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The Biggest Stories Of The Off-Season

Authored by Andrew Perna - 28th April, 2006 - 1:29 am

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Favre to Return in 2006

Brett Favre has told the Packers that he will play for them during the 2006 season. It took months of deliberation from the three-time MVP, but Green Bay can finally begin the rest of their off-season plans knowing that they will have an eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback in training camp this summer.

Sure it makes for a great story ? The 36-year old Mississippi native is going to suit up for yet another season. But what will it mean for the Packers in the future?

Favre?s return means that Aaron Rodgers will spend his second-consecutive year on the sidelines. He might end up attempting more than the sixteen passes he did in 2005, but don?t expect much else. If Favre is returning, it has to be guaranteed that the starting position will be his for the entire year. I just don?t see Brett walking into another year in the NFL, if there?s even a slight chance that he won?t be the team?s number one option at quarterback.

Whether or not this season will be a successful one for Green Bay is another story. The team holds the fifth overall pick in this weekend?s NFL Draft, and is likely to take a defensive player. RealGM?s own Jeff Risdon has them selecting AJ Hawk, a linebacker from Ohio State, as most experts around the league do.

The team finished at the bottom of the NFC North standings in 2005, with a 4-12 record and will likely face stiff competition from reigning division champion Chicago.

Williams Gone for 2006

Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins has been suspended once again. He lost his appeal against the NFL for violating their substance abuse policy for the fourth time. He received a similar suspension for the entire 2004 season, but this ruling could place his football career in danger.

Williams, who will be allowed to apply for reinstatement next year, would return to the league as a 30-year old running back. Oftentimes life gets tougher for running backs in the NFL after thirty, and his lack of time on the field over the past three years won?t help that. His absence should open things up for second-year player Ronnie Brown.

The question is ? Who really cares?

The Dolphins were not much better off with him last season, and his absence will allow Nick Saban to develop Ronnie Brown as the Dolphins try to become a contender in the AFC East. Despite being in a tough division and losing Williams, the Dolphins finally have an above average quarterback in Daunte Culpepper for the first time since they lost Dan Marino to retirement.

I believe that this actually might be a blessing in disguise for the Dolphins.

The Texans? Top Choice

Houston?s General Manager Charley Casserly said Wednesday that his Texans will select either USC?s Reggie Bush or NC State?s Mario Williams with their first overall selection this weekend.

The announcement ended speculation that Houston would select Texas quarterback Vince Young with their pick, something fans have been clamoring for since he declared for the draft just days after he led the Longhorn?s to a victory in the Rose Bowl.

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