Going for Two Isn't Bold, It's Common Sense.

I was absolutely baffled by the end of Sunday's 39-38 shootout between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers. And not because of official Ed Hochuli's botched call at the end of the game that saved Jay Cutler from the embarrassment of losing the game because he couldn't hold on to a perfectly dry ball when no one was around him.

No, I was baffled because, once they were done talking about Cutler's fumble, the post-game analysis crew could not stop praising Denver coach Mike Shanahan for his "gutsy" decision to go for the two-point conversion with less than a minute left to put the Broncos up 39-38.

One broadcaster gushed, "It takes real guts to make a call like that, especially in September!"

What? Is a two-point conversion worth more later in the year, or something?

The truth is, the only gutsy thing about Shanahan's decision is that he was willing to deal with the wrath of the media and fans if Cutler didn't deliver on that final play. The actual decision to go for two wasn't bold--it was common sense.

Assume Denver plays it safe, kicks the extra point, goes to overtime. Overtime in the NFL is a crapshoot; the team that wins the coin toss has a monumental advantage. In sudden death, all San Diego needed was a favorable flip at midfield, a decent kick return, and a few first downs before they're in field goal range and the game is over. There wasn't a whole lot of defense being played throughout the game, so the chances of San Diego moving the ball were pretty good.

Why leave that up to chance? Shanahan realized he had one chance to go three yards to end the game right then and there. He also realized that the football gods had just given his team a gift, and it would probably be wise to end the game before his team fell out of favor with pigskin deities.

Shanahan made a logical, rational decision, not a bold, daring maneuver. Going for two was not the "safe" option, especially in the eyes of the media and fans. It was, however, the smart choice, and here's what most people fail to grasp: it would still be the right call to make, even if it hadn't worked.

Brett Favre Wants to Play, and He Doesn't Care How Awkward That Makes You Feel

Like your ex-girlfriend showing up to your birthday party, Brett Favre has gone and made everything really awkward. For everyone. He's made it awkward for the Packers organization, the Packers fans, the media, EA Sports, Eric Mangini, and probably a couple Jets fans.

Destined for the Hall of Fame, Favre was the closest thing in the modern NFL had to the franchise players of yesteryear that went to a team when they started out in the league and never left. Favre was the Packers, and the Packers were, to a large extent, Brett Favre. Everyone knew Favre was staying the league a few too many years, but as often happens with old sports heroes, the fans forgive: Favre had given much to Green Bay, and they could at least indulge him as he bullet-passed his way to a delayed retirement. His excellent 2007 season seemed to create the perfect opportunity for Favre to exit with grace. And so he did.

And then he told Greta Van Susteren, of all people, that he wanted to keep playing. Now Favre finds himself in a Jets uniform, barely squeaking by the last year's worst team in his first game, an outcast from the team he once embodied. Awkward.

Awkward for Favre's legacy. Favre is in his Michael Jordan With the Wizards or Joe Montana With the Chiefs phase: embarrassing postscripts to stellar careers.

Awkward for the Packers and their fans, who had a messy divorice with their champion and now don't quite know what to think of him. The Packers even had to write in a clause Favre's trade to the Jets to make sure he didn't end up at the Vikings (the Packers get the Jet's next three first-round draft picks if Favre gets traded to an NFC North team).

Awkard for a press that has perenially fawned over Favre and now struggles with their puppy love for the player and the creeping sensation that he is really embarrassing himself.

Awkward for EA Sports, who decided to feature one of the NFL's most celebrated playersas he retired on the cover of Madden NFL 09 in the Packers jersey he sported his entire career.

Awkward for Eric Mangini, who has to coach a quarter back who is a year older than him who is definitely not the future of the Jets.

Awkward for Jets fans, who got rid of Pennington and instead of getting the mythical Quarterback of the Future got Favre.

Favre doesn't need the money, he knows he can't win a Super Bowl with the Jets, and his legacy is going to suffer. What is he hoping to gain playing for the Jets?

When I came up with the answer to that question, I realized why Packers fans loved Brett Favre, and why the media hung on his every word. Brett Favre just wants to play football.

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