NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Senior writer jclombardi highlights Packers headlines.

Beaten and bruised, there’s still some zing left in Vikings QB Favre: So how much magic does a beat up, 41-year-old Brett Favre have left? Enough that in the second half of a bitterly disappointing, going-nowhere season, he can lead the Minnesota Vikings to a win over the ascending Green Bay Packers? At 3-6, Minnesota might be on the brink of a total freefall, but the Packers know not to count out a quarterback who's an all-time competitor and holds a major grudge against their front office. "It would probably mean everything to him," said defensive end Ryan Pickett of Favre's desire to beat his former team. This, in fact, is looking more and more like the last time Favre will face the franchise that he personified from 1992 to 2007. When it comes to Favre and retirement, never say never, but with how poorly the Vikings' season is going and how badly beat up Favre is, it's a relatively safe bet that 2010 actually will be his last season. Ryan Longwell, the former Packers kicker who's been Favre's teammate in Minnesota the last two years, said Favre "without a doubt" will retire after this season. Longwell was one of three Vikings players who visited Favre at his home in Hattiesburg, Miss., during training camp to convince him to play another year. "When we went down to Mississippi, the three of us, to talk to him, that was pretty much adamant even before he agreed to come back," Longwell said. "I have no doubt this is his last year."

Packers receivers adjust pattern: There’s been no passing of the torch, officially or otherwise, because Donald Driver is confident he has a lot of good football left in him. But with Driver slowed by a thigh injury that has been at least partially responsible for him not catching a pass since Oct. 17, Greg Jennings has become the go-to receiver in the Green Bay Packers’ offense. The combination of Driver’s injury and the season-ending knee injury suffered by playmaking tight end Jermichael Finley in Week 5 has left Jennings as quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ most reliable target, and the Packers’ most dangerous weapon going into their game Sunday at Minnesota. That’s not necessarily by default, because Jennings led the Packers in receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. But he doesn’t have Driver in the slot to take some of the pressure off him. Jennings has responded well, catching 25 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns over the last four games. With Driver ineffective and eventually inactive vs. Dallas, Jennings has played out of the slot more than he had in the past. Jennings has caught at least six passes in each of the last four games, a streak that includes an 86-yard touchdown against Miami and receptions of 30 yards against the Jets and 33 against the Cowboys. But as good as Jennings has been over the last month, the Packers’ offense would be that much better with the 35-year-old Driver back in the lineup and at full speed. Driver practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, participating in the jog-through outside and then going into the Don Hutson Center to run.

We already knew this game would be meaningful, but after the outcome of last week, it means even more now. Both teams will enter the Sunday night contest with a record of 6-3, and one team will walk away with the outright lead of the NFC East.

The Giants looked like a very scary team as they hit a hot streak and were mowing teams, and their quarterbacks, down. However, they were brought back to reality last week as a lowly Cowboys team blew them away in their own stadium.

Despite the recent blow out, this game needs to be taken very seriously. The Giants currently rank second in team offense and first in team defense. The Eagles are third on offense, but 11th on defense.

As the statistics say, the Giants have looked good both offensively and defensively. However, the Cowboys were able to force them into turnovers and hit on numerous big plays in their win last week. This is very similar to what the Eagles just did against the Redskins.

We also have a whole different animal in Michael Vick. The Giants got torched by Jon Kitna last week, not a guy who is exactly going to run circles around you. However, he did make some nice throws, but it wasn't anything Vick couldn't do.

With two divisional foes playing on national TV on Monday night, I'm sure a lot of the Giants players were watching. If they didn't watch, they definitely heard about it.

The Giants defensive players have got to be worried about containing Vick, and they're going to need to draw up a pretty good game plan if they want to be able to stop him (if that's possible).

Overall, the Eagles are coming off their two biggest wins of the season and definitely have the hot hand. However, the Giants aren't slouches and will look for redemption after an embarrassing loss last week.

There's a lot at stake on Sunday night, and I'm sure the game won't disappoint.

One of the questions we were having about Jason Garrett's rise to head coach of the Dallas Cowboys was how would the defensive players respond to him. When Wade Phillips was the coach Garrett had little to no influence on the defensive players and what they did week in and week out. Some of the players even criticized the Cowboys offensive player caller for not calling a balanced game until the Green Bay shellacking.

If I had to choose an image from Sunday's win over the Giants, it would be that of OLB DeMarcus Ware joking and laughing with his new head coach on the sidelines as the clock was winding down. It wasn't just Ware either, there were visible shots of Brooking, James, and Newman all exchanging hugs or joking with Garrett at the end of the game. It was an answer to the question that a lot of people were asking.

While one game doesn't mean anything, it is great to hear that the defensive players have also bought into what Garrett is selling. "You feel a different vibe around here," Bowen said, "Everybody was all in behind coach Garrett and you see what happened out there." Bowen is just an example of the attitude that is starting to spread, not just amongst the defense, but the whole team.

After Randy Moss was suddenly waived by the Minnesota Vikings, head coach Brad Childress thought us fans would take kindly to being reminded that we "still have Hank Baskett."

Baskett has one catch for 18 yards since joining the Vikings, but his bad luck in Minnesota doesn't stop on the football field.

His wife Kendra Wilkinson, famous for a variety of reasons, has repeatedly complained about having to travel to Minnesota in recent episodes of her reality show which regularly features Baskett (or so I hear, I've never watched the damn thing).  Avoiding Minnesota like the plague, and treating the State like it is toxic, has not settled well with her Minnesota fans and Baskett may be trying to smooth things over.

On a recent interview with E! Wilkinson revealed more about how their long distance relationship is working out when the host made a crack about him being influenced by the sexting Brett Favre.

"Hey, Hank's hanging out with his own penis right now. OK?" she said. "Now we have to do the whole Skype thing."

In addition to continuing way too far into Baskett's love life, she revealed that his teammates constantly make fun of the wide receiver (does one catch qualify him as one?) for having a massive amount of chest hair.  While the players tell him to do something about it, Kendra prefers him the way he is.

So, there you have it.  You now know more about Brad Childress' favorite wide out than you ever wanted to.

And, no, you are not alone.  I can't believe I bothered to write this post either.

Next Up:  The dinner manners of Jeff Dugan

Ray Lewis Still On Top Of His Game

Has Baltimore's middle linebacker lost a step?  The answer is a definite 'No.'  Statically Ray Lewis is tied for 11th for linebackers in the NFL and 7th in the AFC. Keep in mind, the total NFL ranking includes all linebacking positions; outside and inside.

Yes, he may have lost a step in coverage, however the fact remains it's hard for any linebacker to cover a tight end in today's pass happy NFL.  Along with continuing to put up consistent numbers, Lewis has made the important game changing plays such as the interception in Pittsburg and the forced fumble against Buffalo.  Let's not forget Lewis is playing his 15th year in the NFL and competing with some younger players. To continue playing at this high level for as long as he has is simply amazing!

RAY LEWIS

Ranked  T-11th NFL

Ranked 7th AFC

Combined tackles: 73 (57 total, 16 assist)

Sacks: 2

Interceptions: 1

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 4

SAMPLING OF STATS, TOP NFL LINEBACKERS:

Jerod Mayo, ILB,  New England Patriots (Age: 24)

(Ranked 1st)

Combined tackles: 105 (69 Total, 36 Assists)

Sacks: 1

Interceptions: 0.0

Forced Fumbles: 0.0

Pass Deflections: 0.0

Chad Greenway, OLB Minn. Vikings (Age: 27)

(Ranked 2nd)

Combined tackles 92 (71  Total, 21 Assists)

Sacks: 1

Interceptions:0.0

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 0.0

Lawrence Timmons, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Age: 24)

(Ranked 4th)

Combined tackles 85 (63  Total, 22 Assists)

Sacks: 3

Interceptions: 2

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 9

Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco 49ers (Age: 25)

(Ranked 7th)

Combined tackles 78 (54  Total, 24 Assists)

Sacks: 2

Interceptions: 0.0

Forced Fumbles: 1

Dhani Jones, MLB, Cincinnati Bengals (Age: 32)

(Ranked T-11th)

Combined tackles: 73 (53 total, 20 assists)

Sacks: 0.0

Interceptions: 0.0

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 0.0

Curtis Lofton, MLB, Atlanta Falcons (Age.: 24)

(Ranked T-11th)

Combined tackles: 73 (61 total, 12 assists)

Sacks: 2

Interceptions: 1

Forced Fumbles: 2

Pass Deflections: 3

Brian Urlacher, MLB Chicago Bears (Age: 32)

(Ranked 26)

Combined tackles 62 (49  Total, 13 Assists)

Sacks: 1.5

Interceptions: 1

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 7

Bart Scott, ILB, NY Jets (Age: 30)

(Ranked 44th)

Combined tackles: 47 (30 total, 17 assists)

Sacks: 1

Interceptions: 0.0

Forced Fumbles: 1

Coach Spagnuolo said that their reasoning for starting Kevin Dockery over Bradley Fletcher at starting corner which had disastrous consequences was because "we've got a number of corners, a number of guys that are competing all the time,". Now, I know Coach Spagnuolo is an honorable guy and does not want to rip Fletcher in the press for having bad practices or taking plays off and I think that's a very honorable way to go about coaching and I'm sure his players appreciate that.  But, for us as fans it is infuriating.

Fletcher has had a good short career in St. Louis when he has been healthy.  He's got burned a few times over 8 weeks, but everyone in the Rams secondary has.  Fletcher has been a better corner facing off against better wide receivers for the Rams in 2010, plain and simple.  Why are we suddenly giving starts for "good play".  If Dockery plays well at nickel corner, that is great, he has earned himself another game at nickel corner.

Why are the Rams suddenly using a rotational system at their starting CB position, not to mention outside linebacker.  Additionally, let's not get started on the rotation practice that they have used at right guard this year and tackle in the past.

This is not the preseason.  The Rams should not be giving reps on the basis of the last good game, they should be giving starts and reps based on who is going to have a good game this week.  The game against San Francisco was the biggest game of the Rams season and they started out by playing Kevin Dockery at 2nd corner.  The 49ers targeted and exploited Dockery twice in the opening quarter.

The regular season is not a test track and every position cannot be swapped in and out as easily as defensive linemen.  The Rams have precious little depth and they do not need to waste time giving out starts like little league trophies.  Play the best guy for this week. Period.

It was an active day for the Panthers, as first they put running back DeAngelo Williams on injured reserve, ending his season with a foot injury, and also they are reported to be on the verge of starting rookie QB Tony Pike for Sunday’s matchup with the big bad Ravens.

Darin Gantt of the Charlotte Observer reports that Pike will get the nod to start, this after the team suffered yet another injury when rookie QB Jimmy Clausen recieved a concussion Sunday in the latest Panther loss in Tampa

QB Brian St. Pierre, who was promoted from the practice squad Tuesday, is another option, but Gantt says that Pike is the man – “Unless he gets hit by a bus.”

Pike was a sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati, and he only narrowly beat out current street free agent Hunter Cantwell for a roster spot in Panthers camp.

He’ll get a quick education when he goes up against Ray Lewis and the Ravens on Sunday in Baltimore.

Remember that the Titans were the team that first drafted troubled college running back LeGarrette Blount?

Well, now that the Titans are working out running backs, including former first-round pick Larry Johnson, one has to wonder if Jeff Fisher regrets getting rid of Blount.

If your wondering the same thing – Fisher does say he wishes Blount was still a Titan. “I thought we could get him to the practice squad, get him on practice squad, knowing that when and if there was any kind of interest, we could bring him back to the active roster. That didn’t happen, but I’m very, very happy for him."

Blount was claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now has 359 yards rushing with four touchdowns on 75 carries this year.

As far as Johnson goes, Fisher says that he’s ready if the Titans do decide to sign him, but as of now no decision has been made.

The Chiefs have placed linebacker Mark Simoneau on injured reserve, and the 33-year old says instead of trying again to make it on a roster in 2011, he’s going to retire.

Simoneau, who missed the past two seasons with New Orleans because of injuries to his back and triceps, was a product of Smith Center, Kansas and played collegiately at Kansas State. He made suburban Kansas City his off-season home three years ago and signed with his hometown team as a free agent on October 27th.

Simoneau was injured in the first half of Sunday's game while covering a kickoff on special teams. After absorbing a hit, Simoneau was escorted into the Chiefs locker room and did not suit out for the second half.