Here's What I Have To Say

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Here's what I have to say about the world of sports.

1. Man, the New England Patriots look pretty good so far. I know it's only preseason and I shouldn't put much stock in it, but the Pats appear to have some pretty nice pieces in place, including rookies and young guys that are being counted on to produce in order for them to be a playoff team, or better yet a Super Bowl contender.
2. Roger Clemens, guilty or innocent? Wonder if I'll be able to visit the Rocket when he goes behind bars? Still love the guy, however. Best pitcher I'll see in my lifetime.
3. Tim Tebow, like him or hate him? Better questions is: Will he be a good pro quarterback? You know my stance, still.
4. Shaq wearing Green. I like it, but aren't we all wondering just how much the big man has left in the tank? If his minutes are monitored, I still think he can be productive in the low post. It's not like anyone can move him out of the way, either.
5. Who's your preseason pick to win the Vince Lombardi trophy? I'm still not waivering with my Baltimore Ravens pick.
6. Brett Favre might be all about himself, but there aren't many other quarterbacks that are better than him currently in the league (Brady, Manning, Brees, Rivers and Rodgers, no doubt are).
7. I still don't believe that the Red Sox are toast. With the staff they have, you can't bury them yet. Or can you?
8. Yankees or Rays? Who will win the AL East? Stay tuned. If the Yankees can get Andy Pettitte back in the rotation pretty soon, I'm saying Yankees. If not, Rays win the division and Yanks will be the wild card.
9. No. 1 pick in all Fantasy Football Drafts should be Chris Johnson from the Titans. But he's also my burnout player of the year candidate because he got worked over last year. Remember the Dirty Bird himself, Jamal Anderson, who blew out his knees after toting the pigskin way too much in one season for the Atlanta Falcons. I don't wish injuries on anyone, but Johnson owners might be a tad worried this season.
10. Can anyone explain to me how the Cowboys are the sexy pick to win the NFC crown and potentially win the Super Bowl? Romo is still the signal-caller on the 'Boys, right? Enough said.

Thank God football is finally here

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Excuse me if I had a little bit more spring in my step all day long.

Well, football will do that to me.

Just think about it. If I'm jumping around like a jack rabbit about watching preseason football, imagine what I'm like when the regular season begins?

Anyway, just like Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll always likes to say, right now I'm "Pumped and jacked."

Granted, I love Major League Baseball, but there's just something about that pigskin that puts an instant smile on my face.

These offseasons just get longer and longer, don't they? I know they're not, but it sure seems like that when you wish 12 months out of the year featured the NFL.

Watching the football get thrown around by Tom Brady last night quickly got me into the holiday spirit. Yes, football season is a holiday. Some like Christmas (so do I), but I also get giddy over football.

The ball is currently in motion. Now, I'm already thinking fantasy football, checking out patriots.com for the latest gear being sold, and I'm already thinking regular season.

The season is almost here, and it might seem weird to some, but I'm already counting down the days until the opening kickoff on Sept. 12 at home vs. Terrell Owens and the Bengals.

I am pumped and jacked. I know Pete Carroll knows how I feel.

Favre still fun to watch

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Don't worry, Brett Favre will be returning to Minnesota.

I know the reports out there are circulating that he's retiring, but do you really believe that?

Favre isn't a washed up bum, he's got a lot left in the tank. He know that, too. He knows that he's not a stiff like half -- OK, more than half -- of the starting QBs in the league. Favre knows he's still a threat to lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl.

He also knows he gets off hearing his name in the media. All the time.

He's a small-town guy with a big-time ego.

Isn't that common knowledge, anyway?

It's OK, really.

I don't mind that Favre's ego is bigger than Gillette Stadium. He's a millionaire, a legend and a Super Bowl champion. Sure beats my resume.

And, unlike so many Favre haters out there, I hope he comes back to play.

He's great for the game. He's a Hall of Fame QB, and he's fun to watch play.

Yes, he's fun. I love watching Favre do things that no QB coach in America will teach a young signal-caller. But he gets it done most of the time, unlike some other sub-par QBs. Favre is like 100 years old and he's got a shotgun for an arm.

And he loves to show it off, too, and sometimes that gets him into a lot of trouble. Yes, it's fun watching him throw INTs in gigantic playoff games. He's human, not superman. We all should know that.

Say what you want about him, but no one can question that he loves the game of football. It shows in the way he plays.

For that, I respect him completely.

Another year of the Brett Favre soap opera, I'm fine with that.

Are you?

Season over, thanks for playing

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's all over.

No need to play out the rest of the season, right Red Sox fans?

I know, Kevin Youkilis is apparently out for the season with a torn thumb muscle, so now it's OK to give up. Seriously?

Yes, the sky has fallen.

Time to pack up the bus, and look forward to next season.

I just can't believe that so many Red Sox fans have completely given up on the season already. This team has battled and battled all year with so many injuries, and with a pitching staff like they have, who's to say they can't make a run at the wild card?

But to sit there and say that the season is a complete wash now, since Youk isn't going to be around, I just can't buy into that at all.

Injuries happen all the time, it's part of the game. Yes, it would be nice to think about how this team would be if these guys didn't keep going on the DL, but you play with what you've got. These subs get paid, too, now it's time for everyone to step up.

The season isn't over. Smarten up.