I’m usually a big fan of Jason Whitlock. But maybe it was only because I saw him in short sound bites. He was filling in for Jim Rome today, and I wondered if maybe the extra weight he’s packed on somehow weighs on his lungs when he’s in front of a mic for extended periods, robbing his brain of life-giving (reason-fueling) oxygen. (With his new shaved melon does dude look like Biz Markie, btw? Maybe it was Jason I saw on Celebrity Fit Club?) Jason’s take was as follows: Favre is a diva. Of course he’s a diva. He’s an all-pro quarterback in the NFL. It goes with the territory. He is high maintenance. But he’s WORTH IT. So kiss his ass, beg, put a giant brass sculpture at the top of the Lambeau steps ala Rocky Balboa for Favre to gaze on each time he enters. Do whatever you need to get Brett back.
But Jason, other than the annual Favre Retirement Vigil that began in about ‘05, Favre hasn’t been a head case. At least not that we knew about. He didn’t dodge the media (much), didn’t say stupid things in public, didn’t put himself before the team. So it’s hard for us to lump the ironman of ironmen in with the likes of Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, Ryan Leaf and Jeff George. And I heard you say you thought Rodgers, Favre’s replacement, sucked at football. Based on what? His 41 minutes of in-game NFL experience? Either you have inside info we don’t or you were smoking that same pipe you used when you came up with the idea for the NCAA-sponsored youth sports and learning academy to give yet another advantage to those who’ve won the genetic lottery. Jason, when it comes to sports, you usually got what I need, but today I say you just a friend.