Peter King, SI/NBC Sports

If it's Friday at noon you know what that means we -- football -- our connection with the NFL. Peter King from Sports Illustrated SI dot com and NBC sports joins us good afternoon Peter. Hello dale I'm Michael plus -- Peter -- like is that -- okay thank you. Let's start at a town and then we'll work our way back to New England as we as we converse here. The chances that Brett Favre is gonna sit down because of an elbow problem may be before the commissioner it's a chance to end the streak with a possible suspension. I don't think it's. Gonna happen this week. I think. You know when he practiced yesterday I mean he set obviously Wednesday. Which by the way in my opinion. Who was not unwelcome. By the Minnesota Vikings. They know the leader by injury or otherwise because of this scandal that there's a chance that Favre is going to miss a game or two. This year maybe more than that. Bush is so. You know I I believe that they want to see. Tarvaris Jackson working with the first unit offense which he hadn't done. Much of at all since Favre came back. Six weeks ago seven weeks ago so. I don't think that that's see that that is a disappointment to them at all in it allows him to rest favre's elbow. I don't see Favre is seen game unless the tendinitis really worsens. Or if he has significant swelling in the elbow. I just have seen him play with far worse. I think if he misses a game this year again unless it gets worse. The TV misses a game this year will be because commissioners suspension of his elbow. Now Peter I know you do a good job of of keeping up with -- with. Things that people are saying around. Around around the dial on TV newspapers. What do you think of that handling the treatment. Of this Brett Favre. -- starter story. Well I think it's I think it's obviously. -- A sticky. Story because. Although. There's a little question. That. There I mean I've listened to that. You know to the to the voice recording to the two voicemails that dad's been put on line. And I would stake my reputation that daddy's Brett Favre speaking -- -- sounds like him unless there's an absolute frank -- -- go out there. Who does a perfect Brett Favre I've had a lot of phone conversations with -- in my life. And that sounds exactly like -- or so but I I don't think that the phone conversation. Is what is the most dangerous thing here. As as is as has been reported I think that. The photos apparently. You know whoever sent them whether it was far whether it was someone else. Those photos represent clearly an unwanted. In advance towards somebody -- to the best of my knowledge and the news that the claim it is that. The word. That this was not. You know sort of a mutual thing that. You know that -- was going after she evidently was not. Accepting of the advances allegedly allegedly we have to keep saying that number times. But as to how this. As to how this has been covered I mean you know -- a couple of things last weekend when. There was the first real rush to. Put out a lot of information about this. What happened basically was that. I think. That there were several people out. Out front on the story last week. On the networks saying. That. You know if Roger Goodell does fine culpability in Brett Favre. In this story and if he finds that. That he says these incriminating. Photos. TJ and Stewart here that he would be suspended. My eight information talking to people at the highest level of the National Football League or at a very high level it should say. Is that I think that that's a little bit premature. And so what I set out in BC last Sunday basically is that. Let's not jump to the conclusion. That. If he's found culpable that he automatically will be suspended. Brett Favre has not been in violation. Any leak structure. Since 1996. When he was. Put into rehab against his will. Because like it and addiction. And so. Usually what happens as I mean it happened I think six. That. Pacman Jones was arrested I think six times before he was. Suspended by the commissioner Ben Roethlisberger had to. Incidence. -- with women that were widely reported. Before he was suspended by the commissioner and so. I'm not saying I don't know whether he would be suspended. Or just fine my only point was panic we all have to sort of settle down on the suspension -- -- -- in. In my only point last week when I talked about this was that I don't know if he's gonna get suspended or not but usually. The you know the commissioner. Takes into account your past behavior. And favre's been clean for fourteen years so again I don't know what he's going to do. My whole point last weekend was that. You know I don't think anybody knows right now that he definitely will be suspended. If he's found in violation of these. The personal conduct policy. Could the jets be in trouble if in fact a PR person was the liaison between starter and Favre. I have been told is that this is probably not -- jets. Problem. Unless. -- this is very important unless they -- who. And it basically. 888 you know assisted. In. The sort of making -- in the environment of eight you know in environments that could encourage sexual harassment. And what I've been told is that until this thing basically came to light. -- six weeks ago when did -- first reported that they had these incriminating. Things I'm told that the jets. Were really not involved in this now as far as a public relations person. You know having some role. In connecting far and -- here. I don't I think that would be grounds to. To tell the guy to -- to warn the public relations person if indeed it's true. That that's not your job and let me make it very clear if you found that that's your job if you found doing that again. You know you'll you won't have a job anymore but I doubt that that's a fire -- suspend double fence at least in my opinion. Seems like every -- I was gonna say let's get back to football but as I go back to football on talk about another guy who's had some problems. And is that trying to bounce back from and that's been Roethlisberger in the Steelers -- talking about the studio earlier. Very impressive that that team would go three and one and be in this position without their quarterback what do you expect from. The Steelers and Roethlisberger -- -- Well consider that they've gone three and one while having the 32 rated passing offense in football. Over the first four weeks of the season it's just like again. The reason I picked the Steelers to go to the Super Bowl is that and to win the Super Bowl is that. You know when I went to their camp this year. I was told that both -- -- -- and Aaron Smith head theory clean bills of health Polamalu obviously. You know the all pro Pro Bowl safety and Erin Smith mean the most underrated player. Of our generation you know he makes it 34 defense though he's great defensive and but because 34 defensive heads don't often get stats. You don't you don't really know much about -- And I knew that as long as they they stayed healthy relatively speaking in defense. That they were gonna be able to survive missing Roethlisberger for awhile although I thought it'd be too into. Because I thought the Tennessee game would really be dangerous one for them. You know they've come through it very well in this week in practice. It -- told Ben Roethlisberger is in practice playing playing in practice like it's game. He's been extremely energetic. He's been you know what I was told Mike goes it's so interesting is that. Ben Roethlisberger formerly. In here is. In his I'm better -- you -- days. Was never really very much of a a guy do we include. Everybody on the roster you know he was a little bit above that may -- -- Heinz or maybe talk to Santonio Holmes and and and you know is -- -- about things but this year. He has been you know he's he's helping guys on the practice squad. He's out at practice early throwing -- with all the extra guys he's. I think that although he's he's probably -- to say it. That this this suspension in this slap in the face is partly the best thing that ever happened to. What's your opinion on the patriots offense going forward without Randy Moss and we have. Deion Branch do you expect that they're gonna have some issues scoring wise. You know I don't really think so. Dale I mean I doubt that they'll BD. You know that pills scorer. It is as much as they did but I mean if you're scoring thirty points game anyway. And and they they clearly have than. You know have shown the ability the -- against most of the fences. If you're scoring that much. And I do you think the loss of Randy -- is gonna hurt no question about it but I also think that. You know what this team has shown the ability to do either when guys get hurt or whatever. They're they're still able to score. And I sort of think Brandon Tate is going to be. A revelation to a lot of people who don't know him very much. And I think Aaron Hernandez. You know clearly has shown the ability to be. Not just the tight end I mean I think we've talked about it before against the jets in week two he saw. Quarterbacks lining up to cover him I think there was one completion from -- where -- -- Cromartie on the play it's. I think he's I think he's gonna be real different. Kind of player and and again as far as branch goes I mean who knows I mean he's. He's been there for what three or four days it's hard to think. That even though he. You know played with greedy in this familiar -- greedy it's hard to think that he can come in right away and have the you know have the impact that that are in -- than and technique that could have right away against Baltimore Sun. -- look at a couple of teams and one of ms. Randy Moss his new team and it and also the cowboys and look at these one and three teams and I say. Are you kidding me I had never would have guessed that either team would. Yeah well this Michael how about this mean no one in fourteen has ever advance the Super Bowl. So. You win or lose the Super Bowl and never made it and so I mean history says the -- is scheme Sunday. In not only is a long shot for the playoffs but he's very long shot you know to get where both teams. Thought. Really mean and both teams thought they could get to before the year. Imagine that the World Series hasn't even started in one of these teams in effect he's going to be out of it. It's just it's bizarre it's the way the NFL it's it's the you know the chiefs and it you know it's and as -- start to Sean Payton this week and I said how amazing is it that. You hear five weeks into the season Tampa Bay Buccaneers are better -- you record wise you know if three and one of the saints the green two and in a lot of ways that. It's crazy is it is the books seem better in the saints right now but you know that's it's a long season were only a third of the way through it but. I think as far as Dallas and Minnesota goes. I think Minnesota steel might. Be able to salvage the season with a loss on Sunday because I think that. They'll probably play seven or eight games with Sidney -- perceive her Randy Moss you know depending on injury status all available. So I'd I don't know that they would have their goose as cook is Dallas would with a loss on Sunday but. And I'm sure both teams are looking at this relatively speaking it's a playoff game. This is gonna sound like a smart Alec question and I don't mean it that way jury does -- I'd I don't -- how -- don't you cannot. Is Mike Singletary okay. That's his personality scale he's. That's just the way he is and it's its interest thing. -- to somebody this week that went singletary. Did this stuff have -- Davis when he first took over. Vanishing into the locker room everybody looked at him like he's a hero you know the -- -- is in town well when year old and five. And you'd get into me and I haven't even know the right word rate freeze shouting match. But clearly he -- added a little bit -- Alex Smith. -- on the sidelines. You know obviously. When things were going bad for San Francisco on Sunday night. And BC cameras captured it and so. I eight. That's his way. I thought it was really really interesting and I was surprised. That John Madden came out this week and in essence said that that's not coaching yelling it's coach. I thought that was really really interesting because Matt. Is not a guy you criticizes coaches. And I'm not saying that that was rip job but it was a it was a needle at singletary. And daily you know what that team needed a wake up call but at some point the coach has stopped yelling. And his staff at this has to start teaching and you know. If it wins and losses tell everything in this business whether things are working whether things are not working. And the singletary way is not working. And and I'm not saying that they're gonna fire or anything like that there's a fire brilliant guy. Miss him greatly Huskies the defense coordinator who probably would be the guy to be the interim coach if they fired singletary. And you're not gonna get much of a difference there -- hell because. Because really he is a pieces. He you know he says he's allowed a single to areas so. But you know having said that how crazy is it really. About the scene for Cisco 49ers. That if they somehow find a way this week. To beat the Oakland Raiders. Listened to their schedule going forward after this week at Carolina. Denver at home then the by Saint Louis at home Tampa Bay at home at Arizona. Mean there and it's very. Six game stretch now. That. I'm not saying that they will or they can't or whatever but. It's entirely possible that they come out of that looking pretty good mean what happens if after -- six game stretch. There let's say for the sake of argument for seven. And no one else -- that division is running away with it but they're not gonna be out of it so that's why I think you've gotta be careful. We put the nail in the coffin just yet because he just did that such a bad division. I think there's is good chance is any any time that I've ever covered the league it's evident ninth win -- division. As could happen this year in the he had the and it Seaway. -- -- Peter there are two teams surprisingly that can't get a handle on and actually surprisingly because one of them is the colts. And the other one is is the chargers may -- shouldn't be that surprised me. They let go of LaDainian Tomlinson then Shawne Merriman has his issues and then Vincent Jackson hasn't issued a lot of transition their but the colts. In San Diego likes can't figure out who they are -- I can't either. But I'll say this that. Yeah you know the San Diego Chargers. And it again. We can talk all day about and then having the greatest talent in all that's -- I'm sticking here in the chargers have the greatest talent I don't think they have the greatest talent. You know I football outsiders did this. Had this stat. After last season which I thought set at all about the -- the -- I think I'm saying this correctly. That you know they analyze game tape and and they had a great stat about the scene Diego chargers. Having the fewest quarterback hits a quarterback pressures last year in the NFL. And haven't we been conditioned to to think that all the chargers defense there this. You know this. BE. You know this this. This this group of of fairly unknown guys but they always find a way to get to the quarterback him even if they're -- second or put a lot of pressure on. Mean it they have they have not had a great defense. In along time now they're actually playing defense well this year. But having said that. They don't strike fear into hearts of of teams in the league I think the way they used to a couple of years ago now. On offense. And make especially if they get Ryan Mathews going which I think they will. I mean Philip Rivers gonna throw of 4800 yards is here Antonio Gates is by far the best tight end in football. They're good enough that the receiver position to be dangerous even without -- in Jackson. They're gonna out score a lot of people. I question when they're gonna be good enough on defense. To go very far this year even if they do. Make the playoffs and right now Ayers it's no lock whatsoever that they make the playoffs I mean. The New England Tennessee Houston coming up after this -- Saint Louis this weekend so. They they don't have an easy road at all. If we're sitting here today and I understand these things can change on a week by week basis. Right now today what do you think is the best team in the NFL. -- is. -- Roethlisberger coming back I would say Pittsburgh it's a Baltimore is very close. But I would say it would be one of those two teams Pittsburgh Baltimore. Peter we always appreciate time our guys like football would you thanks thanks a lot take care that is utterly decaying from Sports Illustrated. SI dot com and NBC sports joining us as he does each and every Friday.