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blueballs · 07-17-2008, 07:15 AM

A Favre-free zone
Jul 17, 2008, 4:45:25 AM by Jonathan Rand - FAQ

It’s much too early to know if Herm Edwards’ confidence in Brodie Croyle will be vindicated.

It’s even too early to know for sure who’ll be the Chiefs quarterback by December.

It is not too early, however, to conclude that the Chiefs’ quarterback will not be a future Hall of Famer ready to come out of retirement a few months short of his 39th birthday.

You can put Edwards on a short list of NFL coaches who won’t be seriously asked whether he’s interested in trading for Brett Favre, assuming he comes out of retirement and the Packers don’t want him back. Asking Edwards if he wants Favre would be like asking somebody who lives 60 miles from work to buy an SUV, even a top-of-the-line model.

There are distinct advantages to staking out a firm position, and Edwards has touted his youth movement more often than Boone Pickens has been advertising wind farms.

Edwards hasn’t just told the home folks about his commitment to youth, which is highlighted by the 35 rookies on his training camp roster. If you check publications and web sites around the nation, you’ll realize there’s nobody left who hasn’t gotten Herm’s message, loud and clear.

That’s not to say everybody agrees he’s on the right track. But everybody would agree he’s not jumping off that track any time soon.

A coach in Edwards’ situation could usually expect an avalanche of questions about his interest in Favre, though it’s doubtful a quarterback on his last go-around would want anything to do with a team not poised to contend now. The Chiefs are coming off a 4-12 season and have big questions at quarterback – questions that Favre could answer for a season or two.

Edwards will not, of course, be able to avoid the Favre chatter unless he brings ear plugs to training camp at River Falls, Wisconsin. That’s across the state from the Favre soap opera and a short drive from Minneapolis, which seems to rank first on Favre’s wish list.

Then there’s Tampa Bay, Washington, Baltimore and anywhere else where a head coach might want to give a youngster more time to develop or isn’t satisfied with his incumbent.

Edwards isn’t interested in keeping Croyle, who entering his third season, as an understudy this season. “It’s his team,” he reiterated last month.

If Croyle gets serious competition, it will come from another youngster, ex-Viking Justin Thigpen. If the Chiefs feel the need for a veteran, Damon Huard will still be around.

How could any coach not want a legendary quarterback coming off a big season? You could start with a $12 million salary and the draft choices that the Packers would demand in a trade. Then there’s the planning issue.

Every NFL organization began planning for 2008 as soon as the 2007 season ended and tried to put pieces in place through free agency, the draft, off-season workouts, salary planning and perhaps changes in coaches and systems.

While the Favre of 2007 is a better quarterback than most teams possess, few can afford to tear up their blueprints with training camp just around the corner. The Packers needed to know for sure about Favre’s change of heart before the April draft.

That’s why his likely comeback is timed so awkwardly, and why many fans will be stunned by the relative lack of interest from the Packers and most other teams. He’d be asking the Packers to throw their locomotive into reverse after they’ve already moved a far piece down the tracks.

With Edwards, however, timing is no issue. He wouldn’t have wanted Favre — or any other veteran who would expect to start – in January, much less right now.

Amid the hazy prospects for the 2008 Chiefs, there’s just one certainty. When it comes to serving youth, Edwards will stay the course.

07-17-2008, 07:15 AM	#15
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	herm disgrees A Favre-free zone Jul 17, 2008, 4:45:25 AM by Jonathan Rand - FAQ It’s much too early to know if Herm Edwards’ confidence in Brodie Croyle will be vindicated. It’s even too early to know for sure who’ll be the Chiefs quarterback by December. It is not too early, however, to conclude that the Chiefs’ quarterback will not be a future Hall of Famer ready to come out of retirement a few months short of his 39th birthday. You can put Edwards on a short list of NFL coaches who won’t be seriously asked whether he’s interested in trading for Brett Favre, assuming he comes out of retirement and the Packers don’t want him back. Asking Edwards if he wants Favre would be like asking somebody who lives 60 miles from work to buy an SUV, even a top-of-the-line model. There are distinct advantages to staking out a firm position, and Edwards has touted his youth movement more often than Boone Pickens has been advertising wind farms. Edwards hasn’t just told the home folks about his commitment to youth, which is highlighted by the 35 rookies on his training camp roster. If you check publications and web sites around the nation, you’ll realize there’s nobody left who hasn’t gotten Herm’s message, loud and clear. That’s not to say everybody agrees he’s on the right track. But everybody would agree he’s not jumping off that track any time soon. A coach in Edwards’ situation could usually expect an avalanche of questions about his interest in Favre, though it’s doubtful a quarterback on his last go-around would want anything to do with a team not poised to contend now. The Chiefs are coming off a 4-12 season and have big questions at quarterback – questions that Favre could answer for a season or two. Edwards will not, of course, be able to avoid the Favre chatter unless he brings ear plugs to training camp at River Falls, Wisconsin. That’s across the state from the Favre soap opera and a short drive from Minneapolis, which seems to rank first on Favre’s wish list. Then there’s Tampa Bay, Washington, Baltimore and anywhere else where a head coach might want to give a youngster more time to develop or isn’t satisfied with his incumbent. Edwards isn’t interested in keeping Croyle, who entering his third season, as an understudy this season. “It’s his team,” he reiterated last month. If Croyle gets serious competition, it will come from another youngster, ex-Viking Justin Thigpen. If the Chiefs feel the need for a veteran, Damon Huard will still be around. How could any coach not want a legendary quarterback coming off a big season? You could start with a $12 million salary and the draft choices that the Packers would demand in a trade. Then there’s the planning issue. Every NFL organization began planning for 2008 as soon as the 2007 season ended and tried to put pieces in place through free agency, the draft, off-season workouts, salary planning and perhaps changes in coaches and systems. While the Favre of 2007 is a better quarterback than most teams possess, few can afford to tear up their blueprints with training camp just around the corner. The Packers needed to know for sure about Favre’s change of heart before the April draft. That’s why his likely comeback is timed so awkwardly, and why many fans will be stunned by the relative lack of interest from the Packers and most other teams. He’d be asking the Packers to throw their locomotive into reverse after they’ve already moved a far piece down the tracks. With Edwards, however, timing is no issue. He wouldn’t have wanted Favre — or any other veteran who would expect to start – in January, much less right now. Amid the hazy prospects for the 2008 Chiefs, there’s just one certainty. When it comes to serving youth, Edwards will stay the course.
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