Which Team is Really a Brett Favre Away From the Super Bowl? (Part II)

Part II of my silly blog about which team is a Brett Favre away from a Super Bowl. Check out Part I if you missed it, as it covers the AFC teams.

I’ll say this: As much as I despise the overrated one, he is good enough to be a game-changer for a few teams on the cusp.

Personally, I think he’s a game-changer in a negative way, but he makes the game exciting and fun to watch!

For me, watching the overrated one fail was always something I could count on regularly once the playoffs started.

It was even more of a pleasure when his personal shill, John Madden, was calling the game he lost. I used to wonder what excuse Madden would come up with to blame someone else for the loss. Most of the time he would!

Let’s move on and see if there are any NFC teams that would consider him.

Is Brett Favre a better fit for a Super Bowl-caliber team in the NFC?

NFC East

• Dallas Cowboys: This team is a quarterback away from a Super Bowl, and ironically, I think Favre is what this team could use. However, Tony Romo is their man, and his girlfriend is much better looking for those in-the-stands camera shots! OK, I jest, but the Cowboys would have a proven veteran in Favre, who has shown he can help lead a team to a Super Bowl. However, this is not happening as Jerry Jones has married himself to Romo for at least one more season.
• New York Giants: We have an overrated Manning here and one who already has won his own Super Bowl ring. Yet I credit the defense(specifically the defensive line) more so than Manning. The Giants are already one of the favorites to go back.
• Philadelphia Eagles: This team is set with Donovan McNabb, and their issues have not been at quarterback. They have been injuries—injuries at the running back position as well as the lack of a true No. 1 wideout. Though Favre has a relationship with head coach Andy Reid, this subject probably has never come up and shouldn’t.
• Washington Redskins: This team is a solid all-around team with a quarterback in place. However, they’re not good enough yet to be a Favre away from the Super Bowl. It’s the quality of their overall team, from starters with health issues to a young, unproven receiving corps.

NFC North

• Chicago Bears: They just traded for a bum in Jay Cutler, who has a cannon of an arm but the physique and attitude of a pudgy, picked-on spoiled brat who got everything he wanted when he whined long and loud enough. No, the Bears have committed to the 12-year-old, rocket-armed Cutler, and if he doesn’t get them to a Super Bowl, look for a regime change!
• Detroit Lions: Rebuilding mode hasn’t even started with this team. And like they did with Matt Millen and every general manager before, they started 2009 out with a bum of a pick in Matthew Stafford. Stafford is not a bum, so I apologize for how that sounded. I would have traded down from the position and secured a proven veteran through a trade or free agency before mortgaging my future on an unproven kid from a system that doesn’t even emphasize the position!
• Green Bay Packers: Why even list this team? It appears as if the Packers did OK by trading Favre after tiring of his head games. They have Aaron Rodgers, who proved he can be an elite quarterback. Remember, the Packers’ problem last year was not Rogers; it was defense.
• Minnesota Vikings: Here’s the golden goose! The Vikings have a great rushing attack, a better-than-average defense and an offensive line that is good enough to protect someone like Favre. Favre has enough pocket presence to buy enough time to make a play. He has a history of making his receivers look better than they are, and though he can’t do that to the same extent anymore, his presence would immediately improve the overrated Bernard Berrian and company.

NFC South

• Atlanta Falcons: They are set with the new face of the franchise, quarterback Matt Ryan, to lead them to the promised land. No interest here.
• Carolina Panthers: This one is interesting because the Panthers are a Super Bowl-ready team with a quarterback who can’t make the transition to great. Jake Delhomme has played some great games, and when he looks like he’s on the verge of joining the elite class, it crashes down around him as it did in last year’s playoff game against the Cardinals. Then again, it’s what Favre does. I view them as the same quarterback. I don’t think Favre would help this team anymore than Delhomme has or will.
• New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, at the rate he’s going, will shatter many quarterback records before he’s done. I believe he’s smarter and a better game manager than Favre is or ever could be. I know I’m biased against Favre, but Brees is impressive when you watch him play, go through his reads and make some of his throws. He’s intelligent, more so than most other quarterbacks. The Saints would have no interest.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Now I could see Favre making an impact here. It’s a new regime that can win now, and they’ve added tight end Kellen Winslow. However, I’m not impressed with some of their draft moves and the Winslow extension. Regardless, if I’m Favre, I have my agent place a call because I think the Bucs have enough right now, this year, to make a run. After that, their aging defense combined with Winslow will create an average team with a bad culture.

NFC West

• Arizona Cardinals: They already have an aging veteran who can still get it done in Kurt Warner. Warner makes dumb mistakes just like Favre does, but he has taken two different teams to the Super Bowl, so he needs to be given his due. In fact, some believe he’s done enough to be Hall of Fame material. I’m not sure on that, but he’s a great feel-good story.
• San Francisco 49ers: This team needs a quarterback but they are rebuilding and need help at many positions. Why would Favre want to go to a team without a legit shot to get to a Super Bowl just so they could sell more tickets? Answer: He wouldn’t!
• Seattle Seahawks: It’s tough to tell with the Seahawks considering injuries have devastated this team. However, they have Matt Hasselbeck in place. At this point, a Favre would disrupt more so than help despite having a relationship with first-year head coach Jim Mora and his modified West Coast offense. I see too much controversy with Hasselbeck if he came in. In other words, I don’t see Favre as an upgrade for the Seahawks.
• St. Louis Rams: This team is searching for its identity since Mike Martz left, and they have yet to find it. Clearly in rebuilding mode, the Rams would not help Favre reach a Super Bowl at all. Plus, the team has a lot of money invested in current quarterback Marc Bulger!

In writing two blogs, we have inferred that there are two AFC teams a Favre away from the Super Bowl: the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars. However, both have their quarterbacks in place and can hope the position doesn’t come back to haunt them.

If I’m the Ravens, I would consider the potential of convincing Favre to play for them. As for the Jaguars, I’m not sure they would be attractive to Favre considering they look elite one week and like an expansion team the next!

Tampa Bay is arguably close enough to be a Favre away from a Super Bowl. However, an aging defense, a young coach and a new general manager make them an unattractive team that is rife with locker room and off-the-field issues. No one is proven, and they are too old or injury prone (see: running backs).

His best fit is Minnesota. For the record, owner Ziggy Wilf, in February, said he would have no interest in bringing Favre in.

That’s just talk; you can bet the Vikings are reviewing their options, and though it’s speculation on my part, any good general manager would do so.

I do believe Minnesota Vikings fans are drooling at the possibilities if No. 4 was wearing purple and gold!

As usually, let me know your thoughts, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wdelpilar.