I've been rather easy on Dick Stockton all year long. I've ignored the player name mistakes, and I even decided against pulling the video of him calling the play clock "the shot clock" last week. But after today's play-by-play abortion, I just can't keep quiet anymore.

Not only did Stockton screw up just about everyone's name on both the Jets and Falcons, and call the Jets , the Eagles, about 10 times during the contest, but he spent the last four minutes of a 10-7 game saying the score was tied. He even got the call of the go ahead touchdown, with a minute remaining, wrong (I'm trying to grab the video and will update when I do so).

I know Dick Stockton has been a great announcer for most of his career, and some people still enjoy him, but this has just gotten ridiculous. He was terrible covering Baseball this past season, and he's been even worse calling NFL games this season. It's time to hang em up, Dick....you had a good run at it.

If I had spent 30+ years, doing the exact same thing each Summer, I don't know what I would do with myself if I didn't have to do it anymore. Apparently John Madden is going through that feeling now, but it doesn't seem to be bothering him. In an interview with the LA Times, he tells the paper that he's enjoying himself and isn't exactly leaving Football entirely....

Q: How’s retirement treating you?
Madden: It’s going well for me. But you know, it really hasn’t started yet. I retired from broadcasting football. So far, it’s been the off-season for me. The Hall of Fame game is the first game I would have done. So I really haven’t retired from anything until football season starts.

Q: Will you spending a lot more time on the virtual gridiron now?
Madden: That’s one thing I’m really looking forward to. Each week I’m going to watch all the games. I have this thing being built right now where I have nine 63-inch monitors. And I’m going to be able to put every game on television. I can watch them all at the same time.

Then I’m going to see more. When I was broadcasting, I would just zero in on the game I was doing. Doing this, I’m going to see more. I’m going to see all the trends. I’m going to see what every team does. Those trends and the things that they’re doing in the games on Sundays, those are the things we will put in the game.

While the above statement was in reference to his work on the 2011 edition of the Madden video game, there are rumors that you'll be hearing a lot of Madden on the radio. There are already talks to get him on Sirius, and you can expect a lot of guest appearance on shows throughout the country, as the season progresses.

John Madden talks about the virtual gridiron, the Madden Curse and life outside of the broadcasting booth (LA Times)

The Jets granted Brett Favre's release today, and wouldn't you know it, a plane left Hattiesburg, Missippi for Minneapolis, Minnesota this morning. Not only that, but it even came back the same day. Now I'm not a betting man (actually that's a lie), but what are the odds that Favre was not on that plane?


While I'm certainly sick of the Favre nonsense every year, one good thing would come out of him signing with the Vikings. We wouldn't have to hear about ESPN hiring him right before the season.

(Via PFT)

You knew the time was coming, but this news still comes as a shock. John Madden has told NBC that he's hanging it up for good, and has officially retired. Via the Associated Press....

John Madden, the burly former coach who has been one of pro football's most popular broadcast analysts for three decades, is calling it quits.

Madden worked for the past three seasons on NBC's Sunday night NFL game. His last telecast was the Super Bowl between Arizona and Pittsburgh.

"It's time," Madden said. "I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and their five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not."

Madden said he still loves all aspects of the game and his job, and that's why it took him a couple of months to make the decision.

Madden's love for the Sport he covers, or covered rather, is unparalleled. It took me awhile to appreciated what he brought to games, but over the last few years his crazy telestrations and inane ramblings, grew on me. Everyone deserves to go out on top, and Madden is certainly doing so.

So the big rumor, just like the last time he retired, is that networks are scrambling to sign Brett Favre to an analyst role. Last year, I suggested that FOX would be the way to go, but this year it looks like ESPN and the NFL-N are the front runners. Via the soothsaying, Bob Raissman at the NY Daily News....

"When I get the urge to do something, whether it's TV or whatever, I'll act on it," Favre said. "But right now I've got no desire to do anything."
The current NFL TV landscape does not hold out many possibilities. It's hard to see CBS (Jim Nantz/Phil Simms) or Fox (Joe Buck/Troy Aikman) adding a third voice to its No. 1 teams. As much as NBC's John Madden loves Favre, it's unlikely the Peacock would bring in another mouth to work with The Icon and Al Michaels.

The more plausible scenario would involve two network players left with some wiggle room - ESPN and the NFL Network.

The world waits, holding its collective breath for white smoke to pour from the Bristol chimney. This would signal the return of Tony Kornheiser as the third man in ESPN's "Monday Night Football" booth. Last week he said: "I hope they (ESPN) choose to retain me. I really enjoy the work." But if ESPN boots Kornheiser, Favre — if he wants — would be a marquee (buzz-producing) mate for Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski.

I understand the need to capitalize on someone's fame, on both ends of the hiring chain, but I couldn't be more anti-Favre at this point. That's obviously not going to stop anything though, and this is obviously all speculation at this point, but I have a prediction. I'm going to go along with Raissman on this one and predict that he'll be with ESPN. Why you ask? Well his first interview following the retirement announcement was with the network, and ESPN will be getting rid of someone on their NFL staff very soon. Yes, Emmitt Smith's two-year deal is up, and the word is that his services will no longer be needed. Tear....sniff.

Brett Favre could be major player in broadcast booth (NY Daily News)

NBC sent out a press release with a rather interesting title late yesterday, and if you weren't reading closely, you might have been roped into watching/recording The Tonight Show on a Friday night (guilty). Here is the headline and the clip....

SUPER BOWL QUARTERBACK KURT WARNER IS ASKED ABOUT RETIREMENT ON NBC’S ‘THE TONIGHT SHOW’ TONIGHT (FEBRUARY 13)

In all honesty the press release gave the actual quote, but someone was too lazy to read that far down. So Warner is not having any more kids....good to know. Sneaky moves NBC....sneaaaaky moves.

Uniwatch via Sports by Brooks came across a really weird feature on the New York Jets website yesterday. Well the feature is a look inside their new stadium, which isn't weird per se, but rather a jersey worn by a woman on one of the virtual concourses. Take a look....


Your eyes are not deceiving you. That is a woman wearing a green Strahan jersey out amongst the other Jets fans. Maybe the Jets know something that we don't know.

Uni Watch DIY Project: Building a Better Bucco Beanie (Uni Watch)
Do The New York Jets Know Something We Don’t? (Sports by Brooks)

Well that was quick wasn't it? I really thought this was going to drag out for at least a week, but Jay Glazer is breaking the news (well he is a co-worker, so not exactly "breaking") that Strahan will NOT be returning to the Giants next season. The retired defensive end has decided to stay retired and will continue his role with FOX as planned. Via Fox Sports....

The recently retired perennial Pro Bowler told FOXSports.com exclusively that he has decided to remain retired and has turned down the Giants' offer to lure him back to action.

"This has been one of the toughest nights of my life," Strahan said from Greece. "But after long deliberation and throwing around a million scenarios in my head for the past day, I think it's just best if I stay retired."

"I have gone back and forth on this because as a player you'll always want to play, you'll never lose that urge to be out there. But I could only do this if I could commit 100 percent, physically, mentally, emotionally and I can't do that. I've tried to convince myself and my body to give it one more year, but in the end I just don't think I could turn it on like I need to again."

"I really love my life now," he said. "It's great having nobody put a finger on me. You really put yourself through an awful lot in this league, more than people realize.

"I've got a great home at FOX now and I think it's where I belong. I wish I could've had different news for Giants fans but I've known for a while I'm done."

Strahan was also quoted in the article as saying that the money was right, but that he didn't want to put his body through the rigors of another season. While this is bad news for Giants fans, it's certainly good news for this site. After Emmitt Smith and Tony Kornheiser, I think Strahan is going to be one of the biggest soundbytes this entire season. I'm looking forward to it.

Strahan turns down Giants, will stay retired (FOX Sports)

As soon as Osi Umenyora went down with a knee injury on Saturday everyone in the Sports Media world began searching for Michael Strahan's cell number. And that was even before it was announced that the DE was lost for the year. Strahan, who was vacationing in Greece, told multiple sources that he'd listen to the Giants yesterday and the rumored amount to get him back in NYC appears to be a grand total of $8 million. Via TSB....

"If the Giants make a sincere overture, it's a good chance that Strahan would consider coming back," the source told the newspaper. "There are other things he has to take into consideration: the money and his contract with Fox. But if the Giants really want him, they have a shot. It's not out of the question."

Strahan, who is 37 and retired June 9, has a contract with Fox to be a television commentator. He didn't rule out a return to the Giants in an interview with NFL Network.

"I haven't heard from anybody else, so to say if I would or wouldn't is premature," Strahan told NFL Network. "So I'm enjoying my retired life right now."

While most of those in the know seem to think that the return is "doubtful", I'm thinking that Strahan will be back in Giant Blue very soon. His contract with FOX is for $2 million a year and I'm assuming that there has to be a clause built in that lets him return to the game if he wants to. Also, that $8 million mark is easily within reach for New York as they currently have $12 million on the cap to spare. That price would be a steal for a future HOFer who hasn't really lost that much of a step.

Obviously the contract amounts are just educated guesses, but in the wake of his highly publicized divorce, it seems like a no-brainer for him to sign with the Giants. Strahan was ordered to pay his ex-wife Jean over $15 million and is also on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in child support. That's not necessarily the best reason for a return, but it might very well make the decision to come back a little easier.

Strahan Could Return or Umenyiora Could Be Back By October or Neither Could Happen (The Sporting Blog)
Can't hurt Giants just to give Strahan a call (NY Daily News)

So here it is. I really regretted putting this together halfway through, and I can't believe there's an entire second part tomorrow, but I know my role. Enjoy Favre's first interview since announcing his desire to comeback.

This whole thing is just exhausting isn't it? I can't even figure out who knows what, who said what, and who wants what. I don't even know whether I'm sick of it or not. Of course I am, but the level of this "comeback" is almost unprecedented enough to make it interesting. Just crazy on so many levels.

Well there's no surprise here, but Chris Mortensen is reporting on NFL Live that Brett Favre has talked to Coach Mike McCarthy and is interested in coming back to the Packers. We all know Mort's track record in regards to "Breaking News" but if there's one guy he's got an in with it's Favre.

The interesting thing is that Al Harris is in the ESPN "Carwash" today and has had stuffed dropped in his lap all day long. On First Take they asked him about Aaron Rodgers comments about Green Bay's fans and now they're piling the Favre news on top of him as well. He seems very at a loss for words today.

It's not fair to Aaron Rodgers, but at least he's starting this nonsense now and not during Training Camp. I blame Strahan taking Favre's job at FOX for all of this.

One of the people can't say anything wrong about LA Dodgers announcer Vin Scully. He's been the voice of the Dodgers since 1950 when they were located in Brooklyn and his contract is up following this season. He didn't come out and say that he was going to, but he hinted at it during a talk at Fordham University. Via the NY Times....

But his contract expires after this season, and he said he would follow the advice of his wife, Sandy, about continuing a run that began in Brooklyn in 1950 and has spanned the ownership of the O’Malley family, Rupert Murdoch and Frank McCourt.

“I want to spend a lot of time with her,” he said at the dinner at Sotheby’s that honored him and another renowned Fordham alumnus, Charles Osgood, of CBS News.

“There’s a lot of hoopla in this job, but it’s lonely for the wife,” he said. “So I want to talk seriously with her about her feelings. I want to know what’s in her head. We’ll talk it out over the long summer and then we’ll talk to Frank.”

He said that he did not know what his wife would say. “She’s so selfless,” he said, “that she’ll probably say, ‘Whatever you feel you should do, we’ll do,’ and then we’ll be back at Square 1. It’s a question I get asked a lot at this age.”

The LA Times confirmed today that he was considering it, but not ready yet to call it the end. It's hard as a Sports fan to not be selfish, but if you've been working for the same employer for almost 60 years....you should be allowed to do whatever you want. Which includes being able to only call home games if you so choose.

Vin Scully Awaits Wife’s Cue on Continuing Long Run (NY Times)

I know you probably REALLY want me to stop talking about this, but when a woman calls an ex-NFL QB a "girlie man"....I'm going to post about it. FOX's Laura Ingraham went on a rant about Brett Favre this past Friday that puts Sal Pal's piece to shame....

"All these years, and I didn't know there was a woman quarterback in the NFL. ...

"Brett Favre...we're watching this in the studio, obviously retiring from the NFL, great quarterback, handsome 38-year-old man, he gets up there and he does this press conference that was frankly one of the most embarrassing things I have ever seen."

"That's a great message for young boys. 'Get up there and act like a girl and start blubbering like a baby."

Then, in her best impersonation of a crying toddler with its favorite toy taken away, she wah-wah-wah's while uttering in a mocking tone, "It's about me, it was never about me, but it is about me, bla, bla, bla" before returning to her regular voice and stating, "I could not believe what I was seeing."

That's right guys, it's NOT okay to cry, and you WANT a woman like Laura Ingraham in your life! Seriously.....I can't even put the words together to say how irresponsible and downright stupid that message is. Cheese and rice.

Conservative Talk Show Host Laura Ingraham Is Officially On The Packers Nation Hit List (100% Injury Rate)

I can't even begin to imagine the tricks that Sports reporters have to pull of to get some of the exclusive stories that they get, but you can't say they don't work hard. Yes even Chris Mortensen.

Well word is now out that Jay Glazer may have used of all things his UFC/MMA connections to get his hands on the the Brett Favre Retirement story before anyone else. Via Richard Deitsch of SI....

A couple of months ago, knowing Ultimate Fighting champion Randy Couture was one of Brett Favre's sporting favorites, Fox's Jay Glazer helped arrange a meeting in Green Bay between the UFC heavyweight champion and the Packers quarterback. The reporter and QB have long been tight.

When I spoke with Glazer in December, he told me the story he wanted most was Favre's retirement. He got it. Give ESPN's Chris Mortensen credit for saying Glazer got it first, even though Favre's voicemail to Mortensen pushed the story to another level...

Here's the original story from Glazer and it's amazing to think that connections in MMA could have helped Glazer land the biggest NFL story in the past 10+ years. Oh and to get Chris Mortensen to mention your name on air too is a pretty impressive feat. I said it before and I'll say it again...Jay Glazer is the hardest working man in Sports and I hope he keeps this up next year.

Media Circus (SI.com)
Couture has inspiring message for Pack (Fox Sports)

(Yes, that's Glazer in the photo above from a fight in 2003)