Taylor and I will be taking a bye week like the Super Bowl teams, resuming our discussion about who will win the Big Game next Wednesday. To appease our readers in the absence of our normal column, here are some of my non-Super-Bowl random quick hit thoughts on the NFL at this time:

Brett Favre: Will He Retire? First off, let me say, that man is one tough 40-year-old. He was getting drilled on almost every passing play, and even some running plays, but didn’t miss a down. Even after his ankle was crushed, he got it wrapped up and came back in on the next series. After the crap he pulled in his retirement/non-retirement last year, he earned a ton of respect from me by the way he played on Sunday, minus that last interception. After watching Fox cut away to a shot of his wife in the stands every time he got hit, I’m sure if she has her way, he’ll be plowing some fields down south come next September. But my gut tells me that when his bruises heal and he can walk without a limp in the coming months, Favre will decide to come back for one last try at another Super Bowl ring.

Keep Overtime the Way it is! Football pundits everywhere take every opportunity to point out the flaws of the current Sudden Death overtime format. You’ve heard all the arguments already so I won’t rehash them. But here’s a stat that announcers and talk show hosts fail to mention: the team that wins the coin toss in overtime wins 52% of the time, and lose 44% of the time (with the rest being ties). That doesn’t seem so skewed to me. While of course there is an inherent advantage of receiving the ball in overtime, it’s not as overwhelming as the perception. My thoughts on the matter are that if you don’t win the game in regulation, not getting the ball in overtime is a consequence you have to be prepared for. This is not hockey, where you get half a win for just getting to the overtime period.

When it comes to the Vikings/Saints game over the weekend, I feel the argument can be made that BOTH teams deserved to win AND lose. The Vikings outgained the Saints by over 200 yards. But they committed 2 turnovers inside the 10 yard line, and one more at the end of regulation in field goal range. So anyone who blames a coin toss on the Vikings loss should get their facts straight and take an objective look at the other 60 minutes that were played outside of overtime.

Michael Vick is a Puppy Murderer. Vick is owed a huge roster bonus by the Eagles in March and will most likely be looking for a new team when free agency begins. I am a diehard Buffalo Bills fan, and it is well-known that we need a new QB. I make this claim right now: If Michael Vick ever becomes a member of the Buffalo Bills, I will no longer support, root for, or be a fan of the Buffalo Bills. Besides the fact that they would be only doing it to sell tickets and jerseys, there are moral reasons as well.

I love dogs. I don’t own one myself because I know I can’t devote the time and energy needed to training and care. I don’t claim to be an animal rights activist. I believe that any crime committed against a human being is miles worse that a crime committed to an animal. Why do people get so upset when a dog dies in a movie? Because animals are innocent. They are like young children, who can be manipulated and abused easily and cruelly. When it comes to Michael Vick, I can not stand the fact that he is playing football again after the details of his dog-fighting ring came out.

But he did his time in prison, right? If the head of a company or corporation, even with a unique set of skills, did the same thing, would he be welcomed back after his prison sentence was up? This was not a one-time thing. This was a pattern that spanned over five years. The only remorse came from being caught. He would still be doing it if he wasn’t found out. I will never financially support a team that financially supports a person like Michael Vick.

Uncapped Season? If you’re not a football nut, you might not know that there is no agreement between owners and players beginning in March. What that means is teams can spend as much as they want without a ceiling or floor. There are also restrictions on free agency, contract lengths, and other little things. The salary cap not only helps small market teams compete with the larger markets, it forces teams to be creative. You can’t go out and build a fantasy team by throwing money around. You need talent evaluators working around the clock to find inexpensive ways to support the core players on the roster. How much 2011 will affect the competitiveness of the NFL is unknown. Not to concern anyone…but if no agreement is reached by 2012, we will not have an NFL season that year. Owners and the Players Union better get their acts in gear or they’ll be facing a very serious fan outrage.

Related posts:

1. Should the Colts Coast and the Saints Sleep?
2. Week 16 NFL Preview
3. NFL Regular Season Wrap-Up