Training Camp Postcards, Part 3 of 8: NFC North

As you may or may not follow, SI.com has dispatched "10 writers to report on the 32 NFL training camps across the country" and is featuring their reports throughout August in their Training Camp Postcard segment.

Here at HHR, we prefer to look at actual postcards sent by players to their loved ones, as opposed to Peter King drivel.

Today, we take a look at what's going on in , WI (Packers), Mankato, MN (Vikings), Bourbonnais, IL (Bears) and Allen Park, MI (Lions) from a player's perspective.

To See the Complete Parts 1-8, Click Here.

MSM's Erroneous Reporting?

No, you hang up first!

On Tuesday we cited a Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal report that Brett Favre had used his "Packers issued" cell phone to communicate (illegally) with the Minnesota Viking staff.

Well shame on us for assuming the Sentinel-Journal was a legitimate source.

Today, ESPN is reporting "Packers didn't give Favre team-issued cell phone" according to sources of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

We'd expect this kind of irresponsible reporting from "full of shit" bloggers, not from genuine newsman.

Favre Caught in Web of Espionage

And by "espionage" I mean "stupidity."

From Access Vikings:

As we await the NFL’s decision on the tampering charges filed by the Packers against the Vikings for “inappropriate dialogue” with Brett Favre, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an interesting bit of information in a piece he wrote about the quarterback today.

McGinn writes that a source said Favre had continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone and that when the team checked the phone records it found “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.”

The possibility of Favre having used a phone issued by the Packers had been speculated on last week after the Associated Press reported that Green Bay informed the NFL it felt “an investigation of the phone records would show more than ‘normal contact’ between the Vikings and Favre, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.”

Three things are obvious here:

1. Favre is a snake with no regard for his team or its fans.
2. He probably also emailed the Vikes staff repeatedly from his Packers email account, with little or no restraint.
3. As a spokesman for T-Mobile, his credibility is shot, as he obviously does not patronize their services.

Robert Ferguson on Favre: "There are a lot of things that are positive about the way he retired."

Really? Which parts were positive? Which alleged retirement are you referring to?

As quoted in the Star Tribune's Access Vikings, the former Favre teammate and current Vike said, "It’ll be good for the simple fact that they are retiring his jersey, he left the game on his own terms. There are a lot of things that are positive about the way he retired. I’m happy for him and happy to see him go into the second chapter of his life."

On his own terms, indeed.

Asked if he thinks Favre will stay retired, Ferguson said: "I’m not sure, I’m not sure. That’s a good question. I know he still wants to play. He just doesn’t want to be in training camp and things of that nature. But he still loves the game. He’ll probably always love the game regardless of if he stays retired or not."

So is Fergie hinting Favre's really not content on being retired and that this is just a ploy to avoid training camp?

Someone put Aaron Rodgers on suicide watch.

You've Come a Long Way, Cris Carter

Photo: www.tothenextlevel.org

Last night I caught pieces of the interview Fat "Uuuuhh" Mike and Chris had with Cris Carter on WFAN. He continues to prove himself one of the most competent and knowledgeable former pros who now makes a living both in front of the camera and online.

As an Eagles fan, I never begrudged Carter for the success he went on to achieve with the Vikings. When he admitted the reason for his release from the Birds had more to do with his substance issues rather than Buddy Ryan's claim that all he did was "catch touchdowns," part of me was relieved he was finally able to recognize and overcome his demons.

I speak from personal experience.

When I was younger, my youth football league's banquets would often feature local teams' players. Notably, the late Andre Waters had made appearances several years in a row, often bringing younger teammates with him. One year, that younger teammate was a blinged-out Cris Carter sporting a nice full length fur (maybe chinchilla).

As kids lined up for autographs, shortly into the night it became apparent that Carter was in no condition to be around kids, and was asked to leave.

Now fast forward some 20-some years.

On Saturday, Carter deserves to join the ranks of the immortal in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as do fellow wide receivers Art Monk and Andre Reed.

Carter not only went on to clean up his act and put up Hall-worthy numbers, but has proven himself as an ambassador of the game and a humanitarian with knowledge, contributions, and most admirably, his humility.

Drew Sharp is not that Sharp

Drew Sharp woke up with a vision that only the Lord Almighty could place in his head and wrote an article that must have taken restless hours on why the Lions should have picked Adrian Peterson rather than Calvin Johnson. An article that any of the newspapers of the six teams prior to Minnesota could write, but Sharp got wrong.

Sadly, the Detroit Free Press probably paid him for the article.

Hey Drew, swallow some of your own advise and “Take a step back … and try looking at this matter objectivity.”

Read the headline of article next to yours: Why Detroit ran the ball just eight times. Guess what? It wasn’t because of the running backs. It was because of the game plan. The same game plan Mike Martz always uses: pass first. I think you forgot to account for that in your article Mr. Hindsight

Before the draft, the Lions had Roy Williams as No. 1 option and Furrey in the slot, a dominant WR made sense especially since he was hands down the No. 1 pre-draft player. You missed the history in your article Mr. 20/20.

Have you seen the left side of Minnesota’s O-Line: Birk, Hutchinson, McKinnie? Considering you write for Michigan newspaper, you may be familiar with Steven Hutchinson (UofM) who paved the way for Shawn Alexander to win the MVP and led them to the Super Bowl in Detroit. You remember him Sultan of Insight?

Photo: SeattlePI

Maybe you would notice the issue of the offensive line further since the Lions haven’t had an effective one in roughly seven years. On top of that is the story of RB Tatum Bell, who the Lions acquired prior to the draft. You will notice he is not the same back after leaving Denver’s O-Line for Detroit’s. You ever notice that Dr. Obvious?

Now let’s discuss Calvin Johnson. Other than Adrian Peterson, is there another rookie skilled position player better than Calvin Johnson? Have you seen his catches? Have you seen what that has done to open Roy Williams? Have you seen he is averaging 17 yrds/ catch? Do you remember the run he had last week? Did you catch that Eagle Eye?

Next time you try to write a no-brainer article on why a team should have drafted the current best rookie, maybe you should take a step back and think it through a little more.

-posted by C.R. Dunbar