Random NFL Thoughts 4/26/06

• It looks like Brett Favre will be back next year. However Favre, one of the greatest QBs of all time, may be hemorrhaging fans. Not only has his play fallen off in recent years (his '05 stats included 20 TDs to 29 INTs with a poor 70.9 rating), but he strung out the decision of his retirement for months, delaying four times and holding press conferences just to say that he hasn't decided yet. Lots of folks are glad he's playing but still feel jerked around by his moody indecisiveness.
• Runningbacks Ricky Williams (Dolphins) and Onterrio Smith (Vikings) will probably not be back thanks to drug problems. Ricky was suspended for another year due to drug use and Onterrio just isn't going to be reinstated (that happens when you're non-compliant). Both careers are probably over.
• Los Angeles is trying to get an NFL team back at the Coliseum and Anaheim is willing to give 50 acres away next to where the Angels play for a new stadium. Paul Tagliabue says that it's time NOW for a decision and there are teams that are already lined up to go to California. Some of those teams may include: the Bills, Vikings, Jaguars, Saints, and Chargers (someone please tell Marcus Allen that the Chiefs are not on this list and never have been). If the Vikings, Jags, or Saints move, I'd like to see them switch divisions with the Rams. Any of these moves would make more geographical sense, putting Los Angeles in the NFC West and putting the St. Louis Rams a thousand miles closer to its new division rivals. If the Bills move, there's no such simple solution; if the Chargers move, there's no need to switch at all.
• The NFL Network will broadcast live games for the first time this year including two Chiefs games, Thanksgiving night and December 23. The games will be called by Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth with Rich Eisen hosting pre- and post-game shows.
  
• This year's Draft seems to be deep but not elite. While there may not be even 20 true first-rounders, there are easily 60 solid second-rounders. So there's poor value early on but great value (read "starters") in the second, third, and even fourth round. In other words: trade down!