My 6-year-old daughter had a soccer game last weekend and the other team was short a player. The show must go on, though, so she happily switched jerseys and played goalie for the other side.
Wouldn't it be interesting if the NFL had that type of loan-a-player policy?
If it did, there would be a bidding war for the services of Brett Favre, who threw a career-best six touchdowns last Sunday.
He and the New York Jets are off this weekend, and surely the team that rented him would promise to return him good as new. You break him, you buy him.
Maybe he wouldn't even have to crack open a new playbook. Green Bay could certainly use him, considering the Packers are either going to start Aaron Rodgers, throbbing shoulder and all, or rookie Matt Flynn against Atlanta.
Cincinnati could use him too. The winless Bengals play at Dallas, and Carson Palmer plans to test his sore elbow after sitting out last Sunday. He has thrown only one touchdown pass this season.
Then, there's San Francisco, which has watched J.T. O'Sullivan get pummeled. He has already been sacked a league-high 19 times. Of course, the 49ers are playing New England, which would certainly want some say in the matter. With Tom Brady out for the season, the Patriots would kill for a loan-a-legend program, even if only for a week.
And what about Pittsburgh? Not only are the Steelers coming off a short week, but Ben Roethlisberger sat out his second day of practice Thursday because of a sore shoulder. They play Jacksonville on Sunday night.
So what do you think, Brett? Care to step in and save the day for one of those hobbled teams?
After all, your next game is against the Bengals, who have only two sacks this season, fewest in the league.
Not a chance, you say?
You'd never cut it in girls' soccer.
Tennessee at Baltimore: Two of the league's best defenses square off in a game that will help determine the AFC's pecking order. Even though Baltimore is at home, I like the experienced quarterback coming off a longer week. Pick: Tennessee.
Kansas City at Carolina: In their stunning victory over Denver last Sunday, the Chiefs moved the ball, got their running game going, actually looked inspired. A repeat performance in Carolina? Let's not get carried away. Pick: Carolina.
Chicago at Detroit: With Mike Martz out, the Lions vowed to run more this season. Well, at least they've handed off more. As for establishing a running game, that just hasn't happened yet. Pick: Chicago.
