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Guess who's back.

It shouldn't really surprise anyone that the world of football dominates my rants this week.

This is one of the few weeks of the year where the gridiron becomes my sole focus in the world.

After all, the Pirates season has ended (who am I kidding, it's been done since May), NASCAR is about as boring as I can ever remember (Johnson wins, Edwards wins, Busch wins... and repeat) and the shocking matchup in the WNBA Finals does nothing for me (that's punny because Detroit is nicknamed the Shock and the matchup really isn't shocking at all).

Enough of that, let's get started.

1. Does anybody in the sporting world feel dumber than Ted Thompson right now?

The Packers are moving on.

At least that's how General Manager Ted Thompson described the situation when Green Bay decided to let Brett Favre go and give Aaron Rodgers the ball.

Now, just four weeks into the season, it appears the Pack could be moving on all right - right out of the NFC playoff picture.

In case nobody noticed last week, Brett Favre threw six - yes six - touchdown passes. Aaron Rodgers meanwhile looked like a rookie for the second straight week and is injured.

Sure, Rodgers will play this week, but we'll never really know how hurt he is. Can you imagine the crapstorm he'd take if he missed a game any time in the next decade - let alone in the fifth week of the season?

Especially considering Brett Favre hasn't missed a game since Super Bowl I. Or something like that.

Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback, but the Packers would be better off with Brett Favre running the show. He's as good now as Rodgers ever will be.

2. That's the T.O. we all know and loathe.

Just when you thought Terrell Owens had left the his egotistical and crybaby ways behind - he's baaacccckkk.

All it took was one little loss.

After the Cowboys' 26-24 loss to the Redskins on Sunday, Owens lashed out at the Cowboys staff for not getting him the ball enough during the game.

Hey T.O., I don't know if you noticed, but the team looked your way 17 times in 58 offensive plays either by throwing to you or handing it off to you.

On a team that also includes such as offensive playmakers as Jason Witten, Marion Barber III, rookie Felix Jones and even Miles Austin as of late, I'd say you got more than your fair share of chances to put the team on your back.

I guess carrying 'Big D' on your shoulders is just too much - especially when that job is coupled with carrying around the massive ego that already resides there.

3. Al Davis. Oy vey.

The good news is that the Lane Kiffin and Oakland saga came to a close on Tuesday.

The bad news is that Al Davis is still around.

Seriously Al, it's time to pass the team on to someone who can make competent decisions.

Kiffin may not have been the best coach in the NFL, but he was doing a good job of making the Raiders a competitive football team again. After all, despite a 1-3 start, Oakland nearly beat undefeated Buffalo and powerful San Diego in the first four weeks of the season.

I think the worst part of the whole thing is that Davis actually fired Kiffin over the phone. That's classy.

I guess interim coach Tom Cable should be prepared to hear of his demise through an Al Davis bulletin on his MySpace page.

I can only hope that the whole Kiffin situation comes back to bite Davis in the back side much like another ex-Raiders coach who was fired after just over a season as the Raiders' head man.

Does the name Mike Shanahan ring a bell?

You were right Al, that Shanahan guy can't coach a lick, can he?

How great would it be if Herman Edwards got fired at the end of the year in Kansas City and Kiffin took over and turned the Chiefs into a powerhouse.

It would be kind of nice to see Davis spend his final years getting kicked in the mouth by two teams run by guys he kicked to the curb.

4. Is this Penn State's year?

I think Joe Paterno is getting old.

In fact, I know he is.

Despite that fact, the guy can still coach (in some form).

Five games into the season, the Nittany Lions and the team Paterno has put together looked poise to make a run at their first national title since 1986.

If the team can run through the Big Ten schedule unbeaten, there is a very real chance the blue and white could be playing for the BCS title in early January.

Several obstacles remain, including Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan - even a road game at Purdue this weekend. However, PSU looks like a true national championship contender that will have to be reckoned with as the season forges on.

Til next time, let's go Wingnuts!