New kind of NFL profiles, Vizio-style

There's a new source for pro football profiles in case you're interested in more than your favorite stars' Twitter conversations.

It's called Vizio's Pro Football Profiles. It will be hosted by Laura Okmin. It debuts tonight at 11 p.m. on a Fox Sports Net regional network near you. Each episode is 30 minutes and is supposed to introduce viewers to the non-football side of a player. The first profile is of Green Bay Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He will talk about his passion for guitar, about a record label and probably not a lot about what he thinks about Brett Favre.

The shows will also be available on vizio.com. Here's a link to the trailer

Besides Rogers, other episodes will feature Adrian Peterson, Brian Urlacher, Larry Fitzgerald and LaDainian Tomlinson.

-- Diane Pucin

Brett Favre says he's not out for revenge against Packers

Brett Favre insists he won't be out for revenge when he lines up Monday against the Green Bay Packers.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback told reporters during a conference call today that his comeback has nothing to do with getting back at his former team. Favre said he merely wants to show the Packers he can still play.

Earlier this year, Favre said his comeback with the New York Jets was at least partially motivated by his desire to get back at Packers general manager Ted Thompson.

Still, probably the only thing that could keep Favre retired after this season is if this scenario plays out again on Sunday:

-- Austin Knoblauch

NFL Network's RedZone rocks

Trying out the NFL Network's new RedZone channel on the computer (it's a courtesy offered to some media members who don't get the channel on their cable systems).

The biggest benefit so far would have been seeing Brett Favre thrown an unbelievable game-winning touchdown pass against the 49ers. But that game was on my real television.

So the real benefit to me now is in this second set of games. In our house there are Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears interests, so the ability to watch both games is way cool.

In fact it's keeping us from taking our dog, Dillon, down to Balboa Island for a cooling-off walk. 

This is different from DirecTV's Sunday NFL package, which also includes a Red Zone channel. But with watchers of both Versus and Universal Sports in our household, there's been a reluctance to switch cable providers. And until now our provider, Cox, has offered us every channel we wanted. It is not, however, offering the RedZone channel. Too bad because it would be a nice addition and maybe make NFL fans who switch to DirecTV for the NFL action reconsider.

We're luckier than Time Warner subscribers, who don't even get the NFL Network channel.

But if I'm running a cable system, I'd certainly pick up this channel. For NFL fans -- and if television ratings are an indication, there are a lot of them -- it's hard to pick a cable system over DirecTV with its superior NFL package that allows viewers to see every game, to put as many as eight on the screen at the same time, to watch an edited package of games that come without commercials or any extraneous standing-around time, to listen to extraordinary host Andrew Siciliano.

We've been reluctant to give up Cox because it offers us Universal Sports and Versus. We're big college football, cycling and Olympic sports fans here and have been willing to give up the all-encompassing NFL coverage of DirecTV for the wider variety of sports offerings that Universal and Versus offer.

But I'll admit, this is great right now. I'm able to watch the Bengals-Pittsburgh and Bears-Seattle at the same time. You can have one game large-sized and up to three more in a smaller screen below your big game. And if you want to switch, there's a button that says "enlarge." So if, say, I want to watch the Bears-Seattle large and a commercial comes on, I just hit the Bengals-Pittsburgh enlarge button and I've got more action on the (it's all relative) big screen.

There is also the ability to click on a tab that offers up-to-the-minute statistics for each game and a chat room where one can become very depressed about the state of spelling among our NFL football fans and about a certain lack of civility between the "chatters," but that's a seperate issue and not one limited to football fans.

Oh, and the Seattle uniforms are hideous. As are the Bengals so far. Not to mention the Bears.

The RedZone channel is available on AT&T, U-Verse, Comcast, Dish Netork, RCN, Verizon and FiOS among the largest providers. Time Warner and Cox haven't signed up. In fact, Time Warner customers can't get the NFL Network at all. Get on the (foot)ball, Cox and Time Warner.

-- Diane Pucin

Today's question: Brett Favre's return -- good or bad?

So, Brett Favre is apparently ready to unretire for a third time. Here's the question of the day:

Is the saga of Brett Favre retiring and returning and then doing it again a case of someone holding on too long, or does he still bring value to an NFL team?

Times NFL expert Sam Farmer has his opinion:

Favre was legendary in Green Bay for his fourth-quarter comebacks. Now, he’s threatening his own record, although these aren’t the kind of “comebacks” anyone will remember fondly.

That said, he does bring enormous value to the Vikings, even before he takes his first snap. Remember, this is a franchise that needed an extension from the NFL last season to avoid a blackout – for a playoff game. The Vikings need to put fannies in the seats, and Favre is guaranteed to do that.

He also brings value on the field, provided it was his bum throwing arm that made him play so poorly at the end of last season. He knows the Vikings offense very well (he was guessing half the time with the Jets), and instantly makes Minnesota a Super Bowl contender. If he doesn’t change his mind on the drive to Mankato, that is. If he does hang a U-turn, watch for him to come back next month.

What do you think?

--Mike James

Photo: Brett Favre waits on the sideline before taking the field against the Oakland Raiders last October. Photo credit: Tony Avelar / Associated Press.

Brett Favre reportedly is conflicted about returning to NFL

Well, I'm not really sure how big the news is, but the No. 2 NFL story on ESPN this morning, behind the question about Michael Vick's future in the league, is that Brett Favre now "is conflicted" about returning to play pro football.

With Favre's over-documented history of waffling about his playing career since his days as the  quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, how much the needle is moving on this decision is debatable. Gone from the Packers, definitely retired, signs with the Jets, gone from the Jets, definitely retired, maybe signing with the Minnesota Vikings ... conflicted. Aren't we all?

Favre has already said that he'll make a decision before the Vikings open camp on Thursday. Amen to that. If he comes back, great. He's a player you always want to watch just because you never know what you'll get. And if he actually makes his retirement permanent, well that's just fine too.

And as for Green Bay, some Packers' fans have simply moved on. A T-shirt making the rounds in Wisconsin has this message: "We'll never forget you, Brent."

-- Mike James

Photo: Brett Favre working out with the Oak Grove High football team on July 15, 2009 as he prepares for his next move in the NFL. Photo credit: Rogelio V. Solis / Associated Press.

Daily Debate: Brett Favre vs. Michael Vick

If only L.A. had a new NFL team, we could be embroiled in a quarterback quandary.

Brett Favre or Michael Vick?

Mark Sanchez, the best signal caller in town, just went to the Jets. Matt Cassel signed with Kansas City, so he wouldn't come back, either. But Favre and Vick are experienced stars -- and available. They also bring plenty of baggage.

Favre is considering his second consecutive season returning from retirement, and both incidents left his former teams and fans upset. His return ultimately depends on how his injured arm holds up. Vick is scheduled to be released from prison, where he has spent the last two seasons, er, years on federal charges of dog fighting. His return is contingent on NFL approval, after which he would probably be traded by the Atlanta Falcons.

If you were an NFL GM and needed a quarterback, whom would you prefer to sign right now?

Wake-up Call: Kings, David Beckham, Kobe Bryant, Brett Favre, Stump (the dog)

First things first: Are the Kings for real? Is coach Terry Murray a godsend for this young, talented team? Answer to both questions: It's looking like it. They played the struggling Islanders last night and might have been expected to have a letdown after their unexpected victories against the Washington Capitals (second in the Eastern Conference) and New Jersey Devils (third in the Eastern Conference). But they came through, winning 4-3 -- in a shootout no less -- and now have won seven of their last eight games. They have 55 points, two points out of the playoffs.  There are 30 games left, 19 of those on the road. Of the 22 road games they've played, they've lost only 11, one of those in a shootout. But of the 11 road games since Dec. 23, they've won eight.

Add NHL: In case you missed it, the Dallas Stars assigned bad boy (and thankfully ex-Kings) Sean Avery to the American Hockey League's Hartford Wolf Pack yesterday. He cleared waivers Monday but, because Dallas does not have an AHL affiliate, finding a home for him wasn't easy. The New York Rangers eventually agreed to let Avery be assigned the Wolf Pack. He was with the Rangers before signing a four-year, $15.5-million deal with Dallas over the summer.

More Becks: Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber today said he wanted David Beckham's future resolved by Friday or he would not approve any transfer between the Galaxy and AC Milan. Read the report from LAT's Grahame Jones. Garber also confirmed that Beckham has a clause in his five-year contract with MLS and the Galaxy that would allow the English midfielder to leave at the end of this season.

Another milestone: Kobe Bryant showed no lingering effects from the flu, scoring 34 points and becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 23,000 in the Los Angeles Lakers' 105-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But does he mean it? Brett Favre, having failed to lead the New York Jets into the playoffs, says he is retiring. Again. This time he probably means it, given the horrible ending to last season, which resulted in the firing of head coach Eric Mangini. ESPN.com has put together the Top 10 moments of Favre's long career. My favorite is from 2007, when he tied Dan Marino for the all-time record in career touchdown passes.

A dog's life: A Sussex spaniel called Stump became the oldest Best in Show winner at America's top canine competition, the Westminster Kennel Club. Stump, age 10, came out of retirement last week to claim the top prize. For a different take, of course, there is T.J. Simers' column. (Am still trying to figure out whether he likes dogs or not.)

Olympic countdown: International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge is in Vancouver this week to mark the one-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Olympics amid worries about the global financial crisis. Look for our special coverage this week from Vancouver on latimes.com/sports, including an overview of what Vancouver has done to try to stay ahead of the money crisis, a look at the U.S. medal chances and a rundown of some of the athletes to watch.

-- Debbie Goffa

Report: Eric Mangini agrees to coach the Cleveland Browns

The former Browns' ball boy is about to come home.

ESPN.com is reporting that ousted New York Jets Coach Eric Mangini has agreed to become the coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Mangini, fired last week after quarterback Brett Favre went down in flames against the Miami Dolphins, reportedly has agreed to a four-year deal.

Good for Mangini. Taking the fall for what turned out to be, in the end, a very bad move wasn't fair to him.

Chad Pennington leaves the Jets for the Dolphins and Favre takes over the Jets. And suddenly Mangini's game strategies are spoiled, because now he has Favre in the pocket, a quarterback who likes to do whatever he wants. Good arm or no good arm. But now Mangini can put that behind him for the time being -- a news conference apparently is scheduled for the morning.

Mangini, 37, began his NFL career as a ballboy with the Browns in 1994 under then-coach Bill Belichick.

-- Debbie Goffa

Photo: From this November game, it isn't clear who was making the calls, Coach Eric Mangini, left, or quarterback Brett Favre. Credit: Bill Kostroun / Associated Press

NFL job openings: A long list, but no Dallas Cowboys

Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com and a regular contributor to Sporting News gives football fans precisely what is needed today: a roundup of who, where and why when it comes to all the NFL job openings.

In at least one case, though, there won't be a job opening despite the outcry -- and that's in Dallas. As Florio writes:

Financial considerations also could keep Cowboys coach Wade Phillips employed in Dallas. Why else would owner Jerry Jones stubbornly stick with a leader who can't and won't lead?

Florio isn't alone in how he sees the Cowboys. Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News takes Jones to task too today.

As for the New York Jets, the opening for a head coach isn't the issue, Florio says:

In New York, a new stadium currently is raising concerns not as to expenses, but revenues. Specifically, the revenue that would be coming from the sale of Personal Seat Licenses. The Jets need to move them, and even the presence of Lord Favre wasn't enough to generate much interest in the much-hyped "Coach's Club" auction. But the Jets are having a hard time lining up a coach with the cachet to persuade Jets fans to plunk down big money in a bad economy. The problem could be the presence of General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

-- Debbie Goffa

Photo: Jerry Jones at an October news conference. Credit: Larry W. Smith / EPA

Time for Oscar De La Hoya and Brett Favre to say goodbye

It is a natural. A joint news conference. Two superstars of yesterday saying goodbye.

Or, more to the point, two guys saying goodbye who really need to say goodbye.

Oscar De La Hoya, a boxing great with a wonderful business career ahead, could stand up and say, "I got hit too much."

And Brett Favre, pro football star with a wonderful career ahead in anything he wants to do, from TV commercials to running a farm to sports commentating, could stand nearby and nod agreement.

Then Favre could say, "I can't throw anymore."

And De La Hoya could nod knowingly.

It's time, guys. Do it separately or do it together. But do it.

-- Bill Dwyre

Photo (left): Oscar De La Hoya. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Photo (right): Brett Favre. Credit: Tim Farrell / The Star-Ledger via US Presswire