Favre talks about changes during 20-year career

How many players can compare what the NFL was like 20 years ago to what it’s like right now? The answer is not many. In fact, it’s currently two: John Kasay and Brett Favre.

So I had the chance to sit down with Favre last week and talk football, and we had an interesting conversation about what has changed in the league during his career.

When I asked Favre what he has seen over that time, he said there’s no doubt that players have gotten bigger, faster and stronger. But he also said something else interesting — that the role of the officials and their calls made on the field are changing the outcome of games more than ever.

Favre said that when he entered the league, he clearly knew what a catch was. Right now, he isn’t certain. He also doesn’t know what exactly pass interference is anymore.

I thought this was phenomenal.

We also talked about the ruling against Visanthe Shiancoe in the end zone against the Packers on Oct. 24. It was ruled a catch on the field, overturned via replay, and then an apology was later issued because it should have been a catch. But from Favre’s view, they still lost the game.

In talking about players being bigger, faster and stronger, one of the roles of replay was supposed to slow things down on the field for officials. The players move so much faster than they did 20 years ago.

I absolutely agree with Favre. When I entered the league, there was no replay as part of the officiating. Whatever happened on the field, you had to get over it and move on. And there was no going back and looking at it weeks later and complaining. You just had to man up.

But I will say that I never felt like the officials ever cost us a game. It would be disappointing to feel like you won a game but the officials changed the outcome. For the most part, replay is getting it right. But when they use replay to slow the game down and still get it wrong, it’s disturbing. There are many players around the league who talk about this trend.

It would just leave me sick, and I think Favre felt that way after the loss this season at Lambeau Field.

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Beware of Ravens during stretch run

After watching the Ravens dismantle the Panthers last week, I left the stadium very impressed with the team from Baltimore. Right now, I think they’re as good as any team in the AFC, and most importantly they’re ascending.

The Ravens play what I call great complimentary football, where the offense knows how to protect the defense, and the defense knows how to defend until the offense gets going.

What the Ravens did to the Panthers was a great example. Yes, it is the Panthers, but the Ravens did exactly what they were supposed to do. The Ravens had scored only three points in the first quarter of their five road games this season, so the goal of Cam Cameron’s offense was to get going early. They did just that on the first possession on a 56-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. That series really got the offense going.

The Ravens also played very well defensively, making big plays in their typical fashion while delivering the knock-out blows on back-to-back possessions during the fourth quarter. First it was the interception by Ed Reed, who lateraled it to Dawan Landry for a touchdown. On the very next play from scrimmage, Ray Lewis brought back another pick six.

Where the Ravens had lost fourth-quarter leads against the Bengals, Patriots and Falcons, they knew they had to close this game out, and they did it decisively. The Ravens are ready to move forward, with four of their next six games at home.

Beware of the Ravens down the stretch.

The Ravens are a well-coached team in terms of understanding where they need to improve. It’s something that John Harbaugh has his team work on weekly. I know everyone will look back at the losses to the Falcons and Patriots, but the Ravens will be an improved team when December rolls around. If you ask any of the teams they’ve played — even the ones they’ve lost to — no one will want to face the Ravens again. Their schedule sets up nicely, and after already beating the Steelers on the road, the next round is at home.

When teams are stacked up as closely as they currently are in the AFC, you have to look at where teams are going and who they will be in the final month of the season more so than where they’re at now. I’m already impressed with the direction the Ravens are going, and when it matters most in six weeks, they’re capable of being the best team in their conference.

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