Day 22: Favre, Braylon Edwards, D-Wade and more

HEADLINES

1) By defeating the Packers last night on Monday Night Football, Brett Favre has become the first quarterback to defeat all 32 NFL teams during his career. Is this a good accomplishment?

Ben: Ho-hum. It's a neat accomplishment, like winning your conference in high school, but ultimately means nothing. I'm impressed, I guess by his great play at this point in his career, but I will not use this as a measuring stick to compare him to other great QB's. I mean, think about it, Jacksonville and Carolina weren't teams when Montana played, or when Staubach was leading the 'boys. Therefore those guys didn't have a chance to play 32 different teams.

I think it's a cool thing to say he did, but overall, I think it's a extra credit the Farve-loving media wants to give him.

Boz: I don't think that it's an amazing accomplishment that Brett Favre will be remembered by when he finally actually retires compared to all of the other accomplishments and records that Favre has. However, I think it is a pretty cool accomplishment to say that you were the first to beat all 32 NFL teams. Not many quarterbacks even get this chance. They either are extremely talented and will stick with their one team for a big majority of their career. If they do play for a lot of teams during their career than they're probably not a very good quarterback.

I know everyone wants to rip on Brett Favre about all of the retiring junk, which is fine. But I want to hear all of those people admit that Brett Favre can still play the game of football at a high level.

2) The NFL is investigating whether or not Braylon Edwards violated league conduct policy when he punched a friend of LeBron James on Monday morning. What do you make of this situation?

Ben: How dumb can Edwards get? He has had one good season since he left Michigan, and all of a sudden thinks he runs Cleveland. Poor move my man. The people of Cleveland want to keep LeBron James more then they want to keep Braylon Edwards, remember that next time you get the thought to play fistacuffs outside the bar. The people of Cleveland want two things, a title and LBJ playing for the Cavs indefinitely. They'd gladly ship you outta town for either one of those things.

Boz: Well I'm sure that the whole thing doesn't please LeBron. Apparently the friend of LeBron is about 135 pounds which makes me question why an NFL wide receiver is picking fights with a guy who weighs 135. Edwards hasn't been the most ideal NFL player off the field and I think that he needs to start focusing on his on-field play and less time focusing on time going to bars. His team is pathetic and he is being surpassed in stats by Mohammed Massaqoui. Edwards will most likely be fined by the Browns and might even see a suspension from the NFL is charges are pressed.

3) Dwyane Wade is undecided on whether or not he'll play for Team USA next summer for the 2010 World Championship. Previously LeBron James said the same thing. Both players could file for free agency during the same summer and have said the timing effects their decision. Are you alright with that?

Ben: I guess I am. I wouldn't want Wade or James telling me what's best for my career. Look, I think it'd be great to see them in Red, White, and Blue again playing for their country, BUT I can understand if they just want to be supportive spectators. We forget, by them not playing it's not like they are rooting for the USA to lose, they are just deciding not to take part in the activities.

I think that if neither play, the USA could still win in a cake walk. And it's the World Championship's not the Olympics.

Boz: I don't think that I am alright with this because to me it makes Wade and James seem a little selfish. I'm guessing (and I could be wrong) that the issue is that getting hurt playing for Team USA could effect the amount of money they get in free agency. If this is the case, I think that any team would still pay top dollar and give each player a long time contract even if they were hurt at the time they sign the contract. All of the pride of representing their country that we witnessed during the Olympics seems to be thrown out the window by these two players now that they could cash in during the free agency period. I don't like it at all and I would like to see these two guys in Team USA uniforms again.

4) After police responded to a call and reported to Miguel Cabrera's house Saturday morning after he and his wife were in a fight, Cabrera was taken to the police station where it was found that Cabrera was three times over the legal limit for driving in the state of Michigan. Do you have a problem with Cabrera being that drunk during a key final series?

Ben: No. I don't think I'd make that same decision, BUT, I remember in college going out and partying the night before a big exam, or during Finals Week, so I can't say I haven't made dumb decisions before.

Look, probably not the wisest decision, but let's remember, 2 beers puts you at the limit, so he might have had a six pack, not exactly swimming in tequila...let's not make a mountain out of a molehill.

Boz: Absolutely. It looked like his mind was elsewhere as he was 0-for-11 on the weekend series with the White Sox as the Tigers dropped two out of three games to fall into a one game playoff with the Twins tonight. If I am Jim Leyland, I am very upset that my star player feels that this behavior is acceptable. It doesn't seem that he is being a team player. If the Tigers lose tonight, I think that a lot of Tigers will point fingers of blame towards Miguel Cabrera. So for Cabrera's sake, I hope he has a big game and helps take the Tigers to the playoffs.

TOSS-UP

1) Which team has the worse quarterback situation? The Browns or Raiders?

Ben: RAIDERS. 12/30, 7/24, 12/21, 12/33. Those are Jamarcus Russell's numbers the first four weeks of the season. He is bad. Epically bad.

Boz: RAIDERS. At least the Browns have a quarterback that have won games before in Derek Anderson. JaMarcus Russell is by far the worst quarterback in the league and his back-up (Bruce Gradkowski) might be the second worst. If it wasn't for owner Al Davis, Jeff Garcia would still be a Raider and would be the starting quarterback.

2) Which quarterback would you rather have on your team? Jay Cutler or Kyle Orton?

Ben: CUTLER. He is the more physically gifted of the two, and has the ability to win football games by himself (See Pittsburgh week 2). Orton on the other hand has been put in good situations throughout his career. If he keeps winning for another season or so, I'll consider this a closer match.

Boz: CUTLER. I don't care that Orton is 4-0 and 17-2 at home as a starter. He always gets help from his defense which keeps the other team down until Orton can make one huge play to get the win. Cutler has the stronger arm and is the better player. I'm still not sold on Cutler or the Broncos. I want to see if they can do this for the entire season.

3) Who would you rather have on the mound in a one-game playoff? Rick Porcello or Scott Baker?

Ben: PORCELLO. I like what the young kids got, and I think young players perform surprisingly well in tough games because of the don't understand the importance of the game, and therefore don't let it affect them.

If you don't believe that, then....I'm a Lions fan, so I secretly pull for the Tigers too.

Boz: PORCELLO. I know this sounds weird since I took the Twins to win yesterday. However, I don't think that Procello will lose the game for the Tigers. I think both starters will keep the score low before the Tigers bullpen gives the game away.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Happy 29th Anniversary Phil Niekro. On this date in 1985 he became the 18th pitcher to win 300 games and was also the oldest to pitch a shutout, beating Toronto 8-0. Both of those are especially impressive because Niekro was a knuckleballer, and somehow managed to control that pitch for 23 years.

Boz: Happy 50th Birthday to Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd. Boyd had one of the bigger personalities during his generation and his mostly know for his time as a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He won a career high 16 games in 1986. In 2005, Boyd announced he was attempting a comeback at the age of 46. The comeback never happened.