It would be hard to tell which one he is more proud of, but the two are definitely correlated. A man with a beautiful wife has an inner confidence that allows him to succeed or a very successful man suddenly finds himself surrounded by beautiful women. Either way, Peyton Manning is a lucky man.

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback won a record tying 3rd MVP today by a landslide. He receieved 32 votes while the two tied for second got 4 each. He and Brett Favre are the only 3 time MVP’s in NFL history. Although Manning has had statistically better seasons, and a Super Bowl championship, this was by far the best performance of his career.

Coming off of two knee surgeries over the summer, Manning was not sure if he would even play to start the year. He did, but the Colts started 3-4. Aroundweek 9 Manning got his strength back and something clicked in his head. He led the Colts to 9 straight victories, including wins at New England, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee, and they are the hottest team headed into the Playoffs this weekend. Manning finished the season with 4,002 yards passing, the only player to surpass 4,000 yards for 9 straight season, with 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Or so Thomas Jones of the New York Jets would have you believe. Jones, and other members of Favre’s new team, blasted the 39 year old quarterback in the media earlier in the week. One player, who did not have the courage to give his name, said Favre was distant and the reason that the Jets did not make the playoffs. “There was a lot of resentment in the room about him. He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone. It’s the quarterback throwing the ball all over the place. And he didn’t suffer any repercussions. He kept doing it. People said [coach] Eric [Mangini] called him out in meetings. I didn’t see it. Eric treated him like he was Brett Favre. A lot of guys didn’t like it,” the anonymous player told the Newark Star Ledger.

In the last game of the NFL season Favre threw three interceptions in a 24-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The loss sealed another playoff-less season for the Jets. After a win over the then undefeated Tennessee Titans in week 12 the Jets were 8-3 and considered by many the team to beat in the AFC. From that point on they went 1-4 and Favre played poorly down the stretch. While team owner Woody Johnson wants Favre back for next season, he fired Head Coach Eric Mangini, once labeled Manginius, earlier in the week.

Brett Favre has always been labeled a “gunslinger”, a quarterback who took big risks that led to more big rewards than big mistakes. He is the league’s only 3-time MVP and holds all the major records for quarterbacks. The player he replaced this year, Chad Pennington, won the comeback player of the year award and led his team to the playoffs. But, Favre took a team that finished last season 4-12 and brought them to the brink of the postseason. It was his risky play that elevated the team, and while it backfired later in the season, it was the reason that New York was so close to the playoffs. His teamates should remember where they were a year ago and be grateful that Favre has made their team competitve once again.

The New York Jets have gone from the darlings of the league, and the popular AFC pick to go to the Super Bowl, to fighting to make the playoffs. Although they won their last game, they had lost the two preceding, and quarterback Brett Favre played poorly in all three. Always known for his strong, rocket arm, Favre blamed the recent setbacks on it having lost some strength.

After retiring and then returning to play each of the last two seasons, Favre has little credibility left. Nothing he says is taken at face value anymore and he is seen as playing a perpetual mind game with the media and opponents. Denying his strong arm means that it is stronger than ever. Even Favre realized this, “I knew when I left that podium there, ‘Oh, here we go, Old Favre,’” he said.

Always a fierce competitor, there is a high possibility he was looking for an advantage with his comments, but no possibility that anyone is falling for them. When the discussion later turned to his retirement, Favre offered up more of the same. Favre has not only been consistent in the media, but also on the field. Even while leading the NFL in interceptions, he has sparked the Jets to an incredible turn around and made the Pro Bowl. His big risks have led to big rewards more often than big setbacks. He has continued to play with that spark that has ignited a team that was burned out a year ago.

The entire state of Wisconsin was in a state of mourning. A lot of football fans around the United States shed a few tears. Their hero, the sometimes wild yet always heroic, Brett Favre was calling it quits. His NFL career over. At 38-years-old, Favre said he just didn’t have the energy anymore.

But I bring good news to you, Wisconsin. Wipe away those tears, football fan. Brett Favre is full of it. He’s coming back. The 2008 Green Bay Packers will be quarterbacked by none other than Brett Favre. Take it to the bank.

Favre is a very good quarterback. He’s a warrior and one of the toughest players to ever don shoulder pads. However, he’s also a bit of a drama queen. How many times has he supposedly almost retired?  Even back in his early 30’s, reports said that he might want to hang it up early. Each of the last three or four years, it’s always been a seemingly last second decision.

After his great 2007 season, no one was going to believe that Favre was truly contemplating retiring. He couldn’t play the same cards that he has played over the last few seasons. He had to come up with something new. Something that would make people believe him. And this so-called retirement was the result of Favre’s inner drama queen shining through.

Favre says he’s tired but the truth is that in early March, every NFL player is tired. In fact, rare is the player who is even currently working out. March is a time for relaxation and recovery. With all the injuries, bumps and bruises you pick up during an NFL season, you have to give your body a chance to rest. If everyone NFL player called it quits who was tired in March, there’d be no players left in the league.

Once August and September roll around, Favre will get that itch. The media will start to get wind about how Favre is considering coming back. There will be a media firestorm and all the cameras will be pointed at Favre’s every move. Favre will then hold another press conference saying he’s coming back for one more glorious year. He will become even more of a hero and everyone will celebrate his return. Wisconsinites and football fans will be shocked that Favre decided to come back.

But you won’t be shocked because you will have read all about it before it happened.