As Long as I'm Avoiding Work...

by: Mike Parker

I had a thought just now while talking to my buddy Tam. The long and the short of it went something like this --


Gonzo's Highly-Improbably-Yet-Too-Good-to-Ignore Scenario for the 2008 NFL Season:

Brett Favre leads a massively-revitalized Jets team into the Super Bowl against the stalwart Seahawks and Mike Holmgren's final year of coaching.

Would there be any better or more appropriate way to end this season? And try to engage your suspension of disbelief here with me for just a second while I lay this one out, and why it's at least halfway possible. (Though realistically, it's about as likely as Kellen Clemens making the Pro Bowl.)

To continue...

The Jets had arguably one of the best drafts in the NFL this year. Eric Mangini got exactly what he needed - on paper, anyway - with Dustin Keller and Vernon Gholston. Outside of the draft, the offensive line got a huge boost with the addition of Alan Faneca, and Thomas Jones will be able to take a breather once in a while with Jesse Chatman running the ball with solid backup Leon Washington. The defense also got a breath of life with Calvin Pace joining the ranks, which should make the Jets' front seven more formidable than it was last year. (Which isn't saying much, I know.)

All the Jets needed after all these key pickups was a consistent guy at quarterback. They needed an experienced, rock-solid passer who could actually benefit from the beefed-up offensive line and not crumble under the pressure when things turned hairy.

And now, they've got him.

Recently-emerged drama queen that he is, Brett Favre proved last season - his supposed last year in football that was followed with what none of us should really be surprised was a faux retirement plan - that he still has the edge that made him a star for 17 years in Green Bay. Coming to a team like the Jets means Favre takes everything he learned from Holmgren and even McCarthy and puts it to the ultimate test in an altogether foreign environment. Kind of like Sylvester Stallone and Pele' during the last scene of "Victory." Or Trey Parker and Matt Stone in "BASEketball." You get the point.

So with his new home in New York, Favre now gets to throw to Laverneus Coles and Jericho Cotchery, thereby increasing each of their fantasy value by roughly 800 percent. (Speaking of which, I'm sure both receivers are thrilled that they'll now be able to actually run a full route without suddenly turning around to see the ball hit the ground 15 yards behind them. Just sayin'.)

The Jets now have all the weapons they need to go somewhere this year and not have another 4-12 letdown and increase the suicide rate in New York by 12,000. They could at least hope for one of those surprising-as-hell 10-6 seasons they've had in recent years, because since 2004, those are the two records the Jets have finished with: 4-12 one year, followed by 10-6 the next. Did I mention the Jets were 4-12 last year?

So meanwhile, while Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens are busy at home throwing their resumes on Monster.com, the Seahawks also have things brewing. (That's just in case you've been living under a rock for the past six months or suddenly realized you're not reading a blog about the Rams.) The offense, to contradict what most experts have been yelling about lately, is going to be just fine. The offensive line health remains a question mark, but that's the only obstacle I see right now with this team in South Alaska. (Catering to the writers again. You understand of course.) The receivers look sharp, and I know this because I watched them for two hours last weekend. Hasselbeck is in his prime, and the running game is once again a threat with Julius Jones, TJ Duckett and possible "surprise, Mom, I made the roster" potential Justin Forsett.

In short?

There is absolutely no reason why these two teams can't outperform the living crap out of everyone else in their conferences and eventually meet in Tampa in February for an epic era-defining showdown between mentor and student. The weapons are on the table now, and it's all going to come down to a matter of who has become the true master of his craft.

And I know - it probably won't happen. The number of variables for this to even come close to taking place is nothing short of absurd. There's the Patriots in AFC, incumbent champ Giants in the NFC, and a number of revamped rivals that could come out of nowhere and stomp the unholy snot out of teams left and right.

But this entire scenario is way too much fun for me not to think about. (And a hell of a great reason to avoid work until lunch.)