just because he’s not talking to USA Today doesn’t mean he hates the new situation. He’s just handling the trade of a good friend in the best way he can. Quietly. I bet Favre’s admiration for Coles actually went up when he found the wide receiver wasn’t talking. Imagine it, a wide receiver who went to college in Florida avoiding the spotlight. Favre’s got to see some potential there. Just watch all the balls flying Laveraneus’s way tomorrow night. So what if it’s only two? There’s more behind those balls than preseason rust treatment. It’s the beginning of what could be a beautiful relationship.