I remember very well that afternoon at the Meadowlands in September of 2007, when Jets quarterback Chad Pennington came hobbling off the field after Jarvis Green rolled up his ankle on a third quarter sack against the Patriots. I remember Pennington refusing help. I remember him hopping to the bench, slamming his helmet, obviously trying to fight through the pain.

And I remember the crowd cheering.

The Neanderthals in New York who call themselves Jets fans deserve comeuppance this Sunday. My heart and my soul is rooting for it.

But my head knows the score. The Patriots need Brett Favre and the Jets over Pennington and the Dolphins. This week, we are lying down with dogs.

Just know that come Sunday night, after Favre has thrown the game away and the Pats are shut out of the playoffs, there will be some small consolation. Jets fans will have gotten what they asked for.

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Subj: Favre and Louis Tiant

Felger,

What do they have in common? Both had a habit of looking one way and throwing the ball in a different direction. The only problem is that Tiant threw to a stationary target- home plate, while Favre is just up there chucking it anywhere. It is refreshing to hear anyone in the media, let alone a former cheese head, unmask the fraud that has been Brett Favre for the past ten years.

John Clifford

A: Don't you love how Favre (one touchdown, six interceptions in last four games) has suddenly started talking about arm trouble? How weak. Tom Brady has played through high ankle sprains, separated shoulders, sports hernias and who knows what else -- and we wouldn't have known about any of it if he hadn't shown up at some charity event with his arm in a sling in March or some photographers hadn't caught him walking with a boot in New York. We still don't know what happened to him in last year's AFC title game or how bad his ankle/foot was against the Giants in the Super Bowl. It clearly affected him, but he's never let us know how much. Favre? He obviously has no such issues.

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Mike,

I too think that Cassel will be franchised. My questions are specific ones. What is the earliest date that a team can designate a player as franchise player? How soon after that date can they trade him? Thirdly and finally, amidst all of this franchising, what is the first day of free agency? In other words, how and for how long will the franchising affect the Pats ability to sign free agents? Thx Mike.

Happy holidays,

Woodrow

A: The new league year begins Feb. 27, which is the first day of free agency and the first day trades are allowed to occur. The deadline for franchising players typically comes two weeks prior to that. Also, teams technically can't talk to free agents (and franchised players are considered free agents) until that Feb. 27 date, but it's the most abused rule in football. I don't believe there is any rule against teams talking to each other about prospective trades at any time, even20if they can't execute one until the start of the new league year.

So unless I'm missing something, here is what the timing of the Cassel situation could be: The Pats franchise Cassel in mid-February. They then spend the next two weeks finding a trade partner (if they don't have one already). Also, if necessary, they take that time to restructure contracts on their roster and make sure they have the cap space available to accommodate Cassel's approximate $14 million franchise charge. (Remember, the Pats don't actually have to pay Cassel the money; they only have to have the commensurate space available under the cap when the new league year kicks in). Once the Pats have a trade agreed upon, Cassel's agent can work out a contract with his new team. Ideally, this happens before Feb. 27, which means there will be a bit of tampering involved. Again, that's business as usual in NFL free agency. Then, as soon the new league year begins on Feb. 27, the Pats can trade Cassel to his new team, get that $14 million in cap space back and go about their business in free agency.

That's the scenario the Pats would need to employ if the y were looking to make a big splash early in free agency, because the only downside to franchising Cassel is that it might limit the cap space the Pats would need to sign a big-ticket item. But I'd be shocked if an Adalius Thomas-like signing was in the offing this year given the economy. I think the Pats will be able to take their time if they want. Franchise Cassel, hold out for the best trade possible, let him openly talk to teams as a free agent after Feb. 27, etc. Let the situation play out.

But if they choose to act quickly, I don't see why a Cassel trade can't happen the first 12 hours of free agency and the Pats get their $14 million in cap space back by the end of Day 1. It might look fishy, but who cares?

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Hey Mike,

There is a lot mixed noise about the Belichick/Pioli drafting results. The problem (with the busts) is that they are specialists. The closer the player to the ball at the line of scrimmage, the better the result: Brady, Koppen, Mankins, Seymour, Wilfork, Warren and Mayo.  As you move into space the results deteriorate: Jackson, Scott, Wilson, Reid, and Johnson. Some of the recent picks need more time to evaluate. They don't need a coach like Capers to help ``coach up'' their weaknesses on the field as much as they need a scout to help them draft the open-field guys who can have an immediate impact.

Glenn

A: An interesting thought. As I mentioned last week, I think when it comes to skill guys (or, as you put it, players who line up far away from the ball), the temptation is to put more stock into combine results, and that's where a lot of teams, including the Pats, get into trouble. The skill position guys who HAVE worked out for Belichick were the ones who were thought to be lacking in size or speed. Deion Branch was too small and wasn't a blazer in the 40 (he's more quick than fast). Ditto for David Givens. Brady was considered too thin and weak-armed. Asante Samuel was thought to be way too slow to be elite. They were all great picks.

More specifically, guys like Branch and Samuel constituted great value where they were taken (Branch at the end of the second; S amuel in the fourth) and they'd look great on the record of Pioli and Belichick if not for one thing -- they weren't resigned. And that's another big factor with the current roster makeup. Every offensive and defensive lineman who matters and who was drafted and developed by Belichick and Pioli has been resigned to a second contract (Wilfork is still on his rookie deal and will be next up). The Pats keep those guys. It's pretty definitive. Virtually their entire o-line and d-line is homegrown. Meanwhile, the entire receiving corps was acquired, not drafted. Ditto for the backfield (excluding Laurence Maroney). The secondary is a hodgepodge. In other words, it's pretty easy to figure out where the sweet spot is for Belichick and Pioli.

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Michael,

When you look back at Belichick's number one gaff of his career, losing that first round draft pick last year, who could we have gotten with that pick that could have helped this team? How critical was that loss?

Mark

A: It would have been No. 31 overall, so let's start with that understanding. If it was a defensive player, that certainly could have been huge. If not this year, then certainly into the future. If it was another tight end, not so much.

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Mike,

I thought if Charlie Weis had been whacked at ND he would've reclaimed his job here, as I believe McDaniel gets a HC job this offseason. If he does, who does Bill turn too? I don't think he's grooming anyone on the staff, hence someone outside the organization. My hunch: Norv Turner, who gets whacked in SD, and always makes a good coordinator (not just made for a head coach). And I think Bill likes him and has respect for him. Thoughts?

Happy Holidays,

Stephen

A: If McDaniels goes then Bill does it himself. But I wouldn't be surprised if McDaniels stays.

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Felgy!

Great listening to you in the mornings. I long for the days of MILF lists during headlines!  If you ever do a GILF list (which you may, considering Madonna's age and current state) you should include Helen Mirren (for obvious reasons).

Anyway down to the question at hand...I heard that ESPN reported the Lions may go after Pioli, McDaniel and Cassel as some sort of package deal. The first domino to fall would have to be Pioli. I know that the belief here is that he will stay as long as Belichick remains here. Your thoughts on the report?

Happy Holidays

Will R

A: As I said last week, I just don't see why Pioli would leave this year when he's had better offers and better situations in the past and has never budged. I'm not saying teams won't come calling. They will. I'm just saying that unless Pioli's contract is up (and I don't believe it is), I think he stays. If I'm betting on it, I say Cassel is the only one of the three to go this year. Oh, Helen Mirren = doable.

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Felger,

All of the talk and speculation about Pioli and McDaniels leaving and heading for other jobs at the end of the season got me thinking. Are all of the coaches that Belichick and the P atriots hire outstanding coaches or are they just a product of the team’s success, philosophy on players, and system/style the Patriots play? For example, after the Super Bowl, Crennel and Weis got head coaching jobs and have not yet had success at these positions. I mean, McDaniels has only been a coordinator for two years yet everyone believes he is going to be a great head coach. Your thoughts?

Brian

A: A super point. It seems the Belichick coaching tree has been a bust. Crennel's record in Cleveland is 24-39. Mangini is 23-24 with the Jets. Weis is 29-21 at Notre Dame, and while that's eight games over .500, it's easily the worst of the three. Most importantly, Crennel, Mangini and Weis have all had multiple years to install their systems and acquire their players. And in the cases of Crennel and Weis, their programs are no better off than when they started. In the case of Mangini, a lot will be riding on Sunday. If the Jets make the playoffs, that will be two postseason appearances in three years, which given the Jets history is no small accomplishment. Still, no one would call Mangini's tenure in New York a succe ss to this point.

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Felgy,

As a good and loyal Pats fan, I hate both the Jets and the Dolphins, so I can honestly say that I have no bias. If Brett Favre went to Miami and turned that 1-15 train wreck into a 10 or 11 win team, he would not only win the MVP, the league would name it after him. Tell me how Pennington not only gets no MVP pub, but was also snubbed from the Pro bowl?

Tom

Rhode Island

A: There is no reason Tom, other than reputation and name. The Favre Pro Bowl selection goes to show that players and coaches (who constitute two-thirds of the voting process) are j ust as bad as the media and the fans when it comes to this kind of stuff.

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Michael,

Instead of trying to push Christmas every other year, why not do what I do, embrace Thanksgiving? You can even start a new slogan: ``Thanksgiving -- Christmas without the crap.’’

Art Cohane

Revere

A: In case you missed it, I proposed this week that we make Christmas an every-other-year endeavor. Like the Ryder Cup. It's just too painful of an experience to go through every year. Anyway, if you want to rank the holidays, I think it's Thanksgiving and Fourth and July -- and nothing el se even belongs in the conversation.

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Felger,

Suck it up. Don't be such a Christmas whiner. If you don't understand the JOY OF GIVING, Christmas will never be your holiday.

Charly

West Bridgewater

A: Charly's right. I get no enjoyment out of buying things for people (except my daughter, and even that's iffy). I hate shopping for MYSELF, for crying out loud. Ask me to shop for someone else and you might just as well duct-tape my eyes open and force me to watch an endless loop of Dickerson/Tanguay monologues.

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Felger,

I agree with you completely! Every year it gets worse, people have forgotten what the Christmas holiday is supposed to be about. I have a good job and don’t need anything, but when I tell my family and friends that they don't have to get me a gift .... I get yelled at. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT GIFTS! All I want to do is spend time with family but when it takes me over a hour to get from Waltham to Burlington for two weeks because people are all out for the ``gifts,’’ it takes away from family time. People are not jolly and happy, they are rude and miserable. Go Felger, the revolution has begun!

Scott Pilote

A: An important point, Scott. People tell me to get into the ``spirit,'' but I think I'm accurately reflecting the general mood of the population the week before Christmas. It's ugly out there.

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Subj: Felger: The Christmas DB

Felger,

Did someone drop a deuce in your stocking when you were a little boy (although I cannot blame the person after listening to you)? What a miserable bleep you are! Yeah, celebrate the baptism of Christ every other year. You must be a howl at birthday parties.

Jim (the chronic emailer)

A: I don't get invited to parties, Jim. Shocker.

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Felger,

Why don't we just move Christmas to February 29th, then you only have to deal with it every 4 yrs.  I'd go with the idea only because it might mean that John  and Gerry wouldn't need a sub for the week.

Kate

A: If that's what it takes, I'm willing to make the sacrifice.

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Subj: FELGER YOU HEARTLESS IDIOT

Michael,

This is the ghost of Christmas past. Remember when you were a kid and loved Chr istmas? How would you feel if someone threw out this idea when you were a kid? You'd bleeping hate it. And now you want to ruin that for kids in this generation because of traffic and rushing? It's called Amazon.com you whiny bitch. F YOU! I can't believe I'm saying this, but stop talking about cutting Christmas in half, and talk about guys you want to do!

Merry Christmas (this year and next)

Rob

Rhode Island

A: Maybe I should take this time to clarify something. I've had a few people say to me, Felger, you're jewish. Doesn't that constitute a conflict of interest? Or, why don't you just ignore it (Christmas). For the record: My father is jewish. And Meter brings it out in me in the morning. But my mother is catholic and my family has celebrated christmas my entire life. I celebrate it in the American way, not the religious way, but there's a tree and presents and all that other stuff every single year. Maybe I should go with the eight crazy nights, but I'm having enough problems with the single day, so I think I'll pass.

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WEEI,

I just heard one of the greatest calls in WEEI history. Felgy got bitch slapped by the Wood. I call it an early Christmas present. Felger, you come off like a tough guy but we know now who wears the pants in that house. She owns you. Thanks, Sara.

Rick

A: Look at Sara. Look at me. Did anyone really think I have hand?

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Felger,

Does the Drama queen Paul Pier ce bring his own wheel chair on the road or do you think the home team supplies the soccer boy with one? Just another example of why hockey is a better game than hoop. If he did that in hockey he would get abused by his own teammates.

Paul

Whitman

A: My favorite tough guy story came from the Patriots' 2004 season when Ty Law tore up his foot in Pittsburgh. It was a bad, painful injury (a dreaded lis franc), one that ended his season, and he knew it on the field. But he refused to have the golf cart come get him. He waved it off. Apparently, he and Lawyer Milloy had a running competition -- first one who needed help off the field after an injury lost. It was a matter of pride for them. Law limped and staggered his way off the field and then made his way slowly from the bench to the tunnel under his own power. Only then did he allow the cart to take him the rest of the way to the trainer's room.

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Felger,

On Sports Tonight on Monday you commented that only one dome team (the 1999 Rams) has ever won the Super Bowl. Did you forget about the Colts in 2006?

Joshua

Sharon

A: At the time, yes. I wasn't thinking. It was Christmas week. Watch my interview with Mike Vrabel on Friday. I make the same mistake again.

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Michael Felger can be seen nightly on Comcast Sportsnet and is a regular contributor for WEEI.com. He can be reached at mfelger@weei.com.