First, there was T.O.:

Now Brett Favre, who actually held a press conference and announced he was quitting. Crying like a baby. What is happening to the men of the NFL. Are they all high on estrogen now? Trying to get in touch with their feminine side? I mean, really.

OK, before you Cheeseheads start with your hate e-mail, I'll miss him just as much as you. Favre was always good for an interception or three at the Metrodome.

I was reading a blurb on Pro Football Talk and they mentioned Favre's consecutive games streak. And that got me to thinking: One thing I've had to endure from Cheeseheads is how great Favre's consecutive games streak is. How he was going to climb past Jim Marshall and stick that in our craw as well. Well, boo friggin' hoo. Guess what. He quit short of that record.

Actually, the consecutive games leader is a punter, Jeff Feagles. Let's go ahead and throw that out. In "second" is Jim Marshall, who played in 282 straight games as a defensive end from 1961-1979. On November 27, 2005, Feagles broke the NFL record for consecutive games played, with 283. The record was previously held by Marshall. Feagles' record continues, standing at 320 at the end of the 2007 NFL season.

Brett Favre's record of 253 consecutive starts, as far as I can tell, stands at third. So, the Vikes once again stand tall over the lowly Packers. Thhhpppppppttttttt!

Back to the crying issue: If there's "no crying in baseball", why are we suddenly seeing crying in football? I can tell you. It's the politics, man!

For Hillary Clinton, the crying happened during an appearance right before the New Hampshire primary. I must say I was surprised when I first heard that clip on the radio. There certainly has been plenty of debate as to whether Hillary Clinton's crying was legitimate or an act to win voters.

But right after that, came T.O. crying the alligator tears. Then the bunch from O.S.U. as the crying has trickled down to college football.

Now it was the Head Cheese. Yeah, the same guy who once was injured the previous week, then started one series and went to the bench...just so he could keep his streak alive. I thought there was no "I" in team.

I don't know anymore. I just don't know. I know Jim Marshall never cried. Twice Marshall kept his streak intact by walking out of hospitals where he was recuperating. Once from pneumonia and then again from ulcers. On another occasion he played after accidentally shooting himself in the side while cleaning a shotgun.

Sure, I get the urge to cry once in a blue moon. But then I sing, sing a song. I sing it loud. I sing it strong. I sing of good things, not bad.

I bid you, good day. Stiff upper lip and all that rot my dear chaps.

(Note to Gonzo: I now see you did a similar piece on the Daily Norseman. Great minds think alike, I guess!!)

Posted by briankeithmaas@msn.com at March 6, 2008 03:11 PM